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