Category Archives: Chit Chat Cherish

Chit Chat Cherish #3:  How to flip flop.

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Hello! 

Thought I’d share my latest bits and pieces for my holiday, starting with flip flops; and this, needless to say, has got me thinking.

Yikes, I know…flip flops (or thongs as you lovely Americans like to say! ❤️) are tricky. 

Personally I have a few rules, the most important of which is that they are for the beach ONLY. 

On the sand, we have all made an unspoken agreement to bare parts of our body otherwise reserved for the beautician (…or partners from time to time…) , so it’s fair game. But seriously, people walking down Bradford high street in flat rubber flip flops, or worse, wearing them to the office? Nope. 

It’s not even the toes that offend – sandals can be considered in all contexts. It’s something about the bearing of the sole and, for that matter, the soul too. At best it says ‘I don’t want to be here’ or ‘I’ve not given my Summer footwear enough thought this season’, at worst it betrays ‘I live miles from the sea but I’m hanging on to my adolescent ‘surfer babe’ self’. 

But then, there really is no other item for the beach. To add to this, Mr Chit Chat declared his hatred of my previous (free-from-a-magazine) pair. 

Like I said: tricky. 

Also, I don’t want to pay out top dollar for what is never going to be more than a few strips of material – even if it is leather. So if, like me, you wore Havianas 15 years ago, before they were sold in TopShop, this is a real quandary. 

Anyway, I’ve settled on this pair for the holidays and I think they’re broadly inoffensive?

  
These are from Tory Burch at The Outnet for, I think, £22 instead of £50 ish, which I think is acceptable. Keep checking as there’s been a few different arrivals of them. 

I don’t usually do florals, but in this case my sole/soul will be disguising the pattern, amongst other things. 😉

Chit Chat Cherish #2: The leopard and the salmon

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Have I shared my love of leopard with you yet? Well, be prepared to hear lots about it, for my affair with feline fash is long standing and definitely not set to dwindle with so many great pieces out there.

On this note, I wanted to share with you my new pumps, which, needless to say, I adore!!Leopard

These beauties are from Boden, whose footwear has long been a favourite of mine. They come in a variety of patterns, but for me it was leopard or bust.

Well, I say that… the truth is there were times when I thought me and these beauts were not meant to be at all: we’ve been through some hard times already.

First, I ordered online and whilst the obligatory striped Breton tops arrived swiftly, no sign of the shoes – a little shy I thought? Weeks later, I had still received no shoes, no signs, no messages and it was only when I called up that I was told they had in fact sold out of these pumps after all, result: me not a happy bunny (or should I say kitty…?)

After endless mediation emails with the eponymous “Susan Salmon” (could they have thought of a more ridiculous customer service pseudonym?), I was eventually rewarded £10 for my troubles and, trying to be reasonable, settled on the Pony print pair instead (although of course, my heart was really with leo…).

Anyway, the lovely “Susan” then got in touch to let me know that the Leopard pair might be coming back into stock. Hooray: “Pony Schmony; size 40 please”.

When, finally the spotty package arrived, my instinct about the pumps’ supreme beauty was confirmed, but alas, so were my suspicions about our difficult relationship: why couldn’t they just fit?  Prepared to make a final move for reconciliation, I immediately checked online to see if they were showing in stock in a 41 (absurd, right?); they weren’t. But, as a last ditch attempt to save our relationship, I made a final call and then, there they were, in my arms at last!

And I love them; our relationship is very much back on track and I have learned some valuable lessons:

  • Never take an online “no” for an answer, always call too
  • Beware correspondence with fishy-sounding, alliterated ladies
  • And finally, LOVE LEOPARD, NEVER LET IT GO!

Chit Chat Cherish #1: A new bag 

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Hello! 

I just had to quickly share my new bag with you : I ❤️ it! 

I usually invest a bit in bags (on the basis of the ‘price per wear’ ratio) but this one is an absolute steal from one of my high street favourites: Matalan (or ‘Matt Alan’ as my Dad calls it.)

It’s kind of sporty chic and was probably designed as a gym bag, but since the gym and I aren’t on good terms these days, I’ll be rocking it as an everyday casual. 

Plus, I am OBSESSED with neon. Some might say neon had its day around 18 months ago, but I think a black outfit with a neon bag or shoe is a timeless look.

So, here it is… What do you think?

  
I’ll try to get a few shots of me wearing it in the next few days and post them up, but in the meantime I suggest you all dash to Matalan (it doesn’t seem to be online) and grab a timeless bargain – at £14 you can’t go wrong, right?