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 - Casual Maxi

I've already written about the many winning features of the mighty maxi dress and the Summer Fern maxi by Fever (£65) is no exception.  It's a beautifully light cotton, which makes it ideal for the hot hot summer I'm sure we'll be experiencing soon enough, and it's versatile too - you can wear it as a strapless bandeau dress as shown below, or you can add the shoulder straps which are included.  I've gone for a casual look this week with this maxi dress, and I reckon this outfit would look brilliant at a festival (one with lots of sun and no mud) - especially if you're hanging out backstage.  I'd be tempted to get a straw hat involved as well to shield my pale skin from all that nasty UV radiation.

WTWW - Casual Maxi by Aspire Style featuring Jeepers Peepers sunglasses

Items in this set:
Flat cuffed sandal, brown, £29
Jeepers Peepers Natalie brown sunglasses, £15
Fever Summer Fern maxi tube dress, £65
Mischa Barton Sydney tote bag, tan, £55
Flower and bird scoop necklace - gold, £9.95

Until next time,

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

Calling all customers! We want your pictures!

All of our customers are beautiful.  This is a fact, just like how the cash machine will only have £20 notes available when you have less than that in your account, and how you can never have just one chocolate-covered Hob Nob.  We'd love it if you could send us pics of yourselves in your Aspire Style purchases so we can feature them on this here blog and our Facebook group, and when we get enough, we'll hopefully be able to start a gallery over on www.aspirestyle.co.uk - it'll be like you're famous!  Just send your photo(s) to shop@aspirestyle.co.uk with your name and any other information you'd like us to have (maybe you received excellent customer service or purchased your item for a special occasion) and we'll be sure to feature you.

Check out this lovely lady in our Stratford store wearing the Tara Starlet Gypsy apple spot dress - doesn't she look fab?!

We look forward to receiving your pics!

Until next time,

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

Aspire Style/Ardencote Manor makeover competition winners!

We have recently been involved in a competition organised by the Ardencote Manor in Claverdon near Warwick where a mother and daughter won spa treatment at the Ardencote, a haircut and makeover, professionally taken photographs and... an outfit each from Aspire Style!

The lucky winners, Nicola Weeks and daughter Abigail, came to see us last Thursday with Maja from the Ardencote, who was running the competition, to choose their prizes.  Stratford and Warwick managers Abbey and Laura, along with junior manager Libby, excelled themselves by helping the lovely ladies pick beautiful outfits, which they would be wearing to their 'Big Reveal' - just like on TV show 'Ten Years Younger'.

I went along to the Ardencote Manor on Monday to record this event, attended by the pair's friends and family, so without further ado, let me present to you Nicola and Abigail Weeks!

How beautiful do they look?!  Here are their outfits:

Nicola's outfit by Aspire Style on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Fever Lily dress, black, £59
Flower necklace on wire, £9.95
Poetic Licence Genteel shoes, £75

Abigail's outfit by Aspire Style featuring Irregular Choice shoes

Items in this set:
Tara Starlet Gypsy apple spot dress, £69
Irregular Choice Pep in your Step shoes, £79
Swallow necklace - gold, £9.95

You may notice this is almost exactly the same as the Rockabilly look from What to Wear Wednesdays a few weeks ago.  Which just goes to show, I'm very good at what I do.  Here's a couple more pics of the ladies for your viewing consumption:

You can view the whole album on Facebook here.

Until next time,

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

Friday Floral Fix - Fever Scribble ruffle dress

As soon as we got this Fever Scribble ruffle dress (£49) in, the fight began between the Aspire girls to see who would buy it.  I swear, it was like that scene in Mean Girls where they're all fighting in the school hallway after the contents of the Burn Book came to light.  Well, maybe not that bad, because we all love each other dearly (and there were customers in the shop).  It's a fantastic floral print with a pretty ruffle collar, and it's super flattering.

Laura, the Warwick shop manager, wears hers with navy leggings, which look great.  It would also go really well with a bright cardigan in red, yellow or blue.  Embrace the colour!

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

Friday Floral Fix - small rose headband

We stock a range of plastic jewellery that sells so incredibly well we get it in every season - it's becoming almost cultish!  We have different colours every season, and this Spring/Summer we have two ranges of colour (yes, you're right, we do spoil you).  My favourite are the pretty pastel roses, which come in necklaces (large and small), rings, brooches, cuffs, and these lovely headbands:

They're £7.95, and popular with everyone - children and adults alike.

Until next time,

Ria

www.aspirestyle.co.uk

Friday Floral Fix - Yumi Roslilly dress

I don't know if you've noticed, but it's been warm recently.  This agrees with me, because I have to worry less about coats working with cardigans working with dresses - it makes my mornings easier.  However, we mustn't get carried away by a bit of sunshine and temperatures reaching over 15 degrees; it's still Spring, people!  The weather can turn on you like a disloyal friend.  This is the time of year when the maxi dress truly shines - you get to keep your still-pale legs covered up, whilst embracing the warmth of the sun on your shoulders!  What's that? A chilly breeze?  Just chuck a cardigan on!  The Yumi Roslilly dress is an ideal purchase for Spring, and it'll see you through into Summer (especially on those days where you forget/simply can't be bothered to de-hair your legs).  It's also our cheapest maxi dress at £50:

Practical AND pretty.  My favourite combination.

What to Wear Wednesdays - Rockin' the Rockabilly look

I think there's something ever so glamorous about the Rockabilly pin-up girls of the 50s, and the modern take on the style stays true to the original, with emphasis on bold colours and strong shapes.  It's a look which embraces curves and is sexy without being revealing, and makes you look 100% woman.  Here's all you need to become your town's answer to Dita von Teese*:

WTWW - Rockabilly by Aspire Style featuring Irregular Choice

Items in this set:
Tara Starlet Gypsy apple spot dress, £69
Irregular Choice Pep in your Step shoes, £79
Irregular Choice, Flick Flack clutch, red, £35
Jeepers Peepers Natalie brown sunglasses, £15
Compact mirror- vintage stamp, £8.95 

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk

*This doesn't mean you have to take your clothes off.

Friday Floral Fix - Yumi Britte dress

We just got the Yumi Britte dress in this week, and I rushed to add all three colours to the website in time for Friday Floral Fix (I know how people have grown dependent on their weekly hit of flower-based fun).

Britte is a lovely dress with a classic rose print, and a waistband which ties in a big bow at the back.  Do you remember that favourite summer dress you had as a child (back in the days when your mum still dressed you)?  This is that dress, reincarnated.  It's available in grey, blue and pink, and currently we're the only shop online selling the blue and pink:

Yumi Britte dress by Aspire Style featuring Yumi clothing

Items in this set:
Yumi Britta dress, grey £45
Yumi Britta dress, pink £45
Yumi Britte dress, blue £45 

Which is your favourite?  Mine's the blue.  I'd happily have all three though, if you're offering!

Until next time,

Ria
www.aspirestyle.co.uk