The latest from Celtic Sheepskin

We’ve started to set in a rule for “dress-up” Thursdays, whereby the two of us in the press office show you what Celtic Sheepskin clothing we’re wearing so that you can see what it looks like in the flesh rather than only the gorgeous model photos. However I’ve had a couple of people say to me that the posts are becoming a little repetitive. So I thought that it could be nice to mix it up a little and update you on what’s going on at Celtic Sheepskin at the moment. With images to help of course, but this time no picture of me to get embarrassed about!

The first wonderful news is that we’ve had our ISO 14001 status renewed. We had the assessors in last week. So the whole team are very happy about that! The environment plays a big part to us all at Celtic Sheepskin, so we’re very pleased to have it confirmed that we’re still on track for reducing our environmental impact. Of course, I’m well aware that this topic isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so for those of you who are keen to hear more about what this means, you can visit our website here. The certificate is yet to arrive in the post, and as soon as it comes in we’ll update the website with a new version.

We’ve also just finished our Autumn Winter 2011 shoot, whereby all the clothes, boots and gorgeous accessories for our Autumn Winter catalogue that’s due out in August were carefully shot on four gorgeous models with an excellent team around our home county of Cornwall. What a tiring two-weeks that was for the team, but boy was it worth it. The images above and below this text were landscapes taken during the shoot so you can get some idea of the serene beauty that the team had the privilege to work in. That said of course it really was all hands to the deck, as never before have we included four female models and you can no doubt work out for yourselves that our range is once again much bigger than any season’s before. Of course, I can’t spoil any surprises at this stage, not least because we still have to confirm the final products that make the grade into the catalogue but also because the anticipation adds to the fun. But as usual I am delighted to disclose some “behind the scenes” shots that follow at the end of this blog post.

But before I show you those pictures, I’d like to draw your attention to my favourite of the collection. Alfie Whitworth…

Almost at his first birthday, he really does look quite the handsome dog of his predecessor Todd. Of course, he is still yet to develop the patience needed to pose alongside models for the catalogue, but he’s done a great job in the image above to look his best for the camera. My guess is that those raised eyebrows mean a treat was promised for a moment’s pause. But then who could resist giving him a treat when he behaved so well? I couldn’t.

So there you have it. We’re as green and keen as we have ever been and our mascot is slowly turning into a superstar!

And with that in mind, I bring to you the promised shots from behind the scenes at our autumn winter 2011 shoot…

A right royal knees up!

I think it’s safe to say that Royal Wedding fever has reached us this week! With excited talk of all things regally bridal over the past month, here at Celtic we are looking forward to Friday’s celebrations (and extra bank holiday!) as much as anyone.

There has been a lot of speculation about the flowers, the cake and most-importantly Kate Middleton’s wedding dress in recent weeks and it seems that everyone is talking about what they would wear if they received the most important invite of the year (I would opt for a pretty red cocktail dress and my favourite skyscraper heels if you were wondering!).

As an invite looks unlikely but in keeping with the patriotic spirit, I thought today I would show you pieces which you could wear for the celebrations on Friday, whether at home or at a street party.

So here are four beautiful items (all made in Great Britain!) which pay homage to a traditional bridal custom – something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue...

Something Old



It is only right that we feature these are they were the first boots we ever produced! Celt Boots started life as  back in the 1970s when travelling surfers brought sheepskin boots to Newquay on their search for the perfect wave!

Nearly 40 years on, our best-selling boots come in 17 colours to suit any occasion and they are still made to the same high quality standards (handcrafted using 8 different processes!). My favourite feature of these boots is that they are machine-washable; Just use our Celtic Wool Wash to bring them up a treat. And when they eventually wear down you can even get them resoled and repaired – recycling at its finest!

Something New



The Drop Shoulder Tape Knit is my “something new” because it is made out of one of our new-for-2011 fabrics, 100% organic cotton tape. It is perfect as a beach cover-up or worn over a vest top like Charlotte in the picture above to really show off your shoulders and décolletage. I really like the pretty rivershell buttons which add a subtle detail to the sides of this lovely piece.

Something Borrowed



The eagle-eyed among you might have noticed that we have ‘borrowed’ the Crossover Kimono from our Autumn/Winter collection and recreated it in a summery Seagrass colour for spring.

I think the flattering sleeve shape and versatile design make this a wardrobe staple. It looks great over a vest but would also work over a tee or long-sleeved top and even over a bikini as a cosy beach cover-up.

Something Blue



I love this adorable little bag and think it goes with just about anything! It’s really lightweight yet its size is somewhat deceptive as I managed to fit more in it than I imagined I would (everything for a shopping trip anyway!). As well as blue, the Tinder Pouch Bag also comes in brown and black suede so you can pick a colour to suit any outfit.

Four Great British pieces for a great British celebration!

Happy Easter Everyone!

It's Thursday again! And time to show you what Celtic Sheepskin delights we're wearing in the office today. Sadly I'm on my own -no Stella. I'm trying not to think about the gorgeous white sandy beach she is lying on as I type this blog post. Of course, I hope she's enjoying herself!

Of course I am very lucky too, as I live in a very beautiful part of the world -Cornwall. Which means that tomorrow, on my first bank holiday Friday of the year I too plan to sunbathe on a white sandy beach and paddle in fresh sea (well, ice cold actually hence the paddle rather than swim!).

So on my last day I thought I'd try for a beachy look. Of course it is still April, and mornings are still cool, so I opted for our Boxy Wave Knit. I was genuinely surprised at how much I liked this jumper. I thought it was a basic jumper, but boy does it feel great on. It's quite weighty, but I love that fact, as it makes it look lovely and slouchy. The knit is quite wide so an element of my stripy top was shining though the yarn and brought out the silver in the linen and cotton mix...
Ha! That second photo made me laugh, so I thought it was worth including too. Hopefully I'm getting across to you those gorgeous bell-shaped sleeves, as they cleverly make your body look slimmer.

Of course you may prefer to see the professional shots, taken from different angles...

So there you have it. Me, Charlotte wearing our Boxy Wave Knit and don't tell the bosses, but I think I'll borrow my sample to wear this weekend too :-)

I hope you all enjoy your Easter weekend, where ever you are celebrating it.

Charlotte x

Celebrating Easter with those who are too young for chocolate eggs

I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to the Easter weekend; lots of extra time to spend with family and friends, a hint of summer and Easter eggs a-plenty! I imagine that many of you will be celebrating with a special lunch on Easter Sunday and perhaps swapping gifts of some sort (chocolate or otherwise!).

I will be spending time over Easter with a couple of friends who are about to have babies (doesn’t it always seem to happen in waves!). I don’t know about you but sometimes I struggle to find an original gift aside from the usual baby-grows and rattles!

So as Easter signifies new life I thought it might be apt to highlight some of the adorable items in our collection for babies and toddlers. While there isn’t much demand for sheepskin baby-grows (not surprising really!) we still have some delightful items to suit any baby (and they’re all 100% sheepskin!)…

Pictured: Infant Fleece, Baby Puddies (Red), Baby Bootees (Whisky), Puddies & Bootees Set (Blue), Flatout Bear.

Firstly, the Infant Fleece makes an ideal gift for a new-born baby; it’s sumptuously soft and really comforting.

I can’t emphasise enough how useful this fleece is; it can be used in a Moses basket or cot, as a play mat, in a pram or car seat and it is lightweight enough to take anywhere.

Being sheepskin it is wonderfully breathable so it will help your little one not to get too hot or too cold. And I think the best point is that it’s machine washable! (We recommend using our Celtic Wool Wash for best results).

What a perfect present!

Pictured on top of the Infant Fleece is a selection of our miniature Puddies and Bootees which come in a range of colours and sizes…These are available in a Puddies & Bootees Set (in Blue, Pink or Whisky –see A, B & C in the image above) or you can buy separate Puddies in Red or Mocca (D & E) and separate Bootees in Red, Mocca or Whisky (D, E and F).

These make a lovely gift and will make any baby look stylish!

The design of the separates is different to that of the Puddies & Bootees Set (the separates are stitched on the outside and have less detail on the laces) and the colours vary too so you can pick the best match for the baby in question!

The great thing about the separates is that you can buy different purposes for example the separate bootees make cosy slippers for toddlers and the mittens are ideal for winter walks.

The last gift I thought you might be interested in is the Flatout Bear (pictured on the right in the main image)...This cuddly bear can be hand-washed and is suitable for new-borns (he’s EU safety compliant). Our customers have told us that their babies love to use him as a comforter. Even the celebs love the Flatout Bear (and why wouldn’t they?!). Sarah Jessica Parker has one for a start!

So hopefully I have given you some inspiration for unusual baby gifts. If you have any photos of your little ones modelling their gifts please feel free to send them in, we all love to coo here!

Layering up Celtic tees

After writing about stand-out tees on Tuesday, Charlotte and I decided that it was only right to wear two of our featured favourites so you get to see them in a different light. Luckily for us, that light was beautiful Cornish sunshine!

Charlotte is wearing the Topsy Turvy Knit (apparently this is her favourite T-shirt ever!);I absolutely love the details in this pretty top. The shape is so forgiving and it lends itself to being worn as either a day or evening top. In fact Charlotte is planning to wear this out after work for dinner with the girls tonight!

It isn’t obvious from the photo but Charlotte has coordinated the Topsy Turvy Knit with a strapless red top which just peeks through the pointelle stitching and works well with her matching red necklace and shoes.

Doesn’t she look lovely!

For my outfit today I am wearing the Sleeveless Ladder Hoodie with a teal long-sleeved tee and black jeans which I think bring out the bluey tinge of the hoodie. I love this top as it gives a really summery edge to the rest of my outfit yet it’s still cosy and practical. The pointelle and ladder stitching detail is very clever as the top is light enough to wear without anything underneath in the height of summer and still not be too revealing!

Although I am not posing with the hood up, I am happy to say it has a flattering relaxed shape and feels light and comfortable (I find some hoods can feel a bit claustrophobic).

I could imagine wearing the Sleeveless Ladder Hoodie with a flowing white skirt and wedged heels while sitting out in the sunshine drinking Pimms.

Ooh – I’m drooling already!

On your marks...

Are you going to watch the London Marathon on Sunday? This world famous 26.2 mile race is renowned for being entertaining for runners and spectators alike! Last year some of the costumes worn by runners included Darth Vader, Spongebob Squarepants and Fred Flintstone! Even those wearing ‘normal’ clothes do their best to stand out and I’m sure many of you are familiar with the pictures of thousands of runners making their way past Buckingham Palace towards the finish line, their various t-shirts creating a moving rainbow of colour along The Mall.

Putting costumes to one side and instead sticking with the T-shirt theme, I thought I would show you my favourite tees in today’s blog post. I have chosen three which really stand out to me and, in keeping with the marathon spirit, I have ranked them according to sales so you can see what our other customers think too!

In third place, receiving the bronze medal (according to sales) is the Sleeveless Ladder Hoodie... This tee stands out because of its detailing; delicate pointelle and ladder stitching all over and pretty capped sleeves make this very different from a normal hoodie. I love the colour because it suits most skin tones and can be coordinated with so many different shades (a navy or white long-sleeved top underneath would work well). The hood itself is wonderfully light and provides a very handy cover up if it’s breezy or starting to rain!

Moving on to second place, the silver medal goes to the Topsy Turvy Knit. This is my personal favourite! When I first put it on I kept noticing details that I hadn’t seen before! It is laced with ribbon on one sleeve, has a diagonal stitched pattern on the other and it has an on-trend asymmetric design. It is very eye-catching and looks great with jeans and heels for an evening out. And as with all our 100% organic cotton designs it feels wonderfully soft!

Finally, the one we have all been waiting for…according to you, our customer, the winner of the gold medal is (fanfare please!) the Reversible Knitted Tee... This 100% Geelong lambswool top is really two tees in one as it can be worn as a V-neck or a boat neck so it’s great value for money (and very clever!). The delicate stripes create a twist to the popular nautical theme which is very much in fashion this season.

This tee is brilliant for layering and works well with jeans and skirts alike. Personally, I really like the sleeve length and cut as it skims over the tummy and shoulders. Brilliant!

A deserving winner!

Something I nearly forgot to mention in my excitement is that all three of these striking tees are made in Great Britain from the finest organic fabrics!

With choices as desirable as this, they won’t be around for long. My advice would be to move quickly if you want to snap one up in time for the warmer weather.

So...

Ready…Steady…Go!

Who says layering is just for winter?

Well didn’t that last week fly! We have been lucky enough to experience some glorious spring weather in Newquay this week (brilliant for our Autumn/Winter photo-shoot) although there is still a slight nip in the air so we have been strategically layering up to keep out the chill in the mornings yet not overheat by lunchtime!

After deciding last Thursday to do this more weekly because we enjoyed it so much, the purpose of today’s blog post is to provide a snap shot of what we are wearing in the press office so you can have a little insight into the Celtic wardrobe.

First off, here’s Charlotte looking lovely in the Short Sleeve Merino Slouch… Charlotte has teamed up this nifty knit with a red shirt, grey trousers and a wide silver belt.

Doesn’t this look work well!

The belt really transforms the slouch so much so that I think it looks completely different to the way it’s worn in the catalogue. The layered effect created by the combination of the slouch with the shirt then adds another dimension. The Short Sleeve Merino Slouch is a reworked version of our longer-sleeved Geelong V-neck slouch which was a big seller for Autumn/Winter. It has been re-created using Merino which is a particularly fine yarn making it ideal for this time of year.

As well as the gorgeous Grey shade which Charlotte is wearing, this piece also comes in a nautical Navy colour so you can take your pick depending on your preference (or buy both!).

So now moving on to my outfit, I have chosen to wear the Slash Neck Vera Long with a long sleeved floral tee, a fitted belt and a pair grey leggings (and my Classic boots which I have rolled down for a different look!)… I was a bit worried when I came in this morning that I would get too hot in this ensemble but I am pleased to say that I feel perfectly comfortable thanks again to the 100% organic merino wool!

I chose the floral tee because I wanted to take advantage of the layering potential of this statement piece (layering is so on-trend at the moment) and I think it shows off the detailing under the arms. A vest or short-sleeved tee would work as well, giving you the freedom to experiment with your outfit!

I think the belt ties in with my black boots and the hint of gold in the buttons of the Slash Neck Vera Long. It also nips in my waist to add definition, which is always a bonus!

The striking Midnight Blue shade combined with the large buttons really captures the continuing nautical trend that has graced our catwalks and high streets this year. I imagine this piece will be as popular as the rest of our Vera Long collection (in case you don’t know, we also offer the standard Vera Long and Laced Back Vera Long).

So there you have it; two effortless ways to transform statement pieces with the help of some creative layering.

Easy!

Three for the price of one!

Who’s looking forward to the glut of bank holidays over the next few weeks? Two wonderful four-day breaks in a row thanks to Easter and the Royal Wedding!

With all those extra days to enjoy, I imagine some of you might be thinking about buying some new clothes to see you through the long weekends!

So to help you out we have experimented with one of our knits to suggest three ways you could wear one our lovely Spring/Summer pieces, the Circular Knit Cardigan.

I have chosen this cosy knit because cardigans are very useful at this time of year (especially when the weather can’t make up its mind!) and I think this one is a good wardrobe staple because it is so versatile as hopefully you will see…

So for my first outfit I have teamed the Circular Knit Cardigan with my favourite jeans, Grey Classic Boots and the new Bamboo Winged Tie Back Tee… I love how soft this feels against my skin (well it is 100% merino wool!). I think the shape of the piece is really flattering as it skims over all the right places and the contrast between the fitted sleeves and slouchy body make it really different to a usual cardigan.

I can see myself wearing this ensemble for a pub lunch with family or friends followed by a walk in the countryside...I’m daydreaming already!

For the second outfit I chose the Envelope Neck Knit, Nubuck and Suede Crossover Sandals and the Buckled Obi Belt. This time Charlotte modelled for me…

This look would work well for either a day or night occasion. It’s dressy without being overly smart and the crossover sandals relax the look without making it look too casual. I think the shape of the Circular Knit Cardigan is accentuated by the belt, so much so that it looks like a different knit to the one worn with the first outfit!

Just while we’re looking at crossover sandals, we have been asked by Rosy Saville via Facebook to explain how to wear them so hopefully Charlotte is demonstrating this in the image above. You just need to slide your foot into the sandal and position your big toe between the two straps at the front (so you have a strap either side of your big toe).

Finally for my third selection I have teamed the Circular Knit Cardigan with a floral dress and heels…

Doesn’t it look pretty?

I think this would be an ideal outfit for a leisurely lunch in the sunshine. Once again, one of the fabulous things about this knit is its chameleon-like ability to adapt to its ‘environment’ or in this case the outfit! I think the billowing hem of the Circular Knit Cardigan works so well with the loose feel of the dress.

Floral patterns are very much on-trend this season so adding a floral feel really makes this outfit stand out.

So there you go; three very different outfits from one statement piece and I’m sure there are many more. That’s what I call great value for money!