My Passport to Style | Alphabet Chic P Is For .....

p S is for pretty bag made from soft Silky sari fabric, Swinging on your shoulder as you skip joyfully to your favourite place!

 Gals meet preetidesign.com watch this space for a giveaway and to find out more about their designs.  

My Passport to Style Visits Blackwell | Stunning Inspiration For Budding Designers

I recently visited this breathtakingly beautiful house at Blackwell in Cumbria, I'm surprised Viviene Westwood with her love of heritage design as inspiration for her clothing label has not been all over it like a rash with her sketch pad and pen!Firstly there are the drain pipes yes you heard me correctly, the drain pipes are literally works of art! See this beauty below.

Blackwell house, interiors and furnishings down to the piano, were designed by Baillie Scott in 1900 as a holiday retreat for wealthy Manchester brewer Edward Holt at the turn of the centuary; when the Arts and Craft movement had taken hold in Britain in reaction to the need to return to the simplicty and harmony of handcrafted design and turn away from the grind of the industrial. It seems really relevant to serve up this sumptious slice of British heritage today as I believe fashion and design has come full circle and we are back to both needing and wanting better crafted clothing, forever pieces and furnishings in our home that we can really connect with, enjoy and cherish.

 

    

 

 



  

My Passport to Style | Celebrating The Anniversay Of My Wedding

Hi Gals, inspired by my wedding anniversay today! This is Lady like chic with a capital L! From the film W.E directed by Madonna, the costumes alone would make viewing worth while! Dress gloves are a must, as is lavender water and a great corset, but if your struggling to get your hand on these a good tweed pencil skirt is a great place to start, see Thomas Pink.

Now I'm off for fun and frolicks with my lovely husband!

 credits - Vanity Fair

Meet The Latest Vintage Vamps | Cloth Magpie And Truly Sopel

For all you new vintage fans out there here are two scrummy unique British labels to feast on that will bring a big splash of sunshine to your wardrobes, that I'm bursting to introduce you to. But first for those of you that are a bit puzzled with the term 'new vintage', let me explain, new vintage is basically a new take on an original vintage design or style, that has been recreated using new fabric. Very often companies still opt for reproduced vintage prints or reclaimed vintage fabric that are still in mint condition. The benefits are pretty obvious, all the charm of vintage with none of the wear. You may also have the luxury of being able to choose one design in several prints or different colour ways, as was the rigour in days past, when styles of women's clothing were much more restricted a unique pattern of fabric was essential to helping you stand out amongst a crowd of wasp waisted women.

 

Cloth Magpie the British handbag label created by designer Sam Cross in Cambridge born out of her love for vintage fabrics, offers three distinct retro style handbag shapes in a wide variety of vintage prints, beautifully finished with a bright contrasting lining. But Magpie Cloth has gone that little bit further than most vintage etailers to spoil all you vintage lovers out there; simply register your newly purchased handbag on the Magpie site and you can claim free matching key ring, don't you just love that! Seeing as they are holding a fantastic sale right now AND all the current Cloth Magpie designs work with the strong trend for 60's and 70's this A/W 11 it will be tough to choose...

 

Next up on my vintage hotties hit list, is the lovely Truly Sopel from Somerset, inspired by the dresses she used to create as a little girl for her dollies and a wish to recapture the pretty innocence she remembers, she launched a fun, frivolous range of underwear showcased here today at Truly Knickers off the back of her very successful vintage clothing line at Truly Sopel, I think the sunshine yellow tweed coat is adorable. I'm loving the sheer versatility of Truly's vintage inspired knickers sets, in a range of the cutest fabric, you simply pop on a set in the morning teaming the top with a pair of your favourite jeans and if you get a little too hot and bothered just slip your jeans off and hey presto you're a chic 50s pin up girl ready to sun bathe or cool down, equally these would make a great set of stylish PJ. Find your perfect match here.

Alphabet Chic With My Passport to Style

M is for Madge and for 'material girl' shot by Dirk Bader, happy birthday Madonna!

My Passport to Style | Mad Mens Costume Genius Teams Up With Banana Republic!

Have you missed what is possibly the hottest fashion news to hit the internet? Banana republics latest limited edition collaboration with legend costume designer and fashion darling Janie Bryant who designed the costumes for the sensational Mad Men, well fear not as the chic line launched on the 11th of August. So there is still time to hotfoot it over there! Here are my favourite pieces from the collection, now wheres Don? - 

My Passport to Style | Brand Beckham Keeping It Real

Today I'm getting a little bit personal about the Beckhams and to be honest I think it very necessary as to me it is their combined personal values as a couple who met through two very different channels of entertainment that has contributed to such a powerful fashion brand with great values; values like fairness, loyalty, and a great work ethic. It is these values which have meant that Victoria and David Beckham have made the crucial some might say unusual decision, to continue to be represented by Simon Fuller (who represented the spice girls) when they both first became part of the world of fashion.

With David poised to seal a deal with H&M for a men's body wear range which he himself will front and Victoria's line of dresses and handbags now welcomed with open arms by the fashion world, it is safe to assume assume that manager Simon Fuller has been instrumental in brand Beckham continuing to enjoy such stellar success.

Both Victoria and David inhabit a world that affords them the luxury to act like the diva from time to time if they so wished, however it seems that whatever the giddy heights of success they reach, they are only more determined to dig their heels into their wish to remain grounded and take the people they respect and love along with them on their journey. During the difficult and turbulent time the UK is experiencing right now, brand Beckham represents not only an exciting fashion label but serves as inspiration for a way forward for both parents and young people to aspire to, in these changing times as well as the fashion community. 

image credits- Manchester fashion network

How To Survive A Food Fair!

Hi Gals, I'm off to a food fair of epic proportions in Clitheroe for the weekend to celebrate my husband's birthday. Just in case you have never been to a food fare or have one planned, I decided to offer my ultimate survival guide! Clothing can be a dilemma when you are guaranteed to chomp your way through a vast array of scrummy food stuffs!

Here is a Peek of The Location And Some Of The Food On Offer!

Clitheroe Castle

famous sausages

banana cupcakes

Advice On What To Wear

1. Stetch is a must!

2. Draped fabric flatters full tummys.

3. A busy print on a blazer done up over a dress or trousers helps disguise bulk, a print cardigan worn open over a dress landgirl style, creates contrasting panels of pattern, slicing the width of your body into smaller segments thus slimming the tummy and waist area.

4. A maxi dress in block colours is not only flattering because it falls beneath the bust, the bright block colours draw the eye down the body and the focus away from any bulge.

5. Bring a doggy bag, in America this is standard, that way you won't need to regret the cake that got away and you slow down during your 24hr food marathon!

Here's my selection, all Top Shop

My Passport to Style | Wedding Outfit Post Breaking With Tradition

Hi Gals, hope your having a fun weekend! I was inspired to feature a wedding outfit post on My Passport to Style today, after visiting the talented Pocket Stylist and this gorgeous bridal shoot she styled, do take a peek I love her work.

I decided to break with tradition for my nieces wedding and forgo the usual dress or two piece suit won at weddings when I fell hook line a sinker for this this elegant indigo linen jump suit (Skye Jumpsuit) in the Great Plains sale, firstly as most of you know by now navy is my neutral colour of choice, if you don't check my profile picture! I love navy, it's such a flattering colour against olive skin tones like my own.

To elevate navy to wedding status you need to team it with strong colours like fushia, yellow, ruby red and black. So I opted for these dramatic black suede wedges from Clarks (Ski Lift) I love the lattice detailing and the front opening really slims the ankle. Rather than a blazer which would mask the great cut of this jumpsuit I'm thinking I will wear a black sheer shrug like this one from Matalan which has a sweet vintage feel.

 I will be wearing my hair up and a pair of giant cream pearl earrings and my lola rose bracelet, as I think matching all your accesorise can be a bit boring. I found these lush velvet purses from the perfect handbag company  but which colour do I opt for? Do I go for a classic look with the ruby clutch or a more edgy feel with the gold.What do you gals think? Which would you pick?

    

    

My Passport to Style | Enlisting The Help Of Jon Richard

Anne Hathaway looked stunning and exuded poise in her MCqueen gown and her delicate barely visible to the naked eye swaroski bracelet,at the New York premier of One Day. I'm all for good good taste but I can't help but wish that she would be a little more generous with her bling at these events, after all diamonds are supposed to a girls best friend and that beautiful swan like neck just cries out to see the swish of long glittering earrings, instead of being shrouded in hair!

Jon Richard offer some stunning red carpet worthy styles in diamante this Season that are great value, I love this set of theirs below.What do you think, is bling your thing? Now might be a good time to bookmark their site or follow them on FB as come mid September when they relaunch their new site, you will have the pefect opportunity to emulate screen goddess Liz Tailor as Jon Richard are offering the first 300 customers on their newly launched site www.jonrichard.com a free pair of cubic zirconia stud earrings!