Shiny Ponies and Ugly Dollies

The ever inspiring fashion icon Jenna Lyons, creative director and Queen of all things J Crew, has talked about her love of shoes in a short video for the company in which she explains what separates a "shiny pony' from an 'ugly dolly".  It's a slightly bonkers take on women's footwear but at the same time rather genius. She takes us behind the scenes to the factory in Italy and explains the design process and attention to detail that J Crew insist on for each pair of fabulous heels.

Photos: J Crew

Lyons has 289 pairs, some of which she has never worn (that makes me feel so much better), thinks leopard is a neutral (yeah!) and believes that "there is a sense of sparkle in a shoe, and I don't mean sequins, I mean that little extra". She also adds that "Shoes are like fairies, that little magical piece that finishes everything...."

Photo: J. Crew

Blue floral pumps with a sequin block heel, colour contrast courts - I'm wanting all of this season's gems and it just makes me love Jenna that little bit more, because I feel as one shoe person to another, we would of course be best friends - like immediately - if we had the chance to bond over traffic stopping stilettos.

In the meantime, I'm dreaming of crazy coloured fairy shoes and dancing the night away in my shiny ponies!

Do you have a favourite shoe and if so, does it have a name?

Snow Survival Sorel Style

It may be New York Fashion Week, but the weather gods have paid no heed to the fact that the city's fashionistas are out on the streets of Manhattan and have thrown down more snow than a Manolo Blahnik stiletto can justifiably handle. Not that that deters some people....

Photo: Rex

Similarly, here in my corner of France, trying to look stylish and embrace my inner Parisienne is increasingly hard when you are shovelling a foot of snow to get the car out on the school run and trudging through the slush with mounds of shopping. And don't even get me started on hat hair - that's a whole separate post.

So in the midst of fashion vs weather silliness, I felt quite relieved to see the Queen of J Crew, Jenna Lyons out and about in NYC looking positively sensibly dressed:

Photo: Garance Dore

She's wearing a fab Joseph Altazurra parka that looks like it's actually keeping her warm, and whilst her Nikes may not be fully waterproof, at least they're flat.

Photo: Garance Dore

I'm not sure I could get away with this on the school run, but it's keeping the snow off beautifully. You can read Garance Doré's full post here.

My lifesavers this winter, keeping me upright and my toes warm whilst giving me (I like to think) a modicum of style have to be my Joan of Arctic Sorel boots. A Christmas present from English Gent, they are more than proving their worth, and hey, if they're good enough for Elle McPherson, then they're good enough for me.

Elle McPherson in Aspen

Here is the very stylish Amanda Brooks in her shorter Sorels at her home in the snowy Adirondacks:

Photo: Vogue

And finally, two lovely New Yorkers who would appear to have nailed how to keep warm and be chic in the snow and the slush: 

Photo: Garance Dore

I think the look on the right is exactly what I'm aiming for - Sorel Style!