The great commute.

At work I mostly wear heels. Be it a stiletto, a block heel, or wedge, it generally doesn't have less than an inch worth of height. Let's face it, I am behind a desk for most of the day, so the higher the heel the happier I am!

Getting to work however, now that is another story. In London, compared to NYC, there is a lot more walking between locations and tube stops, so walking shoes are essential. For me there is just something not right about putting on a pair of running shoes to walk to work, so flats it is. If I am going to buy a pair of shoes it might as well be something I love, right?  

As if I needed a reason to have a whole other set of shoes.....

Zara  £29.99                                                                                                                 J. Crew  £278

Zara £89.99                                                            Robert Clergerie via Opening Ceremony $495

Nordstrom $79.95                                                                         Miu Miu via My Theresa $650

Gucci via My Theresa  $595                                                                                     J. Crew £158 

shopping destination. Portugal

This was a busy summer. Not because I had a baby earlier this year, but because I decided to take advantage of my maternity leave as much as possible. Everyone said, travel before the baby starts moving, it will never get easier. Plus, when would I ever have this time, just me and this little person, to enjoy each other's company and get paid to do it? So hit the road we did. 

First stop was Italy. Then we went home, to San Diego. Back to England and in the car for 6.5 hours to get to Cornwall.  Then finally one last hurrah before heading back to work. I was off to Portugal for a girls (+ baby) trip, where we were heading to Lisbon and Porto. 

Olá Portugal! I had no expectations at all but honestly Lisbon and Porto were total gems. Lisbon was fantastic and I am planning to go back, hopefully sooner rather than later. Porto was interesting as it was a real intersection of old and new, I am still processing it, but we came across the best shopping I had seen in a long time. Apparently Bloomberg ran a piece just earlier this month claiming that Porto is a fashion and design destination. I couldn't agree more.

Three shops that we stumbled across that I would absolutely go out of my way to visit again. Clerigos In, an amazing shop in Passeio dos Clerigos, with eye wear plus a spattering of fashion and lifestyle pieces sprinkled in. Daily-Day carries fantastic local brands as well as their own in house brand and feels super of the moment. Finally  The Feeting Room which had great shoes for men and women with an added bonus of accessories, again for both sexes. 

Portugal, I am coming back for more. Até logo! 

What shoes you need this fall

When starting your fall shopping sprees, which will undoubtably be fueled by every September issue out there alongside all the newly arriving items in all your favorite shops, you will need to be focused. What do you already have in your closet? Well some of these things I am sure you already have, but some, you probably don't yet.  

So when it comes to buying shoes, keep these things in mind. Low/kitten heels, animal skins (faux is just fine by me), animal print, calf hair, rich colors, metallics and loafers.  

Urban Outfitters $125

Zara $119

Zara $49.90

Dolce Vita $129

Club Monaco $298

Zara $59.90

Can you literally fall in love with shoes?

It is Friday. My feet, my body; everything is tired. Then, THEN, I saw these. If I could just put any of these on my feet I would be happy, rejuvenated, and ready for anything this Friday could throw at me. Ok, I get that maybe these are not work appropriate but at the very least you could float into the office in these, and then float out to start the weekend. 

€ 595

€ 560

€ 535

€ 285

€ 595

€ 595

All images courtesy of Charlotte Olympia

Shoes that sell themselves

If only I could sell the way that Charlotte Olympia's new 9 till 5 collection has practically sold out in a matter of days since launching. That will teach me to put something off for tomorrow, that I could have done yesterday!

The collection launched on the 4th of June and as of now there are only 7 styles left! The shoes are available on Charlotte Olympia with a few limited styles via Net-a-Porter as well. Get them while you can, these guys are selling like hot cakes!

metallics for work

Top Row: Whistles £125, Zero+Mariacornejo via The Outnet £282, Lulu Frost via Whistles £125, Whistles £65 Second Row: Zara $119, J. Crew $248 Third Row: Kate Spade NY $258, Hunter via The Outnet £53.40 Fourth Row: Kate Spade NY $78, Kate Spade NY $225 Fifth Row: Burberry Prorsum £1,795, Jimmy Choo £450, J. Crew $188, COS £69

Rain Gear for work

Basically this post is an excuse to look at more trenches, well and some other great rain appropriate work wear to help deal with spring showers, like the ones we are having right NOW in London.

Hunter £175, Barbour via Liberty £249, Kate Spade NY $38, Asos £40, Hunter via Urban Outfitters $150, Jack Wills £59.50, Marks & Spencer £29.50, Whistles £275, Tibi via Les Nouvelles $695, DKNY via Matches £595, Boden £89.25, S Maxmara via Matches £510, JuJu via Urban Outfitters $69, J. Crew £219, Sloosh Italy via Shopbop $220

Pointy toed flats are back (for work). THANK GOODNESS.

L.K. Bennett £155, Loeffler Randall $250, Carvela Kurt Geiger £59, J. Crew $228, J. Crew $188, Jimmy Choo via Nordstrom $525, Carvela Kurt Geiger £49, Salvatore Ferragamo via Nordstrom $450, B.P.by Nordstrom $49.95, L.K. Bennett £165, Tabitha Simmons via Selfridges £445, Joan and David via Nordstrom $139.95, Next £38, Next £26, Next £35, Next £38, Charles by Charles David via Nordstrom $59.47, Kate Spade New York via Nordstrom $258, Coach via Nordstrom $188, Christian Louboutin £695, Zara £59.99, Valentino via Nordstrom $895, Zara $59.90, Tods via Selfridges £350, Zara $59.90, Rupert Sanderson £465, Hobbs £129, Dune £25

*Zara shoes shown are available on both the US and UK sites

Loafers. My new 'go to' commuter shoe

I was determined to bring back the penny loafer when I bought mine last summer. Much to my pleasant surprise I have seen a resurgence of loafers for Spring 2014 and I have to say I couldn't be happier. With the ground thawing out I am starting to wear mine again, but loafers don't have to be warm weather shoes. In case spring hasn't sprung where you are you can certainly pair these with sock. With socks, or without, with a penny in them or not, these might be your new all season go to commuting shoe!

Images courtesy of & Other Stories, G.H. Bass & Co & Style Girlfriend

& Other Stories. I love you

Continuing with the theme of Valentine's Day I thought I would make a confession of love. 

I am in LOVE with & Other Stories

So now that we got that out of the way.... Are you surprised that the store is part of the H&M Group? After all the Swedes seem unable to do wrong. Sadly, & Other Stories is only available, currently, in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Here are some things that I LOVE right now. If you have not checked them out though, seriously visit www.stories.com and get ready for some major butterflies.

All images from & Other Stories