If you’re looking for something stylish and comfortable to wear on Christmas Day this year, or want to spoil your other half with a good long lasting pair of shoes then here are a couple of Hotter’s newest additions, perfect for the festive period.

For the man in your life the new “Thor” shoe is a very versatile style. A great sporty appearance which is also smart enough for a trip to the pub or date night these shoes are superb. They also benefit from being Gortex so you don’t need to worry about puddles or heavy rain, plus you could use them if you’re taking the children for a walk in the park or woods and find yourself a but muddy!! My husband has a pair of these and he uses them on “Casual Fridays” to go to work. He has to walk to our local train station which is about a mile then about three miles to his office when he gets off the train. Whilst he has said that the soles are a little harder then he is used to – typically he wears trainers to walk to work – he was impressed that they withstood all weathers and as a daily commuter this was very important. “Thor” shoes are available in Mahogany (shown here) or Mushroom and are priced at £95.
For the girls, if you’re looking for a nice comfortable heel to wear on Christmas Day whilst you’re dashing about after the children and cooking up a feast in the kitchen then the “Amethyst” might just be your perfect shoe. A stylish court shoe with a quirky off-set strap this comes in Brown (shown here), Ocean or Taupe. Its ideal for wearing with skirts or dresses for something formal, but would also work fine with a pair of jeans for a day out with the girls or a trip to the shops. This shoes features a new sole with additional padding around the heel and ball of your foot making it even more comfortable to wear for a long time. The shoe also fastens with a simple velcro patch which makes them quick to get on and off whilst also looking smart. I am a huge fan of Hotter shoes as you’ll know from previous posts, but these are without doubt my favourite pair. They are so comfortable, and for someone who lives in flats this is quite a feat. I will definitely be wearing these on Christmas Day and no doubt for a long time to come.

You can find these latest styles from Hotter and many more in store or online now.

We’re just a few weeks away from celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and you won’t have failed to notice the huge array of merchandise – both official and otherwise – that has been springing up in every shop you go in. There are products to help your party go with a swing interspersed with what can only be described as “novelty” items, as well as the companies cashing in.

If you’re looking for commemorative items that you can use beyond the extended weekend in early June, look no further than this little selection here:

Leanne Shoes (Jubilee Edition) from Hotter
The popular Leanne shoe from Hotter has been given a 2012 twist with the help of red, white and blue laces and decorative insoles. These shoes come with all the comfort you’d expect from Hotter but with a subtle hint of patriotism, and a pair of plain white laces to use as well. The Leanne shoes are limited edition with just 1,200 pairs being sold via the Hotter website and each pair comes in a Union  Jack shoe box with a certificate of authenticity. Once the Jubilee ends these shoes won’t look out of place at Olympic Events and any future sporting occasion, such as Wimbledon or the next Test Match.

Offer: For 10% off your first Hotter order PLUS free delivery enter code PFAUBS at the check-out before July 1st. Cannot be used with any other offer.

Charlotte Beach Bag (Union Jack Edition) from Old Bag Company
The Charlotte Beach Bag was the first bag designed by Sally, founder of the Old Bag Company. Its been given a Union Jack make-over for this year only to commemorate the Jubilee. The bag has plenty of pockets both inside and out, is waterproof and can be put in the washing machine. The ideal bag if you’re planning on celebrating on the beach – weather permitting – but also a great bag for use this summer on holiday and for years to come.
Head over to the Old Bag Company website to check out this, and their other Union Jack products.

London Set from Carddies
The super cute and portable colouring kits make a return with a new design perfect for the Jubilee. “London” features the iconic skyline with the Thames and London Eye, and the characters include the Queen and a corgi, as well as a Policeman and Beefeater. This will be ideal for entertaining little ones on the journey if you’re taking them into London this summer, or if you want a bit of peace whilst you watch the celebrations.
Sets can be bought from the Carddies Amazon store here.

Great British Bear Kit from Gift Horse Kits

This adorable red bear is available in kit form from Gift Horse Kits and has been specially created for this year. The beautifully presented kit includes everything you need to craft this little bear for a loved one or for yourself – needles, wool, stuffing, fabric for details, and the Union Jack flag – as well as very simple and well written instructions, complete with pictures. This little bear is made with a simple knit and purl stitches so is perfect for even the novice knitter. The Great British Bear is available now for £16 with free postage from Gift Horse Kits.

So…? Brit Perfume from So…?

So…? Brit is a fusion of British flowers and fruits – Peony, Rose, Vanilla and Iris – that will leave you smelling patriotic as you party this Jubilee year. The packaging also features a feminine and quirky take on the Union Jack. This perfume will see you through the Jubilee celebrations and beyond with its beautiful summery floral scent. The So…? Brit collection is available now direct from the So…? website.

Lion King T-Shirt from Fabric Flavours
Okay so this is a little tenuous, but I couldn’t resist including this great new design t-shirt from Fabric Flavours. Featuring Simba from the hugely popular Lion King movie with the slogan “Future King” makes this t-shirt a potential for Jubilee celebrations. “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” is also written inside the collar for an added detail. So no, its not exactly Jubilee related, but its pretty darn cute!
You’ll find this t-shirt over on the Fabric Flavours website.

Union Jack Tshirt from K9 Pet Products

Who said the celebrations had to be limited to humans? Beautifully modelled by my parents dog Monty, this t shirt features a sparkly Union Jack which means your pet can party on with everyone else. The same design is also available as a hoodie and an ID tag. It fits brilliantly, and won’t look out of place at any point this summer. Check out the full range here, all of which has 15% off until the end of May.

On an average day, how many hours do you spend on your feet? Do you spend the day doing school runs, house work or running after a toddler with boundless energy? Do you do all three? I have a 16 month old who is always on the go plus I seem to go up and down the stairs a dozen times a day with washing, nappy changes and the odd bit of house work. When it comes to my footwear comfort is paramount. Long gone are the days of wearing anything remotely heeled – though to be fair those days were few and far between anyway. Nowadays you’re more likely to find me in a pair of well worn trainers then anything else. I want comfortable shoes that are going to last, but I also want them to be pretty – I am a girl after all – so I was thrilled to discover the Cleo Shoes from Hotter.

These are billed on the Hotter website as “Mary-Jane styling meets contemporary sports shoe” so sounded ideal for me. The shoes are lightweight and adjustable using the strap across the top. They come with a good solid sole and have a soft comfortable fit. When the packing talked about it feeling like you were walking on a million air bubbles I was a little sceptical and thought the design team had gone a little overboard with their description. I was delighted to be proven wrong. These are, without a doubt, the comfiest shoes I have ever owned, and my husband and mum will attest for my long term shoe addiction.

The Cleo shoe is available in three colour schemes, and the Violet, Beige and Aqua I received is new for Spring 2012.

You can find out more about the glorious Hotter range now at their website.