Evening Dresses

As well as great day dresses and sundresses, we also have some divine evening dresses for your more special occasions this summer.

If you prefer classic styles then the Two Tone Dress could be right for you. Its jersey top makes this dress a comfortable fit around the boobs, whilst the thicker woven fabric of the pencil skirt has more structure to it to define the waist and emphasise your curves. Team with black heels and subtle accessories to let this gorgeously simple dress do all the talking.

Looking for a new LBD that is as comfortable as it is sexy? Our Kimono Cinch Waist Dress is one wardrobe staple you won’t be able to live without! Its soft jersey fabric makes this dress super comfy, whilst its wrap over effect front, cinched in waist and cap sleeves creates a stunning shape. This dress is everything a LBD should be; fitted, figure flattering and not too flaunty!

The sophistication of the nude Cotton Lace Shift Dress is undeniable. The classic shift shape is given a fashion make over with lace detail and nude colour. The softness of the chiffon over layer makes this dress feminine, fun and flirty, perfect for any occasion. Wear with soft metallic shoes and accessories to complete the look.

If we were trying to recreate an exotic vacation mood then this is the dress we’d choose. The Jewel Appliqué Dress in a turquoise that screams take me somewhere hot and exotic is the ultimate holiday dress for those special evenings out. The jewelled waist adds a touch of extra glamour and will make you feel totally gorgeous!

Wedding Season

Most of us have been invited to at least one wedding this summer. Everyone it seems is tying the knot this year, the best friend, work colleagues, Katie Price, Chelsea Clinton, Robbie Williams and Princess Victoria of Sweden (wow was that an extravagant wedding or what?!). So all you can do is find a wedding suitable outfit or three, secure a date (much more difficult than it sounds if you’re single, as weddings scare the hell out of single men) or alternatively find a good excuse not to go. We’ll let you off for the latter if it’s a colleagues wedding, if you’ve been invited to be in the wedding party however or if it’s the wedding of a family member then you’re going to need a very good excuse not to go! There is always more pressure if you are involved in the wedding party, as a bridesmaid or family member, as this requires much more chit-chat with guests and plenty of posing for somewhat unnatural photographs. On the positive side, you get extra fuss all day and get to wear something more extravagant, which is all good by us!

Weddings are funny things, as although their main purpose is to celebrate the love of two people deciding to spend the rest of their lives together, they are also very stressful and expensive even for guests. Like Christmas, weddings seem to have had their meaning lost under all the entrées, limousines and pressure for everything to be perfect. So if you’re getting married soon, planning a wedding or going to a wedding, just try to remember the reason behind all the little things that go towards making the day special.

Top tips for wedding guests;

1. Always take a gift and a card even if the couple ask for money or have a set list, a gift makes you look thoughtful and generous.
2. Be on best behaviour and leave the embarrassing drunk uncle act to the embarrassing drunk uncle.
3. Don’t look in any shape or form like you are trying to upstage the bride. Click here to see some of our wedding worthy dresses with extra room for your boobs which will save you about three weeks trawling the shops for a dress that fits!
4. Dance! The bride and groom didn’t spend a small fortune on a live band for you to sit down all evening. So dust off your dancing shoes and join in, avoiding the sways of the drunken uncle of course, the last thing you want is beer spilt down a dress that took you the best part of a month to find.

Stick to these golden rules and you’re sure to have a great time, oh and if you’re that bothered, you can practice your catching skills too!

Grab yourself a Maxi

The sales seem to have come round quicker than ever this summer, not that we’re complaining. Although it does feel as though we’ve barely had chance to wear our summer outfits before the discounts have started and that means accepting the reality that soon there will be new season clothing in and by new season we mean Autumn/Winter collections AAARRRRRRRRRGH! The sheer thought of winter fills us with horror, so actually we think we’ll make the most of our summer clothes before we contemplate buying knitwear again! Plus, it’s a great time of year to pick up some bargains or some last minute things for your summer holiday!

Hot summer items to make the most of (before it’s too late);

• Maxi dress, if you haven’t tried one yet then now is the time! Go jersey for day time and accessorise with bangles and long necklaces or opt for silk for an evening/formal look. Patterned maxi dresses are more difficult to pull off, but find the right print and they look incredible.
• Wedges, heels are going delicate and feminine next season, so make the most of your wedge heels now.
• Prints always look better and more exotic when the weather is good, so wear yours sooner rather than later at home or on holiday, there’s nothing like a bit of sunshine to set off a bold and colourful print.
• Anything bo-ho, the bo-ho look with its floaty florals, torn denim and straw hats is definitely a summer trend, it ties in with festivals, summers spent by the beach or in the park having a picnic, not so good in the snow!
• Utility chic will make way to softer more feminine styles so if you’ve invested in a pair of combat style trousers/shorts/jacket, wear them now. This doesn’t mean however that we’ll all be wearing lady like dresses and skirts next season, trousers are still big news and we predict you’ll be opting for a pair of silk tailored trousers over a dress for your winter parties.

Time to accessorize

Keep your eye out for next season’s must have accessories;

1. A cleavage, it’s true, a cleavage is THE number one accessory for next season. As fashion makes a long overdue return to feminine easy to wear styles, with 50s silhouettes and flattering shapes, a celebration of curves is also on the cards. Hurray!
2. A square bag. Smart, simple and square are the three key ingredients to the perfect handbag, preferably in a brown or neutral tone.
3. High heeled boots, think hiking boot meets stiletto. This tough take on the classic stiletto works well with the season’s country look, leather jackets and tweed.
4. Kitten heels, we haven’t seen kitten heels around for a while, but they work perfectly with the back to simplicity feel of the new season’s trends. They’re also more practical for everyday wear and are way more feminine and dainty then the ‘fierce’ heels of previous seasons.
5. Thin waist belts, these were everywhere on the catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2010. Wear yours thin and tied in a knot over your coat, over a cardigan, top or dress to add definition to your waist.
6. Leopard print is having a thing next season as it outlasts other animal prints and is still going strong. Wear the print in the evening for full on glamour on the wild side!
7. Socks with shoes not quite as scary as socks with sandals but we’re not too sure we’ll be able to rock this look without feeling a little too little girlie.
8. Long gloves, practical especially if next winter is going to be as cold as the last, but fashionable too. Long leather gloves are going to have a moment next season so make sure you get the right pair, wear to the elbow for full impact and opt for leather or suede. You can either match or clash the colour depending on whether you prefer the subtle classic look or something bolder!

New Season Trends

Next season is all about celebrating feminine style with reworked classics and easy to wear trends. So take a step back from crazy prints, OTT shapes and difficult to wear fashion and embrace the subtle sexiness of style.

1. Camel is the new black. If you have one splurge next season, make it a camel coat. This statement piece will keep you warm, dry and at the top of the fashion stakes all season. It is the perfect companion to tailored pieces that are also a key look for the season. Wear neatly cut and fitted or slightly oversized but wear with a brown belt to add definition and contrast.
2. Minimalism = maximum impact. After the array of prints in summer, winter will see all together more simple styles and shapes. The tailored look is re-born with leather and wool pieces from formal dresses to tailored soft leather tops. Colours too will be more neutral and bold prints make way to block colours and monochrome outfits.
3. 50s inspiration. Next season’s hemline is a modest to the shin length, perfect for 50s style A-line skirts and dresses. Think cinched waists, sleeves and modest necklines too!
4. Trousers will be taking over from dresses for evening wear, choose a silk style for added glam and classic tweed for the office. This look has a 70s feel to it, high waist, wide leg and a multitude of brown shades.
5. Colour embrace. There is more to the season than browns and neutrals, ice blues, reds, greens and surprising yellows are also on the cards to add a colour injection to a notoriously dark season.
6. Maxi-skirts, you’ve done the maxi dress so why not give the maxi skirt a go. Dress down a silk skirt with a cardigan or oversized tee or go for full-on glam with a sheer lace top.
7. Leather and lace, go gothic with leather and lace pieces worn together for full impact. Black lace is a must in the evening and if you’re feeling daring, wear in the day time with understated underwear.

Tan Accessories

We’ve gone into full on summer mode and couldn’t be happier to finally be wearing our flip-flops, sundresses and leaving our coats at home! Here are a few fashion updates for high summer that will update your look and hopefully uplift your mood too;

Tan accessories – shoes, belts and bags in tan look great when worn with crisp white or light natural colours. It’s a simple yet sophisticated look and fits in with this season’s utility and safari trends. Darker shades of brown will also work, especially with more natural tones but tan is lighter, brighter and looks so good with white.

Alternative prints – now that high summer is here we feel like we can have a bit more fun with our clothing and so fun beach style prints have taken over from the more serious graphic/tribal prints we have been wearing. Try an oversized tee shirt with a palm tree print for beach bound chic.

Raffia bags – you know summer has arrived when everyone starts digging out their raffia bags! Make yours a clutch rather than a tote and use in the evening instead of day time for extra fashion points.

Simple sandals – as fashion makes a return to minimalism (a huge trend for Autumn/Winter 2010 too by the way) even our footwear gets a minimal make-over. We do still enjoy our gladiator sandals from last summer as they are comfortable and give an edge to a floral frock. However more simple designs are taking over from the crazy number of buckles and straps of gladiator styles.

Summer hats – we’re not a nation of hat wearers but we think everyone should own at least a couple of hats, even if it is to disguise a bad hair day, you can still look fashionable! Boaters are the latest style of hats to hit the fashion stakes, these have a much more structured shape than panama styles and have a stiffer rim. This particular shape should be worn towards the back of the head as opposed to dipped down covering the eyes like the panama style. We are still fans of the classic panama style however; go for a light straw material and black band for the perfect summer accessory or something a bit more fun and colourful for festivals and outdoor events.

Layering is key

Lovely layered gold chain necklaces that is! So you’ve done the layered look with your clothes but have you tried layering your jewellery? The rule for jewellery this season is the more, the merrier and this applies to bangles, rings and necklaces as well as experimenting with more eclectic pieces such as toe rings and anklets that we only usually consider during summer months and with a pending summer holiday. Achieving the layered look, without appearing as though you’re playing dress up with your mother’s jewellery box, takes practice. For necklaces keep the styles simple but alternate length, delicate chains with small charm details look great when worn together. Avoid wearing chains that are too thick as even though the A-Team film is being reworked we don’t want to recreate the Mr. T look! Go bo-ho by piling on the bangles, keep them light and dainty or go thick and heavy with contrasting materials for a more urban feel. If you’re feeling extra daring then try an arm bangle, these are more difficult to pull off but when worn with the right outfit (think urban bo-ho in simple but quirky summer dresses and straw hat combos) they finish off the look perfectly. With rings, the bigger the better rule applies and wearing more than one huge ring is no longer a fashion faux-pas! Plus big rings have already been spotted on the catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2010, so this really is a trend worth investing in.

Top Tops

As well as giving you a range of great basic tops, we have some more fashionable styles too that will keep you happy and fully supported whatever the occasion.

* Hit the nautical trend with the side button jersey vest, the navy colour and white stripe detailing gives this top a fresh feel, wear with white linen trousers to complete the cruise look or go for jeans for a more casual take on this trend. And who knows, looking this good, you might even bag yourself a sailor!

* There’s nothing like a cute check top to celebrate the summer and this particular style has everything; gorgeous pink and blue check print, flattering empire line and cross over front, thick straps to cover your bra and to top it all off nicely; a tie back and button detailing. Summer picnic attire sorted!

* Looking for a top that is smart enough for an occasion but also gives great support and fit? Then we might just have what you’re looking for. Our embellished cotton cami combines a wrap over style front and empire line shape with a gorgeous green colour and sequin/embroidery detail. This top will look sensational with this season’s must have white jeans.

* We think our cotton pleat detail top is the top equivalent of a little black dress, it’s fitted, flattering and is sure to get you noticed! The empire line and low cut of this top will give your boobs a real boost and a little black top goes with everything, especially when it fits this well! If you love the shape of the top then why not try the dress version? The cotton pleat summer dress is just as flattering but comes in a much braver shade of orange it’s a cool comfortable dress that we think you’ll wear all summer!

Farewell SATC

Our worst fears have been confirmed as the SATC girls call a day on what has been one of favourite series of all time. The second film did receive some negative reviews, but we loved it anyway! Was it OTT? Yes. Was it highly unbelievable? Yes. But who cares, if it was based on reality the girls would’ve gone to Blackpool (or the US equivalent) and they’d have been wearing high street not high end fashion! One thing we did notice however was that the chemistry seemed different in the sequel, dare we say it, forced. Obviously the elaborate situation in which the girls found themselves i.e. out in the desert riding camels, was far removed from their normal filming routine in New York. But there was still something not quite right in the sequel film, as if the spark had fizzled a little between the foursome. We have to remember though that the actresses have very different lives off screen. SJP is a mother, Kim Cattrall is busy doing theatre and we have to respect the fact that these women have spent a lot of time in each others pockets, so there’s little wonder the chemistry wasn’t quite the same in the second film (even us devout SATC followers have to admit that).
We must be grateful however for the 12 years of Sex and the City we have had, that’s 94 episodes and the two films of course, so maybe it is time for the girls to hang up the Manolos and concentrate on other areas of their lives. We’re not saying that we wouldn’t be delighted if the girls changed their minds and a third film was to come about to conclude as a trilogy but until then we have the box set, the first film on DVD and are eagerly awaiting the release of the second film.

Stylish Work Wear

Although we are sometimes envious of men for their ability to just throw on a suit, shirt and tie, maybe have a quick shave and leave the house ready for work in the space it takes us to wash our hair, we are grateful for the fact that we can be a little more creative with what we wear for work. Anyway, we can wear suits ourselves and look just as good in them, remember Kate from the last The Apprentice series? She worked the androgynous look so well we were all toying with the idea of tie wearing for work.

Now that it seems the summer has finally arrived, perspiration marks on public transport and all, it’s all the more important to make clever clothing decisions, especially for work. Being comfortable is key, but we also know that many women are more confident when they feel they look good. These great summer pieces should ensure that you keep your cool, whilst looking hot this summer…

- Linen is a great summer fabric, it is light and airy but smart enough for most offices. The luxe linen skirt in chocolate brown makes a great alternative to black. Wear with natural earthy tones for the utility look or keep it simple with a bright white top. Our tailored safari dress also comes in cool linen and will help to keep you on trend in the office this summer.

- The washed cotton dress in khaki is a fantastic basic to have in your wardrobe and can be worn smart for the office or team with funky accessories and flip-flops for the day time.

- Our pebble shift dress and co-ordinating cropped jacket make the perfect two-piece that is modern, on trend and a fabulous fit! Both pieces work well on their own and the dress can be accessorised with your own personal touch by adding your own belt, jacket or corsage. These items will definitely help you to keep your cool at work, but we also appreciate an air-conditioned office!