Whilst doing some mid week shopping in the Bullring, I came across a shope called "Created in Birmingham" displaying lots of artwork, jewellry, crafts, books and much more created by people from the Birmingham area....
The shop sells some amazing artwork by local artists and I found myself wanting to invest in some pieces, these are artists definately to watch out for the future. Another display featured vases made from recycled books by a young designer by the name of Laura Cahill, let me tell you, her work is genius! You can check out her work on her webiste... (http://www.lauracahilldesigns.co.uk/) If recycled vases and modern art doesn't take your fancy, there's much more to choose from, whether you're looking for a nice greeting card or an eco - friendly tote bag, there's something for everyone.
Let me tell you, it's one of my favourite stores in the city now. I just think it's amazing how local crafts-people have the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills and have people appreciate it. The shop, situated on Level 3 of the Upper West Mall in the Bullring, is definately a store to check out and it's only there for a limited time, so be quick!
For more information check out:
http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/
Follow them on twitter:
http://twitter.com/createdinbrum/
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Double Denim
We all have a pair of jeans in our wardrobe, some of us might even have a denim jacket left over from the 80’s, but now it’s time to go all out with those jeans and jackets as the double denim look comes full circle for the Spring / Summer 2010 Season.
Not so long ago I found myself searching for my gag reflex at the thought of wearing double denim - it was possibly the worst fashion mishap I could endure, however, on the weekend I went out brought three outfits based on the double denim look... Yes, three outfits! After examining the trends of this season, it seems that the fashion houses are including the clean cut look into the double denim look with fitted shirts and fitted jeans. I must say, I am now a double denim addict.
So, I find myself asking “why”? Why denim? Why the colour? Why is it making a comeback? Well, the array of blue colours are perfect for the Sp/Su season giving off a more gentle aura than the browns of the military look, perfect for basking in the sun on the weekend. The dark and light blues are perfectly blended with the bright colours seen on the catwalks, making it a style to make you stand out from the crowd. If dressed properly, the DD look will also give you that vintage edge which is becoming more and more popular in today's society.
Who’s making us wear this style? All the major fashion houses had the DD look going on, mainly the Ralph Lauren and D&G collections, making it practically inescapable. Now, it has flooded down to the upper high street stores, namely French Connection and (even more prominently) Firetrap. Even the traditional British fashion lines (such as Ted Baker and Vivienne Westwood) have found themselves with some timeless denim pieces. And as for celebrities, everyone from David Beckham to Kanye West have been papped sporting jeans and denim shirts. Mr West has even been seen going for the triple denim look...
Now, it’s easy to make a mistake with this image: making you look more of an 80’s rock band reject than style icon. It’s important to stay away from black and dark colours (unless of course, you are an 80’s rock band reject). Use different shades of denim (of course, darker tones on the bottom and lighter tones on the top to make the most of your figure) and mix with bright colour t shirts and accessories.
My favourite summer look costs a total of £155 and includes pieces that can be mixed and matched with other styles.
A bright t shirt is needed for any Sp/Su look. This fitted “rocket red” piece from the DKNY Jeans collection is perfect for this summer. The picture really doesn’t do it justice, the real item has a much richer tone to it and looks amazing teamed up with the jean shorts.
(http://dknyjeansintl.com/collections/Spring-Summer-2010/men/Spring-Summer-2010--br-Look-18.aspx)
Now, a piece I fell in love with. This (once again following the clean cut trend) fitted denim shirt is a perfect item to throw on during those summer evenings. Wear with the sleeves half rolled up and one button fastened (or completely open if you wish) to give a casual sense to the outfit. Go for the stone wash rather than the indigo colour for this outfit.
(http://www.firetrap.com/Wicked-without-PRODFEAT71/)
As already mentioned on the blog, these Ted Baker shorts just scream “fashion” to me.
(http://www.tedbaker.com/men%27s/trousers_+_shorts/83068-dark_denim_turn_up_shorts/detail.aspx?pfm=browse)
With the darker tones, they’re perfect to team up with a brighter coloured t shirt and a lighter denim jacket. Mix with a pair of white plimsolls and white aviator sunglasses and you’re set to stun in the summer weather. Why not try wearing the top half with jeans and military boots for a casual evening look?
This look can include just the t shirt and shorts, or can include mixed and matched elements: it’s your personal style that will make any outfit dazzle. But, the number one rule for double denim? Make sure you get it right for your body type, there’s nothing worse than seeing an oversized middle aged bloke trying to pull off the look above.
Not so long ago I found myself searching for my gag reflex at the thought of wearing double denim - it was possibly the worst fashion mishap I could endure, however, on the weekend I went out brought three outfits based on the double denim look... Yes, three outfits! After examining the trends of this season, it seems that the fashion houses are including the clean cut look into the double denim look with fitted shirts and fitted jeans. I must say, I am now a double denim addict.
So, I find myself asking “why”? Why denim? Why the colour? Why is it making a comeback? Well, the array of blue colours are perfect for the Sp/Su season giving off a more gentle aura than the browns of the military look, perfect for basking in the sun on the weekend. The dark and light blues are perfectly blended with the bright colours seen on the catwalks, making it a style to make you stand out from the crowd. If dressed properly, the DD look will also give you that vintage edge which is becoming more and more popular in today's society.
Who’s making us wear this style? All the major fashion houses had the DD look going on, mainly the Ralph Lauren and D&G collections, making it practically inescapable. Now, it has flooded down to the upper high street stores, namely French Connection and (even more prominently) Firetrap. Even the traditional British fashion lines (such as Ted Baker and Vivienne Westwood) have found themselves with some timeless denim pieces. And as for celebrities, everyone from David Beckham to Kanye West have been papped sporting jeans and denim shirts. Mr West has even been seen going for the triple denim look...
Now, it’s easy to make a mistake with this image: making you look more of an 80’s rock band reject than style icon. It’s important to stay away from black and dark colours (unless of course, you are an 80’s rock band reject). Use different shades of denim (of course, darker tones on the bottom and lighter tones on the top to make the most of your figure) and mix with bright colour t shirts and accessories.
My favourite summer look costs a total of £155 and includes pieces that can be mixed and matched with other styles.
A bright t shirt is needed for any Sp/Su look. This fitted “rocket red” piece from the DKNY Jeans collection is perfect for this summer. The picture really doesn’t do it justice, the real item has a much richer tone to it and looks amazing teamed up with the jean shorts.
(http://dknyjeansintl.com/collections/Spring-Summer-2010/men/Spring-Summer-2010--br-Look-18.aspx)
Now, a piece I fell in love with. This (once again following the clean cut trend) fitted denim shirt is a perfect item to throw on during those summer evenings. Wear with the sleeves half rolled up and one button fastened (or completely open if you wish) to give a casual sense to the outfit. Go for the stone wash rather than the indigo colour for this outfit.
(http://www.firetrap.com/Wicked-without-PRODFEAT71/)
As already mentioned on the blog, these Ted Baker shorts just scream “fashion” to me.
(http://www.tedbaker.com/men%27s/trousers_+_shorts/83068-dark_denim_turn_up_shorts/detail.aspx?pfm=browse)
With the darker tones, they’re perfect to team up with a brighter coloured t shirt and a lighter denim jacket. Mix with a pair of white plimsolls and white aviator sunglasses and you’re set to stun in the summer weather. Why not try wearing the top half with jeans and military boots for a casual evening look?
This look can include just the t shirt and shorts, or can include mixed and matched elements: it’s your personal style that will make any outfit dazzle. But, the number one rule for double denim? Make sure you get it right for your body type, there’s nothing worse than seeing an oversized middle aged bloke trying to pull off the look above.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Topman and Selfridges Blogs.
Two new blogs to add to your collection, perfect for keeping up with all the goings on at Topman and Britian's best department store - Selfridges:
The Topman Blog: http://blog.topman.com/
The Selfridges Blog: http://www.selfridges.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WhatIsOnDisplay?pCategoryId=86946&storeId=10052&categoryId=103267&langId=-1&catalogId=12151
The Topman Blog: http://blog.topman.com/
The Selfridges Blog: http://www.selfridges.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WhatIsOnDisplay?pCategoryId=86946&storeId=10052&categoryId=103267&langId=-1&catalogId=12151
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Ted Baker / Style Birmingham Blogs.
Some great fashion blogs for men and women style icons!
Ted Baker: http://www.tedbakerblog.com/
A great source for keeping up with all things Ted Baker, definately one to keep an eye on.
Style Birmingham: http://www.stylebirmingham.com/blog/
Another wonderful source for all things fashion going on in Birmingham - the UK's Second City!
Ted Baker: http://www.tedbakerblog.com/
A great source for keeping up with all things Ted Baker, definately one to keep an eye on.
Style Birmingham: http://www.stylebirmingham.com/blog/
Another wonderful source for all things fashion going on in Birmingham - the UK's Second City!
Starbucks: The Place to be This Season.
Any lad (or girl) about town will need the perfect place to take a breather in between major shopping, browsing galleries and attending the theatre. Any lad (or girl) about town will need the perfect place to meet up with friends, have a drink and a bite to eat. Any lad (or girl) about town will know that the perfect place for this is a classically contemporary furnished Starbucks. Let’s face it, there are a million coffee shops out there and out of all them, Starbucks is the number one place to be.
The tagline “your perfect coffee made just the way you like it” is 100% true, you can create vertually any beverage you want when ordering.
Now, for the first time “Starbucks-er” it might appear scary... Everything appears to be in a different language - it still baffles me that the smallest cup for a cold beverage is a “tall” and the biggest is “venti” (but I suppose the world carries on, doesn’t it?). But trust me, there is something in Starbucks for everyone. For the coffee lover they have super strong espressos, for the chocolate lover why not try a chocolate Crème Frappuccino®? Or if you want the best of both world take pleasure in ordering a white chocolate mocha? It may look daunting at first but in the end you're bound to find your perfect drink and then venture into the other "fields of coffee". You'll soon be an expert at speaking the language, these days I find it's pretty much self explanatory
Starbucks is my favourite place to meet up with friends, study, create, design, write, relax and eat. In most stores you can relax on double arm chairs whilst being given the perfect atmosphere to study, create and relax. (Hey, I got A*'s in Physics after spending weekend after weekend studying in Starbucks with friends... And believe me, Physics was hard!)
The barista's (people who make your drinks) are always friendly and are trained in the language of "Starbucks". Ask them for an "extra hot grande vanilla latte with room for cream and a sprinkling of chocolate to go" and they'll have it whipped up for you (freshly) within minutes. Plus, with the new Starbucks VIA™ you can take your perfect coffee home to make instantly with hot water. Still not satisfied? You can buy Starbucks mugs for use at home, there's nothing stopping you from creating your own coffee from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Now, as it's approaching Summer, an extra hot cinnamon latte might not suit your mood; thankfully Starbucks have catered for this by creating a whole range of Summer coolers. Swap your extra hot drink for an "iced caffe latte" instead and relax in the outdoor seating area many stores offer. Or have it take out (a Starbucks take out cup is the perfect accessory for any style icon!) and explore the city.
And let's not forget the range of snacks and meals there is to offer. Choose from muffins, cakes and doughnuts or fruit salads, pasta salads and porridge... Or even paninis and toasties.
Not wanting to have a buldge appearing over the top of your new trousers? Ask for the skinny option available in most drinks and some food. Using skimmed milk and sugar free syrups, it's the perfect treat for anyone wanting to stay in shape.
And let's not forget the relaxing, vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere... It's the perfect place to feel the excitement (or the escape to the peaceful corner of the room) of the city.
With wonderful art decor and stylish furniture, it's definately the place to be this Summer after a long day of shopping or to simply to read a book.
Useful links:
Download the Starbucks App for iPod Touch / iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mystarbucks/id331177714?mt=8
Visit Starbucks UK:
https://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/
OR
http://www.starbuckscoffee.co.uk/
A Starbucks blog:
http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/
myStarbucks Idea:
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/apex/ideaHome
The tagline “your perfect coffee made just the way you like it” is 100% true, you can create vertually any beverage you want when ordering.
Now, for the first time “Starbucks-er” it might appear scary... Everything appears to be in a different language - it still baffles me that the smallest cup for a cold beverage is a “tall” and the biggest is “venti” (but I suppose the world carries on, doesn’t it?). But trust me, there is something in Starbucks for everyone. For the coffee lover they have super strong espressos, for the chocolate lover why not try a chocolate Crème Frappuccino®? Or if you want the best of both world take pleasure in ordering a white chocolate mocha? It may look daunting at first but in the end you're bound to find your perfect drink and then venture into the other "fields of coffee". You'll soon be an expert at speaking the language, these days I find it's pretty much self explanatory
Starbucks is my favourite place to meet up with friends, study, create, design, write, relax and eat. In most stores you can relax on double arm chairs whilst being given the perfect atmosphere to study, create and relax. (Hey, I got A*'s in Physics after spending weekend after weekend studying in Starbucks with friends... And believe me, Physics was hard!)
The barista's (people who make your drinks) are always friendly and are trained in the language of "Starbucks". Ask them for an "extra hot grande vanilla latte with room for cream and a sprinkling of chocolate to go" and they'll have it whipped up for you (freshly) within minutes. Plus, with the new Starbucks VIA™ you can take your perfect coffee home to make instantly with hot water. Still not satisfied? You can buy Starbucks mugs for use at home, there's nothing stopping you from creating your own coffee from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Now, as it's approaching Summer, an extra hot cinnamon latte might not suit your mood; thankfully Starbucks have catered for this by creating a whole range of Summer coolers. Swap your extra hot drink for an "iced caffe latte" instead and relax in the outdoor seating area many stores offer. Or have it take out (a Starbucks take out cup is the perfect accessory for any style icon!) and explore the city.
And let's not forget the range of snacks and meals there is to offer. Choose from muffins, cakes and doughnuts or fruit salads, pasta salads and porridge... Or even paninis and toasties.
Not wanting to have a buldge appearing over the top of your new trousers? Ask for the skinny option available in most drinks and some food. Using skimmed milk and sugar free syrups, it's the perfect treat for anyone wanting to stay in shape.
And let's not forget the relaxing, vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere... It's the perfect place to feel the excitement (or the escape to the peaceful corner of the room) of the city.
With wonderful art decor and stylish furniture, it's definately the place to be this Summer after a long day of shopping or to simply to read a book.
Useful links:
Download the Starbucks App for iPod Touch / iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mystarbucks/id331177714?mt=8
Visit Starbucks UK:
https://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/
OR
http://www.starbuckscoffee.co.uk/
A Starbucks blog:
http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/
myStarbucks Idea:
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/apex/ideaHome
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