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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.

Workday in Madrid. Usually when I come “home” on business I try to fit in a little extra time to see old friends or at least get a few hours to walk around. This time around was very much of a fly in fly out affair but I still enjoy a stroll past the very familiar Bernabeu stadium on my way to a meeting. It’s strange when you come back to a city you lived in for so long. It’s so familiar and everything from the air to the actual tap water just feels – right.

Intense meetings as always and not a lot of luggage means planning and dressing for anything. Not fancy, but very comfortable and weather appropriate open platform heels. Bought two years ago between meetings in one of the many little shoe-shops in the Salamanca district.

Ala Madrid!!!

Halfway there!!!!

My mother asked me a very relevant question the other day; what’s the point of this shoe-thing? To be fair, although my mother is fantastic and a pillar, she has never quite gotten my shoe thing in general. Add to this a social media, blogging element and it’s all a little above and beyond.

Very simply put, the point is it’s a bit of fun. Going through my shoe-closet, forcing myself to wear stuff and use the shoes that after all I’ve paid a decent sum for. Writing about it and having something to chat about. Heads up to all the new people I’ve connected with through my diligent instagramming!

Point number two is cleaning out the closet. Making peace and dealing with my inner hoarder – the boxes of clothes that I’ve been lugging around for years and haven’t used and as a natural extension of this the piles of other stuff that we just don’t need anymore.

Point number three, and maybe the most important, is repurposing and rehousing and contributing to a good cause.

Consequently I have sold and donated, cleaned and evaluated. So far I have collected about 3500 SEK that will be making its way to a local charity on Lidingö. The downside is that I’ve actually downsized a bit. Not sure I have the 100 pairs of shoes anymore. Will continue to use a different pair every day until I run out though.

Today, travel shoes again. Worn previously but not as protagonists, my most comfortable, most versatile and most valuable camel Tory Burch Revas. They go with everything, always. Have been going through a sequence of these religiously for the past summers, wearing them till they are in tatters. Love!!!!!
Sent by carrier pigeon. Pardon the typos!

The thing about weekends and kids is that you end up having even less time to yourself than you do during a work-day.

After a morning of intense weeding and garden work aided by Thing 2, I barely had time to shower and get ready for an afternoon barbecue with lovely friends on Lidingö. No time to think about the outfit and pressed for time also no time to pick out the right shoes.

Pulled out a pair of black sandals from the bottom of a box. Sandals that I bought during the last leg of pregnancy #2 in blistering hot NYC when nothing else fit and flip-flops every day seemed a little too uncivilised. Don’t love even a little bit and although they have passed the shoe challenge, will be adding these to the next load for charity.

When I was a kid, my parents always insisted we dressed up for travel. Not to the extent that we were uncomfortable or impractical but there was a sense of festivity about getting ready for a trip.

As an adult I continue to feel like getting on a plane should see me at my something close to best, rather than my worst. Not only because it feels proper, but also because it helps if you want to have a shot at an elusive free upgrade, or extra service.

Picked up my mother at the airport today. And as I stood waiting for her observed the people around me. There’s something very special about the energy at an arrivals lounge and you can see that a lot of people have made an extra effort in getting ready; for themselves, for the trip, or for the person they are about to meet.

Last of the loafers and last of the Gucci. Pink suede with horsebit. Again a bargain from the basement outlet in London’s east end.

That interesting thing  that happens when a sneaker company teams up with a designer and makes…? Stella McCartned for Addidas!

I usually wear these mostly around the house/garden but took a daring step today as I headed off to all of Sweden’s favourite weekend pastime – IKEA.

Our current garden furniture has started to grow something green on the seats, and as we have friends from afar coming for dinner next week, we made an impulse decision. Don’t get me wrong, I like IKEA as much as the next Swede. I just don’t understand how it is I always end up there alone negotiating an overfull trolley with 20-odd flat packs which I then proceed to load into the car by myself. I swear, everywhere I look I see pairs or groups of people. Helping each other, lifting together. And the really ridiculous thing is I don’t even suggest Mr K should come along. Just jump into the car with a cheerful, “see you later!”.

Serves me damn right!