Tag Archives: Clothes

Spring/Summer Fashion Picks

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MyaBlueBeach is designed by Lindsey Brown and each piece is hand cut and individually hand finished. I checked out the range and not only are the designs great, but the cut and fabric is top class. Perfect beach wear which gives great shape, rather than a baggy tent shape. In sizes 8-20. We particularity like:

JEMMA_Turquoise-Cotton-Beach_Dress_BeachKaftan_large

EMMA – Turquoise & Pink Cotton Fitted Tunic with Short Sleeves £80.00
beachwear
AMORE – Designer White Kaftan beach kaftans with Gold Sequins £95.00

From http://www.myabluebeach.com/

We love this Labradorite necklace from Clea Silk Jewellery . Very summery. From http://www.cleasilk.com/jewellery.html

clea silk jewellery

The Cambridge Raincoat Company

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean it won’t rain. Especially if you live in Britain. We love these gorgeous coats from The Cambridge Coat Company: http://www.cambridgeraincoats.co.uk/

raincoat

Also worth checking out is Vida Moda, a great site for plus size fashion, they are an online boutique that showcases fashions from European designers. They have lots of beautiful clothes on the site, proving that you can buy beautiful clothes in bigger sizes. http://vidamoda.co.uk/

Zara Taylor Jewellery have this beautiful deer ring. A kooky and unique addition to any jewellery collection that always gets people talking. http://zarataylor.co.uk/

Zara Taylor jewellery deer ring

 

Amoir Camaira have beautiful and flattering swimwear. We love the colours and designs. http://www.amoircamaira.co.uk/

Amoir Camaira Amoir CamairaEsmaya_Pink_Swimsuit_lc_sm Amoir CamairaAnd these amazing pieces from Topshop.com

topshop dress

Bardot Floral Prom Dress £70.00

skater dress

Two Tone Bonded Skater Dress £75.00

pink platforms, pink, pastel

SHELLY Pink Cutout Platform £60.00

What do you think? What’s your favourite piece?

Women Have £404 Worth of Clothing Gathering Dust in their Wardrobes

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  • Over 10 billion pounds worth of clothes languishing in British women’s wardrobes
  • 80% of women have fashion items they haven’t worn in the past year
  • 35% of women forget clothes in their wardrobes
  • 32% of women have stopped wearing clothes as often because they have put on weight

 

summer clothesBased on recent research, there could be up to 10 billion pounds worth of clothes lying unloved and unworn in British women’s wardrobes, left over from shopping sprees and Saturday afternoons on Britain’s high streets. A survey* released today by luxury resale clothing site VestiaireCollective.com has found that the average British woman has over £1900 worth of clothes, handbags and accessories in her wardrobe.

The survey, commissioned by YouGov, also found that 80% of women have items lurking that haven’t been worn for over a year. With the average woman having not worn 21% of the fashion items they own in the last year, VestiaireCollective.com estimates that this could mean that £10.1 billion pounds worth of fashion lying paid for but unworn in women’s wardrobes.

The survey of over 1000 women found that over one in three women (35%) had actually just forgotten about the clothes in their wardrobe, suggesting that there are some women with a few too many items nestling in the darkest recesses of their closet. Thirty two per cent of women had also stopped wearing their clothes as often because they had put on weight since buying them, with their growing waistlines accounting for smaller sizes being left to hang. Surprisingly, 26% of women stated that they don’t wear certain items more often because they are the wrong size or fit for them.

The average value of a woman’s wardrobe was £1909, the value of the contents rising with age; 18-24 year olds typically having wardrobes worth £1495, and the 55 and overs with £2,232 worth of items.

Fanny Moizant, UK Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vestiaire Collective believe that women should clear and recycle their clothing. She says: “It is sad to see so many once loved items lying unworn in women’s wardrobes. Clean and well-kept branded items will sell in a few days and will give the seller extra money to spend on something that won’t be forgotten or will actually fit. Vestiaire Collective has made it easy for pre-loved fashion to be given a new life and sold on, which can net sellers a sizeable profit in the cash-strapped few months of the New Year.”

Fanny continues:

“And the good news for British women is that this year many of our global shoppers have asked for more British high street, heritage and luxury brands to be sold on the site. With the average clothing item starting from £40 on the site, we’re encouraging everyone to de-clutter and make space in their wardrobes this year.”

 

* *Calculation by Vestiaire Collective: £1909.92 (average worth of wardrobe) x 21.17% (average amount of clothes not worn in the last year) = £404.43 (value of unworn clothes) x 25,074,877 (women in Great Britain) = £10,138,526,622

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,046 adults (1,053 female adults). Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 16th December 2013.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Keep Off The Cold With A Cardigan

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Just about every famous modern day UK woman has been photographed wearing a cardigan. They are quintessential components of every female life.

We throw them on and off all day and all year long. We shrug one on to go out and fetch the milk from the doorstep in the morning. We reach for the cardie on the back of our chair when we are working, if the room suddenly feels a little cold. We grab one on the way out to watch the kids enjoying their football practice. We decide to pop one on top of the picnic basket “just in case.” We wear the lovely cashmere ones to formal occasions and hang onto the shabby, baggy ones to do the hoovering and housework.
cardigan
Lots of us drape one over our shoulders in bed while we’re reading a book or watching a favourite show on our laptop. They are the nearest thing in clothing terms to a girl’s best
friend – and we would all be lost without them.

In years gone by, the cardigan had a bad reputation. It was associated with a downtrodden and world weary look. It represented an attitude of “couldn’t care less” about what you wore and how you presented yourself to the world. But with modern manufacturing processes, the wealth of superb materials to work with, and all the top designers, including David Emmanuel, weaving their magic over the garments, cardigans are no longer the poor cousins of the wardrobe.

Just as well really because cardigans are lifesavers. It is hard to imagine surviving in
the British Isles without a good selection of them. They slip on and off so easily, unlike
jumpers, and this is what really makes them stand out from the crowd. The majority of women would much prefer the choice of a cardigan over a jumper for the pure and simple reason that it is uninhibiting. If you are too hot, you take it off; if you are too cold, you put it back on. It’s as simple as that. Jumpers are a great deal more hassle, as they involve all that pulling on and off over the head, and there is no guarantee that this process won’t mess up your hair, leave you feeling flushed and maybe even a bit ridiculous, in the effort required to wriggle out of it.

Why put yourself through such an ordeal when a cardigan will save you from all that stress? There has never been a better time to buy from the extraordinary range of styles, colours and shapes that are now widely available. It is certainly not a case of one size fits all. Cardigans can be long or short, sculptured or straight, patterned or plain, hugging or loose, chunky or tight. You need never worry about looking frumpy if you choose wisely and opt for a well-made garment that fits you nicely and keeps you cosy into the bargain.

For some cardigan inspiration, and some retail therapy at the same time, why not take a look at the Bonmarche range of knitwear? This is a company which knows what women want and that, in a word, is a cardie. It can be comfy, it can be casual, it can be smart, it can be sophisticated, but we all know we need them.

From Virginia Woolf to the Royal family, every woman worth her salt has posed in a cardigan, secure in the knowledge that she is an icon of British womanhood. And if
it’s good enough for the Queen and top celebrities, it surely is good enough for the
rest of us? Wear your cardie with pride. We are the women of Britain and we love our
cardigans.

How To Dress For Your Body Shape

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The gorgeous and entrepreneurial Amy Childs has launched a Shape-Wear Finder – helping all girls find a dress suitable for their figure. Whether you’re Apple or Pear, Busty or Boyish.

A nipped waist can slim belly bulges, an A-line skirt can lengthen legs – there is so much fashion advice out there so Amy Childs is here offering her exclusive tips for finding that perfect dress for every figure.

PEAR?

Lacking a fuller chest? Seeking to minimise your lower body?

DO’S – Add volume to your upper body with detail.

Amy picks Lisa as the perfect number for a pear figure which, with its’ embellished chest/waist detail, creates curves whilst the skater skirt slims down the hips.

DON’T – Patterns at the bottom

howtodressforappleshape

APPLE?

Lacking a defined waist? But boast a womanly chest and derriere?

DO’S – Wear dainty shoes/heals to elongate your legs

Apple figures shouldn’t be constantly covered. Amy’s choice of ELOISE is ideal with a nipped-in waist detail and a panel of colour to help create that ever-desired slimmer frame illusion.

DON’T – Items of all one colour and halter necks

appledressshape

HOUR GLASS?

Chest and hips equal? An enviable waist?

DO’S – Semi-Fitted blouses, waist belts to help widen your waist.

Too much detail or pattern on an hourglass figure, can lose the shape completely. One of Amy’s favourite dresses is Samantha, as its’ beautiful lace detail is the focus of the dress, whilst the black skirt is sexy and slimming.

DON’T – Oversized, boxy clothing and turtle necks.

hourglassshape

What Brits Will Be Wearing On Christmas Day

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bank fashionStudy by Marks & Spencer’s Shwopping initiative reveals exactly what Brits will be wearing on Christmas Day

Almost half of the nation (45%) will spend Christmas Day embracing their inner elf by donning novelty festive fashion items of clothing

One in four (26%) of the nation will be wearing a Santa suit to watch the Queen’s Speech

However, these one wear wonder items are often seen as for Christmas and not for life with over half (51%) banishing them to the back of wardrobes and one in eight (15%) throwing them in the bin come Boxing Day

M&S and Oxfam are encouraging the nation to shwop their novelty clothing after Christmas Day

Three in five (60%) Brits will choose to opt for comfort over style this Christmas with most of us dressing down for the big day.

New stats revealed today show that the nation is divided when it comes to our Christmas Day dress code with comfort and fun key to most people’s festive togs of choice.

A massive 60% of us choose to dress down on the big day with one in four (28%) admitting to staying snug in pyjamas for the duration. However, we do make sure that we get into the Christmas spirit whatever we’re wearing with nearly half the nation (45%) donning an array of novelty gear to help celebrate.

The ever-popular Christmas jumpers pip Santa to the top of the tree when it comes to festive fashion but there are some surprises – with 26% of us adopting the key role of Father Christmas by sporting his famous red suit.

The five most popular novelty outfits are:

•Christmas jumpers 27%
•Santa suit 26%
•Reindeer antlers 24%
•Tinsel ticklers 13%
•Reindeer leggings 6%

Novelty or not, it’s no surprise that the comfort seekers amongst us have a main requirement when choosing their dressed down garb – one in ten (11%) state that an expandable waistband is part of their key criteria when looking for their Christmas Day lounge wear.

However, as the Shwopping by M&S survey also reveals, over half of us (51%) condone these ‘one-wear wonders’ to the back of wardrobe come Boxing Day and one in eight (15%) chuck them straight in the bin. M&S and Oxfam are calling the nation to think twice about doing so and shwop their festive clobber instead.

Joanna Lumley, Marks & Spencer’s Shwopping and Plan A ambassador, said:
“We can ensure even the most novelty of Christmas outfits is given a new life this Boxing Day, by Shwopping, not binning, festive fashion items giving a better Christmas for those who really need it and spreading the loving spirit of Christmas even wider. Your unwanted jumper can do so much good for those in need, so don’t just furtively chuck it away with the wrapping paper and cracker novelties: shwop it, and bring joy to a complete stranger.”

There are some of us that still love to dress to impress on December 25th too. One in three (30%) of us make a real effort by pulling out all the stops and dressing up for Christmas. And it’s Mums who steal the Christmas catwalk crown – 33% of us deemed our mums the most festive fashion proud, leaving dads & aunties languishing at the bottom of the league:

Most Fashionable Festive Family members:

• Mum33%
• Daughter14%
• Grandmother7%
• Dad 3%
• Auntie3%

This December, M&S and Oxfam’s Shwopping initiative is calling on the nation – as it is the season of giving – to ensure no clothing ends up in landfill by shwopping and not binning these unloved items of festive clothing in stores nationwide. It has been revealed that during the Queen’s eight and a half minute speech alone, nearly 16,000 items of clothing will be sent to landfill.

Since its launch in April, Oxfam has received over 6 million items of clothing thanks to Shwopping, worth over £4 million for the charity. All money raised by Shwopping is used to support Oxfam’s projects around the world working to alleviate poverty.

For more information on Marks & Spencer and Oxfam’s Shwopping initiative visit www.marksandspencer.com

Christmas Gift Guide For The Fashion Junkie

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Here are some top presents for the fashion junkie in your life.

 

We love these ASOS.com Knicker Shorts in Jewel Sequins: £45.00
asos christmas

Nothing adds style like a good coat. Who even cares what you are wearing underneath. Karen Millen Tweed Coat: £275 from Selfridges

Karen Millen tweed coat

This beautiful Mint Velvet Cable Knit Jumper from John Lewis is perfect for Christmas and beyond. £59

000973230

The matchesfashion.com sale continues! Shop part two now with up to 50% off the best international designers including Chloé, Givenchy, Valentino, Stella McCartney and Dolce & Gabbana. We love this Peter Pilotto dress was £756 Now £529 Save 30%
Peter Pilotto Eva panelled-print dress

fashion fashion

French Connection have 50% off. We love this Belle Boucle Wool Coat £140.

 

Belle-Boucle-Wool-Coat

House of Fraser has up to 40% off including 15% off Beauty. We love these Jane Norman Metallic Contrast Heel Sandals. £35

Jane Norman Metalic contrast heel sandals

Great wool gilet by Josh & Nicol

great wool gilet by Josh & Nicol

Shibumi for dressing down and relaxing, we love this decadent cashmere dressing gown. What a perfect way to spend Christmas day. Available in five colourways – Wedgewood, Imperial Red, Eau de Nil, Crimson Red and Verdigris, the dressing gown is £225 and comes in small, medium and large. Gowns are normally £225 but are currently on a special Christmas price of £180.

fashion

Designer and owner Ruth Guise says “I want to provide women with pieces that look and feel fantastic – and last beyond a trend. ” Born into a family of creatives and tailors. Her grandmother was a couture dressmaker, and Ruth spent her childhood watching and learning how to create a chic dress from a simple piece of fabric.

A fully bespoke service is also available.

Shibumi is available online at www.shibumistyle.com and at shows and events across the UK.

 

Firetrap shredded Shoulder Biker Jacket (£119) www.firetrap.com
shreddedjacket
Scandale Sirene The Dress (£60) Amazon.com
scandale dress
Dior houndstooth skirt (£99) www.enamoda.com

e&adior

 

What do you think?

Slim With Big Breasts? Frost Has The Answer To Your Fashion Dilemma

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I have a fashion dilemma: I can either buy dresses in my size which squash my breasts, or buy a larger dress that makes me look like I am pregnant. I have always found it really annoying that a lot of women’s clothes are not designed for breasts. I mean, if they do not design them with our bodies in mind then why should we buy them? The clothes should be made to fit the body, not the body to fit the dress.

Made in Preston is the brand that specialises in fashion forward styles for women with slim waists and bigger boobs. Based in the industrial docklands of Preston, it is set to become the hottest new brand on the block.

big boobs, big breasts, fashion , clothes, dress

Made in Preston is bursting with attitude. Gone are the frumpy A-line dresses, stretchy wrap-around styles and chintzy smocks that have filled the wardrobes of those blessed with ‘bustiness’! Made in Preston do not want you to wear uninspiring styles anymore! Women want sexy dresses, bold colours and fashionable fabrics, and it is essential that they fit to perfection. So girls, this is what Made in Preston is giving you. If you are a size 8 with a G cup bust then look no further, Made in Preston have a fashionable range of dresses from sizes 6-16 that accommodate cup sizes ranging from a 26DD-38J, meaning that tiny waists and big busts are no longer a shopper’s nightmare!

dressesforbigbreasts dressforbigboobs

As the name suggests, everything is designed, sampled, graded, produced, and packaged in the brand’s factory in Preston. By shopping at Made in Preston, you are helping to resurrect a by-gone industry in the North West of England. Once thriving, it has dwindled to virtually nothing during the last few decades, but the brand are determined to bring British manufacturing back. Made in Preston aims to bring back skills, pride in local heritage and most importantly local jobs.

Check them out here: www.madeinpreston.com

Amber Le Bon | Get The Look

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Amber Le Bon stole the show at the Global Fashion Awards 2013 last night in a floor-length and fabulous, figure-hugging frock.

amberlebon

Steal Amber’s style with the stunning Secret dress from Ashley Roberts for KEY Fashion.

With luxurious sequin trimmed crochet lace, the limited edition full length dress is embellished by hand with a diamanté trim.

The Secret dress is available from www.keyfashion.co.uk and retails at £300.00.