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All Woman: Work your waist

August 24th, 2010 by Sophie Ashcroft

Working your waisteIt’s time to celebrate your curves with this season’s fifties-inspired glamour.  The A/W 2010 catwalks were awash with full skirts and nipped in waists.  Much to the delight of us ladies who weren’t blessed with perfect pins, the minis that have stolen the limelight for so long have been replaced with mid-length skirts – either just below the knee or calf length. Around knee-length skirts tend to be the most flattering for all figures while mid-calf is better left to the taller and slimmer.

Emulate the ladylike looks on the Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Prada runways by teaming a long-line silk blouse from LK Bennett or a Wolford pussybow shirt with a curve-enhancing skirt from Vivienne Westwood. Add some oomph to more simple skirts and dresses by adding a petticoat underneath. Order them online at Vivien of Holloway  for authentic fifties styling. Luella do some fabulous tulip-skirted dresses but if you prefer a slightly less edgy number then head to Fendi for a more classic structured piece. Then cinch in the waist with this season’s must-have tan skinny belt

Sophie Ashcroft Style and Image Consultant

Sophie Ashcroft Style and Image Consultant

New Designers Pop-Up at Bicester

March 30th, 2010 by Stacey Waterman

It’s been a while since my last post and for that I apologise, but there is a rather good reason as to why the Bicester Village team has been a bit quiet in the last few weeks. Tomorrow we launch the British Designers Collective, our very first pop-up boutique!  

So, if the lure of British designers such as Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood at affordable prices isn’t temptation enough, our new pop-up will tempt you even more, bringing an exciting roster of some of the most lusted-after designers to the Village! 

In a joint venture with the British Fashion Council to celebrate our 15th anniversary, the British Designers Collective will support more of our unique home grown design talent, by showcasing some of the hottest names in fashion at glorious price reductions of up to 50%. As if I needed another reason to stay late at work and shop till 7 or 8 pm instead of attempting hill runs with my personal trainer. 

This exclusive opportunity to invest in some of the most sought-after designs from London’s catwalks is probably the most exciting thing to happen at Bicester Village in recent months; that is, aside from the European influx of Fendi, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci and YSL

I for one shall be there tomorrow watching eagerly with designers and VIP’s, as Erin O’Connor cuts the ribbon and officially opens this treasure trove. The designers’ list is so fabulous I shall undoubtedly be camped outside for the next six weeks, watching out for new deliveries from my personal favourites, Preen, Tod Lynn, PPQ, Fiona Paxton (her jewels are divine), Hannah Marshall, Bora Aksu and shoe designer Georgina Goodman. 

Here is the mouth-watering list of desirable designers who will be selling inspirational pieces from some of their key fashion collections. What’s not to love? 

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi

Google Chrome gets fashionable

November 2nd, 2009 by Vero

To get to our favourite sites on the web, we all use a web browser – be it Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari or one of the many alternatives. Recently, Google launched Chrome, its own browser, and decided to clutch at our fashionable strings to pull us their way by using some gorgeous fashionable browser themes.

From Dolce & Gabbana, Matthew Williamson and Donna Karan to Mulberry, Cath Kidston and Vivienne Westwood, these designers have all taken part in Google’s attempt to brighten up our day.

Have a look for yourself at the full gallery, but below are a few of our favourites at the moment!

Vivienne Westwood

westwood_chrome

Matthew Williamson

williamson_chrome

Cath Kidston

cath_kidston_theme
Thanks to Liz, aka Violet Posy for first alerting us on the existence of these fabulous Google Chrome themes!

Don’t forget to leave a comment with your favourite theme, or tell us which designers you wish could design one for us to use.

Why Cinderella’s Sisters Had Their Priorities Right

October 21st, 2009 by Stacey Waterman

“Cinderella’s stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming, they were desperate for her glass slipper”

Glass slipperLike any hot-blooded and stylish femme fatale, I am addicted to shoes. This addiction is an affliction that I just can’t get over, no matter how hard I try. I swoon when I hear the word “stiletto” and if I see a pair of bejeweled heels in a shiny shop window I am compelled to run into the shop (yes, run, in heels, absolutely!) and stroke the artistic beauties before I swiftly try them on and buy them. This process can take as few as 5 minutes. But my biggest addiction is boots. At last count I had 43 pairs of high heeled boots, 19 of which are black. So how many pairs of footwear does a girl need? This being a rhetorical question that needs no answer – shoes are the ultimate desirable acquirable, and always will be my biggest love affair!

It is a limitless love that has no boundaries.

Shoes give life meaning and make me happy and I live by the unquestionable fact that a woman can never be too glamorous or have too many heels, and nothing on this planet can bring instant gratification than becoming the proud owner of a new pair of delicately carved heels. Some of us may go through life un-captivated by such frivolities, but even tomboys will eventually get bitten. For myself, I can’t quite remember when that happened, although I do think my Mother’s fixation for dressing me only in red shoes as a child may have had some impact, but as soon as I was out of my Startrites, I was sashaying, and at times wobbling, teetering and falling in stilettos, kitten heels, platforms, wedges – the lot.

Feeding my addiction the smart way.

alexandermcqueen_flagbootsYet this unspoken addiction has rules, and usually the higher the heel and the more expensive the price tag, the greater the buzz. I have been known to camp outside Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Salvatore Ferragamo in the village waiting for them to unpack their latest delivery, hungry for more – and stalk the manageress in Joseph to see if any Prada or Louboutins have come in. Those that know me understand that working in Bicester Village just means feeding my addiction is a little less expensive. With no need to wait for department store annual sales and virtually every luxe designer boutique offering footwear, there are shoes waiting to be bought at silly prices everyday. I have found that Dior has an amazing selection, as do Valentino but my best bargain to date? Jonathan Kelsey for Mulberry pointed toe courts; I bought them in 3 colours and love wearing them.

Feeling the Foot Candy

Why do we ensure pain over comfort? A simple equation offers a simple answer;

equation

This is so true! The higher the heel, the tighter the calf, and the thinner the heel the greater the optical illusion of longer legs and a tighter butt! Skyscraper heels may be instruments of self-torture for some, (forget whether I can walk in them, as long as I can stand in them, they’re mine. Thank you Dr Scholl for Party Feet gels, you saved my red sparkly Vivienne Westwood’s from the back of the cupboard desert) – but for most of us these sometime uncomfortable objects of desire are the only accessories required for instant sexiness and inner confidence and is cheaper than psychotherapy, unless you have a Blahnik fetish, in which case a small bank loan and 6 sessions of Martin’s Money Management classes is required.

I wonder if our love of shoes, especially high heels, is somehow another way of flirting with oneself and not just a way of attracting the attention of Prince Charming?

It is hard for the average male to understand this love affair we have that does not include them. While most of them are shoe-oblivious, trudging through life with the obligatory pairs of black and brown loafers and trainers, we are suffering from Shoe Obsession Disorder, seeking coveted designer shoe bargains, sneaking bags into houses, hiding boxes in the back of cupboards and demanding house extensions as a storage solution to our every growing shoe collection. Of course, we all know that curing our shoe addiction will save money and perhaps our relationships, but being the ultimate desirable acquirables, I wonder if our love of shoes, especially high heels, is somehow another way of flirting with oneself and not just a way of attracting the attention of Prince Charming?

Love Me, Love my Shoes

So what is it with women and shoes?” According to a good friend of mine who just so happens to run my favourite shoe shop:

“Shoes are fun. They are little personalities just waiting to be taken out and shown a good time”

Indeed. Shoes do give instant glamour and a buzz like no other. Unlike shopping for jeans (which is about as much fun as going to the dentist), shopping for shoes is an exhilarating experience. Feet don’t have hips, feet don’t have thighs. Feet are our friends.

With the right shoes, we can slip on a whole new image. Shoes give men a reason to notice our ankles and legs and when a man compliments our shoes, we know he understands us and has taken a look into the window of our soul. Men, take note. Tell us we have great shoes and watch our face light up, it’s the best possible chat up line you can use. Just remember that contrary to popular belief, Cinderella’s stepsisters were not desperate for Prince Charming, they were desperate for her glass slipper.

jimmy_choo_007Skyscraper Highs:

  • We get taller!
  • Legs look longer & feet seem smaller.
  • We get J-Lo defined glutes
  • We have instant gratification.
  • They always make us feel sexy, even on a bad day.
  • When they are broken, we can get them fixed!

Skyscraper Lows:

  • We get foot pain but so what? We now have Party Feet gel pads.
  • We can fall over, but then alcohol and uneven pavement has the same effect.
  • We can get into a situation where one more step is unbearable, which is why we have taxis!

From Transatlantic Chic to European Elite

September 29th, 2009 by Stacey Waterman
Paul Smith

Paul Smith

I didn’t go to the shows, but was rooted to my Blackberry throughout, eagerly digesting every morsel of info that was tweeted, facebooked and blogged by the fashion press on a daily basis. The shows have been glossy and dramatic, everything we wanted them to be and more. Our grateful thanks goes to Hilary Alexander, Bitchbuzz, DisneyRollerGirl, Grazia and Elle, who between them sent approximately 10 tweets per minute from London Fashion Week and delivered the drama from the runway into the palm of my hand. The great surprise was Tavi Gevinson, the 13 year old fashion blogger from Chicago suburbia whose Style Rookie blog has had the fashion industry at her feet and Peaches Geldof reporting for GMTV!! Ah how I love fashion’s “New Year” and it’s not over yet!

From New York & London

With their glamorous celebrity filled front rows and continual buzz, New York and London did not fail to impress. As Gwyneth Paltrow said “London is where it’s at. It inspires the world”. How much did we love Burberry’s return to the London runway?  Emma Watson is our new Brit icon for the modern woman, and she glowed in the front row as Burberry presented the 2010 twist to their classic belted trench coat with puff sleeves and shimmering sparkles. Cue investment piece, if you don’t have a Burberry trench, get one now and love it for eternity.

DKNY

DKNY

 
Looking at the collections en masse one thing springs to mind – legs! I have till March to achieve honed and toned pins, for the trend for shorts will continue from now through to next year. It is one thing to wear city shorts with black opaque tights underneath (bring on November), but totally bare skinned? There is much work to be done before next spring.
 
I loved the way Paul Smith combined tailored city shorts with African themed leopard-prints, English gentry inspired leather elbow patches and his trademark stripes. Nicole Farhi’s playsuits in delicate pastel prints were casual and fun and Ralph Lauren’s denim was different, but it was DKNY who really went to town with city shorts and romper suits – chic and sporty in neutrals and bold brights and worn with cycle shorts underneath!!
Yes Bridget Jones underwear as outerwear for the summer to go under everything, from shorts to playsuits and dresses. Donna Karan really knows how to dress women.
Pure genius!  
  
Matthew Williamson

Matthew Williamson

But it was Matthew Williamson’s return to London Fashion Week that was my moment of pure happiness. He may have moved away from Boho chic to more structured & graphic pieces but own a Matthew Williamson from any collection and it is considered money well spent for seasons to come. His work is timeless.

 

Viva Italia

Now to Milan in beautiful Italy, the home to some of the world’s most renowned designers including Gucci, Pucci, Missoni, Armani, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo and Prada, where this week it’s the Italian designers chance to show off their talents. I personally am rather excited about this as Italians do fashion like no other.

So far we have seen headscarves at Marni, the return of the corset from Dolce & Gabbana which is heralded as the one single piece of must-have-clothing for next spring/summer and super-sexy bodycon from Gucci. Diet starts now.

Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana

Saving the Best till Last

Tomorrow is Paris, the crème de la crème of all Fashion Weeks. I am anticipating more sexy silhouettes, tulle and sparkles and simply cannot wait to see the creations from Vivienne Westwood (my favourite, we love her always), Balenciaga, Balmain, Maison Martin Margiela, Gareth Pugh, Loewe, Valentino, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Chloe, Stella McCartney, Giles and of course John Galliano, Chanel, Celine and Christian Dior.

Until then…au revoir!