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An Interview With Messina Hembry Clothing
If you enjoy hunting for vintage clothing and preloved designer garments on websites such as Ebay and ASOS marketplace, then my guest this week would be a familiar name to you. Messina Hembry is eBay’s largest retailer of secondhand branded clothing and is one of the top 10 boutiques on ASOS marketplace. They have now launched their own new stand-alone e-boutique to compliment their existing outlets and I caught up with founder Zac Hembry to find out more. Hi Zac…
Hi there! I’m Zac Hembry the founder here at Messina Hembry Clothing.
What inspired you to launch Messina Hembry?
I always had a desire to start my own business once I had left university. I wanted to create something which could offer people real savings and doing it in the most environmentally friendly way possible. I always had a keen interest in buying and selling second hand designer clothing on eBay which lead to the creation of Messina Hembry.
Have you always had a passion for fashion?
I have always loved designer brands but I found the new price tags really limiting. I always had to shop smart on places like eBay or etsy. There is something really satisfying knowing that someone has already paid 4-5 times the price for the same item. My passion for fashion definitely came from the savings from buying second hand pieces.
When choosing outfits to represent Messina Hembry, do you go by popular styles, customer requests, your own preferences, the uniqueness, the brand or bits of all those?
We always try to choose our most exclusive pieces when picking out styles for Messina Hembry. We want really want to show off the pieces which people can’t get hold of anymore. Some of the more difficult stuff we like to show off include any Moschino, Versace and YSL are always winners!
My favourite items from your website are the collection of Diesel jeans – timeless pieces! What outfits/brands are proving popular amongst your customers so far this season?
We’ve always got a high demand for any Ralph Lauren and Lacoste. I think we because we offer such great savings on these brands it’s really pushed the demand forward. Whenever we can get hold of the more expensive brands like Burberry, Armani and D&G they always go really fast as well!
Your company is the largest retailer of secondhand branded clothing on eBay and one of the top 10 boutiques on the ASOS marketplace as well as having your new standalone e-boutique. What do you feel was the hardest part of getting your company launched? What advice would you give to others who aspire to see their passions materialise into reality?
The hardest part has definitely been building the inventory up. As every individual item has to be photographed, measured and listed online we had months of really hard work to ensure our stock levels were large enough to give our customers a lot of choice. There was a lot to learn in a short space of time so I would advise anyone with a similar idea to ensure they’ve done their homework and make sure you are familiar with the rules and regulations on any marketplaces you’re thinking of selling on.
Which famous lady or man would you love to see as the “face” of Messina Hembry?
It’s a long shot but we’d really love to see someone like Leonardo DiCaprio representing the brand. He loves his designer clothing whilst having a keen interest in the environment and I really think that’s the way I want to push the company forward. We want people to understand not only are there great savings in second hand clothing but the environmental benefits are astounding as well.
As you are based in the UK, is your clothing range available overseas too?
We currently ship worldwide on our eBay store & ASOS marketplace boutique. On our website we only currently ship to the EU, Australia and USA.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
Normally it has to be a Ralph Lauren shirt, Diesel jeans, Nike trainers and Barbour jacket. All of course from Messina Hembry.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?(apart from your own!)
There are some really good online thrift stores in America like Twice or Poshmark which we tried to use to as guidance for the business. We also really like Etsy for unique designer vintage clothing.
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter etc so that readers can find out more about Messina Hembry
www.messinahembry.com
https://www.facebook.com/messinahembryclothing
https://twitter.com/messinahembry
https://instagram.com/messinahembry/
Thanks for chatting to us today Zac and I wish your business every success. Dear readers, what has been your best vintage/preloved fashion item that you’ve bought? I once picked up a fab dotty Next dress that still had the tag in it from a local jumble sale about 12 years ago for the princely sum of 50p – I was really chuffed with it as the tag marked it up around the £50 mark! It saw me through quite a few social events & parties that year!
Linda x
Photos have been published with kind permission of Zac Hembry
Spotlight on East Shopping Centre
Saturday 14th March 2015 sees the grand opening of not only London’s latest shopping centre but it is Europe’s first purpose-built boutique Asian shopping centre, East Shopping Centre, based in Green Street, London E7 – not far from West Ham’s football ground and Newham’s other recently built shopping centre, Westfield Stratford. Following its successful soft launch on January 24th 2015, East Shopping Centre has generated around 200 jobs for the local area as well as injecting much needed enthusiasm for shopping locally. Built on the one acre site of the former bus depot, the centre has retained its original facade but has incorporated the latest eco friendly touches such as solar panels, water flow restrictors, and carefully resourced building materials – protecting resources and saving money too. Green Street has always had an important trade and cultural heritage – my own mother bought her wedding dress from a Green Street dressmaker back in 1962 – and East Shopping Centre hope to build upon and become part of that heritage too.
So, what’s inside the shopping centre? Major Asian fashion outlets are represented including Zarkan of London, Andaaz Fashion, Memsaab, Imaani London…plus other non fashion companies including Urban Chocolatier and Coffee Republic too. There is a “souk” comprising of smaller, local stores selling everything from costume jewellery to mobile phones – menswear, shoes, bags…
Overlooking the shopping centre is a spectacular food court where you’ll find food delights such as Piri Piri Chicken from the Roosters chain, desserts and mocktails galore from Lost Asia, American-style burgers from Brioche Burgers… getting hungry?
Being indoors, the centre is ideal as an all year round shopping venue and with its late night closing time, your shopping pleasure is not hurried.
So, as I was saying, Saturday 14th March is the official opening day and from 12pm West Ham MP Lyn Brown will be cutting the ribbon. There will be lots going on – the centre will be creating a mela atmosphere with music, dhol players, face painting and much more. East Shopping Centre is also offering raffle tickets giving one lucky winner the chance to win a luxury weekend holiday for two in Dubai, £1000 gift voucher to spend at East Shopping Centre and two iPad Mini 3’s. The first 100 people to arrive on Saturday will receive vouchers to the food court worth £10. All proceeds raised from the raffle will be donated to Masoom, a locally based charity that supports vulnerable women and children around the world.
East Shopping Centre can be found at 232-236 Green Street, London E7 8LE.
For more information, you can follow East Shopping Centre via their website – www.eastshoppingcentre.com – or via Twitter @EastShopping; Facebook: East Shopping Centre; Instagram: EastShopping
Hope to see you all there! Happy Shopping!
Linda x
All photos have been published with kind permission from Puja Vedi
An Interview With Pia Rossini
A heady mix of aquatic blues, pastels, nautical trends and bursts of bright colours are about to hit the stores heralding the start of Spring and, I for one, am looking forward to freshening up my wardrobe with a few accessories! So I couldn’t ask for a better guide to what’s hot for Spring/Summer 2015 (and a sneaky preview into what’s new for next Autumn/Winter) than chatting to the mother and daughter team that head leading accessory brand, Pia Rossini,who supply from the UK fashion accessories to boutiques and stores around the world. A big warm welcome to you, Debbie and Kirsty:
Hi! We’re Debbie Shaw (Company Director. Resort Wear Collection) and Kirsty Shaw (Head of Range Developm
ent and Accessories Buyer). We are delighted to have the second generation in the company, Kirsty joined us 4 years ago as Head Accessories Buyer.
Pia Rossini, the brand, was launched in 1999, supplying fashion accessories to boutiques and stores throughout the world. What was the inspiration behind the brand launch?
We wanted to create a collection of fashionable accessories that co-ordinate so the consumer did not have to think about what matches, and the retailer would be able to merchandise with ease. It’s a concept that has worked and we continue to develop, our retailers can now buy a fully merchandised set of products ready to hang on the wall.
This Spring your fashion boards comprise of aquatic blues, pastel shades, nautical stripes and bursts of bright colours – namely, fuchsia,orange,violet, yellow, blue. Is there a marked difference between countries and their favourite fashion boards? Were certain Autumn/Winter 2014 items more popular in one country and not in another?
To be honest we have found that a great style is a great style globally and our ranges sell all over from the Caribbean to Australia. Our ranges are universal.
I gather that the Ultimate Pool Shoe Collection is a new feature for 2015. I am quite excited as the sandals look exquisite and makes me yearn for the warmer weather! Are you launching any other new collections in 2015 /2016?
We love all the faux fur that are on trend at the moment and we have really expanded this collection including some fantastic new faux fur gilets and two tone faux fur collars. . We have also added some easy to wear waistcoats in knitted fabrics, these look so casual but at the same time fashionable and easy to wear.
Personally, I love all your Spring/Summer 2015 colour boards and can see myself having items from all 4 in my wardrobe! Have you any personal favourites from the collection that may be included in your wardrobe?
We both love the 1 print 3 bags combo, I took the Riviera set with me on holiday to Miami and I did not require any other bag – it has a tote, a cross body bag and a purse – so useful, a bag for every occasion! Plus of course our shoes, I had 3 pairs with me on holiday this year!
You have 5 distinct collections in a year: Autumn/Winter Accessories; Spring Accessories; Resortwear; Summer Accessories; and The Ultimate Pool Shoe Collection. Where does the inspiration come from that inspires each collection?
We are passionate about what we do, so we are always working and seeking out new ideas. We gather ideas when we travel, whether on holiday or with the job. It’s important to be aware of what is going on around you and often good to adapt and develop ideas you spot when travelling.
Which famous lady would you love to see as the “face” of Pia Rossini?
We would love to see Olivia Palermo wearing our product. We think she has an effortless sense of glamorous style, something we try to exhibit in our ranges.
Looking ahead to Autumn/Winter 2015 – what styles & colours will we be seeing in your collection?
Our Autumn/Leaves palette is all about papaya orange mixed with essential navy and deep red tones. We also have forest fruits mood board which exhibits a blend of deep plum and mulberry hues. This year we expanded our styles, silhouettes and designs in various genres to suit every buyer – our latest collection includes faux fur gilets and pattern waist coats. We are really excited about this year’s collection. Our collections continue to evolve and this year is no different but we believe this is our best collection to date and can’t wait to show it.
Apart from supplying boutiques/stores, you also offer a “private label” service offering a company/boutique the opportunity to create their own collection using the expertise of your own inhouse design & production team. I think this is a fab idea. Have you had any that have took up the service that create vastly different designs to what you would class as typical “Pia Rossini” or are the designs pretty much on the same wave length?
We have produced some specific requests for companies such as Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Phase Eight in the UK, and also some group stores in Scandinavia, but our main focus is to continue to develop and expand our own brand, Pia Rossini. We are passionate about Pia Rossini and still have a lot we want to achieve.
Personal now, what clothes/shoes dominate your wardrobe? Any favourite retailers?
My wardrobe is built around great staples – jeans, shirts, cardigans – casual clothes that I can dress up with our accessories. There is nothing more chic than a blazer and jeans teamed with a scarf and a Fedora hat, it’s effortless..
To view the fabulous Pia Rossini accessory range:
Thank you Debbie and Kirsty! I am really quite looking forward to Autumn too now – I just love the thought of the Forest Fruits colour theme…and papaya orange! So, dear reader, what do you think? What colours will tickle your fancy in 2015? I’d love to know!
Linda x
All photos have been published with kind permission of Pia Rossini
An Interview With Author Linda Finlay
It was quite a coincidence that over the last couple of weeks I have read two historical novels based on the young Queen Victoria – one was a moth eared paperback I spotted at my mother-in-law’s by Jean Plaidy (made a change from the kindle & it was enjoyable); the other was a first novel by author Linda Finlay, a historical saga published by Penguin, that I downloaded, called The Royal Lacemaker. This novel was equally enjoyable and highly recommended – perfect for fans of Jean Plaidy, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn. So I am really chuffed to welcome to the blog this week the delightful author herself and chat about her book, lace making and of course, her views on fashion! Hi Linda!
Hi! I’m Linda Finlay, an image consultant and novelist with an avid interest in people, what they wear and what makes them tick.
Congratulations on publishing your first novel, a historical saga called The Royal Lacemaker. Where did you get inspiration from to write this novel?
Thank you. The past few months have been very exciting. The inspiration for The Royal Lacemaker came on a visit to Beer in Devon where I saw the sign for Ye Olde Lace Shop. Naturally I had to investigate and so my story was born.
Your novel follows the fortunes of a 17 year old orphan girl and the choices she must make when she becomes part of a secret commission to produce the Honiton lace for the wedding dress of Queen Victoria. I hear you were taught lace making too – was the incentive to do so linked to getting a sense of reality to the story or was it something you’ve always wanted to do and now with your novel in place you was able to indulge yourself?
Research took me to All Hallows Museum in Honiton where I watched a demonstration of lace making. It looked such an intricate craft I had to try it for myself. I like to think my experience added authenticity to the story as I find it hard to believe women used to make lace in their cottages to supplement their incomes, along with the household chores and bringing up their children.
As I’m somebody who cannot knit or crochet and can barely sew despite 3 years of needlework lessons at school, I really admire you! Was lace making hard to learn?
Although I love knitting, sewing is not my forte. Luckily I found a very patient teacher in Colyford, who along with her team of lovely ladies, kept my lace making on track. It really is as hard to go back and re work the lace as I indicated in The Royal Lacemaker. However, if I managed to make lace, you certainly can too!
Ha, ha … we’ll see! Swiftly changing the subject, what made you realise that you wanted to write books? Did you like story writing as a young girl?
I have always loved writing stories. Along with sport it was the only thing I was really any good at in school. Frequently I would lose myself in a story rather than tackle the other subjects I was meant to be concentrating on.
Apart from being an author, you are also an image consultant. What do you like best about both of your jobs?
I love people and helping them to make the best of themselves. It is rewarding to see a client leave my studio confident and smiling. I always try to champion my characters by making the timid grow stronger throughout my stories.
I know that this book has just been published, but have you started to think of ideas for your next novel? Would you stick to the same genre or would you try something different?
My next novel, The Girl With The Red Ribbon will be published in the Spring. It is about lunar gardening and millinery. Quite diverse subjects that are brought together by a common theme. I am now on my third novel.
What sort of book genre do you like reading? Favourite book or authors?
I love historical romance and stories that teach something of the period without being heavy handed. I find it satisfying to learn through an entertaining story. Phillippa Gregory is particularly good at this.
Obviously living in Devon played a big part in the formation of your novel. If you could visit any place in the world to set your next novel in, which place would you love to venture to?
It would have to be the Norwegian fjords. My imagination could run riot there!
When you’re not writing or running your image consultancy, what hobbies/past times do you enjoy?
I love walking the coastal paths and exploring little villages and bays. A story always seems to pop into my head though, so I don’t really switch off – unless I’m shopping with clients of course. Then it’s clothes, boots, shoes and accessories all the way.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
I love separates. Pencil skirts, polos, embellished shirts and shaggy gilets with ankle boots and opaques are this seasons must wears for me.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?
Wallis, Next, Very are all superb for topping up on seasonal fashions. They are always on trend with reasonable prices that don’t break the bank.
What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?
A faux fur jacket and faux leather pencil skirt are on my wish list, along with more ankle boots of course.
Boots or Shoes?
Both! They are my absolute must haves and a girl can never have too many! After all they update an outfit instantly.
Links:
amazon.co.uk/Royal Lacemaker – Linda Finlay
amazon.com/The Royal Lacemaker by Linda Finlay
Thank you very much Linda – I can’t wait to read your next novels. After reading The Lace Maker, I was partaking in a quiz when a question came up : “What craft uses bobbins and pillows?” I was so pleased that I knew the answer (Lacemaking) which I wouldn’t have had a clue a month or so ago. So, there you go, not only a good feel good read but educational too! Check the book out and let me know what you thought of the book too! I’d be interested to know!
Linda x
Photos have been published with kind permission of Linda Finlay
An Interview With Miss Brazil & Miss England 2014
It’s Saturday lunchtime and I’m sitting here chatting to two of the world’s most beautiful women, Julia Gama aka Miss Brazil 2014 and Carina Tyrrell aka Miss England 2014, just 2 out of 120 beautiful ladies hoping to win the title of Miss World 2014 on December 14th 2014, being held back in London (the last time the competition was in London was the very first Miss World 63 years ago).
The girls have just had their interview process in the “Beauty With A Purpose” part of the competition. Since this ethos was introduced into the Miss World competition, the contestants have raised millions of pounds and have endured countless hours of hard work to make a difference and bring about positive changes to communities in need worldwide. Both girls agreed enthusiastically that the “Beauty With A Purpose” part of the competition was their overall favourite part, with Carina commenting how heartwarming it was listening to the interviews of her fellow contestants describing the various projects they’re involved in worldwide and how fantastic it was that these young ladies are so committed to the various causes. So, girls, what are your “Beauty With A Purpose “projects?
Miss Brazil: My project is the Fight Against Leprosy.
Miss England: My project is to help the homeless in Cambridge – it was the charitable side of the Miss World competition that attracted me to enter in the first place.
Miss Brazil: Yes, that reason attracted me too.
What is your current occupation?
Miss B: I’m a student of chemical engineering in my 3rd year at university and a model too.
Miss E: I’m a student doctor in Cambridge.
How have you got on walking in heels on stage? Has it taken lots of practice?
Miss B : Do you know, before the competition I had never worn make up or heels! Honestly! But I have been really good, I think! And I’ve enjoyed the experience!
Miss E: It does take practice and I’ve had lots although I think heels shouldn’t be too high.
Have you had any embarrassing moments so far?
Miss B: One time, in the hair and make-up room, there was a plate of cakes with bright pink icing for us to eat. I had one, so delicious, but I realised just before being interviewed that the pink dye was around my mouth and teeth. I had to scrub my face really hard to get rid of it!
Miss E: No, nothing embarrassing … although at a charity party for the homeless project, I did lose one of my contact lens and almost stumbled as I made an entrance!
What outfits/shoes would you normally be found wearing when not in competition mode?
Miss B: Comfy, sportswear type of clothes. I am very casual. As I said earlier, entering this competition was the first time I wore heels and make up. I have enjoyed the heels and make up experience though.
Miss E: I like wearing smart trousers and skirts and elegant jackets – more chic wear rather than casual.
Any favourite shopping haunts?
Miss B: Garancedore.fr
Miss E: Debenhams – love the vast range of clothes, especially the pencil skirts and bolero jackets. I’m so pleased that Debenhams is sponsoring my Miss World wardrobe. I rather like Guess too…
Boots Or Shoes?
Miss B: Shoes? As in..heels? Erm.. that is difficult.. I’d say both.. as long as they’re comfortable!
Miss E: Shoes. Most definitely.
Thank you ladies for spending some of your lunch break chatting to me. I wish you both the best of luck in the competition. To follow the lovely Julia and Carina and their fellow contestants in their bid to become Miss World 2014, download the Miss World 2014 app featuring Miss World TV with its live and scheduled broadcasts from key events including the Miss World final.
Linda x
All photos have been published with kind permission of Miss World organisation.
An Interview With Wingz
Party season is upon us and the shops are full of lovely Little Black Dresses to enable us to dazzle at the annual Christmas parties. The majority of these dresses seem to be sleeveless and for various reasons there are a lot of ladies out there who avoid sleeveless dresses like the plague, opting for a dress that is not necessarily what they want but it covers the arms or they end up buying THE dress but spoiling the effect by adding a shrug or cardigan – and getting too hot in the bargain! My guest this week is the lovely Michelle Ellis, who came up with a brilliant product – Wingz – to give ladies a trendy and alternative option! I caught up with this busy lady to find out more – welcome Michelle:
Hi! I’m Michelle, 36 years old, married to Steve for the last 8 years with 3 lovely children – Marshall (9), Athena (7) and Jasmine (6). We live in a village called Methley, near Leeds.
What was the inspiration behind Wingz in the first place?
I needed to solve a problem. My lipoedema had given me large arms, I was self conscious and wanted to cover them up, my friends were getting married, all my dresses were sleeveless, it was summer, it was hot, wearing a cardigan or a shrug was not a good solution (far too hot) so in the end I came up with Wingz.
After applying for a patent, you began to sell Wingz via Ebay. In 2010 you appeared on BBC’s Dragon’s Den. Although you didn’t manage to get investment you did come away with good feedback. Was it daunting to appear in front of the “dragons”? What advice did you take note of and applied to your product or to the business in general?
We were told by Theo that if he were to come up with a model for a start up online business, he would be telling people to go about it exactly how we had done it. He was very complimentary but then he said ‘why do you want to ruin all that by borrowing all this money?’ He didn’t think we needed the investment or to change what we were doing. We were advised to keep at it, stick to our business model and grow organically. That is what we have done. We were also given some words of caution about selling to the big retailers. It can obviously go very well, but with the increased volumes comes risk and it can go horribly wrong very quick. We’ve built the business without going to the retailers and instead sell directly to customers or through some small distributors.
I wear quite a few tops and dresses that are sleeveless, but going sleeveless is a big problem for a lot of women which results in the wearing of cardigans, jackets or shrugs over pretty sleeveless dresses regardless of temperature! So, when picking the material, look and choice of colours did you go by your preferences, fashion trends, other people’s suggestions or a mix of all?
I’m very much into fashion, it’s a big passion of mine. I therefore knew what colours, designs and fabrics were needed for Wingz. I started out with the black chiffon flare, a light fabric with floaty sleeves. Then I introduced more colours in this style before bringing out new designs such as fitted sleeves, cowl sleeves, volume sleeves and split sleeves – all in a variety of colours and materials.
I really like the black stretch lace full sleeve, the purple chiffon flare wingz, and the Big Cat chiffon volume wingz. In fact with one elegant shift sleeveless dress you can create so many different looks by adding different wingz! What wingz style has been the most popular to date?
There are 4 designs that are all very popular – black chiffon flare, black fitted (3/4 or elbow length), black stretch lace and black cowl. Yes, it seems black is very popular! Probably due to the flexibility it offers.
Have you got your own favourites?
Definitely, the black fitted elbow length is the one I wear most often!
Although you are UK based, you do ship worldwide with 40% of your sales going to the export market to places such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore and The Netherlands. I’m impressed by your sizing system too, four sizes catering for UK sizes 6 to 28; US sizes 6 to 28; and Euro sizes 34 to 56. Which style “wingz” seem to be most popular overseas?
That’s a good question and the answer depends upon the territory. Most countries will want black, the Netherlands are probably the most experimental with different colours. As for the styles, countries in Europe, USA, and Australia are similar to the UK in terms of styles. However, in countries with a large Muslim population the preference will swing towards long sleeves that offer full arm coverage – this would be the long sleeve fitted wings in black or white.
You are a sufferer of Lipoedema – a genetic condition whose symptoms include disproportionately large bottom half of the body, painful legs and swelling in legs and arms. In 2011 you founded the support group Lipoedema Ladies. How old were you when you was diagnosed with Lipoedema? What are the main benefits and aims of the support group?
I was 27 when I got a diagnosis but I had my ‘big blow up’ with the birth of my first child 2 years previously. The symptoms had really flared up during the pregnancy and birth so it was a big relief to get the diagnosis and understand why my body was doing what it was. Lipoedema Ladies is there to support women with the condition by sharing knowledge, offering help advice and a place to turn to in order to share our problems and feelings. Our objectives are also to raise awareness by helping women receive the diagnosis they deserve and to help doctors, GPs and nurses become fully aware.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing ?
I normally go for pyjamas as house wear if I’m completely honest (can I say that!? I sleep in the nude – so I think that still counts as getting dressed! Casual wear is NYD Jeans (which I have 18 pairs of as I love the fit) with a top that suits my mood; summer is maxi dress time which I have over 150 of. My style/look is somewhere between lonesome cowgirl and smart/clean boho (is that too contradictory?) On the flip side I absolutely LOVE getting ‘dolled up’ and slipping into full length evening gowns and heels and at 6ft2 in heels I like to make an entrance. I love to play with my clothes and they really are an extension of my personality and my mood.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?
Long Tall Sally is great for my beloved pyjamas and fluffy robes. Kiyonna and Not Your Daughters Jeans are two of my favourite online stores – both are USA based so I do get hit with the import duties, but they are worth it. Debenhams is top for underwear, they have improved their styles and range so much in the last half a dozen years, my only issue is stopping myself from buying too much, my underwear drawer is almost an underwear chest of drawers, it’s getting silly. One moan – I have a real problem getting shoes as I have big feet – a UK 10 and a wide fit, a few years ago Evans shoes would have been on my ‘fab List’, but unfortunately the sizing and quality has really gone downhill, and recently from bad to worse – I would love to get my hands on their shoes buying department. On a lighter note, the Debenhams jewellery department is my absolute favourite and cannot be beaten come January sales time…I arrive home with carrier bags full of earrings and necklaces bought with my Xmas gift cards much to Steve’s dismay.
What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?
A perfect fitting pair of outrageous cowboy boots in finest leather and a high quality white cotton fitted shirt.
Boots or Shoes?
BOOTS! Every time…I wear compression socks/stockings through necessity, and these do not look good with shoes! Lol They suit my personality more anyway – sturdy and ready for anything – no matter what the weather or terrain.
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter
etc so that my readers can follow your company (and also to find
out about Lipoedema)
Thank you for the opportunity to share my sites and what I am doing, everything I do is for a good reason – I have never just done anything for money alone – I truly believe we are put here to be useful in some way, no matter what that reason may be.
I must give credit to Sarah Clark for all the Social Media we do. Sarah is amazing. She is a published author with a mean sense of humour; efficient and organised I am blessed to have her work with a tangent lover like me. Thank You Sarah X
www.fatphrocks.com is my Tall Plus Size website and I am moving towards specialising in dresses only. FatPhRocks has an amazing blogger called Eloise, she has more spunk than even me, I adore her and always have a giggle when reading her posts.
www.wingzfashion.com is my Wingz website, simple and easy to use with links to our social media. We give a 50% discount code to customers that post a photo of themselves wearing Wingz with their outfits on Facebook. We hope this gives other ladies ideas about how to wear their own Wingz and add sleeves to what they wish.
www.lipoedemaladies.com is my website about Lipoedema, it is lifestyle focussed and I hope it is and positive place for those with Lipoedema. All links to Lipoedema Ladies facebook pages and twitter can be found on there, there is also a ‘Hub’ page on this website that has live posts from our social media, so those that do not want to be a part of the ‘Social Media World’ can still read the latest news without having to be members of these sites.
Thank you very much for sharing with us Wingz and the work you are doing to bring awareness about Lipoedema. I wish you continued success in both ventures. So ladies, have you got a favourite “Wingz” style? Do share !
Linda x
All photos have been published with kind permission from Michelle Ellis.
An Interview With Bootights
Readers of my blog and those who know me, will know that three of my passions are boots, hosiery and talking …. so you can imagine my excitement at meeting the gorgeous Shelby Mason and her fab creation, “Bootights”….these are tights (and socks) specifically made for wearing with boots. I just had to have a chat….welcome Shelby:
Hi! My name is Shelby Mason and I am the founder and CEO of Leg Up, LLC and creator of the legwear lifestyle brand called Bootights®. I created Bootights® because I was tired of being uncomfortable in my boots when wearing traditional thin hosiery. My feet would slip and slide in the boots which caused blisters and snags and runs in my tights. My boots also didn’t fit quite right so I had to layer a separate sock over my tights so I had extra cushion and warmth. This make-do solution wasn’t ideal either because I could never find the right sock – my running socks would bunch down under my heel so I was forced to “borrow” ugly white “man” socks from my Dad or boyfriend. It was always a bit of a pain and inconvenience.
What inspired you to invent the idea of bootights?
As a former road warrior in my previous career in syndication TV sales, I 
spent a lot of time in and out of airports and consequently airport security lines. One winter day I was heading Fargo (I lead a very glamorous life!), chatting with a fellow traveller standing behind me. I was forced to take off my boots and reveal my ugly, white tube socks that I had layered over my tights and needless to say, I was beyond embarrassed. On my flight I wondered why there wasn’t a hosiery product that combined the look of a tight and the comfort of a sock – all-in-one. The idea for Bootights® was taking off. Eventually, I created what I thought was a need in the marketplace after doing research to support my time and effort, I realized that I wasn’t the only gal who was forced to layer a separate sock over my tights when I wear boots. In fact, over 50% of the 500 women polled nationally said that they also layer to sock for comfort and they would buy a product that combined the two.
Coming from a background in the American TV industry, and having worked your way up to Vice President of Television Sales – West Coast Division for Disney … then to leave your comfortable career to embark upon this venture of entrepreneurship in an industry you knew little about, must have been a trying time for you. I applaud you for such a brilliant idea and your determination to get your idea realised. As a young girl though living in Washington State, what were your career dreams at the time? Did you have a love of fashion at a young age?
Thank you. Yes, it was very difficult and extremely scary. I was armed with a unique solution-based product and a lot of passion and luckily, the press followed. Getting Bootights® featured on the Oprah show as a Must Have Fashion Item in 2011 made it a little easier to walk away from the Mouse House. I knew I was on to something. Plus, I didn’t know what I didn’t know so in way, it was eaiser because of that as well.
Coming from Bremerton, WA, a blue-collar, navy town, I had always dreamed of moving away from the rainy, sleepy town and “make it big” in NYC. I always wanted to be in advertising and eventually received an internship at a big Ad Agency in Seattle. After working in that environment, I realized that it wasn’t my true calling and ended up working at the local Fox Affiliate, KCPQ-TV in programming and I loved it. I quickly moved up the ladder and found myself in NYC and working for Universal Television then Warner Bros hired me and moved me to Chicago and then I worked for Disney after that and was promoted and eventually landed myself in LA to work at the Disney studios in Burbank.
Looking back, I did always love fashion. At a young age I dreamed of being a fashion designer and would draw models with my clothing creations. Being a child of the 80’s, I was always very coordinated and remember enjoying putting together outfits but I wasn’t really that creative or artsy. Just loved clothes.
Are your bootights colours & designs dictated by your personal tastes, popular customer requests, hosiery trends, or bits of all three?
All three. I always look at color trends and boot and legwear trends. I always take into account my customer’s feedback as well. I’m a bit more classic in my styling so many of the designs reflect that. I want the styles to be really wearable because they are so durable, the patterns should be relevant season after season. Of course, I will throw in some fun patterns to mix it up and Fusion Flame Stitch is an example of that. The Lacy Darby is an example of a design that is not personally my esthetic but it is my best seller.
My favourite bootights designs currently are the Lincoln Park Open Knit and the Fusion Zig-Zag. What’s your favourite design out of your collection?
I love my new Ellevator™ over-the-knee boot socks. They mix a cable knit and classic rib pattern and can be worn in different ways depending on your look that day. They can be worn as a thigh-hi, knee-hi or over-the-knee or even folded over your boot as a boot cuff. Of course, the bottom has our signature comfort sock attached so your feet always stay comfy in those boots.
What are the differences between bootights and “darby’s”, that you’ve also designed?
Darbys® is my name for our knee-hi boot socks. I didn’t want to call them boot socks because you think of something kinda chunky and ugly. I didn’t want to call them a trouser sock because they are traditionally thin. Darbys® are a compression, nylon, spandex knee-hi and a cushioned, moisture-wicking performance sock attached. They come in fun and classic patterns and our best seller has a pretty lace embellishment on the top. Bootights® is what started it all – our tights/pantyhose with the socks attached.
What design(s) from the latest collection have been the most popular amongst your customers so far?
In our Bootights® line the Madison, sheer rib has been popular because of it’s so wearable and figure flattering – the vertical rib design create long, leaner looking leg. The Lillith Filligree design is also getting a great response. Our Chelan Shaper is a favorite because who doesn’t want to feel and look sleeker.
The Ellevator™ versatile over-the-knee has been a big hit and our collegiate game day colors of our Darby Lacie has taken off.
If it was possible, who would you like to see being the “legs” of Bootights?
Great question – I wouldn’t turn down Heidi Klum if she wanted to wear the Bootights® that’s for sure. I’d also love to see them on Princess Kate, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston. Love to see the Darbys on Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift because they have a western/country appeal. But I really see my customer as every busy, on-the-go gal who appreciates style and will pay a little more for comfort, quality and convenience.
As we approach the Autumn/Winter season – what colour trends/styles of bootights do you think will be popular?
Our stone color has been really hot – it is an updated take on Taupe and we offer it in our Lillith style Bootights®, Ellevator™ and Darbys®. It’s very wearable and can go with any outfit and boots. Plum and Deep Burgundy are also very pretty on legs this fall.
Your bootights are available via your website and at retailers across the USA. Have you any plans to expand overseas in the future to feature in retailers globally? Do you ship outside of the USA at all?
Bootights are currently available in Canada and Australia. I’m planning to expand in Germany and Japan next season.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
I love wearing dresses with my boots and skinny jeans or leggings. My clothing is usually neutrals (beige, black, brown, grey) and I pop my outfit with accessories. Of course, Bootights® and I love wearing fun and colorful scarves and jewelry. This allows me to change my accessories for each season depending on trends without spending a fortune. I do love my boots though – Big fan of Frye and Ariat.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?
I love Akira in Chicago, Urban Outfitters and shopbop.com.
What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?
Momma needs a new pair of boots so I have my eye on some new Frye embellished beauties.
Boots or Shoes? (I have a sneaky feeling I already know that answer!)
Yep! How did you guess?
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter etc so that readers can follow you and your career.
www.bootights.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bootights/420407940200
http://www.pinterest.com/Bootights
http://instagram.com/bootights
https://twitter.com/bootights
It’s been absolutely fabulous talking to you Shelby and I really hope that you’ll bring Bootights to the UK soon too…
Linda x
All photos have been published with kind permission from Shelby Mason.
An Interview With Essex’ee Legs
Way back in November 2012 I interviewed Anne Tyler from Essex’ee Legs (to read the original interview, click HERE) – my favourite hosiery shop – and since then Anne’s business has continued to grow and this year the website has had a revamp, her daughter Victoria has joined the business, but I’m much more excited to announce that Essex’ee Legs have now launched their own brand range of hosiery. I caught up with Anne and Victoria to find out more …. 
Welcome ladies…what made you want to introduce your own hosiery brand?
Our own brand is something we wanted to introduce from day 1. We wanted to see the Essexee Legs name on our own hosiery that we were proud to sell, and is of an excellent quality, and to see it finally happen is great. To see our Essexee Legs branded bags, in pink of course, is amazing.
Was it difficult to decide what hosiery styles to include in the brand family?
No not at all. This is something we will build on. Hosiery essentials was a good start, with a few fashion items, and fuller figure, as there is limited choice out there for larger ladies.
Were your choices dictated by your personal tastes, popular customer requests, hosiery trends, or bits of all three?
A bit of all 3. What the customer wants, was priority.
What is your favourite pair?
We love them all. If I had to pick from present styles I would say from regular range: Essexee Legs Footless Tights with Lace Cuff, and from Large-Plus range definitely the Essexee Legs Open Toe Tights
If it was possible, who would you like to see being the “legs” of Essex’ee Legs?
Abbey Clancy and Rebel Wilson if they want to give us a call 😉
Your own brand has only just been launched, but has there been one style that has begun to create a stir already?
The Essexee Legs Open Toe Tights for large-XXL are selling fast. Due to a gap in the market, and the high quality. Ladies are coming back for more.
Are there plans to add to your own brand any new styles in the future?
Yes, we want to grow the brand and will be adding lots of new styles in the future.
Looking ahead to the Autumn/Winter season – what hosiery styles do you think will be hitting the headlines?
Bold statement tights with very striking patterns are on the horizon, plus lot’s more choices for fuller figure ladies. Lots to look forward too.
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc
https://www.facebook.com/tightsandstockings
http://essexeelegs.blogspot.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/EssexeeLegs
http://www.pinterest.com/essexeelegs/essex-ee-legs-tights-and-stockings/
http://essexeelegs.tumblr.com/
https://plus.google.com/111792881149222095036/posts
Thank you ladies for telling us about your exciting new range – I am already a big fan but any readers who haven’t yet checked out this online hosiery site you should do so as they also stock major brands and swimwear too, fabulous customer service and speedy delivery…. the real service with a smile 🙂
Linda x
All photographs have been published with the kind permission of Essex’ee Legs
An Interview With n-1 Couture
From Argentina last week to Italy this week, my guest this week is the independent fashion company for women whose outfits are hand tailored in Italy, offering a look and lifestyle based upon beauty and sensuality in harmony with our being and the natural world around us. Watching the cycle race, Giro D’Italia , at the moment and seeing the gorgeous scenery that is Italy, you can not help but to embrace the natural earthy colours and florals that comprise the n-1 Couture’s collection. Without further ado, welcome Darren …
Hello my name is Darren Eryou and together with Paola Morandi we form the core of (n-1) couture. We have backgrounds in such diversified fields as fashion, art, architecture, graphic design and photography, which makes us slightly schizophrenic but also provides us with different perspectives and approaches on the way we do things. We live in a small town in northern Italy called Cremona and we have a firm and steady belief in local production and have always been convinced that small scale “artisan” designers and workers will continue to have a relevant role in the fashion industry. Empiricists by nature, we like to participate in every level of what we do. This means that we don’t just have an idea or draft up a drawing of a design and have it sent off to be made – we make it ourselves. Sourcing fabrics for us means seeking out local textiles, visiting them, touching the fabrics, discussing with the producer how they were made, etc. We want to know as much about it as we can before deciding to work with it. This kind of approach can at times be exhausting, but it’s the way we work and is ultimately rewarding. There is no stitch or hem in any garment that we have made that doesn’t reside in some part of our minds.
What inspired the founding of n-1 couture?
We had been working in the field of what we could call “couture” for some time – making unique, custom designed outfits for dance performances, video productions, historical reproductions ecc. We have always been passionate about what we call the “plastic arts” – a very open concept – but something that could be defined as the moulding of colour and form, like with painting, sculpture or film. The step to founding (n-1) couture was a big one – because running a brand is not quite the same thing as creating individual couture pieces, for obvious reasons. As contradictory as it might sound – one of our goals with (n-1) couture is to maintain that spirit of artisian uniqueness while being a brand at the same time.
What’s behind the brand name, n-1 couture pronounced ENNE MENO UNO (or N minus 1 in English)? Was it difficult to find a name that really sums up your ideals?
In our case, our brand name preceeded us. Given that we still don’t have aperfect grasp on the meaning of (n-1) one could say that from a traditional brandind point of view we are a bit unorthodox. In any case – (n-1) is an ideal or philosophy which guides us. The further we go down our path, the more we begin to understand the meaning of our brand name. It may seem paradoxical, but (n-1) is an ideal that we understand by creating, constructing.
In a technical sense, (n-1) means subtracting the “transcendental” aspect of something, and discovering that “something” as it is in itself, without any form of prejudice. In a simple sense, (n-1) means discovering a kind of newness in things themselves by finding new ways to look at things in themselves. This is praxis for great painters. Take Paul Cézanne and his paintings of apples. Apples can be a seemingly banal subject – but Cézanne discovered new ways of looking at such a seemingly banal subject – an in the act transformed the art of painting itself. It is an approach that doesn’t explicitly attempt to create something radically new, such as with cubism – or by extension – “avant-garde” fashion circles. It’s a form of patient discovery, a labour of love – trying to see things are they are in themselves. Slowly, day by day. With Cézanne we see the same thing with his paintings of Mont Saint-Victoire. Cèzanne wants to see the Saint-Victoire mountain in an (n-1) kind of way – not as a landscape or a postcard or as a pretty picture but as a thing in itself stripped of all prejudice. The mountain becomes a kind of living mass of sensations – majestic, violent, burning hot, ice cold, etc. So that’s what (n-1) means to us. “n minus 1” or “enne meno uno” in Italian. Hope that makes sense.
My favourites from your Spring collection are the Matisse drop waist A-line Spring Dress in floral Liberty cotton; Sand Feather A-line lace dress; and the Fluo tailored shift dress. What outfits are proving popular amongst your customers so far this season?
Our Liberty 2014 collection, of which the Matisse, Renoir, Seurat and Degas dresses are a part of has done very well. We are very passionate about Liberty so this has been gratifying – we wanted to engage the floral trend but in our own way – and that’s where Liberty Art fabrics came into play. The Sand Feather dress has gone over well, as lace seems to have become a constant trend and that has also been the case with the Fluo dress – flourescent colours seem to be in the spotlight this season. Our line of tunics continue to be a success and one of our big present and future challenges is tranforming our line of tunics into a line made solely out of GOTS certified organic cotton. We want to be as sustainable and responsable as possible but trying to convince consumers that they should be as well is not an easy task. We still have alot of ground to cover.
Out of all the outfits in your collection,what is your favourite?
It’s difficult to pick out just one item – we tend to think less and less in terms of finished “items” or “objects” and more in terms of concepts. “Liberty” is a concept we really like – some dresses have been more successful than others in terms of what we sought to accomplish – but we see the Liberty concept as kind of having its own organic being that pulls us into new and often unexpected directions. At present we are releasing a series of clutch handbags made in Liberty Art cotton fabrics which is something that we had never planned to do but just kind of “happened.” Such are the pleaures of being small and flexible. “Sustainable is Beautiful” is another concept born from our desire to put sustainablity at the forefront of our thinking and we are quite fond of the designs and the packaging as well – the idea of making the consumer a producer through packaging the garments in planters together with a bunch of seeds to plant and grow is a small step for us in attempting to propose a more multi-faceted notion of fashion that can enable us to expand the meaning of fashion and its role in the world at large. So in the broadest sense possible – “Liberty” and “Sustainable is Beautiful” are concepts which we feel very much a part of and hope to develop in new and unexpected ways in the future.
Apart from your passion for sewing, you have a passion for keeping the Italian artisan spirit alive – by using materials, tailoring and packaging in Italy. what place in Italy has most inspired your designs?
(n-1) couture has a longstanding love affair with the island of Sardinia. We could list so many reasons as to why we are so fascinated with this island but I think what intrigues us most is this kind of spirit of austure beauty which kind of overwhelms you. The history of Sardinia and its unique maritime position have given Sardinia a very rich heritage which somehow never overcomes the sometimes savage beauty of the island itself. Sardinia has been colonized by different Mediterranean cultures since the prehistoric period – yet at the same time it has always resisted colonization. Each culture has let a series of traces – but they remain just that – traces, as if they were small zones of intense ornamentation and articulation which are knots on a tapestry which is the island itself. It has been crosses upon by the Greeks, Romans, Phoenician, Saracens, Byzantines, Catalans, Genovese and more. But more often than not these cultural traces are expressed as tiny fragments in local tradition, customs and festivals. If we imagined Sardinia as a garment, it would be an enormous, austere flowing sheet of fabric adorned sparsely with small but functional exquisite ornamentations: a gilded byzantine decoration here, a phoenician decoration there. The ornamentations are signs and would never be central to the garment itself – and they are always in a kind of reasonation with one another.
Which famous lady would you love to see as the “face” of n-1 couture?
We have mentioned elsewhere that our “ideal” customers would be either Monica Vitti in Michelangelo Antonioni’s film “The Adventure” or Anna Karina in Jean-Luc Godard’s film “Pierrot le Fou.” And this is because they are women who are forced to reinvent themselves and the world around them – they must reinvent “love, language and themselves.” So those are two examples of possible ideal “faces” for (n-1) couture. In terms of a real, present day faces or a famous lady we really don’t have a single answer. Nowadays the very notion of the “icon” or “face” is in crisis – it’s kind of dissolving in the high speed rapid rotation of contemporary media culture and it’s rapid rotation. If we were to choose someone who could still represent a traditional face it could be Laura Morante. We love her work in theater and as an actress and above all her courage. If we wanted to choose amongst the faces that represent the new kind of icons of our changing contemporary culture it could be Lorella Zanardo – a writer and activist or Annalisa Leone – a colorist or illustrator. These are also talented women changing the world we live in.
Your collection is full of colours of every hue – what colour(s) are you personally leaning towards this season?
We are becoming increasingly interested in colour relations as compared to just colours in the strict sense. Pastels are definitely a trend this season and we have followed suit with our Liberty collection – but what we increasingly like to do is propose a complementary item, often worn in layering, which creates a far richer dynamic in terms of colour. For each of our Liberty dresses – Matisse, Renoir, Seurat and Degas – we propose pairing a colored semi-transparent top which creates a distinct colour relation with the pastel dress. From a simple white chiffon top to a subdued gold-green organza top to a more flourescent fuchsia-organza gradient silk top – the idea is that through layering the perceived “sum” of the colours creates a sensation which is greater than the simple addition of colours. This was something discovered in colour theory or in pointillist painting in the 19th century called “colour contrast” – two colours, juxtaposed or overlapping – have the effect of a third colour when seen from a distance. We can call these colours something like “colours of the eye and mind” – if we juxtapose two primary colours we will peceive a third colour which has an intensity much greater than the sum of the two primary colours alone. So these kinds of colour relations interest us more and more. We are currently working on some flourescent designs but what interests us most is finding a way to increase the perceived intensity of the colours through “complementary” items with varying colours.
Looking ahead to Autumn/Winter 2014 – what styles/colours do you hope to see being worn?
We will be moving forward with our Liberty 2014 and Sustainable is Beautiful collections with neutral and soft tones for autumn. The so called “street style” or “luxe sport” is something that we have begun working on with our “Inuit” hoodies in boiled wool and is a style we are developing in our own individual way – the idea of mixing couture with wearable and athletic sihlouettes is something destined to grow as the line between haute couture and everyday life continues to blur. Layering is also a trend we will be following up on. And, of course, knitwear. Which will be a big step for us.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
Argh! This is a question we want might to skip. We put everything including all of our energy into what we make – what we wear boils down to what is most comfortable to work in. A pair of supergas, jeans, linen smocks. Essential and extremely practical.
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites? (apart from your own!)
One online store which has always stood out for us is Nastygal. Beyond the whole issue of content driven e-commerce which Nastygal does so well, there is an underlying sense of style and “essentialness” which make it stand out from the others. It’s chic but there’s something so fun and elegant about it at the same time. And that takes talent – so it’s a well earned success.
What’s next on your clothes/shoes wish list?
As far as shoes go – anything by Charline de Luca will definitely go into the wish list. For clothing – Antonio Marras.
Boots or Shoes?
Shoes, shoes, shoes…It’s not that we don’t like boots – quite the contrary, it’s just that we weren’t genetically constructed for them.
Any links you would like to share so that readers can find out more about n-1 couture
Our website is www.nmeno1.com and drop by and visit us at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nmenouno.couture.3
Twitter: www.twitter.com/nmeno1_couture
Instagram: www.instagram.com/nmeno1
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nmeno1
Google+: www.plus.google.com/b/109586194278781359290/+Nmeno1
Thank you very much for talking to me tonight, the essence of Italy has certainly captured me and I’m sure that many blog readers will feel just as inspired….
Linda x
Photo Credits: All photos have been published with the kind permission of n-1 Couture