Pinstripe and Pearls announces the launch of their new petite work wear range. Working together with Petite brand Short Couture, Pinstripe and Pearls now offer a petite collection that includes beautifully tailored business dresses, work blouses, petite jackets and petite trousers. The petite business wear collection has been designed and manufactured from start to finish in the UK and is cleverly styled in proportions and leg lengths to suit petite women.

The two retailers have put together a beautiful collection of petite ladies’ office wear, with a special emphasis on petite trousers, business dresses, office jackets and blouses. All styles featured in the petite work wear range are available in sizes 8-16 for petite ladies who are 5′ 4″ and under.
Pinstripe and Pearls, an online retailer of womens work clothes have responded quickly to customers who want to buy British and are struggling to find petite work clothes. “At Pinstripe and Pearls we appreciate the frustrations felt by many petite business women – finding work wear designed with high quality fabrics, which not only fit well but look great for the more formal office environment. This is why we approached Short Couture, a brand which specialises in business clothing for Petite ladies, using British talent to design and manufacture all their products.”

Short Couture is run by Hayley Chalmers. Hayley, a petite lady herself decided to start the company when she grew tired of not having clothes that fit properly and not being able to find retailers of petite work wear.

Hayley says “Being 5’1″ I’ve had a lifetime of clothes not fitting properly and not being able to find decent clothes for work. So I finally decided to start a business making them. It wasn’t easy. I was an IT manager, with no knowledge or experience in fashion. It took me 18 months of research and I spent my life’s savings on the business but now have a great range to show for it!.”

Emma Blake, CEO at Pinstripe and Pearls says “We are very excited about the new range and hope that this will make shopping for work wear a much more enjoyable experience for petite women. We are delighted that Short Couture source and manufacture all their products right here in the UK – it’s a fantastic advert for “Made In Britain”. We wanted to make life just that little bit easier for busy petite business women and with Short Couture we feel we can achieve this.”

To view the new line visit www.pinstripeandpearls.com.

UK Returns are free and delivery options are flexible – you can have your order delivered on a Saturday or straight to your office!

Prime Hide, one of the premier manufacturers of fine leather bags and wallets, has expanded its collection of leather holdalls just in time for spring and summer travelling. The company’s attention to practical details and emphasis on timeless design are evident in the new collection. With Italian-style oiled leather finishes in natural and distressed textures, the bags can stand up to hard use and retain their classic good looks. Oiled full-grain leather withstands repeated folding without cracking or splitting, making it an optimal choice for sturdy leather holdalls.

The full-grain Nappa leather holdall in style 825 has a rounded rectangular body that features a detachable shoulder strap and paired carry handles that snap together for a comfortable grip. Luxury details include inner zip pockets for small items and valuables, brushed silver-tone fittings and a full fabric lining. At 20 inches wide, 11 inches high and a foot deep, the holdall serves as hand luggage or readily fits into an overhead compartment for air travel. The sturdy, satin-finish oiled leather comes in showroom black or distressed brown.

A more capacious option is Prime Hide’s style 829, a round-shouldered holdall in rugged matte oiled leather. At 21 inches long and 11 inches high, it’s large enough for anything from a weekend holiday to a week abroad. Like all of Prime Hide’s latest leather holdalls, the bag comes with a detachable strap and convenient padded handles. A centre zip opens the bag’s main compartment; two side zips provide easy access to passports and other important documents. Available in dark chocolate brown or natural tan, this roomy Nappa leather bag is as durable as it is stylish.

Prime Hide’s large, soft-sided rectangular holdall in style 827 is large enough to swallow other holdalls whole. At 24 inches wide by 13 inches tall and 11 inches deep, it provides enough room for an extended holiday, or a leather weekend bag for that weekend stay. Despite its size, the comfortable shoulder strap and padded handles make it easy to wrangle through any number of connecting flights or ports of call. With three zips at the top, it keeps clothing neat and organised no matter how roughly the bag is handled. Antiqued brass fittings add style; matching brass feet protect the bottom of the holdall. The bag is available in an artfully distressed espresso brown and oiled black.

For a more compact version of a rectangular leather holdall that suits a weekend holiday or overnight travel, Prime Hide’s style 876 comes in the same rich chocolate and tan as the slightly larger 829 bag. Also available in distressed brown Nappa leather, this bag’s top zips can lock for additional security if the bag must be stowed. Smaller zipped pockets at the front and back of the holdall allow ready access to small items such as jewellery or passports. A convenient side handle makes the bag easy to move from overhead lockers. At 20 inches wide, a foot deep and a slim 7.5 inches deep, this holdall is convenient to handle.

Prime Hide’s latest leather holdalls maintain the company’s reputation for durable, stylish bags.

There are thousands of counterfeit goods on the web and Trading Standards is constantly warning consumers about the dangers of purchasing fake items. Manchester and Salford was named last year as the main distribution points for the UK’s counterfeit goods trade so it is important that all Brits understand how to realise if merchandise is authentic or bogus. Here are some top tips on how to comprehend a genuine rolex watch.

A helpful guideline is the varying features of the watch. A fake Rolex will have a second hand that ticks second by second whereas a real one has a smooth sweeping movement. The signature crown is the famous logo for the company and authentic models will have screw-down crowns as well as a line under the crown.

Moreover, the dial on a genuine Rolex will feature crisp, clear inscriptions with good colouring and finishing’s. A fake will have sloppy markings. Fake Rolex watches often have a glass bottom on their cases but authentic items do not. What is the exterior finish to the timepiece? True Rolex watches are extremely well done with smooth edges whereas imitations have rough or sharp edges. Also, the numbers on a fake watch may be incorrect or missing in contrast to an original.

All authenticated watches are given a serial and model number so if there are non-present it is a counterfeit good. The best way to check that your Rolex is real is to visit an expert in the industry like Dream-Watchers.co.uk. They are one of a handful of watch dealers in the country who only specialise in Rolex watches so the professionals will be able to check the quality for you and let you know.

And at Dream Watchers they pride themselves on only sourcing the very best examples from the Rolex range so whether it is new, pre-owned or vintage, the choice and quality is second to none. And all watches are checked against the Rolex Bexley’s lost and stolen register before being cleared.

The specialists have built up a high class reputation over the years for selling and buying men’s and ladies Rolex watches so they have expert knowledge. Whether you want to buy or sell a genuine Rolex, look no further than Dream-Watchers.

The second Wirral Fashion Festival takes place on Friday March 23 with a record number of designers and boutiques getting involved. The prestigious event is sponsored by Laura’s Hair World in Birkenhead and Thornton Hall hotel in Neston, who provide the stunning backdrop for the event and a fabulous three course gala dinner.

The Wirral event is in partnership with Liverpool Fashion Week Ltd who have organised the event. The line up includes high profile boutiques Nula, Classy Rags and Sue Huntington, with Liverpool designer Caroline Oates and Pacha Boutique who where both a runway successes at last year’s event. Also debuting on the catwalk this year is graduate designer Ewa Domanska and Booty Junk, the label of Liam Nelson. Alongside this are popular high street stores Next and River Island. Sharing the catwalk with the stunning male and female models is Miss Wirral, Louise Huntington.

Organiser Amanda Moss said, “There really is something to suit everyone’s tastes. Where you are looking for an outfit for the Grand National Races or a new summer wardrobe, this is the place to be to pick up essential style tips and ideas.” To round of the evening there will be a Michael Buble tribute act.

Plus size fashion label Carolyn de la Drapiere has been chosen to take part in a special catwalk show celebrating diversity at London’s Ideal Home Show later this month.

The independent brand, which specialises in bespoke women’s wear for sizes 12 – 28, will be working with acclaimed modelling agency and fashion industry campaigners Models of Diversity on the two-day fashion show.

The show — taking place at Earl’s Court on March 17 and 18 — will promote the latest fashions designed exclusively for “more natural” body shapes and will features an “exciting and diverse” group of models promoting beauty and style in race, size, shape and disability.

Among them will be models Kelly Knox and Emily Carenza, who have both overcome disability to succeed in their careers.

Kelly, born with a missing hand and forearm, won BBC3′s Britain’s Top Missing Model and went on to feature in Marie Claire magazine and be signed by a top London modelling agency.

Carenza, meanwhile, recently hit the headlines after recovering from a major car accident where doctors told her she would never walk again.

London-based Carolyn de la Drapiere will dress the two plus size models involved in the fashion show, including Size 12 model Carenza, as well as creating the big “shop-stopping” dress.

Drapiere founder and designer Carolyn Draper said she was “honoured” to be taking part in the catwalk show.

Speaking from her boutique in Barnes, South West London, she said: “Teaming up with Models of Diversity for the Ideal Homes Exhibition is a dream come true.

“We both share the same passionate desire to increase awareness of diversity issues in the fashion industry and promote a wider range of age, race, disability and size in the media and on the catwalk.

“As a curvaceous woman myself it is fabulous that plus size models are being included in high-profile events likes the one at Earl’s Court, showing that real size women can be healthy and look gorgeous.”

The Models of Diversity Catwalk Show is being styled, choreographed and staged by acclaimed campaigners Models of Diversity, who last November achieved recognition for their Curves in Couture fashion show, supported by the British Fashion Council.

MoD founder Angel Sinclair said: “It is a great opportunity to be asked to present these catwalk shows at the Ideal Home Exhibition, and a fantastic platform to show the people of Britain that beauty is much more than skin deep.

“Our exciting shows will feature cutting edge fashions and styling, and a few surprises too, and we are delighted that Carolyn de la Drapiere, one of the UK’s hottest labels for more curvaceous women, will be a part of it, dressing some of our models in her stunning designs.”

For over 100 years the multi-award winning Ideal Home Show (formerly the Ideal Home Exhibition) has been bringing ideas and inspiration to generations of British home owners.

This year it will bring together more than 600 quality exhibitors from across the UK to offer a unique shopping experience for all areas of the home.

The Ideal Home Exhibition takes place at London’s Earl’s Court from 16 March-1 April. MoD will be presenting their catwalk shows on Saturday, March 17, at 1.15pm and Sunday, March 18 at 11.45am and 2.45pm.

For more information about Carolyn de la Drapiere visit http://www.drapiere.com.
ENDS

Just4Leather (J4L) is proud to present the premier edition of J4L magazine, an insider’s guide to the hottest trends in leather accessories.

“Designed for a wide-ranging audience, the J4L Spring 2012 issue is packed with tips for putting together a timeless, classic look using simple, chic leather accessories that last a lifetime,” says Editor Debbie Davies.

“The J4L magazine depicts the best leather goods on the market right now. These are the same messenger bags, satchels and backpacks appearing on the runways, from Chanel to Alexander McQueen. We want to reach as many fashion followers as possible so they can stay on top of what is new.”

Distributed free online and to fashion bloggers, the digital magazine covers such topics as the top accessories every traveller should have, colour trends in men’s wallets and ladies’ purses as well as the best bags to carry to the office. Editorial content comes straight from the leading source in leather goods, Just4Leather, a company devoted to delivering stylish, genuine leather accessories to an international audience.

The quarterly magazine, which is an extension of the J4L blog, also takes an in-depth look at local leather brands, such as UK-based Prime Hide and Zatchels, the celebrity-endorsed bag company that produces traditional silhouettes in a dazzling array of pearlized pastels, brilliant tropical hues and shimmering metallics.

The magazine also includes an editorial shoot of men’s leather messenger bags that feature a masculine vibe with their heavy grain leather and double stitching. Each issue of the J4L magazine includes a Brand Central section that provides easy access to more than 40 premium leather brand names, including Prime Hide, Mywalit, Tavecchi and Lecerf, that deliver everything from the season’s hottest trends to enduring bags, belts and wallets.

The quarterly magazine is complemented by a monthly newsletter that provides an overview of new products. The March 2012 supplement focuses on travel accessories. The J4L magazine team includes Fashion Director Kartik Bagga, co founder of J4L; Deputy Editor Hannah Kitchener, who serves as the company’s resident product expert and blogger; and Paul Clark of www.clarkphotoart.com, whose stunning photography brings the pages of the colourful magazine to life.

A British leather manufacturer is flying high despite the economic climate with the launch of a new range of classic leather wallets for men.

Prime Hide, has added three classically stylish wallets made from the finest-grade Italian leather and aims to match the success of its 2011 top selling 3894 design.

The Uxbridge based company shows no signs of being impacted by slow consumer spending and puts its success down to using high quality raw materials.

Kartik Bagga of Prime Hide, said: “Great products cannot be achieved without great raw materials. Tremendous consideration is put into sourcing the finest-grade hides in Italy for these leather goods so that a Prime Hide wallet will withstand time and trends.”

Among the high-quality wallets produced for the Spring 2012 line is the Prime Hide 3895, a stunning bifold wallet constructed of supple calf hide. The discreet flap wallet holds eight cards, notes, coins and an ID.

The double pouch pocket 3896 wallet incorporates a popper tab to secure the coin purse, an ID, six cards and three note pockets.

The spacious 3897 credit card wallet offers an ample eight slots, two pouch pockets and two note pockets, which are secured with a popper closure. Regularly retailing for £19.99, Just4Leather is offering early bird customers a limited-time introductory price of £14.99. Each order comes gift wrapped in a lovely box.

The Prime Hide 8503 and 8505 range have an organic feel with their richly soft hunter leather wallet with detailed stitching. The roomy vertical wallet opens up to reveal two card slots, a pouch pocket and a clear ID pocket. Money is safely secured in the coin purse, internal zipped pocket and two small note pockets. The 5002 and 3088 wallets are constructed of soft calf hide. These black bifolds, which are secured by a loop popper closure, contain a coin purse, zipped and open note pockets as well as concealed and transparent card slots.

Hollywood super star, Oscar winner, writer, chef and now cover girl for popular jewellery brand Pandora- Gwyneth Paltrow graces the cover of Pandora magazine this month- and The Jewel Hut is a proud stockist of Pandora jewellery and has many collections for you to fall in love with.

At The Jewel Hut you will find a large collection of Pandora jewellery for you to choose from- including a stunning sterling silver and 14ct gold apple and worm bead in honour of Gwyneth’s daughter Apple- how cute!

Gwyneth Paltrow, star of films such as Shakespeare in Love, Shallow Hall and Sliding Doors told Pandora magazine this month, all about her latest ventures, and what it is like to be married to Coldplay front man Chris Martin.

Gwyneth is also author of many cookery books including ‘My Fathers Daughter’, and she is the face of American fashion brand ‘Coach’.

Fashion plays a huge part in Gwyneth’s life, and fashion lovers everywhere are always eager to catch a glimpse of her outfits on the red carpet. Gwyneth always manages to look effortlessly chic, and always accessorises her outfits perfectly with the latest, stylish jewellery must haves.

Pandora host a large collection of charms, bracelets and necklaces, emphasising the brand universal appeal, from classic designs that are adorned with precious stones such as diamonds and pearls to charms that are created to reflect your personality and passions such as animal beads, cupcakes and crowns but to name a few.

Pandora was established in 1982, when goldsmith Per Enevoldsen and his wife Winnie established a modest jeweller’s shop in Copenhagen, Pandora jewellery is today counted as one of the world’s most desired jewellery lines. Its ever-popular charm bracelet was launched in 1999 on the Danish market and quickly embraced, making the personal process of creating a Pandora bracelet from scratch desirable to jewellery lovers worldwide.

The Jewel Hut offers a wide selection of Pandora beads and Pandora charms to collect and attach to necklets, anklets and, of course, the famous Pandora charm bracelet. So much choice reveals the universal concept at the heart of the brand: whatever your style, whatever your taste, whatever special occasion or relationship being celebrated, there is a piece of Pandora to suit.

Go on, spoil yourself and get Hollywood glam with The Jewel Hut today.

FC Bayern Munich, official partner of the Thomas Sabo lifestyle brand, is celebrating its mid-season success after shooting to victory in 2011.

Following its defeat of FC Cologne in December, the popular team was announced as the Bundesliga autumn champion last year.

Record title holder FC Bayern Munich celebrated a 3-0 victory against their fellow German team on 16 December, despite being down to a ten-man team after midfielder Frank Ribery was sent off a third of the way into the game.

Their success in the final game of the first half of the season meant that the team went to the top of the league table, taking their lead over former Bundesliga champions FC Borussia Dortmund to six points.

With the second phase of the 2011/12 championship set to start, FC Bayern Munich is considered a hot favourite to triumph at the end of the season.

Thomas Sabo partners FC Bayern Munich will return to the playing field on 20 January, when they will take on next opponents Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Thomas Sabo is the sector-exclusive jewellery partner to FC Bayern Munich. The brand’s logos have been present at all Bundesliga matches at the club’s Allianz Arena stadium since the new season kicked off in August, following the announcement of the partnership back in July.

Becoming increasingly popular with fashion fans around the world, Thomas Sabo watches and jewellery make up the company’s output of stylish fashion accessories. A special series of collectible FC Bayern Munich charms have been made available to the football team’s fans.

The relatively new partnership represents Thomas Sabo’s latest expansion into international sports sponsoring activities. Thomas Sabo is involved with the worlds of motor sport (DTM, Formula 1), ice hockey, snowboarding, golf and more.

For more information on Thomas Sabo watches and its official partners, visit the Watch Hut.

Mary Greenwell is an iconic British figure in the beauty industry and during her career in Paris and New York as a make-up artist, she made over some of the most renowned models in the world, promoting huge premium brands within the beauty and fashion industries. With this giving her an insight into what these industries, she launched her own self-titled fragrance with help from one of her good friends.

Available in a 50ml bottle and a 100ml bottle, priced at £60 and £90 respectively, the new perfume by Mary Greenwell called ‘Plum’ is a sought after designer perfume that appeals to feminine, sassy females who take pride in their appearance. Not only is there an eau de toilette perfume in the Plum range by Mary Greenwell but also a solid eau de Parfum and a handbag spray too, priced at £70 and £25 respectively.

Described by Mary Greenwell as a classic chypre designer perfume, Plum contains notes of apple, plum, peach, blackberry, orange, sandalwood and oakmoss, and is exactly the scent she’d hoped it’d be. Leaving a florally trail behind every woman who wears it, it’s a luxury perfume that complements all styles and personalities. The chic and sensual smell of the perfume makes it one that every woman should own and certainly not a luxury perfume any woman should have to be without.

Mary has openly spoken about spritzing those she makes over with a luxury perfume to finish them off, and she’s therefore always been passionate about the importance of having a good fragrance. Not only does Plum smell designer, but it also looks every inch a designer perfume, thanks to the simple and sophisticated packaging, and the classic glass bottle that comes complete with a 22 carat gold top.

With reviewers of the luxury perfumeconfirming this by hailing the perfume as a product’no one should have to live without’, ‘a designer perfume that provides a skin of warmth and happiness’, and a ‘comfortable and uplifting luxury perfume that could easily be worn forever’, Plum is the ideal perfume for every woman.

Since it’s launch, celebrities and famous faces have positively reviewed the designer perfumetoo. Some of the world’s most famous women, such as Nicole Scherzinger have spoken of how gorgeous the perfume smells, with others describing it as a fragrance they ‘couldn’t be without’.

If that’s enough to make you want to go out and by the perfume, then the products from the Mary Greenwell range can be purchased directly from the website, which can be found at www.marygreenwell.com. The products are also exclusively stocked at the high street department store, House of Fraser. Be sure to grab yourself a product from the designer perfume range and spritz yourself in a skin of warmth and happiness. No matter what product you buy, you won’t be disappointed.

For more information to Plum Perfume conversion and Mary Greenwell Make Up please visit marygreenwell.com