Of all of the things that make you feel great in life; a good pair of shoes is certainly one of them. These glamorous, yet comfortable, shoes from Mod are a show stopper. In look-at-me red, and with a cute buckle; they are the perfect Autumn shoe. Check Mod Shoes out here. Their shoes look great and are well made. We have our eyes on a pair of brogues.
Our consumption of fashion is evolving. The throwaway days of ‘new season, new wardrobe’ seem to be numbered as we seek a more sustainable approach to all aspects of our lives, not just the fashionable ones. This evolution is fuelled for some by pragmatism, for others by altruism, but for the majority by a desire for our purchases to exist beyond a few seasons, or even just a few outings. Maximalist founder of the website, Man Repeller, Leandra Medine, recently told British Vogue that she wished she only owned 15 things.
A more circular approach is taking hold; yes, we buy – both new and pre-loved – but we also repair and rent and sell. We buy less but we buy better and we expect more. Some brands have always understood customer’s demand for products that have longevity and therefore provide aftercare and repair services to that end; heritage names such as Mulberry and Hermes spring to mind. Whilst eco-brand Patagonia has a lifetime guarantee on all its products.
However, it seems that for many luxury brands, everything beyond a legitimate product defect is simply outside their scope … and maybe that’s true but it can still leave the customer in a lurch.
This is what happened to native New Yorker, Vanessa Jacobs when she moved to London in 2006. “A high-street cobbler made an unapologetic mess out of what should have been a simple heel tip replacement,” recalls Jacobs. It was this experience, and nearly 10 years of subsequent ones of a similar nature, that spurred her to launch The Restory, an on-demand shoe and handbag restoration service that brings together quality, service, convenience and craftsmanship.
“It felt like moving heaven and earth to find someone you trust only to realise you could trust them with some things and not others,” continues Jacobs. “I had to make up a web of lies to take a half-a-day off from work to travel to their out-of-the-way shops and then do it all over again to collect my things. Often, they were nice but wouldn’t really go out of their way. I thought someone ought to do something about this and it turns out that someone was me.”
Jacobs spent 2 years assembling an A-team of cobblers, leather restorers, shoe blacks and cordwainers from across Europe; she even relocated several here to London. Coupled with charming service-oriented consultants, the company prides itself on devising solutions to almost any challenge.
“We use the term restoration because it connotes a what-ever-it-takes-to-bring-it-back approach,” says Jacobs.
Boasting a collection of services ranging from bespoke repairs to leather restoration to complete refashioning, The Restory is earning some impressive admirers. British Vogue recently crowned the company its’ go-to specialist and Vanity Fair and Fabric have also praised the company’s work.
“Currently, we are concentrating on providing The Restory’s services in London but we will be expanding across the whole of the UK,” continued Jacobs. “Looking further ahead, the plan is to offer new services and products and then we will look to bring The Restory’s much needed skills to other markets.”
So, how does this service work? Simply book a collection online (and soon via app), and a consultant will collect your items from any home or office in Central or West London. Your items will be taken to their atelier, beautifully restored and returned at a time and place of your choosing. “It’s like buying you favourite pieces all over again.”
Is this a bag? Is it a clutch? Well, actually, it is a handbag organiser. In fact, it is your perfect bag companion. It looks beautiful and glamorous, is well made and high quality and made of leather. It is designed to simplify your life, but the truth is, it is so beautiful it could also be used as a handbag or a clutch. Who needs rules, right?
The truth is, having a handbag organiser is a great idea as it saves so much time. You just put everything in your Reddog Bagpod and then transfer that when you change your handbag. It saves time and makes sure you do not forget anything. We reviewed the silver one and think it is gorgeous. Perfect for the Christmas season and beyond. They also have a va va room red one. A great Christmas gift, for yourself or someone else.
RRP £79.99
Available in a variety of festive colours.
#getorganised #RedDog #BagPod
Being organised can be tricky….using a leather BagPod Voyager makes it easy-peasy.
Keeping all your personal belongings in order.
Keys? Check. Purse? Check. Phone? Check. Glasses? Check.
A bag organiser, arm candy, clutch with wrist strap or a shoulder bag.
*Voyager also available in Nylon/cotton at £29.99
When putting together a ‘certain look’ most people recognise that it is the accessories that complete it and bring it all together letting it stand out from the crowd. Accessories can add character and also elegance to the outfit, and as trends change the ‘must haves’ of yesterday are consigned to the shelf. Including all of those designer bags and watches we so eagerly collected, now there is really only one main fashion accessory to have, and no its not shoes, it’s the smartphone.
Not only is the smartphone the true ‘must have’ fashion accessory to own, it also doubles up as one of the most useful and therefore important things that you can carry with you.
Not only can you keep in touch with family and friends, you can browse shop and buy online, listen to your favourite music, watch your favourite movie and play at your favourite mobile casino sites by visiting www.topmobilecasino.co.uk whenever and wherever you want to. Mobile gambling has increased dramatically over the past few years due to the fact most people have a smartphone. Put that together with the style and sleekness of your mobile phone and it soon becomes apparent why it is such a fashion Icon.
Infact, dressing your smartphone is a statement in itself as protective cases can cost several times more than the phone itself. Take the famous bag and satchel designer Louis Vuitton. You can buy an iPhone 7 Plus case from the company for a mere $5500. It’s made out of crocodile leather in a gold colour and has a microfiber lining. The case also has a key tag on it, and the whole design is after the old-fashioned leather travel trunks. Called the Eye-Trunk for obvious reasons this classy piece was seen instead of other fashion accessories on the Paris Catwalk this year.
But you can actually forget about designers like Dolce & Gabbana, and Gucci when it comes to the most expensive Smartphone case that was ever made. That accolade goes to Anita Mai Tan with the Dragon and Spider costing an amazing $880,000.
Even if you can’t afford a great deal on your case there is still a lot of choice out there and this choice is what makes our phones personal to us. Just like we choose the apps we want the most, choosing the case defines us from each other which means that a fourteen-year-old girl can have the same phone as her dad but it will be completely different in style and content.
You’re likely to wear casual clothes among friends because people you know won’t judge you – they already know who you are. Casual clothing tend to be relatively inexpensive which gives you more freedom, when you’re wearing them, to do spontaneous activities without worrying that they will get dirty.
There are lots of options when it comes to casual clothing, depending on just how chilled out you want to feel. At one end of the spectrum there are joggers and hoodies and at the other end there are jeans and t-shirts. You’re more likely to go to the gym and do things around the home in your most casual state. However, you wouldn’t necessarily want to be seen out in the pub in your trackies but you can do just about anything in jeans and a t-shirt.
The beauty of going casual is that you’re free to do whatever you want without worrying. If your day does turn into a spontaneous night out, you might want to consider throwing a bomber jacket over your casual outfit to spruce things up and give your outfit that sharper edge.
Black gives the impression of an instant slim down and you’ll find it easy to piece together as you don’t have to match different colours. Try a leather biker jacket combined with a simple black t-shire and a pair of slim fit black jeans. Finally, to tie the whole outfit together wear some dark brown boots – voila you’re casual but suave and you can go anywhere from the sofa to the club and still look good.
Other casual go-to items include denim shirts and checked shirts worn over a plain t-shirt, this layering gives outfits a more interesting angle. GQ has recently suggested that the latest weekend shirt is the western version of a denim shirt – “worn with black jeans or smart trousers and lace-up boots has the same rugged appeal as a traditional denim or check flannel western shirt, without being quite so cowboy.”
Looking at celebrity style, David Beckham is the master of casual clothing, slightly aided by his great looks, Becks gets it right every time. One look that stands out is the all black everything, downtime attire you will sometimes see Beckham papped in. Despite his reputation for great style, Beckham’s fashion comes from buying clothes that he likes, as he once said, “I like nice clothes, whether they’re dodgy or not” it just shows that if you’re confident in what you’re wearing, you can pretty much pull off anything!
By Patrick Vernon
The average woman will change dress size 31 times during the course of her adult life, according to new research.
Key size-gain spikes in life are having kids, moving in with a partner and the first years of marriage – while major size-drops occur pre-wedding, after the loss of someone close and following break-ups.
Regular ‘blips’ happen during Christmas and the winter period – and also after holidays away.
Men will typically go up or down a clothes size on 24 occasions as an adult – with a third identifying stress at work as the reason for the change.
The research of 1,000 women and 1,000 men was commissioned by Fits Me, a fit tool that helps shoppers to find their perfect size.
Six in 10 women said they aren’t happy with their clothes size – compared to 45 per cent of men who feel the same way.
Three quarters of females own garments that no longer fit them properly with around 16 ill-fitting items found in the average woman’s wardrobe.
While 61 per cent of males have kept hold of clothing that is either too big or too small for them – on average keeping hold of 14 items.
Half of respondents said they hang on to clothes that don’t fit because they want to get back into them one day and a fifth have a sentimental connection to the items.
The typical female is most happy with her clothes size aged 28 and men are most content at 29 years old.
In contrast, women are most dissatisfied with their proportions at 38 while males feel similarly aged 39.
A quarter of men and almost half of women have avoided going to clothes shops because they were concerned they wouldn’t find garments that fit as they would like.
Four in 10 respondents have been shopping for clothes only to find their size has gone up while 26 per cent have seen their size go down.
Perhaps as a result, three quarters of females and 44 per cent of males said they worry about finding something that will fit well.
While 21 per cent of men said they experience a drop in confidence when clothes shopping and two in five women said the same.
Over a fifth of Brits admit they aren’t confident they know which clothing items look best on them – however three quarters said their size changes from retailer to retailer.
Of those surveyed, 58 per cent have felt intimidated by shops that are “too cool” – with the range of clothes available the thing that threatens them the most, followed by the prices and the shop staff.
Three quarters of respondents buy clothes online, however 86 per cent think it’s a gamble as to whether the items ordered will fit as hoped.
Four in 10 people prefer to try clothes on in a shop fitting room and 45 per cent would rather be left alone to do so – and on average three items will be taken into the changing room with them.
A third of men and women would rather see how the garments look on them at home and 28 per cent have no preference.
The number one boost to people’s confidence when clothes shopping is seeing clothes they like – followed by getting something that fits well and finding an item in the sale.
Spring is upon us and you might be having a meltdown when it comes to your wardrobe and what to throw on now that the weather has warmed up. Florals, right? That’s all you need. Just a good old fashioned floral print to really feel ready for spring.
Well, okay, you will be seeing lots of this – the high street can’t resist – but that doesn’t mean you need to buy them. Here are six ways to dress for spring without a floral print in sight!
1. A cute pinafore dress
Spring means you can finally (probably) get your legs out and what better way to do this than with a cute pinafore dress? Work yours for spring with a brightly-coloured blouse, some cute collar pins, ankle socks and flats. If it’s a little chilly a lightweight denim jacket is great for throwing on when you leave the house or you can fire up the look with a leather coat.
2. Double denim
Honestly, it’s okay, double denim is a thing now. Fashionistas such as Rosie Huntington Whitely and Gigi Hadid are rocking up to events in two toned, denim ensembles that look amazing. You could even get your boyfriend to match just in time for spring; we love these jeans from Superdry that would look great with a buttoned up lighter denim shirt.
3. A vintage tee and a midi skirt
Clash super feminine with quirky retro this Spring by pairing a vintage tee with a flowing mid length skirt and your comfiest Vans or Converse. When it comes to quirky tees, a rock band from the 1970s, an old well known brand or one of the many tees Truffle Shuffle has on offer featuring retro prints will look great and is perfect for warmer spring days at the weekend. Choose a skirt in a vibrant colour to really bring home that happy springtime feeling.
4. Cropped trousers and a cardigan
Slim fit, cropped trousers look great with everything, but for spring pair yours with a lacy, feminine top and a lightweight cardigan and you’re good to go. Strappy sandals should complete the look along with an oversized clutch or shopper bag.
5. A sleeveless trench and your Mom jeans
Those comfy, oversized Mom jeans with the rips in the thigh will look awesome with a basic white tee and a sleeveless trench for spring. Wear this ensemble with some low flats and a casual backpack slung over your shoulder for a cute, casual springtime look.
6. A simple slip dress
The slip dress is going to be popular this year and can be worn in practically every season. For winter they look great layered over a long sleeve tee and tights but in the spring they are perfect for wearing on their own with a lightweight cardigan and knee high socks or if we’re lucky enough just on its own with some open sandals. It’s a great nod to the 1990s and an easy look to adopt this spring.
By Patrick Vernon.
For one week only, Old Street Station plays host to the sensational ‘Style Me in Seconds’ one stop shop and styling pop up. Charity shops across the UK are showcasing their best pieces and giving shoppers a chance to be styled up by professional stylists who have dressed the likes of Victoria Beckham, Emilie Sande and Professor Green.
As you browse the hundreds of treasures that our London charity shops have to offer, try something more daring or challenge yourself to create a brand new style for someone else. With free style consultations on offer and a host of other goodies including free manicures, guarantee yourself a place by booking your very own styling session here…
Style Me in Seconds is open from 4th -10th April from 7:30am every day
Unit 2, Old Street Station – Old Street, London EC1Y 1BE, United Kingdom