Archive for May, 2012

If you work in an office or other smart-casual environment, the onset of the summer heat wave can provide something of a style conundrum. The long-sleeve blouses and suit-trousers that got us through the winter months can quickly start to leave us feeling constricted and overheated. So investing in some professional but lightweight summer office wear should be a major priority for the coming months. After all, it’s depressing enough to be stuck indoors in this weather without worrying about sweat patches and heavy, constrictive fabrics.

Fashion is having a bit of a futuristic moment this season, with the soft reflective sheen of metallic making a major comeback. This month alone we’ve seen Heidi Klum rocking the red carpet in a stunning silver two-piece while lady of the moment Rihanna was spotted looking uncharacteristically demure in a floor length metallic maxi dress.

The appeal of metallics to the stars isn’t difficult to figure out. It’s bold without being brash, looks great against almost any skin tone – although if you’re very pale you might want to accessorise it with something in a warmer colour to avoid the ice maiden look – and lends itself beautifully to a bit of statement jewellery.

There isn’t much in fashion that divides opinion quite like the stripe. For a long time the received wisdom was that less should always be more – a striped motif should be a supporting role in your outfit, and never take centre stage. But recently the worm has started to turn and bold stripes are popping up all over the place. Cheryl Cole, for example, never saw a striped trouser she didn’t like. But Cheryl Cole could wear a bin liner and look chic, and if you get your stripes wrong you could still be in for a fashion disaster of devastating proportions.

As much as we love a good heel, when you’re walking on the beach sandals are much more practical, not to mention comfortable! We’ve recently added a host of brand new holiday sandals to our range, so there’s bound to be something for you no matter what your personal style. You could opt for glamorous simplicity with these Reiker Toe Post Sandals, or a distinctive hippie-chic look with these ornate Bugatti Toe Post Sandals. If you can’t live without a touch of elevation, consider a chunky wedge sandal like these Reiker Slingbacks.

When it comes to shopping for a holiday abroad, it’s easy to forget something essential. That’s why Freemans have created the Holiday Shop, packed with hand-selected travel essentials, including beach-friendly swimwear, sun-dresses and sandals, menswear and kidswear. So why waste valuable sunbathing time trawling through over-priced and under-stocked local stores to replace your forgotten holiday clothes when you can find everything you need right here with us?

A great evening dress should strike the perfect balance between classy and functional. You should avoid anything too clingy or heavy, as nothing is more likely to put a dampener on your evening than feeling self-consciously sweaty and overheated! An elegant maxi dress will cascade beautifully and give you enough freedom of movement to feel comfortable in all temperatures. Some Exotic Print will add a sizzling seasonal touch.

When you worship at the altar of fashion – and we certainly do here at Freemans – there’s the danger that you can wind up taking things just a little bit too seriously. After all, as much as colour co-ordinating, knowing your shift dresses from your peplums and generally staying on-trend are important, the first rule of fashion is that it’s supposed to be fun! With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to some of the best feelgood items in our catalogue!

Here at Freemans, providing quality women’s fashion to our customers is one of our highest priorities. That’s why we work with leading designer brands to ensure that whether you’re in the market for a casual women’s top or one of our elegant ladies dresses, you can choose from a range of gorgeously made and totally on-trend pieces. Here are a few of our favourite brands for 2012.

When it comes to choosing a women’s top or dress, for many of us it can feel like we’re trapped between two options – skin-tight or bulky. A lighter piece is great for warmer weather, but clingy material can be quite unforgiving if you don’t have a particularly toned tum. The alternative is covering up; either in extra layers that can make you feel overheated – or in shapeless, loose-fitting tops that can be just as unflattering. If you’re crying out for a third way, we have two words to say to you – wrap top.