Fever Maple dress - the obsession grows

As you've probably gathered from my 27 blogs on it, I love my Fever Maple dress...

And now, I'll have twice as much to blog about, as we now stock it in THE colour of the season: Camel!

Ahhhh the squeals of delight when the box was opened. Stratford manager Abbey has had her eye on the similar Schiffer dress for months and we finally got that in, too...

Such a gorgeous material for the winter, all snuggly and lovely! It will be perfect with thick tights and boots -  the lovely black Power Struggle ankle boots for daytime and the super-cute tan Premiere shoe boots for a night out.

Would love to stay and chatter but I have lots and lots and lots to do - including sending some samples to Grazia, speaking to Glamour about a Twitter competition, sorting the orders, and generally updating the lovely website. In fact, we're thinking about a new shiny website next year - send me some suggestions! What would you like to see on there? What would make it extra-special and pretty and sparkly?

Mmmm have I mentioned I love the Maple dress? x

Baby clothes and teacups

Cold, crisp, sunny Sundays in Stratford-upon-Avon are definitely for aimless wandering, window shopping and mooching, so when I worked in the shop yesterday I was surprised by some of the items catching eyes and grabbing attention - namely the baby clothes.

I don't sell many baby clothes online, even though they're all amazing! This Menace t-shirt goes right up to age 5-6 and I'm definitely buying one for the gorgeous little man who took me for dinner on Friday night.

This baby-grow is adorable and I'm sure parents will agree with the message!!

There are tons more, I'm going to get some new photographs up online today so look out for more here on our baby page.

Other best-sellers yesterday included our range of teacup jewellery. I hadn't put it online as I wasn't sure how well it would sell but I'll definitely be uploading them this week so look out here at our jewellery page.

Right, better get on with some of this work instead of spending the day wondering how/when/if I can get an adult sized "Sleep Thief" romper commissioned....

Orla Kiely handbag phenomena

Come on, own up, who's ordered seven Orla Kiely bags today under different names? Oh, nobody? Must be genuine orders then...should probably package them up, including this Orla Kiely cross stitch caraway bag...

Likey? Wanty? Be quick, there's only one left (in our Warwick shop if you don't have £295 spare and would just like to go and touch it). Someone bagged (geddit?) themselves a bargain as they used a 10% discount code! 

In other news, it's the weekend! What are you up to? Tonight I'm taking a gorgeous boy (a model, no less) out to dinner...don't worry, admirers - he's only five. Tomorrow I have to make as many scarves as possible (18 orders, eek!), and meet a friend and babysit, and Sunday I'm covering in Stratford...no rest for the wicked! Next week, though, I'm off to Dorset with my new beautiful lovely lovely weekend bag (below) where the most I'll do is run on the beach with the pup.

although I do secretly a little bit wish I still had the boyfriend in the City as I could have this Pretty City London overnight bag instead...

Right, enough chit-chat, must work....or maybe have lunch. Yes, lunch.....

Telegraph "Best Small Shops"

Oooh lovely lovely blogger friends, what have we here then...

The Telegraph Magazine is running a "Best Small Shops in Britain" competition, where categories include fashion, wine, books, and more...we'd simply love to win so if you think we're the best small shop, then please vote for us here. I think if we all agree to vote for our Stratford shop, the address of which is Aspire Style, Wood Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, then we won't all be voting for different shops and making the totals lower....if you get me.

In other news, we've just had lots of these gorgeous purses (£12.95) delivered...

as they're pretty much our best selling product and people are definitely shopping for Christmas now so they're flying out! Get yours here while you can!!

And don't forget, please vote for your favourite independent shops here  :o)

Konnie Huq wears pretty Aspire dress!

Konnie Huq was wearing one of our dresses on Loose Women last week -

This gorgeous Darling Maisie dress is £65 - there's low availability so buy now to avoid disappointment!









It's also been spotted on Lorraine Kelly's show so it's enjoying a week of fame!

It's a great work-to-cocktails dress as it can be kept simple with dark tights and a blazer or dressed up with killer boots and accessories.

I'm freeeezing today so snuggling up to my gorgeous warm fluffy Yumi Faux Fur jacket (£45)...

Time to go and put the kettle on....have a lovely day everyone!

Aspire Style launch party review!

Last Saturday was the grand opening of our Solihull shop, and last night we had a little party to celebrate! Thanks to everyone who came - we really appreciated all of your support, and hope you enjoyed the bubbly, goody bags and of course the discount!!

Firstly, thanks to the excellent photographer Karen Massey for coming along in the day and taking lots and lots of lovely snaps!

Secondly, thanks to my lovely Twitter/Blog/Facebook friends who managed to come to the event, it was so wonderful to put faces to names!

Second Hand Shopper Caroline has written a fab review but I haven't read it all because I got distracted by "Caroline's Cakery" and then in turn by the frequent use of the word "Nutella" and something spinachy that looks unbelievably delicious.

Crazy Roisin has also found the time to stop trying on pretty dresses and write something ;o) I wish you'd shown me the black with white shoulder-drape situation Vintage Allure one because you look GORGEOUS in that photo! But the Ethel looked equally beautiful.

And Molly Louise, I know you live in the Outer Hebrides or similar, so you had a good excuse for not showing up, but we do love your blog and those shoes look truly magnificent on The Princess pedals.

Well, at the risk of sounding like Porky Pig, "That's all, Folks" x

Why not? Wednesday

So....the last couple of Wednesdays haven't had a Why not? because I had one ludicrously busy Wednesday and one Wednesday out of the office, but fear not! Today it's back.

This week I'm going to give you all the chance to win a gorgeous tea towel to brighten up your kitchen chores! But not just for a simple click of "like" or "follow", no no no, this week you've got to earn your prize! So tell me...
who would you most like to see doing your washing up for you and why?

I'd like to see my colleague Libby doing the washing up as every time I go in the kitchen I see a trail of her lunchtime activities! The cupboard is left open, things fall out of the fridge when I open it, there are little bits of soggy lettuce on the draining board, there's an overflowing bin-bag, the washing-up bowl is FULL of freezing cold water...I'll tell you what, it's a good job I adore her! ;o) hi Libby xxx

Alternatively, I'd like to see George Lamb doing my washing up. Just, y'know, because.

Ready, Steady, Go!

Solihull Launch Party!

Hello hello!

Our gorgeous, fantastic, lovely, beautiful new Solihull shop opened on Saturday and to celebrate, we're opening our doors to our most favouritest of all people on Thursday from 6pm-8pm for champagne, goody bags and of course a whopping discount on all things Aspire.

Subscribers to the newsletter: please feel free to donate to my NBF (New Brain Fund) as I'm sure you noticed I managed to write October instead of November...whoops! Now I know how editors feel when I write to them being all smug and hyper-intelligent, saying "Juuuuust to let you know...I spotted six grammatical errors in the book I just read". It hurts.

Anyway, moving swiftly away from my incapabilities, I'd love for everyone to come to the launch party on Thursday, so please do let me know if you can make it - I need to put enough goody bags together for everyone!!

Hoping to see you all there so that we can put faces to names.....
Catie x
Picture of my new favourite item to make this post prettier - a VERY soft and quirky leather wallet:

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....