Christian Louboutin's Pigalle 120 Pumps: Pleasure with Pain

I have wanted to write a review on Christian Louboutin's Pigalle 120 Pumps ever since my first time wearing them. I wish I would have read some reviews on these seriously amazing but painful heels before purchasing. Maybe it was better this way as perhaps I would have opted out of buying them due to the pain factor and thus miss out on the best heels in my collection by far! After all, no pain no gain. This phrase I'm sure many women like myself repeatedly say to themselves when wearing something not that comfortable, much to the dismay of our men. If you are like me then you covet items for months and months and put them on your present list for your husband to 'surprise' you with when he wants to buy you a gift. When the day finally arrives and you receive your beautiful sold out Pigalles you are on top of the world until you put them on and you realise that they require a manual in walking in them.No jokes. And then we wear them and love wearing them, and continually admire how beautiful they are, like pieces of art, and then you can't stop complaining how badly your toes hurt! Isn't the woman a marvellous and confusing creature?! Men do not and will never understand the female species and the lengths we will go to for the sake of beauty and fashion.

 The price has just gone up from £375 to £395 available only at www.net-a-porter.com and they never go on sale

With all that said I must emphasise and make it crystal clear that these pumps are simply beautiful. They are the ultimate heel. Their design and shape are impeccable and they instantly make you stand taller, appear slimmer and polish your look. They go with absolutely everything. But you should wear them with caution. My advice is to wear them when you don't have too much walking or dancing to do, from car to restaurant to chair to car and back home. As the designer himself says, ''I wouldn't take it as a compliment if someone looked at one of my shoes and said, 'Oh, that looks like a comfortable shoe.' There is a heel that is too high to walk in, certainly. But who cares? You don't have to walk in high heels.'' However, I must clarify that I have and do wear them to weddings where I have to dance and functions where I spend hours on my feet and I manage to look like I am not thinking about  how much my feet hurt. Never ever take them off in the middle of a night out - you will not be able to out them back on!! The sales assistant correctly advised me to buy a whole size down than my usual size. Due to the nearly 5 inch heel, with no platform, your foot slips down to the very front of the point which causes you to slip out. Sizing down ensures your foot is securely in the pump; slipping out of these pumps is something you definitely want to avoid when investing in these beauties.

I have newly found respect for Kim Kardashian. I have always thought she is beautiful but I must now pay homage to her for her undeniable ability to wear and walk in Louboutin's Pigalle creations. Not to mention she even does it with ease when 6 months pregnant as in the photo below.

They are currently in stock on net-a-porter after having been out of stock for a very long time. But hurry because as I am writing this post and checking on the stock I can see more and more Out of Stock written on various sizes. I had to run around town, from Harvey Nichols to Harrods (where I discovered the Louboutin section was being renovated), to the Christian Louboutin boutique on Motcomb Street and then taking a taxi to my final stop, Christian Louboutin Mount Street, where I miraculously found and secured the last pair of the Pigalle's in my size. Honestly, I am not exaggerating. That's how hard they were to find that when  completing and winning my treasure hunt around town I couldn't just leave them there?! On a final note, they are well worth the pain. Your legs will appear endless and it will style any ensemble to perfection. But, you have been forewarned; these heels are not for those with a low pain thresh-hold. After all, 'high heels are pleasure with pain.'

The Savvy Sale Shopper

I have to apologise for being incognito for a few months. It's always busy in my household but for some reason last month was busier than usual! But I'm back and here to offer advice on sale shopping. It's that time of year when the summer sales have arrived even though we in the UK haven't really had the opportunity to wear our summer wardrobe yet. But, we must always be prepared and hopeful and thus have a wardrobe full of summer dresses and sandals!

I wasn't looking to buy anything in the summer sales however shocking that may sound! I had a bit of time free this morning and decided to pop into my local high-end shoe shop Larizia in Temple Fortune and see what sale bargains they had to offer. I walked in with no intention to purchase, just merely to browse, and did not leave empty handed. I couldn't leave without buying the Miu Miu high tops I wrote about in a previous post, The Trainer Trend Revival. It's not often you can find Miu Miu on sale for half price; these trainers are currently full price on both net-a-porter and mytheresa. They were £355 reduced to £177 - I'm  delighted by the latest addition to my shoe collection!! They are exceptionally comfortable, my little toes don't hurt in them like it does in so many of my ballet flats! I've had my eye on these trainers all season but couldn't justify buying them full price. These Miu Miu trainers prove that you don't have to forego style and the 'glam' factor for comfort - you can literally have both! 

Miu Miu High Tops, Was: £355 Now: £177, at www.larizia.com  

Sale shopping can be quite tricky and overwhelming at times, with the high-pressured atmosphere and often crowded shops so here are my top tips:

1. Even if you aren't looking to buy it's always good to browse the sale racks. You might find your dream shoe you've had your eye on for months (like me)!

2. Mytheresa offer an extra 10% off the last piece of an item, including sale items, and you can get them to alert you when your item is the last in stock. You just have to patient and hopeful that the size remaining will be yours.

3. It's important to do your research on what you'd like to invest in come sale time. Go in store and try on different clothes and shoes, checking what your size is so you are prepared when the sale begins.

4. Sign up to the websites you shop at the most for sale alerts. I receive emails from theoutnet, my-wardrobe, net-a-porter and mytheresa so I can  quickly check if the items in my wishlist are in the sale and add them to my shopping bag pronto. Sale shopping has never been so easy!

5. It's always good to do your homework on next seasons trend before the sales. Often you can purchase an item in the sale that is perfect for the coming season as well. It's all about researching! 

6. Come sale time I immediately check if a designer's classics are discounted, like the iconic YSL Tribute sandals. Investing in classics that a designer brings out season after season is savvy shopping and is a purchase you won't come to regret; it transcends every season.  

I hope these sale tips help you with your bargain shopping and always remember to stay true to your own unique style! Happy sale shopping!