Shop Like A VIP!

We recently came across a fantastic personal shopping service based in Ireland. Ruth, of R Personal Shopper, takes a sociable approach to the business of shopping for your lifestyle. She’ll introduce you to fabulous independent boutiques where she can access special discounts for you throughout the year - not just at sale times - making her personal shopping service affordable and cost-effective. Ruth's service is perfect for special occasion shopping, a treat or even a complete wardrobe makeover!

www.rpersonalshopper.com

Tamara Fogle Bags

Tamara Fogle - yep, Ben Fogle's sister - designs these beautiful bags and accessories from her picturesque studio at the end of her garden, near Portobello, London, with Lola her black Labrador by her side.

With a background in interior styling and the antiques trade, Tamara embarked on designing a range of accessories in early 2007, strongly influenced by the classic charm, simplicity, and functionality of her collection of Victorian and Edwardian coin purses.

The bags are made in a small London workshop under Tamara’s helping hand and watchful eye. Each design is always produced in small quantities making each piece a limited edition.

My own favourites include:

Left: The Antique Pomeranian Flour Sack range made from 100% linen sacks dating from 1830-1940s. Each bag is trimmed with Italian leather and lined with cotton ticking. This 'Weekender' is £620.
Middle: Tamara uses antique hand quilted fabric from India and Pakistan to create her beautiful 'Chennai' Clutches (middle image) £89.
Right: This gorgeous chocolate leather 'Arundel' bag is £399.

Tamara Fogle UK Stockists

Hoss Intropia S/S 09 Campaign

Hoss Intropia is a stunning Spanish label that brings you pretty dresses and gorgeous coats and jackets in luxe fabrics and beautiful colour combinations. Each season, Hoss introduces an up and coming actress/singer/artist to model the collection and for S/S 09, they've chosen the beautiful & talented British actress Tamsin Egerson.

Tamsin has been an actress since the age of 8, appearing in the films, 'Driving Lessons' and 'Keeping Mum'. The backstory for this shoot is her return to Barcelona, a city which made an impression on her as a child and which she now revisits, seeking a place previously captured in a photograph. I love the spirit of these images, they really capture Tamsin's personality and show the youthful lightness of the brand and the wearability of the clothes.

Images: www.hossintropia.com
Hoss Intropia UK stockists

Congratulations Bohemia!

Congratulations to beautiful Edinburgh boutique, Bohemia, and more particularly, owners, Jenny & Deb, who have won the NEC Spring Fair Award for Buying Team of the Year 09, and who were finalists in the Emerging Retailer of the Year 09 category! Well done girls - you really deserve it after all your hard work! To celebrate Bohemia's win, we couldn't resist posting some of our favourite S/S 09 Rutzou designs now available on www.bohemiadesign.co.uk

PS We absolutely love Rutzou - such feminine designs, in luxurious fabrics and always with a hint of quirky! Enjoy x

Rutzou Silk Pleat Dress £215

Rutzou Butterfly Print Dress £155

Rutzou Bold Print Silk Tunic £150

Rutzou Bold Print Silk Top £140

Rutzou Butterfly Print Maxi Dress £225

Valentine's Hints

Ruby kindly sent a Valentine's reminder to my inbox today, with the intention that I could pass it on to mon cher... I love this Erica Weiner locket that she's picked out because a) I haven't owned a locket since I was a child, b) said locket became the victim of an unfortunate playground crushing incident & is no more and c) I absolutely love anything with a vintage vibe. Thanks Ruby!