CHRISTMAS 2018 OUTFITS

If you remember our Christmas outfit posts from last year, you may recall seeing Anne wearing a similar dress to this black one, but in champagne.  It's one of her favourite dresses and in fact she loves it so much - it's so easy and comfortable to wear, that she bought this similar one in black from Chesca.

In fact it is billed as a coat, but you can wear it as a dress if it's buttoned up, so it makes it really versatile.

It's not cheap at £175 but can be worn over skinny trousers to keep it casual, or dress it up with jewellery to keep it glam.

The jewellery and handbag are rose gold, with the pretty necklace from Jon Richard at Debenhams (currently half price), and rose gold drop earrings from Simply Devine. The rose gold handbag was bought on the Greek island of Thassos last year.

Anne H's velvet jacket from Massimo Dutti is the Slim fit single button style available at £139.  It comes with matching velvet trousers but that's just all a little bit too luxe for her so she has teamed with her  trusty MaxMara black trousers.

The sateen sheen blouse is also from Massimo Dutti and is available at £ 59.95. With its classic straight fit and simple lines it is perfect for wearing with smart or casual trousers.

The trouble this time of year is that all the clothes colours are really drab, so Anne deliberately set out to find some winter white clothes.

The pearl-trimmed sweater was bought at Iizzy boutique in Bury which has some really nice pieces.  She has teamed the sweater with winter white thick leggings from Hallhuber at House of Fraser. They now have only black ones online here.

The Chelsea boots in cream are from Amazon - Anne was a little apprehensive about these as they came direct from China - not known for generous fitting of anything - but despite her quite broad feet, they go perfectly with the outfit and are also really comfortable.

She has matched her sweater with faux pearl earrings and necklace - and even a pearl watch - which she had in her jewellery box from years ago - pearls are so versatile and never go out of fashion.

This next top is also very simply styled in this season's beautiful forest green silk with keyhole neckline and comes from COS.  Not the cheapest of tops as it costs £89, but it is definitely something she will wear time and time again. The long necklace is from Mint Velvet and was purchased last year and shoes are black suede courts from Dune.

We are down to casual days at home now, with this orange sweater and suede trousers combo.  The sweater has front pockets but the detail is all in the back with diamante and bows down the centre for a bit of sparkle. The top came from Emphasize in Romford, and David, the owner, travels the country to all the local country and specialist shows.  This was bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate this year, but they do not have a website as all the stock travels with him.

The trousers are from Next and are a lovely soft suede  - bought after the summer sales for the fabulous price of £7.50 - we love a bargain! Similar ones here in grey are much more expensive!

The heart earrings once again are from Simply Devine.

Happy Christmas everyone!

A CHATSWORTH HOUSE CHRISTMAS STORY

Each year we have a Christmas-themed day out - usually to a country house - and this year we chose the beautiful Chatsworth House in Derbyshire to get us into the mood for the festive season.

First thing to say is that it was absolutely the correct place to go - it was simply stunning.

Most of the houses we have visited in the past three years have had a theme, and Chatsworth was no exception, this one being  "Once upon a time at Chatsworth" featuring all the wonderful classic stories from our childhood - so perfect if you want to take your little ones with you when you visit, since the home itself - although stunning - is probably not that interesting for tots.

There were seated areas where a pre-recorded voice-over tape read fairy stories and there were also strolling players reciting stories to visitors as they wandered around the house. 

Look out for classics from Beatrix Potter, Cinderella, the Princess and the Pea (complete with mattresses), Sleeping Beauty, James and the Giant Peach, to name just a few. Pictured above is Arthur the dragon - that's a new one on us and wasn't around when our girls were young!

For us oldies though, looking around the stunning rooms of this gorgeous country pile and marvelling at the beautiful decorations, was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Chatsworth is still the family home the Cavendish family - otherwise known as the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire and their families.

Back in the 16th Century, Bess of Hardwick - who later became the Countess of Shrewsbury and the second most powerful woman in the country after Queen Elizabeth 1 - married her second husband, William Cavendish.  They bought Chatsworth Manor for just £600 in 1549, and began to build the first house on the site.

Cavendish died in 1557, and Bess married twice more, latterly to George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, who was appointed as custodian of Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned at various times at Chatsworth.

Bess also built the nearby Hardwick Hall, renowned for its unique collection of 16th and 17th Century tapestries, embroideries and furniture, and which was owned by the Cavendish family until 1957 when it was given to the government in lieu of death duties, and is now operated by the National Trust.

We could obviously write pages about the history of Chatsworth, but if you are interested, there is lots of information available here, here and here, but if you go to the website, the history covers 4,000 years and gives more detail about the house and the fabulous rooms.  

Some interesting snippets however are that during WW11, the house was given over to girls from Penrhos College, Colwyn Bay, Wales since the 10th Duke felt that schoolgirls would be better tenants than soldiers!

Before they arrived, the entire contents of the house were packed away in just 11 days, and in September 1939, 300 girls and their teachers moved in for a six year stay.  The whole of the fabulous house was used - including the state rooms, which were turned into dormitories.

In 1944, Kathleen Kennedy, sister of the late President of the United states John Kennedy, married William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington and elder son of the said 10th Duke, though sadly he was killed in action in 1944, and she died in a plane crash in 1948.  His younger brother Andrew became the 11th Duke in 1950, and married Deborah Mitford, one of the famous Mitford Girls, and sister of Nancy, Diana, Pamela, Unity and Jessica.

The magnificent house has also played the part of Mr Darcy's magnificent home in Pride and Prejudice, while The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley was also filmed there.

But back to the house and a fabulous day out....

We couldn't help but marvel at the fabulous art works on show and how they have cleverly incorporated the Christmas decorative themes around them. Chatsworth's Devonshire Collection of art is famed for its breadth and is a reflection of the family's eclectic tastes, having been built over a four hundred year period. It encompasses Elizabethan tapestries, superb portraits and bringing the collection up to date, there is even a magnificent golden sculpture by Damien Hirst.

During the Christmas season, there is also a very tasteful Christmas market - no boozy bier kellers here, just wonderful country-themed goodies from lovely scarves to pretty lights, and locally sourced yummy food.  Entrance to the house is timed because it does get very busy from morning until night-time with special events, nativities and twilight tours.

There is plenty to do and see at any time of the year, not just Christmas.  There are country walks around the grounds and gardens, a farmyard, a playground, educational activities and talks, as well as the obvious house tours and even a masquarade ball!  

The estate also hosts weddings, and there is an abundance of local holiday and overnight amenities for the tourist trade, since the House is situated in the Peak District, such a beautiful part of England.

We ended our day out though with another old-fashioned English tradition - afternoon tea, in the Cavendish Restaurant, where we finished our fabulous day out.  Cheers!

WHISTLESTOP TOUR OF BRISTOL

I am just back from a couple of nights in Bristol, catching up with a school friend and enjoying my first visit to this fabulous city.  I had always heard glowing reports of it and I was not disappointed.  Sadly the pictures don't really do it justice as although we avoided any rain the weather was rather grey.  We stayed in the Clifton area, renting a small apartment and making the most of this beautiful part of the city.

We ventured through the leafy areas, past the famous downs and Bristol zoo into Clifton Village to view Brunel's famous Clifton suspension bridge and enjoy the many Georgian buildings that this area abounds with.  The Village itself is so pretty with many boutiques, quirky shops and places to eat or enjoy a relaxing coffee.

Bristol is an easy city to walk so you can take in  much of it's stunning architecture and history and it abounds with green spaces and pretty areas.

Top of our list to visit was the Harbourside which covers an extensive area incorporating loads of bustling bars, restaurants, art installations, historic attractions and places to visit.  Bristol has been a trading port since the 11th century but is probably most known for its involvement in the slave trade which is featured in the M Shed museum.  It was also home to John Cabot who discovered Newfoundland in 1497 and a replica of his boat, The Matthew, is moored in the Harbour.

We were particularly keen to visit the SS Great Britain which is another Brunel's engineering feats.  We caught the little ferry across from the other bank and instead of immediately boarding the ship  we went into the dry dock to view the incredibly preserved hull of the ship.

It is really cleverly done and you can look up to view the bow of the ship from below.  There is a giant dehumidifier that ensures the air is kept to the perfect level of humidity to preserve the ship and stop the rust developing further.

The interior of the ship has been restored and you can walk through the first class suites and dining area through the kitchen and into steerage class where you truly understand what the journey must have been like sailing to America. They even have sounds and smells wafting through the ship for added affect. To think that this ship sailed the world 32 times since the mid 1800's,  including navigating the treacherous Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope, only retiring in 1933 is incredible and a testament to the amazing engineer that Brunel was.

On our last day we made our way to the Old City with its cobbled streets and little alleyways to see some of Bristols oldest buildings, with particular focus on St Nicholas Market and Cabot Tower.  The Tower offers far reaching views of the city but as the weather was grey and misty we didn't venture up the the top.

The glass covered St Nicks market, which dates from the 1700s. was a real treat with is array of independent traders and cafes. We enjoyed a lovely traditional brunch at the Be Natural Kitchen but there is every type of cuisine on offer in the market so visitors are spoilt for choice.

We finished our trip with walk through the arts quarter and up the Christmas Steps before heading back to Temple Meads station and our respective train journeys home.

AN INTERVIEW WITH DESIGNER JAMES LAKELAND

Looking through some of the press coverage for London Fashion Week, you have to wonder who on earth wears the kind of clothes which make it down the runway.

The great fashion shows by high-end designers are the inspiration for the rest of the high street, whose designers then make the clothes more wearable for the rest of us.  Now I’m not very creative with clothes, and I’m not the kind of person to push the boundaries with fashion, so you’ll have to excuse me for sniggering at some of the outlandish and outrageous creations from some of our bright new designers, although I take on board that London fashion is supposed to be edgy!

So it was extremely heartening to talk to designer James Lakeland at a trade show earlier this year, whose passion for design is matched only by his understanding of the female form – and he talks common sense to boot!

I have a few key James Lakeland pieces in my wardrobe, so I was excited and extremely privileged when he agreed to be interviewed for our blog.

The first thing to know about James is that he loves dressing women!  And the second is that he understands that we are all different weights, heights, shapes and sizes. 

James began designing more than 25 years ago and now employs 158 people within his company, and indirectly another 400 in factories and supply trades.

He is surrounded by women – his grandmother at 96 is still beautiful, according to James, is very glamorous and loves Chanel!  She is a huge asset to his business -  giving him inspiration, since she is passionate about looking good and is still full of creative ideas.

His late mother too, was always beautifully dressed, and from an early age instilled in him the values by which he still lives, while his wife is very glamorous - loving beautifully made clothes (and partial to a little bit of bling, so a woman after my own heart) and the feeling behind the creativity, though he says she can be very critical when necessary.

The first stage in his design process following the concept, is the cut.  Fit is so very important – he showed me a prototype dress made up in his factory in Italy which he promptly rejected.  “The fit was all wrong, it was too short…. the sleeve…. the collar wasn’t right.  Fit is so very very important.  I want my clothes to last more than one season:” he said “And I want mine to be the favourite piece in the wardrobe.”

James’ clothes are all made from his factory at Lake Como Italy, using luxe Italian fabric.  His clothes often incorporate stretchy Viyella which is very forgiving and easy to wear, along with taffeta, which gives the garment movement and a bit of “swish” and detail.

He doesn’t copy what’s going on in the high street – “we’re not Next, and you can tell.  I see everything in colour:” he said, “and I thought everyone could see what I see.”

He admits to being a perfectionist.  “I never forget who the customer is – you don’t have to be model-tall, but my garments have to have shape – the fabric, the cut, the production – all has to be perfect.  My customer loves herself and loves clothes.”

Obviously, I took the opportunity to mention some of my own gripes about clothes – being short and curvy – and a different size on top to bottom as well – means I struggle with sizing. I also tend to not wear very many patterned clothes, but James’s advice was to go for it and put some pattern into my wardrobe.

We also had a discussion about cold shoulder design, of which I am not a huge fan, but James was adamant that this works well for women who are concerned about covering their “bingo wings”.  “It’s a problem a lot of women say they have – they want to hide the tops of their arms.  But the cold shoulder look works very well for them, since women tend to have lovely shoulders anyway, even if they are not happy with their upper arms.”

Since we were at a trade show for Autumn/Winter 2018, I got a sneak peak of his current collection, which featured a number of beautiful metallic fabrics.  Colours were mainly grey, raspberry, maroons, navy and a splash of blue. “Metallic fabrics are huge for the Autumn/Winter season;” he told me.

There was also a range of beautifully soft wraps (my downfall….) in lovely pastel shades for the colder months.

“I love coats too” said James – I would love to have a separate “Coat Room” to showcase new designs.  And to illustrate the point, he brought out a beautiful raspberry winter coat, with which I instantly fell in love.  Reminiscent of the 50s, it was fitted at the top with a large shawl collar, single button and flared skirt – perfect for my shape – and one to look out for.

AUTUMN JACKETS

It's always a treat to go shopping but pounding the streets in heels is a no-no, as is wearing a heavy coat, even in winter, as you wander between over warm stores and freezing streets, so this fabulous wrap from iizzy in Bury, which Anne C is wearing was an amazing find for her - in fact she has hardly had it off her back since she bought it! And if you click on their website here, there is a photo of it in their window! It is also available in grey, pink and black (ooh the grey looks nice....).

In a lovely champagne shade which will tone and complement most colours, the faux fur collar and cuffs are amazingly soft, and it's warm enough without being heavy to wear. 

She wondered if she has turned beige as many older women tend to go for muted shades, but there is no doubt that she will be back wearing bright colours as the mood takes her.

The purpose of our trip into Leeds was to spend birthday vouchers - hence the gorgeous Tom Ford Black Orchid purchase from John Lewis (courtesy of two JL vouchers) and a little detour into the White Company for a Verveine diffuser!

So keeping the beige look, she has teamed her wrap with taupe skinny jeggings and low suede wedges from Primark bought last season.  Anne is able to wear bargain brands since she is so short, she doesn't need to worry about the length of the leg - unlike Anne H who has to shop around to find suitable length for her trousers and jeans. 

Although you can't see it, she is wearing a white linen sweater from Phase Eight underneath - sadly no longer on their website. The cute stone-coloured bag with bamboo handles was bought in Thassos this summer, and her jewellery consists of the usual pearls.

Moving onto the other Anne, she loves this fabulous new jacket from & Other Stories.  It is their oversized, double breasted blazer in a polyester/wool blend with a bright orange plaid pattern.  It is quite striking but still versatile enough to wear with different colours and really cosy too.  She has teamed it about with a batwing jersey shirt from COS which is in a lovely petrol blue and jeans from 7 for All Mankind. 

Below is the same jacket but this time styled with a silver grey cowl neck jumper from John Lewis and some suede ankle boots from & Other Stories.

She can't resist adding to her winter sweater and ankle boot collection each year and she is really pleased with both these items.  The jumper is cut longer at the back and is light enough to wear under a jacket, be it heavier weight like this one or lighter.  The boots are in a blue suede with chunky block heel and exposed outer zippers.  With a pointed toe, they look great with straight leg jeans.

We think you are going to be seeing a lot of this jacket in the coming months.