Shoe Porn: Office Floral Flats

I'm absolutely determined to get out of my shoe rut this spring. Ballet flats are so easy to put with everything, and I'm getting lazy.

But I still need some shoes that I can run around London in. Trying to catch the 161 while running in heels makes me look very silly (seriously, I haven't quite mastered elegant running).

These floral shoes are a perfect option for me. The flower pattern is cute. A little sofa fabric-y, but in small doses this is no bad thing. The little heel will give you a bit of height without crippling you. And they're pretty without going down the whole open toes route. It is definitely not the kind of weather for that just yet.

Like them? They're £58 from Office.

Wallpaper Wednesday: 1950's collection from Sanderson

With my enduring love of the fifties, it should come as no surprise that I am somewhat smitten by the 50's Wallpaper collection from Sanderson. This new collection features some iconic designs from the Sanderson archive as well as some new designs from contemporary artists who have taken their inspiration from the era.

Miro is a design developed from an original Sanderson textile print from the 1950's. It is available in seven vivid colourways and costs £32 per roll

Mobiles is another original 1950's design which is now available in five brand new colourways. It costs £36 per roll.

Wrappings is a contemporary design that was originally created by wrapping hand dyed yarn around card. It is available in five quintessentially 50's colourways and costs £32 per roll.

The 50's Wallpaper collection is available to buy online at John Lewis or find your nearest stockist on the Sanderson website

Cocktail Hour: The Rolls Royce

Is there a car more elegant than the Rolls Royce? No indeed. Obviously a cocktail named after it will be just as swish. This drink is a sweet cocktail, but I've got a thing about brandy at the moment (a very underrated spirit in the cocktail world) so I'm trying as many brandy-based tipples as I can find.

You'll need:

• 25ml brandy or cognac
• 25ml triple sec
• 25ml orange juice

Shake it!

Shake the ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass. Best enjoyed with someone the whisking your away in a Rolls Royce, I'd imagine. Anyone?

Flickr image from Luigi Crespo's photostream.

Shop in the spotlight: Smug, London

In London's Angel, there's a cute little shop called Smug. Smug doesn't really know what it wants to be when it grows up (not unlike me, really), so it's a mix of accessories, homeware, furniture and funky little items like these little fellas:


These little geese all in a row are handmade from vintage jumpers. You're going to have to buy them all, you can't split them up. They look too cute and quacky. There are chicks and mice and bunnies too.

Love the little chimney detail on this cushion.


Who doesn't want a scarf with a guinea pig on?


And I love the little collection of blue and white china brooches too. Want to go and see what else Smug has? You'll find them on Camden Passage. Nearest tube is Angel.

Guest Post: Elizabeth Sellers' Dream Vintage Dresses

I buy vintage because it is affordable, ethical and unique. You can find some great quality vintage clothes in charity shops, jumble sales and car boot sales for cheap and reasonable prices. They are mostly rare or one-of-a-kind and it is better for the environment to reuse or recycle clothes.

If rummaging isn't you thing, or you just don't have the time, you can find lovely hand-picked vintage fashion online. As a girly girl I have a penchant for pretty dresses, and the vintage kind are often the most exciting. Here are a few of my current favourites:

This beautiful 1950's burnt caramel lace dress from Rokit is classy and cute. I love the unusual colour and think it would be flattering on most skin tones. At £90 it is slightly out my budget, but that is what a dream dress is all about, right?

This 1940's lilac crepe dress from DearGoldenVintage has stunning scallop detail and a gorgeous prim cut. Again, this dress is priced at the higher end of the budget at £86 but the condition is fantastic for a 70 year old dress and you could get several years of great wear from this.

Finally, this stunning 1960's cornflower blue mini dress from Little Bee Vintage is £42. It has gorgeous beading and sequin detail and made with fine knit. I could see myself wearing this little number all year round, swapping thick tights in the winter for bare legs and platforms in the summer.

This was a guest post by Elizabeth Sellers. We'd like to raid her wardrobe when she's not looking.

Tea Towel Tuesday: Anthropologie Parrots

While we might not be over the whole bird thing yet, it has at least moved on to something a bit more exotic. Forget robins. Now everyone wants parrots! I think I like parrots right now even more than I like flamingos. Although really, I want a bird that talks to me as he stands on one leg. Evolution just isn't going to give me that little gem, is it?

So I'll make do with normal parrots. Embroidered ones, in the case of this Anthropologie parrot tea towel. Which is an STAGGERING £20. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty, and I'm always willing to pay that bit more for embroidery, a lot of work goes into those designs. But seriously Anthropolgie, it's just a tea towel.

Admittedly a very very pretty one. I do like this parrot motif, it makes for bright colours in the kitchen and a sudden urge to do parrot impressions while the kettle is boiling.

Cushion Crush: Nikkimade

We do love a good cushion here at Domestic Sluttery. We also quite like biscuits. So what could be better than bringing these things together in a delightful union in the shape of these wonderful hand screen-printed biscuit cushions from Nikki Made's Folksy shop.

Can we tempt you with a Custard Cream cushion, £18?

Perhaps you prefer a Bourbon cushion, £22?

Or how about a Tunnocks Teacake cushion, £17, which would be a perfect treat to go with your Tunnocks Teacake tea towel!

So what do you think? Which biscuit will you be having with your cuppa?