Mary Queen Of Frocks Has Got Her Womens Dresses Online And On TV
October 8, 2011 by Womens fashion Team ·
Mary Portas’s latest womens fashion venture is certainly a tour de force, her name is held in such high regard nowadays that her first collection is getting significant coverage be it on TV or her womens dresses online at House of Fraser.
Most of us will know her in all probability as the orange haired retail guru Mary Queen of shops in her channel 4 show, stomping down the British high street as the self proclaimed consumer champion challenging store owners, to trust her judgement in an often radical makeover of their retail premises in order to improve the shoppers experience.
Game Keeper Turned Poacher – Mary Takes her Womens dresses online
In her lastest Channel 4 adventure the roles are reversed to a certain degree as the documentary follows Mary in her quest to launch her new fashion venture to the UK highstreet, and speciafically how the Mary Portas fashion brand debuts through a concession in House Of fraser on Oxford steet in London.
As series is going out in October, the collection is obviously timed to be launched along side the series airing to maximise exposure and to coincide with the run up to Christmas and the added benefit of a surge in shopping for womens dresses online.
So as we’re all big fans of Mary we thought to share the love and guide you through some of her key peices which include womens dresses online now availble at House Of Fraser.
Mary Porta 7 key peices
This is Mary’s take on the capsule wardrobe where she adopts seven key peices which form the foundation of the classic womens wardrobe. A great dress, jacket, trouser (one slim, one wide), a white shirt, skirt and knit. They’re not meant to be the basics, but they form the consistuent to cover all bases required for whatever styling challenges you may encounter througout the week to make confident dressing easy. Mary Calls it Pret-a-Portas, dressed and looking fabulous in 10 mins is the mantra here!
1.No Brainer Womens Dress
Mary Calls this the no-brainer as its goes with almost anything and is your get out of jail card, if you think you’ve got nothing to wear, then you can always resort to the no-brianer its bound to be a winner, i see see this as one of the biggest selling womens dresses online by some distance due to its simplicity, price and value!
2. The Pencil Skirt
This delicious pencil skirt is totally of the moment, and made from ponte which is a girls best friend as far as fabrics go. A very forgiving material, it makes sure you have curved bits in all the right placed and keeps the excess bits under control.
3. Wide Legged Trousers
These Wide legged trousers are a classic cut and very much echos the sports luxe accent shown at the recent fashion weeks. They can be worn with heels or boots alike, ideal for dressing up or going shopping on a Saturday, thery’re totally adapatble and the silohette is cut to be flattering which ever shape you happen to be.
4. Slim Legged Trousers
Leggings are so easy to get wrong, but these slim fitting trousers are just right for any shape, high waisted and with zips, they keep everything nice and compact for you without you looking as if you’ve been poured into them.
5. Slouchy Knit
Designed for the modern woman, sophisticated yet casual, a big look on the catwalks, this jumper is cut to wear off the shoulder if desired, and also cut to hide you butt, double bubble!
6. The White Shirt
The white shirt is just so versatile and can be worn for almost any occassion, with leggings, trousers with or without a jacket. So invaluable you should buy two of them.
7. The Tux Jacket
To round off the essentials Mary gives us the tux jacket, a great piece which is so versatile it can be worn with virtually anything. The cut is exquisite and makes you feel wonderful when worn, and is so on trend at the moment with a touch of masculinity creeping into some collections this AW11.
Can Mary Be As Successful With Her Womens Dresses Online And In store As She needs To Be?
All in all Mary Portas can do no wrong and she gets the big thumbs up from us. She has delivered an outstanding collection which considers the average young to middle aged women and her daily fashion needs whether at work or at play. Though the question is whether she can pull off the targets set by House Of fraser to be the biggest grossing fashion concession despite it being her very first collection, good luck Mary!
if anyone has purchased any of the Mary Portas collection we would love to hear from you and get your thoughts… Let us know what you think.
You can see the full collection of Mary Portas’s womens dresses online at house of fraser here
Filed under – Womens dresses online
Want To Get Some Spring Colour Into Your Women’s Clothing
February 14, 2011 by Womens fashion Team ·
OK, so February isn’t the greatest month of the year, but as months go I fairly sure its better than January, after Christmas it so flat, the days are cold and far too short for my liking, and as for the women’s clothing… well I just can’t wait to wear some colour, something more suited to spring and summer!
So despite all this there’s been a definitive spring in my step over the past week or so. Why…? well, perhaps it isn’t as chilly when out and about, though I suppose there’s still legs in the winter weather yet; then on my way to and from work it is definitely getting lighter earlier and darker later, have you noticed it too? You can visibly see the days becoming more drawn out day by day…YAY! Last but not least however is we’ve finally got some proper colours in the shops for a change… Long gone are the drab and dreary greys and blacks associated with the cold dark days of winter and usher in the Pinks, fushias and candy colours of the spring.
Don’t get me wrong, Black and Greys are great to get you through the winter, but in the run up to Summer you need a change, and that’s what Spring is all about change… being reborn, rejuvenation no less.
With that in mind I thought I should give you a couple of ideas about what’s hot and what I’m aching to get my hands on… what about this wonderful weekend look? Lunch with girls, shopping with your beau or perhaps a date to the movies on a Saturday night?
Take your pick, what’s you favourite?
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Paul Smith New Season On Location Mini Skirt
January 23, 2011 by Womens fashion Team ·
Paul Smith the British Fashion designer and his own named Label has built a reputation as the purveyor of quintessential British style that has become his trademark over the years, this has been embodied by the iconic Paul Smith striped Mini that has become the brands trademark.
Every season Paul Smith releases a printed mini-skirt which goes by the name of “Paul Smith mini on location” in which the mini skirt has a print of different British location within which the Paul Smith striped Mini finds itself. It has become one of those pieces that the fashion world and collectors alike eagerly anticipate each season despite its tougue-in-cheek nature, and for spring/summer 2011 it really is something special.
Previous season’s have included the Rapha Condor road cycling team, Portland Bill lighthouse, as well as Cowley’s finest hanging several hundred feet in the air from a crane!
For spring/summer 2011 season the mini skirt is adorned with the multistripe mini in front of one of Sir Paul’s favourite hotels, Langar Hall in Nottinghamshire the county of his birth. This unique boutique country house hotel and restuarant in the Vale of Belvoir, is just like the Paul Smith signature style, uniquely British, deliciously stylish and quietly eccentric, making it a perfect location for this seasons on location print and the brands multi-striped Mini.
The Paul Smith ‘Mini on Location’ at Langar Hall skirt is available now priced £179
The fully lined mini skirt of made to the quality you would expect from a Paul Smith Garment and made from 100% cotton with a concealed side zip with hook and eye fastening.
To see more Paul Smith collections click on the button below:
Scintilating Burlesque Ladies Fashion For those Who Like A Bit Of Oh La La!
December 19, 2010 by Womens fashion Team ·
Burlesque is all about glamour and seduction and maybe a little titillation, but certainly the polished lady like look making it the ideal look for Ladies fashion especially for those who love to dress up and experiment with their look.
The Burlesque fashion trend has been in the mainstream for sometime with the likes of Dita Von Teese bringing it into public consumption over the past number of years, that has manifested itself mostly through the explosion last year of Burlesque inspired fashion of using underwear as outerwear with the use of basques, fishnet tights and lace.
With the Burlesque movie opening in the UK, it’s hardly surprising to see a further escalation in the popularity of burlesque inspired fashion as the film which stars Cher and Christina Aguliera is expected to be a huge hit and influence mainstream Ladies fashion clothing.
The Burlesque film is all about a small town girl who starts working in an LA Burlesque club run by a former burlesque dancer Cher. From a fashion point of view watching the movie would be a great place to start looking for inspiration for your Burlesque inspired fashion clothing.
Adapt your own style
Though Burlesque tradition is very much about seduction, you may be put off by the image that may portray, which could be considered a little risque, but inspiration is drawing ideas from something, not copying, so wearing nipple tassles for example is not mandatory, (unless of course you want to). So adaptation and elaboration of you own personal style can be achieving through choosing a vintage dress you like and then accessorise it with ribbons, tassles, rhinestones etc. If that’s too exotic, you can tone it down by doing the same with your favourite Little Black Dress.
Importantly you need to have fun doing it, so by choosing one of the items from the Miss Selfridge Range of Burlesque inspired fashion collection and matching with a pair of jeans is just as valid, and in some ways more imaginative than keeping to the exact look one might consider.
Party dresses or skirts
You don’t necessarily need to keep to Skirts or party dresses to pull off the Burlesque look, but if you are going for a party night for example, its probably best to. The ideal style of dress are shift dresses, pencil dresses, flapper dresses, corset dress all of which can be found in most women’s fashion stores so you’ve got lots of choice, another dress style which is just perfect for the look is of course the sequin dress which just shouts burlesque especially in black. A pencil skirt with a glamorous blouse or corset top is again a great combination if you prefer to have the most flexible look, which are again widely available in high street stores.
Make the most of your Accessories
An important part of the Burlesque look are High heels, try if possible to get a vintage look to your high heels and pair them with seamed stockings or tights to get that authentic burlesque style without going too overboard. You can then round the whole look off by your choice of accessories including faux fur wraps, fascinators, glitzy statement jewellery and clutch bags. If you are wearing a sequin dress perhaps look for black accessories with feather, ribbons and bows to compliment the look.
Miss Selfridge has a number of great items that have drawn it inspiration from Burlesque as they themselves celebrate the release of the film. Miss Selfridge has taken a funky attitude toward the whole Burlesque style and given it a fun twist which can be illustrated with the following items
This great BURLESQUE Sketchy Silhouette T-Shirt is a long figure hugging t shirt come tunic and great by itself or with leggings or jeans, with some vintage heels.
In this BURLESQUE Navy Bandeau mini dress you’ve got a super sexy dress which accessorised correctly will help you pull of the look effortlessly, use a fascinator, and faux fur wrap or jacket and that’s the perfect look.
This fun BURLESQUE Navy Stripe Halter is just great for everyday wearing just to prove you can incorporate this look into almost any situation not just for going out dresses, works equally well with Jean or a pencil skirt.
Finally we present the BURLESQUE Cream Corset T-Shirt which is another fun approach to the Burlesque look with a corset print on a t shirt, so even with a pair of jeans you can still pull off the look.
To see all of the Miss slefridge Burlesque range click the button below:
Fair Isle Knits Are They Super Trendy Or Just Another Christmas Jumper?
December 17, 2010 by Womens fashion Team ·
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.
Going Out Dresses From Marks And Spencer
December 3, 2010 by Womens fashion Team ·
It’s Funny that it doesn’t seem that long ago we were at the tail end of summer and Christmas seemed so far away, and then all of a sudden, Bang! – it’s December, and no matter how much we prepare ourselves for it, Christmas always seems to creep up so suddenly doesn’t it?
With adverts on the telly, and the decorations going up all over the land as everyone decks their halls, the festive season is all of a sudden in full swing. Now that December is racing through its days at a dizzying pace, the all important question you ask yourself is what on earth am I going to wear as a Christmas party dress, I should have been thinking about this weeks ago?
What’s made it worse this year is all the snow that has fallen recently, it may make everything look ever so Christmasy, but it may also have disrupted your shopping plans? It’s Lucky then that we can come to your aid through making some super cool, on-trend suggestions for perfect Christmas party dresses online, in the comfort of your own home, without having to battle through the crowds.
And as with so many times of emergency, we can also always turn to a great British institution for help, Yes ladies Marks and Spencer will come to your rescue, and because of them and the wealth of choice they have we can definitely confirm that, yes Cinderella you shall go the the ball.
Take a look at some of our selection of Christmas party dresses and see for yourself, any below that you fancy?
This classic Slash Neck Lace Sequin Knitted Tunic is just the perfect Christmas party dress to catch all the glances, and at the same time look on trend especially with a pair of sky scraper heeals and opaque black tights and a sequins clutch, just perfect!
A sophisticated and understated Autograph Cap Sleeve Floral Sequin Dress is set off by the contrast of fabric and sequins, for those who prefer to remain understated but classy at the same time.
A big trend ths party season is the lace dress, and this marks and Spencer Autograph Floral Lace Panel Velvet Dress is a real peach of a party dress. An exclusive and glamourous dress will set off any occasion and will empower your personal brand of classy sophistication.
For those of you who are totally bang up to speed with their fashion this Limited Collection Floral Lace Velvet Dress with Silk is a must, with the likes of Emma Watson wearing a stunning Velvet dress recently, the luxurious velvet look is massive and you can guarantee to be notably stylish in wearing this deep red and lace combination which is two trends in one.
Finally we have just a great all round fun party dress Portfolio Round Neck Sequin Dress, this winter decadence and opulence which can only be exibited at Christmas time so if you want to party full on, this dress will be your greatest companion during the festive party season.
If you want to see more Marks and Spencer party dresses, just click to red button below to go directly to their party dresses page on their site:
9 days of Christmas – Day 1
November 30, 2010 by Womens fashion Team ·
For today 1st December Only Today’s Deal is to get The Lydia Faux Fur Collar Aviator Jacket at half price £20 instead of £40, but only for today
The Lydia Faux Fur Collar Aviator Jacket is a Chocolate brown fur trim aviator inspired jacket
Snuggle up in style in this fab little aviator inspired coat. A rich, chocolatey brown aviator jacket perfect for teaming with this season’s camels, biscuit beiges and earthy tones – enhancing your colour palate and injecting your look with a little warmth.
The perfect piece of outerwear to work alongside a multitude of contemporary trends and styles.
With the weather so cold and wintery at the moment its an ideal choice, go get it now:
How To Wear A Leather Skirt
November 29, 2010 by Ceri ·
This winter the leather skirt is one of the most popular and in trend pieces of clothing around. From high waisted skirts to full skirts and even recycled or vintage leather skirts, there is something for everyone. But leather is not always the most forgiving of fabrics, done well it can look chic and stylish, done badly, it may look cheap and nasty. Here are some ideas on how you can make the leather skirt work for you this winter.
Pick your style carefully
One of the most important desicions that you will have to make when choosing a leather skirt is which style or shape to choose. You should choose the style that best flatters your body shape. For tall slim ladies this may be a short or mid length flared style, for pear shaped ladies, an a line and for hour glass a pencil or straight style. Shorter length skirts should only be worn by those who have great legs and avoided altogether in tight fitting styles. It is also worth paying some attention to the quality of the leather. As a general rule, the softer, the better.
Consider colour
The colour of your choice is also really important. For a vampy look or evening outfit choose black, for a more subtle and classic look try a brown, beige or camel coloured leather skirt. Choose a colour that suits you but also remember that a black skirt can look very stylish but depending on the style and how you wear it can also look trashy. A beige, brown or camel coloured leather skirt is probably easier way to wear this trend. We love the brown leather skirt from Very which is pictured above.
Tights – to wear or not to wear?
Leather skirts generally look best with a pair of classic sheer tights. Fishnets are a no no as they cross the boundary between chic and cheap and patterned tights also tend to look bit much. With a skirt in a colour other than black, you can sometimes get away with wearing bare legs but this is also best avoided with shorter styles of skirt.
Choosing a top
The leather skirt works particularly well with the minimalist aesthetic so the key when choosing a top is to keep it simple. You could go for a silk blouse or a fitted cashmere ladies sweater for a luxurious and lady like look. A ladies blouse will look particularly good when worn tucked in with a high waisted skirt or pencil style of skirt. To give your outfit a more edgy feel try wearing with a plain sleeveless shell top or even a casual sweatshirt for a more casual and relaxed look. Always avoid tops that are really low cut when wearing a leather skirt. A high necked top will look the best or a v neck if you have a larger bust.
As with any outfit or piece of clothing the key to looking stylish is about balancing the overall look and wearing it with confidence. Combine your leather skirt with pieces that contrast in terms of volume and texture for maximum effect.
Our Top Five Picks – The Black Lace Dress
November 20, 2010 by Ceri ·
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 5 Ways to Keep Warm This Winter With Faux Fur
November 5, 2010 by Ceri ·
Faux fur is right on trend this winter and quite rightly so. Not only is it stylish, luxurious and elegant, you can really keep yourself warm this winter with totally on trend faux fur items, what’s not to love? You can take your pick from a wide range of very affordable coats which work equally well for daytime or evening. Or why not add some stylish accessories to add a bit of interest and texture (plus extra warmth) to a minimalist camel coat.
There are plenty of places to take inspiration from Faux fur this winter with the Chanel catwalk shows featuring everything from clothes to accessories with an ice age theme. At Balmain there was a structured teddy bear coat worn with a party dress and at Gucci fur trimmed coats. Even Peter Pilotto known for their amazing printed and draped dresses managed to fit in some faux fur patches for a hint of luxury. At Marc Jacobs, an elegant lady like dress was combined with above the elbow gloves and a faux fur shrug.
This winter faux fur or fake fur is available in all sorts of choices from natural colours to animal prints and textured styles. Look out for glamorous, rock chic, seventies, folk, retro fifties and eclectic styles.
The Coats and Jackets
Larna Boohoo Pink Faux Fur Jacket
With an interesting multi colour pattern, this jacket almost looks as though it has a crimped texture. It will add glamour to anything from an everyday outfit to the hottest party dress.
The Fur Trim Aviator Jacket – Boohoo
It is amazing how much warmer a little faux fur trim around the neck of a jacket can make you. We love this luxurious version of the seasons must have aviator and the perfect way to wear faux fur in an understated way.
A combination of two key trends for the season, this very glamorous coat is the perfect warm cover up for a winters evening.
Dalmation Faux Fur Coat – Miss Selfridge
So much lovelier than Cruella De Villes, this faux Dalmation coat is definitely a statement piece. Wear over your black or neutral outfit or a great everyday coat.
If you are short and feel swamped in the long faux fur coats, opt for a short version like this capelet. Great for throwing on over everything from jeans and t shirt to an evening dress.
Trisha Faux Fur Gilet – Boohoo
Perfect for layering a little extra warmth over a casual Boho outfit. This gilet is one of the best value faux fur piece that we have seen.
The Accessories
Brown Faux Fur Scarf- Miss Selfridge
Elegant with a retro feel this faux fur scarf adds luxury to even the most minimal of coats.
Black patent and Faux Fur Shoe – Miss Selfridge
If you are looking for some statement footwear and a great way to feature faux fur in your outfit without going down the more predictable faux fur coat route, then these shoes are for you.
Valerie Faux Fur Trapper Hat – Boohoo
For those who aren’t willing on compromise on warmth and comfort, a trapper hat is the perfect on trend answer. There is absolutely no chance that you will get cold ears this winter in one of these.
Finally for a bit of a change, why not try a kitch faux fur top? This would look great with both leather trousers or jeans.
