Your daily dose of pretty: Greta Square Toe Mary Jane from TopShop

I've been disappearing on and off lately, and I do apologise. Hot on the heels of the Worstest Cold Ever I developed The Annoyingest Virus Thingey That Made Me Ache All Over And Gave Me A Headache Ever. Which is actually a genuine medical condition. Although I think they just call it a Virus. Anyway, being all run down and tired has resulted in some problems with my eyesight and concentration which I think might be MS related, making it hard to sit at the computer and focus on coming up with posts for you.

However, complaining aside I found these gorgeous shoes on the TopShop website which I just had to share (they're out of stock on the website at the moment, I wonder if the TopShop here in Auckland has them in ...?):

White shoes can be a mite problematic to wear. I've only ever owned two pairs of white shoes - one as a teenager in the 80s and one for my wedding in 1993. And therein lies the problem - white shoes are so often either weddingish or 1980s chic (an oxymoron if ever I heard one). Not these though, the chunky heel and mary jane style of these is more reminiscent of 1960s vintage, which is fine by me. I think they'd look lovely with a geometric patterned shift dress.

How would you style these my pretties? The Greta Square Toe Mary Jane is £60.00 from TopShop.

I hope you'll bear with me over the next few weeks if my posting is a bit sporadic while my eyesight and concentration levels settle. I've got plenty of pretties lined up I want to show you, and since Christmas is only a month and a half away (I know, I know, it frightens me too), I'm planning to start my All I Want For Christmas series again. So stay tuned!

Your daily dose of pretty: Topshop 60s Sequin A-Line Skirt

The beading and sequin detail on this skirt is so pretty. I love that the large disc sequins are all different.

I could never own a cream skirt though. I can guarantee that within minutes of me putting it on it would be covered in dog hair, muddy paw prints, sauces of various indeterminate origin (and startlingly bright colour), chocolate (even though I don't eat it any more), zombie blood and ectoplasm. And let me tell you, ectoplasm is the very devil to get out!

If you're not as disaster-prone as me, the 60s Sequin A-Line Skirt is available from the Topshop website for £35.00, or of course if you're in Auckland you could always check out Topshop at The Department Store to see if they're stocking it.

Your daily dose of pretty: shopping at TopShop - cos I can

New Zealand fashionistas were all aquiver last week over the news that TopShop is coming to New Zealand. I personally got just a little excited when I heard the news - there was some bouncing, and some squeaking, and then some more bouncing. Followed by some puffing and panting - I really need to work on my fitness.

The top floor of The Department Store in Takapuna will be home to the UK retailer's New Zealand store, with collections being released here at the same time as their Northern Hemisphere release, meaning that we'll be buying summer clothes in winter and vice versa.

In the wake of this exciting news you'd be right in guessing that I've been browsing the TopShop site drawing up a wishlist of items I'm hoping to see released over here. Top of my list is this cute little skirt:

Loving the bow detail and the contrast edging. The Paris Flippy Skirt is £35.00 from TopShop.

Your daily dose of pretty: Oh great TopShop, that's just what I need...

Soooooooooooooo, TopShop are delivering to New Zealand now. That's great, really ... great. Totally what I need right now, when the Eccentric English Boyfriend and I have made a New Year pact to tighten our belts, close our wallets and generally spend less money.  Thanks, TopShop, you're doing wonders for my resolve.

As is this top:

Cute shirring under the bust, chain detail on the straps, floaty gathered style that would totally disguise the wobbly bits. Gee, thanks TopShop, you're not making this any easier you know!

If you're not on a non-spending drive the Chain Detail Vest is £28.00 from TopShop, and their delivery is a very reasonable £7.50 for those of us in New Zealand and Australia.