Autumn 2012’s hottest fashion trends

This year I seem to have blinked at the crucial moment when summer arrived in the UK.   My circle of friends have been very disappointed with the summer this year, but here at Walk in Wardrobe we believe that there is always a silver lining, this particular silver lining being in the shape of an opportunity to start experimenting with a new line of autumn fashion trends!  There has been so much excitement amongst the fashion circles as this autumn’s fashion promises to be uniquely different from previous autumns of late, being bolder and more blingy!  Here are the key autumnal fashion trends for 2012:

The hottest shade of blue this Autumn! Click on the pic for more details.

Bold colours:  The autumn fashion this year has moved away from traditional autumnal shades of browns and dark greens.  Instead, designers have been picking out the boldest colours in their colour pallet, in particular the most luxurious shades of cobalt blue and royal purple.  One noticeable hot trend on the autumn runway was to mix cobalt blue with black.  This look can be achieved with one of our gorgeous little cobalt blue dresses and accessorising with our sparkly black bangles, fascinators or sparkly alice bands.  Team this look up with a killer pair of black heels and voila!  You’re ready to go!

Gorgeous gold dress with luxurious black lace overlay

Gorgeous gold dress with luxurious black lace overlay. Click on the pic for more details!

Shimmer and lace:  That very classy look of shimmer and lace are in this autumn to give you that elegant and chic evening look.  These lacy accents look gorgeous over the neck and back, and lace overlays have the most stunning, show stopping effect.  These lacy adornments are not only there to glam up a dress, they can also be very flattering for ladies who want to cover problem areas such as their arms.  Lacy sleeves can stop an outfit from looking frumpy and maintain a glamorous look whilst still giving you confidence.

Autumnal Royal Purple Peplum Pencil Dress. Click on the pic for more details!

 

Cinched-in waists:  This can only mean one thing – the much-favoured peplum is still in!  These flattering dresses have a unique ability to cinch in the waists of all body shapes whilst also elongating the figure and giving you that iconic silhouette!  At the boutique we have the perfect dress in stock which will kill two fashion birds with one stone – the royal purple peplum dress!

Bling:  Sparkly accessories will be all the rage this autumn, cheering up the autumn weather with a bit of glitz and bling!  We have so many twinkling little gems at the boutique at the moment from bangles to hair candy to shoes to complete your autumnal look.

Stunning hair candy to help you twinkle through the autumn! Click the pic for more details!

 

The Bling-iest shoes on the catwalk! Click on the pic for more details!

 

Gorgeous bling for your wrists, available in many different colours. Click on the pic for more details!

The Crowning of the Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen Winner 2012!

Each year we hold the exciting Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen Competition, and 2012 was no exception!  The competition this year was bigger and better than ever before with nearly 100 entrants and a prize of a beautiful glittering tiara, a stunning crystal dress ring and a £70 dress hire voucher.  Every single entrant looked dazzling so we knew it was going to be tough enough to narrow it down to the 14 finalists let alone choose the winner.  This year we were lucky enough to have the beautiful former Miss Brighton, Louise Eaton as our deciding judge.

When Louise came to the boutique and settled herself down in front of the finalists photos, one of the first things she said was ‘I’m looking for something really different and unique’.  After taking time to look at the photos and agreeing that every girl looked stunning she decided on our winner, Sydnie, who went to her prom in our gorgeous leopard print tutu dress that was also seen on celebrity Kerry Katona on Celebrity Big Brother.  When asked why she chose Sydnie, Louise said: ‘she is gorgeous with a genuine smile’.  So without further ado, our Prom Queen 2012 was selected!  Pictured right is the photo which won Sydnie the Prom Queen Crown 2012.

It was actually Sydnie’s lovely mum Sally who first spotted the dress at the boutique as she was passing one day.  She thought that the dress would be perfect for her daughter’s prom, and how right she was!  Both Sydnie and her mum were thrilled when she was announced the winner and we invited her to the boutique to collect her prizes and have a photo shoot with photographer Stuart Butcher.

There aren’t many girls who can look glam in wellies, but Sydnie entered the boutique after a rainy walk looking every inch the glamorous Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen.  Sydnie said that she was delighted to win the competition and that it was something she never expected.  We had a so much fun at the boutique and we are so pleased that she had such a lovely time at her prom and that she received so many compliments on the night about the dress.  She said that she was looking forward to wearing the dress again over the New Year celebrations and even said that her sister loved the dress so much that she was going to rent it from her!

Congratulations Sydnie, we are so pleased that you found your perfect prom dress with us and had a night to remember!

Sydnie being crowned as the Walk in Wardrobe Prom Queen 2012

Sparkly accessories are this seasons must have!

The celebs have been splashed all over the magazines this summer in this season’s hottest trend: sparkles! We have been busy at the boutique sourcing gorgeous sparkly bangles, hair bands and shoes for our lovely magpie-like customers, and it has become apparent to us this season that these little shining gems are more than just accessories, they are a real fashion statement!  Check out our celebrity endorsed bangles here.

Alesha Dixon  (right) shows us that glitzy bangles perfectly compliment a glamorous dress for a special event.  However, we have noticed at the boutique that these gorgeous little dashes of sparkle are not only reserved for special events, they are perfect to add a touch of glamor to a casual outfit, Nicola McClean (below) shows us how!

We also have the most gorgeous, sparkly hair candy at the boutique at the moment to match up with the bangles, as seen on Gemma Collins from The Only Way is Essex!  To see our hair sparkles click here.

Stunning fashion for the Race Days!

The summer social calendar is positively bursting with race day events.  If you are lucky enough to be a ticket holder for any of the races across the UK, not only will you be experiencing the excitement of the racing, you will also be experiencing some of the most exciting, theatrical fashion events of the year!  It’s not only the dresses which will grab the attention, but also the dazzling array of ostentatious hats and fascinators!  At these events, ladies are given the perfect excuse to indulge themselves and dress up in the most flamboyant, glamorous dresses and accessories, it’s the time where you are able to take a real fashion risk!  However, we know that choosing your outfit for the races can be daunting and tricky.  Fortunately, our experienced team of in-house stylists are well versed in dressing ladies for their race events and know what outfit will suit your shape and flatter your best assets.  We will also keep in mind your personality and will help you find a dress that you not only look great in, but also feel comfortable in.

This style with a jacket (left) is always a popular style for the races.  This dress with it’s sparkly detail looks breathtaking teamed up with one of our large fascinators and will give you that air of elegance and chic.

For further details about this gorgeous outfit please click here.

If you are more comfortable with a plainer dress that is no less elegant, what about going for one of our flattering and comfortable Waspie Corset dresses (right)?  These dresses cinch in the waist to give a wonderful shape, and you can go completely over the top with flamboyant, sparkly accessories.   For more information about this dress please click here.

A hat or a fascinator will be your crowning glory, this is your chance to wear something totally outrageous to set off your outfit. These events are the perfect chance for you to get away with something completely over the top, so indulge yourself and have fun.  We have such a wide range of hats and fascinators at the boutique you really will be spoilt for choice!  To view our range of fascinators and hats please click here.

Make sure you go for some drop-dead gorgeous shoes – we have many different styles of shoes at the boutique (and so many in sale at the moment!) and have a wide choice of different heel heights and heel thicknesses.  We have high stilettos for ladies that can elegantly totter along on skyscraper heels, and lower or thicker heels for ladies who are not so confident in this area.  We know that having to wiggle your stilettos out of the grass at the races is not a good look, so best to be safe and team up your shoes with some of our stiletto stoppers to ensure that you don’t get that sinking feeling!

Be mindful not to leave your accessories as an afterthought – our glittering bangles and bags have been a huge hit this summer with our customers and celebrities alike, and there’s no reason why these shouldn’t be a fashion statement at the races also!

One last point which I must make is that all this does not have to cost the earth.  Many of our dresses and fascinators are available to hire as well as buy, so if you are working to a budget, do consider this an option as you can get that fabulous designer look for a fraction of the cost!

The Peplum Dress: The Hottest Look on the Catwalk!

The peplum dress has been splashed all over the runways this Spring and Summer and as become one of the hottest celebrity trends.  They have been seen sported by the most practiced leaders of fashion such as Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton and Nicole Kidman, as well as experimental fashionistas such as Rhianna and Lady Gaga.

The chic little peplum frills came to the fashion foreground in the 1940’s and re-emerged in the 1980’s.  This season’s designers have gone full circle and have integrated the 40’s and 80’s peplum to create a truly dramatic and modern look to give today’s ladies that killer silhouette.  Here at Walk in Wardrobe boutique we have remained bang on trend and have stocked several styles of peplum dresses in varying colours.  Whilst helping our lovely customers choose their perfect peplum dress we have noticed so many positive qualities to this style.

The peplum is renowned for looking great on all body shapes, is uber-feminine and versatile, being suitable for so many occasions, from weddings to work and all in-between!  Curvy ladies can enjoy the peplum’s ability to cinch in the waist whilst the frills glance off the hip, smoothing the curves to emphasise that sexy hourglass figure.  Slender ladies can enjoy exaggeration of their waists as well as giving the illusion of a fuller hip whilst the style also elongates a long, lean figure.  Ladies of all shapes and sizes have also commented to us that most importantly the frill hides a lady’s common problem area!  I’m sure all you ladies out there know EXACTLY where I mean!

To finish off that chic peplum look we suggest teaming the dress up with one of our glamorous little clutch bags!

To see our peplum dresses please click here:  I love peplum!

Gold medal-winning dresses for your London Olympics party 2012!

Over the past two years we have been lucky enough to witness two patriotic events, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the Diamond Jubilee.  These events gave us the perfect reason to do what the British do well, throwing a party!  Now, national pride has struck us again with the biggest international sporting event on earth coming to London, the Olympics.  This can only mean one thing; it’s time for the celebrations to begin again!

Here at Walk in Wardrobe we had a fantastic time helping ladies find their perfect gowns for the May Olympics Ball, dressing both ticketholders and the women’s GB sailing team!  With this event, the fun had only just begun; Olympics parties are expected all across the country, especially on the opening night.  But what to wear?  We have so many gorgeous dresses currently at the boutique, we are sure that we will be able to find you a dress which will give you the confidence to stand on that podium and sing the national anthem!

Have you thought of going to your party ancient Greek style to celebrate the origins of the Olympics?  This gorgeous gown (right) oozes Grecian chic so you can get that modern Athena-esque goddess look for your Olympics party! Available to buy from the boutique for £285.   And don’t forget we have sparkly Grecian style hair candy to complete the look!

If you are on a budget we also have stunning Grecian dresses available to hire:

This celebrity endorsed dress is simple yet elegant and chic.  Grecian dress (left) is just £119.99 to hire for the evening.

If the Grecian style is just not for you, we have so many other gorgeous, glitzy dresses at the boutique we are sure that our team of specialists will be able to find your gold medal winning dress for your party so you can support team GB in style!

 

 

 

 

 

A Cautionary Tale

We have had a gloriously busy time at the boutique over prom season and have had such a wonderful, fun time helping all the young ladies choose their dresses for their special night.  However, I would like to share a cautionary tale with you that I have heard a couple of times this year, which is to be very wary of exclusively online prom dress sites. 

We are regularly being called upon to ‘save the day’ for young ladies who have purchased dresses from scam websites.  Many of these companies are advertised at being based in the USA, but in reality they are based in China and are using illegal pictures of designer dresses to advertise their ‘knock off’ dresses.  If they can’t be honest about their location surely the whole integrity of the company is called into question.  Could you really trust a company of this nature to deliver you your perfect dress? 

One customer complained that after they purchased a dress online which failed to turn up she repeatedly tried to contact the company unsuccessfully and she lost £500!  The company was completely uncontactable and untraceable.  Others have complained that they have gone through stressful situations where they have ordered a dress online and have found that the dress they have ordered looks completely different to what was advertised on the website where they have purchased it from.  We cannot stress the absolute importance of trying on prom dresses and it is important to remember that the dresses photographed on these websites could be hoax photos, or at least will be of models who have been pinned into the dress in order to fit their body shape.  Just because the dress looks amazing on the model does not mean that the dress will look amazing on you!  Fortunately all staff at our boutique have clocked up many years of experience specifically in the prom industry and will be able to find your perfect prom dress. We also offer a hiring service, so if costs are driving you to a cheap website, do consider this as an option as you can get that fabulous designer look for a fraction of the cost!  Lastly, if you risk getting a dress from one of these websites it could leave you with little choice at the last minute.  We never release the same dress to the same prom, so dresses are getting booked up quickly!  

Do not allow yourself to be scammed and to have your big day ruined and do remember that if the price is too good to be true, it is probably not true. 

The Great Prom Explosion

 

School proms have become one of the most exciting and important events in the school calendar, and are becoming bigger and more glitzy and glamorous each year. 

They are a fantastic opportunity for the young to develop their social skills in a formal setting and are highly significant in celebrating the end of a young schooling life before entry into the adult world.  A girl’s prom is an event that they will remember for the rest of their lives, and Walk in Wardrobe is happy to be part of a prom girl’s special night. 

 As she arrives at her prom every girl wants all eyes on her as she enters the room, and the dress is the most important part.  In a specialist boutique, like Walk in Wardrobe, you will find and impressive selection of dresses along with specialist styling advice.  What’s even more important is that you get peace of mind in knowing that your chosen dress is going to be individual and not one you would find in the high street chain stores but more likely to be seen on TV soaps such as The Only Way is Essex!

With the vibrant celebrity culture we have in Britain we have seen a move away from the more traditional style of prom dress and many girls now opt for a more sophisticated, glamorous style.  Walk in Wardrobe strive to source only the most sought-after, new dress designs that are beautifully made in the UK as well as around the world, and will fit in with today’s ever-changing fashion trends. 

There has been a rise in girls opting to hire dresses, which offer that red carpet glamour which will wow their classmates at a fraction of the cost!  The consultants at Walk in Wardrobe will be able to give you hints and tips on how to look after your hire dress.  Not only do they offer this specialised service, they also promise that they will not release two of the same dresses from the shop to the same function!

Walk in Wardrobe offer a fun and relaxed service, where all girls can explore their options form prom dresses and the friendly consultants can offer advice and guidance on which style is flattering on which shape to ensure that every girl feels confident and looks stunning for her prom.