I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw the weather forecast yesterday. With the clocks going forward at the end of March, the new month heralds the official start of Spring so slightly warmer days are to be expected. Even so, the average March temperature usually dips as low as 2.4oC (according to Wikipedia), so the prediction of 13oC for some parts of the country this week will mean that many of us are likely to be side-lining our winter woollies in favour of some lighter layers for a few days at least. Not that I’m complaining of course! Having tried on quite a few pieces from our Spring collection, I am looking forward to being able to wear some of the key season pieces without feeling chilly.
I imagine that many of you will have browsed our Spring catalogue by now so hopefully you will have picked out your favourite warmer season pieces. For a change today, rather than focusing on the spring clothing collection, I thought I would highlight one of my favourite new-for-2012 additions to the Spring range which will be ideal for a warmer spell of weather.
While I know that many people, me included, wear their sheepskin boots all year round, I like to think that every new season wardrobe needs a new pair of shoes. Sometimes it can be hard to find shoes which match the cosiness and wear-ability of our iconic sheepskin boots because they are just oh-so-comfortable but I think we might have hit the mark as I was delighted to discover these gorgeous Spanish Espadrilles in our new season range…
There are 3 styles of Espadrilles to pick from;
Espadrilles originate from the Pyrenees and ours are made for us in Spain using a traditional combination of cotton canvas, jute rope and rubber sole to create a long-lasting and comfortable shoe. I love these stripey slingbacks (Strap Espadrilles) – they’re practical but bring an effortless touch of colour to an outfit. They are a good option for work or play and because the heel is quite modest, they are easy to walk in and comfortable too!
If you prefer to keep your footwear flat (and as someone who almost always wears flat shoes I can empathise!), our Flat Espadrilles are a brilliant alternative to a pair of sheepskin boots. I have seen plenty of similar shoes on the high street but you can truly see and feel the quality of ours which sets them apart from cheaper alternatives (and they will last a lot longer too!). The neutral colours in the stripe detail means these will become a true flexible footwear-friend!
For an easy way to dress up your casual wardrobe, I adore these Tie Espadrilles. The navy shade is really on trend (as is anything with a hint of patriotic style this season!) and the pretty laces are very flattering on the ankle, something which I think can often be a challenge to achieve. At this time of year these work really well with jeans or Capri pants and in the high summer they will look wonderful combined with a billowing white skirt and a dainty vest top, don’t you think?
All three of these styles are available to order now and I predict that they won’t be around for long so don’t miss out; click here to see them all on our website.
Which style is your favourite? Get in touch on Facebook or Twitter.
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As we approach the end of February I thought I would review my New Year’s resolutions to mark my progress with mixed results. On 1st January I set myself a couple of goals for the year; one was to improve my cooking skills and the other was - perhaps contradictorily - to lose a bit of weight (after enjoying Christmas to excess!). Thanks to a heavy-going marathon training schedule and a healthy-ish diet, my waistline is gradually shrinking while my culinary repertoire continues to grow with a few new recipes under my belt to ease the monotony of my usual pasta/chicken/chilli con carne menu! As is the case with most goals that we set ourselves, however, not every day is successful. I managed to ruin (burn) the pancakes that I had planned for Tuesday night (which was probably a good thing for the diet but I wasn’t best pleased!) and I have enjoyed many a food-centred social event over the last month or so which has hindered my progress. All is not lost though and I will persevere!
On the subject of resolutions and back to all things Celtic Sheepskin, as a company we continually strive to create the best products that we can for you, our customers. Through listening to your valuable feedback we are able to offer new lines and styles to complement your wardrobe. You might already have noticed if you shop with us online that one way in which we have done this is with the introduction of extra small sizing (size 6-8) to some of our best-selling lines. We initially started by offering some extra small options online during the autumn/winter season for the most petite among you and it proved to be so popular that we have expanded the number of pieces which come in this XS size for our new Spring collection in nine of our featured for spring garments.
For those of you who are keen to know more, here is a round-up of those Spring products which are now available in extra small…
As you can see, we have added XS to a few different ranges. To talk you through the products in the image above, let me start with our top-selling slouches (V Neck Slouch, Scoop Neck Slouch, and Henley Slouch). These are of course designed to be loose fitting but we have introduced them in XS to keep the slouch rather than swamped look for the smaller among you! Moving on, we have also added XS to some of your favourite jumper dresses (Supersoft Slouch Dress, Cable Slouch Dress and Organic Drop Back Slouch). And it isn’t purely knitwear: fresh for spring, our Smocked Cheesecloth Top and Cheesecloth Blouse are also in the XS range. Finally, not forgetting your bottom half, you can also now find the soft and comfy Harem Trousers in XS.
Furthermore, having taken a quick peek at the forthcoming summer collection, I can reveal that there are more new lines which will soon be available in extra small, to give you an even wider choice across the range. I can’t say too much about the range yet but needless to say I will let you know as soon as I get the green light (although I can say that it’s looking very exciting)!
How are you getting on with your New Year’s resolutions? Which products would you like to see in extra small? Start the discussion on Facebook or Twitter.
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While I am very much looking forward to this summer’s celebrations as we commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and of course the London 2012 Olympic Games, looking at my diary earlier I felt slightly despondent at the thought that there isn’t a notable diary date to look forward to until Easter which is quite late this year, being in April. It could be said that I felt a little flat, perhaps even as flat as a pancake but luckily not for long as I quickly remembered that today is Shrove Tuesday, otherwise known as Pancake Day (see what I did there?)!
Of course, traditionally the day before the start of Lent is spent eating lots of pancakes to use up the main fatty and tempting ingredients in the larder before fasting for the period leading up to Easter Sunday (47 days this year). Nowadays, however, rather than giving up the staples of many a western diet (sugar, eggs, flour and milk) or indeed fasting completely, it is more common for people to give up other favourite vices such as chocolate or alcohol.
OK, so I’ve probably not told you anything you don’t already know, and I’m sure you have plenty of other ideas as to what you’d prefer to give up for lent, but I bet you didn’t you know that on Pancake Day each year our neighbouring town of St. Columb Major battens down the hatches ready for the ancient Cornish game of hurling? No? I learnt this only recently too, and will leave you to read the details for yourself if you’re curious by following this link. For me, the best bit of this game it that it has no rules and no referee, which in a way links it quite well to Shrove Tuesday, seemingly the only day of the year that we choose to eat pancakes (why?!) and the myriad ideas for topping your pancakes (sweet, savoury, both?) as well as the options open to us all for giving up something for lent.
So with this hotchpotch theme that’s drawing out of today’s blog post, how about I madly mix it up with images from our recent photo shoots; no referee and no rules, just our models having a bit of fun…
Perhaps random 'out-take' photos may not be your idea of a sensible blog post, but why should everything be regimented? Come on, it’s Pancake Day - the day inspires frivolity!
Even models get the giggles (although they still manage to look gorgeous while laughing – talented or what!). They say that smiling and laughing is infectious so I hope they make you smile today too. All of the featured products are available in our current Spring catalogue which you can view here.
Onto our finale now, so to finish off my clearly crazy blog post I have searched the internet for a few pancake day puns but, alas, they were really quite terrible, so much so that I should probably keep them to myself…so all that remains for me to say is that I hope your Shrove Tuesday pans out well and that you have a flipping good time. Personally, it’s always a toss-up for me between lemon & sugar or maple syrup so best crack on and make at least two of each. Groan! Sorry, terrible yolks :) *hangs head in shame*.
Why not share your pancake pictures with us via Facebook or Twitter – we would love to see your favourite toppings!
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Last weekend I left Cornwall for a change to spend the weekend in Surrey where I caught up with family and attended a friend’s wedding. During the week before I watched the weather forecast with some trepidation as meteorologists predicted snowfall and plunging temperatures across the country. We are lucky here in Cornwall in that the climate is fairly mild for most of the year, partly due to the salty sea air although last week the temperature monitor in my car was flashing at -6oC; that’s cold enough for me! We don’t often get snow though so the thought always excites me somewhat.
So in preparation for the potential snowstorms I packed as many layers as I could fit in my overnight bag and set on my way. As I drove over Salisbury plain and past Stonehenge a light flurry of snow started to fall and by the time I reached my parents’ house in Surrey, there was already a sizeable white covering over the gardens and stationary cars. While my excitement level soared to that of a small child I also felt slightly disappointed because I am in training for the Brighton marathon and my weekends usually include a long training run which I had planned for the next morning. With the snow settling and subsequent ice setting in, running would not have been a safe option.
My mild disappointment soon turned to happiness however, when I realised that I could instead spend the day ‘playing’ in the snow because I had packed my Yaktrax Pro! For those of you who aren’t in the know, Yaktrax Pro are attachments which fit onto flat shoes (including our range of sheepskin boots) to give better traction on snow and ice. They are really simple to use; you just slip your shoes into the foot shaped sleeve of coils and fasten the Velcro straps and you’re ready to go! I know people who run wearing Yaktrax Pro and for a moment I considered doing my training run as planned but I decided against it: let’s face it, running 17 miles versus a snowball fight – no contest really!
Hopefully you can see how the Yaktrax Pro work in these images (check out the unusual footprints I left behind me!)…
Here are some images taken on Friday. Didn’t it look stunning?
Yes, that is me playing in the snow (with the help of Photoshop!). As you can see, the snow didn’t stop me running around and I found that that the Yaktrax gave me a sense of confidence on the snow despite barely being aware of them as my boots felt exactly the same. They are a brilliant innovation which I would thoroughly recommend to give reassurance to anyone who is likely to be walking in the snow or on icy surfaces (perfect for ski holidays!).
The eagle-eyed among you might recognise the jumper I am wearing as our Rib Panel Knit in the new-for-spring shade of Cloud. I was surprised that I didn’t need a coat despite the chilly temperature; with the help of a scarf and mittens, I was warm enough in thick leggings, Rib Panel Knit and my Classic Boots! I found that the Rib Panel Knit is long enough to wear as a dress but later on I changed into my jeans and wore it as a jumper as the temperature dropped further – it’s wonderfully versatile.
I hope that, if you were affected by the snow last week, you were able to enjoy it as much as I did! We would love to see your pictures so please post them on Facebook or Twitter.
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Over the past couple of days I have been admiring the online galleries showcasing the glitz and glamour of the BAFTAS which took place on Saturday night. I always look forward to the glut of awards ceremonies that take place at this time of year and I particularly like seeing the red carpet highlights as well-known names take to the red carpet dress in all their finery.
Last weekend my attention was particularly drawn to the outfits worn for the BAFTAS because some of them had been chosen for their eco-credentials thanks to an initiative started by Livia Firth to raise the profile of sustainable style. Livia is encouraging others to adopt an approach of wearing more eco-friendly outfits, especially in the public eye as so many celebrities are and she was able to persuade a few people to take her up on her challenge to add a ‘green’ touch to the red carpet. You can read more about the green carpet challenge here.
Actress Viola Davis wore a Valentino design that had been created from recycled drinks bottles – amazing! Colin Firth (Livia’s husband) and Michael Fassbender wore Versace tuxedos made from wool and recycled materials. Here are a few pictures which I found online…
Focusing on Viola’s dress in particular (although do feel free to ‘study’ the men in their tuxedos for a while longer if you wish!), one thing that really strikes me is just how beautiful she looks, which isn’t how I would usually describe a dress crafted from recycled plastic bottles! The combination of the pretty pink and dainty drape of the dress means that it looks wonderfully feminine and perfectly suited to the glamorous red carpet entrance that Viola was no doubt hoping for.
Of course, here at Celtic Sheepskin, we too work hard to create eco-friendly and ethical clothing which also looks and feels beautiful to wear (but perhaps not aimed at the red carpet, more living room carpet!). It isn’t always an easy partnership to master as some fibres lend themselves to being worn in more pretty styles than others. Adding a little embellishment, button detail or using a lighter fibre can however make all the difference…
As the largest UK based retailer of sheepskin footwear, we know very well that the word ‘beautiful’ doesn’t often spring to mind when it comes to sheepskin boots. Of course, we would strongly argue the case against this as many years have passed since the first pair of sheepskin boots was made and we now manufacture many different styles which have been embellished with feminine details (such as our Toscana, Cabra and Button Boots) to give them a pretty, feminine edge…
To wrap up today’s blog post, I couldn’t possibly forget to mention St Valentine’s Day. Congratulations to all those happy pairs out there! I do hope that if you are marking the occasion, you are being lovingly spoiled today. Let us know if you have been treated to something beautiful from Celtic Sheepskin on Facebook or Twitter.
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This weekend, restaurants around the country will be full of amorous couples eating dinner by candlelight and staring lovingly into each other’s eyes in celebration of St. Valentine’s Day which falls on Tuesday next week. With the plethora of topical emails that have been landing in my inbox over the past couple of weeks and signs in local restaurants and shop windows, it would be quite hard to forget (although tell that to the men!).
After getting engaged recently it would be fair to say that I feel fairly ‘loved-up’ but the thought of celebrating St Valentine’s Day eating a themed dinner in a crowded restaurant doesn’t appeal to me quite as much as enjoying a quiet, lovingly-cooked (hopefully by him!) meal at home. I imagine that I’m probably not alone, judging by the ‘anti-Valentine’s’ columns and tweets that I have read recently.
So today, in a twist from the usual Valentines-related articles you might read over the next few days, I thought rather than focussing on the people we love, I would highlight some of the places we adore. As I have mentioned before, living here in Cornwall we are incredibly lucky to have such beautiful places right on our doorsteps. From golden sandy beaches to rugged cliff tops, Cornwall holds a place in many people’s hearts, including mine, for its natural beauty and peaceful surroundings. I know of many people who visit the county during the year in search of solitude and a sense of calm and Cornwall epitomises these traits with bells on.
So take a deep breath, relax and admire some of the places in Cornwall that we love…
This is my local beach so I am perhaps a little biased however I don’t think many could deny its beauty! I love how the beach looks so different depending on the angle from which you see it. It can look rugged and rocky or idyllic and picturesque. At three miles long, Perranporth beach is a wonderful beach to walk along at low tide, wrapped up warm in cosy layers when the wind is howling or barefoot and carefree with the sand between your toes in the summer.
To top it off, there is a pub on the edge of the beach which serves very yummy hot chocolates (or ice cold beer!) to enjoy after a long walk.
Bodmin Moor has been the setting for many Celtic photo shoots in seasons gone by and the scenery truly lends itself to being photographed. I love Bodmin Moor because it has so much character which seems to change from one day to the next. On a wintry day it looks mysterious and windswept yet it is transformed in the sunshine to appear dramatic and breathtakingly colourful, with rolling hills that seem to go on for miles (and indeed they do).
This week Sam Verran, a fashion student from Truro College is on work experience with us as part of her foundation degree fashion course. Throughout the week Sam will be working in various departments across the company and yesterday she was based with me in the press office. As someone with a keen interest in fashion and her finger on the pulse with regards to the latest trends, I took advantage of the opportunity to find out her thoughts on how the latest Celtic Sheepskin collection channels the Spring 2012 trends and to share her ideas with you in today’s blog post.
As you can probably appreciate, there are plenty of trends to choose from out there this season, some more realistically suited to us than others (wet look PVC anyone?!) so rather than focusing on all of them in this post, Sam has highlighted one trend that she particularly likes. With the Olympics only months away (and taking place right her in England) it is no surprise that the fashion world is fully embracing one of Spring's biggest trends, Sport Luxe.
Sam explained “The trend includes elements of relaxed sports fashion (hoodies and jersey tops) as well as more edgy styles which could be seen on this season’s runways combined with skirts, dresses and high heels. Just like the camaraderie which can be felt with the anticipation of the Olympic games, this trend is one that you will want to be part of and it is so easy to follow.”
Sam has picked out three examples of the Sport Luxe trend and – as is the often the theme of our blog posts – matched them with similar items from our Spring collection to demonstrate how Celtic Sheepskin is nodding to the trend…One of the pieces that is most associated with sportswear has been given an overhaul for the Sport Luxe look and our version is no exception. Sam commented “The Pointelle Hoodie is the perfect layering piece for Spring. It’s ideal for days when there's a bit of a chill in the air. I love the thumbholes – great for keeping your hands warm. The pointelle detailing adds a pretty element to the sporty look – quite different to the typical hoodie which is more chunky and casual”.
With our jersey wear range now bigger than ever, there is plenty to choose from of similar items. Sam picked out the Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Tee. She said “The slight A-line of this tee drapes in a really flattering way which looks great with skinny jeans.
The dropped back is a great touch which sets this aside from just another t-shirt. I particularly like the Navy Stripe tee and I think it could build part of a smart casual evening outfit with the addition of a pair of heels and some statement jewellery.” I couldn’t agree more!
The cricket-style v-neck jumper is a smarter example of Sport Luxe which can be dressed up or down according to the occasion. Sam explained “This is my favourite take on the sport-luxe trend. The Lace Knit Slouch is such a versatile piece: it can be worn with a shirt underneath for a preppy look or for a more feminine take with a sporty crop top underneath or a bikini top as the temperature increases. The clever laddering allows for just the right amount of exposure so you can a bolder look without feeling too exposed”.
What do you think of the Sport Luxe look? Which trend have you noticed everywhere so far this season? Let us know your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.
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I was browsing online yesterday and discovered that Monday 30th January was dubbed “Happy Monday” by psychologists. Apparently many of us will have felt a renewed sense of positivity and happiness due to the first pay cheque of 2012 landing in our bank accounts over the weekend, marking the end of a long spell since Christmas and all the expenses it brings. Thinking about it, I wholeheartedly agree having treated myself at the beginning of the week to a couple of must-have items for my new season wardrobe which – yes – did make me feel happy (although I must admit that I am usually quite cheery anyway and I ALWAYS feel happy when I’m shopping!).
Are you thinking of treating yourself to a special pay day purchase too? I had a look through our final clearance pages to pick out some tempting pieces which would be considered a treat while allowing you to shop guilt-free in the knowledge that these special purchases are even better value than usual!
Here’s what I have found…
Knowing how much we ladies like our handbags, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to show off this gorgeous tote! The Sheepskin Tote Bag has plenty of space to hold everything you might need and the Tan colour is really versatile so this will become a firm favourite I’m sure. At £65 (half its original price), it is also a purse-friendly bargain.
If you would like to pamper yourself even more, this Cashmere Scoop Neck Jumper Dress might just do the trick! At £160, just over 25% discount from the pre-winter price, I think it slips into the “affordable at a stretch” category –it is 100% cashmere after all! I love how soft this dress feels against the skin, it is so snuggly to wear yet its tailored shape lends itself to being dressed up for a special occasion – dinner with the girls perhaps? It would look fab with a pair of heels and a belt to define the waist.
