100 shoes in 100 days

Sunday workday. Accompanied at the office by one good colleague so it isn’t completely empty but almost. And quiet, and actually quite pleasant. Got a lot done and picked up some things I had left behind.

Managed to match my shoes and glasses by fluke today.  The shoes are a pair of former favourites from Jones the Bootmaker on Victoria Street in London. Bought about five minutes after we moved into our charming little flat at Morpeth Terrace (yes that was the actual address). I used to wear these at least once a week in London and they are still looking pretty decent. Rescued from the back of our storage room when I was cleaning out things to take to charity. Not sure what they were doing there and not sure why they haven’t been used for a long time!

Doing a lot of staying at home and taking it easy today after a long week at work finished by a fabulous summer party for the now 5 agencies that make up H&H Group.

Alpargatas are the ultimate summer staple in Spain. Light, washable and available in all different colours. Did I mention that you can get them for like 5€?!?!

 

A warning to the faint of heart; there might be another Sex and The City reference coming up.

Carrie lost a pair of silver Manolos at a baby shower when she was forced to take them off upon entry. I saw, I felt for her and I dreamed that maybe one day I could have that kind of extravagance of my very own.

Although I was just passing by, I knew when I saw these that I just had to have them. By now these beauties have been danced in, walked in and repaired several times. I feel special every time I put them on and every time I see them. Hoping my inner Carrie will keep shining.

Moving day at the office. Well being moved around at least. We are doing some major refurbishing over the summer which means some of my colleagues will be camping out in our dining room/event space and some of us will be camped out, well wherever we can find the space really.

Walking around the office today was a bit like being in a scene from the Never Ending Story. Bit by bit furniture, office supplies and boxes were disappearing and leaving holes behind.

I am fully prepared with my most important gear; Laptop, handbag and Nespresso machine clutched under one arm. Shoes of the day are amazing vintage Dior Mary Janes found in a small second hand store in Stockholm many many years ago. These were actually my very first pair of anything with a luxury label!

A young colleague of mine (yes I HEAR how that sounds) asked me yesterday if I was starting to regret my cheerful 100 day challenge. I have to say though that so far it’s been mostly fun. A little annoying to “have” to choose footwear out of strategy rather than comfort in the mornings but that was kind of what it was all about.

I am however starting to worry a little that I won’t make the 100 day mark. I’ve done a pretty good job of sorting, reselling and donating stuff already and not so sure I have enough shoes to last. Very likeable coworker suggested I might have to buy some more shoes to take me thought this momentous challenge. In her words “you can’t dissapoint your readers now”!

The big challenge has really been finding the time every day to take a picture, upload, write a piece and post it all for my limited audience to see, read and judge. I might be the last person to properly jump on the mindfulness bandwagon and have yet to understand the point in adult colouring (sorry Vera, Sanna, Christine etc.) but maybe this writing excercise is my own way of decompressing.

Glitter no-name ballerinas from Calle Goya in Madrid. They make me feel a little like Dorothy!

 

60 USD for a pair of Dolce & Gabbana pumps? Seems like a joke but at Century 21 in New York, the joke is not on you. It’s all about a delicately balanced process that goes: Designer shoe at full price, designer shoe at sale, designer shoe at final sale, designer shoe at outlet, designer shoe on sale at outlet. Somehow these little luvvies made it though all of those steps, and maybe more without anybody else snatching them up. If you think about it it’s really kind of sad. And I felt I almost owed it to Mrs Dolce and Gabbana to take give them a new home. I know – twisting reality to make up shopping justifications is part of the dark personality traits of a semi-compulsive shopper!

To be fair, I think there may have been something a little wrong with them to start out with as they seem to be a little wobbly and on the wide side.  The wide bit suits my chubby feet perfectly and they are still pretty awesome. And cost about as much as a pair of Converse All Stars!

There are shoes and then there are SHOES.

Imagine if you will a 28 year-old version of myself. A somewhat thinner, somewhat less weathered but also more insecure me – on my first trip ever to New York; the city of dreams and all things unobtainable. Sex and the City had just finished it´s last season and the aspirational lifestyles of the four main characters are a real every day influence on many a 20-something. The Cosmopolitans were easy to get our hands on, the designer shoes and clothes we dreamed about.

Barneys. My very first pair of Manolos. I think I may have held my breath the whole time I tried them on. I had a hard time choosing between blue or green. Until I realized that I was choosing between two perfect pair of Manolo Blahniks. Even after walking out onto the street, my pulse was up and I had the momentous feeling of being “there”. I might have walked around Fifth Avenue for an hour or so extra that day just to make the most of the moment.

I have walked many a mile in these shoes; had
them repaired and resoled to keep them going for many more. And they will always be my very, very first.

What could be better for walking around town than a pair of Keds? Possibly a pair of sparkly, glittery Keds.

Met with my good old friend at NK for a quick shop and coffee before having lunch at Grand Hotels veranda and seeing the whole family off. Tears, laughter, and a mini van full of suitcases later they are on their way back to their home in Nebraska and I’m off to start preparing my sons end of pre-school cake.

Sugar paste zombies and pea-shooters up next as I try to recreate the fantasy cake that he come home and requested. The cake party is a tradition at the pre-school organise for the children that are moving up to kindergarten. It seems that every year guilt-ridden yet overachieving parents come up with more and more elaborate creations to appease and please our demanding little ones. Guilty as charged. Look out tomorrow for my possible “mom-fail” picture of a green plants vs zombies frosting extravaganza.

On again of again Swedish summer weather means a light summer coat is complemented with a scarf. Also an in case of emergency an extra down jacket and gloves squeezed into handbag.

We are at Fjäderholmarna with some very old friends (as in we’ve known them for many years, not their age). It is something really special to see your children befriend the children of a dear old friend. We watched our pack of boys figure each other out last night at dinner and today they are happily running around the island, climbing, swinging and looking into the different workshops.

On my feet are yet another pair of Tory Burch flats. Reasonably good to walk around in although they did fall a little short when I tried to climb a rock.

 

Family funeral this afternoon. Mr . K’s great aunt,  a formidable little lady who at the age of 95 very peacefully and with great dignity passed quietly. She had planned her funeral in great detail and included in her plans a champagne toast to see her off.

I don’t use the word formidable lightly. Ulla was a tiny bundle of energy who was always stylish, always well groomed. And for many years, including the height of the Cold War, worked in the Swedish Security Services. As a spy. Many are the stories we tried to get her to tell and all of them she took with her to her grave. Going out in style to the tune of “La Mer”…

In honour of her colour I add a bright purple jacket and colourful stripes to my grey and black funeral attire.