Clarks: Sensible and Chic Vintage Inspired Shoes

I recently had a splurge and bought two pairs of Clarks' shoes.  I ordered them for home delivery, as they didn't have much stock in the store I popped into, so it was with baited breath that I waited for them, because online shopping can be such a gamble sometimes in terms of sizing issues.

I ordered both pairs from a Clarks store at 5pm on a Wednesday, and they were delivered to my house the following Saturday.  It's worth noting that home delivery is free.

Black Heeled Brogues, 'Coolest Fruit' £44.99
I was really unsure about these - they don't have a concealed platform, the toe's quite rounded and the heel very low.  I also hate the name, 'Coolest Fruit', which is nonsense.  My Baby really liked them straight away and said they were a bit 'librarian' but then he does like that look!  Fit wise, my usual 7 and a half in Clarks fit perfectly.  I decided to try them out with different things in my wardrobe to see what they 'go' with, and was surprised to find that they work with a below the knee pencil skirt, my 1940's style swing trousers, and a full '50s style skirt.  That's a lot of things they go with in the 'workwear' part of my wardrobe.  Add to this the fact that they're real leather, have a cushioned insole and will be easy to walk in with such a low heel, and I feel compelled to keep them.  They're not fun or quirky or sexy, but I can see myself getting a lot of wear out of them over the years - I've worn them to work a few times, breaking them in around the office, and I walked home from the station too and they were super comfy.  A good investment, for sure.

Two-Tone Flat Brogues, 'Hamble Oak' £54.99
Seeing these online, I was incredibly excited.  I bought a pair of two-tone grey and white brogues off Ebay ages ago, from Shucrazy.  They were synthetic, thin soled, cheap as chips, and I've worn them to death over the past few years.  They went with dresses, trousers, cropped jeans and I could walk miles in them.  They started to disintegrate a bit, and I had them reheeled and had to glue the upper back down a few times.  I looked and looked for a replacement pair, but try as I might, I could only ever find plain coloured brogues.

Ta da!  These 'Hamble Oak' brogues appeared in Clarks, and I snapped them up.  This time around they're more than twice the price, but they're made of leather, are a more solid construction and have the lovely sole padding as well.  Again, they are true to size and my usual 7 and a half fit beautifully.  I hope they serve me as well as the cheapo ones did!  So far I've worn them quite a few times to work.  The brogues are available in other materials and fabrics, such as navy suede, or wine patent.

If you don't like the look of either of my purchases, then may I suggest some alternatives that Clarks has, also sensible, also with a vintage vibe?

Cut-out Brogues 'Hotel Image' £65
These will take you through Spring and into summer - I think these would team particularly well with lighter dresses, and would work with '30s, '40s and '50s looks.  Actually, you could team them with '60s and 70's dresses too and they'd still work.

I'd wear with this 'Tea at the Pavilion' dress by Puttin On The Ritz.

Orange sling-backs 'Selena Jemma' £44.99
Pair with capris for a lovely '50s vibe.  Yes they are heels, but they're not too high, especially with the platform, and they have Clarks' 'softwear' cushioning for extra comfort.  Sensible indeed!  They also come in navy suede and black leather.

I think they'd look particularly fabulous with these Lady K Loves capris.

Platform sandals 'Olina Katelina' £44.99
These feel 1940's to me.  I'd wear with a fabulous Mexicana peplum dress and pin some fake fruit to it.  Again because of the platform they're not too high and they are cushioned.  They also come in plain black or pink.

I'd wear the pink ones with this Tropical Sangria dress from Miss Bamboo.

Do you own any Clarks shoes?  What do you think about their range?  Are you a fan?

It's the regular Friday link up with Passion for Fashion, so head over to either Rachel the Hat or Lena B to find out what everyone else is posting about.