Venetian shoes

My sister-in-law, who's just returned from a fab weekend in Venice, Italy, sent me the following email:

"I'm just looking at Athenian shoes on your blog - compared to Venice, an absolute bargain!"

Attached to the email was the following photo:


In case you can't read the price tags, the shoes are 785 € and the bag is 1,420 €. That's 1,067 USD for the shoes and 1,930 USD for the bag. Maybe the shiny things on the bag are precious stones. The shop was closed at the time, so she couldn't go in and ask.

I must say, I don't care much for bags, but I do love shoes and will pay good money for the right pair. Even so, I think I'd have nightmares if I walked around with 785 € worth of leather between my feet and the ground. Eeek.

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Tonight I went for a walk through Ermou street - home of the designer shoe shop. As I had my camera with me, I took some photos of the latest fashions for Sandi, who famously bought five pairs of shoes in just three hours when she visited Athens last June. I thought I'd post the photos on the blog in case anyone else would like a little sneak peak of the styles and colours of Summer 2010.






Last year's shoes are on sale at discounted prices. I was tempted by quite a few of these. Lucky the shops were closed!




Finally, a photo of a children's shoe shop window, in case anyone is interested in kids' fashions. Red is a popular colour for kids' shoes at Easter time.


So, Sandi, have I enticed you to return to Athens for a spot of retail therapy?

Let the sales begin!

Possibly the best thing about the post-Christmas period is the winter sales, which start on Boxing Day (December 26). This year the discounts are particularly generous, as pre-Christmas sales were slower than usual and retailers were anxious to get rid of their old stock. The opening of the sales was a huge success: the BBC reports that 500,000 shoppers ventured into the West End on Boxing Day, and Selfridges saw 9,000 customers through the doors in the first hour of trading alone! In addition, an estimated 3.6 million people spent part of their Christmas Day searching for deals via the internet. I can just imagine it:

Mince pies and the Queen's speech?
Not for me thanks, I'm surfing the sales instead.


I only made it to Oxford Street today (5th day of the sales). The crowds weren't too bad, and I bagged a few bargains. However, in some ways, I wish I'd gone out on Boxing Day, just to soak up the atmosphere - beautifully captured by Gkriniaris on this video:



"I shop, therefore I am" has got to be the best shopping motto ever :-D

Online shopping

Back in 1996-97, when the internet had started gaining in popularity, and online shopping became reality for the first time, I remember saying to friends: "buying stuff online? with a credit card? they think this will take off? are they kidding?!" tut tut tut

At the time, I thought that only geeks and extremely reckless people would ever consider handing over their credit card details online in exchange for the promise of having goods delivered to their doors. How wrong can you be?

Fast forward 10 years, and I'm happily clicking away for books, cds, rental dvds, clothes, shoes, presents, electrical items, grocery and more. These days I'm probably doing half of my shopping online, occasionally even more than that - last Christmas I did ALL my shopping from the comfort of my office chair. What bliss, not having to battle with the crowds in Oxford Street!

I wish doing my shopping online also meant I was less tempted by things I did not need, and thus saved a fortune, but judging by my latest credit card bill, it doesn't quite work like that. Still... at least I saved on the bus and tube fares ;-)

In case you're looking for inspiration, these are some of my favourite shopping websites:

Books, CDs and DVDs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/
http://www.cd-wow.com/
http://www.bibliagora.co.uk/ (Greek books)

Rental DVDs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/
http://www.lovefilm.com/

Electrical items
http://www.johnlewis.com/

Travel
http://www.expedia.co.uk/

Groceries
http://www.ocado.com/ (expensive, but they include freebies)
http://www.tesco.com/

Clothes
http://www.marksandspencer.com/
http://www.boden.co.uk/

Cosmetics & other smellies
http://avonshop.co.uk/
http://www.rose-apothecary.co.uk/ (luuuurvely stuff for girlies)
http://uk.loccitane.com/
http://www.hqhair.com/

Arts and crafts
http://www.bakerross.co.uk/

Presents
http://www.boxtot.com/ (babies and christening)
http://www.borngifted.co.uk/ (ditto)
http://www.bonkers-standrews.co.uk/ (quirky ones)

Kitchenware/household stuff
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/ (outstanding customer service)
http://www.cucinadirect.com/

Chocolate (oh yes!) and cakes
http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/
http://www.theoriginalhatboxcakecompany.co.uk/

Pharmacies
http://www.effectivecare.com/acatalog/
http://www.nutricentre.com/

Stationery
http://www.printed4u.co.uk/
http://www.charitycards.co.uk/
http://www.inkclub.com/

Happy clicking!

Chocolate for Valentine's day

I don't usually celebrate Valentine's day, but having just received the new Hotel Chocolat brochure, I think I might make an exception this year, on the basis that few things can rival quality chocolate, and this chocolate is as quality as it gets.

Go on - feast your eyes: http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/