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Mar 18

Meet Upper Street’s #ShoesDayTuesday winners

Category: #ShoesDayTuesday

Each Tuesday Upper Street celebrates shoes everywhere with #ShoesDayTuesday. You share your fabulous shoes with us on Twitter and Instagram, our judges pick their favourite shoe and the winner gets their own design shoes made for them.
more details on #ShoesDayTuesday

To inspire you and celebrate their success each week, we’ll update this blog with the winning shoe, so meeet Upper Street’s #ShoesDayTuesday winners.

Tuesday 21st May

Nancy: This week’s #ShoesDayTuesday was amazing – so many fabulous shoes and photographed so beautifully. It was hard just trying to pick the short list let alone, the winner. But having been an active participant in #ShoesDayTuesday almost from the beginning, we’re thrilled to announce Fashion Foie Gras has picked Nancy @nshark as the winner as both the shoes and the image created were ‘amazing’.

Congratulations to Nancy and well done to all our shortlist. Until next week.

Tuesday 14th May

Paula: The sun shone on #ShoesDayTuesday and we saw a fabulous collection of sandals (and pedicures) from you. After narrowing down all the entries to our shortlist of eight stunning shoes we then had the daunting task of picking just one as the winner. After a lot of debate Fashion Foie Gras picked Paula’s golden Greek sandals as the perfect holiday shoes for #ShoesDayTuesday.

Tuesday 7th May

@ShoeCloszet: Our first #ShoesDayTuesday of May saw top fashion blogger Emily from Fashion Foie Gras join us as our guest judge for the whole of May. And we’re thrilled to say your shoes didn’t disappoint! After a hard morning’s judge we’re delighted to announce that Emily picked @ShoeCloszet as the winner saying “It’s all about the blues in front of the fire for me! Fabulous!!!!” Congratulations and we look forward to seeing your shoe design.


Tuesday 30th April

Ashley Pelayo: This week’s #ShoesDay Tuesday winner wasn’t chosen by Glamour and Upper Street but by you. We uploaded an album of the 8 shortlisted shoes onto Facebook and you all voted for the best shoe by Liking the shoe you wanted to win. Congratulations to Ashley with over 400 Likes for her shoe.

Tuesday 23rd April

Penny @_LeighleeCookie : It’s getting harder and harder to judge #ShoesDayTuesday but with her love of quirky and original shoes for Lauren from Glamour there could only be one winner, “I love the polka dot shoes – they have to win!”

The sun came out (at last) for #ShoesDayTuesday and we saw more bare feet and open toe shoes and sandals. It was, as ever, a difficult task picking our shortlist and congratulations go to: @_LeighleeCookie @hannahpountney @KarenL109 @nickiem lalynns @shoeRAcom @tweet_emma @wellheeled

Lauren from Glamour is judging the shortlist and we’ll be announcing our winner later here and on Twitter.

Tuesday 16th April

Abi @SewYou : We loved all eight shortlisted shoes, but Abi’s shoes jumped out for both Upper Street and Lauren from Glamour especially when we learnt these were customised by Abi herself with three layers of tiny sequins. Abi tweeted “sure did. They were boring ‘work’ heels & I pimped them myself” In the words of Lauren from Glamour “I LOVE the sequins!

Congratulations to our 8 shortlisted shoes this week: @ambernectarine, @AniaBrighton, @mceachern7, @dellilah1982, @nshark, @SewYou, @TheShoeTwit and @worduplisa

Which shoe will Lauren Smith from Glamour pick as the winner? We’ll announce later today.

Tuesday 9th April

Shoe_Floozie: Another really competitive week and it took us a while to whittle down the 10 shortlisted shoes to one winner, but in the end Shoe_Floozie’s sandals really stood out. On picking her shoe, Lauren from Glamour said, “A fanastic sandal, I love the colours and also how it’s been styled to wear for the colder weather. Well done.”

This week we’ve changed things slightly and we’re announcing the shoes who’ve made the shortlist first. Here are the 10 shoes  shortlisted: congratulations to @ClareBlandELS, @erinlaurawalsh, @Githara, @irenedreaming, @monic_1983, @nickiem, @seldalondon, @Shoe_Floozie, @theitguide and @twentymumthing

Which one will be the winner?

Tuesday 2nd April

Daisy: Glamour magazine took over #ShoesDayTuesday and you all really rose to the challenge. It was one of the hardest week’s to judge and it took us all day. On picking Daisy’s shoe, Glamour said, “Omg it’s so hard to decide – but I think the gorgeous orange shoes should win!

Tuesday 26th March

Nia: Fashion Stylist Camille Adomakoh, aka Karma-Style and Upper Street loved both Nia’s shoes and the way she styled and photographed them. Camille said “I love these shoes because they conjure up Springtime. Happiness and sunny days…

Tuesday 19th March

Sarah: Fashion stylist Nicole Smallwood loved Sarah’s boots saying “There can only be one winner for me the monochrome boots rock. 60 chic what’s not to love.”


Tuesday 12th March

Ellie: Our judge Zoe Lem picked Ellie’s wonderful shoes because “I’m useless walking in heels but these are perfect height and have a gorgeous vintage style (especially with the red toes!). Great mix of practicality and glamour. A bit of sparkle brightens up every day!

Tuesday 5th March – as it was our 3rd birthday we celebrated with picking 3 winners this week, judged by Julia Grinham, Upper Street co-founder and Sairey Stemp, Cosmpolitan’s Fashion Editor.

Jen Beale: Sairey said “I love the clashing animal prints, the dalmation booties and zebra print rug both clash and compliment each other. Jen has thought about her what she is wearing and found a suitable background to show off her footwear spectacularly.”

Stephanie Wahlstrom: Sairy commented “This girl is definitely rocking a 50′s rockabilly vibe with her gingham shoes and turned up jeans.”

Nicki Rawson: Sairey picked her shoes because “the yellow shoes and tights combo are super and show real inventiveness, a love of colour and a quirky style. She has thought about taking her shoes outside to show off their bright colour, just like a spring crocus.”

Tuesday 26th February
Victoria Aquino: We loved Sarah’s little story she shared with her shoes: “Tuesday’s shoes with a matching cat who won’t leave me alone this morning #ShoesDayTuesday

Congratulation to all our winners and you could be featured as a winner, but only if you take part in #ShoesDayTuesday

For more inspiration take a look at our #ShoesDayTuesday pinterest board featuring a selection of our favourite entries

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

All 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!

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Jan 8

Shoe Design of the Week: Shoe Designing at 79

Whoever said that with age, you lose your style is WRONG; if anything it can be the complete opposite, age can be your inspiration. That is exactly what this Shoe Design of the Week takes a look at, these sassy, stylish fuchsia snakeskin courts were designed by the wonderful septuagenarian Jennifer Davidson. We absolutely adore her simplistic, yet timeless design. So keep reading to find out more about her experience with Upper Street.

Tell us a little about yourself Jennifer

I am divorced and almost 80. I now live in Thailand, right next to my son and his family. I worked for 40 years in senior positions in the nursing area of the NHS, in England. When I retired I trained in Beauty therapy and worked for 10 years, so I saw and used all kinds of fashionable women as my inspiration. I then went to University and studied Fine Art Painting; I now continue to paint in my home, in Thailand. My interests are fashion, beauty, cooking, gardening , and swimming (I swim a kilometre a week). Some could say that there’s really no stopping me. I have found that over the years my fashion and style has changed some what, but the advantage of becoming older is that you have a lot of experience from throughout your life to draw inspiration from, as well as a large wardrobe that you have accumulated over the years.

Where did you get your inspiration for your shoes from?

My inspiration for the shoes came from Upper Street’s shoe galleries, from fashion magazines, as well as fashion shows on TV.  I designed the shoes especially for Christmas and they will most definitely got shown around, especially Christmas Eve when we went to celebrate the festivities at the Dusit hotel in the town near by.

As I was in England for the summer I took the opportunity to visit the Upper Street studio and see how comfortable they are for myself. I am extremely happy and confident with ordering online and look forward to designing as many individual shoes as possible, no bland slip-ons for me.

Thank you ever so much Jennifer for sharing your shoe designing secrets with us. You’ve really brought all your experiences together to wow us with your design. Just like style icon Iris Apfel, Jennifer doesn’t see age as a hindrance but as an accessory.

If you too would like to try before you buy, to make an appointment to come into the Upper Street studio: Call 0845 680 9365 to talk to our Customer Relations Manager Lizzie Seymour.

Design your own unqiue shoes with Upper Street >>

For shoe inspiration browse & customise the designs in our snakeskin shoe gallery >>

All Upper Street shoes come in a huge range of sizes from the petite 33 (UK 1.5) to a 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 shoe design that we’ll refund you if you don’t!

Made-to-order shoes, designed by you: Start designing your shoes >>

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Jun 25

Upper Street Masterclass – How To Design Your Shoe

For most shoe lovers, the prospect of designing their own bespoke shoe is the ultimate dream scenario. But sometimes, having the chance to create something that encompasses all you want in a shoe may feel a little daunting – the pressure to get it perfectly right is definitely on!

So we’ve looked back at some of the chats we’ve had with customers who needed a little extra assistance in creating a dream shoe and put the key points into our latest Upper Street Masterclass  - How To Design Your Shoes. Take a look at some common questions below and then step forth and design your shoes in complete confidence!

Help! I Don’t Know Where To Start!

Emerald turquoise platform peep toe, Studded ballet flat, Monochrome round toe brogue

Think of the shoe that’s missing from your collection. Which shoe styles make you feel good and help put a real spring in your step? If you’re not comfortable in a high heel avoid them – at Upper Street we have plenty of gorgeous lower heeled options.

You can also customise our shoe designs or get inspiration from our beautiful shoe photos. Browse a whole host of beautiful shoes in our galleries, view photos of shoes on Pinterest and on our Facebook photo albums. Then just get stuck in and have fun!

Is It Really Boring To Design A Classic Shoe?

Nude bow platform court, Zebra pointed court

No…definitely not, your shoe should reflect your personal taste and needs. And so often, it’s those simple, yet classic, shoes that are the ones that you can never find on the High Street. But what you can do is add a personal touch or twist to a classic. Choose a design with a contrasting counter back or heel. Or why not keep to the same colour mix but use different materials – brogue detailing is a great way to add detail to a classically chic design.

There Are So Many Colours…Which Do I Choose?

Asymmetric jewels peep toe platform

Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour. At any stage of the design process you can change shoe colours, so mix and match – be bold and surprise yourself! If you’re still unsure, take a look at your wardrobe contents and think about what will work with your favourite pieces. Start your Upper Street shoe collection for your own inspiration – just save your shoe designs and share with friends via email and Facebook and ask for their views. You can also browse our swatch store for colour inspiration and order swatches to give you confidence and make sure you’ve got your shoe just right.

I Know Which Colours I Like But Which Material Should I Use?

Rule Britannia platform peep toe, Purple & brown platform sandal

When choosing your materials, think about where and when you’ll wear the shoe. Something delicate like Italian satin is perfect for an evening shoe but not so practical for a daily work shoe. If you’re designing with patent bear in mind that it’s a little bit stiffer than leather and therefore less flexible. A good option is to mix and match to give accents to your shoes, putting harder wearing materials on the heels for instance.

I’m Worried About How My Design Will Fit – How Can You Help?

Gold round toe brogue, Snakeskin T-bar sandal

Firstly think about your foot shape and what normally works for you – our sizing and width options cover sizes 33- 43 and 4 width fittings. We also offer advice on fit via a phone call, email and of course during our VIP appointments at the studio. If you receive your shoe and find that it doesn’t fit we can alter it, and if necessary remake free of charge. With Upper Street, there’s no fear of ordering and getting stuck with a pair of shoes that don’t fit.

Hopefully by now you’re raring to go and ready to create those perfect shoes that you thought were previously unobtainable. But don’t hesitate to contact us at any stage of your design process – after all, no one appreciates the need for shoe perfection more than us!

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!

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

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Sep 25

Katy & Julia share their working shoe wardrobe

Category: Shoes To Go With

One of the biggest style dilemmas facing many Upper Street customers is where can I find stylish shoes that I can wear to work? You want an individual look, but have to observe a dress code, you love a heel but this is not always practical, you want a shoe that works across your work wardrobe, but please, no more black!

To help you solve your 9-5 shoe dilemmas, we spent some time with Katy Chandler and Julia Grinham, Upper Street’s co-founders and rifled through their shoe collections for their go-to shoes for the working day.

Chic and practical heels

Camel Patent Snake and  Burgundy platform peep toe

Katy: “I love a more classic shoe style, so I went for a camel patent and snakeskin palette which works across all my working wardrobe. I need some stability with my heels so I love the Upper Street platform court. It comes with a 0.5″ platform and 4.5″ heel which gives me height and presence – always useful in a business meeting! without compromising on comfort.” Browse our platform court gallery for more shoe inspiration

Julia: “I often have to attend meetings and events with people from the fashion industry, so I need to ensure my heels stand out and represent the latest Upper Street trends. This Autumn/Winter a key Upper Street trend is Autumn Berries and I love these rich burgundy suede peep toes which I’ve contrasted with violet snakeskin. Not only is burgundy a must-wear colour this season, it creates a brilliant colour block with navy and black – which I wear a lot.” Browse our Autumn Berries gallery and platform peep toe gallery for more shoe inspiration.

A lower heel option

Navy mix platform and  Monochrome brogue

Katy: “Navy is a brilliant, verstaile colour to wear for work, but I found it impossible to find a stylish ready-made heel to buy – which is why Upper Street is such a God send! I wanted something with more impact than plain leather, so my navy mix platform is designed with an asymmetrical front in suede and snakeskin with a snakeskin platform. I’ve gone for a 3.5″ heel with a 0.25″ platform. You can now order this style and heel height with a block heel.”

Julia: “You may have spotted this monochrome brogue on Upper Street as it’s September’s Shoe of the Month! What I love about this shoe is that it works two major trends – brogue detailing and Mary Janes which are very popular for AWW11, yet the black and white palette is a style classic. I like my shoes to work as hard as I do!” Browse our Mary Janes gallery and  Monochrome gallery for more inspiration.

When we need to go low…

2.25″ black animal round toe court

Katy: “I love the elegance of these burgundy peep toes with their almond toe shape and beautifully balanced proportions, which don’t make my size 9 feet look huge! I also love our Autumn Berries trend, and went for burgundy patent as it’s practical for everyday wear, although I personalised with a suede bow and snakeskin counter.”  Upper Street low heel options

Julia: “My go-to low heel option is this black animal classic round toe court with a 2.25″ heel. It’s a sophisticated style and the heel height is perfect for when I’m going from the school run, to meetings, to a fashion show. I love I can wear it with everything in my wardrobe and always looks smart and appropriate.” To order a 2.25″ round toe,  select the 3.75″ round toe court in the Shoe Designer and then select a 2.25″ heel at checkout. Upper Street low heel options

Join Katy and Julia in a live Facebook Q&A

Thanks Katy and Julia for sharing your shoes and if you visit the Upper Street Facebook wall on Wednesday 28th September at 12pm (Midday GMT) Katy and Julia will be online to answer your questions on Upper Street. Please come and post a question for them!

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.

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