Bring on the Welly Weather: Matthew Williamson for Havianas

I promise I haven’t gone mad with this title, I really am longing for an excuse to pull on some Wellies (well, buy some first!)

A special collaboration between British designer Matthew Williamson and Havaianas Rain boots has drawn a lot of attention to the iconic Brazilian flip-flop brand’s 2012 Fall/Winter collection. The joint project marks Havaianas’ 50th anniversary and celebration of Matthew Williamson’s 15th anniversary of his first fashion show for London Fashion Week.

As Williamson himself puts it, “both brands embody a sense of escapism and love of travel, an unabashed use of vibrant colour and flamboyance”.

Matthew Williamson has created two novel designs for the Havaianas Rain Boots line. The Brazilian brand represents a distinctive joy and optimism which Matthew appreciated, saying “I’m drawn to the way Havaianas capture playfulness and light-heartedness in their products, there is clearly an element of fun. I wanted to embrace this sensibility in the rain boots and so chose prints that were whimsical without being kitsch”.

PEACOCK RAIN BOOT: Since its introduction in 2004, Matthew Williamson’s peacock feather design has grown to symbolize his brand. For this occasion, it takes on a brand-new color harmony of monochrome with vibrant highlights of fuchsia and jade. The result is a current and refreshing new addition to the Havaianas collection.

DIGITAL RAIN BOOT: developed for Matthew Williamson’s Winter 2012 ready-to-wear collection and featured in his show on long voluminous silk gowns. This is characteristic of Matthew’s love of graphic pattern. The triangular shards are reminiscent of cascading water, perfect for splashing in puddles in the rain.

The boots retail at £85 each and have gone online & stores on 1st October.

Which design is your favourite? I’m needing the Peacock ones in my life!

xxx

*this is a scheduled post, I’m en route to Holland as you read this!*

Totally Lovestruck

Dress c/o Lovestruck , Coat from Mango, Tights from Primark and Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell via Sarenza (bought with competion winnings)

Another week and another shop that blogging has introduced me to, this time in the form of Lovestruck who e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago offering me an item. The second I saw this dress I fell in love with the collar, I might look for some collar tips to change it up a little- any recommendations for some good ones?

This coat is a recent purchase, I’ve been looking for a mid-season piece for a while and I first saw this Mango number on the gorgeous Josie who’s style I just adore. After thinking of it constantly I eventually decided this was *the one* and merrily handed over the very reasonable £39.99. Although this isn’t lined, I went for an over-sized fit so I can layer jumpers under it meaning it may well see me through the milder days of deepest darkest winter too.

Well, just 10 hours at work to get through then some last minute packing/making sure everything is in order followed by an early night and an early departure for the airport for my long awaited trip to Holland. Despite my Aunt and Uncle living over there I haven’t been for a shamefully long time but this year things have come together quite nicely (despite the tragic circumstance) and best friend and I are off for a few days away from the work place madness.

What are your weekend plans?

xxx

Sorting out Stains with Vanish

It’s a running joke in my family that I’m the messy one and I don’t really help myself by being clumsy and often spilling things/standing in things/generally being scruffy, therefore when I was offered the chance to review a product on behalf of Vanish I was more than willing to give it a shot!

For those not familiar, Vanish provide solutions for all manner of stains; from blood stains (handy with my job!) to carpet stains (useful with Mae plus my penchant for black coffee!)

For the purpose of this post I joined forces with my Mum who does the bulk (read all) of the washing in this house (why yes, I am spoiled…saying it before Anon does!) to try out one of the stain removing powders in the Vanish family…

“Although I didn’t (for once) have a heavily soiled or stained white wash I thought I would inject a little ‘sparkle’ to my laundry and use this product. Result! Husbands shirts are brilliantly white and looking like new; no more grubby collars! Undies have been given a new lease of life and our hand towels would be fit for a bathroom display in a show home, lovely clean fresh smell and look- will definately be using this as a regular – fabulous!!”

So there we have it,
Vanish has won the approval of my hard to impress Mum (she won’t deny that!) and might just redeem the fact I’ve spilt coffee on my PJs, again.

Are you prone to spillages?

xxx

 

Tartaned

The second I saw this dress on Terri’s blog sale I knew I needed it. When it arrived on Saturday I slipped it on and knew I’d met my dress match. LOVE. A bargainous love. It kind of reminds me of a dress I used to wear to parties when I was all of five years old!
Teamed with simple black tights and studded boots c/o Sarenza I wore this outfit for a potter around Bath on Sunday with my lovely friend Ellie.
All my outfit posts this week are totally retrospective, if I were doing it in “real time” you’d be getting nothing more than baggy jeans, sloppy tees and novelty PJs; I was struck down with some horrible virus that left me feverish and generally “blah” so dressing up hasn’t been high on my list of priorities. In true Laura style I have bounced back and will shortly be heading off to work for the last two days of the week before heading off to Holland for a few days,
from no holiday in seven years to two in one year…I don’t do things by halves.

Anyone else been struck by germs? I’m thinking of donning a surgeons mask and banning people from breathing in my direction.

What has your best blog sale buy been?

xxx

Practically Perfect; Phase Eight

I’ll be the first to admit that Phase Eight  isn’t the first place I’d consider when searching for a gorgeous dress or fabulous skirt. Their latest new arrivals may just have me coverted though; how gorgeous is the Cinderella dress from the new Collection 8? I’m swooning and wishing for an occasion where I can justify such an object of beauty.

On a more day-to-day note the Lexa dress would be perfect for up-coming party season and the Nova pencil skirt would look great for work with a crisp white shirt…
I should probably put in to practise that theory of investing in sound basics, and Phase Eight might just be the place to start with some office-chic essentials (and a few less practical things, too)

What shops are exceeding your expectations lately?

xxx