Fair Isle Knits Are They Super Trendy Or Just Another Christmas Jumper?

In the extremely cold winter weather we’ve been having so far people naturally gravitate to the comforting cosiness of boots, coats, hats and scarves as well as woolly Jumpers of course. But this winter there is one woolly trend that has been talked about more than most, that of fair Isle knits.

Fair Isle is a common enough term, but for the lay person do you actually know what Fair Isle means or where it is, and as long as it keeps you warm, do you care? As the fashionista with her finger on the pulse I’m sure you do.

The term Fair Isle is derived for the Island from which the techniques originated, a tiny Island located in the cluster of Sheltand islands North of Scotland. Traditionally the Fair Isle technique is used to create patterns with multiple colours, these patterns have a limited palette of five or so colours and use only two colours per row and limit the length of a run of any particular colour.

Sadly however, there is only one manufacturer of Fair Isle knits left on the Island from which the technique originates that of Fair Isle Crafts Limited who produce beautiful made to order hand crafted garments. That’s not to say that any manufacturer who does not have itself based in the Shetlands does not produce quality items.

The technique is quite distinctive in its look, and done well it can be regarded as it is currently as very stylish on trend fashion, a poor variant of the style is just like another unwanted Christmas Jumper that some distant auntie keeps buying year after year.

But Fair Isle is not just limited to Jumpers either as its a knitted pattern, it can incorporate just about any women’s fashion clothing including Fair Isle Knitted Dresses, hats, gloves, scarves…

And with it been so close to Christmas we thought we’d revel in Christmas memories past when the parcel was opened with trepidation only to find some hideous monstrosity of a jumper which upon opening you had to put on your biggest smile and show appreciation, well this year fear not; smile and be happy as you put yourself in Control and choose some of the wonderful Fairisle inspired knits list below

This is a beautiful example, the mcq by alexander mcqueen Womens Red Fairisle Jumper Knit is not only stylish its well crafted too and perfect for a cold winters day, ideal with a pair of jeans.

Knit dresses are a big trend this A/W, but with added appeal in the guise of thisChunky Fair Isle Knit Dress, match with opaque Black tights and biker boots to complete the on trend look.

Pairing with jeans and a long sleeve top will be the perfect look for this Navy Mateo Chunky Fair Isle Cardigan, no need for a coat as this cardigan will keep you warm as toast

And if you just want a Fair Isle Jumper to throw on anytime what about this Hazelle Fair Isle Roll Neck Jumper Dress In Red, looks great, comfy roll neck and long enough to stretch down past your hips.

A to keep the chill of your ears, the super trendy and cute Fat Face Fair Isle Trapper Hat, White is a great look or as an ideal pressie for someone special.

Finally, get all wrapped up warm and snug with this glorious fairisle knitted scarf.

Our Top Five Picks – The Black Lace Dress

The black lace dress has been on trend for a season or two since it appeared at the Prada catwalk shows. Ever since then it has been reappearing in various guises which make a great alternative to the traditional little black dress for a Christmas party or one of the most stunning choices of short prom dresses in the UK . The black lace dress is incredibly versatile though and can also work really well as a day dress. The beauty of it lies in its ability to flatter but also its intricate detail, texture and seductive look which make it  our favourite of  all the black dresses for women.

Lace has also been a popular fabric throughout history and it adds a great retro or vintage look to many modern styles of dress inspired by the fifties, sixties and seventies. For winter 2010, there are a variety of styles of black lace dress from the long sleeved mini dress to a more formal party dress with a flared and full skirt. Here are our top five picks.

This vintage inspired Fair trade lace dress is perfect for Christmas parties with its fifties style ballerina skirt and off the shoulder top. For a really on trend look throw on a leather jacket to keep you warm when travelling to and from the party. The dress is by Nomad a company which make Fair trade certified clothing which benefits communities in their own countries.

Another great Fairtrade choice is this Ruby rocks lace dress. It has a flattering empire line and cross over bust style with ruffles and subtle sequin embellishment. It would look great with a pair of wedge heels for any party this Christmas.

This one shoulder lace dress by Oasis is incredibly elegant. When it comes to accessorising it, our advice is too keep it simple. Perhaps a pair of chandelier earrings to compliment your elaborate hair do or a very simple pendant necklace that will not interfere with the neckline. A great pair of heels and a clutch bag are also a must for a great evening outfit.

If you want to channel seventies disco glamour that has become so popular since the recent Halston revival, this lace one shoulder dress by Warehouse  is just what you need. Super stylish but with a loose fitting swing skirt and bell sleeve, which allows for an extra mince pie or two if you wish.

If you are looking for a longer style of lace dress which work well for a formal evening event, we would recommend this http://tidd.ly/8c051bd3. It has a beautiful chiffon overlay and tie at the back. It also has intricate lace detail around the neckline.

The great detail in a piece of lace means that very little in the way of accessories are needed to complete your party outfit when wearing a lace dress. Just a pair of sheer tights and one or to simple pieces or jewellery and you will be good to go.

Our Top 10 Fashion Websites To Find Cheap Dresses Online

Everyone loves a bargain, don’t they? But sometimes with so many options available it can be difficult to find the best fashion websites to shop in terms of both style and price. With Christmas not far away, you will probably be looking for some cheap dresses online to allow you to have some cash left over for those all important Christmas presents.

So here is our pick of the top 10 fashion websites to find cheap dresses online.

1. Boohoo

If you are looking for high fashion at an amazing price then Boohoo is the place to look. They have all of the latest styles of ladies day dresses and party dresses to wow in looks that could have come straight from the catwalk. They also have a great selection of faux fur jackets which are the perfect cover ups for a cold winters evening.

Felicity Animal Print Dress – Only £15 at Boohoo

2. Dorothy Perkins

Top when it comes to stylish and wearable dresses which guarantee quality with a great price tag. We love Dotty P’s for their striking and colourful shift dresses. Their dresses are great for teaming with a pair of opaque tights for a cosy daytime or work outfit.

Closet Grey Red Check Dress Just £30 at Dorothy Perkins

3. New Look

For the best selection of party dresses at the best prices, try New Look. They have all of the most popular styles of the season including some lovely glossy satin dresses in a range of colours and styles.

Hitched Bow Dress Only £22.99 at New Look

4. Motel Rocks

If you love cute retro styles and body con dresses, Motel is definitely the place to look. There are plenty of choices for £30 or under and some amazing colour combinations.

Motel Celia Dress – Peacock Red just £30 at Motel Rocks

5. Rare Fashion

It is hard to believe that you can get such attention to detail at such great prices. At Rare Fashion there is a good selection of opulent and luxurious party dresses with details including, frills and embellishment with sequins and beads.

Chiffon One Sleeved Textured Dress an amazing £35 at Rare Fashion

6. Miss Selfridge

Another favourite for affordable and cheap dresses online in the latest on trend styles is Miss Selfridge. This winter there is a glamorous selection of draped and ruffled dresses.

Ruffle Dress just £36 at Miss Selfridge

7. Wallis

For flattering and sophisticated styles and cuts Wallis is a great choice. Their dresses tend to be knee length of below so are great for those looking for an elegant party dress. They are currently offering 10% off your next order if you sign up to their newsletter.

Black Side Drape Dress only £40 at Wallis

8. MIsguided

A great choice of fun and fashionable dresses which take the best of the catwalk and adapt for a unique look. Their dresses include some great printed and draped pieces.

Becks Floral Lace and Stud Detail Dress In Black

9. Oasis

Whilst the prices at Oasis are slightly more expensive than some of our other picks, they always have some amazing stuff in their sale. At the moment you can choose from a range of gorgeous ladies day dresses and party dresses in a range of colours and prints.

60′s Bow Shift £40 at Oasis

10. Warehouse

Again Warehouse has some great sale picks including a number of variations on the little black dress which would be great for any Christmas party.

Ottoman Stud Detail Dress £35 at Warehouse

Fashion On Facebook

We’ve been threatening to do it for sometime, but eventually we got round to it, yes, Women’s Dresses is now on Facebook.

Not satisfied with being a twit, acronym for having a twitter account (for those who don’t know it), though I’ve been called worse, we took the plunge and launched on Facebook this morning, not sure what the acronym is for that?

However, all we would like you to do now is become our Facebook friend please.

We promise that you won’t miss a thing as all of our articles will be streamed to our facebook page once published here at women’s dresses.

We would also like you to become involved and submit comments, suggestions and review products you may have purchased relevant to the subject of the site. We wound also like you to suggest items we should be featuring, as well as brands and stores you would like us to feature, we’ll do our utmost to please.

We do hope you enjoy the new face book page, and don’t forget to friend us and introduce yourself by clicking the button below:

Thankyou!

Super Sale – Women’s Dresses From Motel Items From £8

Women’s Dresses from Motel with items from £8

Get a load of this, Motel have got some crazy prices in order to clear their stock for the new 2010 season coming in.

They’ve got dresses from as low as £15 whch includes this fabulous Zoe dress with a normal price of £30!

The Motel Zoe dress, is a super versitile dress also, wear it on it’s own for a great party dress, or with black tights and a jacket for a casual day dress.

The Zoe dress is super comfortable also, made from jersy cotton so the body con style dress is really stretchy and hugs the figure in all the right places, but is so comfortable to wear.

Don’t miss out on this super offer now:

Joe McElderry and Cheryl Cole Take All The Votes

So this years X-factor winner has finally been decided, and the accolade went to Joe McElderry.

Joe battled it out against Olly Murs for the accolade of 2009 x-Factor winner.

For some it was Joe all the way with his pitch perfect reditions performed throughout the series, whereas to others Olly was the more natural entertainer, though clearly not as good a singer.

If you voted, you were one of the 10 million who did so on the night, and with that the clear majority of 2 to 1 voted in favour of Joe, just over 61% of all votes cast on final night went the the 18 year old from South Shields.

Of course over the past 10 weeks the X-Factor has created lots of talking points, none more so than Jedward, but so too the battle of the Dresses between Danni and Cheryl have been filling column inches in their race to get the popular fashion vote, or maybe just to get the publicity. They both slugged it out week by week with some peculiar results more so from Cheryl’s creations than Danni’s.

However, like last year Cheryl Cole took the accolade of not only getting more column inches than the rest of the judges put together, but also for being the mentor of the winning artist.

Her girl next door reputation was probably enhanced over the previous year, but we also think Danni’s was too, as she softened her image from the botox enhanced 2008 series and as a result she did a lot to improve her reputation.

Even so, she still didn’t do quite enough to overhaul Cheryl’s burgeoning reputation and popularity, this is underlined by our own extensive studied undertaken here at Women’s Dresses, as over the past 10 weeks of the X-factor series running, we’ve been doing our own little survey, simply posing the question Cheryl or Danni?

The results of the poll, whilst not quite of the order of the 10 million votes received from X-factor viewers on Sunday, all the same was just as decisive. It revealed that Cheryl is by far the most popular of the two and was crowned the outright winner and by some margin, to be precise Cheryl received 73% of the vote to Danni’s 27%.

For those of you who registered a vote we thank you for doing so and joining in the fun. UNfortunately Cheryl was not available on Sunday to receive her award, and she didn’t even send us a pre-recorded video of her acceptance – huh!

The conclusion seems to be that both Cheryl and Joe are both riding high in the eyes of the public as the X-Factor Geordie Duo have won the public vote hands down, we just wonder what’s next for them both, perhaps they’ll release a duo in the new year or maybe even a new fashion label…

House of Fraser are holding a Big Brand Event! You get upto 25% off big brands across all departments.

This is probably the best opportunity to bag those bargain pressies at knock prices before Christmas. Don’t miss out on some spectacular savings

It’s only on for 2 days, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th November, so hurry on over to House of Fraser Now and get into the festive spirit.

Click the button below to go straight to their site

New Look Fashion Fix For Less

Get this latest hot look from New Look for as little as £82 all in.

New Looks fashion fix allows you to look great without spend a fortune to do it, and it’s bang on trend with boyfriend jacket, to keep you warm and at only £20 its a great price. A geometric print tunic looks great and goes well with the jacket. Then there’s the designer multi strap platforms, but at £30, without the designer price to go with them. Then the accessories to round off the look, just magnificent! you can’t go wrong

Dress For Less With The New Look Sale

If you’re looking for cheap summer dresses or just in the mood for a bargain, The New Look Summer Sale is now your chance to dress with style at a fraction of the cost.

With upto 60% off you just can’t miss out on New Look’s amazing sale!

Be one of the first to snap up their top fashion bargains such as summer dresses, tops, and jeans at eye popping prices.

Printed Dress
£35 NOW ONLY £16

Limited Edition Printed Dress: Tiered bottom, anchor print back buttons and soft texture.

Floral Sequin Cami
£20 NOW ONLY £10

Floral Strappy Cami Top: Sequin detail, V neckline, tie underbust and ruched chest area.

Animal Print Jacket
£20 NOW ONLY £10

Lightweight Animal Print Bomber Jacket: Drawstring toggle hem, roll up buttoned sleeves, popper and zip fastened front and ruched detail on the chest and two front pockets.

ACCESSORIES

Stud & Fringe Bag
£20 NOW ONLY £8

Stud Embellished Bag: Fringe front and flap over front.

Elephant Pendant
£15 NOW ONLY £5

Elephant Drop Pendant Necklace: Limited edition, stretchy style, adjustable chain length, sheer elephant pendant and mixed multi row bead straps.

Floral Print Leggings
£6 NOW ONLY £3

Bright and Bold Print Leggings: Footless and full length and bright and colourful floral print.

Don’t forget to pop back and review any product that you’ve bought, as it’s invaluable feed back which allows us all share your experience.

Dresses, Skirts & Sandals

New Look have some super stylish Dreses, Skirts & Sandals that are perfect for this summer heat! They are currently offering £10 off selected dresses many of which are perfect for keeping cool! Plus, they’ve got some great skirts and gladiator sandals.

With the weather so hot, these are just perfect to take the heat out the situation, there are some other great savings to be had at New Look, it’s perfect time to get you summer wardrobe if you have already

DRESS FOR LESS
Get up to £10 off selected summer dresses.

Embroidered Dress
Was £28
NOW £22

Aztec Embroidered Dress: Pussybow neck tie with charm ends, short shirred sleeves, shirred waist and neckline, stripe print and above the knee.

Floral Prom Dress
Was £28
NOW £18

Floral Prom Dress: Ruffle bottom and padded cups.

Pleated Prom Dress
was £28
Now £18

Pleated Bandeau Prom Dress: Boned chest, pintuck waist, pleated under the waist and above the knee.

GET SKIRTY
There’s a fashion savvy new skirt to suit every style this summer!

Printed Skirt

£20 Multi-coloured Print Skirt: Pleated under the waist, contrasting back zip, random multi-coloured prints and above the knee.

Animal Print Skirt
£20

Animal Print Tulip Skirt: Pleated under the waist, animal print, hidden back zip and above the knee.

Flower Button Skirt
£18

Gold Flower Button Skirt: Pleat detail under the waist, shirred back, skirt underlay, flower gold button front and above the knee.

SHOE LA LA!
Strappy and studded sandals are the undisputed shoe of the summer and now you can bag a bargain on all the hottest styles!

Stud Embellished Sandal
£22 £17

Multi Strap Studded Sandal: Gladiator style, round toe, double buckle belt straps and flat heel.

Shiny Stud Sandal
Was £16
NOW £11

Shiny gladiator style strappy sandal: Stud detail, single buckle strap and flat heel.

Shiny Strap Sandal
Was £20
NOW £15

Shiny Multi Strap Gladiator Style Sandal: Double buckle belt fasteners and flat heel.

Next Page »