A Country Girl’s Take on Shoe Designing

Samantha, describes her daily style as more Country Bumpkin than Kate Middleton, but based on this fabulous shoe design we think the Duchess of Cambridge would disagree! We love Samantha’s fabulous neutral patent peep toe shoe design in camel leather and patent which she’s looking foward to wearing, now we have the sun! Read all about her shoe designing experience with Upper Street

Tell us a little about yourself

My personal style depends upon the circumstances – there is not much call for high heels and elegance when chasing chickens around. So I would say my daily at home style is more Country Bumpkin, than Kate Middleton! When I go out I love to wear nice clothes and beautiful shoes. I would say my style is classic and elegant. I prefer to buy one really good piece of clothing or shoes rather than buy high fashion. My wardrobe is quite small compared to most of my friends, but what I have are things that I love, that suit me and will have long term use. I love designers like Diane von Furstenberg and Alice Temperley.

What’s your relationship with shoes?

I love shoes! They can transform a simple outfit and they can make you feel a million dollars in an instant. Again I don’t have as many shoes as some of my friends, but those I have I treasure, especially my collection of Manolo Blahniks!  They are all pampered and kept either in their box or bag and stored in a 1920’s Tallboy.

I buy a pair of shoes because I love them, rather than for a particular outfit and as my clothes are classic, there is always something I can wear them with. I use shoes to update an outfit and to make me feel  completely different from wellie wearing hen keeper, housewife and mother. I have only made one big mistake in shoe purchasing and that was just before I discovered Upper Street.

I have one foot one size bigger than the other so I tend to only wear sandals. In the winter I wear boots or evening boots, as I find it so hard to buy court shoes that I can keep on my smaller foot. I really wanted a pair of black patent platform courts and so I purchased a pair from LK Bennett (which were not cheap). I was talked into them by the shop assistant, but even with insoles, heel grips and clenched toes I struggle to keep them on when wearing tights. If only I had known about Upper Street, I could have spent a small amount more and had the perfect pair of shoes with a strap across my foot which would hold them on!  You live and learn, although it’s a costly mistake and I won’t do it again!

What was the design inspiration for your Upper Street shoes?

My design for my Upper Street shoes was led by the need of a pair of neutral high heel shoes, with a strap to hold them on, that I could wear with any of my printed summer dresses. It was great fun using the design tools on the website to choose what I wanted. Even the waiting for them was good – the anticipation was amazing.

What did you think when you opened your parcel from Upper Street?

I was delighted to receive my shoes and I loved the pink ribbon and all the wonderful goodies inside – especially my beautiful shoes. I quickly booked a pedicure so that I can do them justice when I wear them (hopefully very soon)!

What did your friends have to say about your shoes?

Unfortunately the weather has not yet been good enough to wear my shoes, but as soon as I can I will be showing them off to all of my friends! The friends that have spied them already quickly went off to design their own shoes!  I am looking forward to designing more shoes with Upper Street

Upper Street shoes come in a huge range of sizes from the petite 33 (UK 1.5) to the generous 43 (UK 10) with 4 width fittings. We also offer free alterations to fit and we’re so confident that you’ll love your final design that we’ll refund you if you don’t!

To book an appointment in our London Studio, email iloveshoes@upperstreet.com or call us on 0845 680 9365.

If you can’t make it the studio but still want to see our full range of luxurious materials, visit our Upper Street Swatch Store.Whether you’d like to experience the richness of our suedes, feel the silken quality of our sumptuous Italian satins or visualise our glossy patents as a shoe, you can order as many swatches as you want!

Upper Street - the made-to-order luxury shoe label where you can design your own individual shoes and have them delivered right to your door.