Cowboy boots

Cowboy boots suddenly became fashionable last fall after very long time. Since I'm not that trendy, really, I don't think I would have bought any - but it happens that I already owned a pair. Last summer, when visiting my Dad in the countryside where he spends half of the year, I was rummaging through the contents of the attic at random, just to kill time - and ran into this pair.

I was pleased to find them, carefully packed away who knows when by my Mother, now deceased. I had forgotten all about them, and would have thought that they'd be out with the garbage long ago already.

It is so funny sometimes, to be lucky enough still to get new mementos about the loved ones, who are no longer with us. One truly treasures such moments in life. I do, at least.

my green little lizard feet

...carried me with ease, through the sunny park, to my friend's place, last evening, to celebrate the graduation of her, one of my best friends, and her sister, from the university.

The spring is finally here, and the temperature is rising rapidly. I realised it would be perhaps the last chance to wear my green Portuguese lizard boots before it would be too hot. These fabric boots are one of my two stretch boots, which means they always fit well since they adjust to the shape of the calf.

The evening proved a success, there were a lot of nice people and some maybe not that nice, but I had a strange air of detachment that protected me from any malicious intentions. Nothing or noone could could have disturbed my mood - especially since I had the chance to talk with some quite interesting individuals, while avoiding the not-so-interesting ones. My friend, of course, was as radiant as ever, and had made the best of servings, as she always does.

All in all, the night was very pleasurable, and made me understand a thing or two about myself and also of others. So enjoyable it was that we actually missed the last tram home when we finally dared to leave. So I walked to the city center with a new acquaintance, a young girl who was fun to be with, and as I had seen to it that she reached home safely, I was prepared to walk the 2 km distance to mine. However, even though I would not have minded to get some fresh air, a tram suddenly appeared when I was walking by a tram stop - and I realised we had in fact not missed the last tram, but the second to last.

The Secret

In 2002, I had the chance to participate in a most interesting workshop in Germany (not in Düsseldorf this time, but in a wonderful medieval castle somewhere else), and on my way back stayed for the weekend in the lovely city of Luxemburg for the first time in my life. It was July, so it was very warm and the weather was quite splendid for the both two days I spent in this small but vivacious capital of the state of Luxemburg. I visited the tunnels inside the ancient city wall, as well as some art museums, like the lovely Villa Vauban in the midst of a beautiful flower garden, and the exciting Casino Luxembourg - a former gambling house turned into the museum of contemporary art - just to mention a few.

In the shops, there were sales, so I let myself be carried away with one of my favourite hobbies, shopping (if you hadn't guessed this by now, I should wonder!). There I learnt how different the manners and customs can be in Finland as compared with middle Europe - there were no mirrors inside the dressing cabinets, but the customer has to step outside and be judged by anyone who happens to be around! The sales person would, of course, say anything nice and flattering about the most hideous combinations - as long as the customer would buy, seemed to be the goal. In Finland, one can stay in the privacy of the cabinet, since the mirrors are placed inside them, and judge for oneself - which is good or bad, depending on the individual likings and the level ot taste of the current occupant of the cabinet ;)

In the shops and also on terraces where I wanted to order something, I soon realised that there is a language in existence I never knew of before - that of luxemburg, or letzeburg, as the locals seem to call it. It sounded like a mixture of French and German, and I guess that is exactly what it is. In any case, I couldn't understand a word of it.

I ended up buying, if I remember correctly, two pairs of shoes (and a lot of clothes): white hand-woven shoes by Pons Quintana, and this shiny purple pair by Freelance that I often wear at home. These little sandals have a secret - underneath the shoe there is a lovely little flower embroidered to the sole, something the wearer alone gets to know! But now I am sharing the secret with you.

Soft and sweet

Today is Sunday, and I have been cleaning my wardrobes, taking out summer gear and packing winter stuff away. This also goes for my shoes - I have opened the shoe boxes where I store my summer shoes when they are not in use, and replaced the winter versions with summer ones in my shoe rack in the hallway. The rack is quite full now, since I have so many more summer shoes. Small wonder, for during the summer time, one can really play with all types and kinds, with whatever material, and the leather sole is not such a problem anymore. The summer shoes also tend to be colourful and softer and more open - meaning that it's time to start thinking about a thorough pedicure!

One of my favourite summer sandals are my currently only shoes from Bally. The cream colour nicely enhances the fact that the leather used for these sandals is very soft - the shoes are a pleasure to wear, and can be matched with most things. I've worn them for years, and originally they were bought to replace a very similar pair by Bruno Magli that I used as long as I only could. Practically the only difference to them is in colour - they were tanned brown. I regret I didn't save them and take them to a shoe maker, and order them to make a similar pair. Luckily though, I found these creamies soon enough. The heel is about 4-5 cm, so there is no strain in wearing the pair. The heels are also of very hard material, and make a distinctive 'clickety-clack' sound when I walk - different from any other shoes that I have - and I really love it, for some reason.

During summer, I wear these sandals very frequently if only the weather allows for it, often with my long white linen dress from Marella, or with my jungle grey RL polo safari shorts. Can't wait! Today, I already wore them when letting my cat peak into the staircase in the house that I currently live in, just to hear the familiar sound I'm strangely so fond of :)

Beetle juic...I mean shoes

These shoes were coined beetle shoes - Koppikset in Finnish - by a former boyfriend. I find the name quite appropriate since it is so descriptive, and have used it ever since, even if their 'christener' is long gone from my life :)

These beetles have served me well, having been my favourite night scouting shoes until the ankle straps were broken. They have been waiting to get fixed, but till now I have failed to act on this matter - I'm just so lazy sometimes. But many times I leave for the town, I regret this neglicenge. For they are great shoes.

Again, the origin of the shoes is not clear. Somehow, I have the feeling they might be Spanish. However, the label Paolo Santini sounds more Italian. Somewhat surprisingly, the web page does not clearly reveal the origin of the label. If I've understood correctly, the shoes are actually Austrian.

ps. 'Beetle Juice' was originally a strange and intriguing film by Tim Burton, made back in 1988.

A night out

These evening shoes I use quite often during the summer period, as you can see for yourselves from the picture - it is obvious that they have seen a night or two. The ankle 'straps' are quite handy in that they make certain that the shoe stays on, no matter what. Revealing or hiding the strap, depending on the outfit, truly changes how these versatile shoes appear: when hidden, the shoes look quite classy and elegant, but when revealed, the look diverts more towards the kinky side.

I fail to remember the label of these shoes, since it dropped out long ago - and there is no sign of the origin either. Last time I wore them was last fall, when my boyfriend and I went to listen to a jam session called 'Mike's Monster jam' at midnight one Sunday in a local rock club called On the Rocks.

Goldie goldie

Well, since I already have presented my bronze and silver shoes, the last one to step on stage are, naturally, the golden ones. So here they are, my golden ballerinas - very flashy, very impractical in that sense - but luckily I just read in some fashion magazine that metal colour shoes should be the thing this summer. So maybe I dare to wear them :)

These cutiepies were found last summer, too, as I went shopping and just dropped by to browse the selections at a store more favoured by the young, the Swedish Nilson shoe store. However, I could not resist the golden opportunity. The shoes were made in Brazil.

During the same shopping day, I also found a very nice beige twinset, with glittery decorations on the chest, from Marella - they go well with this pair, as with almost everything else. A nice day it was!

Silver Shoes

These silver shoes from Rizzo are very much the same style as the bronze ones purchased in Düsseldorf, the only differences being an even lower heel of different shape, and the missing bands. Despite the label, they too were made in Italy. Also these shoes however remain still to be used for the first time. It seems to be the case with most flat shoes - I just wear them very seldom, if at all.

The plan for these shoes is to pair them with all-black - for example, long pants and jacket - a suit, most probably. Icy pink might also provide for a good combination. This summer, I plan to use them if I go the theatre or to a concert, or maybe when I go to have dinner or drinks in the evenings with friends or with that special someone.

The shoes were purchased from a shoe shop under the very same name, the Swedish Rizzo, in Helsinki city center last summer. This shop has a rather nice collection of shoes, both from Rizzo and from several other quite nice labels, too.

For the rainy days

In Finland, there is a shoe designer who is, for some reason, quite popular in general. His name is Pertti Palmroth and the shoes he makes are rather practical, with a wider sole that fits the Finnish shape of foot well, I guess. I do not like their shoes that much, they are too 'down-to-earth' to suit my taste, and my foot is better suited for other shapes, but it seems it is practically impossible not to own a pair of Palmroths if you happen to live in Finland. Mine is a pair of black boots in an imitation of some sort of reptile skin. The material is plastic, so these boots can be used as rubber boots - and in fact that is exactly how I use them. (I use actual rubber boots only if I go to the countryside, if even then.) This spring has been exceptionally rainy, so I have had to use them a lot, unfortunately! There have been but few sunny days till now.

The heels are very sturdy, so the boots are very comfortable to wear and walk even longer distances. The upper part is moulded to reflect the curve of leg, and the fit is quite appropriate - it should be, since the material does not give in at all. I usually wear these boots with long pants, so they are only partly visible. I don't have that much good to say about the pair except that they are practical and have a certain place in my shoe collection, but men seem to like them surprisingly much - I guess 'black boots' - even of this kind - have a special meaning to them.

MiniMilano

At some point of my life, I always seemed to end up in Düsseldorf, Germany, for one reason or the other. Either I was flying up to meet a friend, travelling on the train with the Interrail card, first with a best friend and then with a boyfriend, and later, the business trips to this city I had learned to know so well I didn't need a map anymore, became a routine.

I found it a bit funny that of all the cities of Europe, I should be returning to this particular one like a bumerang. And funnier even, though it is the fashion city of Germany, I never was engaged in any fashion-related things there - except of course indulging in extensive shopping activities each and every time I was visiting there.

So, once more in 2003 as I was working for Nokia I set foot in this nice and modern city once again. During my spare time I soon discovered Italy inside Germany: a lovely little shoe shop called 'MiniMilano' became the target of my pilgrimages from then on. The shop was full of wonderful shoes of all kinds - since it was April and the summer was approaching, the collections were at their best.

I ended up buying a full five pairs of shoes with different styles and heel heights, all beautiful in their own way. It was a hard choice though, I could have emptied the shop if only I had stayed any longer than the 5 days planned. The shopping was annoying though in one respect: visa or any other credit cards that I had were not accepted in most small shops, including this one. Since I had long forgotten my PIN numbers for any of my cards, I was forced to take money via my hotel - which is not too cheap, nor handy. I did feel like a shop-a-holic - or like a little girl at a candy store - at some point, when returning to the hotel counter, again and again, for just a little bit more shoe money :D

In any case, these lovely bronze and glitter mules have not yet been worn, though they truly are pretty. Perhaps this somewhat surprising negligence is due to the heel being only about 2 cm, since I rarely wish to use any type of flats. But I will find the occasion, eventually - that I can guarantee!

The Hairy Ones

Today, as I left for the city center in order to find some food, I had to reason long and hard with myself not to wear my fabulous new black and hairy Brazilian Dumond shoes. A recent purchase and really more suited to the fall time, I was still anxious to wear the pair even once before they'd be hopelessly 'last season' in the utmost literal sense of this common phrase.

The foreseeable discomfort of high heels approaching 10 cm combined with the relative roughness of the unworn material made me give up on the idea finally, and settle for my cute little black ballerina shoes by Unisa instead. Luckily so, since once I reached the center, the clouds that seemed to have appeared from nowhere were heavy with water and already dripping some. I found rescue in the city tunnels, where the only shops open during holidays are located. It started pouring heavily and I had to take the tram back home.

I guess I'll have to be reasonable and wait for the fall time this time. The shoes were a real bargain, sold at a ridiculously low price in winter sales - and even more so, since they are a perfect match to a Francesco Biasia bag of similar hairy cow leather purchased some two years ago and serving as the bag for the fall-winter season for me ever since. In any case, as I was trying these black beauties on, I realised how great they will look with patterned legwear - flowers seemed an extremely nice choice, and I have no doubt so will geometrical ones be, too. I take it this means I can claim fully licensed for extensive legwear shopping the coming fall ;)

In the train

It is Easter time, so I went to visit my Father in Lahti, where I originally come from. I took the train, both directions, leaving Helsinki on Saturday evening and again returning yesterday in the Sunday afternoon. Both times, the train was quite full, which surprised me. After all, the holidays had started already several days earlier, and I expected the train to be rather empty, since everyone had already left or would yet not return. I proved myself wrong - the train was packed on both occasions, mostly with youngsters, probably not wanting to spend the whole Easter vacation at their parents' house, but just a day or two, out of a sense of obligation.

On my way there, I was concentrating on a crochet project, long overdue, for a summer pullover, minding my own business, and the journey went swiftly and with no occurrences worth mentioning. On returning, however, I chose to sit in the restaurant carriage - even though I really enjoyed visiting my Dad, I felt tired since I hadn't slept well during my stay, if at all. And in any case, it is usually stressful to be on the travel, however short-lived. So I felt exhausted and decided I needed a drink.

In the restaurant car, there were again quite a bunch of people, some heavily drunk, and the noise was remarkable. However, I was determined to sit down and started glimpsing for a free seat with least bad options, while standing in line for the beer, my choice for the day. Finally, I sat down next to a middle-aged lady and opposite a young girl.

The girl was beautiful in a way that spoke of intelligence, probably a university student. She tried to look mysterious, and had, in a demonstrative fashion, placed a book with an intimidating title on the table, 'The Geography of Fear' by Finnish writer Anja Kauranen, popular among the younger readers at least. Not reading, the girl was keeping close watch of her fellow travellers and every now and then making notes to a small red notebook, placed in her lap, in tiny yet decorative handwriting. She reminded me of myself as a 'fervent young intellectual' as I liked to see myself in those days, and I smiled in secret. In any case, she had created a clever ensemble of how to pose herself to the eyes of others, and I could but admire the outcome, despite its apparent naiveté. Or maybe I have just become cynical?

Some men were making comments to us on the next table, but we didn't much care about those lads. Rather, the hassle provided me and the middle-aged lady the excuse to start talking to each other. She turned out a colourful personality, having also visited her parent, namely her mother, and was more or less in the same state as myself. We talked about this and that - why I mention all this here is that finally, we ended up talking about shoes. She too was an enthusiast, and started commenting on my brown, well-worn Peter Kaiser shoes which I had chosen to wear for the trip, for their comfort. We shared opinions about appropriate usage of high heels - when to choose them and when not to choose them, and about taxis as a more or less obligatory accessory to any pair of very high ones. We also exchanged some hidden secrets of the trade (since wearing high heels can be compared to labour at times) - on how to ease the pain and lessen the dangers of wearing heels.

It was a fun trip, thanks to this lady, and it felt like it was over almost too soon. Here the practical German shoes are pictured with my cat, who just wouldn't stay outside the camera range but wanted the attention the shoes were annoyingly receiving, instead of her. So she became the most perfect accessory to complete the setting for this little still life :)

Lilac Dreams

Lilac is one of my favourite colours. So happy I was when encountering these beauties while 'just passing thru' (as if!) the shoe department at one of the big department stores in the city center. For -70% reduction on the original price, it was not hard to decide whether or not to buy them!

Here placed over my lilac summer pashmina scarf, these Italian Aventura suede and sparkle shoes remain yet unused. The softness of the material, together with a heel of only 6 cm are a guarantee that they can be worn for hours. The ties can be bound in two different ways around the ankle, which makes these sandalettes even more versatile. I do hope summer will come soon!

If I were to...

...get married, these dream boots by Lars Wallin for Rizzo would make me want to tie the commitment during winter time!*

The 'pompom shoes' are quite tempting, too. Do I need to get married to wear them, or can I just wear them? ;)

Update on May 6th: I have visited the new Rizzo store in Kamppi shopping center, and seen some of these bridal shoes for real !! The boots were unfortunately missing, but the pom-pom shoes were there, as were the ones with the heart decoration, too.

In any case, both shoes still remain but a dream - at least for now!

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* update in June: I have now seen also the boots in Rizzo store, and to my surprise, they were not of leather, but of satin! Maybe they are in fact more beautiful in that material, but this also means, they are in fact intended more for the summer, I guess.

Gentle is the night

These are perhaps my most worn evening shoes. Black suede with sparkles on top and buckles, they are classy and flashy at the same time. And, as most BM shoes, they too are very soft and gentle to the feet - ideal shoes for the evening out, in other words!

These versatile fall and winter time shoes can be worn with evening dresses, black trousers, cocktail dresses and even with my tightly fitting black RL stretch jeans.

When did I wear them last? I can't seem to recall..I was planning to wear them in March for a dinner party, but had to cancel due to falling ill at the last minute :/

Metallic, metallic, metallic!

Again, a pair of shoes I was so wanting to buy for quite some time. This 'mary jane' pair is by Penelope - not an expensive label but quite dashing anyway, with metallic shine of the violet extraordinaire - at least it had a special attaching power to me! Apparently the label is or at least has been produced by Spanish Lola shoes. Going through their catalogues makes me want to move to Spain instantly.

Finally, I gave in, after having stepped into the store to try these sweeties on for umpteen times. The heels are quite high, so long-distance walking is not an option. But then again, beauty knows no pain.

These shoes are great when paired with my D&G 80-retro style black jeans - and for that matter, with anything black!

Orange sparkle from Marella

Here are my orange sparkle sandals from Marella, with a matching handbag. For the picture, they were placed over the orange silk gown by iblues, with which they are to match, once I get the chance to wear the set in the first place! I truly hope the approching summer will give me the satisfaction of having an 'orange sparkle' night out!

Also, the orange shoes and bag might suit very well with an ivory or white suit, or why not with black or even brown. Hmm, many possibilities here!

Polka Dot CJ's

I bought my first Charles Jourdan shoes as a special birthday gift for myself in 2002. I had admired them for some time in a local shop in Helsinki, now disappeared, and then finally decided I could indulge in buying them for such a special occasion.

It is true what they say about CJ shoes - they are extremely comfortable and steady to wear, even with heels as high as 10 cm. First time worn for an exhibition opening at the museum of contemporary art Helsinki called Kiasma, accompanied with pink RL jeans and Burberry top, they have since then been a constant source of compliments and joy in a variety of occasions.

One of the most memorable was when I dressed in all-black one summer night last year, with classical long sleek trousers by Marella, a flattering sleeveless knit top by Caractère found in Tallinn, and, finally, with my CJ's on my feet - and, after first meeting with a group of friends, later went on to have drinks with my boyfriend in the heart of the city at midnight, with just the two of us. Très French, indeed.

Shoes,shoes, shoes..

This blog will be about shoes. Needless to say, I am a shoe-enthusiast, and could never have enough shoes.

I love most types and kinds, be they slides or slings, thongbacks or pumps, boots, sandals, wedges, slippers or even espadrilles! The main thing is that they need to have heels.

I will present my collections here, with stories and memories associated with them.