Ma Chaussures Chic

I have a long term love affair and super duper obsession with shoes.

This is one obsession I am quite happy to indulge in thank you very much. Ever since I was a teenager and had my first Saturday job in Lilly and Skinner on Princes Street in Edinburgh, where I could buy shoes at discount prices, I was HOOKED. 

There is nothing nicer than going out for retail therapy or window shopping only to come home with a couple of boxes of foxy footwear.  I am the type of person who, if I like a pair of shoes and they come in a couple of colours, I will buy them in both colours!  

A small part of my collection

I know.. it's ridiculous but you should see the smile on my face right now as I write about my tootsies favourite accessories.  Shoes make me happy!

Over the years I have culled shoes, donated them to St Pat's Rack, Vinnies, Salvos and given them away to friends having sometimes only worn them once, but believe me they brought me such a lot of pleasure even owning them for such a short time.

I have ankle boots
I have stilettos
I have flats
I have sling backs
I have kitten heels
I have wedges
I have trainers
I have flip flops (aka thongs down under)

and I have them all in a myriad of colours - I can't help myself!

I even like to buy books with the history of shoes and love cards that are decorated and designed with shoes as artwork. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Cards 

classy cards  

Just recently I acquired this beautiful pair of Vivienne Westwood / Melissa black velvet stilettos - the shoe is very aptly named Skyscraper.  

Skyscraper by Vivienne Westwood/Melissa

These babies were donated to St Pat's Rack for us to sell. They were only worn once and could command a great price for St Pat's Rack. How serendipitous was it that they came in my size?!  I tried them on and fell in love (even though right now I can't wear them because of my healing hip) and was in the process of deciding how much I would pay for them when St Pat's asked me if I would like them as a leaving gift - of course I said yes!  I joked in my farewell speech that I was going to put them in a box frame and hang them on my bedroom wall.

This other cute little kitten heeled pair I picked up when I was in Melbourne at a Salvo's shop in Kew.  You cannot pass up a neutral Italian suede pair of kitten heels with this much flair for $20. It would be an absolute sin. 

Italian Suede Pre Loved Kitten Heels

I personally think shoes maketh the woman - and the man for that matter.  
Ladies, if you've got a classy outfit on, you need good looking shoes to complete your outfit.  Don't scrimp on shoes.

absolutely NOT

Men, if you are wearing the best clothes money can buy and yet on the end of your ankles you are wearing dirty old beat up shoes/trainers or ugly mismatched shoes, then you won't even get a second glance from this lady!!!

no no no

I  LOOOOOOVE me some shoes.. and this final little pic is my idea of shoe heaven .....

I think I need to get designing a space 'pour ma collection de chaussures chic!!'

A Pop-Up-Shop With Soul

Fifteen months ago an excellent fundraising idea created in the head of my wonderful friend and 'boss' came to fruition: A Vintage Shop themed on the Rat Pack where 100 percent of the proceeds go back to help the homeless. 

We worked for a non-profit organisation that helps the homeless and vulnerable in our community and after many months of planning, securing a venue, receiving and tagging stock donations, shop fit out and volunteer drives, we opened the doors of St Pat's Rack on Melbourne Cup day 2012. 

Yesterday was our very last day of involvement with St Pat's and St Pat's Rack and as a shout out and cheerio,  LG and I decided to spend the day at St Pat's Rack to see old friends, at the same time as raising money and going out on a high note. 

What a day it was; friends we had not managed to catch up with last week at our farewell do showed up at the shop. All the shop's regular clients appeared too as we sat outside drinking coffee, encouraging all passers by to come in and grab a bargain with a feel good factor!  

It really proved to me what a wonderful community building place St Pat's Rack had become in such a short space of time. It has changed the lives of many people and also changed people's perception of the homeless and vulnerable.  

St Pat's Rack was our baby and we felt sad that we would no longer be involved, but immensely proud of all that we had achieved and absolutely delighted that in a year of operations we had raised $30,000 above our costs.  

It is never boring at the Rack.  All walks of life and characters pop their heads in the door, with some of those wonderful people sharing their amazing talents. Yesterday we were graced with the presence and performance of a seriously impressive opera singer from Italy! 

  

LG had the vision, theme and drive to make this Pop-Up-Shop-with-Soul the success it is.  A MASSIVE thank you goes out to her creativity and attention to detail.  Another huge thank you must go out to all the volunteers who worked in the shop, without them there would be no shop and no funds raised. 

Never underestimate the power of a great idea, good intent and positive energy. It changes lives and communities.