Luxury Shoes.

Do we really need to splurge on brands???

Are luxury brands for everybody?

Why am I OBSESSED?

My 1st pair of Choos! 

Aaand another Choo...

Shining Bright!

With the man himself! 

Local Designer Shoes

I am known for my shoes! A kid even drew me ....SPOT ON! (with heels on)

Here's a story.

Many years ago, an ex-boyfriend brought me to meet his siblings. That was during the time when Juke Box shoes were popular among the non-working population here in Malaysia. I tell you, I could get an awesome gladiator inspired tie up sandals for as cheap as RM5! Mind-blowing huh? 

Anyway, I must have worn a pair from my Juke Box collection to his place. 

So one of his brother's rich girlfriend came out, looked at the glaring label that read JUKE BOX and laughed at me while asking the other girls to 'check out' my shoes.

I couldn't say anything of course. 

Years later, I grew up, I worked and I found my love for shoes...and acquired a taste for luxury shoes. See, to me however, it is always STYLE before BRANDS...whichever that looked good on my feet.

Also the fact that I earn enough to buy whatever shoes I liked (whether paid in full or in instalments) I can afford them MYSELF. 

Unlike that person who lived off her father's money (... and yes, she's much, MUCH older and STILL SINGLE now). No judgments! (O.K...I'm lying!)

Next purchase...Valentino! It's coming home... (get it?? England...WorldCup 2018...)

Finally, in order to answer the 3 questions above;

1. Do we really need to splurge on brands???

NO, not unless you want to. There is NO pressure. ONLY Trends & Style.

1. Are luxury brands for everybody?

YESSSS, If you like it, then work for it and then get it! (They usually last and are made with better materials)

1. Why am I OBSESSED?

Well, truth be told, there is no excuse for my obsession...only driven by passion and for the love of shoes. (..and probably also due to the fact that I might have been slightly affected by that woman who laughed at my awesome JUKE BOX shoes. There. I CANNOT lie!)

Well, you are done reading...so whatd'ya think? Am I crazy?

Let me know what you personally feel/think...

Do we actually need fit-for-purpose shoes?

Some years back, I bought myself a pair of hiking shoes...to hike Gunung Lambak Kluang.

Meanwhile, my 5-year old hiked up the same hill...all the way to the peak...in a pair of Crocs!

Adidas Outdoor AX 2 Hiking Shoes

With a firm grip for wet terrain

That's my boy, red t-shirt on the right... in his green pair pre-hiking!

So I question myself, are we way into our heads when making purchases these days...that we need every item off the rack to fit every single activity that we do?

Take hiking for instance. As I hike up the mount every once a month, I see all sorts of hikers passing me by. There are the younger ones with their full gears on, then there are also the older ones (like you'd be surprised kinda older ones...80-and-still-hiking-ones!) with their old shoes or sandals and nothing! ...And they are perfectly fine!

I tried to go up in my regular running pair but I kept feeling the strain when on wet terrain (ooooh this sounds like a potentially good rap-song.....'strain when on a wet terrain'! hahahaha).

So I was thrilled when my darling husband got me the Adidas Outdoor AX2! (We actually got this as a preparation for tackling Mount Kinabalu)

This pair, for me is THE BEST for hiking smaller mountains such as Gunung Lambak, Kluang (coz that's where I hike mostly-as a workout!). You could climb over slippery rocks and muddy/leafy paths easily without slipping off like I'd do in my old worn out slippers! (hehehehe)

You must remember that my body has changed over the past 6 years and my knees definitely need all the necessary support like the ones I get from Adidas! I have the balancing skill of a wobbly jelly on a moving truck...and the shoes are definitely made for the likes of me!

If I were a lot thinner and fitter (no NO NOOOOO I am not complaining ....I love my body now!!!!), I would probably be alright running up and down the mount in regular running shoes like the ones I see those cool & fit old uncles have on...of Bata & Pallas brands...

Or maybe those brands are actually good! Well they have come a long way...why, even our current Prime Minister Tun Mahathir wears them too!

Maybe I should get myself a pair of Bata shoes and write a review after hiking with them on.
Hmmmm....what say you?

Casual Momma

No. We do not have to resort to slipping into ultra-worn out flip flops or slippers when heading to the wet market or when we need to go pick the kids from school.

Nah-uh! NO.

After birthing 2 big (but adorable babies) I decided to take care of every inch of my body!

Here's why;
At some point way back then, due to the lack of time (and zero help)... I would run my errands in my pyjamas and yes, you guessed it...worn out slippers. So worn out that one more layer off and I'd be literally walking barefoot.

I would have 'nearly' fell like a million times!!! And after numerous (kinda annoying) comments about getting myself a new pair, I would snub them off saying that I was fine. Just coz' more than getting me a pair of new slippers, I would rather my husband pay for a new help! (then)

Eventually, after more near misses, I decided to spice things up for myself...body, hair, face, feet and all.

I accepted my husband dearest's offer to get me a pair of Crocs!

FYI, I used to dislike this brand (for the design) SO MUCH... that I banned my husband from wearing them for a while. And I remember (ehermm..quite vaguely) how I swore that I would never be caught dead in a pair.

Somehow...it started with one pair...in PINK!!! and then I got another (in a more classy blue) and now we are practically Crocs Brand Ambassadors! Hahahahaha (I wish!)

They have various designs which are so un-Croc like!!! I approve!

SO now...after all the drama and being in denial...I'm a Croc user. They are comfortable, trendy & durable!

Here are some photos I have of my Crocs...enjoy!

LiteRide...the lining is SUPER COMFY!!!

I try to match my shoes to a bag.

Crocs & Prada

Loving this shade of Blue!!!

My girl & I in pink Crocs

My boy & girl in their Crocs for a hike!

Is buying shoes online a smart move???

Purchased from Lazada

Purchased from Lazada

This pair is from Zalora

Despite the many advice against buying shoes from an online platform, I went ahead and got these pairs from Lazada & Zalora.

I realised that there are 2 things you need to be very sure of before the purchase;

1. The reliability of the platform you choose to buy from...
2. Your shoe size!

I tried Lazada & Zalora because of its rising popularity a few years back. Also, as the sites were gaining popularity (then), they had to ensure that there were no issues with shipping and the condition of products delivered.

So here's what I did to ensure I got the right pair...or pairs!

• Roughly know what shoe design you are looking for (I wanted pumps & a Mary-jane like heels for work and for whenever I had to make appearances for social events). This makes it easier to search rather than browsing over hundreds of pairs!
• Know your shoe size & how they can differ with brands (the size charts provided are reliable!) I'm usually a size 38-40 depending on various brands and shoe type.
• Look out for a more lasting material and a comfortable lining (leather or faux leather usually disintegrates in time or with lack of care/ improper storage)- read the product description given before recklessly buying and then whining over how you made a mistake buying shoes online!!!

The 2 pairs I bought from Lazada (as shown in pic 1 & 2 above) are China brands and the one shown in the 3rd pic is branded as Zalora.

Not your usual brands, but they were the pairs I wanted and they are awesome! Here's how I styled them China babies;

Do check out my instagram page (send me a message first?...I have a private profile...long story.) to check out how & when I wear my shoes!

Till my next post...

xoxo

Izabela d/o Aldo ;p

Meet Izabela from Aldo, US size 9, EU size 40.
This beauty caught my eyes at the Aldo, JPO (Johor Premium Outlet) and I got them for RM...Wait, I swear I cannot remember for the life of me!!!! (it was discounted and I was on a shopping frenzy!!)
It has chunky heels, which is a new venture for me and quite fortunately for me, they work! I'll tell you why...
Firstly, I am a mom of 2, which means the entire structure of my body has changed over the years (heavily rolling my eyes now...Ouch! I have a headache! shucks...shouldn't roll my eye like that next time!)
Next, the chunky heels (I feel) holds my current body weight better and puts less strain on my feet.
It looks good with a pencil skirt and jumpsuits (where the leg ends slightly above the ankles).
I love how the shades of grey and silver and gold blends together in stripes and is oh-so Retro!!! (I must have been born in the 60's in the my past life! Coz I absolutely looooove the 60's for some of its iconic fashion trends!)
Any-who, scroll down to check out how my Izabella looks in jeans (I will not post full look of outfit in some or most of my posts becaaaauuussse most of the time when I blog, my brain quite randomly decides that I should pose in various outfits wearing the shoe I am blogging about...and this mostly happens after midnight when I look scarier that Medussa!)

Absolutely Love the Shoe Box that comes with it!!!

Rocking it with my pair of embroidered  P&Co  cutoffs

Très Chic!

Elegant?

Casual

Matches my LV too!

Let me know what you think! ;p

xoxo

Organising Day

One marriage, a couple of inter-state moves, multiple weight gain/loss/gain, 2 babies & many pairs of shoes later...I decided to organise!

Mostly my thoughts...but today, I decided to do my shoes too!

Here's what the mess looked like;

What's left of my big collection :(

Ruined shoes :(

These babies were left in a friggin' box...A BOX! while waiting for my carpenter to measure out a space at our new place for my shoe rack!

O..K... It is my fault for not storing them properly even sans a shoe rack! (heavily rolling my big eyes now)

And I finally decided to figure out a way to keep them safely in the store without causing any further damages to them!

Here's how;

1) Separate them (according to type)

Walking Pairs

Work Pairs

Dinner pairs
(and the list goes on...)

2) If you still have shoe boxes for any particular shoes, KEEP 'em!!!

Safe after 8 years!

3) For those pairs without boxes, get some clear plastic bags, and place shoes in the bags.

Clear Plastic Bags

Individually wrapped shoes

Tie the pairs together with a rubber band

My trusted help ;)

Tied together!




So there, all sorted!

In my next post, I will share with you guys a story about each one of my shoes.

And if you have any comments or suggestions, please drop me a few lines!

A Shoe Story

 

I Love Shoes!

My love for shoes started for me when I was about 13-14 years old. That time (to me) was the most painful part of growing up: awkward teen problems, divorced parents, abusive parent, low self-esteem, sibling rivalry, growing up under siblings shadows, etc.

My ONLY saving grace was the ability to fit my 'giant feet' into pretty high heels! (Flats were not complementing as I'd only be called Ronal McDonald!) And being a gangly, lanky, skinny person that I was, the only thing I could appreciate being on my body back then were SHOES and SHOES only!

From then on, they became my shield. Something I used to put on to feel the slightest good about myself! They were my security blanket. They were not 'ugly' as I. 

From platform chunky heels to stilettos, I had them all!

This blog is all about shoes, what it does to you for you, how they make you feel and all that comes along with it!

I hope that all my entries somehow tugs at your shoestrings if not your heart's! Haha ;p

The BEST lineup