Author: rob

We are by no means a plastic free business but we are trying to do our own little bit to help counter the vast volume of plastic waste. All our carrier bags are now paper, we use our own branded wooden hangers and those of you who came to our Spring Fashion Week will have taken away our complimentary Bamboo drinking cup.

My mission for this buying season is to work on those brands to get them to help reduce plastic waste. We are a small fish in a very big pond but at least if I initiate the conversation, it may get them thinking of alternative ways in which to package their clothing. Some are already doing it and send items boxed and not hung which reduces plastic wrapping which is great. As individuals I think we can all do our own little bit because each little contribution we make, will make a difference globally.

On Saturday Annie gave a talk and mini fashion show on what to pack for a long weekend away. Clothes to take you from travelling, to sightseeing, lunch and through to dinner.  We have had lovely feedback from those of you who came along, so we thought it might be worthwhile to share some of her tips here. Her imagined trip for this event was a 4 day Eurostar trip to Paris!

– SHOES   Going away for a long weekend shoes are often the problem. On this occasion I think only 2 pairs are needed – loafers and a pair of kitten heels.

– LAYERING  For day wear every outfit needs to have layers, eg. t-shirt, jacket and jumper. For evening – either a bolero or pashmina/large scarf for warmth

– BAGS  A tote handbag for day wear will allow you to pop a small bag inside, which can then be used on its own in the evening.

– PRINT  Don’t be afraid to mix prints – eg. spots with stripes, florals with animal prints.

– COLOUR  A plain block colour allows you to interchange tops, jacket and shoes. eg. white trousers and t-shirt can be overlaid with combinations of coloured/printed jackets and jumpers

–  Packing items ‘just in case’ is OK!  If you have not got a tight weight restriction, it will give you a little more flexibility. If you do have hand luggage only on a flight you will need to be stricter with yourself on this.

–  Try to focus on non-crushable garments in your packing – Joseph Ribkoff is incredible for this. If the bulk of  your wardrobe doesn’t crease it is easy to pack the few pieces that do carefully at the top.

Cathy, whom many of you know through her visits to the shop on our Trouser Day, has taken over the fashion agency where she worked. And we went to see her in her new home. Situated in the heart of London’s West End, just off the fashionable Charlotte Street, Cathy has created a wonderful new showroom to house here mix of brands, Toni and Just White among them. Cathy worked for many years with Monika and Chris Bartsch, who have hung up their fashion shoes and are taking a well earned retirement. We certainly wish Monika and Chris well and are super excited for Cathy.

Tommy Hilfiger is one of the leading brands in this field. Their fabulous showroom, in the heart of Knightsbridge, has had a tech makeover to help in the buying process. There are still samples of the pieces so you can take a closer look at the shapes and feel the fabrics but then the selection is transferred to a huge screen so you can really visualise what the whole collection will look like in store and how the colours and pieces will sit together. While technology is helping there still really is no substitute for seeing the garments for real to make sure the product matches up to the image.

Snake print has slithered its way into the designs for Autumn and it is not just confined to clothing. Snake print shoes and boots have also come to the fore. Check jackets and trousers are a key look for Autumn and the ability to weave in a hint of colour from claret to blue or green make a great excuse for a pop of colour to complement the piece. Structure is creeping back with blazers worn with jeans or as a complete trouser suit.

However tempting all this sounds you will have to wait six months before it is in store.