Party Time at nola!

Come and Join Us For SomeFestive Fun at nola!!

Join us for a glass of Festive cheer and nibbles on Wednesday 30th November 2011 from 5.30pm. We'll be offering 20% discount off EVERYTHING instore, plus, if you donate 2 or more pieces of make up or toiletries for the "Give and Makeup"* charity, we'll give you an extra 5% off your purchase!

We look forward to seeing you!

Bring a friend!

xxxxx

*Refuge and Womens Aid protect the lives of thousands of women and children every day. Each week two women in the United Kingdom are murdered by a partner or ex-partner.One woman in four experiences domestic violence in their lifetime."Give and Makeup" is a non-profit initiative whose sole purpose is to get everyday essentials into the hands of women and children who need them the most.

nola - 42 Gardner Street BN1 1UN 01273 911006

A.P.C Accessories

We've got a goodly selection of lovely A.P.C accessories now on offer at nola. Ranging from socks to leather wallets. There's something for everyone - ideal stocking fillers or just for self gifting.

Socks £15

Bracelet - £50

Candle - £25

Wallet - £140

All available at http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/designers/apc

Malene Birger AW11 stock selling like hot cakes!

Wow, we can't stop selling the new Malene Birger AW11 stock. The amazing lipstick red colour of the beautuful Lupa dress and Kite shoes are attracting all the ladies eye.

Lupa Dress £209

Carletta Kite shoes £289

Available from nola Brighton http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/

Heritage Research has arrived at nola!

Based on the androgynous style of Amelia Earhart, Heritage Research have produced their first collection for women and we are as giddy as kippers about it.

Here's a bit of background from Heritage Research themselves:

Earhart was a widely known international celebrity during her lifetime. Her shyly charismatic appeal, sartorial style, independence, persistence, coolness under pressure, courage and goal-oriented career along with the circumstances of her disappearance at a young age have afforded her lasting fame in popular culture.

Earhart’s accomplishments in aviation inspired a generation of female aviators, including the more than 1,000 women pilots of the USAAF Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who ferried military aircraft, towed gliders, flew target practice aircraft and served as transport pilots during World War II.

Amelia’s sense of style reflected her independent personality,she was at odds with the feminine fashion trends of the day and instead was seen and pictured in newspapers wearing mens aviation clothing including chinos trousers and leather flight jackets, revolutionary for the time.

Soon after her record breaking transalantic flight, the Aviatrix was photographed for Vogue and it didn’t take long for masculine tailoring to become de rigueur for the Fashion Houses and style concious females of the 1930’s.

All garments in the Heritage Research collection are based on actual clothing pictured on Amelia during the 1920’s and 30’s. Many of these styles are military issue such as the P-coat, chinos, trench coat and flight jackets. At first Amelia borrowed silhouettes from horseback riders, race-car drivers and motorcyclists, later adapting jodhpurs, goggles and the USAAF leather jackets, among other items. Other pieces reference her sartorial style away from the airfield where she could be seen in tailored English riding jackets, breeks and blouses or redefining work clothing of the era such as oversized shirts and mens brogues.

As you can gather, Heritage Research are passionate about what they do and it's really inspiring to talk to Russ about his collection, how it's made, who's made it and the fabrics he's used. ALL of the collection is made in England and here's some more information about the fabric Russ uses:

1. Cottons, linen, silk mixes - made in Italy
2. Liberty Floral print cotton - made in England
3. Wax cottons - British Millerain made in Scotland
4. All wools and tweeds - Woven in England
5. Mackintosh waterproof cotton - made in England
6. Chambray denim and hickory cotton - made in Japan
7. Leather - veg tanned Italian leather steerhide
8. All zips made to order by RiRi in Switzerland, all buttons made in England

We're so proud to be one of the first Heritage Research womenswear stockists in the UK, we think it's really important to support British brands at the moment, especially ones that work hard to get all the collection made in the country. And the attention to detail is second to none. WOW.

We've currently got a fantastic navy wool riding jacket, a pretty Liberty print shirt and a pair of navy military chinos in store.

We hope you love this beautiful collection as much as we do.

Rxx

Vanessa Bruno Athe - now in store!

It's arrived! Well some of it anyway! we've had our very first delivery of the Vanessa Bruno Athe. We're getting it photographed for the web so it should be on line soon but it is now available in store. We've got this beautiful embroidered sweat shirt, a navy dress version, an amazing pair of knee length beige boots and a couple more really pretty dresses.

We've also just had a huge YMC delivery (yes Ceri the bobble cardi is in) and some cute tees by Netty Ratti. If you're in Brighton, pop along and see the new collections. We think they are fab and hope you'll love them too.

Rxx

PS Sorry about pic quality!

Championing British Brands

We love a bit of chic French fashion, Scandinavian understatement and Italian pazzazz but we're also keen to get good, traditional British brands in store.

Alicia Waite in The Telegraph yesterday did a great piece on British labels that are setting the heritage trend. Of course we've got Burberry and Pringle who do the whole tweedy, waxed jacket, Aran jumper thing brilliantly, but it was great to see her focus on the smaller family companies and also the new up and coming brands.

With the demise of the Luella label, there's been a gap in the womenswear market for a label that does the traditional British thing with a twist. Alicia listed several British labels that are now getting the recognition they deserve.

We are particularly pleased that Heritage Research got a mention. Not only is HR a British label, it's a Brighton label to boot. And we're so excited to be stocking it!

HR have been designing cool menswear for years but have brought out a fabulous womenswear collection for AW11 which is also handmade in Britain. This first collection has cited female aviator Amelia Earhart's groundbreaking androgynous style as the design inspiration. Though Earhart was American, her grit and determination are at one with the ethos of the brand, which offers a no-frills collection of brilliantly designed cropped riding jackets, breeks, Liberty print blouses and more.

We'll let you know as soon as it comes in! You're gonna love it.

Rx

S/S12 - Chinti & Parker buying trip

Last Monday I popped up to London to see the girls at Chiltern Street Studios. One of my absolute fave agencies. The space at Chiltern Street is so beautiful, all rustic bare brick walls and wooden floors. They have some great collections and on Monday I went to see Chinti & Parker. CP are a London based duo specialising in luxurious, ethically made basics, from cottons to cashmere. They are getting some great press at the moment and we've been keeping our eye on it for a couple of seasons. We think it'll fit in with nola's current collection perfectly. We've kept it tight, going for a couple of cotton vests, some great basic tees and a couple of cute, wearable skirts. We know you'll love them.

Rxx

The Times 20 July 2011

Just had the lovely @lisamacario tweet me this little recommendation of our Brighton boutique from today's Times newspaper. Do you think by "relaxed" they mean "drunk"?

THANKS THE TIMES!

Rx

AW11 Elizabeth Lau - Good Enough To Eat!

We're starting to receive a few AW11 pieces now. And I'm getting so giddy. Yesterday heralded the arrival of the new Elizabeth Lau perspex jewellery. Huge love heart brooches and necklaces all packaged up in super pretty drawstring bags. The brooches are a bargain at £15, the huge necklaces are £42. Due to arrive in August is the lovely Treacle Tart sweater. We're getting it in black and in grey, priced at £135.

Rxx

AW11 YMC On It's Way!!

Hello YMC fans. Just thought I'd pop a quick piccy up of the new AW11 YMC "Pretty 40s Cardi". It's gorge isn't it! And it's just a sneaky peek at what I think is a very exciting winter collection. Knitwear is chunky and cosy with jewel coloured cashmeres and fairisle sweaters and shawls. Velvet dresses and bibbed sailorette tops add an indulgent tactile feel for day wear. We've got the hugely popular highland brogue back instore - in rust and olive. And we've got an amazing Victoria style button up ankle boot. The collection is due in store this month so keep your peepers open for more up dates on it's arrival.

Rxx

The Guardian & Sunday Times Love We Are Handsome!

Our We Are Handsome swimwear is making a big splash in this weekend's papers. The Guardian featured the lovely "The Protector" (wolf) bikini in the Weekend magazine's fashion shoot this Saturday. The Sunday Times Style Magazine has the awesome "The Knight" (stallion) one piece swimsuit in this weeks Hot List.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2011/jul/08/fashion-shoot-swimwear-in-pictures#/?picture=376326994&index=4


http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/designers/we-are-handsome

Rx

I get a cold and go to Paris to buy SS12 APC & Vanessa Bruno.

As I've been going on about it for ages, most of you will know I went to Blackberry Woods for a bit of R&R last weekend. Of course, being down with nature, I picked up a cracking summer cold - snot, phlegm, runny eyes, the lot. Then I had to go to Paris on Friday to buy SS12 APC and Vanessa Bruno Athe. How glam did I feel getting on the 6.07 Brighton train that morning?

I've been stocking APC for four seasons now, so pretty much knew what to expect - pared down French chic - a great look for all ages, ideal as workwear, daywear, just-hanging-out-with-your-mates-and-looking-cool-wear. The collection was, as usual, gorgeous. Although really lacking in logo tees which sell so well for me. Hope they do some for Summer. Anyhoo, it was lovely and calm in the showroom - I dawdled through, taking my time to really feel the fabrics and put looks together. I've gone for some strong leopard print jersey dresses, some soft soft sweatshirts and pullovers, a couple of cracking skirts - one in a lovely green Liberty print and another one in black cotton with a strip of leather on the hem. And they've done the classic APC trench which we all know and love. No Madras for SS12. It's just going into Urban Outfitters. I'm a bit sad about this because I loved the Madras but it means I can spend more on the mainline APC.

After APC I actually had an hour or so spare before Vanessa Bruno so I managed to get a bit of lunch. I went to the Cafe de Paris in St Germain. I had some very tasty lamb chops and a green salad with a really good glass of red wine. Fortified, I popped myself on the Metro and whizzed down to Strasbourg St Denis. Stupidly walked the wrong way when I got out of the station and ended up in an Asian prostitute district. V weird. V bad shoes. Scurried back and got to Vanessa Bruno in time.

So, it's cool and calm in the showroom. There's the VB mainline on one side of the room and Athe on the other. I had a good look through the collection. It was sooooooo pretty and wearable. Some pieces were a bit young for me (and v v short) but I've pulled together some really beautiful outfits. Great for all shapes and ages. Ideal for weddings and parties and fab for feeling good for a Sunday lunch. Lots of silk, fresh cotton, white, yellow, grey, fucshia. And the sandals were divine. Oh, and some STUNNING red jeans that will go with everything else I buy for SS12.

Then it was a mad, sweaty and snotty, but thankfully short ride on the Metro to the Eurostar where my cold really came into it's own. Dear fellow passengers, I apologise for my stupidly loud sneezes. I think the lovely lady in charge of the booze gave me an extra (small) bottle of wine in the vain hope that I'd fall asleep.

So here I am today, cold almost gone and finalising my orders. Got to stick to my budget, got to stick to my budget..................

I've popped some pics above - hope you like the collections as much as I do.

Rxx

Claudia Wears Malene Birger Kellin Dress

Here's the quite stunningly beautiful Claudia Schiffer wearing the striped Malene Birger "Kellin" dress.

Now discounted to only £99 at nola. AND free P&P. Lovely.

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/chunky-knit-dress.html

We Are Handsome Swimwear

The new range by Australian label We Are Handsome is a beaut!

Their signature bold images are back and We Are Handsome's latest collection, "The Memoirs" confirms their strong belief in all that is beautiful.

The prints are again custom, in-house designs fusing striking bold designs with timeless shapes and sophisticated pieces.

We Are Handsome is sold in high-end stores throughout the world, and has a huge celeb following - Rhianna, Jessica Biel, Katy Perry, Tyra Banks and more.

We are so excited to be offering two of their classic shapes this season, the scoop back one piece and the string bikini shown above. We'll be stocking The Protector (wolf), The Knight, (stallion) and The Wiseman (owl). Stock should be arriving any day now so keep your eyes peeled for further posts. xxx

Meet Columbina - my beautiful new tattoo!

I have loved the work of Dutch tattooist Angelique Houtcamp for years and always wanted one of her beautiful designs inked on me. It took over a year to decide which one and where to put it. I chose Columbina because I loved the colour of her hair. I had it done by Paula Converse at Into You in Brighton. We've changed it a little from the original - we've put green eyeshadow on her and put a love heart detail on the hat. I love it so much. Definitely worth the pain.

New House of Harlow 1960 now in store and online

House of Harlow 1960 is the highly acclaimed jewellery collection from Nicole Ritchie. The inspiration for her brilliantly wearable range comes from the bohemian heyday of the 1960s and 1970s and from her own extensive jewellery collection. Loving all things horsey, I of couse am coveting the horseshoe necklace, but I've also got my eye on the mahoosive sunburst ring.

Talking of rings, we've also just had a delivery from Disney Couture. We've got some AMAZY skull rings and necklaces from the new Pirates of The Carribbean movie now adorning our jewellery cabinets. Have a gander. X

House of Harlow Horseshoe Necklace - £62
http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/horseshoe-necklace.html
House of Harlow Sunburst Ring - £51

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/sunburst-ring.html
Disney Couture Skull Ring - £24.50
http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/skull-ring.html

APC leather and canvas duffle bag

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I LOVE APC bags. I have several of them. I think it's their chic utiliarian style that gets me going. I just love that pared down sophistication. When I went to buy the SS11 collection last July, my eye was immediatelydrawn to some great duffle bags sat on a table in the corridor. I nearly cried when I was told that they were part of the men's collection. Imagine my delight dear reader when I spotted these beauties in the womenswear section. They wear so well across the body or over the shoulder and have an internal zip up pocket for added security. Great for this summer's festivals. I just need to decide which colour I'm going to get now.

£155 from nola

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/beige-duffle-bag.html

Tummy bag by Malene Birger

I've always liked a bum bag but they never loved me. However, Malene Birger has come to my rescue and sorted out all my bumbag woes. The new "Tummy" canvas and leather bag is just the thing for summer. I'm wearing mine over my shoulder like I know what I'm doing.

£135 from nola.

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/canvas-belt-bag.html

YMC Japanese Print Playsuit in Grazia's Hot 100

Well how fabulous that Grazia and Alexa Chung have chosen the delicious YMC Japanese Print Playsuit to feature in the floral section of their Fashion's Hot 100 feature. We've loved it since the day it came through the door. It looks sensational with sneakers, wedges, clogs, strappy sandals, the lot. Go on, treat yourself.

Whilst we're on the subject of florals, have a gander at these beauties we now have in store.

The American Vintage silk floral shorts and dress are swoony, and the APC Liberty Print dress with tigers peeping through the fabric is just so easy to wear.

Spring has Sprung!

Rxxx

YMC Playsuit £180

American Vintage Shorts £130

APC Liberty Print Dress £220

American Vintage Dress £98

Shoes that are as easy as APC........

Did George Harrison once write "Happiness is a New Shoe"* or am I thinking of something else? Anyhoo, I am happy because nola's got new shoes. We've had a delivery of classic ankle boots from APC. These boots adorn the feets of all the stylish Parisian women. We've also got a cute pair of royal blue suede slip on sandals from Madras. Then we have the cracking new YMC range. Great sneakers, boots and brogues. All with a fabulous 50s vibe going on.

YMC Tan Suede Boots - £180

YMC Tan Suede Sneakers - £75

YMC Brown Brogues - £180

Madras Blue Suede Slip Ons - £135

APC Black Suede Boots - £330

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/_shop/home.php?cat=11

*Yes, I know it was a Warm Gun that made Beatle George happy.

You Must Create arrives at nola

I was busy putting in my Aw11 orders when Mr Delivery Man turned up with 7 boxes of the amazing YMC Spring/Summer collection. I forced myself to finish the orders before I opened the delivery. Armed with a cuppa, I went in. It was like all my Christmases had come at once!

Pretty pretty dresses and striped tees and jumpers and some brilliant cullottes. The collection is very vintage inspired and will be fantastic in Brighton where a lot of the women have that 50s rockabilly/tattoey style going on. Still got lots of it to come in yet - chino skirts and trousers and great brogues and sandals. The collection is now available instore and will be on the nola eshop next week! We just need the sun now............

Striped tee - £55

Red dress - £160

Cullottes - £145

Blue dress - £155

Chambray shirt - £140

New Season Malene Birger Hilende Sparkly Sandals now in store!

Be still my beating heart. I always get a bit giddy and light-headed when the new season stock starts to arrive but quite frankly, these little beauties have blown my tiny mind.

Ultra soft leather sandals with blingy sparkles of diamante all over 'em. They look fantastic with skinny jeans and floaty dresses and so so feminine compared to AW's hiking boots trend. Bring on Spring Summer softness I say.

Available to buy online now! Priced at £265.

http://www.nolaboutique.co.uk/_shop/product.php?productid=725&cat=11&page=1