Olivia Rubin for Dune

Last week, I popped over to Dune to get a sneak peek of their genius collaboration with Fashion Fringe nominee Olivia Rubin. As a total shoe girl, I couldn’t wait to see the outcome of the collaboration. I came away coveting every single pair in the 12 piece collection, the prints just really stood out and made the shoes so distinctive, talk about statement heels! During the evening, I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with Olivia herself, who is absolutely lovely. She was wearing her favourite heels from the collection, round toe slingbacks in the brightest print and they looked fab on. It turns out we had something in common, we’re both heel lovers and agreed that the higher the heel the better, especially if there’s a platform for added comfort. Most of the shoes in the collection had a slight platform, there were also classic mary-janes and flats. My favourite were the gorgeous multicoloured sandals in the third picture. But with price points between £65-110, I may just get more than one pair. 

Hiking boots vs riding boots

Over the last week or so, I have really realised how unsuitable my shoe collection is for cold weather – long story but most of my boots have been ruined, compensation is an ongoing battle issue with my estate agents. Sometimes a girl just needs to make a wardrobe investments purely for warmth and comfort reasons…but that doesn’t mean said investment needs to be purely functional.


I’ve been debating between the slightly boring but classic riding boots and fashion’s new shoe du jour the hiking boot. Both imply outdoor pursuits which I really won’t be undertaking anytime soon. I love the classic nature of riding boots and most of them are knee length which means thick rugby socks can be worn undetected when temperatures really plummet. But on the other hand, hiking boots are pretty cosy too, especially the sheepskin lines ones. Both boots are very practical, though riding boots may be flat which is good for frost and ice, most hiking boots have a grippy sole and so combine a heel and practicality. I think I’m sold on that last point!


Are you going to be a riding boots or hiking boots kind of girl this season?

Bertie blogger’s event

Just before LFW kicked off, I was invited to an exclusive blogger’s event at Bertie‘s flagship store on South Molton Street – one of my favourite little streets in London. Now I’ve got to admit, I’ve never bought a pair of shoes at Bertie before so I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I discovered that the autumn/winter collection is utterly gorgeous! Bertie are part of the Dune group, which also Dune (obviously) and Pied a Terre, so they know good shoes. The store itself is lovely, it has a very industrial feel with exposed brickwork, strands of white leather hanging from the ceiling and pegged up polaroids. 

The store

In terms of the new collection, there are a couple of themes which run through the collection: geek chic – pretty much a style staple now, everyone loves a good brogue or loafer, boho winter – think ultra cosy shearling and fur and revolutionary – military-inspired with metal details like eyelets and studs. 

 I was hanging out with Amy from Wolf Whistle and Christine from A Sense Sublime and we had such a hard time trying to choose which gorgeous pair to take home. I could have easily taken away half a dozen pairs. I eventually went with some utterly irresistible wedge brogues, I just had to wear them to LFW…here’s a quick snap of me in my new favourite shoes. 

Dune ‘shoe is art’ competition

I often try to explain to people that fashion is a form of art. This normally results in the rolling of eyes and looking at me like I’m a bit dim. Then I point at some Dior Couture or some beautiful shoes by Charlotte Olympia/Louboutin/Camilla Skovgaard and they tend to stop. I think shoes are a prime example. Think about the lines, curves and structure of your favourite pair of shoes. Thankfully, I’m not the only one who thinks that fashion and art are linked, fab shoe company Dune also think so. Their Autumn/Winter 2010 campaign is themes around the notion that the ‘shoe is art’. The instore display has inspiration from pop art, cubism and even cartoons!

They are so passionate about this concept that they have a super competition running alongside their campaign. They’re looking for the most original and visually exciting artwork which represents the theme of ‘shoe is art’. It can be anything from a painting, photograph, sculture, collage..any form of art really. So budding artists, get your thinking cap on, the main prize is a very cool £10,000! Think of the shoes you could buy with that!! Click here to enter.

Submit your entry on the Dune website, at your local Dune store or send it to our Head Office at 9 Hatton Street, London NW8 8PL  | Submissions should be labeled with reference to “Shoe is Art” competition | For all correspondence relating to The Shoe is Art” competition, please address to Murilo Pissinatti at the Dune Head Office | Each submission will be issued with a receipt | Entries open on Friday 27th September and close on Sunday 8th November | Judging will be completed by 12th November | Winner announced on Friday 16th November  | Artwork displayed by Wednesday 1st December 

The panel of judges will be made up of experienced artists, academics and designers.

Register on line at www.dune.co.uk