gottohaveit blog

Once again, its been a week of change for one of our stores. For some time we had been planning to change a display area in our Exeter store to make room for the arrival of the Chameleon dress. We knew we wanted a vintage display unit to bring a new dimension to the store, but finding the right one was not an easy feat, at one point I had nearly given up...... but one day when I wasn't looking I found the perfect cabinet!




I know it looks a little tired here!




By adapting some stair spindles we created a ledge for a new shelve inside the cabinet and after lots of tender loving care, not to mention paint this is the finished result.




Complete with display.




The unit has really opened up this area of the store and given us the space we needed to showcase "The Chameleon Dress."

Each of our stores has a feature wall and for the past year we've had a beautiful tree in each store, painted freehand by some of the more artistic members of our team!




To keep everyone on their toes we like to update this wall every now and again and so I've spent the last few weeks searching high and low for vintage maps to make our next feature wall.

So with wallpaper paste, brush and scissors I set about updating our Tavistock store wall.




The first few maps going up.




Removing air bubbles from the final map.




Ta Da.... (many hours later) the finished wall.

Earlier today I was searching for cardboard sheets online, (not one of the glamorous aspects of my job) when I stumbled upon some amazing work by cardboard artists.....


Cardboard cupcakes by Patianne Stevenson, these are better then any cake I've made!


Letters by Sylvie Reno, who has been quoted as saying she is not creative.


This car by Chris Gilmour is so impressive and realistic.

At last the Chameleon dress has arrived in store. I can’t contain my excitement for this innovative dress, it really is unique.
This dress is a true chameleon; Because of its seemingly endless styles, at first it can seem a little daunting.... however I have proudly been wearing mine the last few days and am now a dab hand at transforming the dress into each style. I can often be found whipping my dress off in a Bucks Fizz style (obviously with leggings & top underneath!!) in order to show customers how fantastic it really is!

It really isn’t easy to explain how fabulous it is, so I thought I would photograph just one of the dresses for you and you can see for yourself the many fantastic ways it can be worn.

Take a look at this!





Once mastered this dress is easy to style. We are now stocking the dress in our Dartmouth store, the Insideout team have had hours of fun learning how to style the chameleon dress and are keen to share our passion for this wonderful dress with you.

Like most women in the UK, I love clothes!

Over the last few years I feel shopping for clothes has lost its lustre. I don’t want to look like everyone else & I want to buy clothes that flatter my shape. It’s so frustrating when trousers seem to be cut to fit only supermodels, and as for jeans……well don’t get me started on those!

Then finally I found it! In the most unexpected of places! A Hobby & crafts show!

I was busy indulging my other passion (signing up to a new craft magazine) when I turned around & caught a glimpse of my friend in the most beautiful vintage style dress.

Well that was it! I was over there in a flash, I wanted that dress, it was simply stunning! However that was just the beginning. Before my very eyes the dress morphed into another equally as stunning dress, then another and another!!! I was mystified.

The dress is the creation of talented New Zealand designer Annah Stretton and fittingly has been named the Chameleon.



Still bewildered? Well just to clarify all the dresses in the picture above….are THE SAME DRESS! Yes that’s right; it’s literally 10 dresses in one!

Needless to say no item of clothing has moved me this much since I fell in love with my wedding dress, and I wasn’t the only who was smitten. Why has no one ever thought of this before?

Well a lot has happened since I first clapped eyes on this amazing creation. My obsession for this unique dress has led to us take the plunge and start selling clothing. Earlier this week we invited one of Annah’s team to my home, and over several glasses of wine we all set about mastering the countless styles this dress can be worn in.

    
    
Please excuse the amateur photography, but I wanted to share these with you. We are all wearing the same dress in every picture; this is just a taste of the styles that can be easily created with just a few simple twists and turns!

        
Same dress in different fabrics....

And below the Chameleon Skirt which morphs into a myriad of fabulously funky dresses!

    
    
In the words of the late great Coco Chanel “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different”.

Well this dress is certainly that!

I’d love to know what you all think....

Curious, watch this space, arriving in store soon

My visit to Bath last week couldn’t have been at a better time. Yes the sun was actually shinning and there wasn’t a drop of rain.

Bath is a stunning city, with exquisite buildings and for shopaholic’s like me, a perfect destination. The side streets are crowded with inspiring stores and more importantly Bath’s Independent Retailers still have a strong presence in the city.



On my visit I stumbled across Sassy & Boo, a delightful store tucked away on one of Bath’s many side streets. It’s one of those stores you can’t just walk past, even in Sale mode Sassy & Boo still manage to entice you in. I doubt many people make it out of this small store without one of their pink paper carriers.



There has been a real fad of stores selling clothes alongside gifts (following suite of retailers such as the inspiring Anthropology), in my opinion many don’t quite hit the mark and appear to be grasping at straws in an attempt to survive. Sassy & Boo have succeeded in combining carefully selected clothing with an array of vintage finds, furniture, accessories and small gifts. The team here definitely understand the importance of Visual Merchandising and use every opportunity to put their skills to good use in store.



As a retailer myself, it rare for another store to enthuse me enough to make me want to spend, needless to say my purse did make it out of my handbag in here. This store is a feast for the eyes and goes that step further by also giving you a sensory experience. When I shop for clothes it’s not just the look that calls me, it’s also the texture of the fabric, and here the clothes were fantastic to touch. (This sounds like I have developed some weird fetish, no..... I assure you, it’s just the way I shop!)



If you are lucky enough to visit this beautiful city, you must try and make time to visit this Sassy Store, I’m confident it won’t disappoint. Please post your thoughts if you do. Enjoy!

Sassy & Boo
9 Green Street, Bath BA1 2LY

It was tradeshow time again so we boarded the "slow" train to London, which actually wasn't to bad! It was quiet and we secured a table seat, so we spread ourselves out and did a bit of crafting to pass the time. We did however get a few inquisitive glances from other passengers as Nicky sat stabbing her felting needle into her piece of work!

We arrived in a very balmy London and headed straight to the supermarket to stock up on ingredients to make a much needed glass of Pimms to cool us down, (it would have been rude not to!)



Cheers! Hard at work as usual!

Later we kindly shared the rest of the bottle with Nicky's Uncle and some friends, in exchange for them cooking us a yummy Thai meal, which we ate in between watching brief snippets of "Britains Got Talent"....yep I know, we are so Rock and Roll!

The tradeshow started on Sunday, so it was an early start for us. As usual it was packed full with beautiful products. The launch pad area was of particular interest to us, as it showcases the work of new designers. We found some great new products which will be appearing online and in store soon. These funky silk daisy chains are sure to be a summer hit, as seen on Fern Cotton and modelled by me!



We also found some really dainty silver pendants with initials and words stamped in them, all of which are handmade in Britain.



After stomping our way through every aisle of the show we headed to The Kings Road, (all in the name of research you understand) where I am positive we walked past Christian Bale the actor.... or if not someone who was his exact double.

Mid-shop the weather turned nasty on us and we got soaked as we only had one umbrella between us! Nicky who nagged me to death to bring my coat ended up wandering the streets of London with a free bag from the tradeshow on her head...... as although she bought her coat she didn't wear it that day!


I expected my P45 will be in the post after this!

On the way back we stumbled....quite literally, across two beautiful vintage cabinets outside a house waiting to be taken away by the bin men. We couldn't believe our luck and waited for the downfall to stop so that we could rescue them! Unfortionately the rain got heavier and heavier that night!

Bravely with a little help from her Uncle Garry, Nicky got up at 7am the next day and ventured out in her flip flops in the hope the cabinets were still there, fortunately it was worth the effort.



One of our finds put to use in our Dartmouth Store.

After Nicky had stashed her finds, we headed off to Covent Garden to preview the new capsule collection by Orla Kiely. On the way we made a detour through Lambeth North to have a nosey around a fab knitting shop called "I knit London". A fantastic little shop often full to capacity with gaggles of keen knitters, all huddled around a table sharing tips and learning new techniques.



A little further down the road is the best vintage store we have ever visited, packed from floor to ceiling with vintage finds. Everything from beautiful vintage gowns, to kitsch kitchenware, this little shop is well worth a visit if you are ever in this area. Unfortunately for us on this occasion they had popped out. The sign on the door said back in five minutes, but we had to make our way to Covent Garden to our appointment so had to make do with gazing longingly through the window!



Next Stop Orla Kiely and her new collection didn’t disappoint, with fab leather brights to lighten up those dark winter days, and a gorgeous new collection of her signature stem which is sure to be on everyone’s Christmas list.....Yep that’s right I said Christmas! Here in the wonderful world of retail as one Christmas ends we start buying for the next! Ho Ho Ho!

I first discovered Orla Kiely seven years ago, when one of my team introduced to me her beautiful, bold bags. Needless to say it was love at first sight! I was curious to find out more about the woman behind these iconic designs, and have been busy researching this compelling British brand.



Irish born Orla Kiely has become an Inspiration to many. Creating designs Inspired by her love of 60’s and 70’s design, her interpretation of this era is apparent in her prints which are clean, modern and all about colour.

I am lucky enough to be a buyer for Insideout and Gottohaveit . Every 6 months, I have the opportunity to visit the Orla Kiely showroom in London and preview the new collections. Just entering the showroom makes my mouth water, the room itself is an inspiration, her love of retro 60 and 70’s style is evident everywhere you look, from the massive retro TV to the simplistic furniture.




Orla Kiely initially qualified as a Textile Designer in Dublin, and started her career working for a wallpaper and fabric designer in New York, later she moved to England to work for Esprit. Whilst at Esprit, she completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London, and 1993 Harrods bought her exit collection of hats from the RCA, they clearly recognised a fantasic emerging talent when they saw one! Over the next few years Orla Kiely completed design work for numerous companies including Marks & Spencer and Habitat.



Whilst researching I was very fortunate to stumble across these images of Orla Kiely’s childrens workwear range from an archive of student’s work from the Royal College of Art.



Many thanks to the Royal College of Art for giving me permission to use them.



I for one am instantly attracted to Orla Kiely prints, I am drawn to the simplicty and clever use of repeats which are meticulously thought through. There seems to be a limitless number of products that have already benefited from her expert touch.



Orla Kiely and her husband Dermott Rowan launched the Orla Kiely label in 1997, renowned for chic, funky and feminine style Orla Kiely is a true success story.
Described by the Guardian as “the Queen of Prints”, it seems fitting that she was featured on a stamp in July 2010; her designs certainly get my stamp of approval!



Orla Kiely’s Autumn Winter Collection 2012 won’t disappoint. I can’t wait for our delivery to arrive and no doubt will spend the day drooling over the new bags, whilst having a debate with myself over which one I’ve got to have! This year for the first time I will be visiting her showroom an additional time to view a new capsule collection, my mouth is watering already!

I love wandering around London and gazing into the immaculately dressed windows of the shops on Oxford Street and Regent Street. I find myself trying to guess how much of a display budget they had to create such amazing displays!



The thing is you can create equally exciting displays on the cheap, it just takes a little more thought and a thrifty attitude! Scouring auctions and charity shops for display props is sadly becoming one of my favourite past times!



A whole window display can be built around the most random find from a second-hand shop like this old radio which sets the retro prints of Cath Kidston off a treat!

So I have to wonder why some shops totally neglect the ‘Silent sales person’. After all the Queen of shops herself Mary Portas started her career as a lowly window dresser and look at her now, advising the government on the plight of the retailer!





The way I look at it is this, if you can’t come up with anything better than a few manky camisoles attached to a piece of plywood, you shouldn’t be let loose with a staple gun, or at the very least be stapled to the floor with it for crimes against window dressing!



Windows aside I turn to the art of dressing a mannequin, I mean how hard can it be? After all you dress yourself every day, if anything it should be easier as their arms and legs come off!! So what excuse does the person who dressed this ‘horror’ have?


Think my nephews face says it all... He’s the one on the right by the way!

Being based in Devon has its advantages, the scenery being one of the biggest.






This year saw spring arriving earlier than normal. Easter weekend I took Ben and Ffion to one of my favourite places at this time of year Bluebell Wood.






Bertie our dog takes the lime light!


Bluebell woods is a magical place, at its best late afternoon, when the sunlight creeps through the canopy of trees at striking angles. The wood in this photo reminded me of a hare, giving me inspiration for a new needle felting project. I really can't sit still of an evening!


Needle felted Hare.