To Clog or not to clog ? : That is the question....

Now I know I'm somewhat vertically challenged so when I spotted a buddy wearing these cute Chanel clogs and literally towering over me (when in real life she's a teeny bit shorter than me), I figured it was time to investigate this clog lark and see if it's do-able this Season.

Not that I'm averse to high heels or anything - after all I'm the gal who practiced for a week around the house with Christian Louboutins last Spring to ensure I could last an 8 hour stretch at a Venezuelan wedding - "darhling, if you're not wearing Louboutins to a Venezuelan wedding when are you going to wear them" another friend had chirped.

It's just the clog thing - eewh! So, enthused by my pals ability to a) stand in sky high clogs and b) have a completely different level of altitude I took a nosey around at some of the other clogs around.

Of course a Fashionista always goes for labels first - so this Prada pair naturally caught my eye;

Closely followed by a cute cut out DVF pair;

As well as these Steve Madden neutral peep toe clogs;

And if I was going to a the Cannes Film Festival in the next few weeks, I might even be tempted to teeter around a yacht deck in these Prada perspex numbers...

You can pick up pairs with studs, braiding and zippers, pleating, embellishment and just about any Summer trend you care to mention. Check out Miu Miu's take on the pleated luxe fabric trend or Elizabeth & James's laser cut look;

Although not a complete convert, and madly forcing evil memories of fugly clogs from the 70's the first time round from the back of my mind, I think the key this Season is in the height. The clunkiness ratio is outweighed once you start adding inches to the heel and when you add the stacked platform - shazam - a whole new look.

The Dilemma of the Oxford Brogue

So I knew I wanted a pair of brogues this Spring - great with my boyfriend jeans, preppy with my skinny chino's and who knows how cool with my slouchy linen shorts? The trouble is it's been a bit of a battle to get quite the right look.

Sienna Miller hasn't helped much, turning up on Broadway in some cute Rupert Sanderson numbers.

It all started 2 years back when I figured it was time to have a crack at this look - not wanting to splurge too early I opted for a pair from Yoox.com by Materia Prima, they turned out to be extremely comfy but uber pointy and not quite the right thing - still, no point in sending them back though, I was sure to get some wear out of them...

Last summer I took a different approach and tried the Burberry tumbled leather brogues, currently lying slightly dormant in my closet as the weather hasn't been quite up to it. But still not satisfied - the Burberry ones although super cute do not have the classic hole punching and contrast stitching that my heart desires.

Over the Winter months I set about  my search for the perfect brogue with gusto - Topshop's offerings didn't quite cut it - their golden brogue last Fall was more weirdy dance pump than uber cool English country gent.

Aldo faired no better, their blue 'lahaie' hung in there for a while - at least I wore them around the house for a few days - but sadly the hue reminded me of the color we used to paint our Doc Martins back in the day when we thought we were young and reckless - with hindsight, not so cool.

So the winner is (currently) - good old Church's -  the Burwood metallic - a little silver here, a smattering of classic wing tip detailing there - oh and the pre requisite punched panels.

Notes from a Stylist has no phone - so goes shopping instead...

No wonder I was having trouble Tweeting yesterday - no it wasn't some new 2010 storm that had whisked through my orbit only and taken out cable again - it was something far more sinister. My hubs had failed to pay the phone bill so all systems were not go.

Faced with the challenge of no phone for a couple of days, when normal service is set to resume, what's a girl to do? Oh that's right - go shopping!

So with a glamorous Art show to get to at New York's prestigious Hirschl and Adler tomorrow night - all created by my lovely chum Alexander Creswell - who can charm the hind leg off a Bentley as well as paint a couple of canvasses - a new pair of shoes is clearly required.

It was obviously a slow day at Saks because the sales man was quite keen to show me most of his stock room - I idled away half a morning trying everything he had on in patent nude - yes that's a color not a reference to my clothing status. From Manolo Blahnik to Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo to Prada - I can safely say I have a far wider knowledge of the Saks shoe salon stock thanks to my diligent efforts.

Did I transact? You'll have to wait till tomorrows installment for more on that....