Hotter shoes Spring Summer season event

Last year I attended a Hotter shoes blogger event at Banbury’s new store.  This season it was the turn of Oxford to host a party for some of the Oxfordshire Bloggers gang.  I love getting together with other bloggers, and this time it was a mostly new crowd to me. We were introducing some of the bright young fashion and beauty bloggers of the county to Hotter along with us more tired parenting bloggers.

Of course I’d arrived too early, so headed for a wander round Oxford to take some photos in the setting sun. The I met Mary for a cheeky hot chocolate before the party started.

It was lovely to meet the PR team again, and the store staff were as attentive and friendly as I’ve always found in Hotter stores.  After we’d oohed and ahhed over the nibbles (and taken lots of photos, because…well, we’re bloggers and instagrammers), we moved onto the shoes.

What Hotter shoes prove, is that you can’t always judge shoes by the expectation before you arrive (I’m still trying to convince my work colleagues that they would find a pair of shoes in store that they’d like).  I’m really fussy about shoes, but after a quick recce round the store, there were about 6 pairs I wanted to try on.  And the others were also debating between a few pairs each.

The spring summer 17 range is a real mix of colours and styles. For summer weddings or a vintage style with dresses, there’s the Donna in pastel suedes. Then there’s Cath Kidston or Joules style floral canvas shoes, perfect for casual summers outside with the kids. And then summer sandals. And shoes perfect for workwear.

I’m always drawn to sandals.  I shouldn’t be with the state of my feet (my excuse is they’re dancer’s feet).  But they didn’t fit my feet and didn’t look right.

So I tried to be sensible and look at the shoes more suitable for work.  I love loafers but as with the A/W shoes they didn’t fit properly.  So it was onto the ballet pumps which I usually wear for the summer months. I needed a new pair but I struggled to decide between the green casual ones with a moulded sole (which I usually don’t like – but for these I could get over that), and a black mixed texture smarter pump.

In the end I was sensible and went for the black which have had lots of compliments from colleagues.    I like the different materials used, and there’s a good sturdy heel which isn’t going to wear down.  They also have the double insole which can be made single or removed if you need more space.  Where in their winter range I had to go up to the 6 (I’m a 5.5), some of the summer shoes I was in a 5 or 5.5.  So they do need to be tried to get exactly the right fit.  I’m still wearing mine in – like with most ballet pumps they’re a little high and stiff against the backs of my heels, so hopefully it won’t take much longer before I can wear them out and about and not just in work.

I am debating going back for the green shoes.  I’ve not seen any other coloured ballet pumps anywhere that aren’t flimsy, so these might be my colourful answer to summer footwear other than my trusty birkenstocks.

We did our stint to camera explaining our choices, had a group shot, complimented everyone on their shoe and boot choices before heading our separate ways.

If you think of Hotter Shoes as only being for old people, then go to store and check them out. I swear you will see a pair of shoes for you.  And they have really comfy soles so you can wear them all day.

Where’s your favourite place to shop for shoes? Have you bought from Hotter before?

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Disclosure: We were invited to enjoy the event at Hotter and were able to choose a pair of shoes to write about. All opinions and words are my own.

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