Easter Florals

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Our main store on Argyll St in central London.

Dress can be purchase online here

We do a different scheme for other stores

Dresses can be bought here & here

I know I've already told you about my first window scheme in my last blog (here), but here is my official first window scheme for the whole company - eekk!! I've been too excited and ridiculously nervous about this but its launched and I think it looks so striking, you definitely cannot miss our stores now. It's crazy the amount of planning we have to do for something that will only stay in for a couple of weeks, that be the world of retail for ya.

If only the sun would pock its head out of the clouds and put us all out of our dismal misery so we can actual wear lots of pretty floral dresses and run about in meadows and wear daisies in our hair......only joking, I just want to shed my winter accessories and go summer wardrobe shopping, hmph!

Hope you like my window designs!

x

My First Window!

Eek! Here it is, my very first window scheme! I worked on this all on my own, well apart from the help of the marketing girls finding our brilliant artist winner (Amy Rodchester - check out her work, she's pretty damn cool) and the fabulous creative agency we use. I'm more than ecstatic with the result.

It's been really exciting to see a window concept go from initial ideas, drawings then bam, the real thing and I was too excited not to share with you.

We opened our brand spanking new store today up in Leeds at the new Trinity centre, I'm shattered now but all the hard work was definitely worth it.

Right, I'm off to pack for an 80's themed hen weekend...and I thought we all hated the 80's fashion...

Have a fab weekend too! x

New Kid On the Block

Stop Press!

A new high street fashion store has landed in London (well last week, I'm slightly late with this blog).

Yep the creative genius's that have been bringing you H&M for the past however many years have upped their game tremendously with their new venture business '& Other Stories'.

Can you believe the excitement I felt when I knew there would be a whole two floors of undiscovered high street fashion - I was near palpitation... well more so because our store next door needed to look damn hot - queue a stressful day or two making the windows looking amazing ( I think I nailed it..)

Unfortunately I missed the grand opening on Friday, but I think that meant I managed to have a good look about and scope out this new brand without there being elbows in my face and boring long queue's. It was a much more pleasant experience, I even made a purchase, gasp!

 Now this new brand have definitely got my attention, not only are their windows extremely cool (sorry that will be the visual merchandiser in me) their product is pretty much hitting the mark in every way, you have great cuts, unique designs, lovely fabrics, I'm sorry I am a fabric snob, no polyester this way thanks, unless vintage, this is the only exception. The prices are also quite dreamy, not saying it's dirt cheap but I think they can be classed as quite reasonable, obviously depending on what you are purchasing - shoes for example will always remain a bit pricey.

Which brings me nicely on to my next point - they have everything you need to make an outfit from head to toe from cosmetics in every shade, beauty products, to jewellery, shoes, stylish lingerie, handbags to lust after as well as the all important must have key staple pieces for your wardrobe. Let's say it could be a one stop shop for your super cool, laid back fashionista who wants crisp, clean fashion without the designer price tag.

Are you sold yet? If not here are a few of my FAVE pieces (this took a while to whittle down) to help sway you in favour.

Print Dress £45

Tank Top £39

Zip Shirt £45

Raglan Sleeve Dress £45

Asymmetric Silk Dress £65

Cotton Sweater £39

Culottes £55

Wide Trousers £45

Sleeveless Blazer £79

Mesh Bra £25

Mesh Briefs £12

Rhinestone Necklace £29

Leather Clutch £55

Leather Shoulder Bag £95

Block Heel Sandals £65

Satin Sandals £45

Abigail Lorick Oxfords £79

& Other Stores, H&M & Monki... I think Stockholm maybe gearing up to take the crown for the new capital of fashion - those Swedish lasses surely know how to dress and dictate a trend or two!

Make sure you take a look at their website here too - even that is cool...gushing over I promise, now go shop and be merry!

Thanks for reading my blog x

Jump Around!

The jumpsuit. Or the Playsuit.

The high street bring these out pretty much every season now, but more so for those (supposed) summer months. They're even a category all of their own on most fashion websites - they have outfit status!

I for one cannot get enough of jumpsuits/playsuits. I think on the last count I have about 6/7 and I have my eye on a good few more for this season. They're almost better than a dress. Outfit in one, marvellous!

With so much variety out there it's hard not to get seduced. Perfect for any occasion - dates, lunch with the girls, weddings even, work, clubbing, dancing the night away, festivals or for strolling along the beach to simply hanging out in.

Admittedly there is a downside, the time it takes to take the damn thing off for those important natural necessities (the loo!). A nightmare if you're wearing at a festival, you know where I'm going with this...but I can't stop my love affair for this wardrobe staple. There's just too many of them to ignore.

Now the dungaree style is creeping into the stores, I'm struggling to contain my excitement as surely this just expands the selection on offer, because, let's face it, it practically functions the same as a playsuit/jumpsuit.

Queue extended wish list (I'm sure this grows by the day.....)

I have seen some fab little denim and tailored dungaree's on the rails at work (queue major excitement and distraction) which are due in stores imminently. I tell you its dangerous working around clothes, far too much temptation. But as I can't share these with you now (boo), here are my fave picks out there this very instance to spend our lovely hard earn dosh on....which one floats your boat?

 Ideal to wear right now....

Leather! Whistles

Lush - Vivienne Westwood

 

Comfort - Sparkle & Fade for Urban Outfitters

Fantastical Florals - Net a Porter

Perfect for cocktails - Warehouse

Get those legs in to shape and tanned for these mini playsuits, bring on summer please!

Monki - true casual style

Beach perfect - Spell Designs for The Pretty Junk

Super glam - Topshop

Let's not forget the animal print - Topshop

Burberry AW13

 

Burberry has by now established themselves as one of the leading British design houses of the 21st century. Those god awful photos of Daniella Westbrook who quite frankly, words fail me on how to describe her, seem like such a distant memory. Surely much to the joy of those who work their socks off developing new material fabrications, designing exquisite bags, trench coats and promoting the brand.

Now a pioneer of new technology they are a brand at the forefront of London Fashion week, and they didn't disappoint by live streaming their AW13 collection too, and, don't tell the boss, but I managed to have a sneak view yesterday afternoon whilst pretending I was beavering away!

Christopher Bailey has trumped again, always one of my fave designers to look out for at LFW, I was left salivating over the feminine cuts with a tough edge. He gets the balance just right. 

For AW13 skirts are longer with a nod to the 40's, which, to avoid looking down right dreary, he vamps them up in updated animal prints, metallic colours, sheer latex, feathered leather effect (to die for!) and bold stripes. Styled with either cute heart printed shirts or comfy chunky sweaters. Burberry has been seriously sexed up.
But as always the main focus is that must have staple in your wardrobe - the trench!

No woman should be without one and again he has delivered an exciting collection of beautiful pieces of outerwear. Some designs are not for the faint hearted and you will need a whole dose of attitude and confidence to wear some of these down the street, but my guess is that people would only look at you with pure envy.

Not only has Burberry been revamped and shaken up the fashion world but I love how Bailey has entrenched the brand in 'Britishness'. We're talking double, no treble A lister's, with the likes of Kate Moss, Agnes Deyne, Emma Watson and now the delectable Cara Delevingne, not to mention the adorable Romeo Beckham, fronting their advertising campaigns.
Embracing new faces of fashion and pioneering emerging music talent (Jake Bugg performed in their regent street flagship store - yes my obsession continues! has made this brand more of an enigma and something to be savoured and truly admired.

In summary, bravo Mr Bailey another triumphant show, I shall look forward to seeing what you install on us for SS14.....


What have been your LFW highlights so far?

xx

Double Denim....

...The good...

These ladies lead the way for wearing top to toe denim

...and the bad!

Madonna can you believe!

 

Let's say, thank heavens fashion has moved, no accelerated, forward since these photos!     

'Double Denim', is not only a common alliteration in the English language but a phrase that may conger up mixed feelings, mostly that of dread, possibly even panic, at family photos being resurrected, images gatecrashing your mind that you thought were safely tucked away. Damn the 80's denim obsession, worn big, baggy and in force, hence double denim, or triple for those even crazier kids!

Well, guess what folks, its making another appearance on the high street this summer, its back and bigger than before. Be warned!

But..does this mean we have to break into a sweat at the thought of more fashion disasters we're are to encompass on our ways to work, whilst we're lunching with friends or drinking the night away?

Not really, if you play it safe. 

I think fashion loves to drag up the past but it seems to have learnt from previous mistakes and tried in vain to put them right. Which is why maybe we should embrace the denim clashing revival, again!

Now before you think I'm crazy, let's think at how far the lovely material has come since it was first brought to the fashion front back in the 50's. We have so many fits, shapes, colours, washes, finishes, characteristics, it confuses the hell out of you when you simply want to purchase a pair of jeans. But we love the choice.

So if wearing two pieces this season, it's not like you have to endure the standard 'denim' shirt with a 'standard' pair of jeans. Mix it up, wear coloured shorts with embroidered denim jackets, or acid washed shirts with coated denim jeans, at a quick glimpse people won't even register you are rocking this trend, you can evade the 'double denim' tag if this so offends you.

Let's face it, it's something that all designers & celebs alike have dabbled in over the years, but now we seem to have perfected how to wear with sassiness and style.....but there will always be exceptions....to help avoid here are my top Dashing Denim Delights...

 

Hat, Boots & Skirt - Topshop, Shirt - Warehouse

 

 

Straw Hat, Denim longer line jacket - Urban Outfitters, Shoes - Hudson

xx