Monday 14 March 2016

Irregular Choice Alice: Teapot Heels

irregular choice alice in wonderland teapot heels
This week I have another of my Irregular Choice Alice In Wonderland purchases. This time, I'm ticking two off the list, with both the teacup shoes and boots. You can find the floral Flowers Can't Talk here if you missed them last time and next week, I'll have yet another pair to show you. It would've been criminal to ignore the obvious tea party theme for these two, but I've kept the backgrounds different for all the other styles, so there's even more for you to see!  Like I said originally, I found it really difficult to choose between these two pairs, despite them having the same heel. I'll admit I loved the boot more, but still maintain they are different enough to warrant owning both. I'll begin with the shoe, One Lump Or Two?, which I felt were the R2D2 of the collection. Do you know what I mean by that?  The title shoe or poster shoe of the collection if you will. They are everything I would expect (and more) from an Alice themed shoe whilst remaining true to the brand.
irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes tea party irregular choice disney alice one lump or two? shoes irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes front irregular choice alice in wonderland one lump or two? shoe irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes back
The uppers are mainly a turquoise floral fabric. It's a lovely pattern, not dissimilar to this Can't Touch This pair, kind of Cath Kidston vintage type blooms. We're onto a good thing already! The heel of the shoe picks up on themes we saw last winter, with blue metallic sections embroidered with quotes from the film and red hearts. On one shoe it says "You're my cup of tea" and the other, "We're all mad here". This has a scalloped edge, mirrored in glitter too (mainly in shades of green). I'd have every hem and edge on everything scalloped given half the chance, so another winner!  Sticking out and upwards (with the top one tickling your ankle) are mini, embroidered playing cards. Could they be any more adorable? I think not.  They are even lined in the floral fabric, though I have to check they don't get tucked in when putting the shoe on. irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes you're my cup of tea irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes we're all mad here
Moving to the front of the shoe, which has a softly pointed toe there's a rosette in holographic material and layers of blue and pink ruffled, polka dots. In the centre is a red heart with, quite probably, the cutest silver fork and spoon you'll ever see. There's a 'cake' platform complete with dripping icing. It's unusual for IC to feature a 'floating' platform like this (it measures around an inch), I can't think of any similar styles off the top of my head.  The rosette definitely has a tendency to get caught up in your foot when putting them on, so I found myself desperately trying to pick it back out of the shoe the first time!    irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes toe irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes fork spoon detail irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes cake platform irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes holographic rosette detail
I was really excited about these heels in the preview, which feature a flowery teapot atop a blue cup. I recall IC asking years ago what we'd like to see next in a character heel and a few people replying teacups or teapots and I thought that sounded great. Who doesn't love a cup of tea? That's rhetorical and you will answer yes anyway.  They were less chunky in person than I'd envisioned, so more practical than I first thought. The spout of the teapot doesn't stick out the back too much and though they are wider than the shoe, it's not by much, so I don't foresee any issues of them clashing together. Be warned though, they are very heavy. Definitely one of the heaviest in character heels, if not the heaviest! I was worried if I bought the size up, they'd slip off my heel because the heel was so heavy, but the shoe looked so curved I convinced myself I'd struggle with my usual size. So I did size up and was glad of that, as they are very tight across the widest part of your foot.  Even in the bigger size, they dig in there, but it's thankfully enough to keep my foot from slipping out.irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes teapot heels back irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes teacup concept heel irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes teapot concept heel irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes teapot teacup heels irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes teapot heels back
The insoles are the same for the whole collection and I spoke about them more in my Flowers Can't Talk post.  However the outer soles differ. The sole of the shoe is the same print as the inners, but the platform base features the Mad Hatter on one shoe and the dormouse in the teapot on the other (so cute).  The shoe is trimmed in metallic blue with a white scalloped edge (yay, again)!   irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes insole irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes mad hatter sole irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes mad hatter sole close up irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes dormouse sole irregular choice alice one lump or two? shoes dormouse sole close up
The cutlery and cards are really sweet touches and keep the shoe on theme, while the rest of the shoe feels very Irregular Choice, with their "more is more" mentality. I'm a sucker for embroidered sayings, so that's another aspect I really adore.  They really are works of art and just slotted into the tea party table as if they weren't shoes!  irregular choice alice in wonderland one lump or two? shoes
The All Mad Here boots were my favourite of the whole collection (pre-release). I've mentioned before that I'm besotted with fancy boots (like, really bad) and it's rare we see anything higher up the leg than a shoe-boot in concept heels, so that added to the excitement. These boots most definitely put the 'irregular' in Irregular Choice and were probably the 'wildest' of the whole Alice collection. irregular choice disney alice in wonderland all mad here boots
The heels, insoles and soles were exactly the same as One Lump Or Two?, as was the cake platform, so I didn't really photograph them again. This however is where the similarities end. irregular choice alice all mad here boots mad hatter dormouse soles irregular choice alice all mad here boots teapot teacup heels
They are pull-on ankle boots, with blue elastic sections on both inner and outer sides. These were the only pair I misjudged the sizing on. I hadn't tried any of the previous IC ankle boots with elastic before, but figured they might be quite tricky to get on if the elastic wasn't particularly stretchy (and I've struggled before with getting my heel beyond the ankle of slim fitting boots). I usually have to size up in IC boots anyway, so I did here and they were huge! Inside, there was a lot of extra width and length and slipping them on or off was no problem whatsoever, so I knew I could size down. I've since managed to secure a pair in the smaller size (these are the originals photographed here) and they feel so much better. I still have some room inside and again getting them on and off is easy peasy. I'm not sure if I would've found the true 'size down' too small, they perhaps run a half size large, but if you're between sizes, definitely take the lower one.  The uppers are leather and extremely soft at that and they aren't designed to be particularly close fitting on the ankle anyway.  irregular choice alice all mad here boots front irregular choice alice all mad here boots back
The main boot is patent floral, but a much darker pattern (in mood, rather than colour) than the shoe version. It's dark teal over white and I'm really fond of it, it's lovely. The edges (where it meets the elastic) are scalloped and trimmed with further curved holographic material. It's so pretty when it catches the light, flashing different colours.  The toe shape is the same as the shoe, softly pointed and covered in the same green glitter that was used at the back of the shoe. That same section that was tight in the shoe isn't at all in the boot. irregular choice alice all mad here boot inner side irregular choice alice all mad here boot outer side irregular choice alice all mad here boots scalloped holographic trim irregular choice alice all mad here boots glitter cake platform irregular choice alice all mad here boots glitter toe
You know I love my bows and these boots have two large blue polka dot ones on each boot. One at the back, just above the heel and the other at the top on the front. I absolutely love unnecessary additional trims like this.  It's part of what makes me buy from IC, because they rarely scrimp on those details.  I mean the heels are already statement pieces, but they put a massive, sticky-out bow on there too, just so you won't miss it!irregular choice alice all mad here boots polka dot bow back irregular choice alice all mad here boots polka dot bow front
Down the front of each boot is the bit that made me really giddy, a large still from the film of the Mad Hatter and the dormouse in fabric. They are the same images used on the soles and I love that the dormouse boot has the Mad Hatter sole and vice versa.  I could play 'match my boot and sole' by tipping up the opposite foot then reversing, all day long!   irregular choice alice all mad here boots dormouse mad hatter
I'll admit that the only part I was a little unsure of before buying (otherwise the boot was positively perfect) was the elastic section (which I realise have practical reasons for existing), but they don't bother me in person. Phew!  There's too many other fabulous, whimsical details to distract me. These boots are truly one of the most beautiful, quirky creations I've ever seen. I feel extremely grateful that Dan Sullivan made these and that they are mine!  I could spend hours just staring at them.  irregular choice disney alice in wonderland teapot heels irregular choice alice in wonderland teapot teacup heels
What do you think, can you pick a favourite between the two or were the floral pair more up your street? You can see me wearing the glitter Tea With Alice here and One Lump Or Two? here on The Shoe Girl Diaries and I'll have another pair for Shoesday Tuesday next week.

30 comments :

  1. Oh, I love the little teaset set up. I have to admit, I don't like the One Lump or Two. I really like the boots, although like you the elastic sections had put me off before seeing them in the flesh, so I had ruled them out, but they're now the pair I wish I'd bought.

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    1. Thank you. I think for some One Lump were just too much and Curious Feeling were maybe a slightly pared down alternative. Yeah beforehand the elastic was jumping out at me, likely because it was so plain when the rest was fancy, but it isn't very bothersome in the flesh.

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  2. From a wearability standpoint, I prefer the shoes (and so I got them); for shelf porn either pair is awesome.

    Do you plan to cover the soles, or let them get scuffed? I usually don't care but both of my Alice shoes have not been worn out yet because I keep dithering.

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    1. maybe you could cover them with a clear silicon foot tread?

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    2. Ha, yes I agree, shelf porn was probably at it's greatest for this collection! I've heard some people are finding the heels so heavy they are clomping when walking, rather than walking gracefully. For now, I'm in the wheelchair all the time anyway (well I never get out, but IF I did), so have yet to see. I agree, I'm struggling a little with all these Alice soles, but I'll likely just walk on them.

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    3. Becca: I'd have to order the Mme Cristal from overseas iirc, if that'a the kind you meant.

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    4. Yes, it is. I just found out about them from reading a review of the Star Wars IC shoes. I think I am going to get some. I have worn my other 5 pairs of IC, but I think I want to preserve the image, plus those Madame Crystal pads have tread and one is much less likely to slip. My mother slipped and fell while wearing some leather soled shoes that had gotten very slick from wear, and also to protect, it one should step on some moist surface.

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    5. They come highly recommended a lot of IC wearers use these. Personally I'm bold and just wear those pictures away *gasp*

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  3. I like both shoes. I have the size 40Eu us 9 pump and it is a little bit small. I am a size 9. I didn't order the boots because I thought they would be too small. And then when I found out they probably wouldn't the 9's/ 40s were sold out. Both pairs are extremely beautiful in their own way.

    I had received my size 40 / us 9 white rabbits which seemed like a size 38 us 7 or so. Even my mom tried them on, who is a size 8us/ eu 39 and she could hardly get them on so I have to send them back. And the size 40eu 9us Cheshire flats are too big and so will have to send back and order a 39. I just finished emailing IC about their problems with size standardization. I have been up all night measuring the inside of my IC shoes and some of my 41's are smaller than some of my 40's. IC needs to get with it on these things. They and their vendors are in the business to sell shoes, not process returns and disappoint people. I am highly disappointed, especially because I ordered Flowers Cant Talk in size 41 and they are big like you said. Way way big and there is no way I can pad them enough. When I put them on there is more than 2cms of space between my heel and the back of the shoe, and all my other IC 41s fit. My True Love IC 41's fit like a glove. So this lack of size standardization is really driving me crazy, especially since I will not be able to replace these Flowers Cant Talk. I have asked IC to consider reissuing the Alice line right when the movie comes out, seeing as how they effed the whole thing up so royally this time. I asked them to do like the home shopping network does and take prepaid orders of the shoes and then produce the line again from that. Then they could actually create enough sizes that people need. Anyone out there reading this, please petition them about this. I feel wronged by them. I based my size choice on other shoes I had just ordered and it is not my fault that they can make one pair of size 41 shoes over 2cms longer than another pair. They owe me a correct fitting pair of those shoes. At any rate, they should come out with more of the Flowers Cant Talk seeing as how that is the favorite of the whole line.

    As far as the One Lump or Two and the booties, the shoes are so heavy they could be used by a fashionable mafia to sink a fashionable body in a fashionable lake. Wearing them will be like exercising with ankle weights. I have not worn mine yet. I am sort of scared they will be too small, and I will not be able to get any larger.

    I told IC that regarding this whole line, their theme song should be Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" because that is what they have done to many people. I love the shoes and they are absolutely beautiful, but the fact that I have to send back 3 out of 5 due to size discrepancy is unconscionable. Also, being a larger footed girl, I have to get my shoes quicker than smaller footed girls because there are less overall shoes made in the larger sizes and more competition, so the shoes in my sizes sold out more quickly than the smaller shoes.

    Well anyway, I am hoping if enough people petition them, they will make more shoes. They send out all their teasing emails and then pull these stunts.

    Improperly sized shoes
    Not enough larger sized shoes
    Website crashing
    No advance notice and list of vendors who will sell the shoes (this could've prevented the site from crashing)
    I think they owe us.

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    1. I know, it is frustrating. A lot of people find IC sizing a bit all over the place and certainly within this collection the ones I bought in my usual size feel bigger than those I sized up in on other styles. I think the reasoning usually is because of the sheer variety of styles and shapes used in IC, there isn't really a standard last used. That said, I've some styles that are the same but in different sizes (Abigail's Party, Love Games), so that's down to different fabrics used, which also plays it's role. I've always had to guess at sizing because of buying online and did so for Alice (mostly getting it right), so am thankful of places that use a free returns service (though I can't send back my boots, so have to sell those), but for those buying overseas it can be very costly. That's part of the reason I started The Shoe Girl Diaries, to share information on fit and I'm hoping to set up a specific IC sizing guide (but it's only my opinion and some people will disagree, so it's not ideal and obviously I haven't tried every style going).

      As for your size, that's really unlucky as I'm sure the larger sizes are more popular (or maybe those customers shout the loudest) as they are always requested and like you say, sell quickly. In other brands it's the 5/38 and 6/39 that are most popular, but I don't think the same can be said of IC.

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    2. Yeah, if I can ever order a Flowers Can't Talk, which I'd like to someday, I'll get mine in a 40.

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    3. Well, most times, IC tends to run small, so even if they have your size, most times you have to go one size up, so it is actually like having one size less than your size. Except for the huge heel area Flowers Can't Talk.

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    4. I know how frustrating it is for the larger sizes to know they are sometimes 'out of sizes' if they need to size up in a particular style.

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  4. Hello, curious about backdrop fabric, is it Cath Kidston?

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    1. It's a tablecloth my Mum made, I believe it is CK fabric she used.

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  5. Your backdrop is utterly gorgeous as usual! You should be paid to do this!
    I love seeing all the details in your closeups which you point out as you always show things I didn't even notice!
    I was given that cakestand biscuit tin you showed in the background for Christmas and I took it into school with the biscuits and other goodie to share on my birthday and some swine pinched it!!!x

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    1. Thank you, I was stressing a bit beforehand actually because I knew exactly how I wanted it to look, but didn't have all the props! I'd settle for an allowance to buy props rather than getting paid. Or payment in shoes, that works for everything!! Argh, how annoying. I got mine for Christmas too, loved the ginger ones!

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  6. I absolutely ADORE the shoes. These would actually fit in well with the theme of my wall unit, which has a tea set and lots of vintage china in it (amongst other things). They're darling!

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  7. ebay has Flowers Cant Talk size 38 US7 (UK 5) and 36 US 5 (UK 3.5) ebay item number
    272159561385

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  8. For the loose heeled Flowers Can't Talk shoes: Two types of Mary Jane straps that wrap around the shoe to hold the shoe on better

    http://www.amazon.com/Detachable-Shoe-Straps-loose-heeled/dp/B00I52CYF4

    http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Strapps-Womens-Classic-Rhinestones/dp/B00NY32AZ8/ref=pd_sim_309_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41p19pc-%2BqL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0FQPH1DRN4TXNN8NHSG1

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    1. I saw someone used a bra strap thingy on a pair of IC's (the strap was black) around the shoe to keep them on. Not ideal, but if it works...!

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  9. PS: I got those sticky heel liners and layered one upon another in the back of the shoe and put some on the sides and I think I've got them where they fit pretty good now. I still think IC should post size reviews with the shoes before they are even out for sale. Its stressful enough to try to buy the darn things let alone hope you've guessed right about what size to buy. They owe it to us.

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    1. I would find sizing advice really helpful because everything I buy is online. Though I see some people with totally different views to mine on the same pairs of shoes.

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    2. Well, I have found your analysis of shoe fit to be correct. My feet are larger than yours (I am uk 6.5 eu40 us9), but maybe they are the same shape. My next to big toe is slightly longer (3mms) than my big toe (eg I don't have a big toe that is much longer than all the toes) and my toes themselves are not long and my foot slopes downward to the smallest toe.

      All those things one must take into consideration. You should draw your feet on a piece of paper and post them, so we can see overall shape of your feet. My mom and I have similar sized feet, but she has shorter feet with longer toes and I have longer feet with shorter toes, so the length of where our "bunion" bone under our big toe is will be different. My bunion bone will be higher and with her shorter feet, my mom's will be lower. Both of our toes slope down at a 45 degree angle to the baby toe. Some people's toes can go straight across or not slope down so much.

      I really wish there was a census to see which foot shape was more prevalent. I remember being in Cologne Germany with my friend Alan at their museum, and Alan, who is a big history buff and knows all sorts of quirky things was telling me that genetically long toes are ancient genetics and human feet are trending toward shorter toes.

      (We got on the subject of long toes, because the toes are so long on many of the renaissance paintings and sculptures and the middle toe is always longer than the big toe. So apparently if you have long toes, your toe genetics are stuck in the past. You have "antiquarian toes". I told Alan that I was going to, from that time on, refer to people's toes as "antiquarian" if their toes were long and fingerlike and "modern" if their toes were shorter like mine.

      So I think that toe length and angular pitch of toes and whether the big toe or next toe is longest can also affect how someone perceives a fit. Getting the right shoe for yourself is definitely an art, but I would like to see it become a measurable science. Basically I wanna be able to buy online with confidence and no chance of future tears shed for poorly fitting and irreplaceable shoes.

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    3. My friend at Uni did a huge project on the standardization of bra sizes and it was all kinds of complicated (like with shoes), of how you could somehow simplify the current band and cup combination and what it meant in different brands, how different places measured you etc. It was a real eye-opener.

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  10. PSS: Don't you think that Irregular Choice should make repros of some Monster High shoes and that they should make a licensed KISS line with feminized versions of KISS's platform boots? Wouldn't a dragon boot with real light up eyes be great? And all those great theme shoes that the Monster High dolls have?

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    1. Monster High shoes would be awesome, especially the older styles that they used to put more detail into. Ever After High actually have a pair of gnome heels, exactly like IC's Chuckles.

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    2. Yeah, I agree about the older MH shoes. I wonder if Mattel copied IC, I had always thought that IC should make the Monster High shoes. I really like the cat shoes with the tail that wrap around the ankle and Ghoulia's bone shoes. The MH wardrobe would be cool to have as well. I totally love Ghoulia's clothes with the eyeballs and brain theme.

      A long time ago, at I Magnin in San Francisco, they had a $600 pair of high heeled sandals that were jeweled metal alligators that lay on top of the foot with the tail wrapping around the ankle. I did not have money to get them, but I think about them often.

      It is nice to occasionally see people wearing cool quirky clothes out, but I do not see it too often. San Francisco people for the most part are very plain in their clothing. All black and dark blue and dark brown. Although when I visit the museum, I occasionally see people wearing interesting things. I don't know if you were able to catch the Gaultier show (I think it was in London) but that was the most amazing awesome show of clothing I have ever seen and some of the people who came to see the show were pretty decked out themselves. I love seeing people out wearing their awesome clothes and shoes.

      I have not seen anyone other than myself wearing ICs, but I occasionally see people wearing the Fluevogs.

      Everyone who sees my shoes loves them but have never heard of IC.

      I would think you would see people in London sporting some cool clothes quite often.

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    3. Argh, no wonder, those shoes sound awesome! I haven't looked at photos of that yet, will have to look it up, he usually shows in Paris. I'm in Scotland and often get stared at for what I'm wearing (which I don't even think is that outlandish). I briefly lived in London and it still happened there. Even when I studied fashion, I was the only one dressed the way I was-I thought they would all be like me!

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