I Spy....oversized (everything!)

Us girls like everything oversized! This time its the turn of the coat.

Us girls like everything oversized - whether it's the handbag, the knitwear or that slice of chocolate cake we shouldn't have had with our lunch. This time it's the turn of the coat. The oversized coat. Just think this favourable motto of mine: the bigger the coat, the slimmer the leg. Which, according to the nickname 'thunder thighs', is a motto to live and die by for me! We've got a few tips and tricks to make this trend work for you.

If you're tall - congratulations - you can wear this trend anyway, choose a cropped cape or a mid calf camel coat, just remember to keep the bottom half skinny and it will look great. Might I suggest the AMAZING Utzon leather leggings or the Dom and Ruby one's we've got just instore now - excellent to make any leg look slim and trim.

However if, like me, you are slightly shorter (5ft 2.5" exactly) and curvy then think of these two tips. Don't go any longer than mid-thigh, that way extending the legs and still giving the same Brigitte Bardot vibe making you look inches taller but not drowning you. Also keep details to a minimum - don't confuse things with a lot of pattern or embellishments (sorry, the oversized sequinned cape with feathers and a one-man-band attached is out of the equation) Keep it simple!


We love the styling seen in the Sunday Herald (by Ms Arrighi!!!) where we saw the fantastic Bibby coat from Diane von Furstenberg featured. The accessories are simple and the impact is anything but. We think this look works great with skinny leggings (as mentioned before: try J Brand, Dom&Ruby or Halston Heritage) oversized longer-length knitwear with a simple tee underneath and shoe-boots (apologies this shoe-trend isn't going anywhere either!) For night try with a Victorian style blouse (like the fab DVF one we've got) but you must keep the leggings slim (hope you've got the hint yet!)

Add on an oversized envelope clutch (still trying to find my perfect one - any suggestions email laura@janedavidson.co.uk thanks!) to bag loads of style and ta-da daytime chic for these winter months!

Love,

The Girls x

The countdown begins to.....Noir!

We are counting down the days until our grand entrance at the Noir Night – 5 Days!

An invention by our favourite Dutch damsel model Anna Freemantle and her husband Jonathan, a South African painter, Noir! is described as a ‘Nocturnal fusion of Music, Fashion and Art’ – perfect – just what we love! This Thursday, Noir! will be celebrating the festival with its #7 Festival Edition at Hawke and Hunter’s Green Room featuring, amongst other things, the wonderful Jane Davidson!


We are so excited to be involved as it includes styling by Ian Tod – so you can expect quirky concepts and a fabulous show, but something a little bit different from the classic Jane Davidson (don’t worry we’re not changing!) Expect live music, installations and a host of high fashion and high jinx, as they push boundaries and buttons that blend and challenge the realms of creativity and club night, while having a perversely outrageous time in the process.


Included will be fantastic headpieces by Edinburgh born sculptor-turned-milliner Evelyn Morrison, which have been created especially for this Noir! night. The event will feature a host of designers and artists, including recent ECA graduates Alex Gibbs, Callum Monteith and Mathew Swan, who show talent by the bucket.

Along with being packed full of talented people (ourselves included) the location, the infamous Hawke and Hunter Green Room, is one of the most stylish and exclusive clubs in Edinburgh which this Thursday will be full of the most interesting people around.


It’s a party atmosphere which celebrates the most innovative ‘things’ happening in Scotland, it’s a concept and it’s an occasion – so dress up for the party and come along....

Tickets are £12 (includes entry to afterparty at Below Stairs)
Doors @ 7.30pm

Love,

The Girls x

Ways to wear....the J Brand Houlihan

Right, so as you can tell we are pretty excited about the arrival of the Houlihan from J Brand and here we take inspiration on how to wear THE hottest styles of the summer (even if it's raining)

Charlize Theron takes on my favourite look teaming her Vintage Olive Houlihan (that word is so difficult - especially after one too many cocktails!) with our favourites a check shirt. We are loving the MiH ones in store in two colourways and teaming them with a pair of heels gives that sexy off-duty day look. How effortless...if only it was that easy.

MiH Shirts start from £145 and look great during this wet summer we're having but also during the winter with skinny leggings and boots.

The low-rise skinny cargo looks so good glammed up as seen on Rihanna with her great new cropped do - in postbox red of course - with a cute tee and some fierce heels - giving it a really good mix of ladylike chic and rock glam - a big trend for A/W 2010.

Also they look great with a racer back tee and a charcoal grey oversized blazer mixing masculine tailoring and laid-back chic. or with flip-flops and a boyfriend cardigan as seen on Jessica Alba here.We could go on....

Just a quick one today as more than likely at the rate they're flying out the door every pair will be sold by the time I finish this. At £245 these are the best jeans we have and with it being such a denim year they really are an investment.

Pop in and try them on - trust us - you'll need a pair of these in your wardrobe!

Love,


The Girls x

Crazy for Cashmere!

So the Edinburgh festival is well and truly in swing - tourists are flocking by their map-clad tour loads and bagpipers seem to have taken up residence in every available public space ... and I can’t help getting a bit patriotic!

Yes, (and just to go all Hugh Grant/ Love Actually on you!) we may be a little country but we’re a pretty great one at that: home of the golf, the television, the telephone... Sean Connery, Harry Potter... Andy Murray’s forehand... Andy Murray’s backhand.... And so while we sing our own praises about all good things Scottish, it seemed aptly timed to salute another Scottish great - our favourite cashmere queens, Queene and Belle!

Founded in 2000 by former Pringle of Scotland designers Doreen Keen and Angela Bell, and based in the heart of the Scottish borders, the label is premised upon modernising a heritage look - forget twinset and pearls, think luxurious knits embellished with quirky stitching, embroidery, vintage ribbons, brooches and motifs. Ten years on, Hawick's heroes are still going strong. So strong in fact, they proudly boast a following that includes Liv Tyler, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jemima Khan, and the Queen of Pop, Madonna, no less; and stocked from locales as diverse as the beaches of Santa Monica to the high rises of Tokyo. How lucky are we then to be Scotland's exlcusive stockist?!

So what is its, quite literally, universal appeal? To my mind, the answer is all about the 2 'Qs': Quirky and Quality. Anything but staid, Queene and Belle have brought couture to cashmere: their level of attention to detail is unrivalled, and their highly unique and inimitable collections literally turn heads; whilst their hand stitching and embroidery combined with luxurious cashmere makes for, quite simply, a quintessentially quixotic combination!

And luckily for you, we are well stocked in some fablous new season pieces - I could literally take one of everything! From navy quilted jackets, to dark green Aran sweaters and to grey, feather printed wraps (as pictured), I'm certain there is something to settle even the most discerning Cashmere connoiseur. Afterall, when in Scotland, it's cashmere that's queen!

Love,

The Girls x