Something I Love

If you're like me and you love a good girly programme to watch on a Friday night when you're too tired for a big night out, this is perfect! Based on the book by Candace Bushnell (author of Sex and the City), it's a really well written, heart-felt programme about three women in New York trying to juggle relationships, life and work. Usual chick material, it makes you laugh and makes you cry. Also full of gorgeous clothes, courtesy of Victory Ford - fashion designer character in the show it definitely satisfies my fashion cravings. The outfits showcased and designed during the programme are stunning, and all three women have a fantastic sense of style. Always on trend yet classic and elegant, they definitely present something to be admired.


        
                                 


 Unfortunately there are only 2 seasons of this programme, but it's worth hunting down.  But if you're a fan of Grey's Anatomy or 24 like me, you may recognise Dr Teddy Altman/Audrey Raines : ) 


This series is exactly what a girl needs to relax. Treat yourself to a box of chocolates, a glass of wine, and a good few episodes of Lipstick Jungle. It'll make your weekend. Oh and if what I've said isn't enough to convince you, maybe this will...

Sweet dreams.

Love,

Vintage Affair

I read a book a few months ago which really inspired me. Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff is all about Phoebe Swift, a woman (fictional) who used to work at Sotheby's Auction House in London and chose to move out of the city centre and open her own vintage clothing shop. It was a great story about a love of fashion and the usual love story us girls like in our light holiday reading. But it truly showed me that I could open my own shop one day, and maybe it would be as gorgeous and successful as the one designed for this book. The reason I'm telling you about this, aside from the fact that it pretty much gave me most of the ideas for my shop, is that I was looking today on the Vogue website and came across some Tutu  dresses designed by Giovanni Bedin for House of Worth in Spring/Summer 2011 Paris Fashion Week. This collection is stunning, and exactly what I imagine some of the vintage dresses in the shop to look like, though perhaps with a little more couture and less bold colour about them. Inspired by an original House of Worth gown from the 19th century, these dresses would really make a woman feel special. For this, their beauty and the astonishing work that has been put in to create them, I had to show you.


                   
                  

Pictures courtesy of www.vogue.com

From looking at these, and once I've seen Black Swan this week, I'm pretty sure my new career path - however unlikely it might actually be - will be to become a ballet dancer. I don't have the figure, strength or stamina for it, but these dresses definitely make it appealing!

Happy pirouetting.

Lots of love,

Something I Love

Just a quick note. I've just finished watching the third and final part of Upstairs Downstairs and I had to write about how much I love the fashion in that era! Keeley Hawes looks fantastic throughout the period drama in gorgeous floor length gowns for her frequent cocktail parties in that amazing house. 

If you haven't watched the program, it's definitely worth finding on BBC iPlayer. With a great cast, it takes you through the day to day lives of a wealthy and well-connected family in pre-Second World War Britain and all the trials and tribulations that come with it. Admittedly the first episode is slow to get going, but by the third, you are definitely left wishing it wasn't the last. As I mentioned, the fashions are to die for. This series features and exquisite tiara worn by the lady of the house and her mother-in-law, a number of fantastic cocktail party dresses as demonstrated by Keeley Hawes and  Claire Foy, who plays her sister. Well worth checking out. In fact, it has inspired me in a few dressmaking challenges of my own this year.

Enjoy the show : )

Love,

Tough Times Ahead

So unfortunately, the Retail industry is still struggling in Britain. After the snow of December, with the difficulties for customers in getting out of the house, everyone seems to be cutting back and developing strategies to gain back those lost sales. Ordinarily this would mean lots of lovely sales for us to pick up some fantastic bargains. This is the case, for instance I happened to stumble upon some gorgeous Russell and Bromley boots on Saturday that I had wanted months and months ago but couldn't afford at £165. I treated myself (with the credit card - naughty I know!) as they could not be left on the shelf at £69. That's £94 off!! So yes there are bargains to be had, and if you're like me and willing to use your credit card on these desperate occasions, as long as you know you have the money to pay it off, then you can take advantage. However, for most of us, this is something we simply cannot afford. Even with everything 70-75% off, style is still too expensive. The rise in VAT and cost of living across our lives has meant that such luxuries as new shoes and handbags have had to be placed to one side while we scrimp and save to pay our heating bills. So I have adopted a new approach to shopping. I will browse from time to time, in the shops and online, but I've limited myself to only a couple of hours a week in the hope that this means I will find less I want to exchange money for. So far, apart from the shoes, I'm doing well. I have seen nothing I truly want even though I know full well there are things out there I could buy. The only things I will allow myself to buy are anything I need, for instance some new pants for work, and they either have to be a bargain investment piece that I know I will wear a million and one times, or a cheap option from Primark and the likes. This way I know that I'm either not spending much, or spending a little more but (I keep telling myself) saving money in the long run. As much as I hate the idea, it's all about a "capsule wardrobe" in this economic climate. No one can afford to be out buying the latest trends every couple of weeks anymore, and so we must learn to mix and match. I'm also taking to my sewing again, producing dresses for work and adapting clothes I'd given up hope of every wearing again in the hope that they will present a new option.

Keep me updated with how you're fighting any money issues! We all need help with ways of coping. Going cold turkey is tough for anyone, but for a shopaholic, it's devastating!


Sleep well for now, we'll get through it together.


Lots of love,

P.S. Here are the shoes to inspire your ultimate bargain hunting. They make me very happy :D

Capturing Style

When you type in 'Fashion Photography' in to Google Images, you get a stunning array of images covering all fashion trends over many many decades.  From the most modern images such as those from Patrizio di Renzo  with his striking patterns, to the vintage images of Bruno Benini, there's plenty of inspiration to go for. Personally, though I adore the modern images, finding them provocative and thought-provoking, my fashion sense tends to stray towards the vintage or more plain images of simple fashion statement. Classic images resonate with me and provide me with my best inspiration. I can appreciate the work in any piece of art or design, but simplicity is always key to me. Clear cut lines for classic looks create timeless pieces of fashion that will surpass trends for centuries. Perhaps this is why when I look through the collections for this season, those that stand out to me most tend to be the likes of Calvin Klein with their clean white garments and Jil Sander with her plain yet appealing colour blocking.

Patrizio di Renzo, source http://mirrormirror.typepad.com/mirror_mirror/2009/01/photography-fashion-or-art.html

Bruno Benini 1958, source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/27/2553929.htm

Calvin Klein SS11 Collection, source http://www.fashionbloggers.org/calvin-klein-ss11-rtw/

Nikola Borissov, source http://cameralabs.eu/v/nikola-borissov-fashion-photography/nikola-borissov-2/

As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of monochrome images and fashion. This year, the SS11 collections have displayed this colour choice in abundance. David Koma, successfully combining edgy looks with beautiful delicate dresses and floaty skirts, has showcased monochrome spectacularly. 

Source http://sugarandspice-shopgirl.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

Apologies for the lack of colour in this post. But if you're like me, you'll be able to appreciate the beauty in all these pieces, including the use of monochrome colours. In fact, the final image from David Koma makes me think of the new Natalie Portman film which I cannot wait to see. If anything, The Black Swan will be a perfect portrayal of both monochrome fashion and emotions, the fight between the dark and the light. In this film, these colours are separated totally from one another to portray different emotions and states of mind. Thankfully in our lives, we don't have to make that distinction. As these SS11 collections have shown, black and white can be used harmoniously together to create masterpieces for our wardrobes.

Sleep well fashion lovers.

Love,

The Sky's The Limit

On Thursday, I had a meeting with my Manager at work. In an effort to get on with my New Year's resolution of becoming a Trainee Buyer and to satisfy my hunger for something new and exciting, I asked how best to go about gaining some buying experience in the eventual hope of getting a new job. Though originally my Manager had offered to find someone to help me, it has now become clear that she doesn't know the right people on the relevant departments. So instead, she has whole-heartedly supported me in finding the experience myself. Basically, my best option is to email a Buying Controller in Ladieswear and ask for some help. Hopefully I'll be able to sit with a Buyer after work one night a week and build up a knowledge of the job and the department. But to be honest, any help she can give me will be gratefully received.


More to come. Roll on Monday when I can get this email out and nervously wait for an answer. Fingers crossed.


Love and good luck to you all in whatever endeavours you may be undertaking.

Spring/Summer 2011 Inspiration

Have you seen the amount of bikini clad models gracing our magazines at the moment?! Taunting us with their sandy beaches, sunny back drops and flat tummys. I know it feels early to be talking about summer clothing when there's a chance we might get more snow, but, as with every year, fashion pushes us onwards! So to the future, I want to concentrate on Jil Sander's collection for when (or if) the heat arrives in 2011.  As with many designers, the obvious trend has to be the long - in most cases, floor length - skirts within her collection and also her blatant use of colour blocking.  It works fantastically, especially when teamed with a plain white tee as she has so often used.  Her techno-garbadine skirt in flourescent pink with the split up the side to the mini skirt which is half concealed underneath is an amazing piece. The colour obviously catches your eye but is not offensive, just fabulously summery and the fabric hangs fantastically to the floor (or in my case to the floor and way way past it as I don't possess the long legs of the models in the magazines). To me, this skirt symbolises the kind of fun you can have with fashion in the summer.  

As does the electric-tangerine fishtail skirt shown below which needs little explaining. This colour explosion added to the gorgeous structure around the waist and hips make this skirt a brilliant piece for S/S 2011. In all honesty, I have no appropriate words to describe it, I simply love it.

      

Sander has also created a stylish accessories collection for S/S 11, including these outrageous brogues and this stunning floral print handbag. I appreciate the shoes are probably a little too much for most people to handle, especially with our weather, but don't try to tell me that a tiny part of you doesn't love them.   
                          

   

If I could afford any one of these skirts for the new season, I would most definitely be purchasing. As it is, I'll wait for one of the high street stores to come up with their own version and go for the economical choice!


Enjoy shopping for your summer wardrobes! But maybe book a holiday to go with them first :)


Lots of love,

New Year's Resolutions

Normally I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I make them, but I never keep them. But this year, I've made some that I might actually be able to manage and have so far done ok with.  So here's my list, see how easy you think these will be.


1. Set up a monthly donation of £2 to NSPCC.
This is all set up through www.workplacegiving-uk.com so that not only does the charity receive my donation, but they also get 25% added on.  This way, my £2 a month becomes £2.50 a month, helping them a little bit more.  I also over achieved my resolution by donating to 3 charities, including the initial NSPCC, Bowel Cancer UK and Heart Research UK.  These all receive £2 a month from my wages which all adds up to £72 a year - I'll just have to spend a bit less on my clothes and accessories this year, nothing I can't cope with out abd it's for a great cause.
2. Donate at least 10% of all money made or paid from buying and selling items on Ebay.
So far I have sold 3 items this year on Ebay and have donated to different charities including Tommy's and Heartbeat.
3. Write on my blog 4 times a week.
So I haven't got this one down completely yet, but I'm definitely getting better! Watch this space :)
4. Become a trainee buyer.
I have a meeting with my manager booked in the next couple of weeks to discuss getting some experience and training in the buying department so we'll see how that goes.  I'm hoping by the end of the year, I'll be a trainee buyer working towards a brilliant fashion career!
5. Lose half a stone and tone up.
The plan is to go to the gym 3 times a week, including a class on Saturday mornings, and to use the Wii Fit the rest of the week.  So far this week, I've managed to get to the gym twice but am having a night off tonight as we're going out for a romantic meal to celebrate our week off work (who needs a real excuse to go on a date?!) I'm also doing pretty well with my diet, decreasing the cravings for sugar during the day, drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruit and veg.
6. Run the Race for Life 10k.
Last year I managed to make myself run the Race for Life 5k without ever having done any running before. I know it's not far, but for me it was an achievement to be able to run that far without stopping or walking. So this year, I'm planning to train myself up a little more and run the 10k in June/July.


That's it for now, I'll let you know if I come up with any more and how I'm getting on with these current ones. Let me know if you have any interesting ones!


Lots of love and good luck for your resolutions,

Fabric Rehab

I've just purchased a fantastic bunch of fabrics from www.fabricrehab.co.uk As described on their website, this Mid Century Fabric Bundle is a group of reproduction prints from original 1950s designs which are held by the V&A collection.

Picture from Fabric Rehab website

With these gorgeous patterns, I'm going to update our lounge with three fantastic cushions for the sofa and one pouffe for my boyfriend to put his feet up on when he's watching the football.  Ideal girlfriend, I know :)
Definitely worth a look if you're passionate about creativity and quality fabrics.  I'll let you know how I get on with my projects once the package arrives!


Happy fabric hunting.


Lots of love,

Big Baby Jewellery Sale

Just a quick note to let you know that there's a fantastic sale off Big Baby jewellery at www.lisaangel.co.uk with up to 50% off most lines!  I just bought myself a gorgeous sausage dog brooch in pink with a green bow, and a super cute gingerbread girl ring in blue and black (pictures below).  Get yourselves on the site and pick up a great bargain for yourself or for a lovely present for friends and family.

Lots of love, especially for a bargain!

Happy New Year!

Fashion Review of 2010


2010 was a year of lace up heeled boots, Mad Men, capes, brogues, the return of the leather skirt and romantic pastel colours.  Here are some of the key pieces of the year...

Louis Vuitton created these fantastic dresses inspired by 1960s New York and completely in line with one of the major TV series of the year, Mad Men.

Dior epitomised the romantic trends from 2010 in this gorgeous pale pink gown with a beautiful floral patterned underskirt.

The camel coat - shown here on the Max Mara runway - has been a staple classic of Autumn/Winter 2010.  Such a core colour has been a God send to women all over the world, allowing you to match with black, brown or denim, whenever you choose!

Jaegar show the simple elegance to be achieved in wearing the cape.  Whilst keeping you warm, it provides great shape to any outfit and is versatile enough to be worn with jeans or skirts. In my opinion, this was one of  my best items of clothing for 2010, making me feel elegant yet fashionable whenever I wear it.

These Marc Jacobs brogues are the most glittery and fantastic brogues I've seen all year! Mine are slightly less obvious, I own a lovely pair of cream brogues from Russell and Bromley, but they're still fantastic, look so good with many different outfits and are really, really comfy!

Gwyneth Paltrow shows why the leather skirt has been such a key fashion trend this year. Though difficult for all of us to pull off, this piece has given an edge to the standard pencil skirt, providing a new way to dress for work and casual. 

These Chloe lace up boots (along with cheaper versions!) have become a must have part of our wardrobe collection for 2010. Casual yet smart, we were able to wear these shoes with leggings, knee high socks, trousers etc and always look good. And without the ankle breaking stiletto heels of the shoe boots we all know and love, we were even a bit safer in the snow!

Satchels were a necessary accessory this year, ranging from the tan satchels of Topshop, to the pink, purple and black satchels of Mulberry.  The envy of women everywhere, these bags were not only gorgeous to look at but practical too. Stereotypical though it may be, but we need to carry our lives in our bags, and these satchels allow us to do that! Bring on the make up, purse, phone, diary, jewellery, tissues etc... the bag can handle it. 

Exciting the fashion world, sheer, silk and lace clothing created a stir in 2010. Part of the romantic trend, these fabrics allowed designers and fashion houses to add seduction in to their collections, whilst still maintaining a high level of class.

Not forgetting, in December we had snow galore! The furry snow boots and wellies were out in force in December to save ourselves from falling over whilst still attempting to get out and do our Christmas shopping.  Personally, I went for my fur covered snow boots which have served me well for the last 5 years.  Coupled with lovely warm jumper dresses and quilted coats, nothing could stop us from completing the family's Christmas lists!

So Happy New Year to you all!  I hope you had a fantastic 2010 and have a better, happier and even more love filled 2011.


Love and New Year wishes,