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New Look Striped Bow Flat
by katykicker
It is fair to say that shoes are a big part of accessorising for me. I like to have lovely shoes and jewellery and to be honest I don't worry about changing my handbags that often. I have one or two staple bags that I use almost all of the time and then some beautiful ones for evenings out and the like. I like a nice pair of shoes that ... can round off my look beautiful and if I want to wear something as simple as a pair of jeans and a T-shirt I know that nice looking shoes can really compliment the look and bring a little some extra to it. Now I don't shop in New Look very often despite working just a few minutes walk from one but for some reason I always seem to get New Look vouchers from several members of my family. Now don't me wrong, I'm not complaining as the chance to treat myself is always nice BUT there isn't that much in New Look that suits my tastes and I've had a few problems with their shoes in the past too, particularly their flats.
I actually picked these shoes up when they have a 20% off day and because they are £15 full price I paid £12 for them. This seemed like a reasonable enough price for a pretty pair of shoes and I love nautical shoes anyway so these seemed a perfect choice for my gift voucher. It did take me quite a while to pick in New Look as there are just what feels like hundreds of pairs of shoes on display and I often find that size 8 (my preferred size as I need a 7.5 really) is often out of stock there. This sometimes makes the choice a little more narrow for me but with this particular pair of shoes I knew that I wanted them as soon as I laid eyes on them. I do love a nice simple yet pretty pair of shoes and that is exactly what these are!
Really these are essentially a black and white striped shoe. There is a nice layered bow on the front, as with lots of the flats that I own, and the black and white of the bow matches the black and white of the inside side lining too which is a nice touch when they're in my shoe cupboard. The shoe is slightly raised at the back with the tiniest of 'heel' that isn't functional at all and is purely for aesthetic purposes from what I can tell when wearing these flats. The bow feels quite sturdy and I have worn these shoes probably 20 or 25 times now and there is no sign that it is going to fall off which is fantastic after so many uses really, especially as the bow is such an integral part of the design of this shoe. I love the stripes on the bow as they have a very nautical look, which I love, and they really do go with most outfits too, whether dressed up or dressed down for the day. There is a point to the end of the shoe but because I've gone for half a size bigger, as I often have to in New Look, this isn't a problem and my toes are not squished or sore at all. My toes have ample room and are not crushed at all which can often be a problem. These are actually much more comfortable than a similar pair of plain black flats that I owned until recently. I must say that these are comfortable enough to wear when out for the day or when walking around the shops at Lakeside. I have no pain and get no blisters while wearing these either. They are flat and are not supportive so they really are not perfect for every day use but sometimes I just want to give my feet the chance to relax a little after wearing heels at work or out in a bar and these are perfect for those days. I really like these particular flat shoes from New Look and despite my previous concerns I have been proven wrong and will be rating these 5 out of 5 stars. They slip on with ease and they are comfortable to wear to. They have worn well considering the amount of times that I have used them and they look pretty too.
They are starting to look a little scuffed now as I've been wearing them on and off for several months but they are not ready to be 'retired' just yet. I would have been happy even if I have of paid full price for these, £15 instead of the £12 I paid, but I didn't so they are even more of a loved pair of shoes because of this! I have worn these quite a few times now and feel that they still have a little life left in them even though they have loosen up. They will probably see me through until around Christmas time at which point I will no doubt receive another New Look voucher from a well meaning relative!
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New Look Double Buckle Ankle Boots
by daisylee3
I managed to get my pair of these in the New Look sale towards the end of September.
I paid around £12.00 for them and the retail price is £19.99 which is still very affordable and much cheaper than a pair of real leather boots! The boots are available in two colours - black and tan and seeing as the tan were out of stock I ... got the black ones. Had I had a choice I'd of chosen the tan ones as the black ones don't look quite as casual; like most black boots they are a mish mash of smart and casual but the buckle detailing makes them look that bit more casual and gives them a bit of a grungey/biker chic edge while still being quite subtle.
They're a lot more practical for day to day wear than some of my other ankle boots as the design is simple compared to my floral/studded/heeled boots and they're really versatile as well as amazingly comfortable and easy to walk in. The design is quite generic and they're pretty simple ankle boots with ruched leather detailing, panel detailing and two chunky buckles with metal detailing on the fastening. The buckles can actually be used rather than just being there for aesthetics and the strap has three holes meaning that they will adjust to different sized ankles.
I have really skinny sparrow legs and usually find that most ankle boots are loose on the front of my leg but rub against my ankles which is uncomfortable and probably looks quite silly as well! Because of this I find that the buckles are an advantage even though it doesn't make that much difference when it is on the smallest hole. The boots have a rubber sole and slightly (and I mean slightly!) raised heel. While the sole is a little cheap feeling and not very thick it is pretty good quality and not too thin.
The 'heel' doesn't make any noticeable difference to my height but it stops me from feeling flat footed. The rounded, slightly pointed toe is really nice and it makes them look a little like chelsea boots. The material is designed to look like leather and it does look quite realistic but from touching it and looking at it up close it is clear that it is a plasticy, synthetic material. The material is good quality and quite thick as well as easy to wipe down whenever it gets splattered with mud etc. Sizes available are UK3-9 and I got these in my usual size five and they're very snug but not uncomfortably so and suprisingly they don't feel too narrow which is rare considering that I have quite wide feet.
They are very comfortable to walk in - even reasonably long distances and I usually wear these whenever I go to town or whenever I need to walk to the supermarket etc as they keep my feet warm. They don't rub at all and they keep my feet nice and snug while still looking fashionable. The lining makes my feet feel really cosey and they can be worn with a thick pair of socks without looking bulked out.
They're very versatile and easy to sling on with any outfit; skinny jeans, leggings, a maxi skirt, probably even shorts when the weather warms up! They don't look cheap or chavvy or anything and my shoe snob friend (who loves real leather boots from the likes of Clarks and M&S) even wants a pair! I've had my pair for a couple of months and I've had a decent amount of wear out of them and they're in good condition although I've noticed that they are starting to get a little scruffy around the toe area and the sole seems to be slowly wearing down but as mine are black this isn't noticeable from a distance and they're still nice and comfy.
Overall recommended - cheap, stylish and comfortable leather look ankle boots. Four out of five stars.
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New Look Simple Ballet Pump
by walsha11
I bought these shoes before summer started because I wanted something that would be great with a simple sun dress or that I could wear as an alternative to flip flops when I went on holiday. My main priority when looking for a summer shoe was something that was light in colour so this nude ballet pump was perfect. I actually ordered them ... from the New Look website which isn't something I normally do because I prefer to try shoes on first. This time though I thought I'd give them a try because i knew I could return them to store of from a post office for free if they weren't right.
The shoe is a standard ballet pump style. I like that they are really simple as this means you can pair them with a multitude of outfits without having to worry about about them not matching. They have a flat rubber sole which is pretty flexible without being too thin. The front part of the shoe that covers the toe curves round to follow the natural line of the foot and there is a small bow on top. The material is very soft and flexible which makes it perfect for wearing in almost any situation, and also really easy to wear in as tougher shoes can give you blisters.
I do find when I wear them for long periods of time that the bottoms of my feet begin to ache. This is something I experience with almost any pump because I work in a bookshop where I am constantly on my feet. I do think though that if the sole were a little thicker then they might offer a bit more support but for a cheaper shoe they are certainly adequate in this department.
Though I love the nude/beige colour of the shoes I do now wish I had bought them in one of the other colours available (black, blue, red and gold). I find the nude does get dirty quite easily and this can be a little annoying. For summer though the colour is nice so I guess you just have to be willing to compromise on either look or colour.
So despite there being a few faults with these for £7.99 I think they are a bit of a bargain for a basic pump. They last me longer than primark pumps tend to and these are similarly priced.
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