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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.

On a gloriously sunny May morning last week, our Austique label designer Ruby and e-commerce merchandiser Rachael set off from the Austique head office on a quest to discover the genius behind the man who created such iconic characters as Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and The Thin White Duke – the legendary David Bowie.

Before we had even fully entered the exhibition space, our eyes were immediately drawn to the astonishingly brilliant PVC jumpsuit created by Kansai Yamamoto for Bowie’s Aladdin Sane Tour – a tour which served as a fitting showcase for this fantastical costume. Gradually we were taken on a chronological journey through the rock star’s glittering (both metaphorically and physically!) music career, beginning with his early years in his first band as Davie Jones all the way through to the present day and his latest album release, The Next Day. Through a variety of media, including costumes, film, original posters and even sketches and notes made by Bowie himself, we were not only able to learn more about David Bowie as an artist, but also the context in which his music was created, which made the exhibition as a whole extremely accessible and added a sense of relevance in the way we relate to the singer today.

Rachael’s highlight was by far the main concert-style room in which huge screens played clips from various live gigs throughout Bowie’s career, whilst his costumes from the relevant tour were subtly revealed behind the screen.

For Ruby, the key piece that she felt most inspired by was a mustard suit created by Freddie Burretti for the Diamond Dogs Tour, which had in fact been Phoebe Philo’s main influence behind her AW11 collection for Celine.

To say that this has been cleverly curated is an understatement – from the moment we walked in to the moment we (reluctantly) left, our eyes and ears were excited by everything we saw and heard – this exhibition really is a must-see, not only for Bowie fans, but also for any art and film fanatic.

David Bowie Is… at the V&A runs from 23 March to 11 August 2013, sponsored by Gucci and Sennheiser.

Listening To: Rudimental – Waiting All Night

Best Sellers: Parker Ruffle Dress, Monrow Tees, Hat Attack Neon Band Fedoras
Star Pick: Alice + Olivia Pink Kidman Jacket
Deliveries: Tibi (new brand!), Parker, Alice + Olivia, Mara Hoffman, Monrow, Hat Attack
Shopping For: Summer Dresses, Birthday Outfits
Essie Colour: Camera
Claus Porto: Cerina