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?

Introducing Bionda Castana SS09 by Imelda

Nothing gets the heart racing like a new pair of shoes. Perhaps that's why shoes outsell clothing on Brittique. When I saw the new collection from Bionda Castana by pulse raced and I knew I had to have them. They're just so yummy! No wonder the designer's won the Vogue Italia's Who In On Next award. While not available until February, preorder yours now.

Since no one know's shoes like Imelda, see the superbly funny blog for details of my recent discussion with the one and only.

Louise Amstrup heads East

A huge congratulations to the exceptionally talented Louise Amstrup. She is heading to China to show her SS09 collection at Shanghai fashion week. Preen and Basso & Brooke are just two of the big names who have preceded her.

Louise Amstrup really is one of the most talented young designers. It is hard to beat the quality of her finish and I urge you to try the fit of the tailoring. Nothing fits me better which is why I'm always wearing it!

I recently placed our order for Louise's SS09 collection and I can tell you that it's her best yet. And Vogue agreed. Preorders will open soon but in the meantime if there's anything you really must have, just email us.

Not so coiffured in NYC

Today I tried to pull myself from the grey/black rut I'm in wore my new plaid, flannel, ruffle top by Ivy with a black Amanda Wakeley pencil skirt, vintage shoes stolen from my mother and black waist belt by Mardelle de Caille.

As you can see I don't have time to do my hair. I'm lucky to introduce my hair to a brush once a week. On occasions I get out the GHD's (love love love them) but most of the time it's the bed head slept in look.

New York women always surprise me with how coiffured they are. Where do they find the time to style their hair? Who has a spare 30mins each morning? It's even more apparent when you go to the Upper East side. This is where you find the typical twinset-with-pearls-lady-who-lunches type wearing a Chanel jacket, pearls, of course, boot leg jeans and a sensible shoe from Tods or maybe a sturdy heel. The hair is immaculate the nails are shiny and the look is one of careful consideration.

This morning I had an appointment on the Upper East Side and felt strangely "under dressed" despite my pencil skirt and heels. I just wasn't put together enough and looked like a fish out of water. But then I spied a girl waiting at the lights who looked as out of zone as me. She had the same bed head hair, although platinum blonde, leggings with big Belstaff boots and a black cocoon coat. She looked fab. As I got closer I heard her talking on her "cell" - she was British! Of course she was.

More bows and a sad day for Camilla Staerk UK

I didn't realise I owned so many "bow things" until I snapped my pic this morning wearing this beautiful draped dress from Louise Amstrup and matching red ankle boots from Camilla Staerk. These ankle boots are my absolute favorite pair of shoes so I have them in a number of colours. The heel is just the perfect height - 70mm - and the toe is has the perfect "pointiness". So I was really sad when I read the news that Camilla Staerk will be no more.

Yes I know it's not really Camilla Staerk and the real Camilla Staerk designs under Staerk. But there shoes and garments had a nice feel about the cut and quality. The collections have sold well here on Brittique and I'll be sad to see them go.

Given the current economic conditions this isn't going to be the last time we wish a design house RIP.

Did we skip autumn? I'm feeling the bows

I'm not sure about London but here in New York it's FREEZING! Around 8C actually. But it just seemed like a couple of weeks ago that I was sitting out in the park with my little boy in a tank top and shorts. It was actually three weeks ago and now there's salt on the roads and there's a valuable section of my tween-season wardrobe that didn't get an outing once again. Last year my autumn wardrobe stayed in the closet because I was heavily pregnant. This year it's been skipped!

The past weeks I have been consulting with a corporate client on fashion trends. It's a reach back to my banking days and a nice break from being immersed in my own business 24/7. While everyone else walks the hallways in suits, I don't own any so I'm enjoying tapping into a more corporate side of my style, one that hasn't been out in a while.

What I'm finding though is that I'm a bit stuck in a black/white/grey rut. I'm putting in another Brittique.com order tonight to try to rectify this. I'll show you what I purchase. Can't wait!

Sometimes it's incredible how quickly a trend reappears. Today's coat and top both feature large bows at the top. My top is large bow from Louise Amstrup is part of her SS07 collection (there's a story to this top so more on that in a later post) and the coat is by Katarzyna Szczotarska, who unfortunately doesn't seem to be designing anymore. It must be from her AW06 collection. If you read Elle or the ever candid jewellery designer Wendy Brandes' blog, you'll know that bows are definitely here for at least another couple of seasons.

Unfortunately my top and coat have sold out long ago but if you need a quick bow fix Kirribilla have some irresistibly cute dresses coming in the next month featuring bows. I've got my eye on this one. Perfect for your work holiday party, no? I'll pair it with my super sexy brown snake skin shoes and a gold clutch from Ignes.

The black panel skirt is from Louise Amstrup (stunning skirt with a zip right up the back and zipper lined pockets). I did have my Camilla Staerk ankle boots on again, but then I decided the gold buckles clashed with the silver top and skirt zippers to I change to a lovely pair of vintage kitten heels that I stole from my mother's wardrobe. Thanks mum!

Introducing my style

It just dawned on me that I might have one of the best jobs in the world. As the founder of Brittique.com I get to spend lots of money on clothes each season - all for customers of course - and take from the virtual shelves whatever I like - well, I do have to support my designers and try out the clothes don't I?!?

Each day I step out dressed head to toe in some of the best designer clothing and it would be just wrong not to share when I have a particularly good outfit going on. Introducing my style.

Today from Brittique I'm wearing shrug jacket and skirt by Hussein Chalayan, vest by Camilla Staerk, shoes by Camilla Staerk. The belt is by Mardelle de Caille, a lovely designer who sells at The Young Designers Markets held on Mulberry Street, NYC every weekend. The fabulous redesigned vintage necklace is by Shay from The Ongoing Project. Shay's jewellery is fabulous and you'll be hearing more about her in the future. Watch this space...

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...

A song and dance for Evie Belle

I know I know, I'm a bit like a London bus with my blog posts. You wait forever for one and then 3 come at once. Forgive me, like everyone it seems, I've been busy.

Confession: I didn't know who Katherine Darcy Jenkins and Darcy Bussel were when I saw these pictures. Call me uncultured but just keeping track of all the fashion designers is a fulltime job. A google search revealed that the stunning blonde is Katherine Jenkins, award winning mezzo-soprano and, with the list of awards she's received, I really should have heard of her. The beautiful brunette (with incredible legs!) is a now retired ballerina.

Katherine and Darcy appear in this photo shoot for Evie Belle, now available at Brittique.com. Evie Belle has a sexy secretary and yet vampy vibe. Kind of a secretary by day dominatrix by night type thing. The designer Sairah Hick's background with top tailoring specialists such as Burberry and Acquascutum is evident in the cut. The styles are universally flattering for sizes right through to 14. If you are a size 14 and think that designer clothing doesn't cater for you, try Evie Belle.

Win The Gift Book and a £100 Brittique voucher with Now

It's competiton time! We have teamed up with Now magazine to give you the chance to win £100 to spend on Brittique.com plus a copy of The Gift Book by Patricia Davidson from the siteguide.com, the definitive guide to the very best fashion, beauty, lifestyle and gift shopping stores online.

Beautifully designed, the book is bursting with interesting anecdotes and has themed sections including Valentines Day, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and house warmings, with gift ideas to suit every possible type of person.

Featured within the ‘Fashion Victim’ chapter, Patricia details online boutique Brittique.com which unites established fashion designers with the UK’s most exciting new labels, all in the comfort of a chic, easy to use online boutique.

Enter here. Good luck!

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