Shoeniverse hits 1000 - thanks to all our readers!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to the readers of Shoeniverse, to all the fashion bunnies and shoe fairies out there who have visited my blog since the start and enjoy what I do.

I am actually off getting inked as I post this (it's queued, and I am finally getting my wrists done - woohoo!) so I want to wish you all a fantastic weekend. Do something fun. Treat yourself. Be nice to people.

Here's to the next 1000 posts!

Samantha x

Dress Week Part 2 - BUDGET BUY feat ASOS White Dip Dye Embellished Shift Dress

ASOS are well established for being one of the online go-to places for fantastic fashion at prices that often amaze me. This dress, at just £50, is the perfect sparkling party season / date night number without breaking the bank. It's cute, flirty and fun, flattering to most shapes and lends itself to lots of different shoes and accessories. You can't go far wrong.

See below for the footwear options I've picked out, all under £50 each too - so you can build yourself a holiday season ready outfit for £100 or less.

ZARA Tan Heeled Strappy Sandals	ASOS Black Trouble Studded Shoe Boots
DUNE Silver Heir Diamantã Strappy Slingback Sandals	MICHAEL ANTONIO Pink Tanvir Patent Pu

Dress Week Part 2 - SALE ALERT feat KAREN MILLEN Yellow Cute Colourful Mini Dress

I had another dress picked out for this post and it's sat in draft, but unfortunately when I saw this I figured we'd just HAVE to feature this on dress week. It's reduced at Karen Millen from £140 to just £41, so if you want to buck the LBD trend this Holiday Season, why not try a sweet dash of buttery golden lemon?

But then of course you will need shoes! My picks as below - and they start from just £16!

AKIRA Tamara01 Heel Sandal In Beige	NINE WEST Gold Come Around Peep Toe Shoes
ZARA Beige Platform Peeptoe	BADGLEY MISCHKA Fierce - Gold Metallic Leather Sandal

Dress Week Part 2 - feat J. MENDEL Asymmetrical Drape Gown

This might just possibly be my favourite ever cherry red dress. It's the perfect shade, the draping is exemplary, and the finished look is feminine and flattering. Such a beautiful example of bias craftsmanship and design. This really does deserve to be adorning an Academy Award winning actress in my opinion. It is of course full length so the shoes would only show when the dress was being held up at the front (steps etc) but it demands the most beautiful footwear to finish the look. Just look how incredible the drapework is at the front.


So to the shoes. My picks below. The dress, in this case, will always be the star of the show but these heels can definitely hold their own. Whether you want metallic, colour match, neutral or black, it all works with this amazing gown.

ALAÏA Silver Metallic Leather Sandals	CASADEI Red Suede Multi Strap Sandals
GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Black Bow Diamante Sandals	VALENTINO Pink Closed Toe Couture

Dress Week Part 2 - feat the ULTIMATE Wedding Shoe - CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Vendome Metallic Platform with "Something Blue"

For me, these are the ultimate wedding shoe for any bride. I know, it's a bold statement, but as regular readers will know, I don't do white shoes. So for me these are perfect. You can wear them afterwards should you wish to. They are beautiful and simple and as such would suit any style of dress, and best of all they even cover your 'something blue' with their sweet baby blue lining. What could be better than that? I've always loved Vendome, so seeing it here without the red and black drama only goes to prove what truly beautifully styled heels they really are.

So for the ultimate heel you need of course the ultimate gown. I made four recommendations last week but see below for even more.

TEMPERLEY LONDON
White Embellished Crepe-Silk Wedding Gown



DOLCE & GABBANA
White Wedding Gown


REEM ACRA
White Always Forever Gown

Dress Week Part 2 - feat what to wear with GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Red Christina Diamante Sandal

One shoe and some dress week options. I do love these, so ornate and over the top. They embody everything I first fell in love with about Giuseppe Zanotti heels. Beautiful, elegant, and sex appeal like nothing else. But how could you wear these for different occasions? I've picked four dresses to make these heels suitable for a number of situations, proving that even heels like this can be worn for daytime with the right outfit.

WEDDING GUEST - DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Red Giada Crepe Dress	DATE NIGHT - HERVÉ LÉGER Red Bandage Mini Dress
OFFICE/MEETING - MICHAEL BY MICHAEL KORS Red Belted Stretch Crepe Dress	NIGHT OUT - DKNY Red Crepe Dress

Which of the dresses is your favourite? Would you dare to wear these heels with gold instead?

Dress Week Part 2 - feat BCBGMAXAZRIA Black Sleeveless Cut-Out Gown

Carrying on with dress week I thought I'd mix it up a little with this sleek and sexy ankle length gown from BCBGMAXAZRIA. I adore the cutout back feature and the thigh split skirt, and yet it's so simple in colour and without any embellishments that you can really afford to have fun with the shoe choices.

See below for a broad selection of heels that would work - which ones are your favourites? Demure or a fun bright?

STELLA MCCARTNEY Animal Capped Toe Snakeprint Shoes	GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Blue Patent Stiletto Pump
STEVE MADDEN Gold Dipsie Sm Rhinestone Platform Court Shoes	NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD Green Chiffon Trimmed Suede Ankle Boots

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Multicolor Daffodile Multiprint Platform Red Sole Pump	CASADEI Orange Open Toe
NASTY GAL Solitaire Platform Pump Hot Pink	JIMMY CHOO Yellow Lance Neon Patentleather Sandals

Dress Week Part 2 - feat ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Black Mandarin Collar Highlow Dress

The extreme waterfall tailoring on this dress is one of the most beautiful pieces I've seen in a long time. So much so that we are kicking off the week's posts with a post devoted to how to wear it and options of what would work best.

Showcasing a dramatic silhouette inspired by this season's catholic theme, this Alexander McQueen dress features a waterfall dip hem skirt with contrast red lining for a striking finish. Offset the bold interior colour by teaming it with black stockings and shoes. Or red. Either way there is now way to not make a huge statement in this dress.

So to the shoes... here are my picks of heels strong enough to stand up to this dress and not be overshadowed.

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Alien Peep Toe Wedges	GUCCI Black Leather Lace-up Ankle Boots
CASADEI Red 150mm Suede Platform Pumps	ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Red Wedge Pump