We love these stylish jeans from the Gap 2020 Spring collection. They are comfortable They also do Gap for Good Washwell. The Washwell smart wash techniques saves millions of litres of water. gap.co.uk
Tag Archives: spring
6 ways to dress for Spring
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.
The Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners Share Their Tips
The Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners are back for a new series and they are sharing their top tips for keeping your home spick and span.
From rubbing fabric conditioner on radiators to using a cheese knife to get rid of limescale and emptying the water out of the toilet bowl before dousing it in vinegar, the cleaners leave no rug or duvet unturned.
The cleaners are led by Hayley, a 30-year-old mum of three, who was diagnosed with OCD in 2007. She can spend up to 19 hours a day in her battle against bacteria.
Hayley’s top tips:
- Rub neat fabric conditioner on radiators and when they warm up the whole house smells amazing.
- Use Milton baby sanitizer. It gets rid of germs but is much safer, especially if you’ve got kids. Follow instructions on the bottle.
- Vacuum the ceiling to get rid of dust and cobwebs.
Rob is a 32-year-old College Lecturer who lives in Burnley. He lives in a quaint cottage which he keeps to “showhome standard” through a strict cleaning regime.
Rob’s top tips:
- Use thick bleach and a toothbrush to keep bathroom grout clean and bright. It’s fab for getting the hard to reach places. Bicarb and lemon juice is a good alternative for people who aren’t a fan of bleach. (Make sure you wear rubber gloves to do this)
- Grind up some lavender in a pestle and mortar and mix with bicarb. Sprinkle over carpets and rugs bought from UK tool hire, leave for 20 minutes and then vacuum off. It keeps them smelling fresh. (Clean the pestle and mortar thoroughly after use).
- Use a steam cleaner on a mattress to kill any bugs.
- A small bowl of coffee beans helps to reduce any odours in food cupboards.
- The best way to tackle a limescale problem in the toilet is to remove all the water in the bowl and soak cotton wool in cheap white vinegar. You then pad out the toilet as if it was papier mache. This should be left overnight. The vinegar completely disintegrates any limescale without the need for scrubbing and also gets rid of any smells. Environmentally this is the best way forward and can be topped up with a cleaner in between. I know it sounds like a big job but the results are well worthwhile
Kris is a 34-year-old medical scientist who lives in Wakefield. He cleans for 22 hours a week and uses his scientific knowledge to make his own cleaning products.
Kris’s top tips:
- Always unscrew shower heads and bleach them once in the while by leaving in a bucket of diluted bleach. Rinse thoroughly before reattaching. Make sure the room is well ventilated while you do this and that you wear rubber gloves). The biofilm of microorganisms develops in this area and not many people know that.
- Always leave your dishes to air dry as tea towels are perfect ground for microorganisms to multiply and by reusing them we are actually spreading some potentially harmful bugs
- To clean the toilet use plenty of bleach. It’s also a good idea to soak the toilet brush in bleach for a while after cleaning the toilet. (Wear rubber gloves when using bleach)
Julie is a 53-year-old plumber who lives in Great Yarmouth. She is not a fan of chemical products and prefers to use natural alternatives.
Julie’s top tips:
- Use baby oil to get a shine on stainless steel
- Use vinegar for clean and streak free windows, on taps and in the toilet (to remove limescale.)
- Use hot and soapy water to wash down skirting boards
- To clean the toilet use lemon and vinegar. The acidity of the lemon burns away any grime and helps it smell fresh. The vinegar combats limescale better than any bleach will.
- Fill a sandwich bag with vinegar and tie it underneath your tap using an elastic band so that the tap is sitting in the vinegar. This will remove the limescale.
Louise is a 36-year-old military wife who cleans for up to 30 hours a week and has developed an armoury of specialised equipment to tackle any enemy dirt.
Louise’s top tips:
- Use a piping nozzle cleaning brush. Usually a cleaning tool for cake decorators, Louise uses it everywhere to give a really good scrub in any nooks and crannies. It’s great for drains and hinges.
- Use a cheese knife to get rid of limescale by chiselling away at it
- Everyday scissors work wonders in the garden as they are much more precise than gardening shears.
Tom, 33, is a car enthusiast. His cleaning obsession extends to his cars as well as his home and is known as the obsessive compulsive car cleaner when he goes to car shows.
Tom’s top tips:
- Use old (but clean) tea towels to buff up the bathroom after cleaning. They give everything a good shine.
- Car polish on the outside windows keeps them cleaner for longer as the water just rolls off.
- Put perfume on a cotton wool ball in the vacuum to spread a nice smell.
- It’s best to take the water out of the toilet – it’s the only way you can get a proper clean around the whole toilet.
Sandra, 52, is a café owner who lives in Port Talbot. Sandra has a strict inside clothes/outside clothes regime to help prevent dirt and germs getting in from outside.
Sandra’s top tips:
- Bathbombs make excellent air fresheners. Stick them in cupboards/wardrobes/airing cupboards and everything will smell great.
- Bicarb is the answer for stains. Rub it in dry to a new stain, leave for a moment and then scrub it out.
Carly, 32, is a data manager from Hertfordshire. Carly was diagnosed with OCD when she was 11 years old and spends up to seven hours a day keeping her flat immaculate.
Carly’s top tips:
- Mix washing up liquid with all purpose spray to kill germs and make everything smell nice.
- Splash a bit of lemon on fridge shelves when you polish them and then it will smell great every time you open the fridge.
- It’s important to bleach the floors to kill the bacteria that comes in on people’s feet. (Wear rubber gloves when using bleach).
Please note: With any of the suggested tips, when handling any household products, it is always advisable to keep out of reach of children and animals and always check the label for correct handling of the product. Damage can be caused by using unconventional products and tools not usually associated with cleaning – therefore it is advisable to test on a small area first.
Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners returned Tuesday March 15th at 8pm on Channel 4.
Top of the Pop-Ups this Easter at the Perrier-Jouët Modern Mayfair Garden
Spring has sprung and what better way to celebrate than with a glass of fizz in an idyllic garden setting. Let’s toast this Easter at La Caprice, Mayfair and be sure to enjoy your lunch before or after perusing The Royal Academy of Arts’ latest landmark exhibition. Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, sees Claude Monet’s water lily paintings brought to the UK for the very first time. We think this is the perfect opportunity for you to immerse yourself into spring whilst enjoying some remarkable art, food and also some lovely goodies to take away.
Priced at £38 per person, this includes a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne, two-course lunch at Le Caprice, tickets to ‘Painting the Modern Garden’ exhibition, a Floris London gift bag with Rose Hand Cream and Jermyn Street fragrance sample.
The Perrier-Jouët Modern Mayfair Garden is open throughout the exhibition’s run period – 30 January until 20 April 2016
We think it’s the perfect Easter treat for the adults!
For more information visit: Le Caprice
What To Buy This Spring
After what feels like the longest winter in history spring is finally here. This means two things: warmer weather and new clothes. It’s hard to know which one is more exciting. To get you in the mood we have put together a shopping guide to give you some inspiration. From the 1970s to mesh dresses, we give you the lowdown on the trends to keep in mind when you are shopping for your spring wardrobe.
Yellow
Yellow is in this season. In fact, yellow is the only colour to be seen in this season. If you think it won’t work for you then don’t worry. There is a shade of yellow that will suit every complexion. Choose between canary, amber, marigold or saffron. Just figure out your skin’s undertone and then find the hue that suits it.
The 1970s
The 1970s are back in a big way. Think hippy and 1970s Marrakech. Long, billowing dresses are right on trend, think luxury bohemian. Floral patterns are a given, especially on shirts. Brown coats and suede also featured heavily. Don’t be scared to clash and add a scarf.
Black And White
Monochrome was a huge trend on the catwalk. There were a lot of black and white suits, a node to one of the original glamorous girls, Bianca Jagger. Lanvin, Giambattista Valli and Céline all sent black and white suits down the catwalk.
Denim
Denim never goes out of fashion but this season jeans are baggy and cropped. Gucci meanwhile sent models down the catwalk in a little cowgirl dress which gave a nod to the trend without making you look like you just stepped off the ranch. Burberry on the other hand choose contrasting suede panels on their classic trench shape.
Shirtdresses
Shirtdresses may be a functional classic but this season they are also in. The classic shape was given many twists on the catwalk. Think drop waists and high slits. It is both tame and sexy. Shirtdresses go with everything, they can be either functional or glammed up for the evening. Either way, it’s a wardrobe classic.
Military
Nope, not time to join the army. Military is big this season, but don’t worry: it is completely wearable. Khaki may have hit the catwalk over 40 years ago but it is still a classic and is back in a big way. The olive drab hue is best and the catwalk went mad for military-style coats and dresses. Take inspiration from the suede khaki pieces at Chanel’s feminist protest. Ralph Lauren went for safari-style military glamour and Marc Jacobs went for a sexy silhouette.
Mesh.
Rita Ora caused a stir at the Vanity Fair Oscar party wearing a nearly-naked black mesh dress. Heidi Klum, Gigi Hadid and Irina Shayk also followed the trend at the Academy Awards after party. This one is only for the brave and you may want to tone it down for the daytime. You can give a nod to the trend without flashing anyone.
THE FAERIE TREE: A Book In The Making
Ostara: A time of rebirth and renewal. A time to celebrate the coming of spring. And the coming of new books…
By the time you read this The Faerie Tree will have been unleashed. Actually, even at the time of writing it’s creeping out there; Amazon have stopped listing it as a pre-order and I’ve had to hold Matador back from making the ebook available before its time.
A few boxes of paperbacks have arrived with me as well. Holding one for the first time was tinged with sadness; my mother, who was a huge supporter of my writing, passed away just ten days before so she never got to see the finished book. But she’d read early drafts and approved the cover – and right at this moment is sitting at my shoulder, telling me to get back to the point of this article.
The point is that it’s hard to publish a novel alone. I’ve written before about the ‘official’ team; my editor, the wonderful Margaret Graham (author, teacher and Frost contributing editor) and the folks at Matador, but in recent weeks I’ve received an enormous amount of help from people who, quite frankly, didn’t have to.
In my last article I mentioned my desire to create a faerie tree near my home city of Chichester. I also mentioned this to a few of my fellow Chindi (Chichester Independent) Authors, and children’s writers Christopher Joyce and Becky Edwards leapt in with huge enthusiasm to brainstorm ideas and open their contact books. We were joined by the administrator of the Sussex Centre for Folklore, Fairy Tales and Fantasy – acting in a personal capacity just because she loved the idea so much.
Through them I met Vicky Edwards, a local book-lover (she runs the Spirit FM book club) and PR. She not only gave me some great ideas to improve my press releases but just as importantly introduced me to a local charity with a woodland walk – the ideal home for a faerie tree. I was due to meet them in early March but had to cancel so there is another date in the diary and I hope that in the next article there will be something definite to tell you about this very special project.
I’ve also had a great deal of support from the bloggers who are taking part in the launch tour. These ladies work so hard reviewing books and helping readers make good choices about what they might enjoy. They do it for the love of it – some are retired, but most hold down day jobs as well. And I think I’m busy. Follow the tour (details below) and browse their other posts for great steers on books you might enjoy.
Finally, I’ve had the blessing of the elves, pixies and faeries who live around the real faerie tree where the book is set. You see I did what many people have done before – for over twenty years, in fact – and I put a letter into their little box. And like everyone else, I received a reply; wishing me well and giving me instructions on where to leave their copy. I hope they like it. I hope everyone likes it. It would be a really fitting thank you to all the unsung heroes who’ve helped me along the way.
The Faerie Tree blog tour…
22nd March: Random Things Through My Letterbox – author Q&A
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.co.uk/
23rd March: Rosie Amber – review
https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
24th March: Liz Loves Books – the settings & scenery of The Faerie Tree
http://lizlovesbooks.com/
25th March: My Reading Corner – the faerie tree itself and book giveaway
http://myreading-corner.blogspot.co.uk/
26th March: Crooks on Books – author interview
http://crooksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
28th March: Jaffa Reads Too – the inspiration for The Faerie Tree and book giveaway
http://jaffareadstoo.blogspot.co.uk/
29th March: Being Anne – second chances
http://beingannereading.blogspot.co.uk/
31st March: Beadyjan’s Books – writing with women in mind
http://beadyjansbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
The Flower Poem by Krystal Volney
Flower so bright,
Flower so new.
Why does the humming bother you?
Spending your time, wishing you knew.
Speak with honour.
Stand with dignity.
Suppose the humming stopped humming,
what say you?
Trees look down on you and say nothing.
Let your nectar stay sweet and let the sun delight in your fashion.
The wind blows alone but it feels your presence.
Its spirit feels the fluster of your petals.
Trying to grasp onto one. Just one.
Till it realizes that you stand firm.
Your leaves whisper sweet nothings,
proclaiming your fun and varying colour.
Pretty with no inside jollifies the leaves when falling down.
Don’t let whispers tell your time for they too want to see you fall.
The branches watch everything with intentions of mocking you.
They too want to see everything falling, leaves and all.
They see it fit to stand out in front of everything.
When the rain falls, they laugh to see you drained.
They dry faster more than anything.
But don’t wilt flower.
Flowers are meant to stay beautiful.
Talking about the poem: (The explanation & extended thought)
It refers metaphorically to individuals (both women and men) that are seen as the flower (with radiant petals and nectar).
The green leaves are filled with chlorophyll(that illustrate envy) and are split typically into two halves on the leaf & as well as the back and front of the leaf meaning two-faced people with lines on them relating to compliments (envious persons).™ Green in this scenario demonstrates envy although the colour green in other cases symbolizes learning, growth and harmony.
“Pretty with no inside” can be elucidated through comprehending that each society has a different view of what is “pretty” poetically such as the Padaung Hill Tribe (women) or fitness (men) because there are multifarious species of flower on the earth. Without an inside representing nectar after the hummingbird has taken away the nectar or tried to sabotage the flower, the leaves become jollified as the seasons change.
The green leaves are jollified when the flower has no inside which displays the change from green to red & yellow colour in autumn at the time of leaf fall, emblematic for happiness, power and enlightenment.™ The branches deal with those who are rough in mentality & ruthless who are not blown away by beauty, (often attracting & entertaining friends such as snakes that coil and wrap around them). The trees express older and more ‘mature’ individuals who have been existent for centuries( stressing on the maturity and experience) or in decades (human life expectancy with experience at hand). The ‘humming’ refers to the sounds of the humming bird which is metaphorical IN POETRY & in this particular situation for people who are ‘haters’ connoting that the flower has both outward beauty & sweet nectar (sweet interior representative in the world for flair, talent, great personality or just in general something good about them based on perception); there will be envy expected, fuss and gossip as well in society because of its reputation. The drama!!! The humming bird goes by most flowers as most have nectar. The wind deals with the cold-hearted and lonely people in the world that desire to feel the energy of the petals. The flower is often mocked by the branches because flowers are present everywhere around the planet. The leaves are always whispering and hoping that the flower will fall as well.
However, in the end it ought not fall apart. The sun is the star of the solar system delighting in the fashion of the flower and its poise in Spring.
(This was the first poem written in the year 2010).
© 2010 Krystal Volney
Ong-Oaj Pairam SS15 Collection | London Fashion Week
We have been having a ball at London Fashion Week. A highlight was Ong-Oaj Pairam’s show. Ong-Oaj Pairam’s third season showcasing during Fashion Week was another triumph. After being named as ‘one to watch’ by the Times last week, the SS15 collection did not disappoint. By combining pastels, prints and metallics, Ong-Oaj Pairam’s latest collection is inspired by the designers fragmented memories of growing up alongside his families noodle factory in Nakhon Ratichasima, Thailand. We loved it.
What do you think?