Which shoes do you wear with flares?

I've been on a flares post watch from all my favourite bloggers and it seems we are all about to launch ourselves into wearing flares. 

This is coming from one who has three pairs of denim and a pair of cord flares but when push comes to the very shove still wears a pair of skinnies. This weekend was a case in point. I woke up full of determination. Today was the day I was going wear the flares. All day. At the weekend. Then I put on my leather leggings, slouchy jumper and flats uniform. The thought of trying to supervise my daughter's party in heels was a faff too far. 

I often wear - read at least once a week - usually Friday when I have fewer meetings - my dark wash MiH Marrakesh to work with a shirt and blazer. I can't really wear jeans to work so being a big fat cheater I wear jeans that look like trews. I've had them shortened to wear with my comfy stacked heel boots. I can hack this look all day long. No problem. But that's because it's work and I'm used to wearing heels all day. Come the weekend it's a very different story. I'm straight into my flats. So what do you do with all the extra length of the flared denim swishing about your ankles?  For me it's fast becoming an issue so I spent a bit of time trying on various shoes with my flares so I need never fear wearing flares and reach for them ahead of the skinnies. I started off thinking that the toe needed to be pointy to avoid looking like a 70's time warp. 

I tried my very comfy M and S stilettos 

Verdict. Too dressy 

Pointy front = good

 Spiky heel = bad 

Then I moved onto my work boots. 

These boots are the most comfortable footwear I own and they have a heel.

Verdict. I'll continue to wear these boots with my flares but they are too boring for weekends 

I moved onto to thinking about the summer.

First, in my See by Chloe sandals that have had at least three years now. They definitely have that seventies vibe going on; all thick tan leather and chunky heels.

Verdict. When the weather warms up I'll be wearing these with my flares. No doubt. The photos paired with the flares just hid them under the hem. Also I may have been trying to hide my feet that haven't seen the light of day for a few months. 

Secondly I turned to my orange peep toe sling backs that I bought last year. Also very comfortable and with a wedge they keep the seventies feeling mighty real. 

Verdict. On a sunny day I'll be reaching for these. Perhaps I'll also reach for my paler wash MiH Marrakesh as well. 

Finally, if you really want to be thrown right back into the seventies then what about these clogs. Mine are so old I can't remember when I got them. 

Yes, I am laughing out loud. 

Verdict. No thanks. Verging on fancy dress.  I need one of those floppy wide brimmed hats and I'll think I'm Carly Simon. Which incidentally is a bit of a worry since I can't sing for toffee. 

Overall

1. Stick to a chunky heel. Failing that wear wedges

2. Almond toe shoes (like my comfy work boots) don't do the look any favours. But I'll still be wearing mine 9 to 5. 

Pointy is better but not with a stiletto heel. 

3. Sandals just look better than boots - there is a reason why these jeans are tipped for SS15 not AW14.

4. Definitely leave the clogs to those younger individuals who would not have worn them in circa 1973 on account of their not being alive.  

  

Or I could just invest in these chunky heeled sandals which will nail the look effortlessly.


Russell and Bromley Cindy platform £125 

New Pencils

I love writing a blog. 

 But I wanted the presentation to look better, on the other hand, let's face it with all the other stuff I have to get done,my time is not my own so improvements,well, that's just never going to happen. I'm sticking with my very bog standard format. I'm going to stop going on about it now. If you have missed me or even if you hadn't noticed I'd taken a break, as my youngest would say - "soz"

Onto more interesting things like what I've been up to on the fashion front. I've been using the January sales to pick up those items I've had on my Wishlist for ages. Such as the Jaeger wrap drop shoulder coat that I featured here and I finally purchased at a whacking 75% off thanks to my constant stalking. Whilst I'm on the subject I did have to buy a Large. I'm an 8/10 but my local tailor looks like he can sort out the sizing for £20 - he is good, I trust him not to make a bugger of it and even with the extra cost of a size adjustment the coat was still a steal. Do I need another coat. Do I heck as like. Can I see infinitesimal occasions when I'd where this coat. I certainly can. 

Then there are the Frame Le High flares (thanks to Mrs What If Snr) and a lovely print Equipment silk shirt. I think I'm ready for the seventies SS15 trend.

Both featured my blogs in AW 14 , both now sitting in my wardrobe. 

Both sale purchases. Both too pricey for my budget.

But as a sale purchase I don't mind if I do. I'm planning outfits around flares, silk shirt, navy blazer and I think pointy toe shoes to stop the whole outfit looking like I've literally just dropped out of 1977. I will share my attempts to style this in real life. Not just in my head. 

In January  (I know it's February now but I started putting pen to iPad on this blog in January ) you are supposed to cut back on the booze and food, join a gym and hit the boot camp sessions aren't you? The shop windows of M and S have been full of sports bras in my neck of the woods. I wonder who is the marketing is aimed at. Presumably we are all supposed to think, I tell you what would lift my mood, give me that feel good factor, a new sports bra. Must purchase that item right now!

Not M and S but I have been drawn to Sweaty Betty both in store (Soho branch) and on line. Bloody love Sweaty Betty.

I got this cossie and an SB hat for Christmas. 

 I was ridiculously pleased with my new dolphin back suit. I bet my fellow swimmers are quite pleased to see me at 6 am (yes, I'm just as impressed with myself) in the morning wearing something that is not borrowed from my daughter. Being unsure of whether I'd stick to regular swimming I wasn't prepared to shell out for new gear and carried on borrowing my daughter's inappropriately cut suit. 

Sweaty Betty Hypo Glisten top

Sweaty Betty Athlete vest 

Sweaty Betty fleece headband

I am such a pathetic individual because when I get new fitness stuff I can't wait for the next run or swim to try it out. I just wish that "starting the new term with new pencils " feeling would last. 

In the meantime here are a couple of my weekend outfits. Sticking to my plan to wear what I've already got in my wardrobe - I'm saving my flares and shirt for the spring and of course my new coat is being altered 

The first one is just before a lovely lunch out with the family

Black leather private leggings - Sandro 2013

Grey pinstripe jumper - Stella McCartney sale purchase

5050 OTK boots - R and B 

And this is just before I headed out to meet up with friends for dinner 

Black leather pencil skirt - Joseph 2013

Grey fitted jumper - Carven 2013

Black ankle boots - Reiss very old

Faux fur - Whistles 

(ok this might have been a more recent acquisition. Not purchase. It was an exchange for one of their "sold out" Kumiko jackets that was returned)