Author Archives: Austique

IN TIME FOR THE ROYAL ASCOT, we asked our friends at The Hat Club to give us their expert advice:

1. What advice would you give to people shopping for hats?

There are not many occasions where you have an excuse to wear a hat so when the opportunity arises, have fun! We would always recommend trying on lots of different styles as you may well be surprised. Often we have girls who come to the studio looking for something specific and they end up walking out with something quite different but equally fabulous.

Ask for advice if you are not sure about wearing a hat. Wearing a hat correctly will make all the difference – as a general rule of thumb if you do not have height on your side its not easy to pull off a very large brimmed hat, but rather a slice or a smaller headpiece can be just as effective.

2. What other accessories would you recommend to pair with hats?

Don’t go overboard on accessories but the bag is important and this year, there are some really gorgeous clutches which, when teamed with a hat, are perfect. If you are going to match….match the hat with the bag. We adore the  Wilbur & Gussie Edith Clutch bags – very striking in big bold colours, but so elegant. Often less is more so we would advise staying away from big earrings and opt for something simple, Alex Monroe or Davina Combe jewellery is often pitched perfectly.

3. Which style of hats would you recommend for different heights?

1) If you are tall, you are made for large brimmed hats but never opt for a hat which is wider than your shoulders. There are lots of rules about always wearing your hair up with a hat but if you feel comfortable with your hair down and it looks good, go for it. Laura Cathcart has a stunning selection of wide-brimmed hats which are exquisite and also have that wow factor.

2) If you are smaller and more apple-shaped we would always advise a smaller headpiece, teamed with a bit of netting, the result is not only very smart but also a little mysterious which we adore. Juliette Millinery is a genius at these creations. Worn at a slight angle, they say a lot and are very easy to wear.

4. Which hat out of your collection, would you rent to stand out from the crowd?

Philip Treacy is the master of all hats! He knows how to make a girl look good but also elegant. His jaunty shapes are totally unique but he also has the ability to make the wearer feel incredibly glamorous. Wear a Philip Treacy and you will automatically feel confident and are most likely to literally turn heads!

5. What hat would you recommend for non-hat wearers/first time hat wearers?

It can be quite scary wearing a hat so go for something simple and classic. It’s very important to feel confident and comfortable so try on as many different styles until you find the one – and you will find the one!

6. How do you recommend keeping a hat in place?

A number of milliners are turning to the headband hat to help secure it to your head, making it much easier to wear and more comfortable. When trying on a hat, make sure it does fit or if it doesn’t have it stretched or tightened if you can as it will make all the difference to how you wear it and feel in it.

If you have the time, think about going to the hairdressers who will be able to ensure it stays securely on your head and will also be able to masterly cover up any elastic or grips.

7. How can you get the most out of your hat?

Unlike dresses which you will change according to trends and styles, a hat is an investment. If you are buying one, make sure you are going to get plenty of wear out of it and  that you can also team it with a variety of colours and styles. Hats are expensive but there are some great new milliners out there at the moment who can help design something to go with an outfit for a specific occasion so shop around

8. What events are you wearing a hat to this summer?

Hats are more popular than ever and there are plenty of events this summer which are perfect for wearing a hat starting with Royal Ascot which starts on Tuesday 18 June and runs until Saturday June 22. Five wonderful hat wearing days where you can be as extravagant as you want with your head candy.

If you are Royal Enclosure bound, just make sure you hat fits the necessary requirements which is a base of 10cm in diameter.

The Royal Henley Regatta is just around the corner and takes place from 3rd – 7th July and provides us girls with yet another opportunity to adorn a hat while there are also plenty of other race meetings coming up including Glorious Goodwood and the Coral Eclipse at Sandown Park at the start of July.

Garden party’s and weddings also provide the perfect opportunity to wear a hat or headpiece.

9. What is your history/experience with hats?

All three of us quite simply love wearing hats. Following a last minute attempt to find something appropriate to wear for Royal Ascot last year and with a number of weddings we realised it was not easy to find something really striking to wear without it being rather expensive and The Hat Club was born.

Davina, who is the most creative of the three of us has always been passionate about hats and signed up to a millinery course and started to make her own headpieces for weddings. They were so well received by other guests that we now stock some of her designs in the studio which are very popular.

10. Which hat would you pair with each of the below Austique dresses?

    Rebecca Taylor – Aurora Dress                                   Tibi – Colour Block Dress 

Gina Foster – navy crin                                                    Rosie Olivia

          Austique – Arrow Dress                                        Shoshanna – Beaded Miki Dress

                  The Hat Club –  Black slice                                     Juliette Millinery – cream percher with white flower

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A HANDWRITTEN NOTE…

Recently discovered by the Austique Girls was the stationary brand Sugar Paper. Full of fun and vibrant designs, it immediately became a favourite and it is safe to say that we have all become a little bit obsessed! Here are a few of our top picks from the Austique Team…

Rachael, Our Online Merchandiser – The Baby Boy Calligraphy Card
Ruby, Our Designer – The Thank You cards with the gold foil on the vibrant pink and blue backgrounds
Melissa, Our Chelsea Store Manager – The Little Peanuts card
Annabel, Our Marylebone Store Manager – Let’s Get Tipsy
Lizzie, Our Full-Timer at our Chelsea Store – Bright Notes List

IN BLOOM IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

This week the crowds are flocking to our neck of the woods for The Chelsea Flower Show, so we decided to head to our local florist to find out more about our favourite botanical beauties. Located on a handy corner of the Fulham Road, just a five minute walk from Austique Chelsea, The Flower Stand has been in business for 20 years. With new deliveries arriving each day direct from their suppliers in Ecuador and Holland, their customers are able to hand-pick some of the finest flowers that the borough has to offer. The Flower Stand not only cater to a wide range of budgets, but are also at the forefront of floral fashion, supplying photographers with blooms for magazine spreads which mark them out as trendsetters in their industry. We caught up with resident florist, Leo, to find out more:

Leo’s Average Day:
Leo wakes up at the crack of dawn to ensure that there is plenty of time for their stunning flowers to be displayed at their best – this usually takes about 3 hours to perfect, and what a difference it makes. She loves her job as it is so sociable and emotive, and allows her creative side as an artist to flourish.

Blooms in fashion at the moment:
Taking the lead from our stunning Austique Label floral pieces, Leo told us that everyone is loving peonies at the moment – The Flower Stand have a beautiful selection in white, coral, hot pink, and Leo’s particular favourite, Sandra Bernhard, named after the suffragette. The best part is that peonies are currently at the peak of their season, and will be around until mid-July, which gives us extra time to enjoy them. Leo also advised us that we are now coming to the end of tulip season, so grab them now while you still can. The Flower Stand’s best seller is by far the white avalanche rose, and in terms of shape, the most coveted bouquets are short, fat and lush.

How to select the best bouquet:
One of our favourite things about The Flower Stand is that if you take your own vase down, they will expertly arrange a bouquet for the proportions of the vase, at no additional charge. Leo’s top tip is to buy a vase according to your flower budget – that way it will never be over or under-filled. If you are working with a smaller budget, opt for one type of flower and use them in abundance for greater impact – the look you should aim for is one of simplicity, not fussiness. She recommended some beautiful parrot tulips for a budget of about £20, as these are unusual and look much more expensive.

Tips on how to look after your bouquet:
Leo really emphasised to us the importance of using a clean vase with fresh clean water – and nothing else. Cutting the stems at an angle helps as this increases the amount of water that the flowers are able to absorb, and remember it is key to trim your flower stems every other day and replace the water. Be sure not to bash or prick the stems, as this will do more damage than good!
Any ideas for how to dress an intimate event such as a dinner party?
Less is more. Leo suggests using 3 or 4 small, short vases either with identical large blooms or a simple bunch of sweet peas or hydrangeas – small arrangements are far chicer than large, fussy centrepieces, and make it much easier to negotiate as part of your table arrangement. As lots of small pots are key to achieve this look, Leo loves using her vintage 50’s coffee pot as a quirky alternative.

What to buy a friend:
Working as a florist for many years, Leo has learned that buying flowers is as personal and individual as shopping for fashion – your choice is hugely dependent on personal taste and style. Luckily for us, Leo is an expert and can advise anyone at a glance as to what bloom would best suit their personality – she loves to speak to customers in person or over the phone in order to get a better idea of what they would like most, and she understands that flowers speak volumes about a person, so it is important to get it right.

Visit The Flower Stand online here: http://www.theflowerstandchelsea.com/
Or give them a ring on: 0207 3517 996

We are looking for full and part time sales associates to join the team at Austique!

The ideal candidates will be outgoing, fun and dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service. We have opportunities in our flagship Chelsea store and as well as in our new store in Notting Hill. If you think you have the right experience and energy to drive sales in a luxury/contemporary environment we would love to hear from you!

Please e-mail your CV and a cover letter to jobs@austique.co.uk.

Happy Birthday Austique Marylebone!

It’s the two year anniversary of our Marylebone store! and in honour we had a little Q&A with the store’s Manager Annabel.

But before we start here’s a quick introduction…
Annabel is 22 and started working for Austique last September after she graduated from the University of Leeds where she studied History of Art. Some of her favourite things include a good art exhibition, great food, meeting interesting people, dogs and watching Wimbledon. And most importantly she loves Austique because… it always strives to bring something new or different to the customer. Whatever you buy, you can feel confident that it will be something that no other women is going to be wearing to the same party (she has yet to hear of such a situation!)

…So Annabel, what’s your favourite song to play in Marylebone?
You know you like it – Aluna George

If you had to pick your favourite designer…?
Parker ( I’m obsessed by all of it)!!

So far what has been your favourite piece from SS13?
The Creole Dress by Parker which I wore for my birthday and everyone complemented me on it!

What is your favourite item that you’ve bought from Austique?
I’m a little bit in love with my Nude Redgrave Coat by Goat.

Having worked here for a while, what is the best thing about working in Marylebone?
Definitely feeling in the thick of London, near Shopping HQ – Oxford Street and many exciting Commercial Hubs.

And where are your favourite places to go in Marylebone?
My top places are Amanzi Tea, The Coach Makers pub and Groom London.

(If you remember!) what was the first thing you sold in Marylebone?
A white Monrow tshirt

Cheek Frills is a popular pick at Marylebone, especially the Around the World Set – which city would be your dream destination?
New York

If you were an item of clothing, what would you be?
I think I’d be a coat because it’s a piece that takes me anywhere from day to night and is your statement piece on the streets of London. The right coat makes a real statement.

And back to the birthday – if Marylebone were a person, what would you buy it as a present?
Hmmm…I think a piece of Sydney Evan jewellery, probably the chain ring. Because it is understated , elegant and fabulous.