Journal

Summer is fading fast, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the most of it while it lasts. We’re experts in locating the very best women’s summer clothing styles from the most exciting brands and new designers, and we’ve got one last late summer line-up for you. Introducing our final SS17 edit; a collection of our favourite styles perfect for those final stolen days of summer, and just as perfect for the first few golden weeks of autumn. Let’s start with footwear... We’re at that stage in the year where it’s starting to get a little too cold for open summer sandals, but you still want a little bit of foot freedom. This is where these gorgeous golden mules from London label, Hudson Shoes, step in to save the day. The open heel and vented sides help hold on to an element of summer style and will keep your feet nice and cool, while the closed toe offers some protection just in case the British late-summer weather decides to be unkind at the last minute. We absolutely love the glamorous golden suede on these mules; it adds such a gorgeous sunshine glow to any outfit you pair them with, and the chunky wooden heel is bang on trend this season and heading into next. Dressed up or dressed down, these are the ultimate summer-into-autumn designer fashion essential. Grab a pair here. The key to perfect summer clothing is colour, and lots of it. This head turning blouse from London label, RIXO, more than delivers on the colour, and on everything else besides. Bold, floaty and loose-fitting, this blouse is vibrant and comfortable enough for warmer weather, while also flaunting equally autumnal colours and long sleeves for the approaching new season. We fell in love with RIXO’s combination of daring contemporary style and nostalgic retro print of this blouse, and its potential for both casual and dressed-up outfits. You can pair this silken number with almost anything, from your favourite relaxed jeans to high-waisted skirts and heels, making it the ideal ‘main event’ piece for a huge variety of outfits. Take a closer look and buy yours here. Accessories now, and we just had to show you this stunning clutch designed in the heart of the French countryside by Maison Baluchon. There’s something just so inherently summery about this gorgeous jungle-themed print, with its splashes of warm yellows, oranges and greens. Incidentally, these colours also lend themselves perfectly to traditional autumn colour schemes, so you’re well and truly covered for this season and next. Carry all your essentials in style through those final balmy summer evening garden parties, and add a splash of nature-inspired fun to your AW17 outfits for the easiest seasonal accessory transition ever. The right pair of trousers can make the perfect all-seasons fashion companion, and we’ve got that exact right pair here at Stanwells. These head-turning African print linen pants are the creation of luxury Italian label, 120% Lino, famous for their use of the best quality linens. That mesmerising print combined with the lightweight linen and cropped style makes these pants the summer wardrobe champions, lending themselves perfectly to summer days out and evening BBQs. Fast forward into AW17, and you’ve got trousers to keep your legs from getting too chilly, combined with the vibrant earthy colour schemes of autumn. It couldn’t get much more convenient, or much more on-trend. Pair with sandals or ankle boots and a black leather jacket to complete the look. You can find these incredible pants right here in our online store. With any or all of these pieces, you’ll be investing in fashion that lasts from season to season, and making sure you’re getting the most of the last of the summer sunshine. We’re experts in choosing the very best of women’s summer clothing, so why not browse our complete collection of boutique ranges online at Stanwells today.

Introducing RIXO London, our brand of the month and latest fashion crush. Each month we will be taking a closer look at one of our newest additions to the Stanwells designer family, showcasing their collections and choosing our favourite pieces. RIXO London is our new obsession here at Stanwells. It has everything you could ever want from a designer clothing label: stunning prints, unique designs and luxurious fabrics. The label was founded by best friends and London College of Fashion alumni, Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McClosky. Elegantly combining their surnames to create the brand name, RIXO, these two friends shared a love for all things vintage. In 2015 they began creating a clothing line that explored this mutual passion, with the most beautiful results imaginable. RIXO clothing combines fearless contemporary designs with bursts of vintage flair, and the prints are simply to die for. No two pieces are the same, there’s always something new to look at, and you’ll wish you could take the lot home with you immediately – at least, that’s what happened to us when we first discovered RIXO. We knew the moment we laid eyes on this stunning collection that we simply had to have it at Stanwells, so we selected a range of our favourite pieces to bring back for you. If you’ve already seen the RIXO designer womenswear collection, you’ll know it’s a treasure trove of luxury fabrics. Silk is a firm favourite for Henrietta and Orlagh (and us), and a great deal of the RIXO pieces we selected for Stanwells are crafted from it, including beautiful dresses, skirts and blouses. We chose a range of pieces that could be worn either individually or as part of an ensemble, giving you more choice and opportunities for new outfit creations. The blouses and skirts, for example, could be paired up for a truly head-turning vintage look, or you could simply slip into a RIXO silk dress and rock it all by itself. Without further ado, here are three of our personal silk RIXO favourites here at Stanwells: Oh, this dress! We fell in love the moment we saw it, and we think you’ll see why. That spellbinding print, known as Oriental Sky, drew us in immediately. With it’s splashes of red among a detailed black design, all on a background of elegant cream silk, this print gets 10 out of 10 from the Stanwells team. Continuing the Oriental theme, the Cindy wrap dress also features delicate black piping around the collar, neckline, cuffs and hem, and wide kimono style sleeves. The whole thing is drawn together beautifully with a simple black tie fastening to help cinch in the waist and create a truly gorgeous Eastern look. We think this dress works perfectly when paired up with a pair of black velvet or suede ankle boots, as this creates the ultimate evening look without needing to resort to gigantic heels. As some of the latest additions to our new season collection, these dresses will go fast, so snap yours up quick!Yes we have, once again, been drawn in by a print, and what a spectacular print this is. Bold, mesmerising and elegant, this top will attract so many compliments, just you watch. We love its swirls of vibrant red and green florals, classy V neckline, delicate tie sleeves and retro tapered collar, all combined in a floaty, loose-fitting blouse design. The RIXO ladies have once again managed to create a super contemporary design that also oozes vintage flair and retro fun. How do they do it? We simply don’t know, but we love the results. The best thing about this blouse, and one of the main reasons we picked it for our focus blog, is the fact that you can wear it from daytime through to evening with next to no effort. Slip this gorgeous silk blouse on over your favourite jeans or trousers with flats for a playful day look, and then simply swap the flats for heels and you’re ready for the evening. Easy. Want one? We don’t blame you. Take a closer look and get yours here. How cute is this? Move over polka dots, and make way for the mini stars. We couldn’t resist this gorgeous dress for so many reasons. Of course, the print was an instant hit. Striking yet sophisticated, it draws the eye and flatters the figure simultaneously. And we just love that contrasting neck tie; such a simple idea yet a stroke of total style genius in our opinion. The neck tie immediately elevates the outfit into the ultimate retro 70s siren look, and the daring-yet-classy skirt splits create an incredible, billowing skirt shape to top it all off. As if all that style wasn’t enough, this RIXO creation is crafted from 100% silk, so you’ve got the luxury as well as the looks. Add a splash of statement colour with a waist belt or bold heels, or pair with your favourite ankle boots for an equally sophisticated evening outfit. Take a closer look at this gorgeous dress and add it to your new autumn wardrobe here. We’re so excited about the addition of RIXO London to our Stanwells line-up, and we can’t wait to see what you all think of the pieces in the collection. If you’re anything like us, you’ll swoon over every single one. Love this collection? Remember to check back in next month for the next installment in our Brand of the Month series.

How far would you travel to find the perfect outfit? If you’re anything like us, you can’t resist exploring the fashion treasures in every boutique you come across on your travels. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of discovering a new designer, and that’s why we’ve made it our business to do exactly this. Not off on holiday any time soon? You’ve always got us. We’re always searching the world for new and exciting brands, and bringing them back here to our boutique stores for you to explore. So here’s a whistle-stop tour of some of our favourite designers from around the world, and how they captured our hearts: In the exotic, faraway land of Morocco, we discovered the beautiful work of Maryam and Daren Bonar, and their label, En Shalla. The moment we saw these stunning hand-woven handbags we knew we had to find out more about the artists behind them. After visiting the local artisans of Marrakesh, Maryam and Daren were inspired to combine traditional North African art with modern fashion ideas. They began weaving beautiful bags using natural raffia and leather trim to create a unique style, and we fell head over heels for it. Perfect for festivals and completing any boho chic outfit, these bags are an accessory-lover’s dream. Let’s now jump back across the sea to Europe and one of the biggest fashion destinations of the world: Italy. It’s here that we discovered the stunning work of fashion designer, Vivi Ponti, a.k.a Vivetta. Famous for her signature embroidery, clean lines and retro feel, all of Vivetta’s clothing is designed and crafted exclusively in Italy, so it doesn’t get much more authentic than this. Vivi’s collections take inspiration from sixties and seventies style, as well as poetry, dolls and antiques, and this comes through in her gorgeous designs. And with stars like Pixie Lott, Alexa Chung and Cher Lloyd having been spotted wearing Vivetta clothing, we couldn’t resist bringing some of our favourite pieces back with us for our stores. Heading across the pond to the States now, and the star-studded city of Los Angeles. Here we discovered the masters of denim, AG Jeans. Launched in 2000 by denim industry pioneer, Yul Ku, AG Jeans has grown from a denim designer to an established contemporary lifestyle brand, and we can’t get enough of their style. Once you’ve slipped into AG’s luxuriously soft denim, you’ll never go back to high street jeans again. Plus, you’ll love the classic, sophisticated styles such as The Stilt and The Legging – two of our absolute favourites – and these, unsurprisingly, remain the key styles for the brand. One more thing we love about this brand is their attitude toward social responsibility. Did you know that AG only use eco-conscious fibres and partner with charity: water, to help make a difference to people in developing nations. Amazing work, amazing brand. A relatively short hop from the States is Canada, home to another of our favourite fashion brand discoveries: SOIA & KYO. Founded in Montreal in 2004 by creative director, Ilan Elfassy, this brand believes that beauty is found in simplicity, and we couldn’t agree more. When we discovered the brand’s timeless, tailored style we couldn’t resist introducing it to our own stores as one of our favourite lines of ladies’ outerwear. Combining luxurious materials and the chic, contemporary style of Montreal, SOIA & KYO is now a global brand, and will always have a place at Stanwells. And finally, it’s back over to Europe and another world fashion destination: France, of course. Here we discovered the stunning work of Maison Baluchon, crafting high-end accessories with some of the most swoon-worthy prints you’ve ever seen. Maison Baluchon’s range of beautifully crafted fabric and leather pouchettes, clutches and iPad cases is created by designers Nathalie Vidal and Toma Bletner in the heart of the French countryside. Designed to reflect the forests, lakes and rich cultural heritage of their home in Haute-Marne, each piece has a wonderful authenticity to it, and gosh are they pretty! Once we saw them, we just had to have them at Stanwells. They make the perfect accessories, and add a splash of colour and intrigue to any outfit, smart or casual. That concludes our fashion tour of the world for now. If you want to see more, just head over to our Designers section on our website to see more of our favourite labels.

Fashion is personal. The old adage that ‘bigger is better’ couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to fashion retail, and we should know. The gigantic department stores may have a higher volume and variety of products, but is that really conducive to a better shopping experience? We say not. We say boutique is best. Designer fashion deserves to be showcased properly, and this can’t be done as effectively when each piece is drowning in those around it. Experience has shown us that good things really do come in small packages. And here are four very good reasons why: When wandering wide-eyed around enormous department stores, you’re quickly swallowed up by your fellow frantic shoppers and endless rails of products. Everything there is designed for the masses, and one-to-one human interaction is rare. Now imagine this: Walking into an established, local boutique fashion store, and being greeted by the owner who you’ve come to know very well. She has years of experience in seeking out the very best emerging fashion designers, and has an eye for the perfect outfit. She knows what you like, she knows what you love, and she can help you find exactly what you need. That’s the personal touch that only a boutique fashion store can provide, and it can make all the difference to a shopping experience. A boutique store is characterised by its small size and its more selective product range, but also by the natural passion of its owners and staff. They know every inch of their stores, and every product that comes through the door has been sought out and hand selected with an expert’s judgement. Each label and each piece of clothing is selected with the customers in mind, and with the intention of evoking the same level of excitement in the customers as it does in the staff. Without this passion, the shopping experience feels empty. The concept of having everything under one roof, while convenient for some, is not what we consider to be the most important offering of a good fashion retailer. Do you want to buy from a store that sells everything to an average standard, or from a specialist store that offers a smaller selection of beautiful things to the highest standard? The latter is what the boutique store brings to the shopping experience. In our case, we’ve got the art of discovering and presenting the most desirable high end fashion from existing and emerging designers down to a tee. Fast fashion has changed the way we shop forever, particularly online, but an unfortunate side effect of this trend is cloning. We all end up wearing the same clothes as everybody else, and that’s not ideal if you want to stand out from the crowd a little every now and then. Boutique fashion stores do things very differently. We don’t order things in bulk, and nor do we order mass produced, high-street products that will end up in the wardrobes of 50,000 other women by the end of the weekend. We take the time to find new, exciting brands and products that will stop you in your tracks. We want you to get the same thrill from buying and wearing our products as we get from sourcing them; there’s nothing else quite like it. If you’re nodding in agreement and thinking you’d quite like to see what we’re talking about, you’re our kind of woman. Here’s how to find us at our beautiful Lymington and Westbourne stores. Come along for a visit or explore our online store if you’re short of time this weekend.

Throughout his AW'17 collection Lorenzo Seraphini tempers the nostalgic crinolines, lace and bows with sharp blazers and masculine high waist pants. Black shearing jackets edged with white and fit and flare skirts hark back to 50's Elizabeth Taylor glamour; whilst a nod to 70's and 80' styling, in the shape of the lace maxi dresses and high neck blouses,the collections mood is feminine and sophisticated with a touch of Jerry Hall's glamour.

Helen Kaminski founded her hat collection in 1983 after making a raffia hat to protect her children from the searing Australian sun. Soon her distinctive design was being coveted by small boutiques in Australia and within a year Vogue recognized these stylish summer hats a must have Summer wardrobe essential. Now a global brand,Helen Kaminski is stocked in the top stores and boutiques across the globe with the classic raffia hats and sun visors offering a factor 50 ultraviolet sun protection in some of the brims and peaks. The sought after sun hats have some roll-up styles that are so easy to pack, emerging from your suitcase like new! New styles and colours each season touch on the trends of the moment; this summers trilby and ' broken in' cowboy styles a must have for chic holiday style.

                  Emma J Shipley is a graphic artist inspired by the irregular patterns and the unique beauty of the natural world; exploring surreal fantasy, imagination and evolution and transferring her designs on to beautiful silk scarves. The Sirens scarf collection is inspired by Ancient Greek myths and stories. The hand-drawn winged Siren waits among rocks; framed by animalistic palm trees, tropical bird life and mischievous monkeys among spotted shells and coral. In the Neptune design, a curious flamingo surveys an underwater scene full of striped fish, starfish and seahorses all in vibrant hues. Inky blues,hot pinks, teal and turquoise and key colours in the collection, highlighted with accents of grey, lime and coral red . Each artwork is intricately hand-drawn in pencil, before being printed onto the finest fabrics all with hand rolled edging, finished by hand in Italy. This season Emma J Shipley continues with the popular skinny silk scarf and ever popular over sized silk statement scarves for the contemporary woman.

Be cool in 120% Lino’s stylish summer collection, holiday wear, Italian style... Designed and made in Italy, 120% Lino offering Italian style with the collection of stylish dresses, pants, shorts and tops making it the perfect resort wear. Summer 2017 offers great linen basics in white and cool blues along with fabulous collection of printed linen maxi and day dresses trimmed with macramé necklines. Delicate crochet edging adds a touch of glamour to easy to wear throw on holiday dresses with the collections fringed jackets adding a touch of colour for hot summer dressing... 120% Lino is available in our Lymington store and online at www.stanwells.com

Indulge in Duffy New York’s luxurious spring cashmere collection in a delicious array of colours… Duffy is the creation of Ed Duffy, founded in 2009 in New York the label is now eponymous for gorgeous cashmere knits for the cool, contemporary woman. Renowned for a clean understated look and the perfect partner to jeans Duffy knitwear this spring choose from cool greys, soft cream trimmed with vibrant green stripes, pastel pink and blue shot sleeved cashmere tees and de luxe cashmere sweatshirt style sweaters with cut away fronts in zesty lemon sorbet and apple green.. Gorgeous long-line v-neck cashmere button through cardigans in pastel shades with a contrast stripe down the sides; with v- neck hot krill orange sweaters...all a must for everyday dressing with jeans for early spring and cool summer evenings… Duffy makes spring dressing easy in super–soft cashmere in contemporary styles such as oversized sweaters and boyfriend cardigans which are all part of Duffy’s dressed-down chic. Duffy’s mouth-watering knits are understated as always and capture the essence of the modern woman. So chic it up in a fabulous knit from Duffy New York’s stylish spring knitwear collection... All available in store at Westbourne and Lymington boutiques and online at www.stanwells.com