Battersea Designer Wedding Show

I’ve been assisting my good friend Katie in the hunt for the perfect wedding dress… and as of last Friday the search is over – we found it and it’s fabulous! We’d penciled in the diary, a trip to the Battersea Designer wedding show, to get a good over-view of frocks. However, instead of having to pour over every single gown we were able to relax and just enjoy the show (www.designerweddingshow.co.uk)!

I’ve not yet planned a wedding, so haven’t had to experience the “joy” of picking the exact shade of ivory napkins or deciding whether to spend £5 per head for a bag containing 5 silver sugared almonds…what a bargain?? But something hit me whilst walking around the show – I pity whoever gets to marry me, because at my wedding I’m going to want everything! The flowers were stunning; the cakes were works of art… It’s quite a terrifyingly over-whelming experience. Not only does a bride have to worry about the dress, the venue, the food etc. But important issues such as, what will the invitations say about me as a person? Does one go “classic” or “contemporary” bride? Hair up or hair down?? So many decisions… If I ever meet someone I want to marry – I think I might be a demented bride!

Also, I know why so many people hire personal shoppers to help them when wedding dress shopping, it’s very little to do with locating the perfect dress, it’s more to assist them with overly-pushy wedding dress sales assistants. Now I understand some people need help narrowing down a gazillion off-white strapless dresses to find the perfect one  – but the use of the “elimination” technique that I witnessed was really annoying. So what if my friend had ”eliminated” a particular style dress during their last appointment, if she wants to try it on again then she blinking well can!!

Anyway, rant over… if you want to get some really good ideas in a laid back and glam setting and be serenaded whilst sipping your champagne, then head to BWS. Even though as a “non-bride” I’ve never felt so invisible in my life… as soon as approaching a stand the exhibitor would say “Are you the bride??” “Er no, my friend…” That was it, you no longer existed!  

Here are some things that caught my eye at the show…

By Appointment Only Design (www.byappointmentonlydesign.com) – honestly, I’ve never seen floral displays like them… they were amazing! They help you “create the wedding of your dreams”, assisting from wedding planning to event styling, no two weddings are the same.

By Appointment Only Design

 

Linda Fripp Design (www.lindafrippcakes.com) make bespoke wedding cakes “individually created using sensational hand-baked recipes and inspirational techniques”. The cakes at the show really blew me away they were so stunning…

An amazing cake by Linda Fripp Design

 

Emmy Custom Made Wedding Shoes (www.emmyshoes.co.uk)  - I had seen them before at Fashion Press Week and I loved the twinkly toed shoes then… They offer custom made wedding shoes “offering a choice of toe shape, heel height, material, colour and detail”. Vintage-y and fabulous if you ask me!

Emmy Custom Made Wedding Shoes

 

Matthew Williamson needs little introduction (www.matthewwilliamson) but people may not instantly think bridal when they hear his name, but I was seriously impressed with what they had to offer…

Matthew Williamson

 

The cafe at the entrance to the show…

 

 The bride and bridesmaid Rachel enjoying a well deserved glass of bubbly in the champagne bar… how civilized (notice I have a peppermint tea with my champers – I’m such a lightweight!!)!

Katie and Rachel “resting” in the champagne bar!

 

P.S. A couple of other exhibitors worth noting:

David Fielden (www.davidfielden.co.uk) – his dresses have been worn by Liz Taylor, Julia Roberts and Kate Moss… a fairly impressive line up!

Emma Hunt (www.emmahunt.co.uk)  makes made-to-measure and bespoke dresses which are timeless and elegant.

The Magpie Vintage  stand (www.magpievintage.co.uk) was mobbed after the catwalk show and we could barely get a look in but the bespoke jewellery we could near looked fab!

Rosalind Miller Cakes (www.rosalindmillercakes.com)… these were so stunning I couldn’t believe it. They are renowned for their “delcious exquisite couture cupcakes, described as edible works of art”.

Temperley London (www.temperleylondon.com) offers some of the most elegant, romantic dresses around. For the best selection go to their bridal suite in Notting Hill, I’ve only had good experiences with clients in there…

And last but by no means least, The Utterly Sexy Cafe (www.utterlysexycafe.co.uk) are a “highly original catering company offering delicious food creatively served using an extensive range of fabulous vintage china for hire, as well as amazing wedding cakes”. This stand was probably my favourite!

Minimalist dressing…

So I’ve been reading a lot recently about the new minimalist “grown up” way of dressing that people are embracing at the moment and have to say I’m kind of relieved! On my last few shopping expeditions I’ve definitely been heading down a path that I’m not familiar with… shock horror… a simpler look. In the past I’ve been attracted to anything crazy, spotted, printed and covered in bows… But on recent trips to some of my favourite usually “easy buy” stores, such as Topshop and Urban Outfitters (places where you don’t have to think about purchases too much because the prices aren’t outrageous and stuff generally just fits), I haven’t really seen very much that I’ve “had to have”. It started at the beginning of the year when I was in Topshop and I took a crate-load of items into the fitting-room, emblazoned with Eiffel towers, bows and wild patterns and I have to say I wasn’t terribly keen on any of them (ok, ok – I admit I did buy a pale pink and white striped sweater with “Paris” written across the front but it was much more refined than the jewel-emblazoned one I thought I’d love!). 

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However, I also think this is down to the weather, as summer clothes just aren’t getting a look-in at the moment because even when the sun does shine at lunchtime if you’re sporting a really summery ensemble you look like an oddity by 6pm when you turn blue with cold – so, pretty floral dresses with their backs cut out etc have been a no no! However, I really have noticed that I’m more than happy to buy things that in the past I may have thought were somewhat “boring”(!)… as usually I’ve been drawn to clothes with more “personality” rather than just a simple top or dress… Yet, I’m definitely beginning to see the benefits of having such simple pieces – you can certainly get more wear out of them! Some items in my wardrobe I’ve barely worn more than once because they’re too memorable to bring out again and again… and due to Facebook and our obsession with recording almost every moment of our lives on our cameras and i-phones if you’re photographed in your new favourite frock – after looking at the photos a couple of times you feel as though you’ve worn said favourite frock 10 times – even though it’s actually only had one outing! However, a simple denim shirt dress with a tan belt and mac or an over-sized t-shirt dress with leggings and a cropped leather jacket can be worn again and again. I’m thinking cut and fabric as opposed to crazy statement…

I was beginning to think it’s because I’m “maturing” fashion-wise…. Surely not – I’m only 31!! Maybe when my clients ask me can they still wear leggings aged 27, it’s beginning to rub off? No… I doubt it – Carrie Bradshaw and Gwen Stefani are still my fashion barometers – if they can wear “stuff” as fabulous 40-somethings, then so can I! Anyway, I know it’s not that – perhaps it’s due to the recession (sorry to mention the “R” word) I feel we’re definitely thinking more about price per wear. People are still buying, they just can’t justify a new top to wear every Friday night like they used to. Maybe you could say that we’re becoming a bit more “moral” with our spending – so we want to get something that’s more useful which often means it’s slightly more “understated” and “classic” in its styling… 

I think it’s very important to point something out here – when I say “understated” and “classic”, I’m not talking a black cotton v-neck and chinos… I’m thinking… maybe a silk cami with a ¾ sleeved-blazer, skinny motorcycle jeans, McQueen handbag and studded ankle boots – simple, but still with an edge … just to clarify! 

Looking back I should have known when I bought Chanel’s “Particuliere” nail-varnish at the beginning of the year, which is beigy/browny and très chic, that this season’s dressing would be more minimalist (I so wish I’d bought 100 bottles of this because everyone loves it – and now it’s as hard to come by as Manolo Blahnik Mary-Janes prior to their re-launch last year! You know, the the ones that Carrie thought were an “urban shoe myth” in SATC!)… But where should you head for this more simplistic look? Well, Cos has some fantastic pieces which are simple but definitely with a twist and that’s why fashion editors love the brand – they’re easy to layer and put your own stamp on with statement jewellery and accessories (visit www.cosstores.com). Also, of course Zara is where you should go to buy trench coats, peg-leg trousers and silk dresses (www.zara.com). Banana Republic is also doing this look brilliantly – check out www.bananarepublic.gap.eu/. Don’t forget, to add interest, mix fabrics: silks, cottons and linens – and work neutral colours with summer brights and vice versa. Actually thinking about it, this way of dressing doesn’t have to be dull in the slightest – oh goodness, maybe I actually am growing up after all!

You have been warned

I attended an event last week, primarily because I was speaking at it, but also because there were some workshops dealing with style and body-shape, which were fascinating. I wasn’t necessarily “fascinated” because I wanted to learn anything myself – but I wanted to see how the ladies attending reacted to the information given. The group was a mix of ages, body-shapes and budgets. After the workshops there was a question and answer session and it was then that something really hit me…

The room was filled with attractive women, all who had the potential to look great. However, you could tell that the majority were so lacking in confidence in their style and shopping ability that they were practically paralyzed by the fear of buying an item that wasn’t “right for them”.

One woman shouted out that she couldn’t ever find a handbag – and that she found it difficult to decide what suited her? To be honest, I thought it was a God given gift that all women were programmed to buy shoes and bags with the greatest of ease…. I’m joking… I know shopping doesn’t come naturally to everyone but this woman was pretty stressed out about it (but no fear, after 15 minutes with me she’d fallen in love with one and went home happy… my love for handbags is obviously quite contagious as she’d not bought one in years!).

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When I try to work out why some people love shopping and others struggle, I think it’s down to one thing… If you think of shopping as a chore, then it will be. On the other hand, if you think of it as fun, it’ll be a more enjoyable experience. Another reason, people often think about things too much – is it the right colour/style/price… Will they find something else better?? They don’t simply think, “Do I love it? Yes? Ok then I’ll buy it”. Also, sometimes they want it to do too many things… Can I wear it with jeans? Suits? Dresses? Expecting too much from an item will mean it will ultimately not meet all criteria, so there’s a reason not to buy it.

I understand budget is more of a concern for some at the moment, but I’d rather buy something I loved – than something that was “oh so practical” (if I loved it and it happened to be practical then AMAZING!). Probably this is because generally I have a very positive experience when shopping – plus it’s my job to make a shopping trip simple. If my client tells me they need X,Y and Z, I’m like, “No problem.” That’s my job. Just tell me how much you want to spend and what colour you want – I’ll do the rest…

It’s only when I’m with certain people that sometimes I do think – “Oh Lord, this isn’t going to be my first unsuccessful shopping trip is it??” – when they’re talking about how difficult they find shopping and how they can never find anything… But it never is. Once we get going and they realize it’s not that bad and we have a bit of fun – suddenly it stops being so stressful and such a worry. And you can see the relief in their faces. They say “Have you ever had anyone who hasn’t spent anything?” “No” is my reply. As usually the issue is they spend too much! If I’m enthusiastic, my customer gets swept along too…. Shopping doesn’t then become a stressful chore anymore, but a fun experience. When making a decision about buying a handbag for example, I ask them do they have “handbag envy” when I try it on… And also if it was the only one in the shop and someone else wanted it – how would they feel?? That usually does it!   

I know when I tell my customers that fashion is meant to be fun they only begin to believe me when they’ve realised it for themselves once we’ve broken the back of their shopping list. Like lots of things you’ve got to see it to believe it… but once you’ve been bitten with the shopping bug, it’s quite dangerous…. there’s no going back – you have been warned!

P.S. Some Bicester Village news… they have just opened a pop-up store dedicated to British designers such as Hannah Marshall, PPQ and Erdem. I was in there the other day and they had some amazing WOW pieces! The “British Designers Collective” runs until May 7th – so get down there quick – it’s a definite must visit destination for any fashionista! For more info visit www.bicestervillage.com.

I know I’m very lucky…

Just when I was thinking that everyone had heard of “Personal Shoppers”, two people I was chatting with last week asked me what I did and looked at me as though I had two heads when they heard my reply. The first was a man of about 60 and he smirked at me and said, “You do what? You take people shopping; how funny… I didn’t know people did things like that!” The other was a boy in his late teens and his response from the other end of the spectrum was… “OMG that’s the coolest job I’ve ever heard – I’d love to do that!”

I’d just assumed that being a Personal Shopper was quite a normal thing these days. I thought that as it’s offered in many department stores and because there have been so many styling make-over TV shows over the last couple of years pretty much everyone knew that it wasn’t a service only reserved for the rich and famous…

In fact, it actually must be fairly common to most, as I get so many emails from people wanting to know everything about becoming a personal shopper; from what to study, to what to charge, to how did I get started? And many people I meet all know someone with a daughter or niece who wants to “work in fashion”. I probably get 5 students per week asking if I have any work experience or placement opportunities and I feel so mean when I email back saying “no”. Because studying fashion has become so popular I sometimes wonder who is giving them positions and if there are enough decent jobs to go around, at the end of the work experience, especially these days when it’s so hard to get, if at all!

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I was reading the other day about how companies who took on graduates for relatively low-paid jobs previously, are now expecting the equivalent student to work for free, or even pay for their positions – which really seems incredibly unfair. And it’s the whole chicken and the egg thing – how do you get experience if you don’t have any previous experience to prove you’re up to the job?

I didn’t study fashion at university, but “in my day” 12 years ago when I was in the sixth form deciding what to study at uni, “fashion” was not such an obvious choice for students as it is today. When I was at school, you tried for the London College of Fashion if you were hugely talented at art or maybe applied for a graduate training scheme to be a store manager/trainee buyer – but even those kind of careers seemed hugely unknown. However, these days the industry has had much more exposure because of the likes of “Gok” and “Trinny and Susanna” etc. Now everyone wants/thinks they can become a stylist because their mum asks their opinion before heading off to Per Una or because they can reel off some trends from a fashion magazine. Now don’t get me wrong, I totally believe that everyone can work hard and put the time in and (hopefully) achieve their dreams. However, I would like to think that some kind of flair is required for a chosen career!

To be a good personal shopper in my opinion one of the most important attributes is patience, followed closely by being diplomatic and a people person. Although the fashion part is obviously hugely important, being able to make someone feel comfortable and at ease instantly is as crucial. You also need to have up-to-date knowledge of what’s in all the stores from Primark to Prada, because every customer wants something different – someone might want to only shop “top end” and others may want 10 items for £300. You need to know the trends each season but more importantly be able to adapt them to suit the individual customer’s style. Many don’t want to be overly “trendy”; they simply want to know what suits their shape and colouring – and basically they want to look and feel good.

I don’t want to put anyone off trying to be a Personal Shopper but it’s not an easy job – you must be prepared to work hard and be enthusiastic at all times! However, putting all that aside – it is a hugely rewarding career. Seeing the difference in the “style” confidence of a customer at the end of a session compared to the beginning, makes it all worth while… Seeing someone holding themselves differently and feeling less stressed about getting dressed in the morning – makes you feel like you’ve genuinely helped someone! I know I’m very lucky…

P.S. For more information on how I got started have a look at my blog posts from October 09 – The Right Place and the Right Time, Fashion Foundations and London Calling. Also read my below comment…

Roll on the sunshine…

I’ve read several articles recently about how difficult people are finding it to know what to wear at the moment…. And I’m feeling their pain! Now I know it’s only March and that it’s often cool around this time of year – but it’s getting ridiculous. I’m sure the potential for snow has never lingered for so long…. Not in my life-time anyway! And just in case you haven’t heard, more flakes are forecast for next week!! The worst thing for me as a regular tube user is that I have to dress for all seasons in one outfit because it’s always freezing on the walk to and from the station AM and PM. However, of course the underground itself is like being in the Bahamas! I always look like a donkey when on the tube as I’m carrying all the layers that I’ve peeled off as I descend to what feels at times, like the centre of the earth. What with the tube, the weather outside and the heating inside, my skin is looking like a nightmare at the moment… Thankfully I’ve just moved in with a friend who’s a facialist!! How lucky I am to have someone on hand for all skin emergencies!!

Anyway, I’d planned to write about how I too was lacking inspiration when getting dressed in the morning due to the cold weather, as all I’m doing is piling on another layer of black… and from no-where up popped the sun (this was Monday) so I thought – no, not relevant anymore (I had my fingers crossed)! But then a day later, low and behold – the weather turns “Siberian” again….

At the beginning of the year I was so excited to get out there and hit the shops but as the February temperatures plummeted so did my enthusiasm for my prospective S/S wardrobe!! I don’t usually need to put aside time to “go shopping” of course as I’m always in the shops and spot things (far too frequently) which I just pick up after I’ve put my clients in a cab or dropped them at their chosen tube stop when our time together is done – however, recently instead of hanging around the shops I’ve wanted to whip down the stairs to the tube with them… to get home ASAP, eat and watch 2 episodes of Gossip Girl which I’ve become totally obsessed with (ok – I know I’m behind on this one, but I’d taken an instant dislike to the show after Grazia had described it back in 2007 as the “new” SATC – which was so not true!! You cannot compare Blair and Serena to Carrie et al! However I thought I’d give it a go…. and actually I’m really rather enjoying it!). So in a nut-shell, I’ve turned into a bit of a hermit – and I blame the weather (don’t panic I am still venturing out… I went to Bungalow 8 on Saturday night. It was quite fab and less posey than I’d expected, which was good – the only celeb sighting was Darius… does he count??)!

So in conclusion shopping-wise, the problem is I know it’s all out there waiting for me – but I’m finding it much easier to walk away than usual because unless I can wear my new purchase with the same black cardigan/blazer I’ve been wearing for the last 4 months I’m thinking, “Well, I can pick it up in a couple of weeks!” However one thing that I do have to keep reminding myself of is that I often prefer the collections in store at this point of the season, as in a couple of months the fabrics will get even lighter, for the high summer season. So in theory, if you miss out now, all that’ll be left will be shorts, t-shirts and kaftans! No – I’m being dramatic… But if you can drag yourself away from your latest box-set then you’ll certainly have choice at the moment…. But how do you wear your new purchases when it’s so chilly outside? Well all of the nudes, khakis and beiges that are so “hot” for this season happen to look great with black (the relief!) and pretty good with grey too. And the key word? Layering – the only way to dress at the moment. Add some of the new season’s colour palette in with your basics and you’ll begin to feel a bit more current again. So I’ll finish as I started… Roll on the sunshine!!

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Baby it’s cold outside

  

I was shopping with a customer on Monday for her S/S 10 wardrobe and we had a really fun day – she was trying on peg-leg rolled up crops, linen military inspired jackets and kaki sleeveless tees with ribbon necklines, all of which were lovely – but something seemed wrong. It felt weird because… yet again… it was snowing outside!! The day started off ok – one flake here… another there. But by the time we were power walking from Bond Street to meet her husband at Oxford Circus late afternoon laden with bags, the snow was so bad it was settling on my eyelashes and I could barely prize my hands off her purchases to hand them over because my hands were so cold!  

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I thought how on earth are potential shoppers supposed to feel inspired to shop for pastels and florals when it’s sub zero outside? Personally, I can see past the weather – I’m just gagging for something new at the moment as I’m oh so tired of my winter clothes… and if I can wear said item with a pair of black tights or skinny jeans now, then fantastic! But if not – my wardrobe will look more interesting and help me remember that Spring will come again… even if it doesn’t appear to be any time soon!  

However, apparently I’m not the only one thinking S/S – we went into Karen Millen and found a really lovely item called the “Crinkle Cloth Coat” which was belted with a full skirt in tones of grey (it made my client’s waist look tiny!). On the website this is the description: “Italian cotton and metal trench coat with subtle light to dark effect and crinkle texture” (£250 at www.karenmillen.com). Cutting a long story short when we asked for my client’s size they’d almost sold out of all size 10s and 12s already in London and it’s only early February and snowing! They printed out a list of stores where sizes were available – there were a few stores in the UK; but most were in far off places such as Moscow and Dubai (I never knew Karen Millen had so many stores in Russia and the Middle East!)!! So girls, the message is if you’re looking for that special S/S outfit you’d better put on your Uggs and get out and brave those sub-zero temperatures… You won’t regret it! I often find these early “drops” in store to be best as you get longevity out of an item – as stock delivered later in the season is often more “high-summer”. (Actually, my client was in luck – after leaving empty-handed we spotted the “crinkle coat” in the window and it was a size 12 and it fitted like a glove!).      

But what else is out there to buy from S/S that’s appropriate for this time of year? Well there are military-influenced pieces everywhere – kakis, beige, mocha, cappuccino etc and lots of nude. All of which are great with black and layered up with other items to avoid an overly Summery look (also, after a trying on session, the nude colours are actually more flattering than I thought, especially with darker colours – so don’t be afraid to experiment).  

I’ve also noticed that there are loads of distressed boots in the shops at the moment – many of them resembling something out of Oliver Twist (they’re great to make more Spring like pieces look acceptable when it’s snowing outside as they’re a heavier look)! I actually quite like them but as I’ve got size 8 feet I have to be careful with the “Dr. Marten” style – I may look more Bill Sykes than Nancy! I’ll never forget being in Dolcis aged about 12 and desperately wanting some of the above DM’s – in a beautiful shade of yellow. I can’t believe they were in fashion! Anyway, the sales assistant handed me the size 8s and actually laughed in my face when I laced them up – I’m sure the sight of 12 year old pipe-cleaner legs sticking out of giant banana boots was hilarious… but steady on, he could have scarred me for life!!). However, I’ve moved on a little since then and last week found myself some slightly more lady-like “Nancy” boots from Office for £80 called “Office Middle Drimmie Black leather” (www.office.co.uk), which make my feet look quite small actually (this is obviously relatively speaking!).  

Chanel Particulière

 

By the way do you remember I bought the new Chanel Particulière nail varnish last week and after initially saying I wasn’t sure about it, I now really love it (www.chanel.com)! It looks especially sophisticated with all the army shades that are in stores at the moment… so if you can get your hands on a bottle, give it a go – but don’t panic if you can’t get hold of it, the Sunday Times Style magazine is suggesting “Mink Muss” by Essie (www.essie.com) as an alternative… Phew!!!

Credit crunch boredom!

A couple of weeks ago I quoted a famous Carrie Bradshaw line about shopping being my “cardio”. Well I hadn’t hit the shops in what seemed like an eternity so I thought I’d better get started – to make sure I could still fit into my skinnies….That’s my excuse anyway!

I can’t tell you how exited I was to get “out there” as it felt like decades had passed since I’d actually bought anything new! So, last Tuesday after work I decided I was ready for an outing… I didn’t have long just time enough for a scanning mission, “Terminator” style. I whizzed around Liberty, Selfridges, Topshop and Warehouse – and managed a couple of purchases (mainly from the latter stores!)… After my little splurge I got on the tube with my bags and suddenly I felt all eyes were upon me. Like people were thinking – doesn’t she know there’s a recession? To make myself feel better I buried my head in this month’s copy of InStyle magazine… and OMG… I couldn’t believe it! There was an article entitled “Return to Spender” and I couldn’t put it down. In a nut-shell, the article was describing how the author, Shane Watson, had been incredibly good last year shopping-wise due to the credit crunch, only making considered, “safe” purchases and buying only what she “needed”. But she was explaining how bored she’d become with this new way of shopping and how she’d realised shopping was part of her and not something that could be denied!

It was just bizarre because that was exactly how I felt – and I was actually laughing out loud by the time I’d finished reading and I was so engrossed I nearly missed my stop! Last year, I’d tried to be as saintly as possible shopping-wise – really “considering” a purchase before I’d go to the till, trying to think, “Ok, do I really need this top, will it actually change my life (now I know a top is never going to change my life – but we girls do get this kind of over-whelming emotion of actually feeling like we do need to buy that silk nighty top or our world will end!!). I found that the more I analysed something, the less fun the prospective purchase became anyway – and I’d walk away and leave the item swinging forlornly on the rail.  However, recently that’s stopped working because my desire to get something new is over-riding my guilt to say “no”!

© Pimonova | Dreamstime.com

I suppose I was naïve to think that my ability to walk away would last forever – I have been shopping all my life (I’m sure it’s my mother’s fault – after her mother had passed away – when trying on two dresses and unable to make a decision, she’d simply say “I think mummy would want me to have both of them!”). Also, I am a Personal Shopper – and shopping is my business! So, after a year of trying to “make do and mend”, the boredom was bound to set in. I suppose it’s harder for me or anyone else who works in fashion because we’re surrounded by potential purchases constantly. When I’m researching for my clients, scouring the shops for the “hot” items of the season I inevitably want to purchase a few for myself! Gosh – I sound like a shop-a-holic don’t I!

Whilst I may like buying a couple of new things every season (ok maybe more than a couple), I do think people can put too much emphasis on having the new “it” bag every six months – or another pair of Louboutins for example. I don’t need that type of newness – I simply need a bit of a Topshop fix now and again – to feel new and updated and “on-trend”. One of my favourite Shane’s lines from the article was: “Over the past year, I’ve become adept at buying those compromise items that will update my look for as little cash outlay as possible…. As a result I have more clothes than I have occasion to wear, but I’ve also started to look a bit… bland. Nothingy.”

Someone had spoken the truth – Shane had totally hit the nail on the head! Due to the credit crunch there was a feeling that going shopping was wrong – last year even net-a-porter.com started delivering their parcels in non-branded packaging… so no-one knew their customers had splurged on a couple of designer pieces and the neighbours couldn’t judge them!

Well all I can say is I’m thrilled that at least someone else is feeling the same as me… a wonderful excitement to “get shopping” (albeit with a new sense of thoughtfulness, so as not to throw money away on completely unnecessary items that may have felt more acceptable before the credit crunch – and not using your VISA for another pair of boots if you’ve no intention of paying it off any time soon). And don’t forget – not only are you burning calories when pounding the pavements with your shopping bags but you’re also helping the post credit-crunch economy – as retail in the UK is an incredibly important part of getting money back into the system and providing many thousands of jobs. Now doesn’t that make you feel good, we’re doing our bit for the recovery too… so go for it girls!

I can’t do that online…

 

I was in Copenhagen last week, which was lovely as always. If you’ve never been – it’s one of the cleanest and most “perfect” places I’ve ever travelled to. Spotless pavements, impeccably polite citizens and everyone speaks English (thank The Lord… as Danish is one of the most difficult languages I’ve ever heard and often sounds like the Danes are messing around speaking gobbledygook!)…I was there for the sales meeting of a brand I’m doing some work for called SAND. (For a first visit to the city don’t arrive on a Sunday unless you like ghost towns, because it’s deserted and a bit weird – I live in London, so when a city centre city has only 2 people on the main street, I get freaked out and you start to wonder if everyone knows something you don’t!!).

© Deanpictures | Dreamstime.com

 Anyway, I didn’t spend much time on the “streets” this visit as I was there for work (and a fair amount of “play” – we had a wonderful private dinner in a fabulously kitsch café with our own Michelin-Starred chef, it was amazing!). I did, however, have an amble down one of Copenhagen’s key shopping streets en-route to the SAND store and I was very surprised to see an Urban Outiftters… and later that day I also spotted a Karen Millen in Illum, one of their department stores! I was surprised because I’ve always thought that the Danish dressed quite differently to we Brits and I’ve always considered Urban Outfitters to offer a very London type of “look”. That checked shirty, chunky boyfriend-cardi-wearing, multi-chained with a clock hanging off, quirky yet pretty mainstream type of dresser!  

The Danish have always been way ahead of us in certain areas fashion-wise, particularly on the trouser front – they’ve always loved harem type pants – and actually crops of any sort, with crazy pockets, ties/the kitchen sink dangling from them! I’d certainly never really thought of them wearing Karen Millen! But I haven’t been to Copenhagen for nearly 4 years and things have changed… In fact retail has become much more globally linked with the emergence of on-line cyber-space! Brands which would have been relatively unknown out of the States or the UK, for example, have been popping up everywhere.  

 At the fabulous dinner I was at, I had a really interesting conversation with one Danish girl (who was 19) about how she loved home-grown brands but also how much she liked the likes of ASOS and Topshop (before, unless you’d travelled to England, you probably wouldn’t have heard of them but now because of the internet everyone with access to a mouse and an interest in fashion has!).  When I was last in Germany, ASOS was brought up during a conversation over dinner – and 6 people out of a table of 8 had shopped there. No wonder I read last week that on-line retail sales for ASOS were up 17% on last year!  

© Michal Bednarek | Dreamstime.com

But I must admit that I’m not that into on-line shopping… it’s not bad for summer stuff. However, I always feel that if I’m making an investment wintry purchase like a coat or something – I really want to try it on in person. Plus, to me, half the fun of shopping is the trying on and feeling the fabric – also I’m often in between sizes on things and I have to try them on in both sizes to decide which fits best – I can’t do that on-line!  

So, as much as I think on-line shopping is oh so conveniently wonderful, if you’re time-poor or if you’ve got babies and can’t get out – I would never want it to replace actually “going shopping”. Now I know obviously I’m slightly biased as I wouldn’t have a job if shops didn’t exist – but also if you shop on-line you never really know if a style is the right one for you, because you haven’t tried anything else on to compare? To me there is nothing like browsing in Butler and Wilson (the amazing jewellery store – www.butlerandwilson.co.uk), going down the escalators in Topshop Oxford Circus (as long as it’s not too hectic) and seeing a sea of clothes just ready for me to immerse myself in… witnessing in person the stunningness of a Balmain jacket (www.balmain.com) on the 2^nd floor in Selfridges  or simply picking up an amazingly bargainous item in H&M that I spotted in the window. Shopping on the web just can’t possibly be the same! The e-tail phenomena has been unbelievable over the last couple of years – the rise and rise of the likes of net-a-porter has seen internet sales hit the roof. However, in the words of my 19 year old Danish friend, “I do hope on-line doesn’t get too big, I still want there to be shops in the future!”…. I totally agree.

A new year… a new you?

Jonathon Ross asked Catherine Tate on his show on Friday night whether she’d made any resolutions this year and she simply replied, “Oh what, like going to the gym? No… what’s the point?” Some people make them every year without fail… I on the other hand pretty much agree with Miss Tate as I’m still working on the resolutions I made last year and possibly the year before. It always seems like such a good idea to draw a line in the sand on January 1^st and decide that this will be the year to loose weight, sort out your finances and not eat carbs after lunch etc… Basically all the same things you promise yourself every year!

Personally, I’ve never been inspired to do any of the above – even though I wish I could get into NY resolutions like going to the gym… as the last time I went was during my university induction back in 1997 – well actually it was the step class I did the following afternoon when I was moved to the back of the class for being a disruptive element (I got an uncontrollable fit of the giggles and couldn’t get a grip!)!! The next day I got the flu and never went back… well, it had made me ill!!

© Radim Spitzer | Dreamstime.com

Even though that’s a lie – I had a 12 night stay in “Trump Towers”  in New York for a family holiday last year and I went to the gym almost every day (I got quite addicted to the running machine)! However, I couldn’t really get into it as several well known celebs have apartments there and just in case Brad Pitt for example (he doesn’t live there but I can dream!), did stroll in, I was trying to jog without breaking into a sweat (which is my kind of work-out!)? However, we found out a couple of days into our stay that there was a separate entrance taking the “celebrity” “in-mates” straight up to a higher level in the tower – so we mere mortals were never going to run into Mr. Trump or Brad Pitt for that matter – damn!! There was then no excuse for not running properly on the treadmill!! Double damn…

All these good intentions – going to the gym, not shopping in Topshop 4 days a week… don’t tend to last as they’re always too extreme. I think maybe that smaller, more achievable changes are a better idea – for me anyway, as I have the attention span of a knat when it comes to anything that takes too much perseverance!

© Pkruger | Dreamstime.com

Fashion-wise however, something that does give instant results and isn’t too taxing is a “wardrobe cleanse”. Just to let you know, there’s no point in doing one unless you’re up to it…. You need to feel quite ruthless for those tense moments – do you keep the bright orange (micro) mini-skirt from Kookai that you haven’t worn since you were 16 (for the fancy dress box only of course) or do you put it in the bin where it belongs? Difficult decisions have to be made!!  

To give you some guidance, here are my top tips for a successful cleanse:

 1. Look at your wardrobe as a whole. Literally stand in front of your clothes and see how easy it is to visualize your wardrobe in outfits? If it all looks like a blur then you definitely need to get it in order.

2. Go through every individual piece – and be critical. When did you last wear it? Is it worn out or discoloured? Does it go with anything? If not, could something be bought to go with it?

3. Try on items that you haven’t tried on in a while – not only to see if they still fit, but to look at shape too. Does the style look dated, is the length wrong etc?

 4. Make a list of items needing to be replaced or bought to make outfits with items already in your wardrobe.

 5. Arrange your wardrobe by season (at the moment your summer wardrobe should be packed away!). Then divide your clothes by item and then into colours – put all your dresses together, all your jackets, jeans etc. I find it’s also useful to split up dressy and casual items. Once this has been done you can easily see how many work tops you have for example, clearly showing you what gaps you have in your wardrobe. Or more often than not… that you have 5 black v-neck sweaters and 6 black cardigans – then you realise why you’re so bored with your wardrobe as everything you have is the same!  (But of course if all this sounds too much like hard work then hire someone like me who can do it for you!!)

So put some time aside and get “cleansing”… You may well realise OMG – I’ve got no clothes (my clients’ usual reaction)!! However, don’t fret as this isn’t an issue actually as in the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “Shopping is my cardio” – so you won’t need that gym subscription after-all!

Noughties to teenies…

I watched a TV programme on Thursday night about shopping in the “noughties”. It was discussing the idea that during the 00’s there’d been a shopping revolution of sorts in the UK, when suddenly everyone who’d previously only bought “designer”, started shopping on the High Street too. Kate Moss was happy to design a collection for Topshop, Giles for New Look, Jil Sander for Uniqlo… even Coleen designed a collection for George at Asda, which would have been un-thinkable 10 years previously. The decade was about wearing your expensive designer handbag with… basically anything – your look no longer needed to be head-to-toe designer to be “en Vogue”… And to me London has been at the epicenter of this revolution. 

It started me thinking about whether it had been the same in other fashion capitals of the world, which are ever so good at doing “designer” but to me, not as successful at the lower end of the market. I love the Via del Corso in Milan, Avenue Montaigne in Paris… Barneys and Bergdorf’s in New York – the same as I love Bond Street and Sloane Street in London, but where’s their Oxford and Regent Street equivalent? 

London Oxford Street Christmas Lights © Patrickwang | Dreamstime.com

The fact that Topshop has opened in New York, speaks volumes to me, as there was definitely a gap in the market for such a store… And this is the same gap that I notice when shopping in many cities of the world. How many pictures are there of Olivia Palermo and Whitney Port (yes I am obsessed with The Hills and The City – and yes, I know I’m too old!) wearing Topshop, as though it’s the coolest thing in the world – they don’t seem to be able to get enough of it. But think about it – where would we be without being able to pop into Warehouse in our lunch-hours to grab a glittery number for that evening, for example? We are so lucky to have the likes of Oasis, River Island, Topshop and Urban Outfitters (I could keep going)… And I don’t think we realise it. 

Ignoring our current exchange rate situation as a reason not to spend (and if in the US, forget buying brands such as Abercrombie and Polo which are obviously very well priced compared to at home) – if you want a decent going-out dress for say £100, how easy is it to find one?  As I’ve found that on the whole everything’s either expensive or horrendously cheap – there’s very little on offer in between and their “High Streets” are practically none existent. In the UK, whether I’m shopping in Liverpool or London, if I want to spend £50 or £500 on a handbag I have choices. And in a way I feel like I’ve been spoilt by how much we have on offer as when I’ve been away recently, I’ve been tempted to buy very little. 

This however hasn’t always been the case – as I used to LOVE shopping when I went away… I’ve been going to Munich every summer since I was born, due to my father’s business. When I was younger I would break my neck to buy “early” birthday presents there (it was usually July and my birthday isn’t until mid October), as everything seemed so different compared to at home. There’s a shop called Loden Frey (www.loden-frey.de) that I remember going into (a kind of Liberty/Fortnum & Mason/grand “old school” department store type place) and being beyond excited at the prospect of getting, among other things, a pair of navy blue woollen culottes and a white sailor style blouse with a big navy blue bow (this outfit seemed so chic and stylish in Munich, yet when I got back home I felt like a maniac!). My friend Kate who was with us called her parents to “send more money” as the store was not at all cheap and she wanted early birthday presents too – her birthday wasn’t until the end of March the following year! My mum would always go mad for their jackets and come home with new purchases (several of which she still has to this day – as they were so expensive she won’t part with them… I have tried to remove them from her wardrobe many times, but they always seem to make it back in somehow!!). 

Something else I bought in Munich… (People reading this from my year at school will remember this one) was… are you ready?? Ok – deep breath… A white shell suit covered in a luminous scrawl and a matching top and skirt – because it was the exact outfit Monica Seles won Wimbledon in, back in 1993 (I was a bit tennis mad at the time)… I spotted it in a department store and I had to have the whole ensemble “as an early birthday present” of course (gosh I sound like a spoilt brat!). Well, when I got on court (back at school) for the annual summer tennis tournament, did I think I was the “coolest dude” on court or what (most other people just wore their school gym kit…)?? The whole outfit was complete over-kill but it had the desired effect as I won the tournament (I was ok at tennis but I think because I was channelling Monica I couldn’t NOT win – even though looking back it was more likely that I blinded my opponents so they couldn’t see the ball, with my “dazzling” white outfit!!).

Patricia Field shop window in New York

Maybe for me, shopping when abroad seemed so much more exciting back then because of my age (for the above “ensemble” I think I was 12 at the time). Or was it because there was less choice at home than there is now (as it was “pre the High Street” as we know it!)? It was probably a bit of both – but when I was recently in New York for example, I barely bought anything… apart from the day that I went to the Patricia Field shop (owned by the stylist from SATC) and spent a small fortune (it’s like being in a giant dressing-up box – I loved it! Have a look at their website www.patriciafield.com – but be warned, I bought my sister a white gold “Carrie necklace” on-line and the shipping costs from the States were extortionate – and it barely weighed more than a fruit fly!!)… Aside from that, really I only bought make-up, which for US brands was bargainously cheap (my mother and sister did get some Abercrombie stuff but only really because we had to go in to check out the models on the door)!

 So for me New York, Paris etc… they’re fabulous cities to shop in if you’ve got some cash to spend… but I believe there’s no-where like London for bridging the gap between the likes of Primark and Prada (and if you’re looking for something more one-off there’s plenty to choose from too). So as we begin this new decade of the “teenies” – I wonder what the next 10 years will bring for us shopping and fashion-wise… probably a move to more ethical shopping, even more on-line shopping? Who knows – all I know is that I still hope there’s a bit of “sweetie darling” fabulousness in there somewhere…!!