Thursday 24 July 2014

Up-Date

So the diary is booking up fast, weddings, weddings, weddings! Loving dressing up and especially it being such lovely weather!

So I visited the annual Art In Action Show last week thinking it wouldn't really be my thing but oh yes, the sun was shining, beautiful grounds and a tent full of gorgeous textiles so of course I was pleasantly surprised.

Decked with lots of marquees in Oxford each one offering work from paintings to water colours to prints and sketches; there was lots to see and do. You could join in on life drawing classes or watch how to craft your own chair. Perfect for the kids and people wanting to do something different. I spoke to two lovely ladies, one who hand makes wedding dresses and other lovely frocks and another who designs her own beautiful jewllery line. Check out their websites for more. http://francescamarcenaro.com/ and http://www.allisonrodger.co.uk/


Here's just a few snaps I took so you can see how esqisite their pieces are.







I also had the pleasure of going to my beautiful cousin's wedding on Saturday. With a 1950's theme she looked stunning in a strapless gown with full fluffed skirt. Here's a pic of me and my lovely sister before the bubbly was served....not very 1950's but love this dress...it could be yours! A silk feel marble effect print frock with floaty skirt effect, short at the front, fanning out longer at the back. I teamed my Charles David silver and grey heels with minimal Nora Norway http://www.noranorway.com/ wrist band and black diamante studs. Black smokey grey eyes and soft lips. Love! My sister teamed a Great Plains frou frou flower silk skirt with a sequin embellished cream vest and gold peep toe stilletoes. Are we really sisters? So different!


I'd also like to wish my darling Natalie and Ben a very happy wedding anniversary. Can't believe it has been three years! Such a wonderful day!

So I'll leave you with a song I am obsessed with right now- Graveyard Whistling by Nothing But Thieves- have a listen. It's magical and oh so true...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCAEcuOk_g

Also really loving this one too. A bit more up bit for the summer! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk3r-K8TQ5g Faded by Zhu. Enjoy the muuuuuuzic!

Until next time Swishers,
B xxx




Monday 14 July 2014

When I went to Brentwood!

Hello lovely ladies! Are we all getting bikini ready and packing for our holidays? The weather has been so lovely recently, all my little frou-frou dresses and skirts are coming out! I have lots of weddings to go to soon and I've got the most beautiful pink outfit. One down, now what to wear to the others?!

Very 1950s, I have chosen a floaty pleated soft pink silk skirt, worn at the waist, dropping in a floral wave just at the ankle. I am teaming it with a barely there cream cowel back drop vest and for the evening and church service I have this cute three-quarter length sleeve baby pink cotton jumper. It has this gorgeous sweet lace effect embellishment at the sides. With a simple flower tucked in a down bun and my trusted Kurt Geiger diamante bowed t-bar heels, it's very plain but effortlessly understated. You know I usually go for brights and patterns, but not this time. I am toning it down from my usual daring B!



Sweater and skirt by Dorothy Perkins! 



Below was an outfit I saw in Monsoon of all places! Now this is way more what you'd usually see me in! Just loving the two-piece sets with such awesome patterns and shiny fabrics! Paired with some patent white stilettoes or funky wedges and bright orange lippy, you'll be the best dressed at the beach party!


Had an interesting visit to Brentwood last week. Yep, T.O.W.I.E central! I thought it was going to be a little grander and more glitzy but it wasn't at all. Think lots of heels and mainly polyester! I did however pop by some beautiful boutiques, that although didn't sell many of our sort of fabulous dresses, the clientelle were lovely and they loved London Frock Exchange! Perfect for all the cast as they go out all the time and when you get photographed, you can't possibly be snapped in the same dress twice! We totally 'frocked' Essex!

I also spent a delightful day on the water yesterday on a friend's 30ft boat. We sailed calmly from Lymmington to Newport, had a swim (well it was too chilly for me! I just sunbathed and sipped on a chilled beer!) and munched on sandwiches whilst laughing lots and catching up. The weather was perfect, as was the company!



So what will you be taking on your holidays this year? Now we know one essential is a trusted silk kaftan! Perfect for lounging around the pool, walking along the beach or just slipped on to walk to the local shop! We have two 'just in' and another on its way so quick quick, nab it before it goes!

Blue Embroidered Silk Kaftan
All made of silk and the embroidery is so beautiful. Soft on your tanned skin and at £35 - well, what a steal! Just send in a dress you don't want any more; what about fishing out one from your Winter wardrobe? Then you're ready to swap! Hurry hurry! 

Until next time darling Swishers!
B xxx

Wednesday 2 July 2014

Vibrant Reds to Turn Heads

Hello ladies. I hope you have been taking advantage of this lovely weather! Although whilst out and about at the History Festival (oh yes, get me being all cultural!) this Saturday I got soaked! Total down pour! At least I had my trusted authentic parka on! Donning the 'just see through' black over sized vest with neon pink mesh bra with my luxe sports wear trousers was a simple but effective festival look for a wet field! Talking of wet fields, did any of you go to Glastonbury? What I would have done to see Dolly live! Utter legend!

So what can we expect to be seeing on the high street in the next few sunny months? Not to everyone's taste but bright oranges and reds are in full swing this Summer. Perfect if you have a lovely olive tan or are as pale as the moon! Just don't do this.....

(Horrrrrrrrendous!)

(Much better! Two different people!)

Yup, wanted to go a bit lighter on the hair front for the holidays but my golly did it go wrong! You must give me credit for even posting this as it looked awful! I quickly had it fixed don't worry, back to a soft brown now! This is how to not do orange!

Ok so bring out the oranges and reds!These pics are a great way to see different shades on different colourings and shapes. Which one is your favourite?




( Pics from Marie Claire) 

Pair these vibrant colours with superbly cut separates for a real on trend look. T-shirts or silk embroidered jackets with sporty tracky bums or ripped at the front jeans will see you looking hot on the street. Add your trusted short shorts and heels or wedges for a must see night out! It's all about treating bright eccentric shades as if they were a pastey neutral beige. If the top designers can do it, why can't you? As you've heard me say before, be bold, be beautiful, bounce out of the house with electric energy and confidence. If people look at you, 99.9% of the time they're thnking, 'God, she's obviously a confident woman! Wish I could wear that!' and NOT a negative. If we appear confident in what we wear, we look better, hold ourselves better, higher. Don't take this as being arrogant. There is a huge difference. Remember the only people who think you are arrogant because of your confidence and the way you express yoursleves with your clothes are the ones that are either jeallous they can't do the same or in awe of you.

'You weren't born to hide away in th shadows, to be a wallflower, to blend in, to go unnoticed. You weren't born to march to someone else's beat. And you defintiely weren't born to make up the numbers.'


I am simply loving the revival of the kimono right now. Perfect for over a bikini and shorts or team with a jumpsuit or jeans for a down time look. Just like a 1920's pyjama 'chaise longue' sort of look; cigarette 'A la Vogue' in one hand and a glass of Moet in the other, this delectable look is both sweet and sexy. Great for the beachy holiday evenings or tarting up for a night out. 

What else is looking hot to trott? Why not invest in some fun and funky ripped jeans? You can go as ripped and devilish as you want here, show as much of the leg as you dare! To save the pennies, as this look might not last until the end of the Summer, get the scissors out on an old pair- even some over sized ones your boyf' or bro' has stashed at the back of his closet? 

(Jeans by Mango) 

And it's all about the clash of the patterns, checks, stripes, whatever you fancy really. Pair tropical prints- so now, with flowers, stripes with tartan, check on check, all in different textures and colours. It seems a bit mix-miss-match but you'll be the talk of the town if you brave this utlra cool and chic look this Summer! 

And for the office- its all about Alexa right now- tailored pants, striped collared shirts (colar up like my Ma ever since I can rememnber!) and fine crafted blazers. For this look keep the colours classic yet sohisicated- whites, creams, navy or black. Pop on some deep red lippy for after work hour Pimms! 

Don't foget to live the tangerine and firey sunset reds for the next couple of months! Bold, brilliant and beautifully breath taking! Here are just a few gorgeous frocks form our collection!





Visit  www.londonfrockexchange.com to swap now! 


Until next time Swishers,
Bxxxx