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

What To Wear Wednesdays - Power Wednesday!

Cooey!

I fancy a Power Wednesday. Wednesdays are my least favourite day - it always feels like it should be Thursday. So the best way to get through is to have a Power day - get loads done, keep really busy, and time will fly! And then of course it's off to the cinema for a cheeky 241. What's on this week?

The thing about Power Wednesdays is....you have to dress the part! You can't get lots of work done in your PJs and slippers (we know that's what you do, "working from home" people!) or your standard reliable comfortable jersey dress and ballerinas. Oh no. Did you ever learn anything on a non-uniform day at school? Of course not. So it's time to dress yourself properly. Next week wear something like this.....

...and I'm positive it'll make a difference to your productivity! Or else you could waste hours showing everyone your new handbag or stroking the crushed velvet bows on the shoes....

What's your least favourite day of the week? Do you have any tips for survival?

Let me know, I need your help!

Catie

What to wear Wednesdays - Power Wednesday! by Aspire Style featuring poetic licence shoes

Fever Delilah Pencil dress - £60
Pencil dress »

Darling Sasha cardigan - £45
Cardigans »

Uttam Boutique Naiomi cardigan - £45
Cardigans »

Poetic Licence Too Sweet shoes, cherry - £69
Poetic licence shoes »

Poetic Licence Sweet Talk shoes - £59
Poetic licence shoes »

Orla Kiely quilted patent leather bag - £235
Patent leather handbag »

Nica Tilly clutch - £35
Nica handbags »

Winter shoes at Aspire Style

Now that Autumn is officially here (it's October in 14 days, you know) it's time to put away those sandals and cover up your toes, lest they fall off through frostbite.  But don't reach for the wellies just yet - we've got some very stylish new footwear options from two of our favourite brands, Poetic Licence and Irregular Choice.

Poetic Licence Glamming Up shoes - £69

Poetic Licence Too Sweet shoes, turquoise - £69

Poetic Licence Too Sweet shoes, cherry - £69

Irregular Choice Flick Flack shoes, purple - £59

Irregular Choice, Flick Flack shoes, black - £59

Poetic Licence Sweet Talk shoes - £59

The Irregular Choice Flick Flack shoes, which have been very popular in past seasons, are now available in the Autumn/Winter 2010 design and come in purple and black - lovely and seasonal!  If you're starting to plan your outfit for your office Christmas party (you should, it's only three months away), the Poetic Licence Glamming Up shoes and the Too Sweet shoes (available in turquoise and cherry) ooze glamour and are guaranteed to turn heads!

My personal favourite has got to be the incredibly cute and aptly named Sweet Talk shoes by Poetic Licence.  Easy to wear with a smart dress for work or a 50s style frock for fun times, the heel is short enough to ensure you can work all day and dance all night.

***

On a slightly sad note, this will be my last post for Aspire, as I'm moving to the Big Smoke on Sunday.  I'll be very sad to go, but am leaving you in the more than capable hands of Catie, who is looking forward to taking the baton of resident blogger.  Be nice to her!

Ria

www.aspirestyle.co.uk

www.twitter.com/aspirestyle

What to Wear Wednesdays - the LBD

There is no rule which states the Little Black Dress (or LBD if you're "in the know") should be reserved for winter-time cocktails and office parties.  The fact remains, the LBD owes its popularity to its colour - or rather, lack of; a badly cut dress in black will look miles better than the same style in a different colour.  Especially if that colour's luminous yellow.  Black is flattering.  I don't know the exact physics behind it, but I'm sure if you've got the time, Wikipedia could help you out there.

Don't be scared to wear black in summer.  It's not ideal for the daytime because black absorbs heat, but if you're going out in the evening, a LBD twinned with a healthy tan can make you look the bees' knees.  The Tolouse dress is also good for covering up any unsightly tan lines you might have developed during the day.

Nica Rosie clutch purse, black, £22
Bead and corsage bracelet, grey, £8.95
Poetic Licence Girls Night shoes, black, £69
Fever Toulouse dress - black, £59
Crystal and double fabric flower necklace, £13

Use those Girls Night Out shoes for their true purpose in life and treat yourself to some cocktails with your lady friends!

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk
www.twitter.com/aspirestyle

Friday Floral Fix - Poetic Licence Mint Julip sandals

It's very hot today.  Too hot for the tights and brogues I'm wearing with my pretty Libby dress.  I very much wish I had these pretty Mint Julip sandals (£59) by Poetic Licence on my feet to cool them down (and look incredibly pretty at the same time).

Perhaps if I was wearing these, people wouldn't notice how ghostly pale my legs were, and that can only be a good thing.

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk
www.twitter.com/aspirestyle

What to Wear Wednesdays - Beach Chic

Ok, so it's not as warm as it was last month, and if the weather people tell me there's snow in Newcastle one more time I may cry, but I comfort myself with the fact that it is still technically Spring, so we've not much right to complain.  Next month, however, is June, which will undoubtedly bring cloudless skies and non-stop sunshine (except for at night, obviously), and you will experience a phenomena known as Beach Craving.  If you've not heard of Beach Craving before, it's because I've just coined the term, but it does exist!  British people naturally flock to the seaside in the summer!  It's as innate as breathing or hating sprouts.

However, there's no point strolling down to the beach looking like you've been so distracted by the sun that you've experienced some form of blindness whilst getting dressed.  That will not do.  So take my advice, and get Beach Chic:

What to Wear Wednesdays - Beach Chic by Aspire Style featuring Poetic Licence shoes

Items in this set:
Ruby Belle Madagascar bustier dress, £45
Poetic Licence Loopy sandals, £59
Tiered pearl and corsage necklace, £18
Jeepers Peepers Remi blue sunglasses, £15
Nica Rosie clutch purse, pink, £22

The pearls might be a little much for bucket and spade activities, but they're excellent for taking this outfit from beach to bar.

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk
www.twitter.com/aspirestyle

What to Wear Wednesdays - Get Nautical

Avast ye, sailor!  Nautical is one of those trends that has been popular for several Spring/Summer seasons in a row in recent years, and it's easy to see why.  With three main colours - red, white and blue - it's easy to mix and match pieces, and it's a fun trend; these are the kind of clothes which make you feel like playing.  So please give a hearty 'Ahoy!' to the Aspire take on Nautical...

WTWW Nautical by Aspire Style featuring Poetic Licence shoes

Items in this set:
Fever Cannes Bardot dress, £59
Poetic Licence My Haven sandals £59
Red or Dead Trickster satchel £35.95
Red or Dead Dakota white clutch/purse £23
Red or Dead Dakota red clutch/purse £23
Swallow necklace £9.95
Solid knot cuff £9.95

Shiver me timbers, cap'n, that outfit looks pretty shipshape to me! (Sorry)

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk

What to Wear Wednesdays - Vintage Creams

Welcome to the second weekly What to Wear Wednesday!  This pretty floaty vintage creams outfit has been very much inspired by the sun, which has been playing hide and seek all week...

Items in this outfit:

Traffic People Maxi Ra Ra dress : Maxi dresses : Clothing : Products :..., £79
Jeepers Peepers Claudia sunglasses : Accessories : Products : Aspire..., £13
Poetic Licence Loopy sandals : Shoes : Products : Aspire Style |..., £59
Dandy handbag : Products : Aspire Style | Irresistible fashion,..., £45
Vintage leather bird purse : Purses : Handbags : Products : Aspire..., £15

So pretty!

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk

What to Wear Wednesdays - 50s Style

Welcome to a brand new regular feature of the Aspire Style blog entitled What to Wear Wednesdays (catchy, no?), where we will showcase an outfit completely made of Aspire products!  Yes, I know it's terribly biased, but we are a) full of so much loveliness you don't need to go elsewhere and b) running a business here, people!

Those of you who subscribe to our newsletter will have seen the arrival of new brand Tara Starlet to the Aspire Style website and shops, and those of you who aren't subscribers need to get involved here!  Tara Starlet is a London-based Mother and Daughter team who take their inspiration from the 1940s and 1950s, and we've used their beautiful full circle prom dress as the centrepiece of this 50s style outfit:

WTWW 50s Style by Aspire Style featuring Jeepers Peepers sunglasses

Items in this set:
Tara Starlet full circle prom dress : Clothing : Products : Aspire..., £75
Silver pearl necklace : Jewellery : Products : Aspire Style |..., £6.95
Rose ring - pastels : Jewellery : Products : Aspire Style |..., £4.95
Jeepers Peepers Sandy black sunglasses : Accessories : Products :..., £15
Poetic Licence Girls Night shoes, black : Shoes : Products : Aspire..., £69

All products are available from www.aspirestyle.co.uk including the very stylish sunglasses from Jeepers Peepers, another exciting new Aspire brand!  I think this outfit is perfect for picnics in the park, or parties, or pretending you're in Grease and doing the hand jive, or going up to boys and saying "tell me about it, stud".


Until next time,


Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk

Happy Easter! Here, have some cheap shoes...

Hello all!  I know it's raining, but if you've got the day off today why not head to your local Aspire shop and check out the shoes?  Ok, if you're really aqua-phobic you can do it online.  We've had a lot of new styles delivered in the past couple of weeks, and there's something for everyone.  If that alone isn't enough to tempt you, how about this...

So pretty!  I love those Kim Oh No shoes from Irregular choice, they're a really cute rockabilly style and look absolutely amazing on.

If the prospect of heels so tall makes you want to run and hide, you can prettify your feet with lovely sandals.

These cuffed ankle sandals are going to be a big look this summer, and ours are not only just £29 (or £24.65 if you buy them these weekend) but they're also really really comfy.

I have been coveting these Mint Julip sandals from Poetic Licence for a while now; maybe buying them this might make the sun shine again?  They're reduced from £59 to £50.15 this weekend - a saving of nearly a tenner!

The Genteel shoes, also from Poetic Licence, may look a bit high, but the clever platform means they're actually surprisingly easy to walk in!  They look so beautiful on, and you can keep your tights on with them now until it gets a bit warmer.  Normally £75, these babies are £63.75 this weekend! 

You can see all our pretty pretty shoes here and you have until the end of Monday to bag yourself a bargain.  Go!  Go now!

Until next time,

Ria

www.aspirestyle.co.uk