Archive for August, 2011

So we’ve talked about the practical considerations of creating an autumn/winter wardrobe, and discussed some of the key trends to watch out for (below the knee, sixties chic). Now it’s time to take a look at the colours that are going to be big this season – and how to wear them of course!

This month sees the start of the peak holiday season so expect traffic volumes to increase as families head off for their long awaited summer break.

Everyone loves the sixties. The music, the cinema and most of all the style! Arguably the first decade where women were really free to express themselves through their clothing, it was the decade that gave us icons as diverse as Jackie Onassis, Twiggy and Brigitte Bardot. Whether you’re a child of the flower power era or you got your first taste of the swinging sixties from watching the Austin Powers movies, any fashion-conscious woman should be very pleased to learn that the sixties are officially back for the Autumn Winter season, as reflected in the cool retro style we’re starting to see in the latest Jersey dresses and Jumper Dresses from many of our biggest brands.

As we’ve discussed in the past, autumn is drawing ever nearer, which means it’s time to start building a transitional wardrobe. For the next couple of months we can probably expect the great British weather to be at its most unpredictable, so a good selection of versatile transitional wear will allow you to protect yourself from the elements without prematurely resorting to winter warmers.

Below the knee dresses are one of the key trends this year, and are a great way to make a stylish impression on a night out or at a party. Get this look right, and you’ll feel fabulously womanly, with a hint of the 50s retro chic that is so popular right now thanks to shows like The Hour and Mad Men. However, perfecting this look can prove slightly tricky – without the right accessories a below the knee dress can appear rather shapeless and unflattering. So to avoid a fashion disaster, simply follow our guide to getting the best out of this stunning style.

As we enter the final stretch of summer, our thoughts naturally turn to the change of seasons. We’ve already given a few thoughts in recent blogs on the importance of creating a transitional wardrobe that can be easily adapted to suit anything the unpredictable British weather can throw at you. Thankfully, many of our favourite designer brands are already offering some fabulous fashion items that are perfect for late summer/early autumn.

August is traditionally the most popular month for summer weddings. The sun is still shining, but most people are starting to return from their holidays, so there’s less chance that half the guest list will be living it up in Marbella on your special day! So it may well be that your calendar is getting seriously packed with family and friends having their special day this month. We all know what this means – a prime opportunity for some retail therapy!

Contrary to popular belief, style and fashion sense don’t just fly away with the fairies when the clock strikes midnight on your 40th!

Back in April, Freemans launched the Student Fashion Writers Competition, aimed at offering budding young fashion pundits the chance to have their work published on this very blog. All they had to do was write us a description of how they would create the perfect summer outfit for a woman in her mid-thirties to early forties, using items from the Freemans catalogue.