I’m behind with everything – with life and work, with blogging, with reading, with sleep, even with reacting to people’s comments, for which I sincerely apologise. The universe seems to be against me as well, with the trains not showing up, planes missed and delayed, phone battery dying on me every time I REALLY need call someone and a cold bothering me for two months straight.

I hope to have some time to breathe in the beginning of March, before I start my (temporary) new job with the Estonian EU Presidency.* There are several fashion posts for the blog I’m aching to do, but that have simply not been feasible with my current schedule. Also in the pipeline: my second post on The Ordinary (including lots of new stuff), a Korean skincare update and the long-promised young adult book round-up. Ah, and some perfume. If you’re interested in any of those, please bear with me, we’ll get there soon.

Today is Estonia’s Independence Day and I have a reception to go to in the evening, so I’m writing this in full evening makeup in a cafe (and now in a taxi, on the way to the event). But I wanted to check in with you and say hi and show off the shoes I’m going to wear tonight – these red velvet Pradas that I’ve just spent a considerable amount of money on.

Those of you who – like me – have a weakness for the classic pointy heels, know that they float in and out of fashion and in recent seasons, they’ve been out. I wear them anyway, especially at work, as it’s a struggle for me to find other shapes that would be as versatile and flattering as a pair of sleek pumps. I’m therefore always happy when fashion swings my way and my default mode suddenly also looks Zeitgeist-y.

It remains to be seen if stilettos are making a full-blown come-back, although the Vetements and Manolo Blahnik collaboration is a promising sign. Whatever the case might be, there is an easy way to make the good old shape to look fresher and that’s going for velvet or satin instead of the traditional leather or suede. Picking an unusual colour also helps and makes you look less like Kate Middleton (unless you want to look like her, in which case feel free to go nude).

The deep red velvet ticks both the texture and colour boxes, but there’s also something else. I think this combination just looks gorgeous and will keep looking gorgeous, no matter the season. There is nothing that a pair of red velvet shoes wouldn’t improve and that’s why I need them so badly now. Even failing at life feels better with my feet in these.

*This is partly why I’m in a constant rush these days, handing over things in one place and preparing for the other. And I suck at personal paper work.