My lost top found after 2 years of searching!

Attending the Madonna concert in Madison Square Gardens last year wearing the too small Louise Amstrup Bow Top, Amiee McWilliams leather trousers and a clutch by Ignes


Over 2 years ago I had a press request for the Louise Amstrup bow top. The press sample was already out at Elle Magazine so I reluctantly sent off my personal top. Sadly it vanished. Elle claimed it had been returned, my warehouse claimed they hadn't received it back and my PR didn't have it either. Luckily we did get press from it and very quickly sold out of all tops.

I was so upset. It really was my favorite top. I loved wearing it with white jeans and silver shoes as well as the leather trousers shown above. I even begged Louise Amstrup to make me a new one but she didn't have anymore fabric. But she did send me a size 8. It was OK, but it wasn't really long enough for me to wear comfortably with my skinny jeans. I preferred the drapy feel of the size 12.

We have just moved warehouses in the last couple of weeks and I have been personally overseeing the stocktake and packing of all my beautiful Brittique.com clothes. There was an odd box leftover that seemed to have damaged clothes and just stationary items so I just left it - until today. What a surprise I got when I unpacked it and right at the bottom was my beloved top neatly folded in the magazine's bag. I'm thrilled! But now I'll have to wait a few months post baby to get back into it.

Book review: Lowboy by John Wray

Source: Amazon

Normally if I read a book review I don't read the book. They tend to spoil the plot for me. I prefer to start a book with only a vague idea of what the book is about. Lowboy was different. I read the review in the New Yorker and was intrigued.

The after reading the NYMag's review I knew I had to read it.I can't really add much to the fabulous reviews out there but to say that there is a subtle twist towards the end that it brilliant. The book is simply written and gripping. Apparently Wray wrote the whole book on the subway!

I was a touch confused about the ending and had to reread the last couple of pages a few times but after reading this review I now understand. Highly recommend it for your next book club - it's an easy page turner!

Perfect party dresses for under £100!!

UPDATE: TOFU now available up to size 14!!

Don't think you get buy a designer party dress for under £100? Think again! Introducing Tofu. New to Brittique Tofu offer feminine frocks with personality - and for a very good price. All the perfectly pretty party dresses above are under £100. The only dress that's more is the one featured in The London Paper this week. The Jerry Fish dress with it's layers of silk is still a recession proof £119. Check out their very cute coats too.

It's tea time!

Google kindly email me notifications of all blogs and websites that link to Brittique. I check them all and enjoy discovering new blogs who have discovered Brittique. Recently a blogger had linked to the new Emma Cook collection and commented on all the items she wanted.

When I read through the blog though it was not just on fashion but a starvation journal. This poor, troubled girl dairied everything she ate (or didn't) while other disturbed people congratulated her on only eating 1 tablespoon of ice cream, half an apple and litres and litres of black coffee a day followed by hours at the gym. Of course she'd have major slipups - her body was starving! - and she would punish herself by eating less and exercising more.

The blogger's thinspiration was the many images of catwalk models with their skeletal figures plodding down the runways. The fashion industry has a responsibility and I hope all the press of the size zero model doesn't quiet down and more is done to promote a healthy image.

I'm doing my bit. I'm working at my desk with a a fresh warm slice of my homemade banana cake with a weak, black Earl Grey tea. Here's to the fashionistas who eat!

One woman's trash is another's treasure

Just this evening I was throwing out my rubbish in our "trash receptacle" room when I saw this shiny gold silk in a bag in the paper recycling box. On closer inspection it was a gold jacquard silk Emporio Armani jacket! Someone on my floor had thrown it out!

It's a touch tight but in perfect condition. It's edged in snake skin leather and has amazing striped silk lining and a stand up collar. While it's labelled a size US6 It seems as if someone has accidentally washed it because it's really shrunk and is more like a 2 and the silk is really crumpled just like when you wet it. I'm pretty sure that if I send it to the dry cleaners they'll give it a good press and stretch it a bit and make it sit properly. What a find! Thank you neighbour! I'm just a bit afraid to wear it around now in case they see me in it and think I'm a scavenger...

D&G sample saleing

Vest Camilla Staerk, top Mango, scarf Salvatore Ferragamo, bag Chloe, trousers D&G, shoes vintage.

Dress D&G, cardigan Massimo Dutti, scarf Louis Vuitton, shoes vintage.

It's sample sale season. Prada's was a couple of weeks ago, Max Mara was this week as was D&G and Vivienne Westwood starts 10 November. I went along with come colleagues on my consulting job to D&G - WOW! It was cheap. Most items were 90% off. I got this black pencil dress for $127.50 and the tweed distressed trousers for $180. Just fab!

The dress has a patent leather attached belt and a large gold exposed zip up the back - and pockets! I do love a dress with pockets. The trousers have distressed raw seams on the leg and waist. They're uncuffed, a touch short and I think they look great rolled.

While a bit more conservatively dressed than usual, I've been consulting the past couple of weeks. Soon I'll be back to my usual style.

I also bought another denim corset style dress with an attached red patent leather belt and straps. It looked fine while i was fighting to see the mirror in the crowded communal dressing rooms, but i put it on at home and it's SOOO low. The vest nearly extends to my naval and I don't think it's my thing. I'll just write it off as a sample sale mistake. We all have those right?

The Russians fashionistas were years ahead

I visited a friend in Russia in 2001. His father had the foresight to start importing luxury produces into the country long before the current consumptive environment became apparent. As a result my friend is rather affluent and showed us the high life of Moscow and St. Petersburg. To this day the restaurants we visited were the most opulent I have experienced and around $50 a head bought you an incredible three course dinner, with wine and vodka. My favorite restaurant featured a giant glass fishbowl with a full working farm, animals, farmers, farmer's wife knitting, and all. Each evening we would be chauffeured in our black benz to a non-descript warehouse surrounded by dozens of matching black benzes and groups of drivers surrounded by clouds of cigarette smoke. After passing through metal detectors and numerous body guards, we were lead into these amazing restaurants and bars filled with beautiful monied people (mainly old men with nearly illegal looking young girls).

These barely-out-of-school girls with their long legs, heavy makeup, sleek finish, and doll like faces were very stylishly dressed. I didn't merit a second glance with my slept in, don't own a brush style and easy-to-travel wardrobe. There was one noticeable trend - all girls were wearing mini skirts with ankle boots, generally topped by a giant fur coat. Back in 2001 the bootie hadn't hit the west yet, it looked really odd to have your ankle enclosed and your leg bare. My man and I kept commenting about how strange it looked. It just didn't quite look right. Fast forward 7 years and it's right on trend hot.

Bionda Castana's Kika and Tillie ankle boots are two of the best interpretations of this trend. Judging by the press they've gathered I'm not the only one who thinks that. A couple pairs left...

Happy Birthday Brittique!

I can't believe another year has past since I first "opened shop" on Brittique.com. It's certainly been an exciting journey. To celebrate we're giving all subscribers to our newsletter 30% off the entire range - including the new arrivals. Just subscribe and we'll send you the discount code.

Thanks again to all our customers for you support of Brittique.com!

Nicole
Founder

Bionda Castana best new designer by Vogue Italia

Bionda Castana cofounder Natalia with Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani

Congratulations to Bionda Castana for winning the accessories award for the best new talent at the Vogue Italia "Who is On Next?" 2008. This award helped put Nicholas Kirkwood on the map after being awarded last year's prize.

We just received these sensational gladiator sandals from Bionda Castana. We only have really limited stock but email us to go on the wait list.

Casual style in the Guardian magazine

How lovely is this shoot from last weekend's Guardian magazine? Maybe lovely isn't the right word; inspired, natural, uncontrived? I just love the bare feet. I wonder if that was intentional or if they just didn't call in enough shoes for the shoot? Regardless, I think it's fresh.

Featured in the shoot is the H Chalayan printed tank top and Louise Amstrup scarf. The scarf sold out in minutes and we have a wait list in the off chance that we can get more.

I won the Peckham Rye scarf!

Remember this lovely scarf that Fashion156.com had up for grabs? I won the ebay auction. The 100% pure silk scarf arrived yesterday and I was not disappointed. The guys from Peckham Rye have done a beautiful job with the hand painting.

Love love love it. The best part is that the proceeds from the auction go to Acorn to Oak Children's Trust.

Source: Fashion156.com

Wedding frocks

In years gone by I loved to collect my mail each day and would feel anxious if I missed a day. But now it's just bills, bills and junk mail. So my mail sits in the mailbox until it spews out and the postman can't stick anymore through the slot.

So what a lovely surprise it was to receive a wedding invitation for a late August wedding in Hampshire, UK. Another friend who is tying the knot in November said she's not inviting anyone except close family because most people groan when they have to attend a wedding. But I do love weddings, not the ceremony admittedly, but seeing who else has been invited, eating, drinking, dancing then staying at a cheap hotel nearby. Most of all I love to dress up.

Nowadays we have so few reasons to dress up, well speaking for myself of course. I don't go to great cocktail parties or gala events so a wedding is the only opportunity I have to really go all out. So the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the invite was "what will I wear?". The invite says Morning Suit optional. That's fine for the boys, but what about us girls? What does it mean?

I think the chocolate dress by Kirribilla should be suitable. I'd wear it with my pointy snakeskin stilettos and a big, bold, gold bangle and perhaps my hair up.

What about this Basso & Brooke frock? Perhaps it's a little to "cocktail"? I have loved it since the day I saw it and really need a good excuse to wear it.

Another option is this Tata Naka dress. It might be a good choice considering how unpredictable a British summer wedding can be.

Nothing to say

I know it's been a long time but, simply, I've had nothing to say. Perhaps it's the constant juggling of an active infant with business and my life that has drained me of all inspiration? Perhaps it's the constant haze of sleep depravation (no, he's not sleeping though). I'm certainly not complaining, life has been great I've just had nothing worthwhile to add.

Often I read Sister Wolf, Susie Bubble and Liberty London Girl and wonder where they find the inspiration to come up with so much new material. (LLG has resigned from blogsphere for the time being with her excessive workload.)



So what have I been doing? I won't bore you with talk of mother's groups, playdates and baby news. Fashion-wise I have been VERY busy. All the new SS08 stock for Brittique.com has arrived and is, mostly, up on the site. I'm still working through the new arrivals from Hussein Chalayan and Peter Jensen, but they'll be up soon too. My fav dress from these collections is the Hussein Chalayan yellow zip dress in the pic above. This is perfect for strolling around the parks of New York City on a steamy hot day.

Also filling out my wardrobe are a number of Marni dresses sourced on ebay. I've developed quite a habit and constantly scan the auctions for genuine and cheap dresses. Her flouncy, blousey style suit me and feel so right.


So when I'm not buying Marni dresses on ebay I'm buying Marni-esque vintage items on ebay. The above cotton jacket/shirt is a recent purchase. I need a great bubble style skirt and some large beads and I'm set!

Having just started the blogging process again I'm feeling inspired. So more from me again soon. Happy SW??

The new issue of Fashion156.com

Pictures from Fashion156.com

Fashion156.com never fails to make me gasp with amazement everytime a new issue is published - every 156 hours no less! Guy and his team have done an incredible job promoting the best new British designers in the latest issue. Here we can see a sneak preview of the new AW08 collection from Hannah Marshall, Louise Amstrup and Gil Carvalho.

One of my favorite outfits of the season by Louise Amstrup was also featured on the hot list. This 40s inspired blouse really is hot!

Louise Amstrup picture by Mads Perch.

LFW - the venue for "second" lines?

Vogue announced that Preen will now show their second line as well as their main line this season. The main line will be shown in New York for the second season while the second line will be shown in Cophenhagen. Preen's designer's Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi said that the view is to bring the showing of the second line to London Fashion Week eventually.

Now I am a huge fan of Preen and love their second line, but I agree with LibertyLondonGirl, why should LFW only be for second lines? LLG pointed out that last season was Marc for Marc Jacobs, before that Stella's line for Adidas and now Vivienne Westwood's. With London arguably the most fashion forward of the fashion capitals and the breeding ground for many of the current top international designers, why should it be diluted with second lines?

A life of perfect imbalance

Women are very hard on themselves always reaching for an unattainable level of perfection that doesn't, sadly, exist. I think it's time we reflect on how much we're actually achieving rather than not achieving. Read more of my musings in my guest blog at Sheerluxe.com.

Inspired by a stylist

Source: Lucky Magazine

When I saw this picture I just wanted her look - the whole lot from the sharp platinum bob to the drapey dress and over the knee boots. She should look good because it is the celebrity stylist Britt Bardot, the one who doesn't take credit for Brittany Spears' look.

It got me thinking about over the knee boots and where I could get a pair. First stop ebay and I found these FAB animal print boots. I know it's controvesial, but I adore animal print. How lovley would these look with a drapey black jersey dress such as this one from Basso & Brooke? Something really understated. Pity they're about 1.5 sizes too small for me.

I am seriously considering the platinum bob though...

The answer for big bums

Source: Daily Mail. Singer Mica Paris, with and without slimming trousers

I've been singing the praises of Maria Grachvogel's slimming cut of trousers for a while now. Cut without sides seams they create a beautiful slimming silhouette and take away the bulkiness that generally comes with seams. Even with front pockets, there is no bulkiness where you don't want it. These trousers are really long so perfect for long legged ladies. Because they don't have cuffs, they're easy to have taken up.

Brittique stocks the perfect pants in a classic black or perfect tweed option and are heavily reduced to £99 from £350. We also stock Maria Grachvogel skirts which are made with the same principle - no side seams. This means the skirts sit close to the body and don't add extra width where it matters. Take a look at the plum a-line skirt and navy button up pencil skirt.

Ugly Shoes - are you guilty?

Source: New York Magazine

While catching up on the ever growing pile of The New York Magazine and New Yorker waiting patiently by my bed, I saw this very clever history of ugly shoes. So how many of these are you guilty of - or still guilty of?

*Clearly* I'm far too young for the Klompen Dansko and Earth Shoes, but my misdemeanor start at the Doc Martens - or the pretend ones I had. While going through my goth/hippy stage at about age 14 I longed for the real deal to match with my op-shop (charity shop for the non-Aussies) ground brushing shirts and ripped woolen jumpers. But the price tag exceeded my part-time casual McDonald's pay cheque. However, I have to disagree with the ugly tag here. I actually think they can look really nice. If I had some I'd like to wear them with a Peter Jensen white shirt dress, thick grey woollen, ribbed tights and the Tata-Naka chunky cardigan.

Another shoe I disagree with is Birkenstocks. How wonderful are they? I know my German in-laws cringe when I wear them but they are the most comfortable and practical shoe. They look nicer than a thong/flip flops and now come in so many different styles, even with crystals and designed by a certain supermodel if that's your thing.

Uggs I completely agree. They are UGLY! As an Aussie I really can't get it. I did own a pair while at boarding school because they were the best thing to walk from the dorm to the cafeteria of a cold morning. Then I also have a pair that I wore while travelling and snowboarding around Canada a couple of years ago. Perfect to wear in the car and quickly slip off into my snowboard boots.

As for Crocs, HIDEOUS! I don't care what you say. Only kiddies under 8 look cute in them after that they're just horrible. And seeing grown men wear them with shorts is too much. I also hear that they get rather smelly rather quickly...

I'm surprised Converse boots are not listed. While I love and live in mine, when you think about it, they're a very long narrow canvas shoe where the white gets really dirty and when worn with skinny jeans make people look like they're walking around with two canoes strapped to their feet. Attractive. But somehow they do work. Just to be safe though I only wear them with wider leg jeans.

Interview with Gil Carvalho

Gil Carvalho is really building a name for himself. While not my thing, having celebrities such as Kylie, Jo-Lo, Liz Hurley and Madonna, wear his shoes has really helped to build his profile.

Sterling Magazine, the inflight magazine for Danish airline, recently interviewed Gil. This is what he had to say about living in London, his heros and what inspires him (scroll to the bottom).

Here is a sneak preview of just one style that will be available on Brittique.com from March.