Spartoo sites : Spartoo.co.uk | The Spartoo Blog

Geox puts the Empire State Building in a shoe!

To celebrate the opening of their new boutique in New York, right in front of the Empire State Building, Geox has designed a limited edition collection of high heels that pay tribute to the world's best known skyscraper. What's unique: a 12 cm high heel in the form of the monument.

Creating an element of surprise, the Italian brand has expressed a strong desire to reinvent and modernise their image. " We are in the process of redefining our style", confirms Mario Moretti Polegato, president and founder of Geox, during the inauguration of the New York store.

A guaranteed success considering that these creative high heels also benefit from a glamourous and fun design. A real improvement for the brand that is best known for their breathable soles rather than their style.

 


Ankle boots and Low Boots: An easy guide

Admit it : with all the new models of shoes to choose from, in the end designers are confusing us. It is easy in the summer; we choose between sandals, flat shoes, high heels, and eventually flip-flops when it gets really  hot. But in the winter? City casual shoes, ok, that's easy. Boots and thigh-high boots, even there I can tell the difference. When when we are talking about ankle boots and low boots, I start to get a little confused. 

Here is a little lesson for fashionistas who need a little brush-up on their fashion vocabulary.

Let's start with the ankle boot. This term is relatively new and has grown is popularity among fashion professionals as the fashion trend has grown and grown. Today, it is still more chic to speak of low boots than ankle boots, so we use this term in a lot of different ways. Take note: to be called a ankle boot, the shoe in question has to have a relatively high heel (if not it is a low city shoe) and the upper cannot go past the ankle.

 

Here are a few examples :

                 

For the low boot, it's even easier. This is what you call all shoes that have an upper somewhere between the ankle (ankle boot) and the knee (boot). Normally, if you wanted to be extremely precise, the low boot should have laces. But, with the diversity of models proposed year after year, everything that is too short to be a boot and too high to be an ankle boot is called a low boot.

A small picture demonstration :

                 

Does that make sense now ?

Don't miss our newest sales

Choosing the Right Pair of Boots

Contrary to what you may believe, it's really not that easy to choose a pair of boots. At least for me it isn't. There are so many things to think about: colour, heel type, how to wear them ....  


The first possiblity is to choose a really feminine pair of boots: high upper, stiletto heels, black or print. They are perfect for work or a night out with friends or your partner.



The second possiblity is to choose a pair of boots, while just as feminine, have a wider, more comfortable heel for hous of walking without having to worry about aching feet ... They are perfect for everyday and especially ... for a shopping trip! What better than a little bit of window shopping atop comfortable high heels?


Finally, there are always boots to put a little colour back into these cold and dreary days. To that end, why not try yellow or blue? For those who aren't so comfortable on heels, there is always the wedge heel.

 

What is your choice?

Tall for a day ...

As of today, I am 5 feet 10 inches tall. Maybe almost 6 feet. My real height plus at least 6 inches of heels.

It's nice to be so tall, perhaps a little painful at first, but it is easy to get used to.

When you are so tall, it is easy to imagine you are a supermodel. When you feel so tall, you suddenly have extremely long legs. Of course, it doesn't change your life, but it sure can brighten up your day. 

When you are almost 6' tall, you are taller than the majority of people. And it is really fun.

When you are 6' tall, nothing seems to be at a normal height, which is kind of annoying. The bathroom mirrors are too low for me to put on my makeup correctly. The sink as well, to brush my teeth. Everything seems a bit off, I spent the whole day knocking things over.

When you are almost 6' tall, you finally understand why they make jeans so long and are happy to finally not have to cuff them so they don't drag on the ground.

When you measure almost 6' tall, when you finally get home at night, you think of only one thing: come back down to 5'5".

Once you have went through an entire day as almost 6' tall, you are no longer afraid of high heels.

 

 

VIP Sales .....

What to do?? (continued..)

Ah, the month of November, what happiness… an alarm that doesn't go off, a migraine that won't go away, ever changing weather…

Thankfully, I have the ideal remedy: nothing better than a quiet evening, a nice warm dinner, reality TV shows, and thinking about fashion on my blog!

So here we go again with my Mellow Yellow low boots that I bought a few weeks ago on Spartoo.co.uk and that I already mentioned here.  

After a little bit of research, I tried my low boots with an outfit that more or less corresponded with what I've seen in my latest magazines: a pair of shorts, a tunic, and dark leggings.

In all, it was cute ... but I still don't know, I'm not 100% convinced ....

So? What do you think?

Shoes fit for a Queen

The other day, I had a little jar of magic potion, which looked a lot like these. I keep it on my desk to ward off bad moods. I did a quick google search so I could show you exactly what I mean. 

potions-magiques.jpg

In reality, it is more of a serum for dry and damaged hair, but I've decided that it is going to be a magic potion. "Do not swallow" is written on the back, but I'm still going to cast a spell with it : Normalement c’est de la potion pour cheveux abîmés, mais j’ai décidé que ce serait de la potion magique de fée. Il est écrit dessus “Ne pas avaler” mais je vais quand même ensorceler des gens avec : I'm going to cast a royal spell, and everyone will have to do what I want ( well, we can put it to a vote...) 

I also have a royal headband, with sequins that sparkle like the sun. You could almost say it is a headband fit for a princess, but a queen is even better.

To go with all of this, I need a magic wand and the perfect shoes. Dignified shoes that shine like I do. Shoes as light as they are beautiful ... what do you choose when you have aspirations like I do?

Shiny silver flat shoes, now I think that will do the trick.

 

9916_350_A.jpg

9916_350_A.jpg

What to do??

The return of my reoccuring existential question: how should I wear these? This time the object in quetion is this pretty pair of low boots that I bought online last week.

In fact, I had received a gift-voucher from Spartoo.co.uk last week, and for those who follow me on Facebook, you know that the minute I received the gift-voucher I was already thinking about what pair of shoes I was going to buy.

Pretty quickly I decided that I wanted a pair of  Mellow Yellow boots, but which ones? I couldn't decide between two models: the black semi-high "Gratine”or the low brown Fetioss? It was an intense debate, but I finally decided to go with the Fetioss!

I only had to wait a few days for delivery and, as promised, I was NOT disapointed. The finish is perfect and the leather is beautiful! What more could you ask for?

The only thing? I have absolutely no idea how to wear them ...

It's really been bothering me.

I've tried them with a pair of slim fitting jeans, but the boot gapes around my foot and you could see the cuff of my jeans from the top ( I *know* I don't have to cuff my jeans, but I'm too short and I don't like sewing!)

I tried to see what people were wearing in the streets for a little inspiration. Nothing. You would think that everyone has already put away their low boots and is only wearing high boots now that the weather is getting colder......

It's Difficult to Choose a pair of High Heels....

Us "girls" ... we sometimes ask ourselves questions that are worthy of a grand philosophical debate...

Us "girls" ... We know that what outfit we pick totally depends on the shoes we plan on wearing. You "boys" .... Now you will be able to understand why we will never have the PERFECT pair of shoes, more specifically a pair of high heels.

High heels that simply aren't the right height, the right material (smooth leather, suede, distressed, patent leather...), or the right form. High heels where the toe is too round or not round enough, too pointy or not pointy enough, too squared or not square enough, too common or ... Well, now that you get the idea, you can see why we may absolutely NEED a new pair of high heels.

Let's take a look at a few pairs that, for us girls, divide us ( well, especially me) :

Do you feel any emotion in looking at this incredibly high pair of purple Alicia high heels from Castaner ? They are quite nice, aren't they ?

 
 
 
 
Regarding these Marisa high heels from  Buffalo , what do you think ?
 
 

And how can you resist a sure bet like this pair of Orchid high heels from Ash ? Any comments?

And you? What's your choice?

Don't Miss Our Private Sales!

What to wear with pink leggings?

The other day when I was shopping at H&M, I saw that they had viciously put pairs of pink leggings on sale right next to the register. Of course I couldn't help myself, what is £3 more when I've already spent £50? I know I'll wear them (even though they are bright), but the question is, with what?

With a pair of leggings that are THAT bright, I think black is the way to go. As luck would have it, I don't really have a lot of black shoes....

Mellow_Fudgees.jpg

I've concluded that, in order to even wear these pink leggings, I'm going to need a pair of black boots. . Flat and simple that go with everything.

The Fudgees from Mellow Yellow for example ...

Would you like a pair of Maloles?

On Saturday, up early and motivated, I decided to take advantage of the calm to do a little window shopping in the city. Behind all those windows I couldn't help but notice all those shoes I'd love to have ... well, it was enough to feed my need for luxury. maloles.JPG

A few steps later, my dreams became a tangible reality : flat shoes from Maloles. I can't get enough of the A/W collection! .

A Dash of Pink!

As you may or may not know, I absolutely love the colour pink. Pink trainers even better. But a pair of trainers with a pink sole ... well you can't do much better than that!

freestyle_semaine.jpg

Pink all the way down to the sole, these trainers are guaranteed to put you in a good mood. People won't be able to help but notice the pink peeking out from the bottom of your shoe, and you will want to run, jump, and dance instead of walking normally. And you don't have to share it with anyone, this pink is just for you! Even better when the lining is pink as well.... With pink under your feet, you won't want them to come in contact with a grey London morning, but their added touch of colour will make you thankful that you did!

It had been a long time since I haven't worn a pair of pink soles until I saw these:

freestyle.jpg

The perfect pair of Reebok that combine my love for Federer with their white and gold colours and my obession with pink from the sole to the lining!

What shoes for a shopping trip to Paris?

Tomorrow, I've decided, I'm going to offer myself a little shopping trip to Paris.

For someone who has never been there before ( I've been to New York but never Paris ), the essential question is : what shoes should I bring?

I could always wear my new Nike Court Tradition. But I just got them and they are still a little stiff. Plus I like wearing them to show off at the office. It's better!  

I could also bring a chic and comfortable pair of flat shoes, easy to take off when shopping and trying on shoes ( you can never have too many pairs of shoes after all ... ).

Another choice could be a pair of high heels, to show all the French girls that we English are just as classy.

In addition, I could take a pair of flat boots, to make sure my feet stay nice and warm.

But finally, I think a sure bet, the shoe that won't betray me is the timeless Converse. All I have to do now is choose among the 7 pairs I own ....

Just for kicks, here are my pink Nike trainers that I love so much!

Timberland 6 Premium Boots

In ten years, the biggest trends will no doubt be what is popular today. Since the end of last year, I can't help but notice a sudden return of brands and styles that I've definetly seen before. From the Reebok Pump to the NikeAir Force, each of these emblematic models is back and better than ever.

 

.


With time, certain brands have anticipated this trend and noticed that adolescents / young adults that grew up in the 1990's now have buying power that cannot be ignored..... 

Among these nostalgic returns, let's not forget the sudden rise in interest for the Timberland 6 Premium.

Well known by the pillars of the Hip Hop movement, Timberland has for a long time been the loyal companion of the American rap scene. From the Wu-Tang Clan to Tupac, the heavyweights of old school rap have at one time or another worn these classic shoes. 

The durability of these shoes are no doubt one of the reasons. Their large and sturdy style is not just for looks. Anyone who has ever tried on a pair of  Timberland boots knows that these shoes were made to last for years, no matter what the circumstance. 

Time will tell if this "so" '90s shoe will find their place in a new decade ....

U Roads - A Committed Shoe

The protection of the environment is a necessity. Some brands, like Veja and the very young and trendy Faguo Shoes have understood this and are really starting to make a difference.

With their concept of recycled shoes, the Italian brand U Roads has also become a pioneer of the eco-citizen movement. Created in 1992 in Italy, U Roads designs all kinds of trainers, shoes and boots in leather, canvas, and recycled tyres (!).

The particularity of U Roads is the manufacturing of the sole of the shoe thanks to recycled tyres. What's more, they are the only shoe brand in the world to have been accredited by the United Nations Programme for the Environment.

One more proof that is it possible to combine style and respect for the environment.

To rain or not to rain .....

Last week, I took the first annual leave of my career ( except for sick days and family obligations), to take a weekend holiday to the countryside. No, i'm  not joking.

 

.

Even though the weather forcast from my Iphone tried to make me see the bright side with an optimistic forcast ( same location, same date, yet 2 degrees warmer than the forcast on TV...go figure). But the essential is the same: rain for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

I was hoping to make the summer last a little bit longer, but I just don't see that happening anymore. I would at least like to keep my feet dry as you never know how the weather will change! Luckly I found these Aigle Venise Deluxe boots. The English countryside isn't exactly Venice, but a good rubber boot will take you anywhere! 

Nike Air Force One

With the 45 year anniversary of the Adidas Stan Smith , I completely forgot to mention another high-profile trainer - the aptly named Air Force One from Nike. Even though the Stan Smith is older ( the Air Force One is "only" 27 years old ), they have still sold an impressive 15 million pairs worldwide.

The Nike Air Force One was created in 1982 and owes it's name to the airplane of the president of the United States. Originally designed for basketball players, the Air Force One quickly became a hit with the public, becoming even emblematic of the Hip Hop scene and American urban culture.

 

To fight against counterfeiters and imitations that are unfortunately quite common, Nike now proposes a certificate of authenticity for each and every pair of Air Force One sold. The perfect way to reinforce the iconic status of this mythical trainer....

What lengths will you go to for your boots?

With thigh-high boots being all the rage this autumn in fashion magazines as well as in the blogosphere, the honorable mid-length boot has largely gone unnoticed. And yet, they keep popping up in all the AW 2009-2010 collections of our favourite brands : Cosmo Paris, Chie Mihara, Minelli...

What exactly IS the mid-length boot ? It is a compromise between the low/ankle boot (that covers the ankle) and the boot that stops at a few inches from the knee. The mid-length boot stops at the mid-calf. Some will tell you there is no difference between low boots and mid-length boots. Could they be right ?

The more important question is : which pair will I choose? 

Quite a few models have already caught my attention and are on the top of my wish list for October. October is the month of the mid-length boot. Low boots are for September.

After hesitating between a bunch of  Chie Mihara models such as Echus ou Valetta, I've really fallen hard for this model :

I love the pleated effect of the leather, the colour, the rounded toe and nice hight of the heel that will brighten up even the most dreary autumn day .

- page 2 of 3 -