This week is flying by, I can’t believe it’s Thursday already !  I’ve spent most of the week shopping with clients, which I love doing, but it’s starting to get sooooo busy in town now.  I’m really starting to miss the mid week lull that I normally take advantage of.

I made the mistake of taking a client shopping yesterday during the strikes. We’d had it booked in for a while but it dawned on me as I queued into Bristol on the M32, that town might be a little busy. My initial fears turned into reality as I drove around the city centre trying to find a car park that had space.  All the car parks were completely full and I had to drive back and forth between them until eventually one of them opened the gates and let me in.  Despite this somewhat stressful beginning to my day, the shopping trip was a success, (we even managed to wangle the HOF discount that wasn’t starting until the following day).  When I’d finished the shopping trip, I thought I’d take the opportunity to do a spot of Christmas shopping.  It had taken me long enough to park so I thought I might as well stay.

My Mum has almost finished her Christmas shopping, and I’d barely given it a thought until yesterday.  I know it’s only 1st December, but not only has my Mum bought all her presents but they’re all wrapped and ready for despatch!  As you can imagine, this has just highlighted my lack of organisational skills and has left feeling a little panicked.  Well, deciding to stay back after my shopping trip to start the mammoth task of finding the perfect gifts was a great idea and ended up beign rather little less daunting when I spotted this fabulous new shop.  Gerry Webber is long gone, and in its place is my saviour this Christmas, Oliver Bonas.  I found something for my Sister and Mum in less than five minutes, that’s got to be a record!

The inside of the shop is light and spacious.  It’s full of gorgeous home ware, cute dresses and jewellery.  This is their first shop to open outside of London, and is a great addition to Cabot Circus.

I know this isn’t fashion related, but I’m all for supporting local talent and just have to share this with you.  If you haven’t sorted your Christmas presents or cards yet (let’s be honest, who has!?) then you need to get yourself down to Cabot Circus tonight.   

This year, the run up to Christmas has seen over 100 local artists come together as part of ‘Pop-Up Bristol’ - a new initiative from Made in Bristol that has showcased a diverse range of independent galleries and creative talent on the high street for the first time, adding a new dimension to Christmas shopping at Cabot Circus this year. The pop-ups offer the opportunity to purchase quality gifts and one-off pieces by up-and-coming artists.

Tonight, Pop-Up Bristol will be hosting a party to celebrate the one-month countdown to Christmas at 6pm across their three temporary festive galleries at Cabot Circus - Drawn in Bristol, Pop-Upfest  and Smithson Gallery & Gifts. 

The event will offer guests a fantastic opportunity to see and purchase all the brilliant artworks the shops have on offer and will also feature live drawing and music. There will also be a chance to meet all of the diverse and talented artists involved in the project along with some exciting special guests.

I can’t think of a better way to shop for my Christmas gifts this year...see you there!

See www.popupbristol.com for more details.

The Pop-up Shops will be open as follows:
• POP-UPfest: Open now – 24th December (Level 1, Glass Walk)
• Drawn in Bristol: Open now – 3rd December (Quakers Friars)
• Smithson Gallery and Gifts; Open now – 24th December (Level 1, Glass Walk)
• Bristol Creatives: Open now – 24th December 24th December (Quakers Friars)

P.S, I did have a lovley picture to upload BUT BLOGGER STILL ISN'T LETTING ME UPLOAD IMAGES!

Well, this is a bit different!  I've literally just finished taking a regular client of mine shopping for her autumn\winter wardrobe and am now sitting in the middle of Cabot Circus, typing this post for my blog live!  It's a little hectic and to be honest with you, quite scary.  I'm not a natural writer and generally spend ages typing up posts in Microsoft Word, before checking the spelling and pasting it into my blog.  To say I'm a little outside my comfort zone is an understatement.  Anyway, I'm here to write about the show, not tell you how long it takes me to pull together posts for my blog. 

Well, the show was short and sweet and the outfits looked great (bar one that I just couldn't get my head round - blue cord shorts and a pale fringed leather jacket just doesn't do it for me).  Fashions from House of Fraser were showcased covering adrodgyny and colour blocking for women, and sharp retro style tailoring and heritage for men.

My favourite look had to be girl meets boy, masculine tailoring for women.  I loved the the edgyness of the leather and sharp tailoring contrasted with soft feminine silk and naughty lengths.  This outfit was the star of the set.  I love the leather shorts - if only I had the legs.

Colour blocking was done in easy to wear shades and even more wearable shapes.  Simple dresses were finished off with statement accessories that popped against the outfits. 

This colbolt blue dress and sunshine yellow bag looked fabulous and prove it's not hard to pull off this trend.

Mango, Mango, Mango, oh how I do love thee!  This is one of those brands which never fail to deliver.  They seem to be able to pull together catwalk inspired collections that are not only really wearable, but are such a great price too. 

Up until now, the only places to buy Mango have been John Lewis and House of Fraser, and to be honest while they stock great pieces, they both carry such small collections that you don’t get the full Mango experience.  But things are about to change.  On Thursday 29th September, Mango will open the doors of their first stand alone store in Bristol, and I can’t wait. 

I thoroughly recommend heading down to Cabot Circus to see the new store, and shop the new collections.  I can’t make the grand opening as I’ve had to book a client in that evening (this working for yourself malarkey really is getting a little hectic!), but for those of you who are free you can expect 20% discount when you spend £50 or more, complimentary styling from TIGI Catwalk hair stylists, champagne, drinks, sweets and treats, and if that’s not enough to entice you, the first 300 customers will receive complimentary goodie bags with a purchase and a chance to win a £50 voucher and a year’s supply of TIGI Catwalk products in their raffle!!

Combi fabric suit jacket £69.69

Flared dress, £59.90

Long chain necklace £17.90

Openwork knit sweater £39.90

Straight cut dress, £49.90

Woven Leather shopper handbag, £54.90

The shops are brimming with autumn/winter stock and while we’re all hoping for some last minute sunshine, in reality it’s not going to happen.  Autumn is almost here so it’s time to assess your autumn/winter wardrobe and work out what you need to invest in this season.  But, before you head to the shops, why not get a little guidance?

There are two fantastic opportunities to find out what’s in store for us all this season.  The first is Bristol Fashion Week, up at Cribbs Causeway and the second is the Cabot Circus Fashion Show.  We really are a little spoilt here in Bristol.

Bristol Fashion Week is always fabulous.  The catwalk shows are entertaining (thanks somewhat to the banter between Mark Heyes from GMTV and celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton), energetic and inspiring.  Everything showcased is available in store, so of course it’s inevitable that you’ll not leave empty handed.

There are 18 fashion shows so there’s plenty of opportunity to catch one, and with tickets only costing  £8.95, (or £13.95 for front row seats), it would be a shame to miss out.  Tickets are available from www.mallcribbs.com and include pre-show refreshments from M&S, a goody bag, discount vouchers for stores in The Mall and entry into a Free Prize Draw to win one of 18 Aspinal handbags worth over £395, courtesy of John Lewis. 



Cabot Circus Fashion Show is being held in association with the British Fashion Council and is another event that mustn’t be missed.  This one is free (yes free!!) and takes place this Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September.  There are 11 shows in total so there’s plenty of time to catch one in between shopping sprees.  For show times, visit www.cabotcircus.com/what’s on.

Thanks to the wide range of retailers in Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars, the catwalk shows not only showcase the best of the high-street, but you’ll also see the best of the designer brands too.  So whatever your budget you’ll be able to find something to update your autumn outfits from last year, and with many of Cabot Circus’s stores and restaurants offering up to 20% off, your pennies will go that little bit further.

I’ll be watching a show or two, and might even do a spot of live blogging (although this scares me slightly) so check back next week for some photos straight from the catwalk. 

Gok was in Bristol again this week filming for his new series.  His last series saw him taking on Brix Smith-Start in a bid to show that you really don’t need buckets of money to look good and work the latest trends.  But this series focus on Gok’s talents alone, as brings you the best of the high street whether you’ve got a tight budget or a little more to spend.  The very lovely Kerry Harris gave me two front row seats for the catwalk show and it was great to be there again.
I took my friend Jane with me which was lovely, as since moving to Bath, we’ve not been able to meet up as much and I’ve really missed that. 

There was a good turnout for style guru, Cabot was packed out, there was even the odd declaration of love.  The three lucky ladies who had the Gok makeover looked fab and loved every minute of their moment in the spotlight, I’m looking forward to watching their transformation when the series is aired later this month.  Unfortunately there aren’t as many photos as I’d have liked for the post, but my camera recently died a death and as it was being filmed we weren’t allowed to use our phones.  Here are the best of the bunch.

I bet you thought I’d given up on blogging...well no, I’ve just been so busy with clients that I’ve rather neglected it (again).  Anyway, I’m back, and with news of a just launched, fabulous new Bristol based fashion website - MyStreetChic.com.

It’s THE place to go if you love fashion, clothes and styling.  Gina Dyer, Editor of MyStreetChic.com describes Bristol as being “home to a hotbed of different styles. MyStreetChic.com aims to celebrate what’s best in the West for fashion”, and I totally agree!  I love Bristol for just that reason, anything goes and locals aren’t afraid to experiment with their look, check out some serious street style here.

To celebrate the launch of MyStreetChic.com, Bristol hairdressers will attempt to set the World Record for the highest number of topknot hairstyles completed in one day in a special event at Cabot Circus on Saturday 11 June. 
The event, organised by MyStreetChic.com, will see local shoppers’ hair transformed into the iconic topknot style as part of a speed styling challenge. A team from Robin James Salon Ltd will attempt to get through as many topknots as possible to score a World Record – and put Bristol firmly on the style map. 
I’ve tried to pull off a top knot, but somehow I never quite get it right, but if you want to rock the latest look and look fabulous to boot then, head down to the MyStreetChic.com stand in the main street at Cabot Circus on Saturday 11 June between 10am and 6pm and take part in the Great Topknot Challenge.

With the weather hotting up again (fingers crossed that’s not just put a stop to that!) is it getting harder to decide what to wear to the office? I was invited to discuss this on BBC Radio Bristol last week and it prompted me to pull together this post. 

When the weather’s gorgeous and the sun’s shining, it can be difficult not to head to work looking like you’re off for the weekend. So, how do you pull together a look that’s both comfortable in the warm and stuffy office, but that keeps you looking and feeling cool? More importantly how do you stay fresh in the heat and ensure you’re still taken seriously?   Flip flops and short shorts just won't cut it.

If you’ve found yourself staring blankly into your wardrobe first thing in the morning, clueless as to what to wear to work when it’s 21 degrees, then read on. I’ve pulled together the hottest summer work wardrobe, to keep you cool, nine to five.

2. If you keep fabrics loose like this shirt from TFNC, Cabot Circus, you’ll remain cool but won’t fail to impress in the style stakes!  I love this colour, it goes so well with the nudes and navy we can’t get enough of this season.

3. This pretty spot blouse is also from TFNC, they have some perfect office wear pieces in this season.  Either wear this loose over a pair of capri pants, or team it with shorts like these from M&S (4)

4. Most people consider shorts unsuitable for the office, but if you opt for a pair that finishes just above the knee, they make a stylish and practical choice!  Wear these from Marks and Spencer, Broadmead, with a pair of flats (16 )  or a low heel (13 ), add a plain top (5 ) and finish with a loose jacket (6) for a tres chic look

5. This top from Whistles, Park Street (5) is a wardrobe staple.  It will go with trousers and skirts and can be layered with a jacket for days when you need to be a little smarter.

6. This draped jacket from Miss Selfridge, Broadmead, will layer over a variety of tops.  The relaxed, light weight fabric will be perfect for hot days and the light colour is so versatile.

7. For days when you need to dress for success, consider a dress like this one from LK Bennett, Quakers Friars. The fabulous shape will hug you in all the right places, and the the capped sleeve will keep you cool.  Finish the look with some tan accessorise (15 ) (17 ).  Or, to dress it down,  just add the pink draped jacket (6 ) and a pair of nude sandals (13 ).

8. Inject some fun into your work wardrobe with this cute blouse from NW3, John Lewis.  It’s another versatile choice as it can be worn with skirts (9 ) trousers ( 12) and shorts ( 4).

9. I love this pencil skirt from A/Wear, Cabot Circus, this colour will go with pretty much anything and the style is perfectly suited to the loose blouses and striped tops that are in abundance this season.  It can be smartened with the addition of a pair kitten heels like these from Dune (14)

10. This outfit from Whistles, Park Street is spot on for work-wear!  Consider splitting up the pieces and mixing them with other items.  For example, try wearing the trousers with the NW3 blouse (8), or the top with the camel pencil skirt (9)

11. I’ve mentioned this shirt from Warehouse in a previous post but it’s just so perfect and so versatile that I had to include it in this one too.  It will look fab tucked into the Whistles trousers (10) and accessorised with the nude sandals from Carvela (12) but it will also work with the grey trousers from Oasis (12) teamed with the flat brogues from Schuh ( 16).

12. Grey is a great colour for the summer months.  It’s so much softer than everyone’s favourite – black.  It compliments this seasons soft ballerina tones and looks smart at the office.  This pair from Oasis, Cabot Circus, (12) will go with all the tops I’ve picked here, and can be worn with heels or flats.

13. Sandals are a must when it’s beautifully hot, however flat sandals don’t quite hit the mark when you’re heading to the office.  Something like these nude sandals with a low heel from Carvela available at KG in Quakers Friars (13), however are perfect.

14. Everyone should have some leopard print in their wardrobe, but if you’re worried about over doing it then opt for a pair of print shoes.  These kitten heels from Dune, House of Fraser (14) will turn your skirts and trousers into something more ladylike and the heel is so practical for wearing all day.

15. These platforms from Reiss, Quakers Friars give you height without the pain!  They’ll work well with any work wardrobe and will keep your feet nice and cool.  Make sure you paint your toes – how about a bright coral?

16. Heels aren’t a must for work; sometimes it’s nice to wear a flat shoe.  This pair from Schuh, Cabot Circus, makes a brilliant choice, not only do they look smart, but they’re a versatile style.

17. I’m loving tan accessories this season, I find them so versatile.  This bag from French Connection, Quakers Friars (16) would make a great purchase.

If you’ve not had a chance to go to any of the fashion shows that have been going on this month then all is not lost. Cabot Circus will be stepping into the new season in style with a series of free catwalk shows celebrating the best of spring and summer on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April.

As always, they will showcase the hottest trends from the new season collections, bringing together the best of the high-street and designer brands. With so much to choose from on the high street, theses shows are the perfect opportunity to consider how you might work the season’s trends and discover where to go to update your wardrobe.

I can’t watch the shows this weekend, but thanks to the lovely Kara that won’t stop me sharing some images with you afterwards.

For those of you going, enjoy you won’t be disappointed!

SHOWTIMES
Catwalk - level 1, outside House of Fraser

SATURDAY 2 APRIL
11.30am
12.30pm
2pm
3.30pm
4.30pm

SUNDAY 3 APRIL
12pm
1.30pm
2.30pm
3.30pm

To find out more visit www.cabotcircus.com

If you loved his fashion fix series then you’ll not want to miss his latest one – Gok’s taking his catwalk on the road, bringing his Fashion master classes to the masses, and Bristol is one of the chosen destinations!

I love this time of year, the fabulous new collections are firmly underway, and everything looks fresh and exciting. Now is the perfect time to source those all important items to bring your wardrobe shimmying into this season.