*&++(**%**** over the knee boots.
This is to be my final comment on the subject of the blasted things. (she says knowing full well that's a lie. As do all of you. I apologise now.)
To cut a long story short - most of these that I've hunted out aren't the best.
I so thought that this season there would be loads of cheaper options around. Well, there are, but there aren't that many.
And I'm gutted to report that the ones I tried didn't really work at all. SOB.
Right - so starting with the ones from Mint Velvet. This is the classic pic of when good boots go bad. See it and weep peeps.
I wanted to love these. The feeling wasn't mutual.
Black Rachel Suede Boots from Mint Velvet £199
Huge apologies if anyone is eating....yes that is my knee throwing up over the top of the boots which cut off at the most unattractive place imaginable. Who knew you could get knee muffin? Gravity's a bitch.
Lordy I am sorry about that... suffice to say my knees are not my best feature...
Now these are slightly longer but they were sold out when I went to try them on - in fact they only had one pair in store (not my size but we measured them against the Rachels) as they're online only. Back in stock now. These would actually come over your knee....
Grey Hannah boot from Mint Velvet £199
And in the taupe
And then things started going really wrong. I had high hopes for these but they were huge on the top of the thigh. They're supposed to be elastic and fit well but these would start falling down the minute I started walking. They're be round my ankles within 10 yards. I know they're cheaper but they just wouldn't be worth my while buying at all. However I do know that others have them and do love them.
For what it's worth, they were a perfect fit on the foot. Totally true to size.
Office Eden Stretch Over the knee boots £110
Next it was off to River Island and I have to say these were one of my favourite boots of the day. On me they weren't over the knee by any stretch of the imagination but they were really rather gorgeous.
Ah. Now, to be fair, I've just seen that these are supposed to be knee high and not over the knee.... So in that case they were blooming gorgeous. Seriously seriously lovely. But I'm not going to lie - I do have a concern about them slouching down during the day.... which isn't what I'm looking for. Can you starch suede boots?
Grey Suede Knee high boots £110 - gorgeous low block heel and a divine shade of elephant grey. Would go with absolutely everything.
They look so so much better than this in real life.
These were over the knee but again, they were simply too baggy on the leg. I don't think they'd fall down as they're leather which holds its shape much better than leather. I just looked like I was going fishing in them. Not in the market for waders.
Black Leather Over the Knee Boots £100 from River Island These are really good quality for the money.
Next port of call was Aldo where these looked great.... they admitted in the store they were a total tribute to the Lowlands.
So here's what they look like.
Aldo Barra boots £120
And they do look very similar. And I guess they are similar. But on me, they're just not quite right. Dare I say they're just too clunky?
And in the black, again £120
And here they are in the black. They're just not neat enough, not fitted enough on the leg and a bit billowy. I'm not sure how long they'd stay up either?
But they are a gazillion times cheaper than the Lowlands. Which I stupidly then went and tried on in Russell & Bromley.
Poo bums.
That was really foolish as I've already tried them on about 30 times both here and in New York.
Stuart Weitzman for Russell & Bromley Lowlands £595
And here they are on me. Very difficult to photograph but believe me when I say that these are in a different league (as they should be for this price....) This is over my skinny jeans - the same bulky jeans that you can really see under the other boots but that somehow disappear under these. They are truly miracle boots. SOD IT.
Were I to buy them, the dilemma is would I go for the classic black or the Loden. (khaki to you and me, which they don't sell at Russell & Bromley any more)
Stuart Weitzman Lowlands in Loden £650
I know. I know I know I know what you're going to say - buy the boots.
I just might. Tomorrow I'm off to Ikea, a desk shopping (again - one down two to go) and am beyond tempted to go via R&B on the way back. Should I???
So here we are today - I hadn't planned on wearing this all day but err, well... I sort of did. Went for super long dog walk with one of my best friends and then more homework. (seriously, can you see my halo shining from here?)
White linen tee - Max Studio
Bat sweatshirt with leather shoulders - Zoe Karssen
Charcoal harems - Toast
Charcoal Dakota flatforms - Seven Boot Lane
Black Harker hands free bag - Anya Hindmarch
Lordy I was comfy. Tomorrow, off out for the day with a friend (sharing the Ikea misery - actually it's my guilty pleasure if I'm honest....), football and beavers after school and then girls round for drinks and nibbles in the evening. I had planned on being creative with the nibbles. I fear that my creativity may lie in the hands of supermarket packets......nachostastic anyone?