If you know me, then you know I love shopping. You may also know that I hate shopping for others. By my age, women develop a personal style and it is less and less difficult to find things they like. On the other hand, shopping for others is a major pain in you-know-what because we don’t know the likes and dislikes of others. I usually give giftcards or other random things (hey, it’s the thought that counts) and am super delirious when people actually register somewhere and make it really easy for people like me to go in-n-out of stores.So if you have a friend’s celebration coming up and they have not registered (because they secretly hate their friends, I guess) making the whole decision process so difficult that you question your life, while staring at the endless display of beauty products, clothes, or handbags, read on. In today’s post, I like to do two things. One, introduce you to some British (mainly) brands and two, give you some unique gift ideas so you don’t run out screaming from the store vowing never to attend another bridal shower again. So here goes.
For Little Girls and Boys:
Charlotte Olympia- Luxury shoes and accessories designer, Charlotte Olympia began designing from her love of fashion and nostalgia for the bygone era of old Hollywood glamour. Soon after graduating from Cordwainers, Charlotte pursued her passion and launched her eponymous London based brand in January 2008. All products are handcrafted in Italy using the finest materials and each shoe is finished with a signature gold spider's web on the sole. Charlotte Olympia enjoys a growing international retail presence of eleven stores in Mayfair, Brompton Cross, Manhattan, Beverly Hills, Miami, Las Vegas, South Coast Plaza, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bangkok and most recently Moscow as well as online and in shop-in-shops internationally. The collections are also stocked in some of the world’s most prestigious retailers including Harrods, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, On Pedder, Isetan, Printemps and Beymen.So why her? She has the cutest collection of kitty-motif ballet flats for girls and designs for boys as well. Labeled Incy for girls and Incy for Boys, they look absolutely darling on little feet and can dress up any outfit. The little girls and boys will like the kitty prints on their shoes and the mamas will have well-dressed up little girls and boys.
Sophia Webster- Born March 1985, Sophia is a British shoe and accessories designer who launched her eponymous footwear line in September 2012. She is renowned for a feminine, bold yet playful design approach which has led to distribution at over 200 retailers worldwide. Realizing she wanted to create shoes, Webster went on to Cordwainers College at the London College of Fashion and then studied for her MA at Royal College of Art. So what to buy for little girls from her line? Shoes!! Yes, and did I mention they have butterfly wings on them, growing out of them, and the colors, oh the colors, could make a little girl look like a popsicle. Trust me, at that age it is cute.For Women:
Bijoux de Familie- I posted a pair of earrings by her so this may not come out as a surprise that I really like Bijoux de Famile’s style. Parisian Designer Julie Pasquet graduated from the renowned Duperre Fashion School in Paris and perfected her training at the fashion houses of Christian Lacroix, Barbara Bui, as well as younger designer studios such as “Les Bijoux de Sophie”, and Eddie Borgo. She loves to play with anything and endlessly transforms and transfers what she finds around her onto her work in jewelry. She uses offsetting materials like leather, and intricate techniques like painting to create colorful, andbold jewelry pieces which are often unique and audacious as the women who can carry them. Her jewelry line has perfect pieces to dress up your girlfriend so if there is a bridal shower, or birthday coming up, don’t forget Bijoux de Famile.
Marina Qureshi-We all know and love British designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney. However, I came across this young South Asian/British designer on Instagram and feel immediately in love with her designs. Marina Qureshi succeeds in delivering romantic, beautifully constructed creations that are wearable and not just reserved for the red carpets. There is an emphasis on details of the garments, which are designed using only the finest fabrics of fine lace, soft silks and flowing chiffons sourced from Italy and France. What stands out is her playfulness with the movement and dimensions of fabrics by adding ruffles or mingling tweed and leather with chiffon or satin. The designs are also infused with Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones or delicate hand embroidery, enhanced with shimmering sequins.According to her website, “Marina Qureshi’s signature style of effortless elegance, pure romance, natural confidence, form and femininity is immediately apparent in her collections and this helps her confident, cosmopolitan customers create their own identity, celebrate their sophistication, femininity and womanly silhouettes. Marina Qureshi designs have been worn by the likes of Lara Stone, Ellie Goulding, Amanda Seyfried and the incredible Florence Welch.”Her designs her truly unique and her aesthetics are decent and sophisticated enough for me to recommend her.
For Men:
Ziggi Menswear- This is a South Asian/British designer who has designs that can suit any taste-eastern or western. Set up in February 2009, theirfocus is primarily on high quality, cutting edge design to create the finest and most luxurious Asian men's and groomswear collections. They draw inspiration from the Mughal era and the majestic beauty of its royal palaces, to inspire an edgy, elegant and regal look that allows an ordinary gentleman to turn into the King on his special day. Think bold sherwanis with fitted, suit-like silhouettes and suits embellished with embroidery. So future brides, when you are gifting your will-be husbands and need a designer that is decadent and spectacular (like your will-be husbands , of course!) then look into this British-based designer.Well, there you have. Some labels that will earn you love of important people in your life and maybe a hole in your bank account, but trust me these gift ideas will make you a super star in any occasion. Happy Shopping!
