Trick or Treat!

Are you dressing up for a Halloween party this weekend? The historical celebration is thought to have originated with the Celtic festival Samhain in which people would wear costumes and light bonfires to ward off ghosts and ghouls. Nowadays it is better recognised as a time when children (and big kids!) carve pumpkins, dress up in scary costumes and go trick-or-treating.

Stepping into the supermarket this morning, I couldn’t help but smile at the Halloween themed goodies on offer. I noticed ‘decorate-your-own’ gingerbread witches, ‘slime’ favoured cookies and chocolate ghosts (perhaps I was in an aisle I shouldn’t have been in!). It was clear to see that while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Halloween is a significant date in the UK calendar.

So in true spirit of the occasion, the theme for today’s blog post is Trick or Treat but with a Celtic Sheepskin twist.

First for the trick; Rather than being a cheeky surprise, the trick of the two products in the image below is that they can both be reversed to give you two different garments for the price of one…

On the left is the Button Back Jumper which looks as gorgeous worn as a V-neck with a button front as it does worn how its name suggests with the buttons on the back.

The Reversible Cowl Dress has a thoughtfully designed buttoned strap which is easily removed so that the dress can be worn with a slash neck or a cowl neck; this is a brilliant day-to-night look – a good option for a forthcoming Christmas party maybe?

Now for the ‘treat’; two of our most luxurious products which would make much-appreciated gifts for a very special person in your life or even the most wonderful treat for yourself…

If you have seen a copy of our new Winter catalogue, you can’t have failed to notice the beautiful shot on the front cover of Amelie in our Hooded Toscana Coat (above left). This unequivocally stunning coat is available in a new shade of Snow-tipped Brown for this season and is sure to draw attention wherever you wear it.

Our Sheepskin Wrap Skirt (pictured above right) is surely a gift for the lady who has everything. The double buckle and close-cropped sheepskin create a truly flattering silhouette and make it a really special and unique piece. While this skirt is – in my opinion - most definitely a ‘treat’ at £365 it will be a much-worn and much-loved piece in any wardrobe for many years to come.

Witch’s hat is optional!

Spotted - Celtic Sheepskin all over the place!

If you picked up a copy of The Telegraph Magazine last weekend you might well have spotted something familiar; none other than our Cable Boyfriend Cardi. For those of you who didn’t see it, it was featured in the Women’s Notebook section of the fashion pages on the subject of clothing befitting of a weekend in the country…

With a chunky but delicate cable knit and longline shape, this is an ideal cardi for all weathers and it will keep you feeling warm and looking stylish – definitely country chic!

It is reassuring to know that it's not just us noticing how Celtic Sheepskin is ticking the fashion boxes across a range of trends again this season with the rise in popularity for sheepskin, cable knits and the “heritage” look to name just a few. In fact we have been mentioned in a wide range of publications both in print and online - and we feel a tremendous sense of pride each time we see a new mention; akin to a proud parent. Here are some other products which have been featured recently;

Our knee height Popper Boots in spice were featured in the Eureka magazine in an article about science in fashion. Specifically it mentioned the science of wool and how synthetic fibres quite simply can’t compete with the benefits of one of nature’s oldest fibres...

Marie Claire featured some of our accessories on one of their main fashion spreads featuring Autumn-wear. The Cashmere Rib Beanie and Donegal Scarf featured across a few pages proving what versatile accessories they are...

Over to social media now and we were delighted to see that Fearne Cotton had tweeted a picture of herself wearing her favourite slippers which just happened to be our Bootee Slippers! She also spoke about them on her show on Radio 1 saying how comfortable they are (so comfortable that she was wearing them to work!)…

Have you spotted Celtic Sheepskin in your favourite magazine or newspaper or being worn by a celebrity?  If so, we would love to hear from you! 

Keep it under your hat...there are some new sheepskin designs on their way this winter!

As I revealed in last Thursday’s blog post, our Winter catalogue is being launched very soon and it will come just in time for snow if the recent weather predictions are to be believed!

Having held on to dreams of an Indian Summer after the wonderful warm weather earlier this month I conceded yesterday and decided that I need a new winter coat as it is now too chilly to go without – how quickly things change! I was pleased to see that there are plenty of stunning coats around this winter so shopping for one will be an enjoyable task.

With Christmas just over 9 weeks away, the tinsel-laden TV adverts have started to appear boasting gift ideas and furniture offers. While I would prefer not to jump on the Christmas bandwagon (or should that be sleigh?) just yet, I think now is an appropriate time to let you know about some of the winter goodies that Celtic Sheepskin has to offer.

You will be pleased to know that our Winter catalogue features some unimaginably cosy knitwear as well as knitted and sheepskin accessories.
On the subject of sheepskin accessories I can reveal that this includes nine brand new styles of sheepskin hat which are sure to catch your eye.

To whet your appetite, here are some of our favourite sheepskin hats which were so popular last year that we are offering them again…

From left to right...

Chevvie Hat – This is an elegant and versatile hat which is suitable for all occasions. I particularly like the side button detail.

Denver Hat- This is so snuggly and warm with side ear flaps and ties which can be fastened under the chin or over the top of the hat to vary the style.

Diesel Trapper Hat – This cosy hat is more lightweight than the Denver hat and can again be fastened or left loose to complement your outfit.

If you like these hats, they are available to order now. Remember to keep an eye out the brand new Sheepskin Hats which will be featured in the new Winter catalogue. If you would like to see our whole range of sheepskin accessories, click here.

Our Autumn Sale is now on - up to 67% off!

Those of you who have registered to receive newsletters and details of special offers from us will have received an email at the weekend to give you the heads up about our Autumn sale which started on Saturday. Even if you haven’t signed up though, you can view the sales goodies on the Offers page of our website and you will notice that quite a number of products have been reduced by up to 67%; what better excuse to go shopping! While you’re browsing the website, if you haven’t already signed up but would like to, simply add your email address to the box at the bottom of any page and we will include you when we send out newsletters and special offers in the future.

The Autumn sale features products from a wide range of categories including lightweight tops and jackets at greatly reduced prices. As well as these, with the cold snap set to draw in this week I imagine that the Knitwear category might catch your eye if you are in the process of updating your winter wardrobe. So to help you choose I thought I would highlight some of the cosiest knits in our Autumn sale.

I don’t think that you can get much cosier than cashmere on a chilly winter day. So to give you an even warmer glow, some of last winter’s cashmere pieces are now reduced…
Our Cashmere Funnel Neck is a very easy-to-wear piece which works equally well with jeans or a midi length skirt and boots;

Our Cashmere Deep V Sweater Dress is certain to keep the chill away throughout the cold season and with knitted dresses being very much on-trend this season you will also tick boxes in the style stakes . As the V neck dips quite dramatically, you might prefer to wear this over another layer for extra warmth and modesty!

Moving on from cashmere, our Donegal Coatigan is made from Donegal-spun Merino which will keep you superbly warm.  The Biscuit shade goes with just about everything too. 

As mentioned previously, there are many other products available in our Autumn sale – click here to browse our offers page.  I would fervently recommend being quick off the mark though as once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Winter is just around the corner and so is our new catalogue…

The mornings are beginning to feel cold and dark, the leaves are falling off the trees and the clocks go back at the end of the month so I think it’s fair to say that that winter is on its way. I love this time of year as for me it marks the start of cosy evenings curled up in front of the fire and an excuse to drink steaming hot chocolate in a beach café while watching the waves crashing against the rocks (I love Cornwall!).

Another reason to look forward to the end of October is that it marks the launch of our new Winter 2011 catalogue! As a company, we are continuing to grow and evolve which means that we have quite simply too many products to feature in one catalogue over the Autumn/Winter period. In fact this season we have split the Autumn/Winter range across three catalogues in total including our brand new Christmas catalogue which I will tell you more about in November.

While I can’t reveal too much about what you can find in the new Winter catalogue (I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise!), I can exclusively show you, for the first time, what the front cover will look like…

Doesn’t Amelie look beautiful? If you think you recognise the coat, you would be correct as it is featured in our Autumn 2011 catalogue as well. It is our stunning and luxurious Hooded Toscana Coat…

At £1195 it isn’t cheap by any means but the Hooded Toscana Coat is a wonderful investment piece and I can’t tell you just how soft and flattering it is to wear; when I tried one on I really didn’t want to take it off!

We will be sending the Winter 2011 catalogue out in a few weeks’ time and you will be able to view it online as well. If you would like a copy and don’t receive it by mid-November, please get in touch by visiting the catalogue request section of our website.

We have listened to your feedback and now your favourite slouches are available in Extra Small!

We have mentioned before in our blog that we appreciate feedback from you, our customers, as it helps us to continually improve our products and the service that we provide.  You might already know about the reviews section on each product page of our website where you can read and add reviews…

If you follow us on Twitter or ‘like’ our fan page on Facebook, you might have seen our update on Friday informing you that, after listening to valuable customer feedback, some of our best-selling products are now available in an additional size; extra small (to fit size 6-8). You told us that you would love to see some of our slouchy items in a smaller size to flatter the frames of the more petite among you (lucky ladies!). While these pieces are designed to look slouchy, the extra-small size allows customers with small frames to wear them without looking swamped by the garment.

For those of you who aren’t on Twitter or Facebook, here is an overview of the styles which are now available in Extra Small…

Our Super Soft Slouch Dress is a wonderful Winter staple.  Its boxy shape means you can wear it on its own as a slouchy jumper dress or with a belt for a more tailored look.

The Henley Slouch complements even the most casual of outfits; the dainty shell buttons add a touch of detail and the Geelong yarn feels soft and luxurious against the skin.

Our ever-popular 100% Geelong V Neck Slouch has become a wardrobe staple for many of you over the years; with new shades being added this season (Dark Natural, Grey Flannel and Swansdown) as well as the new XS size, there should be something to suit all tastes and sizes.

As you might expect, our product range is continuing to evolve as we grow and we are always interested to hear feedback from you, our customers. Don’t forget we have a customer comments section on our website as well as the product review pages. While we can’t promise to please everyone, we will certainly continue to do our best!

If you would like to become a fan on Facebook click here and to follow us on Twitter, click here.

The Jumper Dress – your flexible friend for Autumn.

Flicking through the fashion pages in last weekend’s newspaper supplements it was clear that, despite last week’s heat wave, the Autumn/Winter styles are being showcased in abundance. While many of the main fashion spreads included wool coats and thick chunky knits in evocative autumnal hues of rust and burnt gold, I was most interested to see a spread in Stella Magazine on Sunday which featured jumper dresses as sophisticated day-wear. Being one of my favourite styles, I think that a jumper dress can create an easy yet different day alternative to the usual jeans and jumper at this time of year and can be easily adapted to create two different looks – dress or tunic.

I have picked out three of our current season jumper dresses which I think are ideal for this time of year when it can be hard to predict the weather and temperature. All three will provide a layer of warmth without stifling you and can be worn either as eye-catching dresses in their own right or as tunic style tops over leggings or opaque tights, depending on the temperature and occasion…

The Sleeveless Cowl Jumper Dress pictured above is ideal for warmer Autumn days.  Being sleeveless, it looks great worn as one layer or equally over a long sleeved top as Amelie has done here (she is wearing a Cashmere Roll Neck underneath).  I love the Peat colour of this jumper dress – I think it channels the trend for autumnal woody hues perfectly!        

The Reversible Cowl Dress is just as adaptable; depending how you feel, it can be worn with a slash neck or a cowl neck – two dresses in one!  The Midnight Blue shade is very easy to match with your favourite accessories too (Natalia is wearing it with a Sheepskin Bag in the image above).

The Superfine Merino Shirt Dress is a thoughtfully detailed dress with pretty buttons and a silky placket front. It creates a wonderful silhouette due to its fitted shape and waist-cinching grosgrain belt. I think this dress would work well with a pair of heeled knee-high or ankle boots for a sophisticated look. Made from 100% superfine Zque-certified merino wool it’s a truly special piece.

As the winter draws in, we have a selection of even cosier jumper dresses to pick from. To view our full range, click here.

Sheepskin for an Indian summer...

Well who would have thought it was October! Judging by the uncharacteristically warm weather over the last week, it would be easy to believe that this was still summer. I certainly wasn’t complaining at the weekend as I was able to enjoy sunbathing on the beach and even a little dip in the sea (it was possibly the last chance to do it without shivering until next spring so I had to make the most of it!).

While the sun and warmth brought a welcome change, it also gave businesses that rely on tourism an extra boost which here in Cornwall is extremely important. Our local news last night reported a £20 million addition to the tourism economy this weekend. The seaside towns were particularly busy which was lovely to see.

You might wonder how the warm weather might affect sales for companies like Celtic Sheepskin whose biggest sales period is over the colder months. Well it turns out that while the phones were inevitably a bit quieter than normal for a September Saturday, the orders were still coming in thick and fast for winter woollies and sheepskin coats! Speaking to Jo in our factory shop, plenty of customers came in during the day to try on sheepskin coats and boots (taking a break from the beach perhaps!). Jo explained the Celtic Duffle Coat was particularly popular...

It might sound like a strange concept to be buying snuggly sheepskin in such hot weather but in reality it is quite a sensible idea. Following on from a post I wrote earlier on in the year when our very own Charlotte Cole featured in Prima Magazine talking about how sheepskin can keep you cool in the summer, a sheepskin coat is the perfect addition to a warm October outfit; it will keep you comfortably warm when the sun disappears to a cool evening, allowing you to continue wearing your favourite strappy top and not shiver.

Take the Sheepskin Waterfall Jacket for example…

This stunning jacket is made from close-cropped wool which feels incredibly light for a sheepskin coat yet will ensure you stay cosy on a cool evening.

As for sheepskin boots, I doubt I’m the only person who wears them almost all year round! Again, being made from 100% sheepskin, ours are suitable to wear in all weathers and temperatures and will keep your feet feeling comfortable however warm it is. Our Classic Shortie Boots are a great option if you like to bare your legs...

We hope you have managed to make the most of the surprise heatwave too. With the clocks going back later this month I imagine it won’t be long before we are all dressed for a big freeze!