Instant Glamour - the Little Black Lace Dress

Why do I always do this to myself? Pick something to write about that’s on-trend and essential for the season and tempt myself unbearably to dig out the plastic and shop before I’ve even finished writing. The sign of a true shopaholic I suppose…….

This season if you buy just one LBD it has to be lace doesn’t it? Hover online or trek the high street and you’ll find a vast number of them, from little lace tunics to sexy designer dresses you’ll be hard put to ignore.

Here are my six of the best, from high street to high fashion, a few of which would definitely break the bank and others which, although lasting probably for just one season, would do very nicely thank you very much. And no I haven’t shopped yet……………………but I am considering it.

As usual my favourites are the D&G (No 1) and Karen Millen (No 4). Which are yours? Do let me know…….

Shimmer and Sparkle with Nars

From handbags to highlighters this is one for the girls, so if you’re not one of those please close this page down now, this is definitely not for you, let alone for those who like to think that ladies need no enhancement. There’s something about that little bit of effort in the morning or before going out on the town that just makes us feel sooo much better, although the less obvious the better (do I hear clapping then?)

Started early yesterday morning with a meeting at Lulu Guinness (more about that in my next post) and by the time I was ready to go to my lunch meeting I knew that most of what I had used to try and energise my face before I left had been left behind somewhere, probably on my walk between Kensal Green station and Kensal Road.

The problem is that we all want make-up with staying power, that enhances what we naturally have all day without needing constant reapplication and without looking too obvious. Is there such as thing? I’m becoming a cynic. Anyway…….rushing through Selfridges on my way to Texture in Great Portman Street I stopped to have a quick look at Nars, top on the list for that bit of added sparkle, and then had a fast make-over by Yannick which succeeded in lasting all day, even through an induction training on the machines at my gym (which I can never get the hang of) and all the way back home. It would have lasted beautifully through my 6pm meeting if that hadn’t been cancelled at the last moment.

Just four products made my day and I’ve added in the blush colour - Super Orgasm which I use anyway wherever I am. I like a look that is natural but pretty and cannot bear that ‘overly-made-up’ look that some seem to think makes them look more attractive, usually in the 18 - 25 bracket, but that I think makes them look like they must have something to hide (my daughter is going to kill me for that - sorry dear, but stop pinching my Nars!)

Nars blush in Super Orgasm - a slightly glittery perfect peach, and Luster - a shimmery bronze pink.
Eye shadows in Silk Road - for eyes and as an illuminator

Concealer Duo - moisturising concealer in two shades
Highlighting Powder in Hungry Heart - for an instant lift

You probably think I went out looking like a lit up Christmas tree but the point of all of these is to use them for their subtlety, particularly with Silk Road and Hungry Heart - which if over used will make you glitter like crazy - ok so you can use more as we get closer to Christmas but dears we are not there yet. I travel with these four wherever I go - they’re for making me feel good, not for anyone else. I think you’ll enjoy them all.

In particular one thing I have noticed when travelling is that I usually have very little time between meetings which may last all afternoon and going out for dinner. Half an hour if I’m lucky. So I’ve pared my routine down to the essentials and am now probably the speediest person you know for changing from simple meeting chic to out to dinner elegance (at least that’s what I aspire to). Without these four in my bag of tricks and a few favourite LBD’s (thank you Karen Millen for my black corset dress and fringed dress which go with me everywhere) it would be impossible……………………

New York in two and a half weeks. Is it too early to pack, do you think?

Treat your Feet - FitFlop’s Shearling Boots

I’ll freely admit that I’ve written about FitFlops before, more than once, but as I was dashing through John Lewis the other day (actually looking for buttons, believe it or not) I spotted these, longer versions of the very shearling boots adorning my feet at the moment and practically irresistible. Now at the top of my Christmas list. More FitFlop boots. Yes please………

The difference between these and super-popular Ugg boots (and similar) is that they are very good to walk in. In Uggs I find that it’s too easy to shuffle and though they are gloriously warm at the end of the day I don’t feel I’ve been walking as I should have. Now with FitFlops you have no option but to walk properly, and you can, and I do, wear them from sun up to bed time, to take the dogs round the garden if it’s not too wet, in the house all day and then they morph into pure therapy as slippers.

Of course these boots will never be slippers, nor, being totally honest, are they any of chic, stylish, sexy or glamorous but the temptation to tuck a pair of skinny cords or jeans into a pair of these is getting stronger as it gets colder. Frankly they are the best, and this from someone who has seriously tested them out.

I suggest you order yours now as, surprise surprise, they tend to sell out when it gets to freezing. My two favourite stores for ordering are John Lewis and Cloggs, again I’ve tested both services and neither have every let me down. Just click straight through to the boots. You won’t regret it.

Speaking of cold I’ve just had to send a whole load of Uniqlo’s Heattech up to the daughter in Edinburgh, who is suddenly realising just how cold it is probably going to be up there. I wouldn’t be without those, either.

Six of the Best - Shearling Coats and Jackets

As I’m sure I mentioned last winter I’m a shearling collector. There is quite simply nothing warmer than a great shearling coat or jacket for braving the cold.

The great news about most of the current shearlings as opposed to the ones from a few years back is that they are so much lighter, so if you do get overheated and have to carry yours for a while you’re not weighed down………..much.

They’re always investment buys (unless you buy really cheap, in which case you will not get great quality) and last for years and years, so long in fact that it’s hard to justify a new buy - how could I possibly want to replace my black Joseph Tuscan lamb flying jacket, or my long Icelandic sheepskin coat? Frankly I don’t think I’ll ever have the excuse, which is probably why I’m writing so much about dresses these days………….

Anyway, having had a good browse, here are what I consider to be six of the best shearlings for this winter. We’ve already had a taste of the cold, so if you’re thinking of splashing out consider these and get your order in early, the moment it does get really cold they’re bound to go fast.

Finally be careful of belted shearling, sheepskin or anything bulky - it will make you look even more so unless you’re very slim.

Ok my favourites? Definitely the Vince jacket top left - like nothing else I have in my cupboard and it would look soooooo great with my jeans and boots. Oh well………

Friday Hunt - Finding the Perfect Little Black Dress - Episode 1

Of course there’s no such thing as the perfect LBD, what you choose to buy and wear depends so much on your own preferences, budget, style, shape and the type of events you go to. However, the idea here is to whittle down the vast number of Little Black Dresses out there at the moment and to select three each Friday at differing price points.

The parameters are that all must will be knee length or there-about and none will be so dressy, designer and obvious that you’re likely to only be able to wear them once, particularly if you’re a celeb, that is……. My preference is for dresses which you can change from daytime chic to evening glamour with a statement necklace and a high pair of heels (and that won’t destroy your bank balance) so that is the main search, however some will be more daytime and others more evening. The choice is yours.

Here are the first three;

Day Birger et Mikkelsen Lace Dress
Karen Millen Soft Tuxedo Dress
Paul Smith Black Fitted Merino Dress

If you find any LBD wonders do let me know - next Friday there will be three more.

I enjoyed my short stint on Radio 2 just after midnight last night however it wasn’t good for getting up early this morning. TGIF as I’m sure you’ll agree. Have a great weekend. Oh yes and just in case you feel like having a listen, the chat with Janice Long starts at 09.48.

Web Hints - The Importance of Great Pictures

Quite often when I’m reading a fashion mag or weekend supplement and they mention a new fashion website (or at least one I haven’t heard of) I make a note to take a look with a view to adding it to the fashion stable at www.thesiteguide.com.

Quite often I click away just as fast, horrified that in these days of the web zeitgeist some would-be successful online retailers do not realise the importance of great pictures.  Or even good pictures.  Or even reasonably good pictures.

The fact is that if you want to be really successful on the web and get anywhere near competing with the big boys you have to have the following;

Clear pictures
Zoom, preferably to almost full page
Several views of each product (front, back, close-up detail)

Then if possible, and obviously particularly for fashion:
Alternative colour-ways, not just colour swatches.
320 degree spin
Video.

This sounds like a great deal I know, and some of these may be out of reach for some of you, however bearing in mind that incorporating any of these onto your e-commerce site should substantially increase your conversion rates can you afford not to at least have the first three. 

The idea that a potential customer will stumble on to your site, spend some time there and then buy without good pictures and great content is a nonsense.  They simply won’t, and the competition is getting fiercer every day. 

There’s a very good reason why some online boutiques succeed and others trail and fail and that is quite simply attention to detail, following the basic rules and keeping up with web developments.  Very little of it is rocket science…………………..

Here’s something to aim for…………………………check out both the colourways, the zoom and the spin.

I always think that families are wonderful and having the kids home last weekend was great but oh is it blissfully quiet now they’re all back oop north.  A busy week has means meetings in London yesterday and two more tomorrow, then I’ll be on Radio 2 at around midnight tomorrow evening on the Janice Long show.  Talking about what?  Online shopping of course…….what else.

Unfortunately I didn’t make the IMRG awards dinner which I was very sad about, but a sinusitis and going out late just don’t mix.  I just hope I sound clearer for the beeb.

Six great Dresses for Under £100

Because I love to wear dresses (so easy, so flattering) and boots at this time of year and because (ahem) I’ve just dropped two dress sizes I’ve been on the hunt for chic shapely numbers that won’t break the bank.

I have to say I have never thought of Kew as anywhere other than a place for great knitwear and casual separates in a wide range of colours, and definitely never considered them as somewhere I would find a seriously well cut dress, which just goes to show I can be very wrong.

Having browsed their website for a while this week I decided to go and do the thing I really don’t normally advocate, being an online addict, that of going-into-the-shop-and-trying-on-everything-in-sight.  Dresses are always going to be more of a problem with fit, and being short at 5’2”, worrying about length and also not having a clue which size I now was I hit St Christopher’s Place this morning.  Just for research purposes I’m sure you understand.

 

Some of the dresses, none of these, were in that very fine jersey which in my opinion looks rather ‘mumsy’ on just about everyone, but these were all fabulous, with stretch for fit and in some lovely colours.  I did have to restrain myself which I succeeded in doing with great difficulty but from now on when I am planning to shop for my next dress (round the corner, surely) I will take a look here first.  For value and style I don’t think they can be beaten.

So many of this season’s dresses are sleeveless so you’ll need a perfect cardigan to wear with most of these - I don’t go for the pinafore look they advocate (wearing something underneath), the exposed zips make these far too chic for anything so prosaic.  Also with the exception of the purple dress all of them come in black as well, and the red shift in black was my all time favourite to go from day to evening.

On a final note the sweater dress at the top is quite long, but would look great with a belt, where as the raspberry merino knit skims the body and is shorter.  Overall I would say that the sizing is generous.

Web Hints - Customer Ratings and Reviews - why you Need them on your Website.

There are a lot of things that you should be doing to your website to enhance the overall user experience which will improve your conversion rate, increase basket size, reduce returns and increase customer loyalty. Many of these can be costly, such as full screen zoom, 360 degree spin, showing every item in every colourway and integrating video. To a small to medium sized retailer they can seem completely out of reach.

The one I didn’t mention above is the implementation of customer feedback and product ratings and reviews, which according to Adobe Scene 7’s 2010 Customer Experience Survey is one of the top ranked features on US e-retail sites and which we know can have an immediate effect in uplifting customer confidence and conversion rates.

What we also know is that there’s a major row going on at the moment over the honesty (or lack of it) of some reviews on major websites, with headlines such as ‘over 80% of internet reviews are fabricated’ (Business Computing World) which, incidentally, I believe has to be something of an exaggeration however, the fact that doubt exists is is going to sort out the men from the boys in terms of in-house reviews, which will become less trusted and independent reviews and feedback, which are far more reliable.

The huge difference between the two, apart from a 14% average difference in response rates, is that in-house reviews can be manipulated easily and independent reviews cannot without difficulty, as they are posted only in response to a purchase. This doesn’t mean that reviews are being manipulated across the board, of course they are not, but once consumers lose trust in home grown reviews, independent reviews have to be the way to go.

So here are the main differences if you are considering integrating customer reviews and feedback on to your website.

In-House Reviews

Can be posted on an ad-hoc basis - the customer has to return to the site.

Usually a 1 - 4% response rate

Have few SEO benefits

Provide little management information

Do not reduce customer service
emails

Can be easily manipulated

Have a high up front cost

Independent Reviews

Are prompted by an email after purchase

Average 15 - 18% response rate

Provide constantly refreshed search-friendly content

Can reduce customer service emails by up to 25%

Provide Management information on product and service

Are very hard to manipulate

Cost more long term but less to integrate and then should pay for themselves in benefits.

I work as a consultant with www.feefo.com, who provide independent reviews for many major online retailers such as The White Company, Crew Clothing, Astley Clarke and My-Wardrobe, and I’ve also been working with IMRG over the past year to help promote consumer trust online particularly for small and medium sized retailers via their ISIS platform (Internet Shopping is Safe) - offering honest customer feedback is one of the most obvious ways of doing this.

For more information please contact me at [email protected] ……………………

Peep Toe Boots - Sublime or Ridiculous?

Winter is the excuse to wear great boots. Black suede knee-high platform boots, over the knee boots, fringed boots, ankle boots (love those) boots you can walk in and those you barely totter in. Who cares? Most of the time a great pair of boots adds a sexy edge to just about anything, from jeans and smart pants to a knee length dress.

I simply do not get peep toe boots. Ok a sandal-like dressed up strappy boot with bare legs I can sort of understand although I would not be happy to pay a designer price for something that is quite so ‘on trend’ (or do you think they’re here to stay?

To be honest the thought of buying something that is supposed to be a boot but isn’t, that you have really to wear with bare legs even in the middle of winter, that may look incredibly ‘now’ but won’t protect me from rain and cold (let alone snow) is faintly ridiculous if not totally so. I suppose if you’re only going from limmo to restaurant and back they’ll work but otherwise……………………………………..

On another note if fringing is coming back with a vengeance how about these? Now will they fit in my bag if I take a quick trip to NYC next month? I do hope so. These I love even if totter is all I’ll be able to do….I think the brown, don’t you? Or the black? Or both? Oh dear!

Incidentally my 20 year old daughter just walked in and asked me what I was writing about. ‘Peep toe boots’ I answered. ‘I hope you’re going to write about how stupid they are’ she replied.………….

Eating out in London - Cafe Luc - A Seriously good Brasserie

I love eating out in London, lunch usually as I live in the wilds of Buckinghamshire and as a creature of habit I tend to go to the same place over and over again. Agreeing to meet a friend and fashion colleague in Marylebone I thought today would be a good day to try somewhere new.

Cafe Luc in Marylebone High Street (at the Marylebone Road end) is new, buzzy, reasonably priced, stylishly decorated and most important of all, offers very good food and fast, friendly and efficient service.

I’m not a restaurant critic as I’m sure you know, so I’m not going to melt over the crab tian or the carpaccio of tuna and swordfish……..suffice it to say that everything Helen and I had was beautifully presented and totally delicious. When I asked for olives (as I don’t eat bread) they were brought immediately, as was a bottle of the highest quality evoo (extra virgin olive oil in case you don’t get my meaning) when the French waitress thought that that was what I was asking for.

They offer a three course lunch (currently) for around £16 and if you’re in that area of London book first but rush there as soon as you can. You won’t regret it. I will be going back soon.

From the sublime to the (no I can’t say that) very different…….my home is about to be invaded by aliens (gasp shock horror), as my three kids are all on their way down from Edinburgh for the weekend and things are about to get extremely noisy and messy. I will be hiding out writing and in the gym, other than taking my dogs out and the daughter for an oh so expensive hair cut - she has refused my services, unfortunately.

You’ll find me putting on my dancing shoes and recovering next week in London at the IMRG awards dinner, and if I’m writing here more than usual over the weekend you’ll be able to guess why………………………………

Answering Fabsugar - Should All Luxury Brands be Available Online?

Spotting Fabsugar’s tweet this morning - a poll on Should All Luxury Brands be Available Online - and racing to take my dogs out and get to work, I was pulled to answer, because to my mind one word here is out of place. ‘Should’. You may say that this is subjective and that everyone has a right to their own view (and of course they do) but it’s a bit like asking ‘Should the car take over from the horse and carriage?’ - because the question should be ‘Will’ not ‘Should’ - the answer is Yes, and the horse has already bolted.

Consider that brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Kenzo, Prada, Loewe and more already have their own dedicated e-shopping websites, and that Balenciaga, Versace, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Halston, Bottega Veneta, Roberto Cavalli (the list goes on and on) are available from stores such as Browns Fashion, Net-a-Porter, Matches and others and you begin to wonder just who isn’t yet on the roll call of those who have taken the plunge to offer their wares online.

Having attended IMRG’s members’ meeting yesterday and listened to the astonishing increases in online shopping figures it’s quite obvious that every brand, luxury or otherwise, will be online in the not too distant future, either through dedicated websites or (most probably and/or) through luxury department stores or they will severely miss out on the retail revolution and the potential for fast growth in demand at a time when offline retail is still for the most part having a tricky time.

It doesn’t really matter who says what, or what you and I think, the money men behind the luxury fashion businesses we know and love, even if we can only afford their fragrance or lipsticks, are fast becoming aware that to find their potential global reach they have to be online and soon if they’re not already there.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you’ll soon be able to buy a Chanel suit or Dior evening gown online any time soon, I think that’s unlikely right now. However the luxury fashion stores are offering clothes and accessories by their ‘superbrand’ designers already and as far as accessories, fragrance and cosmetics go for the rest it’s already a done deal and clothing may well follow. Watch this space……..

Travel Tweets - Paris - Hotel de L’Arcade - A real Find

Feeling really guilty as I took my netbook all the way to Paris, wrote the article about dishonest customer feedback on the train that I was supposed to (more to follow) started chatting with the people I was meeting in Paris and never looked back.

I was looking for a small but chic (and reasonably priced) hotel to stay my first night, and on my third attempt I found (by using the Michelin Red Guide which I swear by) the Hotel de L’Arcade. It is small but beautifully appointed, inexpensive compared to the big boys but not cheap and exceptionally comfortable. They upgraded me to a superior room with a little sitting room and tiny kitchenette.

The downside is that there is no room service other than breakfast, which comes from it’s sister hotel, the Bedford. The upside is that for somewhere so central the soundproofing cuts out everything, the air conditioning is a quiet hum - once I’d managed to turn it on - and it is very very close to the big stores. And breakfast is only 13 Euros which is ridiculous by Paris hotel standards. All in all it was great and I wouldn’t hesitate to go there again.

This was one of the few times when I got the Paris weather totally wrong. 24 degrees on Saturday and I did not pack for summer. Sleeveless dress with trainers? I don’t think so. Still I managed with a little judicious trainer wearing under black jeans (not my look) and boots with my dress.

Back here and planning now for BBC Radio 2 Janice Long’s show next week at midnight. Really I may have turned into a pumpkin by then but at least they’ll be sending a car for me which I can fall asleep in on the way back. We’re going to be chatting about how to shop online for those who aren’t there already. Now that I can do in my sleep. Should be fun…………………………..

What to wear to the Gym………

I seem to spend a lot of time tweeting that I’m just off to or just back from the gym, which I realise is probably extremely boring, however having become a gym addict again this year after a long break (well I did go swimming occasionally, but I don’t think that counts the speed I swim at) I’m probably not going to stop soon. At least I give you also the hugely interesting (!) information about what I’m listening to, which ranges from Bach, Mascagni and Beethoven to Fleetwood Mac and Keane.

Recently I’ve been doing quite a lot of travelling (oh you noticed that too, did you?) and have visited various extremely well equipped gyms in places such as Paris, Dallas and Santa Fe. Which is fun, up to a point, apart from the fact that I’m used to going to my own little gym at home, and not having to see the results of other people’s efforts nor take any account of what they’re wearing. Far more important to me was/is the fact that I can wear my favourite LBD and feel much better in it than I did in January, the 16th, precisely, when I started all of this, than what I looked like in my old t-shirt, capris and trainers.

I’m seriously thinking that I should invest in some ‘smarter’ gym wear, and this is what I would buy if I did - just a few pieces to make me feel a bit better about what I look like before I start, particularly when I’m away. The fact that I look a complete wreck when I finish is irrelevant - it’s surely how you feel when you leap on that machine that counts girls (yes this is for the girls), I’m sure you’ll agree.

My favourite site by far for gym gear is Sweaty Betty, where there’s a very good range, choice of colours, great pictures and everything you could possibly need. Yes I know there are others, but for a one stop shop I think this is the best. Anything you buy from here will last for a long time, however much you use it. If I go for it, this is definitely where I will shop. I’m just waiting to go down one more size……..

I’m not going to get into the trainer debate however mine I have to say are Asics and they have an excellent range at JD Sports. I have two pairs. One which sits permanently and hopefully in my travel bag with half my gym kit so that I never forget anything and the other on my feet right now because yes - next stop the gym…………..