Buttons, buttons & more buttons!

I was reading the Sunday Times Style on, yes, you’ve guessed it, Sunday! Well, one trend the lovely team from Pennington Street quoted was the increase in fashion for buttons! Did you know such a small, relatively insignificant thing could become the thing to wear? Ha! Well, as I looked through the beautiful pictures, I was constantly thinking to myself “we do that!”.

Celtic Sheepskin is meticulous, to the point of obsessive, about the detail. If a garment requires a natural, wooden button, a little off shape and in a deep oak colour, we make sure we get it! And if we want to line up shiny buttons down the back of a jumper, we will! So it looks like we’re ahead of the game again (big pat on back!).

It’s all thanks to our directors trawling around London to find “the” button. Whether they hit upon one to use on a garment they’re designing next season, or rather a button that inspires a design for a jumper – it doesn’t matter. The detail is everything, and we’ll even style a pair of boots around them!

There’s an eclectic range of buttons in our new season’s catalogue, so for those of you who are keen to keep up with the trends (or who perhaps just admire a well finished garment), we thought we’d highlight some great items for you.

First up there’s our Boyfriend Cardigan and the very gorgeous Button-Back Jumper. Both of which have been styled to incorporate a string of mother-of-pearl buttons that either fasten or decorate the knit…

Then there’s the beautiful Short Cape (bang on trend in it’s own right!), which has been styled with two very striking horn buttons - with an almost wooden varnish finish…

Then what about our Button Boot, eh? The orders are flying in for them! And it’s no wonder as we’ve gone for another horn button, this time more circular to set off the sheepskin, and pretty much style the whole boot….
And then there’s our snuggly Jumper Dress, which features a single natural button on each of the turn-back sleeves…

Oh, I could go on forever with this list, but I mustn’t. So I’ll leave you with three of our coats. First up is our Hazelwood Jacket, where we’ve positioned the delicate colour-matching buttons in a military-like fashion…

Then to our Short Hooded Jacket, which again has a military theme also incorporating big wooden buttons on the cuffs…

And to finish off there’s our stunning Funky Jacket, with what can only de described as Cats Whiskers peeping out from the large horn buttons! Style then as you wish…

The world of Celtic Sheepskin, as viewed by one of our newest recruits…

We asked one of our new telephonists, Louise Leith, to write a blog post for us based on her experiences so far at Celtic Sheepskin. We thought you may be interested to learn what it’s like to work for us, but we didn’t expect such an entertaining memoir as this. Enjoy...

"Now this blog post is written by a member of Celtic staff, but alas, it is not a scandalous exposé behind the scenes of the company - it is however a little insight into Celtic through the eyes of one of their newly employed little workers!

OK, so starting any new job is a little bit daunting, but myself, and the other new telephonists who began the day alongside me are consummate professionals. Right?... Right! So, there I was; first day on a new job a little bit nervous (but only a little bit!), clutching my bag complete with pack-lunch like a child starting a new school.

So, what was our introduction to Celtic Sheepskin really like?

Well, to get us acclimatised the next step is getting to know our products, which, in Celtic terms, is quite literally a baptism of sheepskin! In a scene reminiscent of Sex and the City (only somewhat more rural), we are presented with a plethora of sheepskin coats, boots and beautiful knitwear. Then, to get a real feel for the products we are invited to give them a try - I know, I know, but as they say; someone has got to do it!

So I feel well educated about our products, and I'm ready to get on the phone and get advising. Only downside - if there was one? I'd barely started, and mentally spent all my first month’s wages before I'd even been given a desk. Or a pay cheque. Result!"

Alfie Whitworth is growing up fast!

Ah, gone are the days when puppy Alfie will curl up on your lap as you type a blog post. Now we’ve got teenage Alfie, who - with his new gangly body - no longer sleeps all day, instead he much prefers investigating everything and everyone! His long limbs and still very adorable features are chewing boxes and fighting with sheepskins almost hourly, and he has quickly learnt to stroll around the offices each lunchtime to see what goodies he can find!

On our recent shoot for the spring catalogue, we knew that Alfie couldn’t yet be ready trusted to enjoy the countryside on his own as everyone concentrated on the task of styling and photographing our gorgeous models. I mean, he’s still got a great deal of investigating to do and what pup would want to sit around watching boring humans do work? No, we know that Alfie would much prefer to run off and chase a bird or two! We did however snatch a few occasions to bring Alfie along and get him used to the environment. After all, we’re expecting great things of him after seeing what his predecessor Todd achieved!

So for today’s blog post, we’d thought we’d show you just how big our beautiful puppy is getting now…

- It looks like he’s not that far off with his modelling career! Well done Alfie, but next time you may want to eat before you go on camera!

Ooo… we’ve been shooting for the spring summer catalogue!

I know you’re all thinking WHAT! But as we insist that all our images are shot in Cornwall, it means we have to shoot our spring summer 2011 catalogue in September while the sun is still out! So last week our team donned their flip-flops and rolled up their jeans, and took to the great many beaches of Cornwall to shoot what we’re hoping is going to be another spectacular catalogue.

Lisa Parkinson, who usually supervises our factory shop, was one of the team members helping out on the shoot and has kindly put forward some comments about the week. When quizzed about the models, she explained how “Amelie and Natalia our models did such a fantastic job for the autumn/winter brochure that we invited them back to Cornwall once again!” So it looks like the model Amelie who first appears on page 13 of the current Autumn Winter Catalogue and also Natalia who begins her debut on page 19 are going to be all over the new catalogue. How exciting!

And for those who know the area, Lisa described how they visited many of our Cornish beaches including the gorgeous Little Fistral, which is located north of the famous Fistral Beach in Newquay. They also went south of Newquay to Crantock Beach (very popular with the locals), and Bedruthan steps, which has very recently welcomed the new Scarlet Hotel, so if you’re in the area it’s well worth a visit! Lisa went onto to explain that they also ventured to a small village called Millook in Bude (although, to be honest, many villages in Cornwall are small!). This is where they shot inside 'The Shack'. The picture above is of The Shack, and looks absolutely gorgeous. If only you could live there….

Anyway, coming back into the real world again, Lisa went onto comment, or perhaps rub in how they had glorious sunshine during all four days of shoot (so that’s why you have a lovely bronze complexion on your face and arms now Lisa, we’re not jealous at all!).

The catalogue isn’t due out until the early spring as there’s much more to do before the final version can go to print. So for the mean time we’ll leave you with some “behind the scenes” pics that Lisa kindly took for us…

Hidden Gems

Sometimes you can’t see for looking –a phrase often used by the Cornish and perhaps by other counties too. You’ll probably know the phrase “cant see past the end of your nose” a little better, but the first summaries today’s blog more accurately. We often find customers will come into our small factory shop and point out items that they’ve not noticed in the catalogue or on the website, despite looking over the pages countless times. Perhaps if those items were just styled that little bit differently, ie you see them in a different light, then you may think they’re new.

Take for instance our sheepskin scarf. In the Autumn Winter 2010 catalogue we’ve purposely kept the styling minimal so you can clearly what it looks like (and just how gorgeous it is!). But perhaps rather than imagining how you could personally wear it, we instead featured it worn as a shrug, and VOILA, it’s instantly it’s transformed. With sheepskin so very popular this season, are you now tempted…

Then there’s also our Drapey Trench Coat. You may be interested to learn that our Heritage Fit & Flare Coat is flying off the shelves, but the Trench is taking more of a casual walk at the moment. And why? Trenches are big news this autumn/winter, in fact there’s not one magazine that hasn’t featured it among their trends. So why isn’t it flying like the other coat it’s featured with? We can only think it’s because the other is so fantastic that you don’t even give it a second thought. I mean, shot on it’s own, even with the same model it looks absolutely stunning, don’t you think…

And what about our Cross Over Deep V Tank. It made a great feature in the spring summer catalogue worn with just a bikini, but browsing for autumn winter clothing it’s hard to image how you’d use it for the cooler season. Step in model Amelie again, but this time with a long sleeve top underneath and hey presto the top looks fabulous! Do you see what I mean…..?

So I’ll leave you with a few more “transformations”, bringing those items into the spotlight that you may have otherwise over looked. You never know, you may see something you can’t do without ;-)

And it started, stopped and kept starting again; It’s raining cats and dogs!

Looking at the weather across the country, we notice there’s many cities, towns and villages who have come under siege of the autumn rain. In Cornwall we’re getting off lightly with the occasional shower, but I’m sure other counties aren’t so lucky. Goodness only knows why we use the phrase “raining cats and dogs” but I thought as so many of you like our canine mascot, I’d choose that particular heading for today’s blog!

I have just quickly looked on Google for the meaning of the phrase, and according the the “Phrase Finder” it has quite a morbid reflection, and one that I don’t think you’d all like to learn about in this blog post. Of course if the curiosity is to much too bear, you can have a look for yourself CLICK HERE -just don’t say I didn’t warn you, after all curiosity killed the cat! - Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself!

Pushing the well-known phrases aside, I’d like to draw your attention to my top four rain coats from the new autumn winter catalogue. Two are made from a dry-wax cotton and the other two from Epic Cotton. Both fabrics make ideal wet-weather clothing, and more importantly for the current warmer air, are nice and lightweight.

If you’ve not come across a dry wax coat before, then let me quickly explain that it has all the same properties as a waxed jacket (eg a classic Barbour jacket) but without the muggy smell. There’s also no need to “wax” your jacket either to prolong its life as you would with a traditional waxed jacket. Fabulous!

As for Epic Cotton, well I could talk about this fabric for ever. It’s a high performance fabric used in the military. It’s basically windproof, lightweight, breathable and air permeable –air can cool you down but the rain still can’t get in! It will also retain your body heat during the cooler winter months, so is something very special.

With all those facts in mind, I’ll leave you with a few pictures of my top four –starting with the Epic Cotton then Dry Wax Cotton. Click on any one of them to take you to the product page on our website.

Keeping up with the trends: The Statement Knit

At Celtic Sheepskin we find top magazines a great source of inspiration for the current trends. Not one to favour one magazine over another because it’s very much a personal choice, this week we thought we’d draw from Red Magazine’s September issue to talk about the Autumn Winter 2010 trend that is “The Statement Knit”. To epitomise this trend, Red Magazine features a model wearing a cable knit dress and a long chunky scarf. Well, at Celtic Sheepskin we can certainly match that!

Let’s take our Statement Scarf (image above). At £140 it’s no light purchase, but is so chunky and warm you’ll find it often replaces a jacket and is totally on trend this winter. Then of course there’s out own Knitted Cable Dress £69 (below), which very adaptable when it comes to layering and the occasion you may find to wear it.

Getting past their initial trend round up, if you continue to browse the big pages of Red Magazine you’ll soon get to their main fashion shoot, entitled “The Long Weekend” which features lots of knitted jumpers and cardigans with much layering - in fact one cardigan reminds us of our Cashmere Amelie Cardigan, which we featured on the cover of last winter’s Celtic Sheepskin catalogue! As that’s no longer available, we’ll draw from from Prada’s Wool Jumper that can be spotted in countless magazines now (at £625 you notice this knit easily!). In Red Magazine they style it with a thin belt and woollen skirt, so let’s see what we can do with Celtic clothing…

The point of the above is that you’re making a statement with woollens. It’s a very relaxed outfit, mainly because we’ve styled it with a pair of slouchy woollen leggings, but you could so easily put the jumper with a knee-length woollen skirt. You just need to be bold with knits!

So with that in mind we’ll leave you with our Chunky Cable Knit, £75. A jumper that looks like a cardigan and can be styled in so many different combinations that we’ll even dare to suggest that if you only buy one piece for this season’s knit trend, you should seriously consider this jumper as being “the one”!

The Bespoke Riding Boots

I am so sorry to anyone who clicked to view the latest from the world of Celtic Sheepskin yesterday, because I didn’t get a blog post up in time. My excuse? We’re busy, busy, busy! Meetings, phone calls etc etc. But I am still very sorry.

So, getting something interesting to read up quickly, and I thought I’d dedicate today’s blog to our Bespoke Riding Boots that have just been launched on our website this week – and the opinions on Facebook make an interesting read in themselves! The price has thrown a great many of you, and we can completely understand why. At £695 they don’t tick the impulse purchase box. So why SO expensive? It all boils down to that first word in their name… bespoke.
If you click onto their product page on our website, you’ll see that we take 5 measurements from you when crafting the pair individually for you. Yes, that’s right, they definitely aren’t off the peg! Five measurements plus of course your usual shoe size – but as there’s nothing bespoke about giving your shoe size I’m sure you can understand why that measurement isn’t discussed CLICK HERE to view this page

And what about the comfort/fit factor I hear you cry. It’s all very well having a pair made especially for you, but what will they feel like? Well, lets start with the technical response;

• They have the highest-grade waterproof nubuck leather. In other words they’re going to last a long time, and your tootsies won’t get wet.
  


• They have anti-slip weatherproof soles, which have been tried and tested for the stable.
  Leather laces. This means they stay done up! Hooray!
  


• Sheepskin lined foot. Quite a unique feature, wouldn’t you say?
  


• Supplied with boot tree. They’re of genuine quality after all, so I’m sure you would want to look after them.
  


• Stirrup balance system; this is the best bit! The basic principle is that the flattest part of the boot (on the ball of your foot) is balanced not only so you can walk correctly in them, but also that you can put your feet in the stirrup at a right angle without your heel pushing up. Ultimately the boot allows you to have more control over your horse. That’s pretty impressive!

Of course the technical info is great to read about, and for some it will hopefully give justification to the price. However the ultimate test will be when you’re wearing your bespoke pair of boots, and we can think of no reason why once you have them on your feet, you will never want to take them off ever again. Go on, treat yourself!