Journal

Characterised by its bold, playful and luxurious nature Nasomatto perfume is for the risk taker, with fragrances that blur the lines between masculine and feminine. Created in 2007, the brand has since established itself amongst the world’s leading perfumes thanks to its quirky branding and sublime scents; not surprising since the nose behind it is Alessandro Gualtieri, an Italian perfumer who has created scents for Versace, Valentino, Helmut Lang, Fendi and more. With the festive season fast approaching and panic starting to set in, why not treat yourself or a loved one to one of the nine fragrances Nasomatto has to offer? With deep, rich scents of tobacco and oud juxtaposing against clean citrus and floral notes, it could get confusing when searching for the right one - that’s where we come in. Here is our carefully curated guide to Nasomatto perfumes, here to help you choose the perfect scent this Christmas: Black Afgano Notes: Tobacco, coffee, wood, oud. A firm Stanwells favourite, Black Afgano is abundant with deep notes of wood and oud creating a stunningly rich fragrance that lasts for hours on the skin. With top notes of coffee and tobacco, this fragrance aims to evoke the best quality of hashish to give a quirky, illicit scent. Perfect for evening wear, Black Afgano’s androgynous nature will suit any wearer, male or female. Nudiflorum Notes: Jasmine, bergamot, smoke. The newest addition to the Nasomatto family, Nudiflorum is bursting with fresh floral notes of jasmine and bergamot contrasted with richer undertones of smoke. The perfect unique feminine fragrance that will stand the test of time. Take this fragrance from day to night with ease thanks to its delicate nature. Baraonda Notes: Musk, amber, rose, whiskey, wood. A rich yet sweet scent bursting with bold undertones of wood and musk. Delicate top notes include rose and whiskey, creating a distinguished and unique balance of masculine and feminine notes. The lighter, sweeter notes reveal themselves as time goes by to leave a long lasting fragrance that’s sure to grab people’s attention. Blamage Notes: Musk, birch, leather, white woods. This complex fragrance is abundant with pale woody notes contrasted beautifully with deeper tones of musk and leather to create a powerful scent inspired by nature. Packaged in a quirky bottle with a silver birch inspired top, this fragrance makes a stunning gift, perfect for Christmas. China White Notes: Wood, musk, rose, powder, floral. Indulge your senses with this floral, powdery scent that settles on the skin beautifully thanks to the deeper woody base notes. This soft, mesmerising mix of light and dark has created a complex feminine scent that makes the perfect gift for others or as a treat for yourself. Duro Notes: Leather, spices, wood. Perhaps one of the most festive scents thanks to the delicate use of spices, this perfume takes a turn towards the deep and indulgent. Heavy base notes of leather and wood ooze masculinity whilst the clean crisp edge of spices lifts this fragrance to a lighter more feminine scent. Narcotic V Notes: Tuberose, jasmine, lily, spices. The most feminine of all, Narcotic V is made for the elegant woman who prefers lighter, floral notes. With extracts of tuberose, jasmine and lily, this delicate nectar lasts for hours on the skin as the layers of sweetness reveal themselves over time. Pardon Notes: Magnolia, cinnamon, tonka bean, dark chocolate, sandalwood. A delicately balanced rich fragrance that evokes notes of masculinity through the use of sandalwood and tonka bean, contrasted with the lighter tones of magnolia and cinnamon. Bursting with delectable, sweet ingredients this fragrance is perfect for the festive party season. Silver Musk Notes: Musk, white wood, metallic. A soft, clean scent that embodies freshness and lightness, the perfect neutral fragrance for everyday wear. With stunning undertones of musk balanced cleverly with pale metallic notes, Silver Musk is an effortlessly chic perfume that’s sure to suit everyone’s taste.

We're all dreaming of an Autumn escape now that the seasons have changed, whether it's a beach break or a winter hideaway. Here at Stanwells we love hearing from our designers and the lovely Madeleine Thompson was kind enough to share her dream weekend away with us - get ready for some serious holiday inspiration!... My favourite long weekend away would be to go to Los Angeles in the autumn (right now!) The weather now is so amazing: sunny but cool in the evenings and is perfect for cashmere! I would stay at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica for a night and eat an early dinner at Gjelina's on Abbot Kinney in Venice, followed by a stroll down this street which is just full of the most amazing boutiques. I'm really vibing the whole 'cashmere from top to bottom' look at the moment (my version of the twinset!) so it would be perfect to wear: (Madeleine Thompson Eris Pant & Jedha Bomber) What's also perfect for LA in the fall is a long cardigan on top of a maxi dress and my favourite of the moment is C04 Calypso on top of a dress: The second day I would drive up to the Malibu mountains to this amazing airstream up in the middle of nowhere which literally feels like you are on the top of the world. I would do a hike at nearby solstice canyon and then relax in my rainbow cashmere set whilst watching the sun set. I would then drive down to Malibu pier and have breakfast at the Malibu Farm Cafe on the end of the Pier which makes the most amazing juices and fresh seasonal dishes. I would take a paddle board out near the proper surfers and hopefully see some seals and dolphins who often play in the surf around there! I would wear a Broochini swimsuit under my wetsuit! Nobu Malibu and SoHo house are right there for a special treat (best brunch at the weekend) with yoga at SoHo house available every morning. I will always pop on my cashmere set after doing a yoga session. (Madeleine Thompson Saturn Sweater & Pluto Pant)

Here at Stanwells we love finding exciting new brands that break away from the mould and that's precisely why we love Hayley Menzies so much. Her collections are bursting with playful prints and bold colours, perfect for brightening up a dull winters day. To mark the arrival of the AW18 collection, we ventured up to Hayley's beautiful Notting Hill bolthole to ask her a few questions about her life, work and inspirations. After meeting the whole team (including Hayley's gorgeous cat, Mouse) we settled down on the cosy sofas adorned with stunning Emma Shipley cushions with a cup of tea and Mouse in tow.... Did you work in fashion before you started your own label? I studied at LCF when I was 18 but quit as London life was far too exciting to be stuck in a classroom! Before starting my label I had a party planning company which was super creative. Do you find the time to get a good work/life balance? NO!! Just as well I love what I do hey… I do practice yoga and go to the gym a few times a week which keeps me sane. If so, what would your dream off-duty day comprise of? Yoga and hours in a beauty salon being pampered and massaged. Who are your favourite designers and why? Alessandro Michele for Gucci – I love how Gucci has shaped fashion these past few years with the more is more concept! And I love new upcoming brands like The Vampires Wife. Where do you get your inspiration...did you take a trip ‘way out west’ before you were inspired to do your Autumn collection? I travel a lot, and a road trip west is on my list… I just transported myself there whilst daydreaming! Why have you based yourself in Notting Hill, do you think that’s where you would find the typical Hayley Menzies girl? I've lived all over London but Notting Hill is where I feel most at home. It has a creative spirit and is full of colourful characters. Which fashion bloggers do you love to see in your clothes? Soraya Bakhtiar, Bettina Looney and most recently Millie Macintosh and Zara Martin… also Kat Farmer from blog Does My Bum Look 40 is fab. Which is your favourite fashion capital: London, Paris, New York or Milan and why? I love New York so much and could live there… just waiting for a hot man to marry so I can get a Green Card! Paris I adore during Fashion Week… everyone looks so chic. You seem very hands on and in touch with the team you work with, is this how you see the Hayley Menzies brand in 10 years time? Haha… well I hope to be spending more time on design and less on admin and production. Id always like to be hands on in sales as I love meeting buyers. Who stocks your brand outside of the UK at the moment? Harvey Nichols, Shop Bop, Anthropology and various amazing independent boutiques. Which celebrity would you most like to dress and why? Sounds old, but I still adore Kate Moss and would literally die if she wore something from my collection. What’s next for Hayley Menzies in life and in work? What life? Workwise I’d like to design another couple of collections a year and further develop my own retail business. Personal life… I’d love to meet my Prince Charming and take more holidays!

We've been lucky enough to speak to Amber Smith, author of the fabulous fashion & lifestyle blog Style and Shimmer this week to get a better understanding of what it's really like to pursue a career as a blogger. From product release events to photography tips, Amber has let us in on her daily routine as well as her favourite AW18 trends that we will no doubt be seeing on her blog and Instagram soon! So without further ado, let's hear what Amber had to say... No day is the same for me as I’m always doing lots of different things, but looking at a typical working day for my blog, Style and Shimmer, it would look like this... I tend to set my alarm for around 7 am and always scroll through Instagram first thing! I never really plan my outfit the day before unless there is an event, so its really fun to look for inspiration through my favourite accounts. I very rarely go to the gym in the morning; I would love to but I’d much rather the extra time in bed, if I’m honest! Often I go to blogger breakfasts or brunches for new product releases which I love doing, and I like to make an effort for this. Recently with the transitional period, I’ve been loving wearing a blazer with a dress or a skirt and bare legs for a smart/casual look. I am looking forward to getting my boots and cosy knits out soon though, as well as experimenting with the AW18 trends. I am loving all the leopard, leather and pleats. I’ll also definitely be investing in something silver for Christmas parties! I take my laptop everywhere with me, so if I wasn’t coming home to work from my office then I would usually head to my friends house where we work together for the day. I really enjoy doing this as I find working with people who have similar goals really motivating, and bouncing ideas of each other always helps creative thinking... With regards to taking my photos, I always get either my Mum, sister or a friend to take them for me. I feel most comfortable this way as they know me best and we can just mess around and be silly until I get a few that I like. I take them on my iPhone and then edit on apps - VSCO and Snapseed. I would say for me, the best time to take photos is in the afternoon because the light is best and I find it hard to concentrate for more than a few hours at a time, so it breaks up the day nicely! Once I have the photos, I narrow them down, edit them how I like, always using the same filter which is A5 on VSCO and then I put them into the Later app. This is so helpful because it allows you to preview how your Instagram feed will look before publishing. One thing that I have learnt works well for me, is to have a theme running through e.g certain colours. I also work freelance in styling, hair and makeup for private clients so depending on if I have any appointments or not in the evenings, I love going for dinner and drinks with the girls and having a good catch up! Either this, or a shopping trip, even if its just window shopping for more inspiration!! My favourite brands are the likes of ASH, IRO, Jerome Dreyfuss, Chinti & Parker and Emma J Shipley for designer treats, but day to day I am a Zara and Mango girl too!

Smythe co-founders Andrea Lenczner (right) & Christie Smythe (left) For those of you who have been keeping up to date with our 'new arrivals' section, you'll know that Canadian brand Smythe has returned to Stanwells with a bang for AW18, with power blazers and modern tailoring that you won't find anywhere else. We've been lucky enough to chat with co-founders Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe to delve deeper into the world of sartorial elegance they have created.... Hi Andrea & Christie, thank you so much for taking the time to give us an insight into the world of Smythe. Let’s start at the beginning - what inspired you to launch Smythe back in 2004? A: We first launched SMYTHE because we couldn’t find a casual, yet novel, blazer. In other words, the equivalent to a men’s sports jacket. We talked about how the blazer was a transformative piece of clothing that pulled together a whole look. Back in the early 2000s, if you wanted to wear a blazer with a pair of jeans or over a dress, it came as part of a suit. What were both of your backgrounds before you set up Smythe? A: After my MBA, I started my career as a banker but quickly realized it was not my passion. It took me a while, but I eventually left finance to break into the fashion industry (my true love) and eventually became a buyer at Holt Renfrew, a high-end department store, here in Canada. C: I took a more traditional path into the fashion business. I studied Fashion and Merchandising at Parsons School of Design in New York. After my degree, I worked in product development in the NYC design offices of The Gap. A: Before starting SMYTHE we both had incredible experience in different areas of the fashion industry. We had always discussed a creative venture and when the time was right, we went for it! How did you settle on the name ‘SMYTHE’ seeing as there have been 2 of you from the very beginning? C: When we were considering our branding we thought “SMYTHE” sounded sartorial and British. We knew tailoring would play a big role in our collection and we liked the association. Andrea never had an ego about using my last name. Did you ever imagine that your designs would gain a cult-status following with the likes of Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton sporting the brand on a regular basis? C: It is such an honour that all kinds of women choose to buy and wear our pieces. Whether that’s to a Royal appearance, a red carpet premiere, boardroom meeting or the school drop off-line, its all flattering given all the choice out there. How do you see Smythe evolving over the next few years? C: We will continue to develop a full collection including, knits, dresses, bottoms, suiting, outerwear... A: We keep working to surprise our customers. Stay tuned! Are there any other designers out there that influence or inspire you and your creations? A: Influence is so hard to pin down. It comes from everywhere and is not always conscious. We are inspired by nature, friends, vintage, lifestyle and most importantly, textiles. We are definitely inspired by the Designer world and follow fashion closely. As a contemporary brand we see it as our duty to filter out the zeitgeist and perhaps make it a touch more relatable. Do you have a favourite piece from the new AW18 collection and if so, what makes it so special? C: I love the A-Line Multi Sweater that is hand knit by the Augden women’s collective in Bolivia. I also love the Buff Leopard Coat, it’s such a beautiful peachy shade for a leopard print. A: The Pull-on Pant with the above mentioned knit. I will be wearing it for all my crazy fall travel days. They're so polished yet comfortable. What do you recommend pairing the ever-popular Duchess Blazer with for a smart/casual everyday look? A: The Duchess Blazer remains one of our best-selling styles. We think it resonates with the customer because it is so versatile and can be worn so many ways. Different people wear it differently. The most current merchandising would be belted with a fanny pack over a bike short! C: I wear mine over a t-shirt and high waisted jeans A: I wear mine over a flowy loose dress and ankle boots. This season they will be cowboy boots. How would you describe your own personal style in 3 words? C: Classic, “East-coast”, (not too) Preppy A: Modern, progressive, (not too) Polished. Finally, what are your aspirations for the Smythe label over the next five years? A: World domination! Thank you so much to Andrea & Christie for chatting with us and we look forward to seeing what Smythe comes up with next! Take a look at the fabulous Smythe collection here...

How to Wear: AW18 Trends Get ahead of the trends with the Stanwells guide to AW18 dressing; from bold prints to sumptuous textures and chunky footwear, we’re here to help you curate your coolest outfits yet. Why not try pairing casual trainers with a structured blazer for a modern take on daytime dressing or perhaps mix a bold print with tonal accents for a chic co-ordinated look. Here’s our round-up of the hottest trends for AW18 and how to wear them… Animal Print A timeless classic, animal prints feature heavily in our AW18 collections from traditional animal skins from Jerome Dreyfuss to fantastical animal illustrations from Emma Shipley. It’s important to use animal print in moderation and we think it works best used as an accent to your outfit through accessories and outerwear. Combine bold leopard prints with denim, black and oatmeal to tone your look down or add a bright splash of colour to your outfit with a wildlife print scarf. Here’s how we would style our current animal print favourites: Jerome Dreyfuss Remi Bag | Jumper 1234 Balloon Sleeve Sweater | Citizens of Humanity Elsa Jeans Emma Shipley Frith Silk Chiffon Scarf | Smythe Portrait Neck Blazer | Parker Smith Step Hem Straight Jeans Chunky Trainers Dress like an Instagram Fashionista this Autumn and add some chunky trainers to your wardrobe. Perfect for adding some extra height and cool-girl style to your daytime look, pair your trainers with everything from jeans to joggers or add an edge to your dresses and smart tailoring. Take a look at how we’d wear them this season for some outfit inspiration: Maison Labiche Bonjour Paris Sweater | AG Jeans Jodi Crop Flares | Ash Addict Trainers   Boutique Moschino Silk Front Cardi | Sportmax Giava Trousers | Crime Dynamic Trainers Stylish Slogans Slogans are here to stay and our AW18 offerings subtly play on the logo-mania trend, from small embroidered phrases to bold, vibrant logos. Make your outfit social media worthy by pairing your chic slogan prints with anything from feminine pastel gilets and laid-back joggers to a tailored jacket and jeans. Here are our favourite slogan pairings at the moment:   Maison Labiche Oh La La Tee | Smythe Duchess Blazer | Parker Smith Courtney Crop Jeans   Parajumpers Dodi Gilet | Chinti & Parker Cropped Lounge Pants Why not try venturing out of your comfort zone and pick one of the above trends to update your winter wardrobe? We’d love you to let us know what your favourite AW18 trends are on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Let’s keep in mind that the season has only just started, so you can expect an abundance of new season trends to be filtering through our new arrivals section every week. Keep your eyes peeled for our next installment of How to Wear: AW18 Trends over the next few weeks as we’ve only just scratched the surface!...