About Shoes

There are only a few weeks left until the start of spring … but the way things are going, it seems that spring plans to carry on hibernating for a few more months.

Even once the weather begins to improve, the British climate is notorious for its unpredictability. You may be sporting shorts in April and jackets in August. Admittedly, it is far more likely that, as we pass through the last days of winter and enter into spring (are you listening, Mother Nature?), we will be facing dull, grey, damp weather, but you can never be entirely sure. So, when it comes to choosing outdoor clothing and footwear, how can you deal with this uncertainty?

It’s probably time to put away the heavy winter coats, and save them for when you go out at night. During the day, thick coats may well be too warm, so the ideal coat or jacket would be one that is three-quarter length. Worn with a pair of boots, it will keep most of your body dry during the inevitable showers that we are plagued with. What is the best material? A lightweight wool coat will keep you warm and dry, without being too thick or warm, and won’t be too heavy to carry if you go into shops (they invariably have the heating turned up so high it feels as though you are in a sauna).

Alternatively, a padded jacket, although arguably less stylish than a coat, is ideal for both colder and warmer days. It is especially suitable if you lead a casual lifestyle, as this style of coat will not make you look overdressed. Also these coats are more likely to have a hood attached (maybe removable for those occasions when you don’t want to use it), which can be very useful if you don’t want to carry an umbrella, or if it is too windy to keep an umbrella open! As we all know, the combination of wind and rain is unfortunately all too common in the British climate …

As for footwear, a lighter pair of boots will prove very versatile and, if purchased now, will still give you plenty of opportunities to wear them. With luck, there may even be some still available in the sales. Make sure that they are waterproof, or buy a product to make them impermeable, as one thing that we can be sure of is that there are plenty of rainy days to come! Avoid fur-lined boots, unless you want your feet to feel like they’re cooking. If you do a lot of walking, a good sturdy pair of ankle boots will also help keep your feet warm and dry. Finally, for safety’s sake, make sure that the soles of your shoes or boots have a good grip, for those rainy days.

Toe socks are the hottest funky socks on the market. They differ from ordinary plain and boring socks by having separate compartments for each of your toes. You may assume that these wacky socks are uncomfortable and I did before I tried a pair of them on, but let me assure you once you try a pair on you’ll never want to go back to wearing the old style.

The old bag like socks or even sports socks tend to slip around and can cause slight discomfort, but with these new fangled socks they stay on tight but give your feet more freedom of movement, it’s like walking barefoot but better.

In the cold weather I found that the socks kept my feet warmer than standard socks do, I guess it’s because each of your toes is individually wrapped in its own little compartment. The socks do not slip as much either for example on laminate flooring where you normally have to tread carefully in standard bag socks.

These toe socks are made by a variety of companies and come in a great range of funky colours and styles which will make you look super cool. Kids love these socks but I wouldn’t recommend them for very young children as they can be a nightmare to get on them if you have to dress them.

There are so many children’s winter boots and shoes in the shops for the season, they are spoiled for choice!  Children, these days, tend to go for sophisticated, elegant styles, often against the wishes of their parents.  Influenced by their favourite celebrities, they demand expensive designer ranges which can be totally impractical, rather than practical, well-fitting shoes from children’s shoe specialist shops, such as Clarks or Start-rite.

Children’s foot size can increase considerably throughout the season, and it’s important for both feet to be measured by a foot specialist.  When children find a shoe style they like, after being measured, the child should be asked to walk round the shoe shop to check whether they hurt anywhere.  With the child standing, press at the front of the shoe to check how much room there is to allow for growth.  Check that the sides don’t ‘bag’ out and there isn’t too much spare room at the heel.

As the shoes – or boots - are to be worn during the coldest season, it’s important that they will protect against the bitterly cold temperatures typical of the season.  It’s always best to buy leather as this will protect against cold and rain, and allow the skin to breathe.  Leather also stretches slightly resulting in shoes which last longer and fit more comfortably.  Lace up shoes or shoes which have bars across the front are more suitable for children as they won’t come off when the child is running and playing.  Check that the soles of the shoes are strong and made of thick rubber, making them skid proof.

Children, of course, have their own ideas of the fashionable shoe styles they want to wear, and usually they don’t always correspond with their parent’s wishes.  Children often choose something like ‘moonboots’ made from silver lurex, priced at £45.  They are also tempted by Fizz boots, priced at around £50, in light pink or turquoise colours.  Fashionable styles like these are expensive and aren’t designed to last for the coldest 5 or 6 months of the year.

Really fashionable children’s shoes and boots are often not designed for vigorous rough and tumble play, and are often built of materials too thin to protect against severe winter conditions.  If parents and children can compromise, there are some great and practical styles available in the shops.
Start-rite, among other children’s shops, has a large range of winter shoes and boots specially designed for children.  Designs are guaranteed to last against normal children’s wear and tear, and styles appeal to the most fashionable kid.  Boot styles such as Amber-Leigh  and Flowerchild are made from leather and come in appealing trendy colours.  Both parents and children love them.

I am a great collecter of ‘fake’ designer handbags. I am not ashamed to admit I have 25 bags ranging from Gucci, Prada, Dior, Fendi and Chloe!! I started buying ‘fake’ bags on a trip abroad to Greece.
As soon as you start walking round the shops and markets abroad you are surrounded by sellers with all the beautiful bags you could wish for!!
I think the most I ever paid for a ‘fake’ was about £30…and that was one of the 1st I bought. Yes I will admit I thought it was a genuine Gucci and was really pleased with myself with my ‘bargain’ It wasn’t until I was nearing the end of my holiday and got talking with locals that I realised that it was fake!! But no problem.
I bought a couple more on my last day but got the price down to £5 each after a lot of talk about selling fake goods
Friends and collegues have commented on my beautiful ‘genuine expensive’ bags…and the secret is only to tell your best friend they are fakes

I am a Prada girl through and through. I aspired to one day owning my very own Prada handbag and for my 30th birthday I was lucky enough to be given one. I love it and would say it is my most prized possession. It’s the thing I would save from a burning building,

My Prada handbag is so special it has its own bag and box that I keep it in, hidden away in the depths of my wardrobe. It gets brought out on special occasions and then packed away again at the end of the night. Although not used very often it is a timeless handbag that I know I will have with me for the rest of my life.

Im about to extend my Prada collection and by myself some lovely Prada sunglasses and no doubt these will also be given special treatment.

If I had all the money in the world imagine how many Prada handbags I could own !!

As a person who likes a bargain i can understand the temptation to buy a fake version of the latest designer celebrity must have You can get the same look at a fraction of the price for an original.

When you purchase a fake it often appears the same at a glance, closer inspection will always show why it a fraction of the price, they are quite often badly made with bad stitching, faulty zips and will quite often not last for long.

There is also the fake trade to be concerned about, often these bags are produced from very cheap labour in some foreign country.I would feel uncomfortable therefore to purchase a fake for the aforementioned reasons.As most pockets will not stretch to the designer price many people will buy the fakes.

I would prefer to purchase a good quality and reasonably priced handbag from the high street.and lets face it , the celeb bag of the day will be different next month and who really wants to blow over £800 on something that’s quickly out of fashion.

Start a new corporate clothing line in a brand new serviced office to expand your tentacles.

Gucci? Prada? To be honest, I really couldn’t care less for either one. Burn the lot of ‘um, I say. I’ve come across better designers (student designers, tailors in Africa, for instance) who can design better creations in their sleep.

We’re so obsessed with designer labels and which celebrity (almost always female) is wearing what with what (I say, burn the red carpet too) that I think if a celebrity walked around stark naked with a Gucci label stuck to their creamy white behind, we’d all go out and buy it.

Go figure.

So Gucci?, Prada? No thank you. You can have them both, my friend. On the house. With a box of matches. On a bonfire. On stage. At the Oscars.

Give me clothing that makes my eyes sing, that catches my breath, then we can talk over a latte (full cream, 2 sugars). But I’m afraid Goo-chi and Pra-dumb ain’t doing it for this gal. Sorry.

Actually, I’m not.

This is a difficult decision. Both are designers I aspire to wear but for different reasons.

When I think of Gucci, I think of two different styles. The first is the overworn GG print items that I believe are for people with no imagination that have to shout that they have a designer label. The second is bright colours that clash and beautiful shapes. The spring/summer 2007 collection demonstrated this wonderfully with neon clashing paisley maxi dresses amongst other items. This was copied all over the high street. Spring/Summer 08 saw the american style star prints which again can already be seen recreated all over the high street.

When I think of Prada I think of sleek, clean modern lines and futuristic shapes. The problem is that nothing recent comes to mind. I remember their cream funnel neck winter coat from about 5 years ago and their signature red prada label. So on that basis it would have to be Gucci for memorability.