My Passport To Style | Lulu Guiness's Winter 2011 Handbags

Hi Gals, this winter 2011 collection of Lulu Guiness's handbags proclaims she is a genius, not only in designing beautiful creative bags that draw us into her world of fantasy, but how many other handbag brands do you know that market themselves so effortlessly? Without the need for expensive marketing campaigns and props, Lulu Guiness's range must be every department stores dream. Well this simple display has worked it's magic on me anyway, I want this modette inspired family of handbags including mum top right, with her huge fish like eyes, that I would have to name Beryl, big sister top left and cute little sister bottom right. To not keep the family together would just feel really wrong! I'm guessing Lulu was banking on the strong bond we feel for women in our familes, when she designed the trio and even if my phsyco babble is misplaced, you can bet that there will be sisters, mums and girlfriends out there this Christmas buying these bags for each other! Do you have a favourite Lulu Guiness bag? I would love to know which one and why you treasure it?   

My Passport To Style | Alphabet Chic, P Is For .....

P is for pretty packaging however simple the product, it brightens our day as well as our teeth!!

My Passport To Style | Which Of Your Summer Bags Should Hang Around For A/W 2011?

wovenpurses.com 

 Hi Gals, before you look at this elegant raffia tote and remember that you have a similar bag languishing at the back of your wardrobe/closet that won't be seeing the light of day now till next summer 2012. Here is quick style tip to brighten your Monday, this bags shape and fabric  is perfect for wearing with this winter 2011 seasons mod inspired looks that featured heavily on the catwalks; vintage inspired mod looks can be in danger of looking a little brassy when teamed with traditional PVC accessorise, the raffia weave adds an element of sophistication. This bag would also work well to add warmth and anchor more futuristic winter whites if your more inclined in that direction this A/W 2011.

Vanessa Bruno

My Passport To Style | Granny Dishes The Dirt On Natural Stain Removal



favourite A-line blue silk shift dress



 With wear it for one evening only dressing, becoming a distant memory and the party season fast approaching. I was discussing the merits of certain stain removers with granny after getting peppercorn sauce down the front of my favourite silk dress. Granny loves to offer her advice when it comes to dressing for special occasions, grooming and keeping your wardrobe in pristine condition. Granny firmly believes that she is more Italian than Italian women when it comes to dressing stylishly and as she spends half the year off the Almafi coast on her sun lounger sucking on huge fragrant lemons the size of a baby's head, (she still believes they prevent rickets) she probably is!

 Granny knew that the thought of unleashing a stain devil and all its toxins onto my favourite silk dress and into my home was causing me some concern, so she came to the rescue with her top four natural stain removing techniques. You may be  pleased to know gals, if you have the ingredients at home to make your own custard, your more than half way towards saving yourself money and death by chemicals when it comes to stain removal. I have to confess Granny triumphed and saved my dress! 

Grannys Top Secret Stain Removal Techniques

1. Remove red wine, by placing tying the stained garment over the top of a large pudding basin and then pour boiling water over the top of the stain, the red wine will run through the garment.

orange 60's kettle with print

2.Remove fresh fat and oil stains by rubbing cornflour gently into the stain and leaving for 20 minutes before washing through.


Great natural stain remover milk



3.Remove biro by soaking the mark in milk and leaving over night then washing through.

palette knife perfect for tough gum that won't budge

4.Remove chewing gum, by placing the garment in the freezer till hard and then gently scraping of with a palette knife.

cornflour to thicken custard can be used to remove fat stains

Glam lady eating pasta politely

If you know of any other natural stain removers that have worked for you I would love to know them!

 

My Passport To Style| Reviews Nature Shops| Emu, Romani Boots

I was recently asked if I would like review a pair of Nature Shops black Romani Suede boots, as I love the companies responsible attitude to the environment and with winter on its way, I thought you gals might appreciate discovering more about this comfortable emu style boot . I felt this particular style offered the versatility and detailing to be styled up in various ways in time for winter 2011. From wearing them full length, for a classic biker style look, with a favourite battered leather jacket and skinny jeans, to rolling them down and wearing with chunky colourful long Navajo knits and tights (like my recent purchase from Warehouse below) or even adopting a luxe ski look and teaming them with a long quilted glossy cream coat, black roll neck fun goggle glasses and a wide leather headband.

First Impressions

The Nature Shop boots came beautifully packaged in a brown card box with large gold floral print and a rope handle. Once open I spotted a swish fabric tote with large gold nature shop lettering and logo which I thought was a really nice touch, as the bag has a drawstring also you could choose to use the bag as shoe bag to protect your boots or just as a tote.

The boots themselves are well made from premium sheepskin and 3/4 length with the sheepskin turned over, there is a chunky brass effect ring that fastens at the outer side of each boot, through which an additional strip of suede is looped and attached with a sweet brass heart stud, this attention to detail I felt gives the boots a luxe edge. At the back of each boots is premium gold stitched initialling.

Comfort V Style

For those of you that have worn this style of boot in a different style such as the stinger, you will know they are quite roomy, so great if you want to wear a thicker sock, however unless its sub zero conditions there is no need as the sheepskin lining works well to keep feet toasty and wick any sweat from your feet away. I love being able to just pull on a pair of boots with no zip, fastening etc which sound incredibly lazy but when you're in a rush it's great! The boots have nice big treads on them, having tried them out on the pathways near my home which are now laced with slippery autumn leaves, they do work to keep you upright and your dignity in tact!

The only thing that I found, was I have what I term sporty calves! So rolling the boot up to its full length made the fit quite tight and meant that the fibres of the plush black fleece inner lining stuck up around the outer edge of the boot slightly, so I would probably wear them rolled down as intended or rolled up with straight black jeans over the top.



please note * I received these boots as compensation for writing this review

My Passport To Style | Granny Dishes The Dirt On Natural Stain Removers

 With wear it for one evening only dressing, becoming a distant memory and the party season fast approaching. I was discussing the merits of certain stain removers with granny after getting peppercorn sauce down the front of my favourite silk dress.

My Passport To Style | Gets Material

Hi Gals, me thinks that the recent thirst for heritage pieces such as tartan and plaid has been brought about by the Royal wedding in the UK and a emotional need for sturdy fashion that will stand the test of time! Thankfully tartan offers a heritage solution with a little more than just sturdiness about it!

 Whatever the reason If you can wear a dress that feels as cosy as a blanket and it still gives you an aura of regal bearing who can argue with that. Loving this tartan duo and  the somewhat unlikely but sweet pairing of Alexandra Mcxqueen and Sarah Parker. If your wanting to buy into heritage with a more modern feel then why not opt for a simple blanket cape or these ear muffs new in from http://www.muji.co.uk/ store, loving the fact that this cape by Muji UK, has not been overworked just a simple pin and armholes, the length is perfect and the colour of the tartan is flattering for all hair shades.  

My Passport To Style Has Been Awarded 10 Of The Best By The Fashion Network

Wayne Hemingway Of Red Or Dead

Hi Gals, I just found out some really exciting news that I wanted to share here with everyone one here who reads my blog and supports it, My Passport To Style has received an award

 '10 Of The Best' from The Fashion Network for being one of the top 10 best blogs in the North UK.

The judging panel included Drapers, John Lewis, The Mail On Sunday and designer Wayne Hemingway and My Wardrobe. If you're curious to know more about the award, click here. If you like your daily dose of fashion blog's you can check out the other winning fashion blogs there also, as well as fashion blogs, fashion business's both on and off line were selected for awards also.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to My Passport To Style and to you all for supporting my passion for writing on the subject of fashion ! See you soon.

My Passport To Style | Alphabet Chic, D Is For .......

D is for Delightfully Dotty tights worn for those days when your feeling a little bored!

check out the Mary Portas and Charnos range here  

image courtesy of blogtightsplease.co.uk

Cardigan The Home Of The Last Jeans Factory In The Uk, Is Back For Business!

As a British gal who is passionate about championing home-grown clothing labels that will help with the re growth of our industry in the UK and our economy, Inspired and proud does not come close to how I felt after discovering the man with what can only be described as a calling to bring the fiercely competitive industry of denim production back to its roots in Cardigan in the UK. Speaking as a fashion blogger, I feel the heritage, craftsmanship and ethics behind a label, can often be lost behind the gloss of fashion but I like Hiatte believe we have reached an important tipping point where the fashionable do care how and where their clothing is produced and are also starting to understand that the survival of our country not just the fashion industry, is dependent on are supporting the growth of home- grown brands here in the UK.

What better way to end fashion week in the UK than with by reinstating the production of jeans in Cardigan. Did you know women in the UK spend more money on their denim than in any other country? To find out more about the entrepreneur and his project, read Hiattes inspiring philosophy on business, please visit here, spread the word and support the project!