TFNS - TOPSHOP Black Gizmo Ankle Strap Court Shoes

The Friday Night Steal brings you the TFL look on a shoestring, so here we are with Gizmo from Topshop - a very suitable approximation from the high street of the Casadei blade heels at just £45. They are a gorgeous looking evening heel and would look equally fantastic paired with a lace gown to complete the look.

OASIS
Black Spot And Lace Sexy Dress


Accessories with these lookalike pieces and you are good to go.

COAST Gold Tess Lace Bag	MIKEY Black Small Skull Rings

TFL - CASADEI Black Blade Heel Pump With Ankle Strap

I think it's fair to say that these blade ankle strap heels from Casadei are pretty special. Because of their £524 price tag I've added them in as The Friday Luxe this week, but there will be a high street 'how-to' coming up with The Friday Night Steal at 5pm where you can find the same look for under £50 per item.

I do love the blade heels and have featured them several times before but these are probably my favourite so far. Seriously sexy little pumps.

Buy CASADEI Black Blade Heel Pump With Ankle Strap

Wear them with this to finish off your truly luxurious date night outfit.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Black Lace Viscose On Georgette Dress


Accessories with these and the look is complete.

DKNY Beige Studded Clutch	ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Black Silver Night Crystal Embellished Glory Skull Ring

Modern Classics feat. JIMMY CHOO Black Kuki Patent Leather Platform Sandals

When it comes to understanding what women want in a heel then Jimmy Choo rarely gets it wrong. A quick search through the Shoeniverse Archives reveals a plethora of beautiful well constructed dainty shoes that flatter and would always look amazing. Kuki can now be added to the list. Now that I've conquered my fear of black sandals that is!


You can wear them to work like so:



The real art in shoes like this in my opinion is dressing them down so they can be worn every day. I'd wear them with these:

ASOS Pink Top With 3D Floral Sleeves	RAG & BONE Grey Croxley Midrise Skinny Jeans
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD Black Large Frilly Snake Tote Bag	RAY-BAN Brown Classic Wayfarer 50mm Sunglasses

Buy JIMMY CHOO Black Kuki Patent Leather Platform Sandals

Even designers get it wrong... feat. GUCCI Brown Leopard Print Platform Pumps vs McQueen Armadillo Pumps

I have always had something of a mental block when it comes to leopard shoes as past posts will attest. I've just never really thought of them as being anything than a little bit brassy and brash, and if you go here and search 'leopard' you'll see all of the atrocities that Shoeniverse has documented in it's short life thus far. Not pretty. Unfortunately, now Gucci are in on the act. The style itself is beautiful and has been done so much better (we'll come to that later) due to choosing alternative finishes. So fear not, if you love the style but hate the colour, all is not lost.

For me though, they are trashy. Sorry Gucci. Samantha just doesn't do leopard shoes.


And here they are being worn. Even with the simplest and most demure of neutral separates they can't be saved. The poor girl just ends up looking like an exotic dancer from the knees down.



Buy GUCCI Brown Animal Print Platform Pumps

Also a (dis)honorable mention should go out to Dolce & Gabbana at this point for creating these:

DOLCE & GABBANA
Animal Leopard Print Calf Hair Pumps

Luckily my favourite guardian angel Alexander McQueen has created beautiful heels to take us far far away from this animal madness with the armadillo heels (in plenty of fabulous finishes). The straps are not quite so fine but the look is very similar and you don't have to have animal print feet. Click through to any of them for purchase information. These are both the really high and mid heel versions of these sandals too. Sorry Gucci, but on this occasion McQueen would get my sale every time.


ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Black Suede Armadillo Sandal



ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Armadillo Lowheel Doublearched Suede Sandal Purple



ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Armadillo Lowheel Doublearched Suede Sandal Pink


ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Black Perforated Strap Armadillo Sandal

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Taclou Spiked Heel Red Sole Platform Pump in Black

I have a sneaking suspicion that based on my past shoe history and shopping profile, that strictly speaking I shouldn't actually like these Loubies. However, I LOVE these Louboutins, so it just goes to show, there are always new things that can be done with a black patent pump. The signature red spiked heel is nothing short of inspired.


Because of the thicker heel they are easier to walk in but harder to style. I think they would look pretty damned fabulous with any of these clingy bodycon midi dresses.

ASOS Midi Bodycon Dress With Drape V Back	ASOS Green Midi V Neck Lace Bodycon
TFNC White Midi Dress With Lace Insert	LOVE Blue Midi Dress With Wrap Skirt

Designer Doppelgangers - RACHEL ZOE and CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA Gold Platform Ankle Boots

Remember the TFL last week and the gorgeous Lucinda Charlotte Olympia boots? Well take a look at the boots above from Rachel Zoe. Double Take time!

In fairness they are rather lovely and the shiny leather and reflective platform are actually slightly more to my taste than the Charlotte Olympia Ones - and they are also a fair bit cheaper at £180 (originally £320). The paler gold platform is slightly less 'in your face' than the CL boots as well.


Buy Rachel Zoe Gold Platform Ankle Boots

Or do you prefer the Lucinda boots?



Either way for a truly heart stopping and head turning outfit add a grey bustier top and simple skirt. I love this look.

ERMANNO SCERVINO Grey Tube Top	PETER PILOTTO Grey Silk Crepe De Chine T-Bustier
A.L.C. Black Alia Shorts	ROCHAS Black Knee Length Skirts

Some silver accessories and you are good to go.

SYLVIA TOLEDANO Silver Angel Heart Box Clutch	NOIR JEWELLERY Silver Nightfall Statement Collar

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Bow Ankle Suede Bootie Black

I wanted to show you these, not because Alexander McQueen booties are new to Shoeniverse, even ones with huge bows (albeit formerly at the back) but they are so damned pretty that I just HAD to! I adore the line of the heel, the gorgeous bow and the opulent suede upper. The other version that stole my heart were in hot pink... remember these?



Beautiful! Anyway, back to the new ones... although if you do own these they would still look amazing with the dress below...


For me they are DYING to be paired with a structured tailored nude dress, and it's hard to find one better than this little number from Karen Millen Screen Style Mamma Mia. The draping is simply exquisite.




I really like the idea of taking such a delicate 'made for barely-there Jimmy Choo sandals' kind of a dress and adding edgy little McQueen boots. It adds a much needed dash of personality. Just add smoky dark eyes and blood red hair to transform this dress into something much more high fashion than it ever dreamed of being.