Car Booty

Last Saturday I took a trip to Westfields in London and it looks like the high street designers have become car boot chic. High street stores were selling their latest autumn and winter trends from the boot of their individually themed cars. 

Car Boot Fair - Westfields. Sourced @ http://londonfashion.westfield.com/events/car-boot-fair

 It seems the idea of recycling your clothes has worked its way up the chain, and has now become a new technique of enticing customers. 

 I love the concept of car boot chic being fashionable, but didn’t love the high street price tags attached to it. Car boot sales are about finding that one off bargain that nobody else has. As much as I love rummaging though the bargains at car boot sales, I don’t enjoy it when it’s raining, cold and wet. I may be desperate for that ‘must have’ clutch bag for a £1, but would rather find it online sat in my pj’s. 

Sourced @ http://www.boston.com

 So what if you could find those same car boot bargains from the comfort of your own home? At Swop2shop you can do just that! 

All you have to do is list it, swop it, wear it.

A Surprise Find

Last week I decided to sort out my attic. This decision was not taken lightly; my attic has been used as a dumping ground for the last twenty years and sorting through it all didn’t exactly fill me with enthusiasm. In light of this, you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found this beautiful, Victorian baby’s dress whilst emptying a particularly heavy box. I vaguely remember receiving a bag of heirlooms from my mother quite a few years ago but as the majority of the contents failed to have a place in the house, it ended up in the attic with everything else.

From the design of the dress I can only guess it was my great-great-grandmothers. I know that the Victorians liked t

o

accessorise their children and a lot of their clothes were intricately designed. This simply designed dress makes me think that it was most likely an undergarment or a night dress. The length of the dress is also typically Victorian and I was thrilled to see that the delicate buttons were still in their original state; tiny ro

und circles of mother of pearl.

It’s lovely to see that a handmade garment of considera

ble age has managed to make it through the generations; I will feel extremely proud to hand down such a beautiful family heirloom to my children and I hope that in time, they will pass it on to their own.

Hot Handbags!

Personal taste and lifestyle habits dictate the style of the bag you choose to carry! Handbag trends come and go and although you are more likely to invest in a quality handbag that will last, it is refreshing to know that you don’t have to splash the cash to grab a great bag.

Some looks for this season are fairly repetitive but essential.

Clutch Bags can make or break an evening outfit. They can liven up the simpliest of styles and shouldn’t be ignored when considering what to wear. The Box Clutch is becoming ever more apparent and designers such as LuLu Guines are moving forward with quirky and iconic designs, turning handbags into a form of art.

This classic purse clutch is reinvented every season, so check out this lace bag available at Swop2Shop to keep you looking bang on trend.

Similarly to clothing trends, texture is also big on the handbag scene. An oversized suede bag can be fairly plain, but a versatile bag like this will help you move through the seasons. Plus, oversized handbags provide a truely great combination of function and fashion. If you are in need of a handbag but are watching the pennies, try buying a darker shade to make it look more expensive.

Who wouldnt notice you holding this bag!? Statement bags are always popular, adding an extra edge to any dull workwear or a casual pair of jeans. The colours and suede tassles accessoring this bag will keep you looking fashion savvy this season.

Be careful you don’t overfill your bag as it will loose its shape and there have been various health warning on them damaging your posture. However, don’t worry, I have designed a timetable to overcome this slight problem! Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday you can dedicate a bag to your right arm and Thursday, Friday and Saturday you can balance it out on your left!  Sunday is a day off so either carry a small light bag or forget your bag and insist your partner pays for the carvery!

Shoes, jewellery, belts and handbags are the finishing touches to any outfit, so don’t forget about them!

Denim Trends

On trend and perfect for the Autumn, denim is key for kid’s wear this month. It’s hardwearing for all those rough tumbles in the park and perfect for keeping the little ones warm without over heating!! Women’s oversized denim shirts have gone viral on the high-street with the renewal of denim designs so don’t leave the children behind; get them in on the trend!

Swop2Shop has a wide selection of denim delights, from dungarees and skirts to shoes and jeans. Everything that is featured below is in stock and ready to swap!

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New Season, New Coat

The dark nights have set in and now that Britain seems to be under a permanent cloud, there are some great ways to use the horrible weather for your own benefit! One great way of beating the gloomy skies is to start sorting out your wardrobe in preparation for the Autumn/Winter months. Root through last year’s Winter bundle and modify them to bring them up to date. You can turn an old, high-street cardigan into a quirky Autumn piece by changing individual buttons or sewing on a fur collar trim.

This week we’ll be looking at the most important Autumn/Winter piece in your wardrobe…your coat! It is important to assess your shape to find out which of this season’s styles works best for you! Hopefully the following pointers will give you an insight into the top styles of this A/W and will help you in your decision.

Bright Colours

A key look this season is colour blocking. The easiest way to do this successfully is by adding a splash of colour to your jacket! Break up the block colour by adding a contrasting belt and avoid matching your shoes and accessories with your coat!

Camel

Denim and camel is a classic match and this look is perfect for a casual day at the office or a lazy weekend. Different shades of camel are available so make sure you opt for one that suits your skin tone.

English Heritage and Equestrian

Quilted jackets and fitted blazers are huge this season. Invest in a tweed, cord or velvet riding jacket for a catwalk worthy look!

Military

This style can be glammed up for a night out or dressed down with causal jeans and trainers. Military is a hugely versatile trend. You can alter previous season’s jackets with the addition of some gold buttons or alternatively invest in our classic McQueen jacket that you know will never go out of style!

Trench Coats

A classic style that is rejuvenated every season! This versatile and flattering jacket can be worn for work or play, but if you are a woman with a larger bust, opt for a single breasted style for a more flattering shape. This style of jacket is perfect for Autumn as it is lightweight but can be layered to keep you warm in Winter.

Why spend a fortune on coats when they change every year? Recycle your old coats for points and spend them on one of our latest styles! If you do this year after year you may never have to buy another coat again!!! Fashion works on a 10 year cycle so you may even end up receiving one of your own jackets in years to come…

Until next week, keep swopping 🙂

Press Mania

The best present you can receive is the one your least expecting. This is exactly how the Swop2Shop team felt when we saw this brilliant article in The Telegraph today! If you would like to read the article online, head to http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/8001633/Club-together-to-save-money.html.

It’s lovely that Swop2Shop has stuck in the minds of big name papers and that the word is spreading. We hope you are spreading the word too! Remember, for every friend you refer you get free S2S points!

Work to Play

You are heading out for a few drinks after work but you haven’t got time to go home and change. You don’t want to carry half your wardrobe to work and you don’t want to wear your party gear all day. What do you do?

Here are some top tips on how to layer your clothes so you can dress up for the day and strip down for the night.

With the weather being so unpredictable it’s always good to wear a long, lightweight jacket. Tan and camel shades are topping the trends this Autumn so choose something that’s going to keep you dry and fashionable!

Hang up your coat to reveal a classic, high-waist, pencil skirt with a sheer luxe, long sleeve top. You can keep the neck scarf for a classy sophisticated look.

If you’re heading out for the evening, take off your top to reveal a sexy and sleek camisole. If you take a pair of heels to work, you can dress up any outfit, these sparkly shoes are ideal. If the weather is looking dubious you can always wear your coat or if it’s looking promising you can leave it at work and use that long sleeved top as a casual shrug. Accessorise with a simple necklace that won’t get knotted in your bag and your ready to go!

Swop2Shop gives you day to night in a few small steps! Head to http://www.swop2shop.co.uk today to find all these great pieces.

Swapping Fever!

It has long been known that America is two steps ahead of the rest of the world. American audiences are the first to watch new film releases, whilst weight loss programmes such as Weight Watchers gained mass popularity in the US before the concept was brought over to Britain. The same can be said of swapping which has gathered a huge following on websites such as SwapStyle and children’s, clothes swapping website, ThredUp. These websites boast hundreds of thousands of members and have hit American television screens in multiple states.

Instead of waiting patiently for the American frenzy to reach Britain, get on board now and join the swapping community! Swop2Shop’s ‘points for pounds’ system is the best way to guarantee that you will receive an item as good as the one you swapped. There is no uncertain like-for-like swaps and no complicated cash and swap combinations. You simply list your items for a point’s value, (1point is equal to £1) you wait for someone to ‘buy’ your swap, then you receive the amount of points that you listed your item for. With your collected points, you get to ‘buy’ whatever you want on the Swop2Shop site, be it a handbag, a scarf, a top or a pair of jeans.

If you are hesitant to swap or you don’t quite understand how the concept works, visit http://www.swop2shop.co.uk/how-swop-2-shop-works/ for a full explanation. If you still don’t understand, please e-mail us at admin@swop2shop.co.uk. We want to spread the swapping fever and we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Swapping IS the new shopping. So jump on the band-wagon before it takes off without you!

How to do Denim

No matter the month or season, denim is guaranteed to appear on the catwalk and on the high street. It is vital that we wear the right jeans for our body shape, so ladies, read on to discover the best jeans for you. You will also discover some handy tips about what to wear with your denim friends to keep you looking on top form this Autumn.

Apple Shape: Wear straight leg or slightly bootcut. These will lengthen legs and your overall silhouette.

Wear With: Heels will make your legs look longer and slimmer. Add a belt to cinch in your waist.

Fuller Figure: Keep the wash dark and the length long. Opt for wide leg styles, the fabric will skim over any lumps and bumps which will prove flattering.

Wear With: These are great day and night jeans, so change trainers and t shirts for a pair of heels, a silk camisole and tailored blazer.

Pear or Hourglass: Give balance to your curves. The best jeans for this figure are bootcut or flared. A slightly higher waist and flared leg will make the shortest of legs look long & luscious.

Wear With: Tuck in a blouse, grab a skinny belt and shrug on a cropped cardigan, it’s guaranteed to accentuate your curves. Choose a nude colour to keep on trend with this seasons look.

Petite: Straight and skinny work best on this body shape, while a lighter colour wash will lengthen legs. Embellishment on the back pockets will give the illusion of a fuller derrière.

Wear With: Brown leather boots and a fitted tweed jacket to celebrate this season’s equestrian trend. If that doesn’t suit you, try some flat black boots and a slogan t-shirt to rock the grunge look.

I hope these helpful tips will be of some use to you. Jeans are such an important part of any wardrobe that it’s essential we get it right!!

Children’s Autumn Clothing

The weather at this time of year is full of uncertainty… especially in Britain! The simplest of errands can be turned into an almighty task with the unpredictable British seasons. No one wants to be packing an extra wardrobe just to pop to the shops, especially when you have children.

Children come equipped with more than a few accessories, even a new born baby comes packaged with the must-have ‘baby bag’ which is prepared for everything, including the end of the world! It doesn’t get any better as they get older: the early years don’t move anywhere without their favourite toy and as they grow and technology evolves, they move from plastic playthings to expensive iPods, DS’s and every other technical gadget on the market! I’m afraid to say the staple teddy bear just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Dressing children, or yourself, for the varying autumn season is all about balance. Yes, you can wear shorts in September or sleeveless tops in October. It’s the same strategy as eating chocolate cake when you’re on a diet – everything in moderation!! So don’t fret, there’s no need to get the winter woollies out just yet.

At Swop2Shop we have a great variety of children’s clothing, so why bother buying new items when they are likely to grow out of them in a matter of months? The following pictures show how you can keep your little ones warm, on trend and for minimal effort and expenditure.

For a total of 23 points you can get this stylish outfit for your son or nephew. All the above are quality items and are from either Next or Gap. Why not list your child’s outgrown baby clothes in exchange for a new wardrobe for your growing child?

For 23 points your little girl can look super cute and stay warm in these mock UGG boots and a fashionable autumn dress from Baby Gap. This outfit can be worn into the winter with the addition of a vest, cardigan, hat or mittens.

With children’s clothes listed on the Swop2Shop site every day, have a browse and stock up for the autumn season!!