Buying Season is once again upon us, and this time, with the power of technology, we thought we'd take you with us!
We can't give away too much (The designers like to keep their collections TOP SECRET until it's time for the grand reveal), but we can show you a sneak peak of what's to come for your Autumn/Winter 2018/19!
Just two appointments, and a cheeky spot of lunch, took a whole day to select and submit, so it's safe to say the buying season can be a slow, tiring (just check out Jade's face at the end of the day compared to the beginning!), and overall quite difficult process. Trying to make sure we anticipate what our customers want in six months time, while staying true to the Arabella brand as well as the unique, individual signature elements of each and every designer is an equation that takes some serious consideration. Even after our appointments are over, we go back to the drawing board to assess our decisions and edit each buy according to extensive research and discussion.
Then we have the agonizing wait for the stock to arrive - pieces that we cannot wait to get our hands on! By the time the delivery dates are upon us, most of the pieces are a distant memory, and so the delight and thrill when we tear open the packages can only be compared to that of a child on Christmas Day! The joy continues for us as we get to share our precious cargo with you all, taking pleasure from your enthusiasm and approval. And then the cycle begins again. Snap Shots of the AW18/19 Buying Journey So Far...
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Thank you again to all of you that watched us LIVE last night!
This week we had great fun modelling in another of our stores, showcasing Mama b and a few other favorites... You can shop all of the pieces featured in the video HERE and as ever, we are here to take any of your queries if you need help with your order! Order now and your item should arrive before Christmas!
Hello Ladies!
We are absolutely thrilled with the reaction we've had from you after going LIVE last night on our FACEBOOK page! It was so wonderful that so many of you tuned in and interacted with us, and we hope you enjoyed it just as much as we did! You can watch the FULL VIDEO here, and we are still on hand to take any queries or telephone orders on 01270 747616! For direct links to any of the products featured in the video, contact us byfacebook messenger, phone, email or using the contact form on the BLOG. Ladies, we need your input! Tomorrow night, via our facebook page 'arabelladesignerwear' we will be LIVE, showcasing the best in festive style. But we need your requests and interaction so we can tailor the show to our audience! Are there pieces that you would like to see modeled on one of our team? Would you like to know if an item will suit your shape/height/colouring? Do you need inspiration on footwear or accessory choices? If you have specific requests we will make sure we incorporate your suggestions during our LIVE feed, and while you watch you can chat to us LIVE using the COMMENTS box. Let us know you'll be watching and send your suggestions and requests using the form below... We can't believe it either, but it's that time again, when we need to start thinking about those closely looming Christmas parties and more importantly, what to wear. Luckily for you, we've composed a list of our TOP 5 Festive frocks that the Season has to offer, so you can stop trawling the internet and bag yourself a sensational look this Winter.
We've been thinking a lot about styling this week at Arabella HQ, in particular the little finishing touches that bring your look together. It's often the last thing we think about when we're dressing, but sometimes the accessories and styling are the key ingredient to your outfit. Each season, the collections rely on the best quality colours and fabrics available at the time of manufacture, so naturally there are similarities in each collection which make it easy for us to cross-brand our look. We cannot get over how perfect the new TISSA arrivals complement the RUNDHOLZ colour palette this time and add the ultimate finishing touch. Check it out... This olive/ khaki green is so heavily featured across the collections this season that we are truly embracing the earthy vibe. If green isn't your colour don't panic- you can give a nod to the trend with footwear, wristies or one of the beautiful napa lambskin bags...wear with greys and blacks to tone down the look.
Do note too ladies that the green trend is set to overlap into SS18 so any investments this season will stand you in good stead for next year...Buy clever - Other colours for SS18 include red, rose pink, dusky lilac, hot pink and chalk white. It's set to be a colourful spring! RE-USE. RE-CYCLE. RE-LOVE.Following the success of our pre-loved in store, we have selected our
Top PRE-LOVED Picks and made them available to buy online! You're Welcome! All of these pieces are one-offs and have been gently worn. With this in mind, unfortunately none of the items are returnable so please check the listings carefully before making your purchase. We will of course try and give as much detail as possible for your peace of mind. Think of it as your own personal Arabella eBay. The only difference is, we've already filtered out the things you don't need, and selected the best that pre-loved has to offer. Each week we will gather a very small, exclusive collection of our favorite pre-loved and make it available for purchase! They will always be different and always totally one-off so don't miss out on these unbelievable bargains! I have an apology to make... It's been far too long since I've been in touch, but I'm sure you'll forgive me when I let you in on what we've been up to! Here at Arabella HQ we haven't stopped this Season! With the hot weather we enjoyed throughout June and July, (yes I know it feels like a distant memory!), we have been rushed off our feet in store trying to find your perfect summer looks. Then of course, we have been between London, Manchester and Paris ordering our AW17 and SS18 collections, which are set to be some of our best yet so we feel like our feet haven't touched the ground! As I write this, the team are busy uploading the new arrivals onto our website which we are beyond excited to share with you! Keep your eyes peeled for new products being added to our AW17 COLLECTION daily! So what's the latest? - More Mama b has arrived this week, including some excellent accessories that we think complete the look. Having a peak through the look book, it's safe to say that this winter we can be even more daring than normal when it comes to mixing and matching our colours, fabrics and prints. Layering is of course going to be key this season, so for those of you who struggle to decide what works best for you, as always, get in touch and we'll let you know what is working for us in store. - Yet another drop of RUNDHOLZ has arrived, and once again, we are salivating as we prize each piece from the box. Here's a few of our ultimate favourites:- - The AW17 Crea Concept has landed and there's a new twist on the brand, giving it a slightly edgier feel while staying true to the beautiful tailored, sophisticated Crea look we all know and love. There's a mixture of casual, easy pieces for everyday, as well as a few more formal styles to dress up your look. Here's our top picks for smart-cas this Autumn:- COMING UP FOR AW17/18: We have lots in the pipeline this season, the first of which will be our annual coffee morning for Macmillan which will be taking place all day on 29th September. We will have all the usual goodies, cakes, tea and bubbly will be flowing. We hope to see you to support this wonderful cause- It's always a fantastic atmosphere in store and this year we will be hosting a BAKE OFF for all of you Mary Berry's out there! All entries must be delivered on or before the morning of the 29th please ladies. There will be an Arabella gift voucher up for grabs for the winner! So get baking! For those of you like me that aren't so good in the kitchen, we will be thrilled to receive any donation to the cause inc bubbly, shop-bought treats (M&S have a special range dedicated to the cause) and of course your monetary donations on the day. We hope to see you then! Sit back, Relax and let us take you to the calm of the Seaside. The Crea Concept SS17 video look book shows us how they intended us to wear the collection (although of course, as ever, we encourage you to go your own way if you prefer, with a little twist or turn). We've made it really easy to find the pieces we have in stock too by giving you the links below of a few of our favourites.
Although the video look book shows us some of the best of the collection, there's plenty more to see on our website, bought with our customers in mind, so CHECK IT OUT and GET IN TOUCH if you need any help...
The Mama b look is one of effortless style, however it's not always easy to piece items together carefully, whilst maintaining the 'just threw it together' theme. In the store we love to show our clients how to experiment with the collection, often surprising them by extending the realms of their comfort zone, so we thought it only fair that we lend a hand to our online customers, just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend. Okay- So first things first: COLOURS & FABRICS: The two focal colours this season are ELICRISO and NUVOLA. It's important to note that the colours don't really work together as they're too similar to contrast yet not quite similar enough to match. But there's plenty of other colours to work with so bear with me. Elicriso is the name of an Italian plant and the colour refers to the stems of the plants rather than the flower. Described best as a light sage green, it complements a grey palette as well as the SALVIA green used also in the collection. Salvia is a deeper green while maintaining the delicate, natural look. Nuvola on the other hand, is Italian for 'Cloud' so as you'd expect, is a beautiful silver blue-grey, a refreshing change from the usual pale greys we see this time of year.This colour sits well with the OLTREBLU pieces- a rich, strong navy blue, incorporating a nautical element to the collection. Fairly new to Arabella, this season we've been forced to embrace a splash of pink into our wardrobes and surprisingly, we really like it! The ROSE SMOKE collection looks exactly as it sounds-subtle, delicate, whilst not too girly. The shade works with every other colour in the Mama b collection so it's an easy winner to complete an outfit. Finally we come to PANNA & NERO - in layman's terms: cream & black. Use these colours as always to break up an outfit or as the base to a look. Before we continue, note that colours vary slightly between fabrics- in this collection we have jerseys, lightweight knits, linen and soft fleece for those balmy summer evenings. They're designed to work together though-so don't let that worry you! So Let's Layer! Now you're equipped with the knowledge of the palette we're working with, lets create some looks, using some simple but effective style tips: Pattern on pattern. If you're brave enough to wear matching, especially if you're working with pattern then don't stop! It's a great look and should be encouraged. However, if like many of our ladies, you feel like it's just a little too much, break it up like we've done here on our lovely model Jade by using a thin cami or T-Shirt between layers. We've created the illusion here of a slimmer middle as Jade's conscious of her "mummy tummy" after giving birth, by breaking the stripes up with a black cami asymmetrically. The additional ruching also disguises any lumps and bumps that we may wish to camouflage. This works best when you're working with jersey. This tip means that curvy ladies can rock this look too! (Model wears Gagia T-Shirt in Elicriso/Nuvola stripe with coordinating Lilla stripe skirt.)
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1-The RUNDHOLZ Black Label Sea colour works beautifully with the Elicriso palette so to add interest - scarf up! |
2- DO dare to wear double denim! The denim Pavero pant is perfect for a relaxed summer look and works best when worn with one of the complementing denim pieces. |
3-You CAN wear a loose fit on the top AND the bottom without being drowned in fabric! Most people believe that if you wear a loose fitting top or pant, then the opposite must be fitted to avoid looking like a sack of potatoes, but it's not always the case. As long as the top is cropped enough to show off a fitted waistband or a skinnier layer slightly longer breaking up the two pieces, the look will elongate the silhouette. The Ninfa top is a very good example of this.
4-Add interest to a dress. You can't overlook the exceptional shapes of the Mama b dresses which of course work as stand alone pieces without any help from us. However, to get the most out of a dress it's worth knowing what you can do to style it a few different ways. Under a plain dress, a striped arm is always a nice touch to add a sense of fun. Or, if its a slightly shorter dress, experiment with a fitted skirt underneath to add length. The Lilla and the Adela work a treat. And if it gets chilly, you can layer a dress with a loose crop T-Shirt or knit over the top (in line with your navel is just about the right length.)
5-Give us a call. We've given you lots of tips here but sometimes, its not easy to visualise what an outfit will look like in 'real life'. We can try it on for you, send photographs and advise you on the best options for you, before you commit to order, so don't hesitate to get in touch!
ARABELLA
FASHION, LIFESTYLE, CONCEPT STORE