Shoes, shoes, shoes!

Who loves shoes? Silly question - we ALL do of course! That's why we're giving all of our most favouritest customers 15% off all shoes and boots this weekend - even the brand new ones!
I'm simply going to have to treat myself to these fantabulous Poetic Licence Femininity boots, which are £125 but this weekend are down to £106.25....

As previously mentioned in my blog, the cost per wear is going to be so cheap that really it'd be foolish not to buy them! Ssshhh, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.





I think the manager of the Stratford shop, Abbey, is going to implode if she doesn't take these Poetic Licence Premier shoe boots home soon....

...and I don't blame her because they really are very pretty and with 15% off they're down to just £67.15. The ruffles look so cute, whether it's against bare skin, thick tights or my personal fave, some little schoolgirl socks. What? It's Winter, I get cold feet!





Went out for a quick drink last night with my lovely friend Jo who I think will absolutely love those tan shoe boots, too, and I know she'll have a giggle at these new super-sparkly sequin shoes from Irregular Choice...

...because last year she went to a fancy dress party as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and these would have been perfect! That's not to say they wouldn't also work as pretty shoes to add a splash of colour to your LBD this party season, though.


 

Right, enough pictures of shoes, better get the blu-tack out and start putting all of the 15% off posters up!

As always, feel free to buy me a present...preferably the aforementioned boots...x

Pretty vintage Christmas gifts

Payday looms and it's time to plan Christmas presents! Let's hope none of my girly friends bother to read my blog as I will be divulging what they're all getting...starting with these:

They're so pretty! The picture doesn't do them justice, they're very shabby chic and vintage, and actually really useful if like me you take your earrings/watch/bracelet/etc off and leave them on the nearest surface then forget where you put them...my Mum (yes, my Mum, I'm 24 but still live with her, call me a loser if you like but then get jealous about the financial connotations of "rent/mortgage" vs "housekeeping"!!) is forever collecting hair-ties which I casually leave around the house in the oddest of places. Eh where was I, oh yes, these fabulous boxes are 13cm square with very pretty birds on and you can buy them here for only £9.95!

These glass heart trinket holders are also great for stashing things neatly and if you're buying for someone whose room style you're not sure about they're a pretty safe bet...

They also work beautifully as tealight holders, or follow the lead of one of the Aspire girls and fill with pretty-coloured sweets for gorgeous table decorations. You can buy these here and they're even more of a bargain - only £5.25!

Well, almost home-time, just need to pop down to the shop and buy some of these on my way out to my car! No trains again today because, y'know, the day ends in Y.

Have a fantastic Monday evening, everyone....

Winter Boots and Christmas Mittens

These.....

are quite possibly the very best mittens in the whole entire universe.

These.......

are the best shoe boots that Irregular Choice ever invented.

But these...

are quite obviously, clearly and undoubtedly the hands-down winners. Please buy them [for me]. They are so pretty and lovely and comfy and will go with simply everything, and I know they're £125 but they will probably last three winters, and I'll wear them twice a week per winter, so per wear that's....well practically free. So basically, what I'm saying is, these boots are free. Sort of. Except the initial outlay. Who's with me????

Have a fabulous weekend, all!

Hot Water Bottle Mania

This incredible, amazing, lovely hot water bottle.......



















....is so very, VERY cute - I absolutely love it and I would very much like one please Mummy if you are reading this - and it seems you all agree! This morning, JUST this morning, I had four orders for them! I know four isn't a colossal Earth-shattering number, but I don't think I've even had four of them ordered on the net in the last month! Maybe it's been featured somewhere and I just don't know about it?!

Now got the matching mittens to this equally adorable hot water bottle...

Noticing a lot of packages are being sent out to men this afternoon...which can mean only one thing: CHRISTMAS PRESENTS!!

We've just had 16 giant boxes of Christmas decorations and stock delivered, so our shops will soon be transpired into Santa's Grotto treasure troves! Until then, though, upstairs is unimaginable. Boxes and glitter and polar bears and fluffy reindeer heads everywhere. In fact, the postman just came in, shrieked "Oh my God it's worse than my daughter's bedroom in here!" then ran away pronto.

Day off tomorrow (no, not a good fun day off, a dentist day off) so we'll catch up on Friday......

Our clothes are gorgeous - but are they rainproof?

Imagine 20 gazillion litres of water falling from the sky in 47 seconds*. That's what just happened in Stratford-upon-Avon. Which was an EXCELLENT way of testing the waterproofness (word?!) of some Aspire Style products, i.e. the ones which were on my back during said rainfall. I know it's a constant worry for fashionistas all over the world...and the results are in:

1. Darling Jude skirt: surprisingly sturdy in a downpour! The skirt has three layers - a silky lining then two layers of net, which certainly helped.
2. Charming Nina cardigan: luckily only a small amount was peeping out as I'm not sure how much soakage this could stand. Beautiful, though, and it washes well so maybe it'd have been alright...
3. Fever Bunty jacket: coped amazingly well, droplets of water sat neatly on the fabric, ready to be bushed off with a mitten-ed hand (mittens in THIS design, going on the interweb very soon).

And that's the end of this fabulously interesting waterproofness review! I welcome and indeed encourage your comments, so if you would like to add anything about rainproof clothing then please do get in touch. And yes, I do realise that if I'd had any of these beautiful umbrellas with me then it could all have been avoided - but then you would all have been unsuspecting victims in the next rainfall where you are...

*Disclaimer: measurements may not be completely accurate.

Just reading this back to my lovely colleague and we're crying with laughter. Please take it as a fun review rather than any reflection of how interesting Aspire Style is - I promise we usually have better things to talk about than the weather ;o) xxxxxxx

Orla Kiely bags

Hello! Gosh, it's nearly home time and I have only just had chance to think about a little blog.

As always with Mondays, today has been very busy thanks to lots of internet orders. Today there have been a lot for Orla Kiely bags - maybe there's been a promotion somewhere and it's made people remember how fantastic they are?! We seem to be the cheapest suppliers so hopefully people come straight to us!

Also lots of gift items - at least four of the jewellery trees have sold which are perfect as girly Christmas gifts.

Very sleepy today after a restless night so shall be drinking this sleepy tea before bed - it really works!

Nightnight everyone!

Coats and scarves

Afternoon all!

Today has been frantic - there was a bit of a lull in the week for internet orders but today I've had lots and lots! Probably thanks to our newsletter going out with the 15% off all coats offer that is lasting all weekend, as I've had a few coat orders. Also had a couple for scarves so it's obviously getting colder, although the heating in here is absolutely roasting me so I wouldn't know! Sent out a lovely Orla Kiely handbag, I'm quite jealous of the recipient...I really want the Orla Kiely Rosemary bag which is just tooooo cute, and it's in the sale so very tempting...but it's the last one and I really should let a customer have it!

Other items selling well this week are the Mariko Evie dress which I have mentioned before - genuinely great for a Christmas party and a total bargain - and our new Irregular Choice and Poetice Licence shoes. I'm desperately trying to come up with a reason for NEEDING the Scottie Dog shoes...



If you can think of any then please let me know as I really do want them!
But also trying to save up for a house...so I can only buy things I NEED.





In other news, we have lots of new stock coming in for our soon-to-open Solihull shop, so watch this space for fabulous new dresses!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - what are you all getting up to?
Catie

Pretty coats - 15% OFF ALL WEEKEND!

Hello hello hello!

Problem: It's cold. You need a coat.
Solution: This weekend all coats are 15% off!!

Technically, this should be starting at midnight tonight, but I can't think of a way to do it all in my sleep so I have activated it now!

My favourites are this gorgeous pink Charming Taylor coat, now only £67.15 and the Yumi Faux Fur jacket, which I already have and it's soooo lovely and warm and everyone says it's beautiful - now only £38.25!!

Happy shopping, everyone..........
Catie x

Why not? Wednesday

It's that time of the week again! Why not do a giveaway?

I am just too good to you. Last week it was the lovely Damask purse, this week it's a fabulous jewellery selection from this gorgeous range! For your chance to win, we need more followers, more Likers, more bloggers, more more more of everything! I know, I know, I'm being greedy, but a girl has to keep herself in Ginger Nuts and Olbas Oil.

On your marks, get set, GO!

Fearne Cotton in Darling Elsa top

After the novel of yesterday, here is, as promised, a short blog.

Fearne Cotton on Celebrity Juice:


The Darling Elsa top as on our site:

I know what you're thinking....it's even nicer in grey and you'd like to buy one. Yes, I thought so.

Tune in tomorrow to check out my Why not? Wednesday, where I will be giving away a few lovely bits of jewellery....

Catie x

My day. My bad day.

So I go up the train station bright and early (well not too bright and a little bit late to be honest, but still...), and there's a man in a nice orange day-glo number, and he looks at me like I'm an alien and shakes his head vehemently and says "ooh, there aren't any trains today love" as though I should know, as though it's been planned for years that the line from Henley-in-Arden to Stratford-upon-Avon was going to be out of action on 11 October 2010 and I'm the only moron on Earth who didn't know.

"Oh right", I said "oh, I must have missed that, sorry" [feeling like the alien moron he is making me out to be]

"Train derailed this morning at Whitlock's End you see."

How could I have possibly known that?! So I walk back, get in my car - it takes the same time but it's cheaper to get the train as two of the conductors now come round, look at me and say "I'll come back to you later <wink>" then don't. So I drive into town only to remember that the Stratford Mop (if you're not from Warwickshire, the Mop is a funfair, which is only fun when you're three and allowed on the carousel or when 16 and sneaking booze onto the waltzers) and all of the roads are closed! 25 minutes later, having been sat still for ten, going in circles for fifteen and eventually driving the wrong way through a car park because I cannot think of any other way of getting to work, I arrive late, stressed, bedraggled, and generally completely traumatised.

As if all this isn't enough, I then manage to break my nail all the way down - eeeee it's horrible - and to top it all off we've had some lowlife thief steal lovely things from our lovely shop :'( sob. We've got them on CCTV and told the police so hopefully they'll get caught.

So all in all it's been a miserable day and I would like you all to send me comforting comments, messages, tweets, etc etc to cheer me up. Although I have a feeling this M&S cookie might just do the trick. If not, I am definitely buying myself all of this Martine Wester jewellery and these Poetic Licence shoes which I have wanted for ages and possibly also this washbag which is so adorable and generally lovely.

Who else has the Mop come round and disrupt their lives? Who else has a traffic trauma story? Who has broken their nail all the way down and can relate to my upset? Please, get in touch.

Sad, sad Catie x
P.S. Sorry it's a novel. Short and sweet tomorrow, I promise.

Happy weekend!

Friday afternoon is upon us! Hooray! What is everyone up to this weekend?

Here at the Aspire office we have very exciting plans - one of us has just returned from America with a wedding band firmly on the finger and the jet-lag and bank account state that can only come from LAS VEGAS! Tomorrow is the UK leg of the wedding party and all we can talk about is what we'll be wearing!

I'm planning on pulling something special out of the bag...the sale bag, that is! This gorgeous silky, slinky silver number is half price at just £22.50 and it looks fabulous on.


Mariko Evie dress, now £22.50















And I'm going to go for black tights and the stunning contrast of these beautiful cerise shoes at just £39.50!

I have a little clutch the same colour, so it's going to be a fabulous outfit! Just need to add a bit of sparkle with a pretty headband and job's a goodun!

Let me know what you're getting up to, and whatever you're doing, have a fantastic weekend!

Catie

New shop!

Good morrow! Gosh, it's nearly 5pm and I haven't had chance to even think about blogging, so this may be a little rough around the edges. I sat here for a couple of minutes thinking, have I even got anything to even talk about?! -  but of course! Our new store is opening in a mere matter of weeks!

That's right! Anyone in, near, or on the same train line/bus route as Solihull is in for a smashing treat soon as we are opening our fourth shop in Mell Square! We're half way between M&S and House of Fraser so you're sure to be able to tempt your Mumma down there to buy you some goodies. And we're just around the corner from HMV so you can drop your other half in there, marvel in our treasure trove for an hour, then go and pick him and his square eyes up from the Playstation 3 section.

We seem to be having huge deliveries made every hour, directly onto my desk (ok, twice a week into the stock room, but I feel like I'm drowning in it all!) of lovely brand new goodies! Lots of new shoes which I'm hoping to get round to putting on the website tomorrow. And sparkly sparkly new jewellery and even some CHRISTMAS things! Including adorable little sparkly owls on clips that can go on the tree, over the mantelpiece on your fairly lights, or, let's face it, in your hair. Glittertastic. Also lots of Winter things like hand-warmers and hot water bottles and oooooh yes I nearly forgot some sensational new boots!

This is where I usually go through and add website links to everything that I've mentioned, but I haven't quite got around to putting them online yet so I should probably get on with doing some real work before I get fired and have to wave goodbye to all those sparkly owls........

Catie x

P.S. If you are (or anyone you know is) a blogger/journalist/all round superstar based in the Midlands then please get in touch as we are planning a launch party for the new store and would love to meet some of our online friends.....

Why not? Wednesday

Afternoon everyone!

Today I've decided to have a Why not? Wednesday. You know, when you see something in a shop and you don't know if you should buy it and you just go Why not? - that sort of thing. And today I thought, why not give everyone the chance to win a lovely blue purse? So on Twitter and Facebook people are retweeting and liking and hopefully passing it on to friends and of course you can all enter as well, just make a little comment on the blog :o)

What else is happening today? Lots of orders for our paper plane range - the purses are still out of stock (email me to put yourself on the waiting list), but the fabulous parcel wash bag is back in stock - might have to buy myself one - and the travel pass holders are popular.

I'm wearing my gorgeous new Fever Tulip ruffle dress which is featured on the Domestic Sluttery blog at the moment and which is very lovely indeed.

Right, must get back to work. Get commenting for your chance to win the purse - and if you don't win, they're only £9.95 so treat yourself! It's even prettier in real life - so why not?

Ciao!

Exciting new jewellery line!

Look at our fabulous amazing charming beautiful lovely wonderful pretty (add commas where appropriate) new jewellery!


Rabbit cluster charm bracelet (£14.99)










Deer cluster charm bracelet (£14.99)










Owl cluster charm necklace (£17.99)

Sparrow charm necklace (£19.99)










There's much more but I'm too excited to blog, I'm going to go and play with them! Prices range from £12.99-£19.99 so have a look here to see lots and lots more.......and please feel free to buy me one!

Catie x

Just another Manic Monday

This morning has been insane! But it's 11:30am and I'm having a cup of tea and a few quiet minutes to blog and catch up and just generally breathe.

The 10% discount we ran this weekend went really well - I came in this morning to see 25 internet orders which is fantastic! Mondays are always busy but today is particularly so. Lots of orders for little purses, snow bunny keyrings and trinket boxes which I guess are some Christmas gifts. Also lots of party dress orders - I particularly love this Mariko Evie which is in the sale at just £22.50! I think we should bring it back out of the sale, it's great! Silver and silky with some shoulder detail - it's perfect for a Christmas party with black tights and glamorous heels like these from Poetic Licence. And of course, lots more orders for coats. Pavia and Betsy are the two favourites I think, although I love the new Fever Empress.

Right, five of my ten minutes are up and my tea should be at drinking temperature now (although we've got no milk so I might not be able to drink it if it's too strong) so I shall down it and get on with some more orders.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!
Catie

10% DISCOUNT ALL WEEKEND!

Capital letters, how brash...but seriously, it's EXCITING, isn't it?!?!?!

Take a look online at a host of goodies available, including my new favourite, the Vintage Envelope Travel Pass holder. My Oyster card is looking pretty scraggy (is that even a word?) in its boring holder, and this beautiful travel pass is the perfect way to achieve a stylish swipe...although I can't guarantee it will make the shutters any less vicious/temperamental, or reduce queues for topping up credit. And at £9.95 (or £8.95 with the discount), it's a great bargain - you could even buy a few and hand them out for Christmas presents!

It's absolutely pouring down today (lots of umbrellas selling downstairs in the shop), and my office is très chilly so I've borrowed a Yumi faux fur jacket from the stock room, and let's face it, I'll be buying it later because it's AMAZING. I am all snuggly and warm and fluffy. It's like having my cat here with me. Here's my cat:

Don't worry, I won't turn into one of those nutters who posts endless pictures of her cat. Although, has everyone seen the Ikea advert?? TOO CUTE! It was a cinema advert on Wednesday - giant kittens!! Right, enough about cats. Who likes owls?! This hot water bottle is absolutely brililant!

Time to go before I start ranting about cute animals...I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Pass on the message about 10% off - the code is ALL10 - and get shopping!

Catie x
P.S. Deer washbag, butterfly purse, bird compact