Black and Gold

Wearing: Tokito Lace Dress, Vintage Book Clutch from Asos Marketplace and Stolen Girlfriends Club X Jeffrey Campbell Emma Lita Boots. 
Please excuse my magnificently blurry face, the lack of concentration of poise and my complete incompetence when it comes to lighting a photograph properly. It has been quite a long time since I last shared an outfit and I'm afraid the execution of camera-work has rather hindered the gorgeous lustre of my 'cowboy boots'. It was love at first sight when I bought the collaborative shoes from the Pitbull Mansion's eBay store and had them fight so well, being a size 10 in ladies' footwear. I've been out of control lately and have bought three pairs of shoes from Jeffrey Campbell as well as a Deadly Ponies handbag with Mr Lure key chain. I can't wait for all my goodies to finally arrive at my door as well as the splurge on impulse items to end, but when a deer leather handbag that will last my a lifetime is at half price and I have been saving diligently for an end of year holiday... I can always work hard next week and pick up a few extra shifts.

I love the adorable stitched detail on the spine of this clutch masquerading as a novel. While I do have quite a bit more dough for fancy things than usual I won't be able to afford any pieces from Olympia Le-Tan in this lifetime and this clever bag will have to do me. I also bought two pairs of vintage denim Levis shorts last night in addition to all my other purchases. I think it's fair to say I have developed a problem and should keep my money away from my Paypal account.

Jeffrey Campbell Lita in Butterfly

I've been toying with the idea of buying a vintage kimono to wear as a shrug or light Summer cardigan and I found the perfect shoes to wear with it. My prayers were answered by the one and only Jeffrey Campbell making a pair of Litas in a beautiful butterfly print with a royal blue background. I love them do death and have been searching for the perfect pair of Litas to buy and I'm so glad I mindlessly scrolled around on Solestruck.com in a vain attempt to try and find some other shoes by the American label.

The structure has been recreated in so many different patterns and colours I've sort of been saving myself to find the perfect pair and I'm so glad I did- butterflies are a special motif to me. You have to be patient for them to come towards you and in Greek mythology they represent the soul and Psyche, the lover of Cupid. When I was a child and my Uncle died, I drew a picture of butterflies for his widow to cheer her up and I still have the thank you note after all these years. Butterflies are just these amazing impossible creatures of beauty and they're one of my favourite exhibits to visit at the zoo when I go.

I would love to wear them with a long and colourful kimono to really channel the oriental appeal of the prints but both items cost over one hundred dollars and without having participated as a referee in the big basketball tournament, I can't quite buy them without being able to know for certain I'll earn the money back yet. Still, they're in my size and I can pay via Paypal (one of the greatest inventions since online shopping) so I'm perfectly content for the moment. I can't wait to have a pair of heeled shoes I can wear with confidence! The butterfly ankle Litas are one of my favourite variations on what might possibly be one of Jeffrey Campbell's most famous shoes.

Jeffrey Campbell Elegant Jewel

 

As a late Christmas present to myself I indulged in some suede black slippers as flats which are a little stiff at the moment but when I wear into them properly I am sure they will be wonderful. I could even make myself a fake pair of Jeffrey Campbell Elegant Jewel slippers by making a trip to the craft store and getting a reliable hot glue gun. Knowing me though I'd only muck it up and they are really lovely as they are... of course I only say that since I payed half price for them using a store discount but hey I have been looking for another pair of reliable black flats in suede. Hopefully I won't trash this pair by walking in the rain too much.

 

I love the use of colours as well as the sort of symmetrical pattern emerging from this birds' eye view- there's the symmetry of the colours used which of course means that you won't have two of the same coloured plastic gem in a row. That's very clever and I think important when doing something like this because it does make it seem a little more tidy and organised rather than just adding what gems where you feel like at the time. I'm even a little startled by the length of detail and the precise placing of each jewel, it is very eye-catching and colourful but in no way does it seem excessive or over the top. You've got to hand it to Mr Campbell, he really does know how to make a good pair of shoes.

 

What's attractive to me about the slipper style of flats is the way it exposes the top of the foot and leaves it showing any lovely hidden tattoos you may have collected during your life or in my case will let a little sunshine onto that patch of skin and leave it to tan. It seems like such a classic structure, looking a bit like someone else's slippers out of a war-time English special but the revival of such a structure is much welcomed by me and since I was able to buy my slippers of a similar structure for $15, well, it only makes me feel even more pleased.

Stolen Girlfriends Club X Jeffrey Campbell: Black and Gold

 

I had previously thought that the Emma Boots, a project and collaboration between California based shoe makrs Jeffrey Campbell and the New Zealand clothing and jewellery label Stolen Girlfriends Club made in tan and brown leather were the epitome of perfection, made in the shape of the famous Lita shows with a new Western spin on their exterior colour with the stylised shape and melding of the two colours. How wrong I was though when I spotted these beauties hidden away on the internet and the gold in contrast with the black exploded with new possibilities before my very eyes. I remember the moment well, my jaw was literally gaping wide with surprise but silenced giddiness and I knew it was my solemn and sacred duty to create another post about the black and gold Emma boots.

I felt very pleased when searching the internet for images of the new boots and I found this sultry demon in smoking eyes and popping her hip to show off the bold structure and weight of the shoes. I don't often wear heels but for something as bold and extravagant as these shoes I would feel better knowing I'm getting my money's worth and after breaking them in, wearing them as much as my ankles can manage without being broken by stumbling and sheer clumsiness.

I saw the hallowed and gorgeous Jeffrey Campbell shoes on my computer screen and I heard the music within my ears the English vocalist Adele singing a cover of Sam Sparro. I've managed to spot a few pairs here and there online, and as they are limited edition I must come to a decision quick sticks as to whether I'll be able to cope physically with the height and stature of the boots. Maybe I should find some Litas on eBay as training wheels and a precursor to these boots, the fantastic collaboration with Stolen Girlfriends Club. Anything the New Zealand brand touches is pure, metaphorical gold in my eyes and it would be great if I were able to see, touch and feel the glory of these shoes and the unique cut away design of the boots mimicking classic cowboy style.

Jeffrey Campbell Kelsey Fab

While searching around for Jeffrey Campbell goodness on eBay I first spotted these styled platform edges in fuchsia colour but I much prefer the floral effect combined with the cowgirl high-rising ankle detail and stitching.After the Jeffrey Campbell X Stolen Girlfriends Club collaboration these are my second favourite shoes to be a modernised version of cowboy boots with a new twist and dramatic flair.

It's the velvet like material in a floral tapestry colour that I really like as well as the thick white blanket stitch around the edges and thin strips of leather that really give the wedges their Western flair. I can't imagine that I'd last too long while wearing these beauteous shoes though- for my feet not yet sculpted my shoes with heels I guess they'd be best suited for a sit down lunch or something similar.

I'm continually impressed with the shoes from Jeffrey Campbell and their artistict ingenuity when it comes to designing and crafting shoes in a variety of colours and materials. Just when you think you've seen it all, something else comes up and wows you. I'm particularly attracted to their flatforms but I think something wild and western like this is more favoured towards my mood today. I'm contemplating buying a red western hat complete with braid in yarn to dress like Jessie from Toy Story and I must be lusting after the perfect pair of boots to complete my spin on the look. It's not often you see a pair of platform wedges with ankle support and in such a fantastic and whimsical colour too.

Sweet Dreams

I'm trying to brainwash myself with sweet things at the moment to cover up how upset I feel as of late- birthday cakes covered in thick pink icing, long floating pleated skirts and floral shoes should hopefully do the trick. I had a chance to buy these beautiful Forever 21 silk pumps on eBay a while ago... but alas I was broke. They were the right size and everything too! It makes me sad to think that I too could have taken black and white photographs while wearing the platforms imitating Miu Miu in frilly socks. This is why I should never let myself be without too much money these days. It only ends up breaking my heart in the end.

It looks more like a paper mache masterpiece rather than a cake, but maybe that's the pink body of the castle... served with a knife and candles on a thick board the photograph above must therefore represent a cake replica of the Disneyland castle. I loved visiting it early this year, it was such a promising time of my life and everything was alright. These holidays I may just make a paper mache replica of it since I loved it there so much. If I were to win a million dollars or some other ridiculous quantity of money I would try to buy the pink Disneyland castle and live there with forty-two cats.

Pink tulle dress, t-bars with straps around the ankles and a broad and flat brimmed hat. The background of the photo shoot sort of brings out the sweet fairy floss colour of the pink; the hat and dress combination reminds me a little bit of flamenco dancers gone wrong at the age of eight. It's an amazing photograph though- at the bottom is a little information which reads that at the close of the Chanel show, Lagerfeld sent out a procession of candy coloured "bridesmaids" all swathed in yards and yards of pastel tulle and satin.

A long, floating skirt in my favourite shade of purple- like in between a lilac colour and violet. Just look at that gorgeous material and movement, it's so light weight. The skirt is paired perfectly with a pair of Jeffrey Campbell ankle boots and a cosy winter knit. The motion of the skirt looks so amazing, it's truly beauty in motion. It's not often you see skirts of that length that move with that sort of elegance and there's such a varied range of shades of purple created from the rippling texture. I certainly know that none of my skirts move around like that for me on a windy day!

I don't know where this beast comes from, but I love the embroidery of the skull and the sweet satin tone of the white material. It completely transforms what is traditionally a gruesome and motif of rot and decay to something like in a fairy tale or some form of polished voodoo magic. I love that it's the centre of the dress and that the sheer material is modest enough to save grace for the wearer. It's sweet, clean and pure white. It reminds me a lot of doilies and pillow case covers.

I may be tempted to treat myself for Christmas and get a vintage watch of Alice in Wonderland. I've spotted a seller who sells some amazing vintage watches... exactly the sort I've been looking for since I spotted one on a friend at my eighteenth birthday lunch. I won't be sharing all the gory details until I get all the watches I want- I can't risk creating competition for myself on the online market. Not at this stage anyway.

It looks so sweat and endearing on a gorgeous runway model, but when an old middle aged women who's going gray and is in the midst of a mid-life crisis dyeing your white hair pink is not so cute. I love the bouffant style of the hair though as well as the soft curls and piggy tails on the sides where the ends of the hair seems to be the most vibrant and dark pink. The freckles are done with make-up but it adds to the look and I love the sassy eye liner, it's a nice touch to give the model something to work with in terms of attitude in among all that pink. I'd love to look like this myself, but dyed hair can require so much maintenance, especially if you have naturally dark brown hair. Regrowth can be so hard to tame and manage especially when strapped for time.

Stolen Girlfriends Club X Jeffrey Campbell

I had seen this image some weeks ago on the micro-blogging site Tumblr and held onto the photograph for a while, hoping one day to identify the brand of clothing and shoes. Those pieces of information came clear to me late last night when scrolling through my dashboard for blogspot when I spotted a post by Brisbane store Violent Green.

Now Violent Green first came to my attention in December 2008 when I did a Google search for Stolen Girlfriends Club, whose jewellery range had appeared in the Australian edition of Vogue of that month.
Ever since I stumbled across Violent Green's blogspot my life changed; the event affected my style and made it more alternative, less mainstream and a little bit darker and it was that site that inspired me to begin my own blog.

It seems only fitting that I learn the mysterious identity of the shoes I had a mild obsession with for about a week's length; and it's a collaboration of two of my favourite brands.

Stolen Girlfriends Club are of New Zealand origins and they create clothing as well as thick silver jewellery, whereas Jeffrey Campbell hail from the heart of Los Angeles and have been in the footwear trade for about a decade. The collaboration of the two brands has produced the magnificent Emma ankle boot.

What I liked about the photograph in which the model wore the shoes was the dreamy palette of colours of the shirt and the suede detail of the denim shorts. It was those two pieces that then drew my attention to the pattern detail of the shoes, a shape I should have easily recognised as a Jeffrey Campbell trademark and the beautiful two tones of tan leather. For a boot of this design and Western cowboy flavour the colours of the leather and the wooden heel were very important to fully deliver the design of the shoes and I love the colours used for the Emma ankle boot and as demonstrated they can be worn with a cute pair of denim shorts and a shirt. They add height and magnitude but they seem fancy and cute at the same time.

It feels good to have finally uncovered the mystery of the nameless Tumblr photograph, and I'm delighted with the outcome of the collaboration between Stolen Girlfriends Club and Jeffrey Campbell. The golden zippers and the delicious tones of leather make it on the top of my Christmas wish list to Santa this silly season, as long as I keep wearing my high-heeled wedges and get used to walking with height- I may just become crazy enough to get a pair of these beautiful ankle boots and call them my cowboy boots. With leather of that colour, wooden heels and sculpted so perfectly in the Jeffrey Campbell's design, who could resist? Certainly not me.

Clog Boots and Wooden Heels

If someone were to tell me two years ago that clog inspired boots and wooden heeled creations were to be the toast of the town for fashion collections such as Chanel and Missoni (just to name a few), I would tell them to get their head checked. But it did happen, and it did happen in a spectacular fashion. Some of the most spectacular boots of that fashion come from Jeffrey Campbell who has been around for about ten years now, hailing from Los Angeles but the popularity of the brand has picked up speed within the last year or two. Another brand who made some of the best clog boots were Opening Ceremony, although that brand has been a little more elusive on online auction site eBay. There's been some spectacular variations on design; studded circles along the bottom of the shoe connecting the heel, different shapes of heel as well as different curved lines of the toe as well.

The trend is winding down though, marking the end of a golden era in which stability of heel achieved height and colours and textures seemed to have an infinite amount of combinations. Take the pair of shoes pictured above as an example, they're made in light blue suede with a more squarish cut toe and a platformed heel adorned in pink and orange jewels. I love the dreamy photography and the soft focus which sort of softens the strong lines and design. This is the kind of stuff I really live for, imaginative pieces beyond what I can even think to comprehend. The two pairs of shoes pictured above are my favourites, it's a shame I don't know what brands they are.

Tapestry was also a popular combination with platform and heeled boots alike; combining the best of what was the newest trend in footwear with vintage inspired material. I have a soft spot for the fabric as well, I lust over a pair of vans in that type of material as opposed to high heeled boots which aren't that suitable for working in. I still admire the shape, structure as well as the material chosen for the clog boots; from the photograph above it more looks like a sculpture with those smooth lines rather than something you would wear on your feet.

Who knows that the future will hold for fashion footwear? Creepers as well as brogues have been popular for a while now and the creation of platformed flats dubbed 'flatforms' is something I hope will gain popularity. I can only hope that there is more exciting variation on design for the next trend of footwear as there was for clogs, wooden heel boots and other shoes that had a gypsy flair to it.