Something about Ruby...

So, it's been a long time, I know. But I have been a busy girl and now I have some time to tell you all about my recent venture. For those of you who know and been getting weekly updates on what's been happening, I'm sorry to bore you with the content in this post, though I am thoroughly grateful for all the advice, support and interest I've had so far from friends and family. For those who don't know, my career is taking a new path into self-employment (eek!) as I am starting up an Online Fashion Boutique business!

Don't ask how I am came up with the adventurous (possibly crazy) idea of setting up a business in a not-so-stable economic climate, but for those who know me I am hardworking and passionate about what I love, so I won't be giving up without a fight. I guess one thing that spurred me on was the thought of having a 9-5 job doing the same mundane things everyday; it just isn't me. I love doing a variety of things, learning new skills and being a part of so many aspects of the fashion industry instead of just one. So here I am, learning to be a buyer, e-commerce retailer, stylist, copywriter...on top of being a company director. Challenging, but very exciting!

So, to the stuff that you guys actually want to know. I've called the boutique Ruby Soho; I won't get into great detail about how I got the inspiration for the name, but I've had good feedback on it so far and I couldn't see it being called anything else. I will be buying in brands of women's fashion mainly from other parts of Europe, though some will be UK based. There will be some fab bags available too to start with, but I hope to stock some shoes and other accessories further along the line. I'm aiming my range at women aged 20 to 35, the style mainly focusing on smart casual daywear that can be dressed up for the evening. Prices will range depending on the brands, but will average at high-end highstreet prices.

The website is currently being set up, and it is looking great so far! I've had help from friends already in various sectors of the industry, and I am so grateful. As well as trying to keep my blog going, which I love to do, I am also setting up a blog connecting to the site, sharing new products, styling issues and trend reports. I will keep you all updated on here and hopefully you will support and follow that blog too! In terms of stock, I have started finding the products and brands I want, though there is still a lot to do in that area, as well as others.

For now, you lot will just have to sit tight while Holly here does the hard work, though I hope to be launching early 2014 so keep your eyes peeled for more updates. Social media pages will also be popping up soon, so I hope I have the support of my trusty blog readers to spread the word about Ruby Soho when the time comes! Thanks for reading! :)

Embrace the Bumbag - you know you want to!

There has never been a better time to leave that cross-body bag and clutch at home and replace it for a bumbag. With the nineties trend still going strong, bumbags are slowly making their way into the high street stores wanting their time in the limelight. So why not give them a chance!?

Bumbags have a had a bit of a makeover since the eighties and nineties era you will be glad to know, otherwise I certainly wouldn't be here trying to convince you to buy one. Long gone are the plain, tatty bags generally associated with fifty-something tourists also sporting that ultra cool baseball cap and enviable socks with sandals. (Yes that was sarcasm.) Now we are seeing bumbags adorned with studs, fringing, spikes and geometric patterns - what's not to like?

Now that your views have started to change, let me give you some great reasons to get one of these ultra cool (not sarcasm) on-trend bags.
 

Bumbags are the new definition of 'hands-free'. If you love to go clubbing, don't you find you just don't have enough hands to hold your bag, your drink, try to dance and now, attempt to grab your phone as it rings! Wearing a bumbag has never been so liberating! When I wore one out a few weeks ago it was great, though as predicted I did shout "Where's my bag?!" in panic a couple of times that evening. Everything's secure around your waist, you don't have to worry about leaving your bag in the loos, and you can swing your arms about as much as you like when you're dancing, just because you can!

Pockets. Gotta love pockets right. Well bumbags have their fair share, and it's great to have everything separated in different pockets so you know where everything is! No rooting around at the bottom of your bag, trying to find your lip gloss, and no emptying the contents of your bag onto the table because you think you've lost your phone (it's always there, somewhere) I am addressing YOU, organisation freaks!

 
Lastly, for you festival goers out there, there isn't a more practical bag to take. As well as having the benefits above, bumbags just have that 'festival chic' look about them. They look great with denim shorts and wellies, and they are so versatile you can wear them with a casual outfit or a dressed-up one. And another great thing about wearing them at festivals, they are a great size to fit all your essentials that you need for the whole day.

Well if I haven't persuaded you by now, I guess I'm not going to...Unless I mention there's a way you can have a great quality bumbag that is totally unique and cheaper to buy than the ones on the high street. So here they are.

 

 I am currently customising leather bumbags with studs and spikes, each one with a different design, so no one will have the same as you. If you love to wear vintage clothes as opposed to high street or you love to customise old belongings, then one of these is for you! Not only that, but I am selling them at a bargain price of £13, YES, £13, where you're looking at paying around £20 on the high street for a man-made one on mass production.

 
 

So there's my sales pitch, if you are interested in one from the photos or have a design in mind let me know!

Essentials Every Man Should Own

Some men may find the prospect of fashion quite daunting. Common questions asked (often inside one's head) when in the small confinements of a fitting room cubicle are probably: "Can I pull this off?", "Should I follow trends or just wear what I want to wear?", and "Do I just look like a prat?". I'll go out on a limb here and say that guys have a harder time following trends than us girls. (Though the fact a man can quite often walk into a shop, pick up what he wants, pay and leave within ten minutes is beyond me.) However with lads' mags such as GQ and FHM now with their own style sections, the predicament of trends should become less trivial.

 

From the point of view of a fashion student, and more obviously a woman, I like a man that follows trends and takes pride in his appearance, but let's be honest, not everyone can pull off a pair of braces, neon skinny jeans and glasses (the glasses-without-actual-lenses glasses. I don't know where they came from either.) It's important to feel confident in what you're wearing, so here are my five essentials that everyone can pull off, and more importantly can be worn in many ways and on different occasions. I begin with...

 

 

..The Blazer. Every man needs one, fact. Make sure it fits you well, especially on the shoulders. You can get away with owning just one blazer if it's in a versatile colour (black and navy are great) and if it crosses the casual and smart boxes. The great thing about blazers is you can wear t-shirts or shirts under them, and wear them with jeans or smart trousers. I like this blazer by Solid, which I found on ASOS. If you haven't been on ASOS, or taken to online shopping in general, ASOS is one to make the effort for.

 

Plimsolls. But nice ones. I always used to associate plimsolls with a horrible black pair that I had to wear for gym class in primary school - something to put you off for life. In recent years I have discovered that plimsolls now have evolved into groovy patterned shoes in various colours, and so my hatred has faded. Not only that but they look pretty cosy, and are easy to wear with anything. Topman have a great range of plain ones to patterned ones, depending on how adventurous you're feeling.

A classic check shirt is another essential on my list. It is so versatile and can look sharp under a tailored jacket or easy going with jeans. This is from Ben Sherman, the go-to brand if you want a range to choose from.

 A suit. Yes an obvious choice but an important one. A well-made, well fitted suit will be your best friend, as it will be there for all those special occasions where looking good is the number one priority. Weddings - check. Dinner parties - check. Day at the races - check. Business meeting - check. There are so many reasons to get a good suit, and Next have some great styles at really reasonable prices. I love the one above because it's in a charcoal grey (an update from black), it has the one button jacket which I favour over two, and the contrast satin lapels just give it the extra wow factor. But whatever suit you choose, just remember - Fits good, Looks good.

 

 

Lastly, a good pair of Calvin's will never do you wrong. I can't guarantee you will look this good wearing them, but they definitely do wonders due to the brand name. If there are any words that a girl likes to see poking out from a pair of trousers, it's Calvin Klein. Enough said.

 

So there are my essentials for the male wardrobe; no excuses now gents!

 

The Best (and Worst) of London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week is always an eventful few days. We know what to expect from some designers, we don't know what to expect from other designers (but in a good way), and then there's what we never expected. Not in a good way.

I like to make a point of what I don't like in fashion. These days it seems like people are scared to say that something wasn't great, even if a multi-millionaire designer decided it was. Like anything, fashion is open to opinion. Whilst some people like dreary, frumpy dresses (I'll explain later), some people, like myself, do not. I'm not afraid to say if I think something looks horrendous, and I would love to see more people shouting out about things that don't tickle their fancy. Step over that line of 'praise conformity' and criticise (it's much more fun).

 

To avoid sounding like a miserable fashion-phobe, I will tell you about the collections I LOVED first of all. One of my all time favourite designer brands, Burberry Prorsum, cease to disappoint me. I don't think there was one outfit in this collection that I didn't like, and there was a vast amount that I would love to own myself. They gave us classic heritage with a reinvented, modern twist. The trench was of course in their line-up, but it had been given a plasticised make-over. The prints throughout the collection were great; the heart shaped one will no doubt be sprinkled across the high street for autumn/winter.
 

 

Animal print is still in (yes!) This coat is just...amazing. Giraffe print on a classic style trench with belt. Knock a few zeros off the price and I'll wear that all winter long.

 

 

This stunning outfit is from Antonio Berardi's collection. The cobalt blue is the first attraction, and the spot print the next. The cuts and shaping are also stunning; the smooth curves and wide sleeves complement each other brilliantly. The collection was filled with innovative tailoring, structured capes and panels of contrasting fabrics.

 

 

L'Wren Scott is a new designer to me, who made a very good impression. The collection was stylish and glamorous, feminine with punch. Another vibrant blue shade made it's appearance this time accompanying gold. This outfit of a fitted pencil skirt and blouse suggested sexy work wear for an independent woman.

 

 

This dress is beautiful. It has a goddess look about it with its extravagant neck piece and Aztec looking pattern. A true catwalk piece and no doubt a red carpet dress for the coming year. 

 

So to something more barmy than beautiful...

 

 

This is by Giles Deacon. The wonderful Giles Deacon. Yet, it has me speechless. I may be the only person willing to criticise this collection, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one to think it's bordering on vile. (No, I don't think that's too harsh.) The hat. THE HAT. There were lots of them, all big and knitted and in colours reminding me of certain Simpsons' characters' hair. Then the dress. I guess it's not terrible, but I don't like the satin sleeves. If you think this is bad, you don't want to see the Miss Haversham-esque dresses and dreary prints. But if you do, you can see them here.

 

 

 

Okay, this is a risky one to put out there, but was anyone else a bit disappointed with Rihanna's long-waited-for collection for River Island? Well I was. It was just a bit dull. It seemed like we had seen it all before, but a lot better fitted, and with a bit more imagination. Yes, I agree it does have a visible 'Rihanna' influence (very little fabric involved) but I guess I was expecting a little more from her. Then again, she is just a singer, NOT a fashion designer. So here is her jumpsuit, which to me looks like something a mechanic would wear. That is all.

 

So there were my faves and not so faves of Fall 13 collections at LFW. I hope I haven't stepped too far over the line and encouraged Rihanna-related death threats in the next few hours...