I’m still hankering after pair of Ivory Man Pyjamas trimmed in black that Audrey Tatou wore in Coco before Chanel (the movie). There’s a scene in the film where she runs out into the street to say goodbye to her lover wearing the said same PJ’s. I did a search for a similar pair to no avail so far. I even went so far as to go onto any stands at the recent Harrogate Lingerie Fair to tell companies that they should be selling a look a like and had they seen the film. I know, I know the rantings of a mad woman. Do I not have anything more important to think about. Well? the answer is of course yes but I not unlike many other women have a frivolous need to seek out whatever takes my fancy.
The article in the Sunday Times entitled ‘Life’s just a pyjama party for city girls’ reminded me that shopping in Penney’s a few weeks ago for children’s clothes to send to The Umbrella Foundation Orphanage in Nepal I encountered three Dublin teenagers at the Pyjama section. Priced at 6euro a pair (imagine what the person working in the factory got paid for same?) there was great discussion as each style was picked up, examined and discussed. I joined in the conversation to see what the girls thought and was told that they were looking for new additions to their PJ wardrobe as they had most of what was offered already. They told me they wore them during the day and it was style as far as they were concerned. Penney’s PJ’s were the Bees Knees with La Senza for special occasion day wear! The pic below was the nearest lounging about by a fire in the Winter ones (sipping a glass of wine) I could find.
Tell me what you think about this trend (I can’t bring myself to call it a fashion trend but then I am snob!)
Polyvore is such fun so as I contemplated the Cocktail party that never was I put together a LBD plus the rest of the outfit and made an ensemble that I would have worn if I could have! Check out Polyvore for yourself, there is a whole Irish contingent and they have created some fab sets!
Having spoken to several key buyers over the past few weeks the word from the Retail Fashion business is that Autumn has got off to a good start. Figures are down from last year but the Irish women are buying. The next question is what are they buying. Irish women are continuing to buy special occasion wear and this sector remains strong regardless of many pundits who talked about playing safe in a recession and expecting bigger sales in strong basics. We have never been fans of plain clothing and if you walk into any of the US stores you will see the marked contrast in the offer with basics taking centre stage. Walk into Arnotts in Dublin to be greeted with an eclectic mix in strong colours. Maybe it’s due to our pale skin colouring and as I chatted to the Arnotts buyers today we had a chat about this very fact. It was drilled into us from an early age that certain colours didn’t suit us and the colourful scarf when wearing black for instance is de rigeur! Irish women like to be different and love colour and regardless of recession this trend is here to stay. The 40’s trend is far more likely to be a hit with the 80’s a miss (except in the younger market)
If you are a mature woman, lets face it, you are much more likely to buy Ladylike Chic than huge shoulders and leather leggings!
Check out Arnotts new website which has just had a re-vamp. You can now shop online and search for all your fashion needs in a user friendly way. Arnotts will be featured strongly in the next Issue of The Gloss a beautiful and very welcome glossy which will now go out with The Irish Times once a month following the restructuring of the magazine.
All of us fashion addicts will rush to see “The September Issue” when it is released here (though where? I’m not sure yet?) Riveting stuff from the snippet on the trailer above.
The film was made in 2007 and shows the excess of those times ( you’d think I was talking about years ago!) So fast forward to The September Issue of UK Vogue ( not the American one ) which I picked up at the newsagents the other day. Apart from the price which I looked twice at (aren’t we doing that with EVERYTHING now?) It’s half the size of last years and faintly depressing. It seems that Vogue is in the grips of the same fear as the rest of us. I always picked it up to be completely transported into a world that was never in my grasp but was definitely to be watched and used to project my own fashion ideas.
Now we have a six page feature entitled “More dash than Cash” where, horror of horrors, we are told how to cut off the arms of old tweed jackets?!!!!” Now I don’t know about you but if I read this in one of the weekly magazines I’d take note and think to myself maybe?, maybe not. But in Vogue and the September Issue? I think not.
There are some beautiful adverts and some awful ones as well as the main Fashion trends, “Ladylike Chic” and “Leather”well represented. Theres a lovely shoot featuring Pixie Geldof in leather doing the Tomboy/ Vamp look. But I for one am left wanting something to bring me back to that fantasy fashion world that I used to immerse myself in if only for a short while.
Following a very busy day in the showroom with five customers one after the other (and sometimes overlapping) I am just about ready to collapse from exhaustion though I never complain of being too busy as this business is so erratic and while I can be really busy for a few weeks it only counts when you add up sales at the end of the season. Seasons like the weather are unpredictable with some starting very early and ending early and others stretching over several weeks. Read more
I’ve spent the past few days in Ashdown Park Hotel in the beautiful Sussex attending the Wedding of my cousin Daniel and haven’t thought about blogging until today. It occurred to me that many bloggers spend ever increasing amounts of time trawling the net for news, stories, Fashion web sites etc etc etc….
I will resist that trend as I plough my way through the real world of fashion. The daily face work with customers, the endless phone calls, the trips to my customers and the ever increasing need to seek out new and exciting ranges.
I spent two hours in Gatwick airport which now boasts a Ted baker, Superdry, Kurt Geiger and All Saints shop and had a look through the rails of each. Kurt Geiger is filled with extreme heels and some of the new Autumn boots none of which were must haves for me . Ted Baker was filled with lots of creased garments and I wondered why they didn’t feel the need to steam press the garments before putting them out? We are all affected by first impressions. Whether it’s a person or a dress on a rail presentation remains a key factor in selling. All Saints is very in the moment and a pair of low heel fringed biker boots caught my eye as one to add to my Autumn wish list. The All Saints look with it’s grunge appeal is definitely on trend.
As I came back to earth this morning and I found the picture I snapped on my phone as i strolled through the stunningly beautiful grounds of the hotel I’m reflecting on the value of abandoning the computer and feeding the soul.
I remember the 80’s when we all wore massive shoulders ala Jackie Collins in Dynasty. There was a huge business in shoulder pads which I religiously attached to every conceivable garment including shirts and jumpers. They often slipped sideways and like the chicken fillets of today I shoved them back into place and hoped they would stay put.
It seems the 80’s trend is back. Balmain is the designer who everyone is copying and I saw some pretty good efforts in Zara. But trends never show up exactly as they were. Accessories are very different today with big statement jewellery and fantastic wedge shoes and killer boots giving an altogether stronger overall look. Irish women are far less likely to spend small fortunes on big shoulder items preferring to buy these in the high street and saving their serious purchaces for safer and more timeless pieces. Altogether a more sensible choice. Now I wonder if I still have those velcro shoulder pads at the bottom of my wardrobe somewhere?
The Harrogate Lingerie and Swimwear Show took place 16-18th August and so I found myself back in Harrogate Yorkshire in England for the first time in years. 300 Exhibitors showing Lingerie and Swimwear and buyers from the Uk and Europe gathered in this beautiful town which boasts the gorgeous Bettys Tea House and several great restaurants and hotels all within walking distance of the exhibition centre.
Famous Bettys Tea House Harrogate
Unpacking the samples for the Yummie Tummie stand we realised we were 15 hangers short so at 5.30 Monique and I having exhausted all other options took to the street. Across the road an old fashioned gentlemans outfitters and an idea quickly formed. They were sure to have some wooden hangers? I arrived in close to closing time to be met by three dapper gentlemen and one black labrador. Cut to the chase and three minutes later plus one kiss planted on one of the mens cheek and I excited holding 15 perfect hangers. Mission accomplished.
Rhodes Wood Gentlemens Outfitters, Harrogate
The show itself was intimate and friendly and with buyers enticed to go due to incentives from a couple of the larger companies the first day kicked off to a good start for us with several new accounts opened in the UK and Ireland. Buyers are nervous generally so we were very pleased that many were willing to take on a new brand during these times. Buyers, Companies and designers are all extremely positive and just want to get on with trading normally. The frustration comes from outside their control and normal trading without fear is what is needed right now. Huge talent is frustrated by the mess that Governments and the Banks have heaped upon the small businesses that are the lifeblood of towns across the UK and Ireland.
Catwalk show, Harrogate Lingerie and Swimwear
Fashion First Aid MD Karen Kay was at Harrogate with her nifty stand full of Fahion First Aid solutions. A starter pack costs just £200 and can be topped up easily. A must have for all fashion retailers for add on sales at the till.
Sally Heale , Designer Advisor and Fashion Scout extrordinare constantly popped by with a constant stream of new buyers and I took a minute to chat with her about business. Sally is developing a business to business on line Buying Agency, bringing together designers, manufacturers and retailers on line. Sally is such a powerhouse that I’m sure this new venture will be a success as we all try to find cost effective ways to network and place the right products quickly and with minimum cost.
Meanwhile the models were enjoying themselves and were happy for me to snap them from all angles. Great to see models of all sizes on the stands.
Chloe and Coral modelling Pour Moi, Harrogate August 2009
Friends First
Many of the customers I talked to over the few days had on line businesses with Shapewear particularly strong. It seems that taking into account poorer fabrics and cheaper clothing necessitates better and better undergarments.
Chloe modelling Pour Moi
I packed myself home on Monday evening and was home in time to celebrate a big birthday. Since most of the surprises in my life have been horrible affairs, the party that I had absolutely no idea about was about the best surprise I’ve ever had. I’m still in a state of shock and am recovering from too much of everything….. Back to the grindstone tomorrow?
The fashion world is notorious for put downs so as I approach my last weekend in the 40’s and head towards the big 50 let me share a couple that came my way in the past few days. A customer who bumped into my business partner commenting on me “When we met Nicky first she was very frumpy, now she’s so modern”! My frumpy days were when I was tending my organic garden, raising children in ethical, washable nappies, breastfeeding and generally immersed in my Earth Mother phase in which I was entirely happy. My social outings then consisted of the local La Leche meetings as I floated around far heavier than I am now.
The second lovely one was given to me by a London Fashionista who remarked that I had lost weight and looked great (silly me I thought this was a compliment) . I then went on to explain that I follow a low GL diet which is great for energy and maintaining a healthy weight. The remark back was ‘ Did you only get it now, I’ve been following that diet all my life, that’s why I’m slim and you are….” Wonderful, don’t you think? Read more
What did we do before Dundrum Shopping Centre opened it’s doors? It has become the destination for all us avid shoppers both real and of the window variety and exists in a very people friendly space with easy access and parking. I had to drop in today to meet up with top Stylist Cathy O’Connor who is featuring some of the new Autumn Falke tights on TV am next Tuesday. So business dispensed with I did a trawl of the shops and as I am a fast worker in that respect here’s a few pointers to what’s new. Fitzpatrick’s shoes have now introduced the new Autumn range which consists of lots of boots in various styles. River Island has some great pieces that are not only for the young. A knitted jacket that could take you through winter at 53 euro seemed great value as did the short biker boots in distressed grey at 110euro. An identical style is on offer in House of Fraser retailing at over 200euro!
It’s hard to tell exactly how much trade is down but from the lack of bags on arms I suspect that Dundrum is also seriously affected by the downturn. BT2 has rejigged the store and now has DVF wrap dresses on the floor which seems a bit surprising. It looks like they have decided to change direction somewhat.
For me Dundrum Shopping Centre is my local but for real service and value I still prefer the smaller Independent Boutiques where style and longevity are the key to careful purchases and ultimately the best long term value.
Harvey Nichols has a small offering from Space NK and for beauty junkies or unique girlie gifts you need look no further.
So if you want to meet a friend for coffee, take in a movie and have a browse, Dundrum Shopping Centre is the place, for all the important Fashion buys take the Luas into Town or head to the burbs and the designer boutiques.
Loading ...
