FOUND - Red Shoes With Star Status

I found these amazing vintage shoes at the monthly car boot in South Ruislip at Queensmead School CLICK HERE. This was my first car boot but definitely not my last. The traders were friendly, the stock diverse and prices rock bottom. These gorgeous Italian-made courts were £2, that's right just two Great British Pounds. They were made by GATTO, a famed shoemaker located near the Via Veneto in Rome - since 1912 GATTO has made footwear for royalty and the kings of industry alike. These red shoes put me in mind of the driven-to-dance footwear in the 1948 film The Red Shoes, the ballet epic that made Moira Shearer a star CLICK HERE. 

An Original Painting by Ivor Beddoes Created for The Red Shoes

The ground-breaking film is part of my friend Selina's family history. Ivor Beddoes, her grandfather, worked closely with Hein Heckroth the film's set and costume designer to establish The Red Shoes' haunting look. Beddoes produced countless images associated with the film and while much of his work for The Red Shoes went uncredited, in 2009 the British Film Institute hosted an exhibition showcasing the storyboards he created for the big screen masterpiece CLICK HERE. Beddoes would go on to work as a sketch artist, art director and illustrator for numerous films including Casino Royale, The Dirty Dozen, Goodbye Mr Chips, Star Wars and Superman to name just a few. His filmography is extensive but his real legacy lives on in his granddaughter Selina. While she never met him, it seems to me she's inherited his creative touch.

                

Four works by Selina Scarvaci   

FOUND - A Platform for Reinvention

I found these Spring green platforms at one of the Retro shops around the corner from Notting Hill tube station. This cluster of 2nd-hand stores offers to buy and sell your used clothing, accessories and small housewares. One of the bunch is packed to the rafters with pre-owned luxury clothing, 'It' bags and designer shoes but even this unflappable hunter finds its cramped confines an unpleasant experience. I prefer to pop a few doors down to the Retro shops that sell more vintage, less high-end and bit of high-street. That's where I spotted these beauties. 

Platforms can be traced back to 16th century Venice when women wore shoes - of a fashion - called chopines. They elevated ladies to as much as 30 inches off the ground and servants were required to keep the wearer upright. Not surprisingly chopines, often jewel encrusted, were a symbol of wealth and status. But it was the 20th century that saw three major revivals of platform shoes. In the 1930s a wedge platform made of cork became a popular seaside shoe. Later, in the 40s, platforms were made of wood, a practical solution to the war-time shortage of leather. Platforms would fall out of favor until the 1970s, when these green goddesses were made. After the modern, forward-looking designs of the 1960s, the 70s went nostalgic, resurrecting the chunky chopine-esque shoe of the past. The 70s - often maligned but NOW back in vogue - was actually the first era to significantly appropriate from previous decades. Today the reinterpretation of classics is commonplace, but it was the groovy 70s that used retrospection to recreate. My 70s does the 40s clod-hoppers were just £30.  

TRY THIS - Book Your Place in Style

I find I'm in need of confession. Forgive me but I bought a glossy fash mag. Huntress London preaches the pleasure of fashion books rather than glossy pulp but over the weekend, in a moment of madness, I gave in to the fleeting allure of April's Vogue. The day before I'd picked up Shoes, a good-looking little read from Ealing Oxfam, so nestled on the sofa with a cup of coffee, I prepared to spend the afternoon style surfing. I dove into Vogue, enjoying a feature on author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (loved the dress she was pictured wearing, her own creation) and cut out a useful compilation of UK vintage shops courtesy of woman-in-the-know Harriet Walker. Otherwise, the magazine was the Cara show. No less than 5 adverts, 8 pages of editorial, as well as the cover featured Ms Delevingne. Please Alexandra Shulman, give us different faces, bodies, shapes, skin colours and attitudes. Cara is stylish but we're saturated, thank you. 

I moved on to my little book. From the Renaissance to the Swingin' 60s, from button-up boots to Doc Martens, from Chuck Taylor to Imelda Marcos this publication is packed with facts, illustrations, photos and inspiration. Did you know that between 1927 and 1960 Salvatore Ferragamo produced 20,000 shoe designs and Charles Jourdan is credited with creating the stiletto? 

Lesson learned. Practice what you preach Huntress! Secondhand books provide far more fashion inspo and info than the predictable pages of fash mags. And my solid shoe book was half the price of the latest but lacking Vogue.  

For more style book recommendations read 

Huntress London for Oxfam Fashion CLICK HERE 

TRY THIS - Exhibit V&A: Walk This Way

I found this large coffee table book about shoes at the Oxfam on Marylebone Road. A dream shop, three quarters of its floor space is shelves of well-organized books while the remaining quarter is given over to high quality 2nd-hand clothing and accessories. Recently while in New York City I popped into the Killer Heels exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum CLICK HERE. Among other spectacular items, I was able to view up close the famed shoe-hat fashioned by personal style hero Elsa Schiaparelli. If you're planning a trip to the Big Apple do not overlook Brooklyn and its impressive museum. Along with a herd of historic footwear, the museum boasts a quirky gift shop where I walked away with this soleful bracelet made of plastic Barbie shoes. Buying new is not my style, but occasionally I give pristine fashions a 2nd chance. Interestingly in June, Shoes: Pleasure & Pain opens at the V&A in London CLICK HERE. I'm looking forward to the fancy footwork sure to be on show. Exhibits like these inspire our dress sense but also remind us that fashion marches in step with history and human endeavor. The shoe book was £8.99. 

To follow the V&A's 

Pleasure & Pain Blog CLICK HERE 

TRY THIS - DIY Sparkle Shoes for NYE

I find my mates clever style sirens -- this, for example, from my friend and actress Alma Costa (follow her @alma_costa). Perfect project pre-NYE! Take it away Alma -    

"If you don't have an unlimited budget it's easy to get the blues as the party season approaches. Shop windows are filled with beautiful, sparkly things, your inbox is stuffed with all the latest holiday fashions from all your favourite shops and as you do your best to find presents for your loved ones, it becomes an exercise in will power as you try to avoid the "one for me, one for you.." trick.

So I decided to quit sighing, take matters into my own hands and bring some sparkle into my wardrobe.

I got the idea from some fancy Jigsaw shoes CLICK HERE and applied it to a boring pair of black court shoes that needed updating.

All you need is some wood glue/PVA, glitter (make sure it's the finer type as the bigger type doesn't work as well) and a little bit of time.

Mask the bits of the shoe you don't want to cover in glitter, this is important because the stuff gets everywhere! Use masking tape for a better result, I didn't have any so my masking looks awful but it did the trick.

1. Lay some paper down to limit the mess. 

2. Cover the heel in a layer of glue using a paint brush (the flatter the brush the better).

3. Shake that glitter all over the heel and don't be stingy! Any glitter that doesn't stick to the shoe will just end up on the paper and you can pour it back into the glitter pot, limiting waste. Make sure the whole heel looks covered.

4. Repeat point 3 once the first layer is dry.

5. Once the second layer is dry (I did this the following evening) cover the whole thing with one final layer of glue. It will look all white, but don't panic! It will dry clear and leave you with a gorgeous glittery heel.

Party heels sorted without BUYING another pair of shoes. Happy New Year to you!"

FOUND - Bright Sparks and Heel Deals

I found the Oxfam Chiswick Boutique on sparkling form when I popped in to preview their pre-owned pretties last week. If you're not sure, their Christmas Late Night Sale Celebration is TOMORROW, 5-9pm. Here, on the left, sequins a la Krystle Carrington, Dynasty style (£90). On the right, my personal favourite - Made in Hong Kong - elegant encrusted 60s sheath. It's a wool dress with the most spectacular embellishment I've ever seen (£250, and worth every penny). If you only go to the sale to see this frock, you won't regret it.  

From one dynasty to another, pink pumps that are satin stunners. These Alexander McQueen sky-high heels (£60) are simply outrageous. They aren't perfect, to be sure they show some real wear and tear but honestly that's what makes them more than just a pair of trashy heels. McQueen's muse, Isabella Blow, was well known for abusing her high-end heels, wearing them on London's cobbles with destructive results. If Issy could do it, so can you! Huntress is a firm believer in a little bit of Damaged Goodness (CLICK HERE). See you at the sale --     

Oxfam Boutique Chiswick Sale Night

Thursday, 4 December, 5-9pm

Follow @OxfamBoutiqueW4 

TRY THIS - Won't Leave You Feeling Flat

I found these Cole Haan 'kilties' at Oxfam in Ealing and the book I bought new (yes new!). Author Hannah Rochell's wonderful shoe illustrations make En Brogue a unique read worth the retail price CLICK HERE. Hannah eschews heels in favour of fab flats; she can recommend a no-heel, highly-stylish option for every occasion. My kiltie cobbler Cole Haan was founded in Chicago in 1928 - it's an American favourite I find under-appreciated in Britain. Look out for beautifully made Cole Haans in your local charity shop and scoop them up whenever you find them. Hannah's book is the perfect pressie for the flats-fanatic on your Christmas gift list. And speaking of Ho Ho Ho, be sure to check Cole Haan's website featuring Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' hot holiday version of White Christmas CLICK HERE. 

FOOT NOTE: 2nd-hand shoes just £7.99.

TRY THIS - Travel Decades Together

I found these suede 'made in Italy' low heeled shoes at Think Twice Vintage Shop CLICK HERE in Brugge. Spotted on my last visit to the Belgium chocolate-box town, their graphic, 80s-style caught my eye. Today Huntress and friends Alice & Susan are off to Brugge for a relaxing weekend of socializing and 2nd-hand hunting. Along with Think Twice Vintage, we'll pop into Madam Mim CLICK HERE, only my favourite vintage shop in the world, and pick over the Saturday Flea Market where I found my cherished Claude Montana sunglasses (Huntress Past Post, CLICK HERE). I'm part of a terrific traveling trio. At 30-, 50- and 70-years-old, our varying fashion flights of fancy, heartaches and dreams are sure to keep us chatting double time all the way to our destination. I highly recommend making friends with women of different generations than your own. Those behind you and in front enjoy points of view that you simply must see. My eyes weren't deceiving me when I found these. The Brugge shoes were only 3 euros. 

FOUND - Stone Cold Black Gold

I found these black COS heels at the RSPCA charity shop in Ealing. How often do I hear doubtful hunters remark "yeah but you can't find current fashions in charity shops" or "you never find the stuff you really need." Don't these covet-able courts crush those old chestnuts? COS, Collection of Style, is a Swedish brand founded in 2007. Simple, striking, superior design is what it brings to the British High Street. Who doesn't need black heels? And these were hardly worn. 

Even though you're wearin' them citified heels, I can tell by your giant steps, 

you been walkin' through the cotton fields - 

                                        The Rolling Stones

A quickie inventory of my wardrobe reveals Reiss, Cacharel, Jigsaw, Boden, LK Bennett, Hobbs, not to mention Mulberry, Churches and Bally. All FOUND lightly used in charity shops. The trick is looking often, which needn't take ages. Lunch hour, Saturday morning, day off, while on holiday. The more you do it, the quicker you'll get at it. You might even consider volunteering at a local charity shop. And make sure you buy it when you find it. Don't hesitate if the item (and the price) is right. These trendy high street heels were only £8. 

FOUND - Nice Pair, Old Fruit

I found these Jigsaw brand shoes at the Fara charity shop on Bond Street in Ealing. I can remember seeing them some years ago, new, in a Jigsaw shop. I really wanted them then but just couldn't justify buying a pair of 'silk slippers,' upwards of £100, that I could only imagine wearing to 'the ball.' Truth is, I don't mix in Cinderella circles. As is the way, styles move on and hi-low mixing is now essential to a modern, fashionable look. Today I can easily imagine wearing these shoes with rolled-up Levis (my default style piece) and cashmere pear jumper (gift from my mom). This rather nice pair of shoes, destined to be mine eventually, was £15. 

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FOUND - Trendy With Vintage Pricetag

I found these Bally trainers at the Octavia Foundation charity shop in Putney. There's a common misconception that charity shops are full of musty-smelling vintage and straight up junk. Granny gear and chipped teacups. Okay, sometimes, but there's style gold as well. Week after week, I find high-end, big brand fashions at a fraction of their original price. Last week I found a Mulberry belt for £3, this week Bally trainers that retailed when new for £250. High-end style finds bring a smile to my face. So do quirky vintage pieces. What about that musty smell, I hear you sniff. Here's the trick; spray the offending item with white vinegar, then just let it air out. The vinegar will evaporate quite quickly and with it the pong. Wash as normal. You may need to apply and dry more than once, but I assure you this eliminates eau de vintage. But never mind vintage, today I'm bang on trend - call me Mrs Current - in these all-leather kicks from the famous Swiss shoemaker. Nearly new but sporting a vintage price tag, they were just £15. 

Tweet a pic of your best charity shop find to

@annielistening #best2ndever 

FOUND - White Walks the Walk

I found these vintage heels at the Fara charity shop on Bond Street in Ealing. The brand, AM Ashmore, is elusive - research has uncovered nothing about it but they are marked 'Made in Italy' and boast leather soles. Quality, full stop. When I was young, growing up in small town America, the fashion rulebook said one should not wear white dress shoes before Memorial Day (late May) or after Labor Day (early September). The fictional fashionista Carrie Bradshaw in the TV series Sex in the City  - an avid wearer of white heals any time of year - helped to loosen up the tight white restriction. Today, shoes of any hue 'Made in Italy' have extra cachet and we've Salvatore Ferragamo to thank for it. He landed in Hollywood at just age 16, setting up a shoe shop that stars the likes of Greta Garbo flocked to in droves. Later he returned to his native Italy and built a shoe dynasty. While these are not Ferragamos, they are bellissima! I wear them with rolled-up Levis. They were just £7.    

FOUND - Shiny Swiss Shoes or Not?

I found these shoes at the Fara Charity Shop on Bond Street, Ealing. The boffins claim a woman who collects shoes is a frustrated traveler. And they may be on to something, because these patent pretties have left this traveler wildly frustrated. They're glorious; leather soles, sturdy construction, elegant shape. Even the laces are lovely and once re-heeled they were good to go. The label reads 'Bally Avant Garde' but all the research in the world hasn't uncovered a connection to Bally, the famed Swiss shoe company. The Bally label is traditionally block lettered not script (see inside shoe) and I can't yet find a past Bally line called Avant Garde. I'll joyfully wear these and appreciate their high style and superior quality but I still feel slightly cheated. The shoes haven't told me their story! Do you know anything about Bally Avant Garde? Either way, their price was no mystery - just £15. 

FOUND - Buffalos: The Next Big Thing

Sometimes luck, karma and memories enable fashion to find you, no hunting required. As kids, my sister and I wore shoes we called Buffalo sandals, leather and suede wedges that made our tanned legs look miles long. Leave that for a moment. Recently while visiting family in Del Ray Beach, Florida I found a pair of red boots at a 2nd-hand shop on a rack marked All $10! I snapped them up before the shopkeeper could change her mind. The workmanship was impressive but I'd never heard of the maker - Kork-Ease. Post holiday research revealed they're the original designers of what I call Buffalo sandals (www.korkease.com). Founded in Brooklyn NY, Kork-Ease hit it big in the 60s after debuting the cork-wedge sandal, later introducing the 70s suede wedge of my childhood and finally the boots I found in Florida. So I nearly fainted when just months after the holiday, while trolling my local TK Maxx, I came across Kork-Ease wedges like those I'd seen on the brand's website and wore as a teenager. Today the shoes retail for US$140 but ole' Maxxy was offering them for £39.99. A snip for such a stylish blast from my past. These are a cool boutique brand that fashion mags will soon be heralding. Get your Buffalo sandals at a TK Maxx shop or at www.tkmaxx.com. Start a stampede!           

TRY THIS - Tie Up the Details

I found these Church's white brogues at Trinity Hospice charity shop, Bute Street near South Ken Tube Station, London and the black Italian-made oxfords were found on-line at ASOS Marketplace, £90 and £30 respectively. These men-styled shoes are lifesavers for me, comfortable and super stylish. But it was my friend Susan who helped give my fab flats some extra kick. Apparently there's a little "shoe string" shop in Lille, France and on her recent visits there Susan's brought me back coloured laces (sweet gift idea). The black Oxfords came to life when I replaced their severe black laces with a pop of purple. And while I thought my Church's were simply perfect, replacing the white with baby-blue laces gives them the sort of detail Scott Fitzgerald would envy. If you can't get to Lille for laces you'll find them easily on-line - a super cheap and marvelously effective finishing touch. 

FOUND - Step Right Up To Your Style

I read recently in a glossy magazine that espadrilles are out, in fact the shoe choice of fashion nincompoops.  Really?  I've been wearing these summer classics for over 20 years.  Haven't they transcended fickle fashion and become a staple, like crisp white shirts or worn-in jeans? Espadrilles are the perfect hot weather/dress up-dress down/comfy walking/don't I look free and easy shoe. But a so-called fashion doyenne has decided, for a moment, they're not. And honestly, almost nothing makes me happier.  We should all rejoice when the establishment says our style choices are out of step.  Fashion is such a lamb-to-slaughter exercise. One sheep says 'wear this' and the rest of us follow, only to be quickly informed we're mutton wearing espadrilles! I say develop your look, tinker with it to include trends that speak to you and ignore the rest. I found these Castaner espadrilles in a 2nd-hand market in Rome (more on Rome market in future post). Castaners are the creme de la canvas when it comes to this summer shoe. They're one of the handful of fashion items I'll buy new - they start at £65 - although I much prefer to find them gently used. These purple wedges were just 7 euros.                  

FOUND - Boutique Brand For < £10

Today I found these incredible shoes. Unearthed at an Ealing Oxfam that I pop into about once week. That's the trick with charity shops, frequenting them consistently. When I'm on my way to work in the afternoon or out taking my Big Walk (10,000 steps a day), I twirl through my favourite local charity shops. Often, I find nothing but occasionally I uncover gold (or in this case purple and red). In finding these shoes, I have also unearthed a boutique cobbler who offers quirky quality, based in Edinburgh, with an on-line shop. I'd never heard of Helen Bateman but I knew on sight her's were quality shoes - made in Spain (see sole). Helen Batemen designs are bold, colourful creations, beautifully shaped and sensibly priced (new £85 to £135). Check out Helen's fancy foot work at www.helenbateman.com. Today's find is not perfect - these shoes have a nick in the heel and suffer some scuffing, but they are still very wearable and look crazy expensive. They cost all of £6.99 today.