The Shoe Girl Diaries 2013 Part 1

I initially wasn't going to write this post, but seeing as I've been a little lax with outfits lately (spending most days in my jammies), I thought it would be nice to fill the gap with a look back on my outfits over the year on The Shoe Girl Diaries. Note to self-decide before January if you're going to do this next year because it takes at least a month to prepare!  I wasn't quite sure what form it would take, but it took on a life of it's own and in the process I seemed to give myself a lot of work. It turns out I blogged and wore (if my post numbers are to be believed) 185 outfits in 2013. I'm really pleased with that, because that's just over half a year. I know when I'm feeling really ill, I can go weeks without leaving the house, so I'm very impressed at my effort there. Without belittling my illness; blogging my outfits has definitely helped push me to get dressed and out, on days where (before) I'd probably not bother. Anyway after patting myself on the back, I now have to trawl through 185 posts and select my favourites. Yikes! The 'giving myself a lot of work' part, is that I've decided to summarise every single outfit, face and shoe of each month, then pick my favourites from that. I will therefore be doing so quarter yearly at a time (to give me time to collect all these photos)! In this post I'll be starting with January, going through to March 2013.

 January 2013
What I like about doing a reflective post, is it reminds me, not only of my outfits and hairstyles, but of the weather at the time. Last January must have been pretty decent because I see a lot of shoes and not many days with boots. Mid Jan, we had a little flurry of snow and besides that, it was high heels all the way.
Hair wise, I'd let the Atomic Turquoise fade as much as possible from the year before and only coloured it again because I had my Grandads funeral and wanted to look presentable. This time I went for bold blue. I had a couple of days where it sat really nicely, but otherwise it was nothing to talk about. You can spot my Monster High Monday days from the brighter or bolder makeup!
Now before I digest my outfits, I have to explain that I know these images have a black border and filter (unlike the head and foot shots)-I was going for a retro 'look back in time' thing before I realised it was too much work and didn't bother on the other shots! Anyway clothes; I kept it quite dark all month with the exception of a few more colourful dresses. Now for my favourites. I had to muck around with the sizing on a few of the original photos as blogger has since changed the maximum length I could fit into a post.
I love the textures going on in this outfit from New Year. A half sheer-skirted dress with my nude, gem encrusted Topshop leggings and then these black and nude 'Holly' KG by Kurt Geiger heels bringing it all together.
These Irregular Choice boots are usually quite difficult to style with their winter shape but pastel colours. I ended up wearing them with a summer dress and thick black tights.
Nothing else to say about these Irregular Choice 'Petrisha' other than they are gorgeous and photographed so well here.
The (Topshop) shoes that nearly crippled me. My feet just gave up, they refused to try and lift off the ground and take another step. I've never been so glad to get back home and get them off! It's thoroughly put me off ever wearing them again, despite them being crazy-cute.
My whole outfit (Pearl Lowe dress) with those shoes, was a good look actually and I look pretty happy in that snap. Little did I know what was to come!!
My foray into separates, teaming a Swan by Clements Ribeiro lace skirt with tartan tights and a Marilyn Monroe mens t-shirt. I loved it!
It felt a little weird blogging my funeral outfit if I'm honest, but it's always been my decision to blog every outfit I wear, so y'know them's the rules! Despite a little bit of snow, I wore my lovely beaded Miu Miu heels, this Pearl Lowe beaded dress and my Swan by Clements Ribeiro...er beaded cardigan. I like beads, apparently.
Lunch with a friend and it had really been snowing quite badly at this point if I recall correctly. So it was comfortable, sensible boots (Irregular Choice 'Toad In the Hole') with a Swan by Clements Ribeiro 'Celia' dress. The height of my hair was spectacular that day and deserves a mention of it's own!
Like I said makeup and hair wise there wasn't much to talk about. I remember liking this natural flush, looking face this day.
And my dark lips for my punky tartan outfit.

February 2013
Ok I hate Feb with a passion, but actually last year it wasn't quite so bad and flew by. I'd had a difficult winter not really entirely down to my health, but mood-wise. It's actually the lowest I've ever felt throughout the past 11 years, but somehow I managed to find my way out of it and like I say, the month wasn't the usual downer.
We weren't long into February and the snow seemed to disappear again and it was even warm enough for 'proper summery' outfits! I can't believe looking back that I wore a maxi skirt with no coat and bare legs with my dipped hem dress and ankle boots. Hard to believe we could have that now, even with the winter as mild as it has been.
My hair behaved this month. There's so many times I can see here, that it looked lovely. Yes, the heart shaped and turquoise lips were for MHM and not my usual look!
February I challenged myself to get out of dresses and experiment with separates. I seemed to love crazy tights or leggings too. Sometimes it worked, sometimes I'm not so sure, but it's always worth giving it a go.
Beautiful red velvet 'Lillie' cherry platforms from Topshop worn with my heart printed 'Betty' Swan by Clements Ribeiro dress. What's not to love about cherries and hearts?
I finally wore my 'Gypsy Girl Rose' Dan Sullivan boots I'd got from my Grandad for Christmas. As striking as they are, the cat purses are so heavy they swing very wildly (and the zip opens on the purse as it rotates) when walking! I need to figure out how to fix that, whilst still being able to remove the purse should I wish to wear them without. It's not like my Grandad bought them himself (or was even aware of who I was by this point) but being the last gift from him, they will always be quite special to me.
Sometimes I like wearing lots of colours and prints, just to see the "wth?" looks on peoples faces! Floral lace tights, a bold printed dress and these Irregular Choice 'Dolly Mixture' courts with numerous charms and plastic toys attached will do the trick!
I completely loved this whole look, probably my favourite of the month. On paper it shouldn't really work, but it all seemed to come together nicely. Black tights with a summer, printed skirt and black dress worn underneath (all Primark) with fuchsia sandals by Irregular Choice.
I definitely showed my more playful side in February and look, I didn't even gag once on Valentine's Day! Wowzers. I wore my pink Barbie t-shirt (Miss Selfridge) with my new pleated leopard print maxi skirt from Primark and pink satin Miu Miu courts.
Who knew separates were so much fun? That lace skirt makes another appearance alongside a mermaid vest from H by Henry Holland and a grey leopard print cardi from Matalan.
I haven't worn this dress much recently, but was quite obsessed with it last year. It's very versatile (shape and colour) and I always feel quite confident in it. Loving my hair in this photo too.
You know this ASOS floral wiggle dress is one of my favourites because I wear it so often. It's a midi length hem which I really like here with longer boots tucked underneath. The bondagey feel of the boots against the softer florals provides a great contrast.

 March 2013
We may have started off with a few days of 'bare' feet and summery looking shoes, but then the boots were out in full force. Did we have a late bout of snow? I think we did and my Dad claimed the world was coming to an end and we'd never see another summer, blah, blah! However I managed to brave it with my Toad In The Hole and The Beast wedges by Irregular Choice-although I do recall being completely stuck to the spot on ice, terrified of falling and regretting leaving the house and bordering on asking a 13 year old boy passing by to help me move a few centimetres onto the road. Oh the joys! The pink satin Faith platforms were a big middle finger up to the snow, for disrupting my high heel routine and I was glad to be back on 'dry' ground.
My face tells the same story. Sunglasses to begin with, then a U-turn into winter again! I loved my hair during March! I adore the second picture (hair and makeup), then that last week(ish) of March, it was just perfect. I'm not sure if I realised at the time just how awesome it was, but I'm drooling now! I also loved the lipstick in those last photos, it was Pout (Angel Face) Week 62 of my Lipstick Challenge. An unusual colour and especially for me, but I felt fabulous in it.
I think outfit wise I was getting a little frustrated at being forced into cosier things again. I'd enjoyed that little bit of warm weather, but it was back to cardi's and leggings. Not very interesting this month on the clothing front.
I've worn my Diamontina boots several ways, but never like this. Pulled up but with the tassels, tied around the leg. It gave them a completely different feel to their usual slouchy appearance.  
Not sure why I've included these Kitten (Irregular Choice & Heatherette) shoe-boots in my favourites. They are quite unassuming (yes,even in leopard print), but I thought they looked fabulous here. Plus it's a shock to the system to see bare feet right now!
Since I got this pansy print satin dress (Swan by Clements Ribeiro), I've wanted to wear it with these thigh high paisley boots (River Island). I just knew they would work well together. Again I'm a fan of the boots being partly hidden beneath a dress. Just don't ask me to sit or walk up or down steps with these-bending at the knees isn't really possible!
The end of March saw the beginning of what I think is to become a major obsession. the statement heel from Irregular Choice. Yes it's hard to believe it only began months ago with these Flopsy bunny heels and since then I've added gnomes and Santa to my collection and am seriously excited about what's to come this season!!
From the summary photos, this is my favourite look. It's nothing fancy, just a cheap Primark dress, leggings and somewhat sensible Irregular Choice shoes (in my wardrobe at least), but there's something I like here.
A quick mention for this Primark outfit too. Nothing like dressing up as a colourful fish tank to brighten your day!
I included this one because it's the only different pose it's proof you can work silly pink satin shoes into a winter outfit. Loving that H by Henry Holland horse T too, it's so soft and comfortable!
Pretty hair and pretty makeup. Win-win!
Rocking my Pout lippie and not sure why my eyebrows are so fair in these photos! Please let me have that last photo hair every day!  So that's my first quarter done, can you pick a favourite?