I was in Leicester shopping - for hubby, not for me for once - over the weekend. We were looking for a wider than normal watch strap which also needed to be really long to fit round his wrist. Even though the trip was unsuccessful, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the willingness of all the jewellers (and there are many) to recommend other retailers when they realised they couldn’t meet our needs. I was also gob smacked by the fantastic guy in Timpsons - we needed 2 watch batteries as well - to give us our car parking fare out of his own wallet because he had been to busy to fit them in the time allocated and the watch repair man in Debenhams who thought he had found what we were looking for and happily fitted and then ‘unfitted’ the new strap when he realised he hadn’t. My faith as a consumer in customer service has been restored. Well done Leicester.
Foundations used to be a nightmare - heavy panstick or powdery concoctions that stuck to your wrinkles creating a complexion like a mask. Thanks to latest innovations in technology, the new breed of cover up is much lighter in texture and is used to create a flawless skin rather than giving you some colour - that’s your blusher’s job. The 52 year old beauty guru Bobbi Brown (pictured) recommends using just a concealer rather than a full face foundation if your skin is still good. Unfortunately, mine isn’t and I admit to being heavy handied when it somes to slapping on the makeup, which is why I’m hoping they run the following event again.
If you’d like some top tips from an expert, a day out in London and the chance to get it right, you can also do your bit for charity. Look Good Feel Better, a charity I wholeheartedly support, is having a Beauty Editor’s Day on Saturday September 19th at the Bobbi Brown counter in Selfridges. Tickets cost £20 BUT you get a goody bag with Bobbi Brown products worth at least that amount - Gel eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, eyeliner brush and an Enriched Face Base. Sarah Vine, The Times’ lightly more mature columnist who I love, will be present along with other beautyexperts. Phone 0800 1388140 for tickets. You can also get cheaper train tickets if you book in advance www.raileasy.com, so there is no excuse not to treat yourself.
If you are nearer the Peterborough area on September 19th (same day as above event), you can come and support another charity by attending our Swishing Party. This starts at 10.45 and is held at Orchids Ladies Health & Fitness Centre in York Road. Ring 01733 348299 for more information and to purchase tickets. You can get yourself a fresh set of clothes and come and meet me in person. Now there’s an offer you can’t refuse!
The mini is 50 today.
I own a mini. In fact I’ve owned about 3 or 4 in my lifetime of driving and I love them.
I attended a presentation skills course many moons ago and remember being asked to name the car I thought was most like me. My response - the mini.
Why? Well, it’s been a round a long time but remains stylish, it’s small and nippy, it’s fun, fashionable and funky, loves to customise its accessories and tends to be expensive to run! Sound like anyone you know?
Photo by Christy Campbell -The Daily Telegraph
I just managed to catch the end of Radio 2’s ‘Pause For Thought’ earlier today. The presenter, Father Brian D’Arcy, was talking about a beautiful picture - I think by the great artist Carvaggio but I’m not sure as I missed what he was saying - that had hung on a wall for many years but no-one had known of its worth. It had gone unnoticed. He was saying that the same often applies to most of us. We do not notice what a beautiful work of art we are in our own right. We may not fit the steroetypical norm, but in God’s eyes we are all beautiful in his image.
I’m paraphrasing, but I hope you get his point. We should take time out to look at ourselves in the mirror and give thanks for the way we look. Appreciate your own self, without arrogance, and you’ll start to notice how everyone else will to.
You might also enjoy this book too!
Fantastic news. Yasmin Le Bon, the ever- youthful 45 year old model and wife of Simon, is not only soon to be launched as the face of Avon’s new skin care range, Anew Reversalist (that’s a name and a half to get your teeth round) but is also to launch her own women’s wear label for the under- utilised clothing chain, Wallis. This is the chance for a store to make its name synonymous with successful dressing for the over 40’s woman and I can’t wait to see the results. I’m hoping they will be like the woman herself - chic, under stated, tailored, comfortable and timeless. Her first collection, YLB, will be launched on September 12th with very affordable prices. The maxi dress in the photo is just £65 and bracelet £22 (photo courtesy of The Sunday Times).
If you want to be one of the first to wear a piece of Yasmin’s creative talent, you have the chance to win a YLB necklace by signing up to the Wallis newsletter below:
I have always been a people watcher, and I love to see how people are dressed, which I suppose it’s par for the course given what I do for a living. My job often requires me to travel into London. For this, I need to catch a train, which is usually full of other professionals going to their daily place of work. What I have noticed, over a period of time, is that standards of business dress have got decidely casual. I don’t mean that the business suit has been replaced, though it may well have been, but more that it’s worn carelessly, with no real thought behind it. From my observations, it would appear that few professional men or women feel the need to shine their shoes, iron their clothes or choose a great looking bag/case. Regularly, I spot men wearing suit trousers, a shirt and tie teamed with a FLEECE and trainers! I presume the suit jacket is stuffed into the obligatory canvas backpack or laptop case, along with a decent pair of shoes, but who knows.
It tickled me, therefore, when I spotted an article in today’s Times about a woman professional who arrives into London via the newly refurbished St Pancras station (next door to my journey’s terminal, Kings Cross). The station is now so smart that she’s upped her game in the clothing stakes. It seems the French, arriving here via Eurostar, have no qualms whatsoever about looking good. No backpacks in sight for them.
Wonder if that particular philosophy will spread to the adjacent station? I’ve started the trend, well I hope I never let it go, but I wonder if anyone has noticed!
Picture - Champagne Bar, St Pancras station
Last year I related the story about the beautiful piglet who was scared of mud and couldn’t play with her siblings. The answer - 2 pairs of little pig size wellingtons. This time the story, once again courtesy of The Telegraph, has switched from a small, newly born creature to a huge, middle aged one. Gay, a 40 year old, 4 tonne elephant residing at Painton zoo, has abcesses on her feet due to standing around all day on a concrete surface. Although she is treated to regular pedicures and aloe vera baths, she was still in pain. The answer - once again was to give her a beautiful pair of shoes. This time, they have been tailor- made by an Australian company who had to trace around each foot to get the correct sizing. The red and blue lace up boots are 40 centimetres in diameter and cost £500.
We’ve long admired the French for their ‘put together’ style. Shopping for them is about buying coordinates that can be worn with existing items rather than randomly pulling out something that looks good regardless of whether or not it goes with what we have already. So mixing is where it’s at. I am writing about layering in this month’s e-zine, out next week (so please sign up if you’re not already a subscriber) and it’s a similar concept. Take a basic T and wear with great jeans and a designer jacket. Throw on a scarf, some great accessories and you’re done. Simple but very effective, style wise. French dressing is not about designer labels but great design. It’s modern but not stuck in a trend. It’s simple and it’s chic. 
So where can you go to add French styling into your own wardrobe without breaking the bank? Try these for size:
www.comptoirdescotonniers.com plus 13 stores UK wide
APC from www.net-a-porter.com
Paul & Joe from www.my-wardrobe.com
Isabel Marant from www.matches.com and Liberty.
and one of my favourites, Vanessa Bruno www.vanessabruno.com - the photos show plum wool blend asymmetric cardigan £190 from net-a-porter.Wear with shirt, T, sweater, over a dress with trousers, skirt or jeans. Fabulous versatility, without dating.
Value for money - try La Redoute, which also has a Plus size range www.la-redoute.com
Bon chance
…….a photo of my new suit. It is SOOOO yummy that I wore the jacket with my jeans - straight out of the shop - and admired myself in every passing window! Hubby smiled. I laughed out loud. That’s what clothes should do for you.
It’s Red Label, by the fabulous Vivienne Westwood. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but she’s certainly mine. I keep her clothes for ever as they fit my body beautifully, are so versatile to wear and I love the ‘twist’ in the design that provides dramatic impact. The blue dress I’m wearing on the left of this main blog page is also her design and I still love it as much as when I first purchased it over 2 years ago. On a Cost Per Wear basis, it really has given great value to me. Check out www.hervia.com for more options.
Here’s a test for you:
Go find something you love in your wardrobe right now.
Put it on and feel your heart sing.
Don’t have anything?
Perhaps it’s time to do something about it!
Good news if you are petite or a huge fan of the now departed Principles clothing chain. Ex Chief Exec, Peter Davies has reunited his former management team to form Mint Velvet. Targetting the 30 plus age group, they are positioning themselves price-wise just below Jigsaw and Karen Millen but above M&S and Monsoon. They are launching in a number of House of Fraser stores from October, with expansion into stand alone retail units at a later date. The first collection will comprise of 120 pieces, with knitwear, tunics, denim, cashmere mixes and velvet as part of the package on offer. Styling will be ‘relaxed but glamorous’ and ‘more sexy’ than previous Principles ranges.
News from another Davies, no relation to Peter as far as I know: you may remember that I mentioned the new offering for ‘more mature’ women from George Davies a few weeks ago. GIVe is also debuting in October and the flagship store has been named as Samsonite on London’s Regent Street. Innovative touchscreen technology will enable shoppers to browse, view catwalk videos, scan bar codes and check availability of stock online. Hope we’re young and able enough to cope!!! There is also an in store alteration and tailor-made service anticipated - now that we do like.
If you are a fan of Mulberry, you’ll be pleased to know that from September you can buy a capsule range of clothing online. Previously, this was limited to accessories and footwear. The new collection will include blazers, skirts and dresses and will be at a much higher price point than the two retailers above. Don’t discount out of hand though. Sometimes it pays to spend on investment pieces, so check it out for yourself at www.mulberry.com
