Daily Mail's best boutiques

Daily Mail featured Brittique as one of it's best boutiques.

"The latest fashion news, latest designs and preorder of collections to come are some of the options at Brittique, a beautifully designed online boutique with a fabulous selection of covetable contemporary clothes and accessories including dresses, bags, heels and jewels."

Thanks Patricia from Thesiteguide.com and Daily Mail!

Metro's favorite new accessories

Metro picked the infamous Amber by Bionda Castana as their top new accessories for the summer. These shoes became a must have item after Agyness Dean wore them for British Vogue. You're in luck if you're a size 40/41 as that's the only size we have left. Remember they do come up about 1/2 a size bigger but can be laced in.

Source: RihannaDaily.com

Rihanna seems to favour emerging British designers. Last year she stepped out in Emma Cook's fantastic jumpsuit - I can't wear mine enough in summer! Recently the American based singer was spotted in this Hannah Marshall short sleeve jacket. She really is super stylish and it is great to see a celeb who doesn't have to be dressed in big name designers all the time. It would be wonderful if more celebs would embrace up and coming designers from across the globe.

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.

The future's orange

As soon as I saw these Bionda Castana Verity shoes I thought of the Louise Amstrup AW09 collection. I just love orange and can't wait to pair these Verity's with the Louise print pinup dress and matching slim wrap belt in orange. The shoes and dress are available to preorder now with delivery in August.

Brittique shoptalk at Dream Sequins

When I first started to Twitter I didn't really understand it's power. In the past month of twittering I have discovered some incredible bloggers and reached a more international customer base. Who would have thought?

One of the incredible bloggers I've "meet" is Dream Sequins. Based in my old city of New York, she writes about emerging fashion designers and independent boutiques. Sometimes just various tidbits about food and travel. You can follow her on Twitter.

I recently "chatted" with Dream Sequins and the result of this up on her website now. It's a little snapshot of Brittique from a fashionista's perspective.

PS. Check in with Dream Sequins for a fantastic giveaway bonanza that will be announced soon.

Designer Hannah Marshall Spills on Fashion

Hannah Marshall is one of the most talked about new designers. There is a good reason for this. Her style has sharpened since she first launched at London Fashion Week in 2007. Her collections are now entirely in black and feature strong silhouettes, broad shoulders with a sharp, tailored feel. For someone like me who doesn't tend to wear too much black it can be daunting to sift through. But when you need a LBD you can't go wrong with her collection.

Read Hannah Marshall's views on fashion with Elle Magazine.

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!

Spring bank holiday sale - extra 30% off everything

Psst... We're on sale to get an extra 30% off everything just enter SPRING09 upon checkout.

Any questions? Just email help@brittique.com.

New Arrivals: Amber shoe and Kate Tailyour

The long awaited Amber from Bionda Castana have arrived. And guess what? They're even better in real life than in all the press. I love them and of course had to take a pair for myself. Limited sizes left.

Also new in store is the ethical designer Kate Tailyour. Her draped silhouettes are easy to wear and all made from ethically sourced and produced fabrics. What's even better is that they're made right here in the UK, in London actually.

Fashion fuels death threats

Vogue recently reported that Peter Jensen is at the centre of a fashion feud over his interpretation of Greenland's national costume. Following the presentation of Peter Jensen's AW09 collection the designer received a series of complaints including a death threat.

Of particular concern to the native Greenlanders is Peter Jensen's interpretation of the kamic boots. Peter Jensen told Vogue "The collection and the boots were made out of pure love and meant as a celebration from the trip which we went on in November. That I am now getting death threats is really taking this thing out of proportion."

I love the boots and was disappointed to learn that they're only available from a certain high street retailer... We have however placed our AW09 order for the clothing. I can't wait for the beaded sweater dress and the digital print Citizens of the World blazer. This blazer is just so versatile and can be interpreted in so many ways from preppy to layered and geek chic. Preorders are now open with delivery in September.

InStyle wedding guest dress picks

InStyle's wedding special featured two Kirribilla dresses as their top wedding guest dress picks. As I said before, I'm loving the brilliant blue Helen with Amber from Bionda Castana. Image it with a colourful fascinator? Almost makes me wish I had a wedding to go to this summer!

Vogue on Vogue

Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman. Source: FBC

On Thursday I went along to the Fashion Business Club meeting “Vogue on Vogue”. Online editor Dolly Jones was interviewing Vogue magazine editor Alexandra Shulman. While I’m not a magazine junky and prefer online to magazines, I was interested in what Alexandra had to say about supporting young British designers and her perceived or obligation of role of Vogue. One interesting fact for me is that we both have the same favorite magazine, The New Yorker.

Alexandra spoke openly and candidly about her experience and was actually quite witty. Upon taking the job she had no idea or even interest in fashion. She didn’t realize that fashion was in seasons and still claims to have a more pedestrian view of fashion while her fashion staff talk about referencing great artists and events.

Dolly (not her real name by the way) asked if Alexandra felt that she fitted the fashion mold. The crowded room laughed when Alexandra said that one comment she hears continuously is that she doesn’t look like the editor of Vogue magazine. She always replies that she’s been the editor for 17 years now so this is what the editor of Vogue looks like.

She believes that fashion has become the whipping post for the celeb culture, eating disorders and other woes of the world. She said it’s just wrong and she actually enjoys the debate. Vogue was recently heavily criticized for putting Cheryl Cole on the cover. Alexandra said she enjoyed having Cheryl and believes she is a face of fashion. Besides, it was incredible for sales.

I was about to ask about Vogue’s role and obligation in the support of young designers. Alexandra said she feels a duty to support them despite the fact that they don’t give a single penny of advertising revenue. She believes that during the last recession some of the greatest trends emerged and this time is no different. She saw signs of that at the recent LFW. In reply to Dolly’s questions about how Vogue are dealing with the recession and changes in spending habits Alexandra said that Vogue has always been about an aspirational lifestyle and it will continue to present that lifestyle in a way that is not offensive.

There were a lot of questions from the audience, most just wanting to draw Alexandra’s attention to their brand. Something I should really do but it’s not my style. I do hope that Vogue can continue to support young British designers, especially in these times.
On the way home from the meeting I did pick up the latest copy of Vogue. I haven’t read it yet though. Had a delivery of New Yorkers instead!

Brittique launches on Twitter - 20% off your next order

We've succumbed to the power of Twitter. Follow us to receive 20% off your next purchase. Stay a step ahead with tweets of the newest arrivals and sales previews.

Perfectly pretty new arrivals from Kirribilla

Kirribilla's dress only collection is always a delightfully sweet collection of perfectly pretty dresses. As the design trio say, "you're too pretty to wear pants". These super sweet dresses are now available on Britique.com. I think the brilliant blue Helen dress will look incredible with the new Amber shoes from Bionda Castana.