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Heat Wave Fashion
It appears that we are finally in a heat wave in the UK (touch wood!). To be frank, no matter how divine you are as a creature, that sweat is at some point going to emerge on your brow. Nevertheless, that chic, a la mode look is still attainable, even throughout this heat. Here are our top tips for keeping cool and classy throughout this summer:
Full length summer kaftan
Loose Clothing
Wearing as little clothing as possible doesn’t necessarily mean that you will feel cooler. The trick is to cover up a bit and wear loose clothing which will allow air to flow around your body. This extra layer will also protect your skin from the sun (big bonus if you are prone to sun burn!) as it will provide you with some shade as you waft about like a summer goddess. Kaftan tops are a gorgeous addition to any summer wardrobe, giving you the practical benefits of keeping cool whilst also looking amazing. If you are a lady who likes to hide her arms, kaftans are also a real boon!
This stunning full length kaftan to the right fuses bold, bright summer colours with an exotic print. As it is 100% silk, it is a natural fiber which is perfect for the hot summer months due to the fact that it is super breathable and helps you to maintain a natural temperature.
Capri pants
Capri pants
Capri pants (aka cropped trousers) are fabulous if you want to stay cool but not show off too much leg. Try to make sure that you get capri pants which finish in between the knee and ankle (a good length is pictured left). Tight fitting capri pants are best for a modern look.
Pictured left are our capri style pants which look great with loose fitting boho tunic tops for a contemporary, modern look. Our capri pants come in a gorgeous array of colours such as fuchsia, navy blue, black, white and dove grey.
Printed summer jumpsuit
Jumpsuits
Sleeveless jumpsuits are very much in fashion for summer . Pictured right is a fabulous style we have at the boutique and is a relaxed yet classy jumpsuit with a fabulous print. What I particularly love about this style is it’s versatility. It can be dressed down for the day time, coupled with a belt or just wear it as is, and for the evening time, jazz it up with a few blingy accessories for a classy and sophisticated look. You can even add a cropped jacket if you are going to a more formal evening party to make it look a bit smarter.
Dresses and outfits for curvy ladies
Before I start this blog post I would like you to ask yourself one question: what exactly is it that YOU think makes a woman beautiful? Is it long legs? Is it a woman who is a size 6? Is it a tiny waist? I’m sure that if I asked 100 women I would get at least 50 different answers, which leads me to believe that what is beautiful is completely subjective to the individual. As I have not actually asked 100 women, the only thing I will be able to share with you is my own opinion of what makes a woman beautiful, which is confidence in how a woman carries herself. I have clocked up many years in the fashion industry and have fitted women of all different shapes and sizes. I have found that certain figures look good in everything, but there are very very few women who actually look GREAT in everything (big difference!). I remember many years ago fitting a lady who was very under confident about her body shape. She was a size 18, broad and nearly 6ft tall and felt most comfortable in loose fitting clothing as she wanted to hide her figure. When she came in to see me at the boutique the first thing she said to me was ‘I’m sure you don’t have anything which will fit me, but I just wanted to check as I have my friend’s wedding to attend and I don’t know what to wear’. When I produced a fitted dress she had a look of horror in her eyes and simply said ‘I couldn’t possibly wear that!’. I put the dress back on the rail and we selected a few more dresses she felt she would be more comfortable in. After trying them on with no joy I went back over to the rail and pulled ‘that dress’ out again and asked her to ‘just give it a go’. She begrudgingly agreed and lo and behold, it was as if an entirely different woman had just stepped out of the changing rooms! She looked fabulous and confident in her fitted dress which showed off the smallest part of her figure – her waist, and emphasised her fantastic hourglass shape. Ladies, we have to work with what we have been given, and if you are a curvy lady, don’t hide your figure in loose clothing, just find the right style of dresses and outfits to suit your unique shape.
At Walk in Wardrobe we have been working very hard on a line of outfits and dresses specifically to suit ladies with a curvy figure, I would like to share a selection of my personal favourites with you now:
I simply love this stretch denim dress on curvy ladies. The neckline is accommodating for a fuller bust without being too low cut, so you can feel chic and classy. The placement of the embroidery is extremely clever on this dress, following the flow of a woman’s figure vertically to visually break up the fabric. A few little sparkles scattered about here and there adds a touch of glitz to this fabulous day dress. The stretch denim of this dress hugs curves perfectly, and moulds to the contours of your figure, ensuring that the dress looks just as good from behind as it does from the front (a very important factor when purchasing a dress!). This dress looks great with a nice pair of oversized sunglasses and tan accessories.
If separates are more your thing, how about this gorgeous lace top and matching skirt (pictured right, also available in black)? Once again, this outfit is made from that very clever stretch fabric which moulds to the figure, showing off your curves. The asymmetric zip on the top adds a nice bit of detail to break up the white and the darling lace cut outs add a touch of femininity and interest as well as giving the top part of your arms a bit of coverage. The matching skirt (sold separately) has a feature zip back and matching lace trim. This outfit has scatterings of lovely little swarovski stones, making it a perfect day to evening outfit. None other than Kate Middleton was spotted in a white outfit with lace sleeves and trim, well, if it’s good enough for Kate, it’s certainly good enough for me!
I am aware that curvy girls can find it difficult to find a well fitting jacket, they tend to fit at the bust and be ill fitting at the waist or vice versa. Once again, we have identified this as a problem and have worked very hard to source jackets which are stretchy enough to accommodate ladies who have a different sized bust to their waists. Big success, they do actually exist! These fabulous jackets look modern, funky and flattering on curvy ladies, with none of that worry of an badly fitting bust or waist, simply zip up and go! Features of this jacket include zips going diagonally from waist to hips to enhance the shape of the smallest part of your body.
NB. The products above are by no means all we have in stock for the curvy lady, we have a full and fabulous range in our curvy section. If you have any queries regarding our curvy girl range or would like further information please leave a comment below or contact the boutique on 01273 775583, or email us at office@walk-in-wardrobe.co.uk
Curvy girls, you look fabulous, love the way dresses and outfits hug your curves and most importantly, don’t be shy about your figure!
Work experience at Walk in Wardrobe 2014 by Imogen
Going out to work for the first time can be very daunting for many young people, however my week in the hands of Katie and Leah from Walk in Wardrobe has demolished all those worries. My name is Imogen Smith, 15, from Longhill High school and I have been working at Walk in Wardrobe as part of my work experience. As I am interested in fashion and the world of retail I thought this would be the perfect place to spend a week off school.
I have learnt a lot in the past week; from how to sew on a hook and eye, to how to keep a business going in these tough times. However, the main thing Katie and Leah taught me was about customer service and how to give a personal shopping experience. With their warm personalities and expert knowledge of their industry, they are able to offer help and guidance for customers to find an entire outfit: dress and all accessories. At Walk in Wardrobe, Katie and Leah will be able to find the perfect outfit for you to go to the races, a wedding, prom etc. They have recently expanded their daywear section so they can also help you select the perfect outfit for the day.
You hear all sorts of rumours about work experience and how the employers restrict you from doing anything, but my employers were determined to make my experience the best possible. They have shown me the ways of a business and the importance of reputation in business, that making friendships with customers and clients can build up your customer base. They also found it was important to them to give me an opportunity, even when they didn’t have to; proving they go out of their way to do what they can to help.
The boutique also has a beauty therapist, Louise, who works downstairs at Tranquilty. Not only does Walk in Wardrobe benefit from Louise bringing new customers to the boutique, but Louise also benefits from the boutique sending customers to her for beauty treatments. Fashion and beauty work very well together and brings a new, more personal touch to the business. Another aspect that I love about the boutique is that you can hire most items which allows customers to find new outfits for special occasions and not have the problem of not wearing them again and at the same time you won’t be breaking the bank!
Overall I feel that I have had a full experience of what the industry is like. I have found that hoovering and cleaning is only normal but also helping someone find their next new favourite is all part of the job; therefore I have experienced it all. I am extremely thankful to Katie for allowing me to help her (I hope) for the week, additionally Leah both for giving me such a happy, exciting and helpful week. But to conclude, over the past week I have found that I now know exactly where I shall be getting my prom dress and other outfits for all kinds of occasions, because why would I want to go anywhere else? Especially when I know I can get the best clothes at the best prices with the best quality and above all the best look!
Sale dresses at Walk in Wardrobe 2014
The women’s clothing sale is continuing into 2014 at the most crazy knock down prices! Dresses in our sale start from just £30, so it might be possible for you to add accessories to your party dress all for under £100! Here are some of our top picks from our bargain sale:
Leopard print one shoulder mini cocktail dress by Forever Unique – buy for just £50
Anyone who has been following my posts will be well aware that I am partial to leopard print, and this gorgeous little dress is an absolute steal at just £50 by renowned, celebrity endorsed label, Forever Unique.
This dress looks fabulous with a killer pair of black heels and black accessories and is the perfect dress for an evening out or ladies day at the races.
Hunter green mini prom dress – buy for just £29.99!
Not many young ladies will be able to say that they found their prom dress for £29.99, but we are pleased to confirm that such an opportunity is perfectly plausible at our boutique! This stunning little mini dress has darling ruffles at the bottom and figure flattering ruching which will give a great shape.
This dress looks lovely with silver accessories which will really pop against the dark green. Although many girls and mothers of prom girls wonder whether short dresses are acceptable for prom, I can confirm that short dresses can look just as sophisticated and elegant, and are a perfect way of ensuring that your daughter can dance the night away in comfort and style!
One shoulder burgundy bridesmaid dress – buy for just £59.99!
We are well aware that weddings can be quite expensive affairs, but just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean that your wedding wont be a beautiful day to remember. Any savvy bride will know that a few tweeks here and there can save a few pennies (and we all know that pennies make pounds!). For example, your bridesmaid can look absolutely stunning and elegant in this one shoulder maroon bridesmaid dress with puddle train. This dress gives a stunning shape with it’s fitted bodice and is a must for any bridesmaid who is part of a whimsical, fairytale wedding.
Whatever occasion you are attending, we are confident that you will be able to find your perfect outfit at our boutique, and the current sale prices, you may even be able to buy TWO perfect outfits!
The opening of the Adur Ferry Bridge
This week witnessed the opening of the brand new Adur Ferry Bridge on the South Coast. This event was filled with royalty, fireworks and of course thousands of people doing the conga over the bridge! Katherine Tanswell, proprietor of Walk in Wardrobe was thrilled to be able to attend this massive event in Shoreham and to join in with the conga fun wearing a glamorous dress from Walk in Wardrobe before relaxing and watching the fireworks.
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- Katherine and Mark
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- Katherine and Mike Mendoza
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- Katherine and Mark
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- Katherine and Mark
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- Katherine and Mike Mendoza
Reasons to love the skater dress
Lace skater dress
Skater dresses are fast becoming a staple dress for the summer, and celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and fashionistas across the globe are succumbing to the flared skirts and nipped in waists that a skater dress offers. The skater dress is a modern, fun and flirty alternative to the A-line dress. The A-line is narrow at the waist, and gently flares out the bottom, giving you (as the name suggests) an A shape. Skater dresses are similar, but are more defined, with a sharper nipped in waist, is shorter than a traditional A-line dress, and flares out more to give it a shape similar to what an ice skater would wear. Hence the name!
Are skater dresses flattering?
The only way to answer this is with one word – yes! The smallest part of any woman is the waist, but this can be hidden with ill fitting or looser clothing. The skater dress’s simple structure at the bust which goes towards the sharply nipped in waist and comes out to the (usually) full pleated, hip skimming skirt gives the illusion of an hourglass shape.
Shoes and accessories to wear with a skater dress.
One of the things I love about skater dresses is that they are so versatile. They can be dressed up for a smart casual event, or can be dressed down as a day dress. If you are wearing your skater dress for a more formal event, team it up with a pair of heels or a pair of heeled sandals. Make sure you have lots of sparkly accessories to jazz it up.
If you intending to wear your skater dress as a day dress, you can dress it down with a pair of pumps or chunky shoes or sandals. If you want to keep a bit warmer in your day time skater dress, you can even add leggings for a more casual look. For a really cute 1950’s style look, you can team up the dress with some girly, frilly socks (this also adds to the figure-skater feel and will keep your tootsies warm!). This is a fabulous dress which you can carry on wearing into the autumn time, just add a cardigan for warmth.
Skater dresses at WiW
This beige lace and black skirted skater dress (pictured) has been a fantastic addition to the Walk in Wardrobe range. This skater dress is slightly dressier than the ones you would find on the high street due to it’s lace bust and lace sleeves. The skirt of the dress is made out of a gorgeously high quality weighted fabric, meaning that you will be able to walk around confidently even if there is a strong summer breeze!