Dr Martens in Bristol

A few weeks ago, I was invited to an event on a weekday evening in Bristol. That alone was exciting enough (and not just because I wasn’t at work that week, so had lots of time to drink tea and read. AWESOME.)

Dr Martens is a brand that I have always felt like I wasn’t quite cool enough for. Back in the 90’s, I moved primary schools in year 3, and found myself in a different world, fashion wise. At my first school, we could wear what we wanted, but at the new one, there was a set uniform, so the main way people were judged on fashion was their shoes (I know.) In Year 4, the shoes to have were a specific type of DM’s, but my parents couldn’t buy them for me, so I stuck out (even more than a new person does in a school where everyone has known each other since birth)

Back to the present day. I’ve been eyeing up the new DM ranges that have appeared in the last few years especially, but never could quite bring myself to make the purchase, since I assumed that they were all lace up brogue types (and I’m just not that sort of girl most of the time). When I was sent the invite to the new DM store opening, I hoped there would be a style more suited to me…

The new store is located in Broadmead just a few doors down opposite the main entrance of Cabot Circus. (For those who know the area, it’s between HMV and Lloyds TSB.) Having been in since the event, it’s a good sized store with a neat layout, but with some interesting decorations (like the jukebox at the back of the store that I fell in love with. Impractical? Yes. Awesome? Definately.)

The event itself hosted two bands at the back of the store – first up were the Fauns who were more my style of music but the second band, The Idles, were a lot more energetic! I couldn’t help tweeting the larger image in the picture below – anyone who’s ever been to a gig in Bristol will know that if it’s a good band, Big Jeff will be there, bopping along with his mass of blonde hair. I tweeted the picture and had so many replies from Bristol people agreeing with the good music barometer of his hair!

With a pretty awesome discount available on the night, I ended up buying not one, but two pairs of shoes! Not all for me, I might add, but I thought I should pick something up for my little sister because I knew she would be pretty stroppy if I didn’t!

The boots I picked up for Steph were the Triumph 1914W boots which can be laced up in lots of different ways for different looks. A little bit too much for me, which is why I went for the Marie style, a basic looking ballet pump style, but one that I know I can wear all the time. I’ve been wearing them for a few weeks now, and although they were a little uncomfortable at first (when brand new), they’re already seriously comfortable. (Bonus – because of the way they’re made, it’s meant my feet have stayed reasonably dry in this horrendus weather we’ve been having lately!)

Finally, because it was stuck in my head for at least a week afterwards (and because who doesn’t love the Young Ones?), here’s a song from an episode of the Young Ones about Dr Martens boots.