Ultimately, it’s all about you!

For me magazines are generally just for the pictures and rarely do I find an article that holds my attention long enough to read past the first paragraph. But an article in the latest WWD, an American fashion industry magazine, on the divergence between press reviews and buyers’ views of particular collections got me thinking. Author Jessica Ireland used Balenciaga as just one of many examples.

The press were mostly “underwhelmed by Nicolas Ghesquiere’s worldly schoolboy look for Balenciaga” which met only “the most meagre of our expectations”. However, the buyers couldn’t get enough of his AW07 collection. He even created a new jodhpur-inspired trouser shape. Personally I was so inspired by the preppy double breasted jackets with plaid trims, brass buttons and puffy shoulders that I am prepared to remortgage to buy into this look shown above.

The press do serve their purpose and can make or break a designer’s career. Without press an influential buyer won’t even give a designer the time of day. However, buyers are more important than the press because they have budgets to buy into the designer’s vision. From my experience the press just want it all for nothing (or a hefty discount, because they can).

But the article is missing the next stage – you, the customer. You are the most important link in the chain. A designer might get global press coverage and a buyer may buy, but if you, the consumer, don’t feel compelled enough to part with your cash, after a few seasons, depending on their budget and patience, buyers will give up.

Brittique is all about new and exciting British labels that are often hard to source, particularly if you don’t live in London. This business is not about us, but about providing a service to you. We want to be open to your suggestions and let you have a part in the buying process. We would love to stock the designers you want to wear. Tell us the designers you dream of wearing and we’ll do our best to stock them for you.

I'm not a grumpy bag

In London I had a lovely Jura coffee machine and could make myself coffees all day. Sadly my coffee machine doesn’t work with the US lower wattage. Having finally found some decent coffee here in NYC (trust me, it’s not that easy) I’ve been nipping across the road to buy one whenever I felt like it. My man noticed how many coffees I’ve been drinking and accused me of being an addict. So I took him up on a bet that I was not an addict and could quit any time. Now two days later I still haven’t had a coffee.

I wake up each morning with brain fog that develops into a headache by the early afternoon. I’ve been such a grump that I think the man was ready to just buy me caffeine on a drip.

It was during my bout of brain fog this morning that I decided to skip up the street to Anya Hindmarch and buy a couple “I’m not a plastic bag” bags. After the UK hype it was launch day in the US.

Braving the thick New York humidity to march to Anya’s. I thought the golf-ball like raindrops would be a deterrent. Clearly not. When I got there the queue had wrapped around the building and was nearly back at the beginning again. I decided right there that despite an unread copy of the New Yorker under my arm I didn’t want a bag that badly.

On my march home I provided the perfect entertainment for a busload of Italian tourists and did a Marilyn Monroe as I dodged them and stepped on a grate just as a subway train was passing underneath. Luckily I had my nice panties on!

I rewarded myself for my efforts with a lovely, strong, milky coffee – decaf!

A tale of two firsts

Today I experienced two firsts in NYC – my first sample sale and my first vintage shopping trip.

I experienced firsthand the marketing power of DailyCandy.com. I hit the Botkier sample sale with an advertised start time of 11:00 at 11:23. Already the queue was around the block. After 49 minutes of waiting in line I was allowed to enter a busy but sparsely-bagged showroom. Apparently they were going to bring out more bags at 3:00. I felt a little ripped off after spending nearly an hour queuing.

Disappointed by the bags I decided to go to a couple of vintage shops nearby. My visions of $35 dresses as dashed to pieces. The dresses were more expensive than many designer ones! We’re talking multi 3 digit dollars. That said, every one was in mint condition. For the first time my bust was too big for a few dresses. Those vintage dresses are really small! I believe what I read about breast sizes increasing over the decades.

But I didn’t come home empty handed. Stopping by Legacy, I met the lovely owner Rita and got chatting about flea markets in Paris. Maybe it was her delightfulness that convinced me to buy this fantastic dress. It fits perfectly and is truly so beautiful! I can’t stop wearing it.

My fashion binge

Recently I stumbled across a blog called Fashion binge. What a fabulous name for a blog! It actually should be the name of my blog given recent shopping activities. After the Saks binge I did try to stay away from shops. I did have one weak moment at Saks again and walked out with Marc Jacobs cropped denims. Apart from that little slip up I had been on the wagon until my mother came to visit from Australia.

Clearly I inherited the shopping gene from someone and after a day out with my mother I know now it’s from my maternal side.

We hit Century 21 along with the masses. My previous attempt at shopping at this infamous outlet store was aborted prematurely due to overcrowding. It was slightly better on a Saturday. The well stocked shoe department was pure heaven for Mum and I as we tried on numerous stilettos, pumps, sandals and flats. I was relatively restrained and only walked out with a pair of jelly flats and some very practical white leather flip flops. But that wasn’t all. I also got the most unusual heels that are not quite kitten heels but more like bent kitten heels. They are kind of so ugly that I had to have them.

Apart from a cracking deal on a stunning cashmere top I’ve been able to keep my fashion binge in check with a simple strategy of not getting dressed in the morning!

Spring sales in NYC

The sale season started in NY just in time for my arrival. The $/£ is what put me off shopping when I moved from Sydney to London is now encouraging me.

After lunch with a friend I hit Saks Fifth Avenue. The women in the shoe department were like a swarm of bees. But what do you expect when Christian Louboutin shoes were from $220-$340 – yes ladies, read that and weep! Things really are cheaper Stateside. I tried on the Louboutin’s but despite the hype I found them really uncomfortable. I did walk out with a pair of Marni patent red block heels and Tod’s white loafers.

Then I hit the clothes rails and managed to snap up three dresses I have lusted after for months. The first is the beautiful DvF linen empire line sundress. Second is the very sweet Tibi gingham halter neck dress. Third was the biggest coup yet – the Marni dress I blogged about and had tried to find. Now it is mine and for 30% off. The sales girl was kind enough to tell me that I was lucky that the size 38 came up big enough to fit me. Since when was a size US 4-6/UK 10ish big?? That’s for another post. Despite the insults, I’m so pleased with my dresses and I feel fabulous in them!

The Metro's buyers' best

With all the excitement of my move to NYC I forgot to mention this fabulous piece of press we had in late May. The Metro asked buyers from select online boutiques to pick their top summer styles. My picks are the Camilla Staerk grey bomber, Lou Lou & Law extra long tank (which is more like a dress), Wilbur and Gussie Lionel clutch and Gil Carvalho Savoy sandals.

Gil Carvalho party platforms

Gil Carvalho is my number one shoe designer for purely sexy party shoes. The Daily Mail recently featured these Chelsea platforms in their "Dusk till dawn fashion" shoot.

I recently had a discussion with my PR Sophie from Preo about these shoes. We both love them and lust after a pair. But unfortunately our respective partners hate them. they just must be a thing that guys don't get.

Personally I still love them and will have to find an outfit just for them. I think keeping it simple with just a black pencil skirt and white blouse would work beautifully.

Amazing Preen-esque dress

While browsing through a couple of my fav blogs I came upon this amazing creation by Michelle at KingdomofStyle. She painstakingly created this dress in 13 hours (and has bruised knees to prove it).

While Michelle didn't necessarily come up with the full inspiration for the dress herself and readily admits that it's a Preen/Kane take off, she did put her own take on it with a beautiful result.

In my late teens, early twenties, I spent so much time sewing that in my first ever job I didn't wear the same outfit twice for 9 months. Sadly I had to leave the sewing machine and overlocker safely packed away in storage in London because the US is on a different power wattage and it wouldn't work here. Might be the right time to buy another one.

Free Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Night Cream or £250 goody bag

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Forward this email on to 5 friends copying in registrations@sheerluxe.com and you’ll be entered into a competition to win one of our goody bags packed full of luxury products worth over £250.

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Brittique in Stella

We've had huge amounts of press on the "Kylie" ankle boots and now Stella magazine featured the Gil Carvalho Ivy boots in gold. I personally love the gold ones and am hoping they don't completely sell out in my size like the black ones have. The gold Ivy boots will be available later today.

Brittique expands to New York

It is amazing where life takes you if you run with it. Just two days ago I was in London running Brittique, packing orders, finalising my autumn/winter 07 orders, organising events and assisting customers. As from 2 June I'm sitting in Manhattan working on expanding Brittique across the pond and promoting British designers throughout North America.

Today is the end of my second day in New York City. While it is another English speaking city, it is so different to London.

My first impression was that the fashion is much more casual. 2 June was sunny and humid and it seems that strapless ruched tops and dresses over denim skirts or jeans and flip flops were the uniform. But maybe that's due to the area I'm staying - East Village and the Union Square area is full of students. When I start exploring Midtown I'm sure it will be more conservative and formal in style, especially during business hours.

A visit to Whole Foods Market had me wide eyed with amazement at the variety of food options. The biggest and best fruit and veg I've seen plus about 10 options for each food type. I spent about 45 minutes walking through and felt like I'd just arrived from a Soviet country on food rations. I can't wait to try all the flavours of Ben & Jerry's!