Friday, June 26, 2009

Austique!




Austique! The original girlie-chic boutique on London's Kings Road!

Highly regarded for its feminine collection and desirable range of exclusive labels, Austique's flagship store is a firm favourite of London's fashion cognoscenti and discerning shoppers from across the globe.

This gorgeous Austique Champagne Puff Skirt is priced at £150 & this leather Bulga Butterfly Bag £350.

For more great summer buys visit www.austique.co.uk

Bohemia Boutiques!


A little bit about Bohemia

BOHEMIA STORES:
31 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QQ
17 Roseneath Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1JH
(FREE PARKING AT WEEKENDS!)
PHONE: +44 (0)131 467 6660

BOHEMIA'S award-winning lifestyle boutiques are a favourite destination for customers who come from far & wide to shop at their Edinburgh stores.

Since launching online in December 2007, the BOHEMIA experience has become accessible to many new customers, both throughout the UK & Internationally.

"BOHEMIA has a fantastic website, which offers an excellent way to view, search for and buy its many products, without leaving the house." THE GOOD WEB GUIDE

Best sellers include cult brands such as ODD MOLLY, AMERICAN VINTAGE, VILA CLOTHES, BENSIMON, RUTZOU, NAJA LAUF, TOTEM, PAUL & JOE BEAUTE, ANGEL JACKSON, SMAFOLK, plus many many more...

Check it out on bohememia www.bohemiadesign.co.uk

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Collen & Clare Boutique


Recently hailed by the Sunday Telegraph Stella magazine as one of 'the top 50 boutiques in Britain' Collen and Clare has become one of the UK's best destinations for fabulous finds.

Started 6 years ago by childhood friends Vanessa Collen and Clare Adkins C&C has grown to boast a collection of some of the best designer names in the world of fashion. Catering for men, women and children our beautiful 17th Century store is in the heart of the picturesque Suffolk coastal town of Southwold. Whether you are looking for Hunter wellies to walk the dog or the latest Anya Hindmarch bag of the season there is always something new in store to tempt you. We even have our own label of wardrobe staples we believe you shouldn't be without - cashmere wraps, gorgeous ballet pumps and handmade Italian shirts.

"We want our customers to feel fabulous and strive to offer the best service we can whilst sharing your love for all things fashion. Our online boutique will reflect the magic our customers experience in our store and hope that if you're ever in Southwold you will pop in to see us"

Check out Collen & Clare online shop www.collenandclare.com

Looking great when your Pregnant!


You are hot, uncomfortable and cranky because nothing you own looks good on you anymore!
Apart from that pregnant working women still have to maintain a professional image. Here are some tips on how to look business like when you are lugging around a tummy the size of a watermelon.
Stick with classic colours that will mix well with what you already have in your wardrobe. Wear stretchy fabrics that drape nicely over your body. You don’t want tight, but you don’t need baggy either. That will make you look bigger.
Invest in a good quality black maternity pencil style skirt that hits the knee and wear the heck out of it. Pair it with jackets, tailored shirts and sweaters.
Jackets always communicate a business like image. You will be able to wear jackets from your existing wardrobe for the quite a few months into the pregnancy. As you grow, invest in one or two well fitting maternity jackets.
Invest in a classic white shirt, avoid ruffles, lace and cute detailing. Keep the shirt simple with minimal detail. Simple is always better.
Even when you are pregnant you need the LBD. Invest in a little black dress with a cotton & lycra mix, it is the easiest to clean. Look for an empire line dress, a look that is very flattering.
When it comes to shoes, comfort is the operative word. Try a pump style with a low heel half a size larger than you usually wear. Avoid flats. As you grow larger your posture will shift. Flats will make you feel unbalanced.
Finally – and this came as a shock to most of us – who have been there, maternity clothes are not put away right after the birth of a baby. It is not like Hollywood, where actresses drop all their weight gain and regain their muscle tone in 24 hours. We real women will continue to wear some of our maternity clothes for weeks after the baby arrives.
Congratulations and be happy!!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A crisp white shirt is a fashion classic




When it comes to classic fashion, the white shirt -- clean, crisp and timeless -- is hard to beat and is among the top 10 wardrobe staples.

Remember when Sharon Stone wore one to the Oscars with a formal full skirt?"

Audrey Hepburn famously wore a man's white shirt tied in the back to show off her tiny waist, but we have many more and better options now.

While white shirts always have been a crucial part of a woman's wardrobe, the infusion of stretch has rocketed them even higher on the list of go-to items.

Stretch has also made them more of a stand-alone piece -- especially when they can be worn over trousers, jeans or a skirt, without being tucked in.

The enduring appeal of the white shirt is simply this: "It's fresh, useful and modern."

Keep this in mind when buying a white shirt, which can range in price from €15.00 (at the High Street Shops) to €200-plus for brands like Ralph Lauren:

White doesn't stay white forever, so be prepared to buy some new white shirts when your older shirts start to lose their ‘whiteness’ or get dingy. The good news is that this makes it easier to stay in style, as shirt silhouettes are constantly evolving.


Buying a white shirt:

If you're petite, make sure everything about the shirt is in scale to your body. You don't want oversize collars, overly fussy details, too-wide lapels, too-long sleeves or too long of a tail on the shirt.

If you're busty, make especially sure that the shirt buttons in the right places so it doesn't gape.

The larger busts figures should stay away from ruffles or extra details on the upper part of the shirt.

For a slimming effect, especially if you go in at the waist, slightly fitted shirts are better.

If you have an undefined waist, though, the blousier look might work better.

If your tummy pooches out, a shirt that's ruched on the side can disguise it.

Vertical white-on-white stripes are very slimming.

Check how see-through the shirt is when you try it on.

Also check that all seams are sewn smooth and flat; if they bunch or there is an extra wrinkle, the shirt will look cheap.

If white doesn't enhance your complexion, add a pop of colour with a necklace -- say, bold turquoise, coral, jet-black or bamboo beads. Or add a scarf, cardigan or jacket.

If you have a favorite white shirt, that's fine, but try new styles, too -- pintucks, darts, piping, coloured buttons, bell sleeves, three-quarter length sleeves. All will update the look.

Caring for your white shirt

In general, it's better to wash your white shirts than to have them dry-cleaned. You must, of course, wash only with other whites.

Never use bleach; it will probably yellow your shirt. Pay extra attention to the collar. Put some dishwashing liquid or stain remover on it to get makeup off.

Wash in tepid water and let them hang dry, especially if the shirt has lycra in it. Or place briefly in the dryer. Be aware that even if you line dry your shirt, some may shrink up to a size after washing. Best not to buy one that's already snug.

Worth trying: Put white vinegar in the rinse water the first time you wash a white shirt. It helps it stay whiter.

Undoing the buttons when you place your shirts in the washing machine will keep them more secure for longer.

Article by Rita Mylett www.rmibranding.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Megan Fox at the Berlin Premier of Transformers

Online Shoe Shopping

www.espadrillesetc.com
Whether or not you're an espadrilles fan (and this season you certainly should be) you really should take a look at this summer shoe website, where there's every colour, fabric and style you can think of from rose trimmed canvas and embroidery to chic stripes and the softest suede, plus some very pretty sandals, gorgeously coloured beach bags and totes and children's espadrilles as well. They'll be happy to ship to you anywhere in the World


www.faith.co.uk
In 1964 Samuel Faith established Faith shoes with the aim of combining style and affordability and he seems to have succeeded. Youll discover some extremely modern styles here plus some that are far more classic (and lots in between) and theyre all at very reasonable prices. Faith Solo is the most avent garde part of the collection and you'll also find some extremely well priced fun leather handbags.


www.floydshoes.co.uk
You won't find this collection of well priced shoes in any retail outlets (at least not at the time of writing) as they're currently only offered on this website and at regional fairs. All the shoes here are designed by Janice Floyd, who created her company in 2002 with the idea of producing distinctive, fashionable, and elegant but fun shoes at an affordable price. Worldwide Delivery.


www.frenchsole.co.uk
If you've been looking for the perfect ballet flat to update your spring/summer wardrobe you need search no more. French Sole are well known for offering a wide range of styles, from the classic two-tone pump to this season's must-have animal print and metallic versions and each season they bring out new styles. They also offer high quality, well priced driving shoes in a range of colours from the palest pink nubuck to gold leather. They'll ship Worldwide.


www.gina.co.uk
Gina was first established in 1954 and named after Gina Lollobridgida. Now it's run by the three Kurdash brothers (the sons of the founder, Mehmet Kurdash) who continue to design totally exquisite shoes, so if you want the couture look and a seriously special pair of shoes then click no further. Here you'll find a collection of beautiful, sexy shoes in the softest leather and with out-to-lunch and dinner heels. There's a price to match as you would expect but the shoes are seriously worth it and they'll last a long time. You'll also find a small selection of handbags. Worldwide Delivery.


www.helenbateman.com
Winner at the 2002 Footwear Awards for Customer Service this Edinburgh based shoe designer offers a pretty and unusual selection of shoes. There's a great deal of choice from beaded Shantung silk evening shoes and stylish sandals to funky espadrilles in a range of colours. One of the great advantages of ordering shoes here is the amount of information on each style, from fit to fabric and heel height plus different views. As well as the shoes you'll find modern, well priced bags, must have belts with beaded buckles and unusual scarves and jewellery. Worldwide Delivery.


www.kurtgeiger.com
For some reason shoe designers have been extremely slow to get themselves online. Kurt Geiger is one of the top retailers leading the way and its ranges include not just Kurt Geiger but also Carvela, Emma Hope, Gina and Birkenstock. Expect to find everything from high fashion to modern classic and young contemporary and a wide range of prices. They only deliver to the UK currently and offer an express service.


www.lineafashion.com
Linea started life as a boutique in Londons Hampstead, offering designer wear from around the world. The shop is now online, with the range beautifully photographed on real models so you can see each item properly. Included are collections from international designers such as Blumarine, Celine, Etro, Gharani Strok, Juicy Couture and Missoni plus shoes (and bags) by Rene Caovilla, Missoni, Tods, Cesare Paciotti and Celine. If you're in a buying mood this could be a very dangerous site to visit. Worldwide delivery.


www.net-a-porter.com
If you've long been hankering after a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes (or several pairs for that matter) you'll find quite a collection here at the designers' website net-a-porter.com and you'll also find shoes by Pierre Hardy, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Christian Louboutin and but be warned: They do not stock lots of each style or colour but just a very few so if you see something you like you should go for it. Their eye for what you're going to want to be wearing each season is always spot on so have a look even if you don't want to buy so you'll know what you should be wearing.


www.prettyballerinas.com
Established in 1918 to make ballet shoes Pretty Ballerinas offer a wide selection of colours and prints including animal prints (zebra, leopard, or tiger) metallics, sequins, prints such as purple butterflies and fuchsia, green or blue satin. When you look at the site you need to be aware that all the prices are in Euros so you'll need to do the conversion to pounds, dollars or whatever currency you want to buy in. They're happy to ship to you anywhere in the World.


www.scorahpattullo.com
If your taste is for the very (I mean very) high heeled and extremely modern then come and take a look round Scorah Puttullo where their latest collections are just waiting to be delivered to you by high speed courier anywhere in the World. The emphasis is on the latest up to date styles, from flats and sandals to dressy heels so if you're looking for something new and super chic this season you may well find it here.


www.strutshoes.co.uk
For those of you who really like (and presumably can walk in) the highest killer heels this is probably the place for you, where chic and very sophisticated sum up the style. There's nothing for the fainthearted here but if you like to make an impression you should definitely take a look round. The shoes are very dressy and there are some wonderful boots you probably won't find anywhere else. They offer Express Delivery and ship to anywhere in the EU.


www.vivaladiva.com
This is an online store that's growing like topsy with more and more styles and designers being added each season. You'll find couture shoes by Beatrix Ong, Cavalli, Sergio Rossi and Emma Hope, their Boutique collection with names such as LK Bennett and Hobbs plus much less expensive ranges like Schuh, Ecco and Converse. It's a fun website to take a look at with a lot of attitude and the shoes are displayed very clearly. Shoes range from £25 to £300. Watch out for new designers being included.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Movie Review: The Hangover



The Hangover is the ultimate bachelor party, wedding jitters, road trip splurge on Las Vegas. This is a guy’s movie that toes the line with raunchy humour from screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore and Todd Phillips, director of Old School

You’ve got the comedy and camaraderie of City Slickers shared between Doug, the groom-to-be and his three groomsmen. If you loved it when Ferris took a day off school and howled when the Superbad crew hooked up with the police, then The Hangover’s what you’ve been waiting for. Dirty jokes, Mike Tyson singing, Heather Graham breast-feeding and what can only be described as a hotel room scene from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas are what The Hangover’s all about.

It could very well be the stuff of YouTube with the troupe of merry men hailing from all corners of Hollywood. You’ll recognise Zach Galifianakis as the guy who shared a hot tub with a topless Victoria Silvstedt from Out Cold, Justin Bartha as the cheeky sidekick from National Treasure, Ed Helms who plays Andy from The Office (US) and Bradley Cooper, the guy who had plenty of hands-on experience with Scarlett Johannson in He’s Just Not That Into You.

So Doug’s getting married, and his posse are going to send him off into marriage leaving no stone unturned. At least that was the plan, until they lost him. Now the three amigos are hanging badly, have unknowingly trashed a $4200 a night, hotel villa at Caesar’s Palace and have a tiger in the bathroom… yes, a tiger. It’s not their baby, but they take it anyway. The drunkards slowly retrace their steps across Sin City, unwittingly recovering lost memories from their fuzzy escapade through witnesses and clues. Strippers, chapels, hospitals, casinos… it’s like they’ve been everywhere with Doug. The comedy is raunchy like Old School, as The Hangover takes a page or two from Very Bad Things and Hunter S. Thompson on what not to do in Vegas. This is a misadventure story that will change everything in one night of debauched childishness. The truth is that they just can’t handle Vegas… Nevermind what happens in Vegas, it’s more about what didn’t happen in Vegas!

The performances from the no-big-name posse are genuinely funny and they have the sort of history that guys would only have after actually having such a misadventure. Galifianakis must be Seth Rogen and Jack Black’s lovechild… he’s clueless, “re-tarded” and seemingly innocent. Then you’ve got Ed Helm, who’s best described as a mixture of Daniel Stern of Very Bad Things/City Slickers and Christopher Mintz-Plasse… you know, Fogell/McLovin from Superbad. While Bradley Cooper has a Will Arnett look about him and plays it cool as handsome Phil, the smooth operator of the four ball. Phillips keeps a lid on things so that it all stays within the realm of possibility, while the mystery and wedding deadline loom on the horizon. South Africa’s very own White Wedding has a similar flair with the “what could possibly go wrong?” air of regret hanging over its principal characters. However, The Hangover takes this to the next level with mild action, plenty of Vegas adventure and a clever script that does well to conceal blemishes. There are several plot holes, but the camaraderie and comedy smooth things over with just the right balance of FHM guy humour.

Sorry ladies, but The Hangover is to guys what Sex in the City is to girls… one you’d best skip or use as a credit (two for The Hangover) to appease your significant other. This is definitely not about the wedding… there are tuxedos, wedding cakes and dresses, but this is about one wild, vulgar and offensive night in reverse. Remember Buying the Cow, throw Vegas in there and you’ve got yourself The Hangover, which already has a sequel in the pipeline. Picking up the pieces and discovering wicked, weird and wonderful happenings is all part of the ride. Be sure to catch the end credits as the boys flip through some photos from their crazy bachelors night out… definitely not for the faint-hearted. All in all, it’s a great movie for a boys night out complete with tips on what to do or not to do on your next bachelors. For most guys, it’s a movie that you’ll probably watch again… and again.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

National Ice Cream Week






Many women would admit wanting to put their lips to James Bond star Daniel Craig’s sculpted torso.
And this summer they can almost realise their dream - with ice lollies shaped like the 007 actor.
An ice cream company created the purple ‘licence to chill’ smoothie after asking more than 1,000 women which male celebrity they would like to see on the end of a stick.
Del Monte Superfruit Smoothies, who produced the limited edition replica lollies, said artists ‘worked tirelessly’ to recreate a sculpture of 41-year-old Craig in the scene where he emerges from the sea in Casino Royale.
‘Daniel Craig topped our poll of Britain’s coolest celebrities and thanks to our Del Monte lolly replica he is officially immortalised as super smooth and licensed to chill,’ said spokesman Matt O’Connor.
The Daniel Craig smoothie lollies are blueberry, pomegranate and cranberry flavoured and under 100 calories each.
They are to be distributed during the first National Ice Cream Week which starts today and ends on June 7.

Thanks to the Daily Mail

E-Soles



Hot on the heels of vending machines selling after-party shoes, comes an interactive kiosk that speeds up the process of buying custom footbeds. The eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System is a self-service kiosk that takes a complex 3D scan of the customer's foot, helping create an eFit footbed within minutes. Customers can also use the scan to order a bespoke ePro footbed, which is shipped within days.
The process is easy enough for customers to carry out without sales assistance, using a touchscreen to lead them through standing, walking and jogging on a pressure mat in order to take a measurement. The mat maps out the customer's pressure points using 160 sensors, displaying the resulting personalised 3D image on the kiosk's screen. The kiosk then prints a ticket, providing the retailer with information to construct a USD 75 template-based footpad that's customized to the user's requirements. Alternately, customers can wait a little longer for a fully customised footbeds from the eSoles plant for USD 249. Their data can be stored permanently in the eSoles database, letting them order additional footbeds without repeated analysis.
After launching at The Cycle Loft in Boston, the eSoles Kiosk will be available to other footwear retailers this summer. By combining interactive customisation with self-service, eSoles offer an engaging, practical and scalable add-on for stores looking to offer their customers the benefits of custom insoles.
The innovation doesn’t stop there: eSoles has also developed insoles that relay pressure information to a nearby cellphone. An application on the phone can tell the wearer how much pressure he or she is applying in 11 different zones. The system has been trialled by the US Olympic BMX team, helping them figure out how to apply maximum power to bicycle pedals, and it can also help analyze a golf swing or skiing posture. The insoles will be available in a limited trial version in July, and the sensors will initially be priced around USD 300.
Website: http://www.esoles.com/


Contact: www.esoles.com/contact





Thanks to springwise for this article

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Future Fashion At The V and A



New Design From The Royal College of Art






22 May 2009 - 31 January 2010Fashion, Room 40Free admission




This display features highlights from the Royal College of Art (RCA) fashion MA graduates' final collections and reveals aspects of the design process. For the past 60 years, the RCA has prepared aspiring designers for fashion careers leading to graduates working in fashion houses such as Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, ChloƩ, Dior and Burberry. Others such as Ossie Clark, Boudicca, Julien Macdonald and, more recently, Erdem Moralioglu and Carolyn Massey have developed their own labels.
55 outfits and accessories from 27 designers are displayed in four sections - Concept, Form, Technique and Detail. Each section will explore the design stages the students go through to create their final collection from their inspiration to the finished garment, and will include preparatory drawings, design boards and photographs.
Concept looks at the central ideas and inspiration behind the graduates' work. A military-inspired, crystal-encrusted jacket by menswear designer Katie Eary is shown alongside images from herpreparatory sketchbook with photographs whichinformed and inspired the designer's work.
Form explores how designers transform their ideas into 3-D garments by experimenting with materials and cut. Objects such as Heikki Salonen's sharply tailored womenswear and Nina Hjorth's extreme high-heeled shoes will show how the designers have achieved a desired shape.
Technique reveals the ways in which the graduates create their work using both traditional and the most advanced methods such as laser cutting, bonding, digital printing and sophisticated rapid prototyping. On display will be Siri Johansen's men's oversize cable-knitted jumper which combines machine and hand knitting techniques as well as a padded silk dress printed with digitally-manipulated images by Iacopo Calamandrei.
Detail illustrates how customised fastenings, decorative stitching, jewelled embellishment or a delicate print can make a piece unique. This section includes Benjamin Shun Lai Ng's crystal-studded footwear and Adrian Sommerauer's beautifully detailed menswear.