THE SECRET LIFE QUIZ...

I will be asking bloggers to complete this for me and then will post it on my blog, rather than them posting it on theirs. Please email me your own answers to these questions on camillashoeshine@live.co.uk along with your name and blog address, and I will post it on this blog. I will complete it first to start it off and provide the questions.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD I WANTED TO BE... my sister, and a writer.
MY GREATEST INSPIRATION... in writing, Donna Tartt and the Canonical texts.
MY STYLE ICON... Kate Moss, Emanuelle Alt, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Rachael McAdams.
THE SHOP I CAN'T WALK PAST... Topshop, 'Magic', the vintage shop in my town, and charity shops. Waterstones.
A BOOK THAT CHANGED ME... Donna Tartt's the Secret History, and Hamlet.
THE LAST ALBUM I BOUGHT... Paolo Nutini: Sunny Side Up, and the Maccabees: Wall of Arms.
THE PERSON WHO REALLY MAKES ME LAUGH... Michael McIntyre, the writers of Green Wing and The Mighty Boosh.
IT'S NOT FASHIONABLE BUT I LIKE... BIG woolly jumpers and tramping around the countryside in wellies.
MY FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING... my Sequinned Jacket, but possibly soon the leather jacket I'm getting for my birthday.
MY FAVOURITE PAIR OF SHOES... My H&M Wedges, and all of them really, universally.
THE ITEM I WEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN... at the moment, my grey Roisin Murphy for fashion against aids body/leotard.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BUT I'M GOOD AT... Writing... erm, housework?
ALL MY MONEY GOES ON... clothes/shoes/alcohol.
MY MOST VAUABLE POSSESSION IS... A ring and a desk I inherited.
MY FAVOURITE PLACE IS... anywhere in a book, watching the sun rise.
MOVIE HEAVEN... The Notebook, Forrest Gump.
I WISH I'D NEVER WORN... a green 'Laura' dress for topshop, and a brown maxi-skirt... not together, but still hiiiideous.
MY LIFE IN SIX WORDS... Drunkenly, headily dancing through life's challenges.

JANE ALDRIDGE

A variation on "WHAT the Dickens?" was my first and foulmouthed reaction to the fact that Jane Aldridge, seventeen year old blogger and owner of shit hot shoes probably collectively worth more than my house, had collaborated with Urban Outfitters to design a shoe collection. I mean, she's younger than me! Although she has illustrated talent it is noticeably lifted from her Prada boots and her Ann Demulemeesters, but that's no bad thing, as in the same way Kate Moss lifter her ideas for her first Topshop collection from her own wardrobe.

On the actual shoes, despite the fact I think of peep-toe boots as an abhorration and I don't tend to consider knee length boots as incredibly unflattering on my figure, the boots are actually quite nice, and I love the tongue detailing as it just above the rest of the boot (although I would never, ever buy them because I HATE PEEP TOE BOOTS). They really remind me of her Prada booties. The flats are sweet and the Demulemeester-esque lacing makes them more interesting than any plain black ballet flats, but I can't help but thing of black leather flats as an inherently schooly item. Especially with laces. The gladiators are 'fierce' and ever so Balmain, and I kinda love them but just WISH they had a platform! I have to say generally I like them and take my hat off to her for doing something so amazing at such a young age. Anyway, there isn't much more to say about them and although you've probably seen them on her blog, I will re-post the images here.

NOTE: IF ANYBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A BLOGGER 'SURVEY' OR, MORE APT, QUESTIONNAIRE I WOULD BE HUGELY GRATEFUL SO EITHER COMMENT ME OR SEND ME AN EMAIL TO CAMILLASHOESHINE@LIVE.CO.UK AND I WILL EMAIL THE QUESTIONS TO YOU. THANKS A BUNDLE.

IN REAL LIFE

PROUST quiz, lifted and thrifted from 4TH AND BLEEKER

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? Watching the sun rise, reading a book in my attic bedroom while listening to the rain drumming and drumming on the velux windows, writing, writing, writing. Buying shoes and watching the notebook. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? Complete and utter loneliness, and having thin hair. WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN YOURSELF? My lack of drive in life, my obsessive shopping, and my innate and inescapable ability to mess up or taint everything beautiful. WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN OTHERS? Misogyny, The judgementality of people's attitude to life, and the complete lack of respect some people have for humanity, beauty and other people's happiness. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE? The way I choose to dress, drink, eat and live life to the fullest. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND? Listless, relieved and happy somewhere deep down. ON WHAT OCCASION DO YOU LIE? When I lie to myself, otherwise I'm annoyingly frank and moral. WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE? Sometimes the look in my eyes, I have a love/hate relationship with my scars, and the size of my stomach. WHICH LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST DESPISE? BNP voters and whoever initiated the idea of peep-toe-boots. WHAT IS THE QUALITY DO YOU MOST LIKE IN A MAN? Complete loveliness, genuineness and being able to instigate and crack a really good smile; the ability to make themselves the centre of my universe. WHAT QUALITY DO YOU MOST LIKE IN A WOMAN? Complete loveliness, reliability and the ability to make me forget the bad things in the world. WHICH WORDS OR PHRASES DO YOU MOST OVERUSE? 'Oh, man!', 'I nearly died', 'It's SUCH a good book' WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE? The ability to read minds, I would be able to choose to turn it on and off. WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT? My self, my life, my writing. WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION? My sequined jacket, my dogs, my diamond ring I was given when I was a bridesmaid. WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN FRIENDS? That they always make me smile, that I can have SO much fun with them, that I don't have to pretend to be somebody else around them, that I can trust them, and that they can see through people's flaws and love them anyway. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS? Donna Tartt, Oscar Wilde, Byron... writers whose work has changed me somehow. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Life is too important to be taken seriously.

ON THE LOSS OF A SHOE.

STUMBLING in at some unGodly hour in the morning and falling into bed, only to realise when waking up no more than two hours after you first fell asleep that not only did you lose your rather expensive telelphone but also your purse the night before. But you still smile; at the heady summer evening, at the romantic prospects, at your incredible friends, at dancing the night away. And, optimistic about life and the world, you skip downstairs almost merrily, if not slightly queasily...

Only to realise the dog and it's six week old puppies have teamed up and meticulously destroyed your second-favourite and almost daily-worn shoes.

It may well be good to be you, but it is NOT good to be them right now!

AN ELEGY; ON THE LOSS OF A SHOE.

OH, Golden shoes,

I will miss you,

and the blisters on my toes,

and the glitter on the soles

of my feet.

OH, Glittery shoes,

How I loved you,

And the clicking soud you made,

and the way you caught the rays

of the sun.

IN LOVING MEMORY

ENVY

OK, I love my shoes. They aren't very plentiful, nor very good quality, but they serve me well and make my life a little more bearable and beatiful. Granted, a little more painful on top of that. Sometimes, though, I gaze at my shoe collection and feel a pang of discontent at it's meagre nature and the fact that it could be so much more... and I find myself just hating those people, those people who have jobs and lots of money, or just lots of money, and incredible shoe collections. I know it isn't the key to happiness, but money is important in the modern world. I know I say 'those people', and I mean those people like Jane Aldridge, who is younger than me and has better shoes that I could possibly ever hope for. People like Rumi, like Karla and the like, most of all Hanh, of Life in Travel. Here are a few snapshots of her extensive, expensive shoe collection.

WARNING: Green eyes and transformation into a monstrosity possible/imminent.

THE SELBY; LAURA RULE(S)

OK, Guys, Dolls, Ladies and various other slang terms, by way of adressing you 'readers'. I have a confession to make, from the deep dark of my real life as I sit and watch two worryingly overweight puppies chase a bluebottle around the kitchen. I don't have, like, a superhot photographer 'boyf' who's, like, sooo arty and awesome, and, like, makes me look fit in photos and shit. No, that's something I don't have. This is probably the reason I don't post photos of outfits (yes, I realise, early in the day, but it's not like this is my first blog or anything), and so in response to whatever enquiries have been directed at me, I will not be posting outfits until my Knight with Shining SLR rolls up in a really nice car. And let's be honest, kiddo, I dress well, I'm a fashion narcissist. They'll be GOOD. Hold onto your seats for my whirlwind summer romance. Anywhichwhat, onto the nub and gist of it;

Laura Rule; Art Director, Maverick and owner of damn good shoes, bigging it up in the LDN with John LIU, hairdresser, straight man, rumoured sexual legend. Hell she RULES, like scrunchies and crop tops ruled ten years ago. Thats right kids, crop tops do NOT 'rule' now. PERFECTION in the form of shoe photography by the man, the myth and the superhero, Todd Selby, Plagiarised with loving care and attention by a lowly shoeshine girl in naught but pained admiration and heartbreaking desire. Engross yourself, enjoy yourself... x Camilla. OH I told you my name, shocking horrifying revelation. NO it isn't the same name as her off Childhood Flames, there's like, a different VOWEL* at the end.

*Vowels; a, e, i, o, u. Cause you never know what people might not know.

WEATHER OR NOT

I often harbour the perverse wish that summer wouldn't roll back around; my love for layering, trousers, knitwear, fur and boots is far too strong to be embodied for only six measly months per year, and to be hidden cruelly way for equally as long as that, crying out to be relived. I always seem to forget that in England, 'summer' does not mean lazy long evenings and floaty dresses, and although we sporadically relish this most of the time we require a lighter version of winter wear; boots are perfect for rain and snow, for November drizzle and the torrential bursting of summer storms mid-June. It is, in fact, raining as I type, which is what inspired me to write this post.

If I were able to afford any boots, these would be my choice, the perfect 'punch', the incredible details... for want of more eloquence, 'swoon'.

These are my favourite ankle boots; a Christmas present, and although comparatively cheap, well out of my proce range. They are a little too high and uncomfortable to enter every day wear, but every now and then, when an outfit calls for a little more attitidude, they are my alternative to a leather jacket, to a studded cuff or an outlandish tattoo. My own tattoo is far too pretty and subtle to be considered 'tough'.
I thought they complimented my newly bleached jeans perfectly, and so I will wear them whether or not it rains.

BOOTS: TOPSHOP, JEANS: DIY (TOPSHOP), VEST: VINTAGE, TOP: H&M