Net-a-Porter pieces at TK Maxx prices

Net-a-Porter pieces at TK Maxx prices? Thankfully for your bank balances I am not joking! On a recent visit to TK Maxx, I was even more pleased than usual with some of my finds in there.

I picked up a really useful 'Elizabeth and James' black blazer, with a 75% discount and an 'American Retro' grey cotton & grey snakeskin print tee for £22 (from £125!).

At the moment they seem to have a great range of designer brands in store: 'Karl by Karl Lagerfeld'; 'Michael Kors'; 'American Retro'; 'Elizabeth and James' and 'Maison Martin Margiela' to name just a few. Even if you don't usually shop in TK Maxx, I think the prospect of some designer pieces at such great prices is definitely worth a few minutes of your time.

Here are just some of the pieces that were in store the last time that I went.

• Karl by Karl Lagerfeld white 'biker' sleeveless dress £209 down to £30
• Michael Kors red shift dress £240 down to £50
• Elizabeth and James floral dress £260 down to £100

I am very tempted to go back in store to buy the American Retro bomber jacket in the photo above (top left) as it is one of they key jacket shapes this season. I think it was reduced to about £35 from over £200. At that price I think I better be quick if I want to nab it! Let me know if you manage to pick up some designer bargains at TK Maxx. Why not tweet me a photo @LouiseHartrey or post on Instagram @louloumuses with #louloushops .

Bottega: The Clothes

 

After having such a fantastic time at 'Take Me to Funky Town' the previous evening, I could have been at risk of a fashion comedown the next day. However, I needn't have worried, as there was plenty of style inspiration to be had within the four walls of 'Bottega'. I was very excited about paying a visit to the store ,as although I regularly chat to Sam (the owner) on Twitter, I had never visited the store before. Indeed, I hadn't actually met Sam in person before she invited me to 'Take Me to Funky Town'! . I have bought a few pieces over the phone from there, and I always get really positive comments about them ('Maison Scotch' blazer; 'One Teaspoon' velvet 'cardigan' and 'One Teaspoon' leopard print jumper). I had had a brief glimpse of the store when I arrived the previous day - before rushing off to Bolesworth Castle - but I couldn't wait to be able to have a proper look at all the style and homeware loveliness inside.

'Bottega' is on the high street in Tarporley, Cheshire (number 67 to be precise!). The store is like an Aladdin's Cave of style inspiration. Everywhere I looked there were fantastic pieces.  One of the great things about the store is that it has a real mix of both familiar and unknown (to me at least) brands. It is an eclectic mix, but it all works together perfectly. Sam and Alicia (the store's buyer) go out of their way to make sure that they offer something new for their customers every season, in order to keep the store's edit fresh., e.g. this season they have introduced 'Elizabeth and James'. In addition to the clothing, 'Bottega' also sells homeware and gifts. And if that was't enough, it also has a fantastic cafe at the back of the store, 'The Birdcage'- the perfect place to have a catchup and discuss your all important purchases. I took a lot of photos of the store, so to avoid this post being too picture-heavy, I will write about the homeware and cafe in my next post.

I love how Sam frames the clothing. I would love to do this with my wardrobe - if only I had the space and such fabulous clothing!

This outfit (Dress - Elizabeth and James; Blazer - Elizabeth and James; Wedges - Terry De Havilland) caused a real stir at the salon presentation the night before.

In addition to meeting Sam for the first time, my trip to Cheshire also meant that I got to meet the lovely Selina, who I had only 'spoken' to on Twitter. We met at 'Take Me to Funky Town' the previous evening, and we both chatted about how we couldn't wait to see the store the next day. After a catchup in the cafe we decide to explore all the temptation that 'Bottega' had to offer.

Love this top from Belgian brand ' Essentiel' - great combination of colours. I hadn't come across the brand before.

'Bottega' also stock a carefully selected edit of vintage pieces. How beautiful is this shawl? I love everything about it - the mix of colours; the pattern; the dip dyed fringing.

 

Unusually for me, I was quite restrained, and I only bought an American Retro shirt and a friendship bracelet. Although 'Bottega' hasn't got an online store, they do accept telephone orders (01829 733355. I am still thinking about a number of the pieces I saw, so I think I might have to put an order in soon. If you are ever in the Cheshire area, then you must visit 'Bottega'. You won't regret it!

Take Me to Funky Town

It may have been grey and damp outside, but last Thursday it was bright and sparkly inside Bolesworth Castle, venue for the evening's fashion delights. 'Bottega' lifestyle store, and 'Cleo B' brought a slice of Studio 54 glamour to Cheshire, with their 'Take Me to Funky Town' salon presentation. The event was to raise funds for 'Claire House' children's hospice, which needs £2.5m a year to cover its running costs.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to spend some time behind the scenes in the run up to the event. It was really interesting to see exactly what goes into organising such an event. The answer? A lot of style and an equal amount of hard work!

The fabulous goodie bags. Thanks to Selina Clark for the photo

Before the main event, all of the invited guests had the opportunity to peruse a selection of items from 'Bottega', 'Cleo B', 'Fancie's Vintage' and 'Rumpus Resport', all whilst sipping on raspberry mojitos. Although I had seen the run through, I was still excited to see the show for real. The presentation began with a few words from Abi from 'Claire House', who spoke about the work the hospice does, and who also thanked the guests for having already raised £750 by purchasing raffle tickets. We also heard from Sam from 'Bottega', who inspired serious jacket envy in me with her pink floral 'Elizabeth and James' Bruce blazer.

Love this blazer and its combination of bold print and neon colour

The first look of the evening was dedicated to Cleo B's 'Sucker MC' shoes, with their distinctive gold cassette heels. These are definitely a statement shoe, so they were perfect paired with a simple outfit of 'Des Petits Hauts' gold pleated skirts and bandeau tops. Funky but still feminine.

 

Next up was the poolside chic look. The simple block colour maxi dresses allowed the guests to focus on the footwear. My personal favourite was the 'Jam Master Jay' heel. I love a high heel (and these are VERY high!), but what really caught my eye was the great combination of fabrics (raffia; metallic leather and suede, in a combination of black, gold and nude tones. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a close up of the shoes during the presentation, but you can see them in the bottom right of the photo below.

The third look of the evening was "I'm in Miami, Girl". If the audience wasn't already in awe of the gorgeous models, then this section definitely gave us pause for thought. After wowing the audience with some gorgeous beach coverups from 'Rumpus Resort', they followed this by looking seriously hot in stylish swimwear, also from 'Rumpus Resort'. My personal favourites were the peacock print maxi from Vix, and the Missoni kaftans.

Perhaps my favourite look of the evening was "Le Freak, C'est Chic", and not just because I love that song, which was itself inspired by Studio 54. This might have had something to do with the fact that there was a large amount of 'Elizabeth and James' clothing in this section, and I absolutely love the label's latest collection. I love the combination of vibrant colours and striking prints.

If we weren't already in a disco frame of mind, then the "Saturday Night Fever" look certainly took us to the discotheque. My favourite looks were the red jeans and American Retro embellished blazer worn by Samio; Amy in the wide leg trousers and 'Elizabeth and James' pink blazer, and Janine in a silk top from 'Elizabeth and James', paired with 'One Teaspoon' palazzo pants.

The final look of the evening, was "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life". There were some great pieces in this section, but the pieces that really caught my eye (and the light) were the gorgeous 'Lorient' sequinned blazer from 'Antik Batik', and a vintage embellished tunic from 'Fancie's Vintage'.

Although there was a definite 1970s vibe throughout the presentation, and a number of vintage pieces were used on the night, all of the outfits managed to look really contemporary and wearable.

After the presentation had finished, we had the opportunity to get to take an even closer look at the pieces from the presentation, in one of the rooms adjacent to the show space. All of the ladies present couldn't wait to try on the pieces from the collection and to take a closer look at all of Cleo B's designs. There is such a lot of detail in Cleo's shoes, that I am going to devote a whole post to them later this week. Every single piece available got a fantastic reaction, which is testament to the fantastic edit that 'Bottega' offers. I don't think that the ladies present needed any encouragement to purchase, but if they did, then the fact that 10% of all sales on the night went to 'Claire House' was an added bonus.

If you like the look of the pieces in the presentation, then you will find them in 'Bottega' in Tarporley, Cheshire. But be quick! Judging by the number of ladies I saw ticking off items on their show programmes, the items in question might not be around for long! I am going to blog separately about my trip to 'Bottega' itself, and its fantastic 'The Birdcage' cafe, so watch this space!

Lou Lou Chats with Sam Brightmore from 'Bottega'

Today's 'Lou Lou Chats' is with one of my favourite and most stylish friends on Twitter, Sam from 'Bottega'. I first bonded with Sam over a mutual love of all things 'Chanel'. She later turned out to be my Fashion Fairy Godmother when she lent me clothes for my 'Red' magazine photoshoot. Sam runs her own boutique and cafe ('The Birdcage) in Cheshire. Well when I say 'boutique', I think that that is a massive understatement. 'Bottega' is a veritable emporium of all things lovely and stylish, from clothing and accessories to gifts and gorgeous items for your home. I was so pleased when Sam agreed to answer some questions for my blog. So here she is, the super-stylish and lovely, Sam Brightmore.

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Describe 'Bottega' in three words.

Eclectic. Escapist. Indulgent

Please tell us more about yourself.

I’m a workaholic but genuinely love my job. The only thing more important to me is my partner and parents and my 3 children who all share my passion for art, fashion and travel.  My friends are also really important to me. They ground me and are hugely supportive. I’m also lucky to have some firm friends in retail with whom I can bounce ideas off. My ideal day would be breakfast in Paris with a croissant and the perfect coffee in the sunshine, followed by an afternoon shopping in New York’s Barneys, Henri Bendel and ABC Carpet & Home on Broadway; with a trip to the Frick or The Guggenheim. My perfect  evening would obviously be at the Blue Marlin Ibiza, watching the sunset with a Mojito in hand listening to Balearic beats.

Sam on a recent trip to New York

How would you describe your personal style?

Hugely eclectic, I’m a fashion chameleon and actually quite fickle! I love everything from strong and quite masculine tailoring to bohemian chilled out. I am never girly and feel quite ridiculous in overly feminine looks. I will always ‘edge’ an oufit. I call it ‘Glunge’ - Glamour meets Grunge! I am also a total jeans girl, and day or evening outfits always revolve around them. I own too many pairs! Fashion is my enjoyment so I’m playful with it.  It reflects my mood.

Why did you decide to open 'Bottega'?

I saw a gap in the market for a concept store, and was frustrated at not being able to find unusual items either for design projects whilst working as an interior designer, or for myself.  I was also constantly disappointed with the North’s lack of bridge brands in fashion. I couldn’t add to my wardrobe without going to London, something I love but couldn’t do at the drop of a hat. Having worked in some of London’s most eclectic & unusual stores such as 'Liberty' & the 'General Trading Company', everywhere seemed quite pedestrian in comparison!

What has the highlight been since opening the boutique?

The most recent highlight has to have been being nominated for Mary Portas’ & The Daily Telegraph’s Best Small Shops in Britain, where we have been shortlisted as one of the top three in the Womens’ fashion category. We were also very happy to be thought of as one of the top 50 boutiques outside of London by Stella Magazine.

Is there a typical 'Bottega' customer?

No, there really isn’t. We cater for women aged 16 to 60 and beyond. We have always believed 'Bottega' ''has a style for everyone. We buy pieces that appeal to different people in different ways and that can work for anyone. However, I would say that our customer appreciates the service level and the next level we always go to.

What are your most popular pieces in 'Bottega'?

There isn’t really a ‘one’ piece that sells more than others. We sell capsule wardrobes to clients, so everything is worn to its optimum and complements other pieces. We don’t believe in throw away fashion, but a commitment to a long and fulfilling wardrobe life. We don’t sell anything too basic...basics can get lost in the store...there has to be a real twist to most items we buy. It has to be remarkable! Even a tee needs to have something about it!

What new brands are you stocking for S/S12?

We are very excited about our new S/S 12 brands. My personal favourite is 'Elizabeth and James'.  I love the neon colours, floral prints and edgy but feminine styling. We have also started stocking 'Victoria Beckham Denim' which has had a massive response, and we have virtually sold out with clients coming back to buy in a second colour. We have yet to have a client who has tried and not bought!

'Elizabeth and James' S/S '12 - I love the vibrant print and the candy pink jeans.

'Elizabeth and James' S/S '12 - I love the combination of mixed prints in this look.

 Looking back, is there anything that you would have done differently?

No, I’m really happy with where 'Bottega' is now, how it’s grown and translated from its origin, which was a tiny village in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no footfall. We quickly gained a reputation for offering something different, and those clients that found us in those very early days are still very much with us and are firm friends. It’s been really hard and there have been struggles, but I’m pleased with how I’ve got here today. I guess even inspite of the relocation in Sept ’10 and huge refit costs, we are still here and I guess that has to mean something.

What advice would you give to people who are looking to open their own business?

First and foremost you have to be very realistic about the time you are able to give to it....It is not and nor will it ever be a 9-5 job. It is your baby. It is the first thing and last thing I think about every day. In addition to that you must be passionate about what you are doing because as well as time, it takes incredible energy and so much drive to keep moving forwards. I never switch off from it and there are times that I feel as if I step away, I will lose my foothold. It’s a huge step and everything has to come secondary to it. If you aren’t prepared to put in the long hours then don’t even consider it!

What is in the pipeline for 'Bottega' in 2012?

2012 is going to be an exciting year for 'Bottega'. We are collaborating with Cleo B, the shoe designer in April for a fashion show being held at Cleo’s family home, Bolesworth Castle also in Cheshire, and not too far from Tarporley. Think Studio 54 meets Ibiza - it’s going to be a hot ticket to an excellent party. It is strictly invitation only and we are very excited about it. The 'Bottega' website will also be going live in 2012 and will be in an editorial style, highlighting all areas of the store; cafe menus; press and events. Finally I will have a forum from which to blog!

Sam and Alicia from 'Bottega' at an Olivia Rubin show

What motivates you?

My passion for my job, the desire to find under the radar brands and seeing 'Bottega' flourish with the clients. I really get a buzz from the faith and trust that our clients have in us. They truly respect and appreciate our opinions, and seek our advice on more than just fashion decisions. We are so much more than just a store. We literally have been here through some of the worst times in our clients’ lives, whether it be divorce, illness or bereavement. That sounds trite but it is so true, and there’s nothing nicer than hearing how that outfit picked them up off the floor! 'Bottega' is like a little haven, and a lot like therapy for many!

Top tip?

The mantra that I live by is "Do unto others as you would be done by." I also think it's nice to be nice.