Kurt Geiger Carvela ‘Gordon’ red pumps , £120
Everyone, meet Gordon.
Gordon, meet everyone.
I know these shoes don’t LOOK like a Gordon, but I kinda love the Carvela/Kurt Geiger line’s habit of giving their shoes names that make me smile when I read them. And whatever these shoes were called, I’d probably love them too: they’re bright red, for one thing, and they’re also pretty fabulous, with that tie-front strap.
This kind of shape is basically a court shoe with a twist. The twist comes in the form of those two straps meeting just below the ankle: they’re that bit sexier than the traditional ankle strap, but I’ve a hunch they’ll help anchor the shoe to the foot just as securely, and make it a little easier to wear than a slip-on style. The overall look has something of a vintage feel to it, too, which is why I’ve chosen to style these with a retro-inspired dress. (Well, that and the fact that I try to style MOST shoes with retro-inspired dresses, let’s be honest…)
DRESS // BAG // NAIL POLISH // LIPSTICK
This dress would also look good with leather or suede over-the-knee boots, which is probably how I’d end up wearing it most often. While the weather’s still warm enough for bare legs/sheer tights, however, the bright red provides a great contrast to the grey/black tweed. Speaking of contrast, the other thing I love about these shoes is the hot pink sole. I’d like it with any colour of upper – a bright sole is always a welcome addition to a shoe, I think – but I particularly enjoy the contrast of red and pink, which is one of those combinations I probably wouldn’t attempt with my clothes, but which would be far “safer” to try with a pair of shoes!
I think laces on shoes always make them look cheap. No idea why, really. I am, however, a big fan of the pink sole.