Tag Archives: leopard print

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 Chunter #3: Love shirty

Posted in Chit Chat Chew, Chit Chat Chunter by

There are many reasons why I love the summer tennis season, that hazy trio: Roland Garros, Queens, Wimbledon.

It’s partly nostalgic I think, still somehow symbolic of the approaching long summer holidays (remember?), the end of exams, freedom?

I’m also a massive fan of uniforms. Or should I say, I’m a massive fan of the opportunity for discreet disobedience afforded by a uniform and each year, tennis’ top players show the very best of uniform flouting, especially at Wimbledon.(See Gossip Girl seasons 1 and 2 for more glorious examples). For no other reason than tradition, Wimbledon imposes the White Clothing Rule, and since a recent clamp-down in 2014, strictly white and only white may be worn on court.

And yet, every year someone, usually Serena, manages to sneak in a snip of colour. It is not just a neon trim, a hued sweat band or a bright nail; it is self-expression, rule-breaking, identity. It does remind me of school and one of my own early style triumphs when I took to wearing a polo neck under my shirt in the winter –brazen I thought, bizarre I realise.

Whilst someone in Roger Federer’s camp decided a personal logo was required to identify the Swiss senior, other players use style alone to delineate their brand: Montfils’ long shorts, Sharapova’s visor, Ivanovic’s all black or the William’s brights.  For yes, most tournaments actually allow players to wear colour!

Mimicking the global trend for brightly coloured gym wear, the clay courts of this year’s Roland Garros have been a mad clash of neon brights and I have been loving it. Nike has decked out its players in fluo orange and lilac – stripes for Safarova, leopard for Serena, naturally.

A wonderful confluence of meteorology and mode also allowed for another trend that I have spotted and loved: the long sleeve. For beneath the grey skies of early matches, many females took to the sleeve and even Sharapova’s slightly incongruous nautical stripe looked great.

In fact, the only real fashion-fail of the tournament was Roland Garros’ own ball picker-uppers, (I’m letting Stan Wawrinka off on this occasion…), who were put in most unfortunate outfits. Everything about the girls’ outfit was wrong: from the racer back vest (not suitable for pre-teens), to the long hockey socks (err…35◦C anyone?), to the URL plastered across the back (too obvious). It was a look that lacked any of the sophistication we would usually enjoy from tennis or expect of the French; mais oui, the outfit was, basically, vulgar.

Thankfully the French can usually be relied upon to hold it together style-wise and the crowd largely pulled through this year unscathed.

However, this photo fromRoland Garros my last visit to the tournament a few years ago proves that one must always be on one’s guard – even at the tennis, even in France.