I have too many shoes

This shoe should get a royal approval In honour of the recent news, that we will have a Spring Royal Wedding in 2011 (I can remember watching Charles and Diana's wedding on holiday at Butlins!), the shoe of the week is dedicated to Kate Middleton, our future Queen Catherine. Dear Kate Allow me to introduce you to Molly , a perfect companion to that stunning wedding dress that you've probably been dreaming about for the last five years.  Molly (currently in service at Dune) has recently been reduced in price to £35 therefore a good choice as consort for your walk down the aisle during 2011, the year of austerity for the majority of the United Kingdom.  She's got a perfect little kitten heel which I'm sure will serve you well from those first steps into Westminster Abbey through to your first dance and finally when you're whisked away to your honeymoon. Just one question, where will William park his helicopter ready to jet off? Your loyal Subject Ps L...

No, this isn't a confessional about an ex-boyfriend! This is a bit of a moan about the current series of X-Factor.  To be quite honest, I'm completely bored with it.  Over the past couple of years (I'd say the last three series) its been my un-official countdown to Christmas.  Each episode seemed bright, shiny and sparkly, always with a couple of stand-out performances.  The perfect complement to getting into the Christmas party spirit.  This year, more drama is being played on via the media or via the contestants.  To be honest I can't really tell what's going on but its impacting on how much I enjoy the show.  Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of acts I think are good: Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction (I can't help it, the boys are so happy you can't help but be happy too!). But now, really the only key thing I look forward to, is seeing what outfit Danni has chosen to wear on the night, after that I kinda switch off a...

the gadget to save our feet! Are you looking forward to the Christmas party season but dreading the impact its going to have on your feet?  Well, I've just heard about a new product that might help just help- Shulips . If you're like me and 'breaking in' new shoes means a two weeks of wearing elastoplast plasters to recover, then this is a item that you might want to pop in your Fendi clutch to ensure you can dance the night away 'pain-free'.  I've spotted a few online reviews that are really positive so its sounds like they are worth a try.  I might have to purchase a pair to try out and review, I never need an excuse for a party and heels! They're only available at a few stockists including Amazon .

I'm a great lover of writing lists, sometimes it can be seem as being rigid or anal retentive but I think they may life easier. Invariably the list you're creating is relating to something fun:  from a shopping list (and who doesn't love those), your packing list for that much needed holiday and of course, the biggest list of all ... that all-important letter to Santa.  Lists help you stick to a budget, can ensure you don't overpack your suitcase and also receive the presents you want.  It also helps buy your loved ones the presents they would like, spend money of nice things that they wouldn't normally buy or be able to consider buying when dealing with the costs of living. This year, it seems like Christmas is fast approaching and I feel like I'm running out of time to get all my present shopping done.  It would be quite easy to panic shop and buy anything that simply has been dressed-up to look Christmassy with a much higher price tag.  I've asked ...

I'm thinking of the perfect Christmas outfits when choosing my shoe of the week.  Now these suede pumps, Minerva's their name, by Charlotte Olympia would be the perfect companion to see the New Year in.  Priced at £820 at NET-A-PORTER, you really will have had to have been good to receive these from Santa!  Picture yourself ( I know I do!) seeing the New Year in somewhere swish; maybe a balcony overlooking the Thames listening to Big Ben's chimes or a New York apartment bringing in the New Year with Manhattan's finest, no Times Square for these heels.  The way I see it is that you gotta dream big when wearing these shoes! Now if you're like me and totally love shoes, then you'll love Fashion Pearls of Wisdoms latest post on her personal collection which I'm completely envious of!

 who said fashion was just for girls!  I haven't had chance to post for a few days now, a combination of a bad cold, wall-paper stripping at my mum's house and trying to commence Christmas shopping has kept me busy.  What I've found so far is that its easier to share a cold than chocolate, stripping 40 year old ceiling tiles plays havoc with your hands (I look like I've done a round with David Hays!) and that lists do make a Christmas shop easier! We've been getting busy for the colder weather too, even the dogs have winter coats, Jasper is pictured wearing his.  He's looking a little scared while practicing his catwalk strut, Harvey's coat has just arrived today.  Speaking of Harvey, I've had success in my shirt for my missing shoe , my Zara shoe was found stashed in Harvey's favourite hiding space, under the bed in the spare bedroom.  It's relatively unscathed just a minor scratch on the toe.  Now I'm off to put them in a safe place...

 The perfect shoes for the party season  Now perhaps for the next couple of weeks (is it around six?) I should really rename this post Dear Santa just so the big man in red, who likes snow, takes the hint! So here it is, Dear Santa, I have been very very good this year, all I want for Christmas is . . . These sparkly heels from Topshop, just the ticket for all diary commitments this Christmas.  They're neither silver or gold, but multi-coloured, perfect for catching the lights when dancing to  Santa Baby.  Currently priced at £62.  I can just picture myself wearing an LBD, these sparkly heels and a glass of Baileys standing by my Christmas Tree waiting for the turkey to cook.  Santa or Topshop, make my dreams come true xx Clare aged 38 and 3/4

In the Grimm fairy tale of Cinderella, the Ugly Sisters cut off body parts to try and fit the Glass Slipper to win their prince.  Despite losing their toes, they didn't win their prince and you know how the story ends. Although if they were living in this day and age, they'd simply book a cosmetic appointment to do away with those pesky toes or reshape their calves and be able to wear that glass slipper following a week of recovery. With their extreme methods to make shoes fit, I definitely think they wouldn't not have a problem with today's shoes! So are you having the same problem as me?  I love platform shoes (whether its hidden or part of the sole), at 5 foot three it gives me a bit more of a lift in the height department but sometimes I struggle to get the shoes on!  Its like my toes are struggling for space or I have to undertake some sort of toe-yoga to get my foot in (the problem mainly seems to occur with my right foot). I'm a...

. . .  east or west, I don't care. Fastforward to 2011 and in November I will be forty.  Based on the current economical climate I could be celebrating my fortieth year with a bag of chips on Blackpool promenade.  Not a great option in November! My husband has told me that he plans to take me away for the weekend, somewhere special, we just need to decide and its dependant on funds available.  Now the options could be endless - a weekend in New York, a snowy break in Krakow (weather permitting) or a show in London, but I honestly can't decide what I would want to do.  New York on my birthday would be fabulous but the prices would be more expensive as it falls during Thanksgiving, but I'd love to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  I also want to go to London to watch Wicked , eat at Marco Pierre-White's restaurant (steak and triple-cooked chips, yummy!) and visit the Selfridges shoe floor (if they let you do sleepovers here then it would save ...

I remember the days when your choice of tights was limited to 10 denier and American Tan!  Now we are spoilt for choice, with the tights becoming just as much of a fashion choice as the rest of your outfit; rather than a basic necessity.  It's only a year ago that I braved wearing tights that weren't black opaque but now I've embraced the changed wearing purple or jade green opaques to match a Beth Ditto @ Evans dress I bought last night and today I'm wearing some lovely thick grey tights for work to rework my working wardrobe of black dress and black shoes. Many of you will have bought tights from Pretty Polly , a British firm providing hosiery since 1919.  Did you know that this famous firm's origins started with money won from a racehorse Pretty Polly , hence the name. Pretty Polly's products range from sleep socks, a fashion range to a slimming option.  There's also a House of Holland range and the jewel colours in their opaques...

I have to be honest, as the nights have gone darker and the weather is definitely getting on the chilled side, I'd decided to search for a sensible boot or a comfortable shoe for this week's nomination.  Unfortunately, during my research I got distracted by a name, rather than the design of a shoe or the height of a heel. Let me introduce Miss  Cha Cha She's a cheeky little patent shoe available in red, or ready to be seen in turquoise! As Schuh says 'get ready to cha cha away . . .'  Now reduced down to £40, so if you're preparing to celebrate Christmas Cuban style then these little numbers are right up your street (or Havana!). I'm still not sure whether I would wear them (although I quite like the colour and the hot pink interior), but with a name like that I felt they had the right description when planning the all-important Christmas Do outfit.

I have eclectic music taste, anything from Elvis, Steps, Feeder, Kylie to Oasis. To be honest, if I like the sound of it, I'll listen to it, regardless of its genre. The last time I actually have a favourite band was Deacon Blue in the late eighties, early nineties, who can resist singing to Real Gone Kid when its playing on the radio? Due to the current financial climate, I'm trying to reduce my spending so unlike the rest of the country (or so it seems) I haven't been able to justify spending over £80 on a ticket to see Take That. Don't get me wrong, I quite like them, even saw them around three years ago. I just feel that the price is far too high, when their fans are probably going to be feeling the pinch by the time the concerts are held next year. But that's just my opinion, however on a pre -planned trip to the theatre to see John Barrowman last night, it was an opportunity to compare another entertainer's approaches to the current climate. Now, I mu...