Nicky's Rag Tales » Shoes

It was only a matter of time…

Nicky Harris — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:12:21 +0000

The idea of a pair of shoes with removable heels that can be changed depending on which height you prefer has finally arrived. A practical idea and one of those that you say to yourself ‘now why didn’t I think of that”? These shoes look a tad cheap to me and I would want a better quality shoe to warrant the price tag.

In The Navy

Nicky Harris — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:50:25 +0000

Navy is having a moment, no, actually it’s more than a moment. I think this is a colour that will work for Summer and also into the Autumn too and beyond. It’s smart and works beautifully in a way that black can’t for the Summer. A great way to get into navy is to wear it on your feet. Navy shoes are now plentiful in all styles and price ranges in all the shoe stores. Paired with neutrals and brights for Summer if you aren’t in the navy yet and are considering a new shoe for Summer then look no further. If you buy carefully this is a shoe in a colour you can wear all year long.

In the Navy by nickysragtales featuring wedge heels

Comfort, what’s comfort got to do with it?

Nicky Harris — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:14:52 +0000

I wrote a piece about the new Christian Louboutin Boutique in Brown Thomas Dublin a few weeks ago which is doing a roaring trade, and by all accounts a huge success. Not all the shoes there are of the four inch heel variety so I could easily find a comfortable pair to adorn my aging (and now bunion adorned feet) if I so desired.

These babies from the latest collection (and very beautiful to look at ) would certainly challenge the pain threshold on lots of feet I know.

“I hate the whole concept of comfort. It’s like when people say, ‘Well, we’re not really in love, but we’re in a comfortable relationship.’ You’re abandoning a lot of ideas when you are too into comfort. ‘Comfy’ – that’s one of the worst words! I just picture a woman feeling bad, with a big bottle of alcohol, really puffy.” – Christian Louboutin

Well, that certainly has me thinking……

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Scrum at Christian Louboutin Boutique today

Nicky Harris — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:26:12 +0000

The election is over and almost as if in celebration town was busy, the streets were full and women were shopping. It was all oohs, aahs and red bags being filled today in the new Christian Louboutin shoe Boutique in Dublin’s Brown Thomas Grafton Street store. It’s wonderful to see such an iconic world leading designer having faith and opening a boutique in Ireland. I brought my assistant Selina Fairbairn with me who wore one of her favorite pairs of Louboutin high heeled Mary Jane’s and who walked quite a distance to get there in them. She tells me they are the most comfortable shoes she owns which is more than vital when it comes to shoes. If you can’t walk in comfort the pain shows on your face and I have had more than one occasion when the contorted shapes my face twisted into due to excruciating foot pain resulted in me walking barefoot (once in London’s west end!). The lovely sales assistant I talked to, Erica, wasn’t exaggerating when I caught up with her as she served yet another customer and told me that the boutique has been incredibly busy since it opened quietly a couple of weeks ago.

I will go back when it is less busy and try some on, I have my eye on at least two pairs, one of which is a flat studded shoe and the other a beautifully crafted basic round toed court. I had my camera with me and managed to take just a few pictures, between sips of champagne which was being handed around to all.

Selina Fairbairn

Emu boots, another great Ozzy find

Nicky Harris — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:10:54 +0000

In Australia Uggs are sheepskin boots, here in Ireland they are a popular sheepskin boot brand with lots of look alikes which are cheap and fall apart. It’s all rather confusing. I had a proper pair which I wore all last Winter but a certain third daughter ‘borrowed’ them and surprise surprise I told her she can keep them.
I have been looking at Emu boots for sometime now, made in Australia and really popular there they are in Thomas Patrick’s window in Grafton street and I had planned to try them on with a view to buying them especially since the newest ones are water repellent which makes them an attractive prospect.
I know lots of people hate these type of boots with a passion. One of my daughter refuses to even try them on but I’m a lover of these cozy boots. The Emu ones have a proper lined insole and arch support so it’s not like wearing a slipper though it is as comfy.
I couldn’t believe it then when I received an email telling me all about the Emu boots from a PR company. Normally I ignore those emails but I replied and said that I was just about to try them out. I got another one asking for my shoe size and lo and behold a pair arrived in my office two days ago and I haven’t taken them off since I took them out of the box. (My shoes are still under my desk) Some people when they get new shoes put them away and look at them ages before wearing them. I’m a terribly impatient person and I always have to wear new clothes and shoes immediately. My blogging rule is not to accept anything on the premise that I will write a post (in other words bribery) and so I told the Pr company I would only write if I really liked them. Guess what? I really like them. It rained hard yesterday and they remained dry as a bone. So far so good..

Words from the Shoe Department

Nicky Harris — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:36:50 +0000

We were told that heels were getting lower. But word has it that it’s the heels that are selling first in all the shoe stores around Ireland. While I love my ballet flats (they are great at the end of a night when feet can’t take it any more) and I love the idea of the androgynous brogues which are oh so cool, it’s a look that needs careful thought. On a very slim leg brogues can look fab with skirts and dresses, throw on a blazer and you’re cool to go. But on a chunky calf ( ie mine) they can only be worn with jeans or trousers. Wedges this season with cork and sisal thrown into the mix are a comfortable and on trend comfortable shoe. Lots and lots of straps are in evidence throughout all the high heels here. A gladiator style with heels which started to appear last Summer but which is huge for this one. Beware, straps which lie straight around the ankle should only be worn by Tory Burch (see above) or any woman with slim ankles and legs. For the rest of us look out for the straps that are cut forwards onto the foot so elongating rather than cutting the leg.

Shoes for this season are in all price ranges so take a look at the street before going for more expensive designers. Watch out for clogs which are having a fashion moment but again easily available at the cheaper price range. Save your money for really good courts and pumps or a very special evening shoe that will stand the test of time.

Brogues Versus Heels by nickysragtales featuring Tory Burch shoes

Tory Burch at Brown Thomas Today

Nicky Harris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:16:26 +0000

Tory Burch tweeted that the sun was shining in Dublin. The sun certainly shines around this most stylish and successful American designer. When Tory Burch appeared on Oprah in 2005 she was catapulted immediately into the fashion elite. Coming from a Society family and making the transition from socialite to successful luxury designer is not an easy one but this extremely hardworking and focused designer certainly knows exactly how to produce a beautiful luxury lifestyle brand. Her shoes are to die for and her clothes, especially her tunics for which she is well known are oh so stylish. Brown Thomas Dublin carry the full range of clothes, shoes and bags.

I was lucky enough to meet the gracious Tory Burch last night at the launch of the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer TM Campaign for Action Breast Cancer. This is the sixth year of the campaign which has through the sale of the must have designer Tote bag raised 500,000 euro to date.

This years Tote bag is on sale now (but not for long) at 45 euro. It carries the iconic Tory Burch logo. Not a fan of logo’s in general I make an exception for this one which is very classy indeed.

Tory Burch today in Brown Thomas Dublin

Sonya Lennon Tory Burch and Models at Brown Thomas today

Fabulous shoes on Tory's feet!

BT2 kick starts Spring Summer

Nicky Harris — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:30:42 +0000

I just loving having a good root around the rails when the new Season’s clothes arrive in the shops. I’m so fed up with Winter and the horrible weather it’s time to cheer up and look forward to Summer. They say the harder the Winter the better the Summer so I was really happy to be invited to BT2′s press day in Dundrum today. BT2 made huge changes to the mini store last season which was hugely successful and have followed up this season with an even better, tighter and altogether well balanced range of clothes, shoes, accessories and not forgetting great make up brands and a brow and nail bar.

As it was mainly the clothes that I was interested in I was quick to spot lots and lots of winners. Prices range from incredibly competitive to mid priced for the designer collections and I was frankly surprised at some of the value. There are dresses for special occasions, a great Jeans Bar. All Saints and Juicy Couture alongside great T Shirts by Local Celebrity. Here are my top picks and what I think are (only) some of the winners……

Gestuz top 109.55 euro

Gestuz trouser 79.67 euro

TBA blouse

Lipsy Dress 65euro

Lipsy Leather Jacket 90euro

Great Trench by Lipsy 90euro

Fab dress by Numph

From the fantastic fun collection from Sonia Rykiel

Sonia Rykiel

Dress (from Catwalk) by Philip Lim

Marc by Marc

Great oversize metalic clutch 70 euro by Friis (my summer event bag)

New to BT2 and loved by the celebs, sandals by Sam Edelman