It’s definitely the time of year to take a look at your winter wardrobe and see what may need adding to make it work for the cold, dark few months ahead. Now, funny I should say this but I really think you should start by looking at your scarf collection!
When you are in the scarf business you spend a lot of time looking at other people’s scarves and how they’ve style them. I have a friend called Sophie Eadie and she has got both the beautiful scarves and the creative styling nailed. Every time I see her she seems to be wearing a beautifully unique scarf, tied in an unusual manner, matched with varying jackets or tops and she always looks fab!
I am so excited to be launching Autumn Winter 15 with a brand new and diverse accessories collection. The thought process behind doing a few accessories to this collection is that they work so well along side the scarves. All of them compliment the scarves or make a great gift in their own right.
Most of the new scarf designers for Autumn Winter 15 were discovered on my buying trip to Paris last March. There are seven of them in total and I have put them in alphabetical order so as not to be accused of favouritism!
The Spirit Of Summer Fair at the London Olympia, was our first ever trade show and an experience I won’t forget. Here is a short video to give you an idea of the beautiful setting and a glimpse of our vibrant stand.
I am sure that many of you will have heard of the Spirit of Christmas fair, but maybe less so the Spirit of Summer fair. It is a four day long shopping event at Olympia London, from Wed 17th June until Sat 20th June from 10am till 6pm every day. The event is held in association with House and Garden and is a mix of lifestyle, homewares, fashion and accessory brands.
Now I have a studio full of scarves I have realised that there is a lot of fun to be had framing scarves as art. The children get a funky playroom, the walls now look like a modern art gallery and I am seeing a sideline to the Cleverly Wrapped business. Who says scarves need to just be tied around the neck or as used as a head band?!
I was thinking about this back in February and I decided I wanted to do an event that would enable more people to come and visit the Cleverly Wrapped studio. I concluded that if I really wanted to drive traffic to a shop in the middle of the countryside the best way to do was this was to invite other brands who weren’t from around here.
We have so many new designers at CW this season that I thought it would be a good idea to introduce them all, tell you a bit about them, where I found them and what I love about them.
As I sit and write this I am dressed in my usual uniform of skinny jeans, chunky boots, a cashmere jumper and a scarf. However, if I had a more glamorous life, or lived in a city I think I would be styled in a more chic spring outfit (especially when the sun makes an appearance). At this time of year I would transform a simple silk shirt with a gorgeous silk scarf, stick to my skinnies and add a tailored jacket – the perfect transitional outfit.
I thought it might be interesting to look at these five scarves from Danish designer Dea Kudibal. All of the scarves have exactly the same dimensions of 2mx1m which is big. However – see how you can team a cashmere scarf with a silk shirt at this time of year and look ready for spring while still staying warm.
£130 worth of Cleverly Wrapped scarves is up for grabs with today’s (27th Jan) Emerald Street email competition.
Sophie Goodwin, Style Editor for Tatler, kindly picked her favourite pieces for all the family for the Cleverly Wrapped Christmas gift guide. Each day for the last two weeks we have been posting an item from our gift guide, as chosen by Sophie.
Juma is made up of sibling design duo Alia and Jamil Juma. Originally from Toronto, Canada, these prolific travellers have become known for their striking digital prints which of course transfer beautifully onto their wool/silk blend scarves.
Win one of three copies of ’50 Ways To Wear A Scarf’ by Lauren Friedman.
Born from a desire to create elegant, off-duty clothing – the Madeleine Thompson label is synonymous with sumptuous cashmere pieces which are perfect for wrapping up against the cold, snuggling up in at home or using as another layer while travelling.
It’s never great leaving your family on a Sunday night. However, once seated on the Eurostar with a copy of Vogue and Grazia, when I had promised myself I would read the Sunday papers, things didn’t seem so bad.
When I first saw Alexia’s scarves the hovering didn’t last for very long. I felt that I had discovered a scarf brand that had been designed especially for me! I loved every single one, got highly overexcited and started ordering immediately.
The popular Notting Hill based, London lifestyle blog – Poppy Loves, has reviewed our chic Bohemia Design Frill scarf (in pearl grey) and is running a competition for your chance to win one.
Twelve years ago I met Justine at a gorgeous off-beat place in Dubai known as DOSC or The Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.