It's our Birthdays!!!

This time last year, my darling Sarah gave me a wonderful gift for my 30th Birthday. A gloriously posh cream tea at the beautiful Cliveden House in Berkshire.

What with a very very hectic year, whenever we booked it, we had to cancel and re-arrange! Mostly my fault I must admit! But finally, and I think at the best time, we trotted off last weekend, all dolled up in our frocks for a deliciously scrummy tea with cakes, soldier sandwiches and piping hot tea.

Sitting on the comfiest of grand sofas by a roaring fire, we nattered and gossipped away, reflecting on our wonderful London Frock Exchange year and our beautiful and strong friendship. Take that time and call a friend today you haven't seen in a while. It is the best fuel for your heart, soul and mind!

It's my Birthday tomorrow and my dearest friends and I all dressed up and went out to one of my favourite spots in Bournemouth! Watch this space for our fun, cocktail fueled night and the fabulous frocks we wore! Dance floor Aruba, I thank you! Here's to the wonderful Adele and Pete who won the dance off! 

Last week was our one and only, Sarah's Birthday! This is dedicated to her. Happy Birthday to us my darling. Love you.

'Words could never tell you

How important you'll always be,

Just little things that you do

That are especially meant for me.

You always seem to remember

All the things to do,

That makes friends last forever,

And share a bond so true.

I'm so glad God gave to me

Someone just like you.

He knew that you would be

One of the chosen few!'

Your B,

Always and forever xxx

New Year, New Wardrobe...New You!

Happy New Year dearest Swishers! Well I think last year, wow it feels weird saying that, has been the best year of my life...so far! (Touch wood!) So much has changed me and happened, where do I begin?

I won't harp on about myself too much...we all know the blogs that are having a love affair with themselves don't we?! But I did want to share with you how amazing 2013 has been for me, Sarah and of course London Frock Exchange.

After moving back from Los Angeles, having quite a rough time of it, the start of the year was very blurry. What shall I do? Where shall I move my fashion career? Help! All that, 'golly-I-am-turning-30-soon-and-my-life-has-been-flipped-and-I'm-a-bit-lost,' sort of tizz wozz.

Then...then...London Frock Exchange! I remember meeting my dear Sarah for a lovely lunch and chin wag, my best friend and sister really, at a pub just off the M3. She mentioned re-launching the fabulous dress swap service and immediately sparks flew and I was excited about my life again.

Oh, oh how hard we worked! It was the most fantastic journey of my life. Because Sarah has babies...one of them being my beautiful god-daughter, I would travel up every week for a night or two and we would work 'til the wee hours, sipping on endless cups of minty tea and eating choccies. The giggling, the sweat and tears not to mention the emotional ride. Looking back it has given me so much strength and happiness. I am truly blessed to be a part of this wonderful company and cannot wait to show you all the fabulous treats, changes and add-ons that we will be launching this year and beyond.

I will, as always, take you on my journey of how we are doing it all and what with Sarah's third baby coming any minute, so excited, I cannot wait to tell you all about that too!

I gained a family, a wonderful man and a fantastic business last year and 2014...well, it can only get better - touch wood. Stay positive and, although it's January, and everyone is harping on about how 'We should really take a good hard look at ourselves'...So annoying(!)...Just remember that you are beautiful and as long as we work hard and be kind, listen and love, the rest falls into place. There are rocks that get thrown at us, I'm not saying everything is rosy all the time, not at all, that's for princesses and fairies, but they are only thrown at us to guide us and push us in a different direction, because we are actually probably going in the wrong one! Crikey that was deep, forgive me!

Right, after all that reflection, how about I give you a fun new task for January? We probably still have all our stocking pressies and gifts shoved in a Christmas bag that Auntie Sue put all the pressies in, tucked in a corner in the living room right? And our shoes are a bit all over the place as we couldn't decide which ones to wear to the New Year's party? Clothes still needing washing from before the office do...just haven't gotten round to it...am I right? 

So take a weekend to sort this... and soon! It seems too much but it really won't take that long. Turn the radio up, make some tea and empty the washing, file your shoes and hang up those clothes like they were last year (re-read my wardrobe guide ladies!). Be calm, take it slow. It will make you feel like you have really started this year with a clean, fresh approach. A bang! 

Do things that you've never done this year. Plan a wild trip or call someone you haven't spoken to in a while. Wear something you are scared of! It will bring out a new shiny and confident you! There'll also be some frocks you don't want, naturally, so send them in and we'll get you some beautiful new frocks for the Spring and Summer!

CHECK OUT OUR NEW IN WHISTLES FLOWY FLYING DOVE FROCK!

I'll be back soon lovely ladies!

Warmest 2014 Swishes,

B xx

bethany@londonfrockexchange.com

London Frock Exchange

For Daddy, Sarah and My Charlie. Thank you for bringing my joy back. I love you x

Trips, Treats and Tra-La-La's!

How will you celebrate with friends and family at this special time? When I lived in LA I'd hold an 'Ugly Sweater' party every year and organise fun games to play. It's such a festive investment - buy one either cheap and cheerful off the high street, or really splurge on one worth a bit more so you can bring it out every year! I found these gems:

Santa Claus Classic - think Coca-Cola, holidays are comin' Father Christmas! £270 by Markus Lupfer.

French Connection Robin Jumper - sequined and sassy, a steal at £69.

J-Crew Embellished Llama - Intarsia Wooly only £100.

Back with sleigh-bells on is the wonderful Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair. They've returned with Christmas flare at the Old Spitalfield's Market. Featuring fabulous fashion delights as well as accessories, homeware, menswear, textiles, collectables, winter warmers, stocking fillers and an electric seasonal vibe. Popping up at various hot spots on certain weekends - check out the website for more details of different locations and dates. Free entry too!

If you are ever on the Isle of Wight, you must visit this amazingly scrummy place- Well Bread Artisan Bakery and Cafe. 53-54 Cowes High Street. Walking in for just a quick latte and some fashion mag flicking, I stumbled upon this free spirited kitchen. It was such an inspiration because it was very old school - two large long tables sandwiched between beautiful vintage church pews. The yummy huge fat cakes, buns and treats laid temptingly out all around. A 'help yourself' cafe, I made my steaming drink (hug in a mug!) and soaked up the delicious aromas and friendly family feel atmosphere. Huge blocks of butter on the table with inviting bowls of lush home-made jam.  Yum! A secret island find well worth a visit!

Wants And Wishes

Loving Tiffany & Co's new Atlas Jewellery Collection. It has the blend of new and classic, which oozes style and class.

Coat watch - obsessed with the Rebecca Taylor Wool Coat. A luxe winter jacket, shaped in a cocoon keeping it casual and loose but stylish. It has an oversized shearling collar with a neutral beige/ brown body. To finish with a sexy side, the arms are leather, padded stitching to create a quilted effect. Wear with a leather micro mini shirt, little cowboy booties and a cosy knit jumper. Add a Christmassy edge and keep the festive cheer merry and light with silly bauble earrings and dashing through the snow, Rudolph red lippy!  Tra-la-fa-dee-dah!!!

Twinkle Toes - cosy up by the fire with Ugg's glam new slipper range. Fun, bright colours, warm wooly and wonderful.

Stocking stuffers - for little ones, Little-Pip's have these cutesy bow hair clips. 50% off too -7 for a snip at £12.50! 

Have a peak at Handpicked Collection. An award winning gift shop, they specialise in a unique variety of well-priced, stylish and high quality pressies. I got my Daddy a great stocking filler this year -  a Corkcicle! Just pop in the freezer and then when having a picnic or even a dinner party, put it in the bottle and it acts as a cork whilst keeping the wine chilled! No more to-ing and fro-ing to the fridge and back! 

Sales From Santa

65% off Fenn Wright Manson - chic modern feel fashion for the sophisticated trendy woman. Check out our stunning collection from the designer in stock!

65% off Scott & Scott and London Cashmere, 70% off CK, Original Penguin and Fiona Paxton Contemporary jewellery!

Shearling Boutique also have a sneaky snowy sale with up to 60% off of their collection of luxury winter coats.

Layer up with sexy underwear too! Figleaves are pushing the seductive boundaries this season with French courtesan lingerie, robes and pyjamas.

Writing my Christmas List

Now it wouldn't be Christmas now would it without a few of my favourite things. So here's a few of my list of goodies and ideas to have a cracking Christmas. For above all, it's about family, friends, sharing, giving, celebrating and loving!

• A silly must have onesy- Primark have the whole zoo it seems this year!
• My trusted glitter and sparkle make-up and red red lipstick!
• 'Can't walk in them but they're AMAZING' new Carvella heels!

• Ugly sweater party! Get those invites out now!
• Christmas carols and cheesey tunes!
• Classic Christmas telly!
• Nuts, nuts, satsumas and a chocolate orange!
• Getting all excited about picking up my best gal from the airport! LA girlfriend here for a truly British Webb family Christmas, woop!

• Orange and clove making with Christmassy ribbon to hang above the AGA, delish!
• And of course-lots of mulled wine, laughing and loving!

Christmas 'Bethlehem' Swishes,

HO HO HO!

bethany@londonfrockexchange.com

London Frock Exchange

Wish and Tell - A Glittery Christmas Spell

With your inbox piling full with invitations galore, the party season is picking up so get your favourite Christmas frock now! Check out these gems of ours! Festive, fun and frocking fabulous! 

Reiss Red Rah-Rah Ruffle Frock

Lace 1920s Style Cocktail Frock

Biba Fever Cocktail Frock

After what feels like months and months away, I am finally back in my beloved Frock Shack after all the wonderful shows and fairs with Rhodes To Heaven. Golly how I've missed my dresses! Lots of 'new in' frocks to pop up soon so watch this space! Nab your Christmas party frock in time to rock this December!

Keep sparkly and twinkling with bold electric embellishments and add a hint of glitter in your eye make-up for that total knock out shine! You'll be the star at the top of the tree this year!

Now, I think I might have had a bit of a gift giddiness come over me recently! What with being at all the shows with lots of lovely things to see and buy, the coffee runs turned into me scooping up all my Christmas pressies! I, of course did buy a few naughty treats for myself! One being this beautiful skirt! I mentioned the brand in my last blog but check this bad boy out! I wanted to do a moody dark and dramatic look here! Not sure if I pulled it off this time, but oh well! Got my cheeky hair extensions in for this shoot! 

Moloh Silk Skirt- From £600

 It's bold, graceful, cut to wear in lots of different exotic ways and outrageously unique and exquisite! Team with a classic white shirt tucked in or an off-the-shoulder knit jumper for elegance at its best! This is definitely my Christmas day outfit!

Last year I wore a Topshop classic, which seems to be back on the shelves this year - tight, dark green, long sleeved pencil dress worn with simple pointed black court shoes or booties and black tights. The stretch fabric glistens in the light with a touch of gold sparkle. Not a dress to eat all the mince pies in though!

More Christmassy thoughts from me soon...

Warmest Festive Swishes,
B
London Frock Exchange
bethany@londonfrockexchange.com

Hot to Trot and Keeping it Festive!

Oh, the shows I've been helping at with Rhodes (Rhodes To Heaven Luxury Skin Care- delish!) have been so amazing. All the Christmassy fairs are out in force making for lovely festive cheer and of course, pressie buying! But golly, have I got some outfits to tell you about this week! 

The fur, the gilets, the suede booties and tight jeans not forgetting the pearls and jewels galore! Now, at these country fairs we see money. And I mean old money as in, 'Oh thank you Lady Grantham for being so sweet!'

A snip of a vintage diamond ring for £3000 is nothing to these fabulous British country women. Ladies who lunch is just an understatement. I must tell you their attire!

We saw a lot of rabbit fur scruffled on layers of wool and lovely fake fur ribbons draping from their necks. Long oversized dresses made of cotton and light linen saw a well to do look this season. Lots of the classic hunting tweed and tartan, teamed with leggings and suede or leather over-the-knee and just-under-the-knee boots looked very rah-rah. 

Big scarves full of pattern and print looked electric yet sophisticated. There were these wonderful soft cotton scarves with animals printed on them. Adorable! Think calm cream background shades with black or brown labrador doggies on, soft pink with bright fuchsia flamingos, dazzling purple with a hint of lilac on pale blue for the parrots...gorgeous.

My inbox is flooded at the moment with lots of treats, deals and sales for this festive season. Brand Alley keeps me updated of where the biggy discounts are.  So the hot to trot sales right now are Missoni, Halston Heritage dresses and John Lewis (who have up to 30% off on the likes of Miss Selfridge, Whistles, East and Jaeger - not forgetting beating the chilly weather with your staple leather booties at Dune.)

And why not check out my hottest brand right now, Moloh. Quirky, eccentric yet classic and smooth clothing! Obsessed! 

You know how much I adore the 'more is more look', so layer up and keep warm in wonderful chunky knits, tailored coats and denim jackets. Choose pure wool scarves worn over Italian cloth parkers and heavy jumpers under leather bikers.

Keep chic and wear bespoke blazers over the hottest knitted jumper right now - this essential has had a Luxe makeover with beaded necklines, animal prints and stripes! The look is louche suiting and illustrates the power of classic perfectly!  

Me being very silly last weekend in my chunky knit! Slouchy down time, I paired my cardigan with my fur gilet, trusted tracky bums, wild up do and added a bit of fun with a feather earring. Outrageously fun! 

Add a vibrant pop of teal to a casual neutral palette or go bold and bohemian with rich gem-tones, pairing to simple skinny jeans or my favourite, those trusted slouchy boyfriend jeans.

Don't play it safe! Have fun and add lots of warm accessories now the frost is out!

And get those dresses swapped for all those parties coming up! Can't wait to show you our December collection, coming soon! 

Warmest Swishes, 

B
bethany@londonfrockexchange.com
London Frock Exchange

Wrap Up Without Looking Like a Wreck!

So the weather has turned. We are back to miserable dark afternoons and that wet wet rain...The wind blowing our perfectly coiffed hair so that it sticks to our lipgloss...Those wonderful floody puddles, traffic delays, and general frustration. Let's get sassy this Autumn and brighten up those dreary days by wrapping up warm and staying stylish. 

Being on the road at the moment, travelling the country with the gorgeous Rhodes to Heaven, I need to not only look good but keep warm and remain trendy. So, to my look today: 

• Tight thick leather trousers   

• A shoulder-padded monochrome wool-knit sweater a la Valentino (you'll hate me, charity shop find:) )  

• Fur and wool-knit gilet 

• My bang-on-trend trusted leopard print ballet pumps with bows 

The monochrome patterned sweater matched with the animal print shoes gives edge yet elegance to this season's theme of pattern mixing.  

If in doubt, for me more is more in the Winter. A grumpy, cold woman looks old and haggard because she is cold. Add the layers of polonecks, snoods, hats and overcoat...  

You'll still look stylish but you'll be happy because you're warm!

Warmest Swishes,

B

bethany@londonfrockexchange.com

London Frock Exchange 

Autumnal Days and Nights Ahead

I think Autumn is by far one of my favourite seasons. The colours, the leaves, the wind, the peeping sun and cosy nights. I love the heat but there's something so warming about going into this season. Hot honey mugs of deliciousness, the dark dark tea times and then out comes the winter wardrobe! I don't know about you but I secretly get all excited about my new clothes! I know they're not new per se but I haven't seen them in ages so it feels like I have been on a massive shopping spree!

The other reason I adore this time of year is because I am obsessed with Halloween. The masks, the endless choice of who you'll dress up as, the toffee apples, spooky starry nights, sparklers, spiders, green punch and those gloriously lit pumpkins. The fact that Hocus Pocus is one of my favourite movies....I might just go as a Sanderson sister this year!

So what's big this Autumn? Well as always, those chunky knits are a must have. Whether it be an oversized jumper or a big woolly cardigan, dress down with boy jeans and some converse with a plain white tee or zazz it up by popping on some tight leather cropped trousers, suede brogues or heels and finish with a collared shirt and phatt elasticated belt.

Why not try an old school look and team some woolly tights (in print crochet if you are really brave!) with an oversized knitted jumper and belt. I have a jumper that can be worn as a short dress too which I wear with over-the-knee woollen socks over my tights. For my feet I wear my trusted heeled ankle brown suede booties from Aldo. I bought them years ago but the heel isn't too high and they have awesome brass stud detail round the sole for extra flare and pazazz!

Zara at the moment have got some amazing new cuts on their coat collection- big neck scoops, flared pleated capes, buttons, zips, pockets. I love the way they mix different fabrics too- leather arms, wool breast, padded elbow sleeves - paired with a classic trench coat design leaves for a stylish and edgy take on this season's trends.

I do love my scarves and schnoods too. Match the colour of your eyes with one this Winter! They're snuggly warm and will keep the dreaded wind and flu at bay!

As seen at Saint-Laurent, Mulberry, Givenchy and Versace, tartan is a real scorcher this season. Wear with stripes and other patterns for a truly dazzling 'on-trend' style. Layer check, plaid and tartan up for a morning-after-marathon-party mood! Yet eccentric Vivienne Westwood, Queen of punk ignored the trend she became a household name for, in favour of a Dark-Ages-inspired collection fused with Forties glamour-oooh la la!!!

Elie Saab's Autumn/Winter Collection this year boasts the usual gorgoeus tailoring using dark sultry palettes of midnight blues and blacks. Perfect for those dark early evenings and parties coming up! We are also seeing a lot of sparkly grunge, which shows intense adult sexiness. Adding cutesy baby doll chiffon dresses and Peter Pan collars to this electric style will turn heads at every corner. Be daring and mix it up!

We saw our gal Stella McCartney paying homage to British tradition with men's-inspired tailoring before moving onto a softer section of floaty silk dresses, nicks and flicks with masculine cuts and edgey tailoring.

Herringbone heavy variations of military-tinted pieces flowed at Ackermann's show: very post-apocalyptic vision, whilst we saw Clare Waight Keller going back to school for inspiration for Chloe's Autumn/ Winter collection.

As is in our fabulous Winter Collection, check out all our monochrome pieces. Keep it super tight and layer with knitwear for day wear then pop on those killer heels and leather or fur jacket for night! And to finish my ladies, golly are you going to be the best dressed this season, go back to prints- checks on stripes, animal print........they're back with attack!!!!

Happy Halloween girls!!!!

With Spooky Swishes,

B

bethany@londonfrockexchange.com

London Frock Exchange