SUNO & Uniqlo - print heaven

I bang on about designer collaborations on the high street all the time. They do seem to be ten-a-penny these days - so many, that it's much easier to be picky about what you're interested in. Take, for example, today's announcement about Isabel Marant doing a range for H&M. I know many of you will be hyper-ventilating with excitement but I'm not a huge fan, so don't feel too fussed about it (Marni for H&M was an entirely different matter!).

Uniqlo has had some great designer collaborations. A few years back, I purchased an Alexander Wang for Uniqlo dress for something like £20. It is one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe...and now Alexander Wang, then a relatively new designer, is heading up Balenciaga!

The Alexander Wang dress was part of Uniqlo's Designer Invitation Project, which is still going strong. A couple of weeks ago, much to my excitement, the New York designer SUNO launched a range for Uniqlo. I remember a few years back seeing the first collection from SUNO (not in the flesh, disappointly, in magazines!) and loved the clashing prints and textures. The vintage Kenyan fabrics were used in a way that wasn't too boho, with gorgeous little tailored jackets, clashing blouses over dresses and fitted trousers. It looked tailored but totally deconstructed too - all in vibrant prints. I loved it. But, alas, my bank balance doesn't stretch to a SUNO original...so hallelujah for Uniqlo!

The range is small with a couple of SUNO prints used across dresses, skirts, tops and trousers. I tried on these trousers and loved them but I think I needed a larger size than they had in stock. The fabric looked to be straining a little too much across my thighs! But they are lovely and a really nice length.

SUNO skinny trousers - £29.90

I also tried this dress and loved the clashing patterns and midi-length but again, they didn't have my size in stock. I think I tried medium and it was very, very roomy.

SUNO dress - £29.90

But in the end, I went for this skirt from the range.

SUNO flare skirt - £19.90

It has the gorgeous, clashing SUNO print and is fun and flirty. I had hoped I could wear it to work with a plain white shirt, but it's a bit too short. Even with flat shoes, I felt a bit exposed for the office. So I think it will be one for socialising...perfect for when the British summer does finally make an appearance!

Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo

I know I harp on rather a lot about designer collaborations on the high street. But even in the depths of a painful, unattractive, miserable sinus infection, I can feel the fluttering of excitement at the prospect of tomorrow's launch of the Celia Birtwell range at Uniqlo.

It's not the first time she's produced a range for a high street brand - a few years back it was Topshop, then John Lewis and she's done various accessories for other brands, such as Boots. But I think if you love Celia Birtwell - and I do - it doesn't matter that there have been other ranges, it's still exciting and a great opportunity to get your hands on some of her iconic prints...at amazing prices.

I have my eye on some of the dresses and blouses, including these two lovelies...

Blouse - £19.90

Dress - £29.90

Vogue has a gallery on its website showing the range...though I didn't spot the grey polka dot outfit anywhere, which I'm a bit partial to (even though I know that those trousers are likely to make anyone under 5"7 look rather squat!). 

The range goes on sale online at 9am tomorrow and 10am in store.

Lulu Guinness for Red Nose Day

You know I'm a frustrated Lulu Guinness fan. Frustrated in the sense that I cannot afford to drop £400 for a handbag...or even £197.50 in the sale. Though I confess I did treat myself to a lipstick necklace to commiserate for the bag that got away.

So given this frustration, imagine my pleasure at seeing these beauties...

Lulu Guinness...for a fiver!

Special Red Nose day shoppers, which will go on sale in Sainburys on 13 February. They cost £5 and £1.50 of this goes to Comic Relief. Aren't they adorable?! And for charity. A shopping win! 

Exciting news from Clarks

Another day, another blog about Clarks. I'm getting to a point where I think my blog could just be renamed 'what can I buy in Clarks?'!

No one I ever speak to seems to bother shopping in Clarks (other than my sister - we share a Clarks habit) because it just has a reputation of sensible, slightly frumpy shoes. This is such an out-of-date image...and look what you're missing.

Scent Eley in blue textile - £79.99

Eley Kishimoto for Clarks! I shit you not. Can you believe it?! My sister texted me today and I could actually sense the borderline hysteria in her message. We are excited.

It doesn't go on sale until 1 March, so set yourself a reminder. I also think they're doing waiting lists...but that's a step too far for me!

Ancient Eley in orange - £69.99

Desert boot in orange geometric print - £89.00

Scent Eley in white combi - £79.99

Peter Jensen cat print & soldiers

We’ve now into the dregs of the sales season. Even I’m getting a bit fed-up of the red signs and slightly tattered wears.

So onto all things new!

I spotted these in a magazine a few weeks ago. Danish designer Peter Jensen has produced a teeny tiny range for the ethical clothing brand People Tree. It features two designs - the cat print, which I love, and the soldier print, which I’m not so sure about. I think there’s a risk that it could look like you’ve bought your frock from the gift shop at Buckingham Palace. The t-shirt could be ok – but you’d have to think very carefully about styling...‘London tourist’ isn’t a great look!

Peter Jensen soldier print tee - £45

My favourite is this dress – I love the fusion of the quirky print with the really simply, flattering cut.

Peter Jensen cat dress - £68

But I'd also be tempted to buy these…

Peter Jensen cat print tee – £45

Peter Jensen cat print fleece sweatshirt - £65

End of sales round-up

I admit I've become a little obsessed with sales shopping. I think it's perhaps the drought of the last few months - once I gave myself permission to actually buy something, the floodgates opened and I felt on a shopping high! Most of the time, this has taken the form of just endless rooting around websites. Not much actual buying - just researching and planning and trying to justify opening my purse.

I was coveting this handbag from Lulu Guinness but it never quite reduced by enough and then it sold out. So in the end, some money I'd been saving towards it was used to buy shelving for our lounge instead. Reality has a habit of invading my shopping fantasies!

Anyway, I did buy the boots from Clarks shown below. They're amazing. They look great with dresses and, as someone with a few issues with my feet (swelling on nerves!), these are incredibly comfortable. I thoroughly recommend them.

So these are my end of the sales season picks. My purse is closed (I think), so I'm simply sharing them with you, rather than planning to buy...

Have you had any major sales bargains??

Mary Portas gold tweed coat with removable knit sleeves - £85.50 (down from £285)

Mary Portas cabbage rose shift dress - £39 (down from £160)

Clarks grey suede yarra desert boots - £39 (down from £99)

Lulu Guinness pink pave lips/lipstick necklace - £25.50 (down from £85)

Jaeger Boutique Rosemund spot jacket - £49 (down from £180)

Owl face jumper by Emma Cook for Topshop - £25 (down from £40)

Reiss navy zip through dress - £47 (down from £159)

Dahlia khaki embellished collar blouse - £25 (down from £58)

And, in my shopping dreams, Orla Kiely sparkle boat neck dress - £167.50 (down from £335)

Minnie Mouse jewellery

So far, I seem to be sticking to my 'no shopping until January' pledge with relative ease (admittedly Mr W has purchased me a dress over the past month, which has probably helped!). But there are times, such as today, when I spot something I've been lusting after for quite some time and it's now in the sale and my new austere ways chafe just a little!

Minnie ears necklace - £35 (down from £50)

This Minnie Mawi for Disney Couture necklace is part of a range of Minnie Mouse inspired jewellery from the glorious costume jewellery designer, Mawi.

I've lusted after this for a while and now it's in the sale, it's very difficult to keep my purse shut. I love pretty much everything in this range though - the small stud earrings are a close second to this necklace. Fingers crossed there'll still be a few pieces left come January!

JW Anderson for Topshop...in the office?!

A bit late to the party on this, as the JW Anderson range for Topshop launched a little while ago, but I’ve finally got around to having a look at it. You may have seen lots of photos of Alexa Chung sporting the bat sweater from the range around the time the collection was launched during London Fashion Week (it’s now sold out).
 

It would have be easy to look at the styling of the JW Anderson for Topshop shoot and just clicked back off, thinking that there’s nothing for a 35-year-old working mum. But, calm the styling down a little and there are some great pieces. I’m a massive fan of the matching skirts and tops in quilted fabrics. I know that there’s a worry that you could make yourself look bigger wearing any sort of quilted material but the fabric is silk, so I think it would have a softness and movement to it. I can really imagine these outfits at a day in the office, as a slightly quirky version of a skirt suit.

Quilted paisley silk skirt - £69.99

Quilted paisley top - £59.99

 

Quilted spider print skirt - £69.99

 

Quilted spider silk top - £59.99

My absolute favourite, however, is this tortoise print skirt, paired with a white shirt and heels this would also be great in the office (though I may have a serious think before wearing it to a board meeting!).

Tortoise print skirt - £39.99

Orla Kiely frock in the flesh

Hello lovely new Orla Kiely dress...

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo dress, Topshop ballet pumps,
Coccinelle handbag (that's so old it predates my nine
year relationship with my husband!

This is my 'rats are not the boss of me' dress! (though unfortunately they are still the boss of me). Still, one day soon I'll be skipping along in my gorgeous dress, with not a worry about a rodent even crossing my mind!

Orla Kiely dresses...for £19.90!

A quickie as it's late and I'm ill and desperate for the night nurse and my bed!

But I had to do a public service and blog about the latest Orla Kiely range at Uniqlo. It's glorious and a bargain. £19.90 for cotton tunic dresses in her signature prints, with contrast cuffs and Peter Pan collars. What's not to love?!

Mr W heard me making slightly choked noises about half an hour ago while doing a bit of Edna research and realised that my 'no shopping until 2013' ban was being tested to the limit! I stuck to my resolve and mournfully left the page...only for him to say he wanted to buy me one (as a treat for finally facing up to a decades long rodent phobia and going to get help!).

So at least next time I see evil in rodent form (i.e a rat), at least I can skip away (at speed) in a gorgeous dress!

This is the dress making its way to me as we speak...

Orla Kiely ¾ sleeve dress A - £19.90

These are the other dresses in the range but there are also tops, blouses and a scarf.

Orla Kiely ¾ sleeve dress B - £19.90

Orla Kiely ¾ sleeve dress C - £19.90

Orla Kiely ¾ sleeve dress D - £19.90

Orla Kiely ¾ sleeve dress E - £19.90

Somerset by Alice Temperley

Another week, another designer collaboration on the high street. This time Alice Temperley with the Somerset range for John Lewis.

Alice Temperley isn’t massively my cup of tea...usually a bit too much embellishment and flounce for my taste (though the diffusion 'Alice' range is a bit more my style). But amongst some of the more boho-luxe styling, there are some pieces that are stunning and I’d jump at the chance to wear. A friend has a Temperley leather jacket with studding and it’s amazing...you find yourself stroking the beautifully soft leather and plotting how to steal it!
 

The range for John Lewis is beautiful – high quality fabrics, recognisable Temperley designs, wearable pieces that can translate from day to night and that you’ll want to wear year in, year out.
 

But these designs come at a price and it’s not a cheap one (though obviously massively cheaper than the mainline collection). I’m not questioning whether they’re worth these prices, just my ability to afford them! So I may be bookmarking some of these and checking back again at January sales time.

Spot mesh shift dress - £160

 

Panel detail leather pencil skirt - £199

Belmont wide triple buckle belt - £80

Wisteria suede snakeskin heels court shoes - £140

Spot mesh tunic - £89

Avalon pony multiway grab bag - £395

Jersey dress in pink - £99

A second range will be launched in October, which will be partywear for the festive season...so you can channel your wannabee Pippa Middleton, if you so wish!

And if you’re lucky enough to have a sister you adore (like I do!), I’m sure the campaign film featuring the model Lily Donaldson and her sister will reduce you to tears! It’s stunning and wonderfully sentimental! I sent it to my sister and she got teary too!

Swans

I love a designer collaboration on the high street and September sees umpteen of them arriving in stores.

One I was particularly looking forward to seeing was the Clements Ribeiro range for Evans.

Clements Ribeiro are known for their gorgeous, eclectic prints and use of colour, so I was excited to see how this would translate onto the high street. There are some gorgeous pieces in the Swan collection for Evans and even if you don’t usually wear a size 14 or above, I’m sure a few of the frocks would look great belted.

These are my favourites...
 

Pansy print trousers - £45
which look great teamed with the clashing print top

Salome print dress - £65

Lace Grace dress - £95

 

Floral print Wisteria 21 dress - £75