SCHOOL GATE STYLE

Belfast-based, clothes-loving, shopping-obsessed, mum of 3. Wearable fashion on a budget for busy women

Tuesday, 1 April 2014

As I was passing through M&S....

....en route to get some groceries (honest!), I drifted over towards the footwear and just had to do a try on. Have I ever told you that when I was 3 years old, I wandered away from my mother and was found in a shoe shop - quite a distance away considering my age - trying on high heels? The obsession started at a young age :)
First up - sandals. These ankle strap sandals come in tan and stone. They are incredibly comfy, thanks to a padded insole and a rubbery/grippy sole. Perfect for running after little ones. On this link for £45
M&s
Next, a similar style better suited to narrow feet - which I don't have so they look a bit odd on me. These are not as comfy as the first pair but do have a groovy metallic heel and a lovely textured finish. Available on this link for £29.50:
M&s
Next up, I had to try on the cage sandals that I've seen lots of bloggers talk about over the past couple of weeks. The leather is gorgeous - so soft and they are comfortable. They are very light though and the heel is too delicate for me. I would have them wrecked with just a couple of wears sadly. They're on this link for £55
M&s
Something much more sturdy now and better suited to my feet are these Limited Edition ankle strap sandals. SO SO comfy and the perfect way to brighten up a black jumpsuit or a jeans/blazer combo. If I could only have come up with a reason to buy them....on this link in the monochrome colour way. For some reason, the other colour I photographed isn't showing online.
M&s
Moving onto shoes now - check out these beauties...completely impractical but just the prettiest shoes I've seen in a long time. They've also got a great insole going on, making them really comfortable. Only £29.50 in two fabulous colour ways - the red/pink here and blue/yellow here. LOVE!
M&s
A more practical school run shoe now - here are the pointed flats that M&S have done for a few seasons now. They come up a little snug on my wide foot though and they didn't have my size today for me to try. I always regret not buying the leopard version last season. On this link for £49.50
M&s
But then I spied the sale shelf - quite a bit still left on it with up to 70% off. My friend Sharon has these shoes and they're lovely on her:
M&s
But I resisted the lure of some lovely heels and went for a loafer style at a more palatable £22.99, down from £50. They're from Autograph so are the most lovely leather and they are wide fitting too. Could look a bit frumptastic if I'm not careful but chances are I'll be too comfortable to notice!
M&s
Finally, a couple of handbags. I was asked by a reader this week about cross-body bags and I must say, I do like this one. It's got an on-trend boxy shape with plenty of room inside. Real leather too from the Autograph range - on this link:
M&s
Finally, there are two gorgeous bags in the in-store sale at the moment and it was all I could do to not to buy the one in the main picture. Stunning leather and metalwork. Lovely generous size and it has a cross body strap too. Down to £39.99 in the sale. The bag on the bottom right is more of a Zara style shopper so not really my cup of tea but again, lovely quality leather and down to £36.99. Neither of these are available online but you might find one in your local store.
M&s
And a quick pic of what I was wearing today - plain and simple as I was running so late this morning..
image
Rainy Day Mac - c/o Boden, Jeans - Replay (similar), Ankle Boots - Clarks via eBay (similar here & here), White T - Uniqlo, Cross Body - Boden (past season - similar)
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29 comments

  1. Marks and Sparks are on fire at the moment with their shoes, they are fab! X

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  2. I love these kind of posts where all the legwork is done for me (lazy much?!!) But having read this, it looks like I'm going to have to haul myself off to Marks. Some gorgeous shoes ... love the slingbacks, but even moreso the Limited Edition ankle strap. Really lovely

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  3. M&S are really having a shoe moment....I've bought 3 pairs in there lately and now you are tempting with a whole lot more Avril!! Love the strappy black sandals and the low black block ones......decisions, decisions! xx

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  4. I am loving loads in M&S at the moment, I can't wait to get to a store and have a good old try on! x

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  5. They shoes are fabulous at the moment..... Lots of homages which is great!! X

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  6. M&S are on fire this season and in particular with their footwear. I've been toying with the cage sandals for a while, they didn't have my size when I was in last x

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  7. Oh I love those first pointy sale shoes on you Avril, you should go back & get them! I have always been a fan of M&S shoes, they do a great job season after season for comfort, style & affordability x

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  8. I am just in love with M&S right now - I have ordered several pairs of shoes - have you seen the Miu Miu tributes with the gem stone heel? Also have a couple of Limited bags that I love. I hope they stay the course.xx

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  9. Love those Cage sandals Avril - just seen them on Sharron's blog! Your green mac is lovely - love a bit of green! xx

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  10. I LOVE those first stone-coloured sandals. And I have rainy-day mac envy, that colour is fab on you. Am trying desperately to reign in the spending this month, but so much temptation out there.

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  11. Great selection of shoes. The second sandal and the box sandal are so nice, as are the pointy flats and the thick ankle strap heels. They do a good shoe, do M&S !
    :0)
    Paul

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  12. Ooh, those cage sandals are fantastic! I must pop into M&S soon. For groceries, like...

    Emma | Fluff and Fripperies

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  13. Those pretty slingbacks are the cutest ever aren't they? Sadly I can't wear slingbacks (weird heels)!

    I am saddened to hear the black ones are too lightweight ... they are gorgeous

    Fiona

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  14. Cous Cous and Cork Wedges2 April 2014 at 17:25

    They really do have some stunning footwear in atm! I love those bright patterned block heeled sandals & they are on my wishlist with 10 zillion other items! xx

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  15. Me too...maybe they'll be in the sale and we'll snap them up half price? I love them but finding it hard to justify when they'll only be for special occasions! x

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  16. I'm sure you could totally rock them...I'm just a stomper in my shoes and need sturdy heels! Ax

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  17. Haha...and you can pay for shoes at the grocery checkout too...just saying..

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  18. They certainly do - they need whomever is doing a fab job with footwear to have a look at the ladieswear! Ax

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  19. Aw...thank you! I really thought the green would be limiting but I've worn it SO much! And the stone sandals....like wearing slippers! Honest! Ax

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  20. Thank you Jenny - me and Sharron have a bit of a #greatminds thing going on at the moment I think! The green mac has been unbelievably wearable. I was sure I would get fed up of it but it's just right for cheering me up on a rainy day! Ax

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  21. I haven't seen the Miu Miu ones you talk of woman....WHERE?! Off for another look...this could get expensive! Ax

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  22. They're lovely but I have SO many dressy shoes that I never wear so I have to resist...arghh! x

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  23. It's a really impressive shoe range...best in a long time. I've never wanted so many pairs at once! Ax

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  24. Aren't they? There's obviously a great team behind it at the moment. Go M&S!Ax

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  25. You would love them all...but you've had a few lovely additions to the shoe wardrobe already this past month, no?!?! x

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  26. Oh I can't wait to see what you've bought Michelle. I'm long overdue a bloggy catch up...heading your way in a min! Ax

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  27. You so have to Helen - would love to see your take on them all and I'm sure you'd find 10 more pairs I didn't see! Ax

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  28. Such an amazing range...this season and last. Can't wait to get to a bigger store to see the full range. Ax

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  29. Was wondering where you'd been on my blogger feed Avril. I'm a recent convert to M & S shoes. Bought a pair of brown leather ankle boots in the sale recently for £23 and wore them to walk around Rome on our recent visit. Really comfy and looked good too.

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