ASOS

Customer service is so important to me and as more and more people start to buy online rather than entering into a crowded shopping centre, you are no longer face to face with a sales assistant requiring advice and help, but with an independent internet shopping search that can be quite time consuming! Although I spend a lot of my time on my computer, I think I have been rather slow on the uptake of buying clothing online. This is ridiculous really, as I sell my own little collection online and rely on sites such as Ebay and Etsy to help me along the way. So when I came to look for an outfit for friends weddings I decided to have a quick look on the internet, wow, groundbreaking news! Originally I was looking for something vintage, after nothing caught my eye I looked on ASOS. Close friends of mine do shop on here, but for some reason, I was just never all that interested. I like to find pieces hidden away, stumble across an old dress that nobody wants anymore, that has been forgotten about until I recognize the pure loveliness of it once again... sentimental old fool am I! Anyway, after looking at dress after dress on model after model, I finally came across a lovely nude silk dress. Perfect, I loved it, paid for, postage chosen (out of a possible four options - one being free which is great if can wait six days), my newbie dress arrived two days later and it was as good in the flesh as in the picture! As the weddings grew closer I started to plan my other items to go with the dress and did a little fashion show one afternoon, to my horror, I came across a small hole forming and the unraveling of thread which if I started to pull at would fall.to.pieces... The next morning I contacted ASOS via their customer service form, I stated the problem with the dress and my time schedule of three days before the wedding, what could they do? I received an email response just over an hour later apologizing for the faulty item and that they had issued an instant replacement be sent out that day, free of charge, to arrive first thing tomorrow morning. 8am this morning my buzzer woke me up and my new, perfect, silk dress has arrived! ASOS also popped in a 10% discount code for my next purchase with them in way of an apology. I don't think I can face looking at more clothing online at the moment, but when I do need something I will be sure to use them again, even if I didn't have the promotional code.

Thanks ASOS. Excellent customer service. Excellent item. I recommend. Tick.

Weekend viewing

This weekend I caught up on some excellent classic movie watching. Plus some shopping time in the city centre where I was pleasantly surprised with what was on offer. A few hours wandering in the sunshine, nipping into shops, ending with a manic run to catch my train home!

The Notebook, I cannot believe I haven't seen this film before! I was hooked from the opening scene, the casting and on screen passion is phenomenal! The film itself looks absolutely lovely too, I just couldn't take my eyes off Rachel McAdams costumes, her style, mannerisms and little finishing touches throughout this movie are really what made it for me. The onscreen chemistry of the two lovers is electric to watch, all surrounded within the hot summer of 1940s America.

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The second film I watched was Karate Kid 2, set in Japan. This was my favourite scene, I just loved the styles of both characters, the little messy pinned up hair, 50s full skirt, ankle socks with flats and cute silk blouses with simple dainty round collars. As the two run out onto the street, escaping the evil clutches of the Japanese bullies, the bright neon night lights of 80s Japan are revealed. Jumping in the get away car, the two take flight!

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Shops that impressed me in the style stakes this weekend included; Cath Kidston, Jaeger Boutique and Jigsaw. The new range from Cath Kidson features some lovely little blouses and knits for autumn/winter. At Jigsaw I am hooked on the Cabbages & Roses collection. With a few little bits left in the sale, their pieces are always interesting shapes, using soft lovely materials.

As I began to think about styles for this winter, I could see some great influences for CC vintage...

Cath Kidston

Jaeger Boutique

Love for Ms Dynamite

Not usually the biggest fan of Ms Dynamite's music but this new track I am loving, perhaps the sunshine has something to do with it too, who knows! But this song is good, enjoy!

The Hour

A new TV program aired on BBC 2 and I recommend it! The first episode started last Tuesday and the second one is this eve at 9pm. The drama set in London during the 1950s stars The Wire's Dominic West. I loved to see the costumes, props and sets for the scenes, I just hope the story lines live up to it. Some have stated that it is an English Mad Men, here's hoping as I cannot wait until 2012 for the new series of that!

A trip to a gallery

My sister arrived from London at the weekend so we all decided to go to the Lowry and experience a bit of Manchester-Salford culture. I always find Salford Quays a bit of weird eerie area, never very many cars around or people, lot's of little houses and angular shaped buildings. It was the first time I had seen the new Media City which from a distance did look pretty impressive, except for the dirty tall Holiday Inn building which remained in the middle of all the shiny new builds. Anyway, off we went to Lowry to see the Andy Warhol exhibition which is running from June until September. Titled Warhol & the Diva, we see the divas Mr Warhol photographed, loved and adored. The exhibition also shows us how he brought about the term Diva on his own terms, how it affected his look(s). A projected video extract let's us into his alter ego, himself acting the Diva, trying to understand what it took to be the superstar.

"When I think back on all the beauties we knew, I realize there was something special about the way they all held their heads and moved their arms."

Andy Warhol

The exhibition isn't very long, we were there for about an hour. I left with images of Warhol in my head wearing a huge curly blonde wig, starring into his hallow eyes, fixated with his rouge lips...

We also took a look at Lowry's work, which I always enjoy to see. His collection graces the walls with it's grey tones, featuring peculiar looking faces and minimal objects. I found myself simply staring and staring...

The Sea, 1963

The Cripples, 1949

Hobbs Silk Scarves

I have started a little colourful collection.

I love love Hobbs silk scarves. They bring a new range out each season, eye catching, sometimes quirky, handpainted onto pure silk. They brighton up any outfit and any home, I just need to think of a better way to display them! To me they are like little works of art. I just purchased the animal Cheetah one, at a bargain price in the sale, others start at £59.

Even my mum is now a fan, her love for farming and fashion was combined when Hobbs launched a special limited silk scarf for the Great Yorkshire Show "Printed on a classic navy background, the scarf features the traditional white Yorkshire rose, horses and livestock, as well as colourful rosettes, a tractor and a pair of wellington boots. It has been designed and produced by Hobbs, renowned for its stylish and classic women’s clothing and shoes to mark the company’s first involvement with an agricultural show."

made.com

I love the magazine supplement Stella. There is some real good reading in there, along with bits of fashion.

This week they have a promotion with the website made.com

I thought I would check it out as Stella are offering a £15 discount off any item. What a nice surprise, made.com offer some really cool pieces at discount rates "Designer furniture straight from the makers to your home"

Made.com claim to strip out the middle man allowing us to work with the designers directly (well almost as we now go through them). The cost of the items is quite a lot cheaper though, I especially love the bike range from the Hollander Collection.

Here are some of my favourite bits...

Delivery time is up to 14 weeks, which may seem quite a long time but each item is made to order and includes shipping time (which you can track along the way).

Other features on the site include a Vote system where you can have a look at what new items could be added to their range should you vote for your favourite piece, also Being Made where you can see where new items are being created across the world. These features all make the website more interactive for us, the user, pulling us in and letting us feel as though we know what is currently happening in their business... good ideas made.com!

Maybe it's about time for a new innovative furniture team as sadly Habitat waves it's white flag?

July's rainy days

British summers are funny.

One day rain, one day sunshine, one day gales and now even hail stones.

When I think back to being young and eight weeks of school holidays began, the sun seemed to shine for so much longer. Warm days spent beck jumping, climbing trees, building dens with friends and going on bike rides with my sister and mum. Leaving the house early doors and returning home when the sun was just starting to go down... good memories.

Now as the rain continues to pour, and the flower heads soak up the large drops from the sky, our summers seem shorter and shorter and signs of the autumnal season starts to creep in.

love for Little Dragon

I have Nick Grimshaw to thank once again for introducing my ears to some more good music! Having his music show to accompany me on my drives home from work 10:30-11:30 definitely makes the journey more fun, even enjoyable! Closing my ears off to everything else and listening to endless new music is becoming my haven...

There seems to be lots of good music coming out of Sweden, but this band "Little Dragon" from Gothenburg have totally grabbed me! They have a new album coming out this July, but have two others previous to this. I am currently in the middle of listening to their 2009 album Machine Dreams.

Consisting of Swedish-Japanese singer, Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Källgren Wallin (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards) the electronic music band are also featured on Gorillaz Plastic Beach album, track "Empire Ants".

When doing my research about Little Dragon, I came across this track Runabout filmed in Hong Kong! I recognized so many places I just had to put it on here.

Enjoy!

Eivissa

A little trip to the Balearic island of Ibiza opened my eyes to a pretty, quaint and at times a peaceful place! Eivissa may not always be the most welcoming to a hen group of 15 girls from the UK, but this did not deter my overall opinion of the charming island.

One restaurant that I feel really must get a mention, is La Brasa. This beautiful garden restaurant accommodated us in an enchanting secret garden atmosphere, surrounded by fairy lights, candles, tiled tables and large leafy greenery. The food that was on offer was lovely too, I had 1/2 lobster with salad, others chose the mouth watering leg of lamb, steaks, seafood Paella and cuttlefish. Washed down with a local bubbly Cava, the restaurant was something quite special that I think all of us will remember fondly.

Ibiza does offer the nightlife, bars, cocktails and clubbing environment that many people do visit it for, but it also hosts a beautiful old town, clear sea waters, breathtaking views, long sandy beaches, historic cathedrals, cute apartments and some gorgeous shops - particularly leather goods.

I would definitely suggest a walk up to the old walled town known as Dalt Vila, where you get some amazing views of the island and harbor once you have reached the very top. We stopped off for a espresso and chocolate pudding to give us some energy along the way. Walking during the heat of the day was not the wisest decision we made!

Another suggestion I would make during your time here is taking a trip off Ibiza island and going on the ferry to Formentera. Our return ferry cost us just 19Euros and took just over an hour. Once here we hired bicycles and explored the 12 mile long peaceful and idyllic island. Please be aware, nude sunbathing is welcome here so be prepared! Beautiful crystal blue sea water, flat sandy dirt tracks to cycle round, hardly any cars on the roads, most people traveling by quad bikes, mopeds or bicycles. During our afternoon there we did not hear a mutter of English being spoken... bliss!

At night Ibiza really does come into it's own, not only the bars and nightclubs, but also the shops and market stalls that are open till gone past 11pm. Local jewelers, lovely leather handbags and goods, artists and other novelty pieces are all readily available. I picked up a silver ring with an onyx stone and a painting by a local Ibizan artist. Always nice to collect little keepsakes of the places you visit I think.

Club wise, I think our favourite night was spent at DC10, which took place on the Monday afternoon, right through till 2am... there is definitely something special about dancing and partying under the sunshine.

Postcards from New York

Thank you Naomi x