Zara's spring summer shoe extravaganza

Spending the last couple of weeks of the radar with a nasty chest infection that pretty much left me confined to my own bed, didn't really help much when it came to fashion inspiration. 

However, shoes are one of these items that not even a nasty medical condition can stop me from thinking about and Zara's new spring/summer collection is full of some of the most exciting spring/summer shoes I have seen in the last few years. 

I have to admit I'm terribly picky with shoes especially when it comes to summer shoes but it seems that this summer , the list of option is endless and quite exciting and Zara is certainly leading the way on the high-street in my opinion with plenty of choice. 

Paint it black

After my last admiration post dedicated to the gorgeous Stella McCartney shoes and my disappointment that I will probably never have a chance of actually owning a pair, I remembered this pair of black pointy block heel shoes from Zara that for some strange and mysterious reason Zara only had in green, although a lovely shade of green, when I first saw them I kept saying to myself how much I would love to own a similar pair in black, the green was just not convincing or worth the investment, but it's funny how things have changed. A couple of days ago I popped to Zara to have a quick look around and noticed they had a few pairs of these green shoes in the sale and thought to myself whether I'll be taking a giant gamble buying them and painting them black. Now I can honestly say, I'm really terrible doing any type of DIY work and usually stay away from anything as it would probably end in a disaster, but after a quick online search I realised there are plenty of simple shoe dying colours which are quite affordable ( 5 pounds in comparison to the 20 pounds the local cobbler asked for). The colour I used was Dylon black leather shoes dye  and the process was quite simple , albeit a little messy because the dye is really watery, almost like ink which means it gets a little messy and splatters everywhere, my biggest worry was having the dye leaving marks on my floor so instead of newspapers I used old plastic water resistant envelopes which seemed to be a safer option. Overall I'm really happy with the result, the dye didn't leave any nasty marks or residue, and a little bit of shoe polish helped getting rid of the matte look after the dye and I now have a great new pair of black pointy shoes.

Monster

Whilst I still get myself to properly think about what I'm wearing now , I can quite easily build a fantasy summer wardrobe in my head and at the moment I'm having a serious discussion with myself about which of these shoes would fit into my imaginative summer wardobe?

I have a soft spot for chunky and somewhat clumsy looking shoes, some might consider those as a bit of a fashion monstrosity but simplicity and practicality always seem to come first on my list, so no wonder I'm slowly becoming captivated by this trend and whilst I really can't see myself jumping on the Birkenstok-mania that is slowly unfolding, these sandals from Zara are certainly tick the boxes as to the type of sandals I can see fit for my imaginary summer wardrobe. 

Pigeon toes and tulle

I seem to have fallen for one of those terribly trendy items and couldn't get my sight of this tulle skirt in my recent visit to Zara. I think somewhere deep inside it was another flashback to the past, this time to the brief period in my late teens when I dabbled in all things 'goth' , at the time I could only wish to find such a great skirt so obviously I had to compensate myself for the sad goth days when I could only dream about a skirt like that. I suppose I can keep looking for excuses about why I needed it and just be honest and admit, I just can't seem to force myself to be a grown-up and dress like one !

A little bit of sparkle !

So I caved in and bought this lovely jewelled sweatshirt from Zara after all and I absolutely love it! It's actually slightly lighter than it looks in the product shots on the website but I just couldn't say no when I tried it on, it's the perfect companion to the standard and boring black skirt. The jewel embellishments remind me of my childhood, a time when my wardrobe was full of cute little jumpers that my mum used to receive as hand-me downs from my cousins who used to live in the USA at the time, my mum used to sew all sorts of patches and cute embellishments to make them feel brand new and exciting. It's quite funny because I can't even imagine my mum considering adding any jewelled embellishments to any item in her wardrobe now and I'm quite looking forward to seeing her reaction to me wearing this embellished little number. 

Zara faves

Among the black dresses and chunky knits, I spotted these two lovely pieces at Zara. Perhaps it's the grey weather that makes me want to escape all the black I'm usually covering myself in, these two items more than anything remind me more of spring than winter and I have a feeling they'll work extremely well together. Perhaps these might be the solution to the incredibly boring search for a Christmas-do outfit, something that I'll later also be able to wear every day? I'm certainly going to keep this sweatshirt and skirt on my mind next time I pop into Zara for a quick browse.

Some heavy metal

I realised a few weeks ago that I stopped wearing jewellery almost completely, it hit me when I was actually planning to wear a necklace I loved but because it's been so long since I actually worn any jewellery I couldn't even figure out where I put my jewellery box. 

Today for some reason it seems my sudden lack of interest in jewellery has reverted when I saw this pack of chunky metal bracelets while taking a little stroll to Zara at lunch. I love a few nicely stacked metal bracelets, the chunkier the better so this pack of bracelets is just the perfect treat after a long week at work and a great way for me to start wearing some jewellery again.

Bag obsession - the gym backpack

It seems like I can’t go a week without developing an obsession for a handbag style and after my foray into the controversial world of bumbags recently, I’m now developing a slight obsession with drawstring gym bags. Yes, it’s yet another time-travel adventure for me, back to the summer camp days when I was forced to pack all of my daily summer camp belongings into a flimsy drawstring bag decorated with all sorts of colourful and ridiculous motifs that were there to remind you what summer camp you’re in. Obviously, once the summer camp days were gone, I never had to look at the drawstring gym bag again, but recently it seems they’ve been slowly making their way back and luckily, this time, the loud and colorful is replaced by sophisticated and practical making the drawstring gym bag feel a little more age appropriate. 

These are some of my favourite picks, ranging from the very high end and ridiculously expensive Alexander Wang x  Samsung bag to the slightly more affordable high street option from Zara.  

Combat mode

It's been somewhat of a manic Sunday morning for me, I'm currently writing this while on a train journey to visit a friend who's leaving for a long period to travel around the world.

I woke up in a bit of a combative mood ( a mixture of not feeling very well an waking up way too early) and this outfit was the first thing I thought off. Sadly it was still too dark to actually snap a proper photo of this outfit so a quick browse through polyvore while on my train journey has helped to sort it out. 

I was trying to steer clear from the camouflage trend but I really fell in love with this pencil skirt from Topshop, it has a bit of an elegant touch to it despite the camouflage print. The shoes from Office were meant to be my winter shoes this year but I'm still having a hard time breaking into them so I have a spare pair of shoes in my bag in case it all gets too much!

Coat choices

Time seems to fly and it's nearly November, that time of the year when the temperatures drop low enough to switch from the 'fall jacket' to the proper 'winter coat'. I'm usually a one coat person, I buy one every two or three years and usually stick with it until I decide it's time for a new one. This year I'm very tempted to buy a new winter coat simply because there are so many great classic silhouettes that will work for years to come. I already have last year's biker coat from Zara which served me and will serve me very well for a long time but  I also really want a classic cut double breasted coat, a style that will be truly transcend any seasonal trend madness and will be the  practical go-to pieces on cold days for years. It's great to have a trendy coat but I feel it's time for a proper coat investment.

Black and white accessories edit

Would it be fair to say I'm going through a phase in which I'm more interested in accessories than actual clothes? Well, right now after stocking up on some brightly coloured accessories over the weekend, my attention seemed to have swayed over to anything that is black and white, I still haven't found my perfect black and white item (I think it's due to the fact there's way too many to choose from!) but when I do I think I would focus on the accessories department first. I would be happy to find the right item those that will  transcend seasonal trends and become a classic outfit staple that I'll hopefully still be able to enjoy in the next few seasons (and yes , I'm looking at you Marc Jacobs flats!)

Saturday play

Iro printed skirt, Zara jumper, Bershka shoes

I was really looking forward to the weekend, I needed rest and time for myself. I have quite a big week coming ahead and I wanted to dedicate this for some well deserved quiet time, however I was really surprised this morning when I woke up and the sun was shining, which meant I couldn't resist getting out of my apartment and enjoying a few hours in the sun (as much as you can get when it's still only 6 degrees outside). I also felt it would be a good time to try out the Iro skirt my mum surprised me with earlier this week and as usual I teamed it with a simple black jumper to keep me warm. I seem to be stuck with this look , a printed skirt and a simple jumper and some days I feel as if it's become my one and only look recently , which seems to be quite frustrating for me recently as I feel like most outfits just don't come very easily and my creativity is at all time low,  but today I felt this playful combination was right in place. A simple outfit again but in my opinion just the perfect look for a Saturday morning walk outside. 

Zara February Lookbook

Photo: Zara.com

My head seems to be bursting with fashion overload at the moment, on one end there is me feeling absolutely uninspired and unmotivated when it comes to getting dressed, then it's fashion week season time which is only raising the level of confusion , one minute I'm gasping at new new Spring/Summer items praying for the winter to end and a minute later browsing through Fall/Winter runway shows. And then, somewhere in the middle another lookbook from Zara is out ,showcasing beautiful new looks which would probably be far too adventurous for my kind.There's no mistake that Zara is on the spot every season and this latest lookbook and especially this ensemble above are simply adding more sighs and gasps to the massive fashion noise in my head. These words obviously come strictly out of love because this would be my ideal spring time outfit, if only it didn't feel like spring is light-years away. So for now I'll go back to and crawl under my duvet, drink a warm cup of team and keep day dreaming about white sweatshirts and brightly printed skirts. 

Monday surprises

There's nothing that makes me happier than getting a package from home , but I really wasn't prepared for what my mum put in the package I received this morning. When she told me a couple of weeks ago she's got a really special surprise in the post for me I was hoping for some sweets and snacks from back home but when I opened the package I got this morning I couldn't believe my eyes. The package included some of my favourites sweets but tucked neatly under layers of wrapping paper I found this Zara jacket and the Iro skirt I was planning to buy in the sales but decided it would be a little bit too much for my budget. I was so surprised with the contents of this package I almost felt like crying. Luckily I'm going to visit my family next month so I think I'll have to think of a nice way to pay back my mum for those insanely expensive treats she packed for me, she also let me on a little secret about where she found this skirt on a very heavy discount and promised we'll take a trip to check out the place when I'm on my holiday next month.

A practical bag?

Some days are just not good outfit days no matter what , Mondays come to mind when I think of days like these so instead of the outfit I prefer to focus on the accessory. This bag is a great example of a compact and practical bag that's also quite roomy. 

On most days I carry a giant tote around as it's easy for me to just stuff it with whatever I need without thinking too much but today I've spent most of my morning outside and wanted to carry a small and light bag with only the really essential things I needed. 

I found this bag in the Zara sale, I bought it because I thought of using it as a camera bag, but since I don't often carry my camera with me I debated whether I should keep it. This morning I made my mind when I realised it's actually quite perfect for days I spend outside, running from meetings to trains and whatnot, it's quite light and roomy so I can fit my notebooks and my tablet easily and I love  the fact it looks classic but a little edgy with the metal details on the straps and clasp. 

Comfort zone

I've been trying to take an advantage of the early morning sunshine earlier today , it's still cold but the sun was out this morning when I woke up and I decided that I don't want to waste time at home when it's so sunny outside and I think it pretty much influenced what I wore. I really wanted something light and comfortable, no jumpers layered with thermals and scarves or anything too heavy. I also really wanted to wear my Isabel Marant Etoile t-shirt again and try to work it into the outfit despite the cold, I thought I'd brave it and wear it just like that as I had to wear a coat anyway, but decided to layer it with a shirt as I felt it might be too cold. I know here's nothing really exciting about this, I just like how the three items work together. I'm thinking this would be a great outfit for spring and can't wait for the weather to warm up a little, I guess there's still time for that but in the meantime I'm happy with the result as it is because it's comfortable and fun and doesn't make me feel too frumpy with too many layers of jumpers and whatnot. 

No extras

A printed skirt and a solid jumper , probably my favourite outfit to wear when I'm in a rush or can't really decide on what to wear. When I wear a skirt like that I prefer to keep it simple. This skirt is a recent purchase from Zara's new collection, I really didn't think I would like it as I thought the print was a little too much and my friend kept laughing at me and asking if I'm planning a magic carpet ride!  but after trying it on with just a black jumper I actually thought it's amazing, it's really not the sort of print I would usually go for but I definitely fell in love with it after trying it on. I'm thinking that a skirt like that doesn't really need any additions , no jewelry or accessories, just a solid top which makes this a perfect outfit for days I just don't feel like fussing around too much. 

Feeding the obsession - Zara lunch bag clutch

Zara lunch bag clutch

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned I developed a slight obsession for lunch bag style clutches and although I'm not a clutch person myself I sort of started thinking I wouldn't mind one although I really couldn't justify the cost of the ones I liked,which lead me as always back to Zara, the place that seems to cater to every silly fashion obsession I have. I was actually looking for a birthday present for a friend, checking out the Zara website when I stumbled across this bag which was perfect to satisfy my obsession for a lunch bag clutch.  I thought to myself this can serve as a nice little treat and I also got one for my friend who absolutely loved it and can't stop talking about how cool it is. I think for the price it's actually serves as a nice accessory and the best thing is that it actually has a detachable strap so can be carried on the shoulder which is perfect for someone like me who loses her patience with clutches very quickly. So although it's not the designer clutch I was dreaming about, I'm still quite happy with it as it's quite affordable but still looks cool.

I've had better days ...

Zara jumper and military shirt

The last few days have been just a bit too much for me, starting with ice and snow on the weekend and continuing with a terrible flu which I just can't shake off. The idea of walking into Zara on my way back home from the GP's office yesterday was an absolutely stupid idea but not surprisingly I was just drown in like a fool.

I actually planned to go there to check what happened to an order I made on-line (a very long story!) but since I spent the last few days in my pyjamas,I was really tempted to treat myself to something new and bright, something that feels like Spring and would help to shake a bit of the winter blues. Since I haven't been to Zara for a while I was hoping that new season items will be everywhere. I discovered I was wrong as it looked like the sale was still in full force and only a tiny section was dedicated to new season pieces, disappointed but still not ready to admit to my defeat I picked up these two very basic items that are probably a sharp contrast to anything that can be considered 'springy', a black jumper and a grey shirt that perfectly represent my mood right now as I'm sitting at home wrapped in layers just wishing for this flu to be over already and for the sun to come out and melt the ice and snow. I already have some ideas in mind for both so I'm really looking forward to getting better and having the opportunity to play around with both. 

Defying the cold with Isabel Marant Etoile

Isabel Marant Etoile T-shirt, Zara shirt, H&M skirt

All this week since getting this lovely Isabel Marant Etoile t-shirt I've been dying to wear, almost every morning I tried to figure out a way to fit it in to my outfits despite the cold weather but eventually given up because it was just way too cold. Funnily enough, today of all days when the temperature outside has hit the zero mark , I decided that no matter what I'm going to wear this t-shirt when I go out to meet my friends for our Sunday Lunch,  so eventually I put on my Khaki Zara shirt to help me keep warm(I mentioned how this shirt is slowly becoming one of my go-to items!) and my faux leather skir which I'm loving more and more every time I get a chance to wear it. I'll be honest, I'm actually freezing but luckily the pub is just around the corner from me and I have my trusty coat to keep me warm on my way to the pub for my Veggie Sunday Roast and a couple of beers with my friends, there's no better way to warm up and wrap up the weekend! 

Happy Sunday :)