So we made it! How many of you went barefoot on Friday 10 December? In the morning I appeared on the Expresso Show on SABC 3 talking about the campaign. Michael Mol interviewed me and we both went barefoot throughout the interview. Unfortunately, I was too terrified about being on live TV to get any pics of the moment. Major fail.

However to kind of make up for it, my fabulous friend, who is currently backpacking through Argentina, took the time to take pics of herself and her fellow traveller barefoot in the canyons of Cafayate. Pure class!

This was the first ever Barefoot Against Poverty campaign, so a massive thank you to everyone who made the effort and took a stand against poverty and spoke up for those struggling for their basic human rights.

I have now, officially removed my magnificent g-mo shoes and they rest in my cupboard. I kind of miss them today. They’ll certainly be out and about again soon. Thanks for all your support. Have a wonderful, safe and generous holiday season.

Love Emily x

Tomorrow is Human Rights Day. I’ve nearly made it to the end of this challenge, with a smile on my face and reputation intact. Happiness!

SA Idols winner Elvis Blue swopped places with a homeless person earlier this week. I’m sure that he got to experience something of what it’s like to be completely powerless in the face of desperation. Not fun.

Tomorrow I’m going to be on SABC 3′s Expresso Show, bright and early, to talk a bit about the Barefoot Against Poverty campaign and what this challenge has meant to me. Nervous much?

I’m having a meeting with my business partner and best mate Liza West. We’re at The Field Office in Barrack Street, Gardens. I love it here. Very relaxed space, with wi-fi and large tables to sit and work on and loads of fresh orange juice and coffee. Plus, they have this picture in the corner which I had to post on the blog.

We’re getting so close to Human Rights Day now, it’s just around the corner. Have you signed up to go barefoot?

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How exciting. Sir Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel and Jeff Skoll, former President of Ebay and founder of the Skoll Foudation, signed up to go barefoot on 10 December.

Branson said, “With three billion people living on less than $2.50 a day, it’s clear that they haven’t got the same rights that should apply to everyone. By becoming more aware of our universal rights, we can tackle some of our greatest challenges.”

Peter Gabriel said he was delighted to support the campaign. “It’s extraordinary and shameful that we allow millions of children to go without food in their bellies or shoes on their feet.” I’m so excited to be associated with something that’s supported by such legendary type folk.

Anyway, the countdown has certainly begun. We have only four days left until 10 December and I thought I’d commemorate this occasion with a cute French Connection dress, which I got for next to nothing at Oxfam charity shop in the UK.

Granted, I’m starting to tire of the shoes now. I’ve been thinking about those words of Nelson Mandela about walking a mile in someone elses shoes. When I’m done with these I doubt anyone would want to walk anywhere in them, but it’s certainly been a powerful, eye opening experience.

This weekend my husband was away in sunny KwaZulu Natal, but instead of feeling too sorry for myself I decided to pack in all the things I love. I watched French films, wandered around farmers markets, took my sister Alice and energetic, three-year-old neice, Lily-Belle, to Kalk Bay to see the fat, lazy seals (and try sneak in some vintage shop browsing, which did not go down well with neice.)

While wandering around Kalk Bay we were stopped so many times by people asking for money. Myself and Lily (who is currently in the “why” stage of life) had the same conversation over and over:

Lily: “Why that man asking for money?”

Me: “Because he’s hungry and he doesn’t have money for food.”

Lily: “Why?”

Me: “Erm, well… some people are poor and just don’t have money for nice things like you do”

Lily: “Why doesn’t he just ask his Daddy?”

Me: “Well, his Daddy probably doesn’t have any money either.”

Lily: “Why?”

… And so on. Often, I’ll admit, when stopped lots of times by beggers I feel annoyed. I’m not made of money, why does everyone assume I have money for them? But this time, with the campaign running, I found myself seeing things through different eye. “Compassion fatigue” is something we suffer from a lot, but as soon as we start ignoring the poor and not even acknowledging their presence at our car window or on the pavement next to us, then surely we’ve lost a fundamental part of our humanity.

Bit deep for a Monday morning. But sometimes, it takes seeing things through the eyes of a child for us to remember who we are.

 Attempting to visit favourite vintage shop

Unceremoniously dragged out of favourite vintage shop

Last night was definitely the toughest yet. I attended the ELLE Fresh Face Finalists event and wearing flat shoes that are, admittedly, starting to look a little rough around the edges was not what I had in mind.

I was wearing a gorgeous Marion & Lindie LBD that made me feel amazing, but then to slip on the shoes with it just made me so annoyed with the whole situation. In fact, truth be told, I had my heels in the boot of my car, just in case. I was representing last night and I didn’t want to look like a scruff bag.

However, the best things resulted. I received so much encouragement from industry people who were there and who had heard about the challenge. And, they assured me, I didn’t look too ridiculous. It was great to feel the support of others and it encouraged me to press on. Imagaine I’d caved and put on the heels!

With make up artist Sylvie Hurford & fashion blogger Robyn Cooke

We’ve finally reached December. It’s my favourite month of the year. I love the way the atmosphere changes in December. People slip into holiday mode and even though everything is still crazy busy, there’s a sense of anticipation in the air. Whether it’s just for a holiday, or if it’s a holiday and Christmas (for me it’s holiday, Christmas and birthday, whoop!) there’s something to look forward to.

Remembering the poor, donating to charity or taking some time out to help those in need is becoming more a part of this time of year than ever before. There’s something so real and haunting about poverty when Christmas is around the corner. That’s why it’s so great that Human Right’s Day is in December, it’s hard to forget and it’s not possible to ignore it.

It feels a bit contradictory to talk about my outfit which I wore with the shoes, when just the paragraph before I’m talking about poverty. The two don’t gel. But here is the picture as proof. Nine days to go…

I spoke to my Mum yesterday on skype. She’s in the South of England where I grew up. She was very impressed with the Barefoot Against Poverty cause and while I was chatting with all my family they said they’d love to support, but seeing as there’s about 4 foot of snow outside it might be dangerous to their health, and their toes. They are,  however, with us in spirit.

My dear friend Julia is in Argentina, she’s backpacking around the world, but mailed yesterday to say she checks this blog every day to see how the challenge is progressing and is going to get whoever she can to go barefoot at noon on 10 December. Even, she says, if she’s clambering over thousand-year-old ruins. We shall see.

After reading the article on maternal mortality in countries like Peru, which is where Julia has just been, I think that her standing up for the cause would be fantastic. So Julia, and anyone else with friends spread across the planet, take a pic of you barefoot on 10 December and send them through. We’ll post them up. So exciting to be a part of an international movement of change.

I, meanwhile, am plodding along in my magnificent g-mo shoes. Which are taking the challenge in their stride…

I do constantly remind myself that I’m doing this for a fantastic cause, but yesterday when I was getting ready for an important meeting at Brandhouse I did feel a little resentful. I felt like I should look smart and confident and for me, that always translates to heels.

My best friend and business partner Liza, in solidarity, also wore flat shoes and we ended up fitting right in because luckily, Brandhouse’s style is a trendy but relavity relaxed. Liza reminded me that if I really did only have one pair of shoes I’d have to wear them no matter whether I was going to a job interview or a barn dance. Point taken.

So far I’ve had some really great reactions around this challenge. People seem surprised that fashion has a heart, which could cause offence… but I choose to take it in a positive light! This time of year people often find themselves thinking about those less fortunate more than usual, it’s kind of natural when faced with so much commercialised spending and excess. I just hope that this December instead of panicking about Christmas presents or fitting into last season’s bikini, we all remember to go barefoot on 10 December. Not much to ask really, considering.

Liza took a picture of me at home after the meeting. I’d slipped into something a little more comfortable by then. Not exactly the peak of fashion but nice to slouch in front of my laptop. Which is what I spend a lot of time doing.

This weekend was pretty quiet. Lots of garden and house stuff to do. Sounds boring, but I love weekends like that. Felt very proud of my handiwork. The shoes went with me to Stodels, hardware shops, out for dinner on Friday night and to Cavendish to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I had plenty of time to think about this challenge. I felt frustrated that I couldn’t just throw something on to go to the hardware store. It was the first time I felt annoyed by the shoes. I went back and read up about what it was all about and felt reassured. I’m just hoping people are going to get on board on the 10 December. Have you told your mates yet?