Half-term Cool Looks for Cool Kids at Heatons

I do enjoy a wee browse in Heatons' Bangor store every so often. Their clothing section for women can often have some fab items like the royal blue & white striped sailoresque jumper which is on special offer right now.

They are also a good place to stock up on jeggings, they often have them in bright colours too, not just blue or black denim. I'm after a bottle green pair myself, so I'm keeping an eye out. 

But it's the kids who take centre stage this half-term with trendy floral dresses at £10 and little boys’ casual tops from £4. Timeless denim staples like the boys’ denim jeans range and a cute denim dress will kit the kids out for a fun-filled week of activities from just £10. Theres Heatons’ stylish outerwear like the little girls’ longline parka (from £15) and boy’s puffa jacket (£14) that will keep them trendy as we transition to the colder months!

Shop these looks online at www.heatonsstores.com with free shipping on orders over £30.

Lavish Silk Scarves Without the Huge Price Tag from Charmchuri.com

Nitsha Shepherd is passionate about silk. With ten years experience in the trade, Nitsha has just launched Charmchuri, an online store with the mission of making luxurious silk scarves available at a more accessible price range for us budget-strapped fashion enthusiasts.

Nitsha models the scarves in the online store and shows you the versatility of ways to wear them

She invited me to browse CharmChuri and pick my favourite design. This was a hard task! There are at least a dozen of the vibrant, bright and beautiful scarves I would love to own. I finally settled on a huge square scarf, in autumnal colours with oceanic blue highlights. 

The print is Native American themed, it's very sweet. It makes me think of Disney's Small, Small World.

I love scarves and have quite a large collection already, but this CharmChuri one is probably the largest size I've owned. The size makes it really versatile, with tonnes of different ways to wear.  

You can see the size in relation to my foot poking in at the bottom of the photo. 

Despite the large size, due to the quality of the silk the scarf isn't bulky when you do fold it to wear. I simply folded mine inwards, twisted it and tied.

It's as well that I'm going to the hairdresser tomorrow!! 

So that was my choice, but here are some of my other favourites, modelled by Nitsha herself. You can see how tricky it was to pick a favourite. All the designs are so vivid and the colour schemes are fab. If I had to pick another scarf I'd probably go for one with the cherry blossom pink hues in its design.

There are also prints with hot pink complemented by turquoise and purple jewel tones.

If you're loving the scarves as much as me, then you'll be pleased to hear that by signing up to the CharmChuri newsletter, you get 20% off the already reasonable price. My scarf was £59, so with the discount it would be £47.20

Also worth noting there is free UK delivery with no minimum purchase price.

These would make lovely Christmas gifts should your family include any fashion lovers.  

You can connect with Nitsha on  the CharmChuri Facebook Page and check out new designs and ways to wear on the Charmchuri Instagram account.

Bangor Shines With Its Own Fashion Night Out

Last week Menary's in Bangor held a Fashion Night Out.

The event, hosted by Cool FM’s Rebecca McKinney and local fashionista, Cathy Martin supported the work of the NSPCC Northern Ireland and showcased a fantastic range of fashion and accessory brands available across the participating stores;- Menarys, Tempest, Excel Clothing, DV8, Surf Mountain, Bailies on Main, The Zip Yard and Telford Opticians.  Guests were treated to fizz, nibbles, goodie bags and mini manicures.

The night was a huge success, with tickets selling out completely before the night itself.

Michael & I popped down to check it out, but sadly he was so tired from his school trip that same day, we didn't get to stay too long. 

Check into the Main Street, My Street Facebook page to keep up-to-date with the latest news, promotions and great competitions. 

www.facebook.com/mainstreetmystreet

Fall In Love With Powder's Showstopping Accessories

I featured their faux fur muffs last week, but held off sharing their other accessories because Lisa & Lesley from Powder were extremely kindly sending me some items to review.

When I opened the plain cardboard box everything arrived in, I was greeted with this; probably the most show-stopping packaging I have ever received in my six years of blogging. 

If you're buying Christmas presents for a lady in your life this year, then I'm pretty sure this is what they would love to see under the Christmas tree. In fact it's so stunning it almost looks like Christmas decor itself.  

But what lies inside this majestic, golden trimmed box?  

It holds one of  Powder's gorgeous soft felt hats. The store has a full range of designs and colour combinations to choose from. I think the prices are really reasonable. The hats are beautiful in quality and design.

But the hat wasn't all that arrived! I also had these two luxe gift bags, each sealed with a big satin ribbon. 

The first gift bag contained  Powder over the knee socks. I received the long, lace top socks in a rich mustard colour. It was Powder socks we initially found in Menary's in Bangor, where Michael saw a bright green pair that he wants to buy me for Christmas.

The little buttons on the socks are just so cute and you can see why the tag line is 'superior Scottish socks'. There's that running joke about getting socks for Christmas, but these Powder designs are pairs that you'd actually be happy about receiving on Christmas Day. 

My final gift from Powder is a pair of their  stylish gloves. Again the online store has a fantastic range of designs and colour choices, all which have a retro feel to them. I have the classic dogtooth print glove in a soft, grey felt fabric. The little button and panel design give them a vintage, driving glove look that I just love.

Powder UK is just so totally a World of Kitsch brand, so I know you all will love these accessories too. Let me know on Twitter if you buy something (@rudedoodle) and start dropping hints now if you want someone to gift you everything Powder this Christmas. 

Twisted Twee For the Coolest Kids on the Block

When I had Michael almost eight years ago I got really frustrated at the lack of cool clothes for baby boys.

Back then the only H&M was in Ballymena, so every two months or so I would make the hour's trip to stock up on decently quirky & unusual onesie vests and baby clothing.

I also would buy Gymboree items off eBay. I worked for them when I was a student and loved their designs, but by 2007 they had pulled out of Northern Ireland so the only way to buy their clothes was eBay, usually from US sellers. That made the postage expensive on top of prices similar to Baby Gap. However from working for Gymboree I knew the quality was worth paying extra. Gymboree clothing washes so well, in fact I was able to sell them on eBay all over again when Michael had outgrown each sizing. 

If you have a baby I would recommend searching eBay for the jumpers especially. Try purchasing one & you'll be hooked. They always do an absolutely beautiful Christmas range of clothing each year. About ten years ago the Christmas theme was gingerbread. I managed to get the baby blanket on eBay and I still have it in a box somewhere, I couldnt part with it cause it's so cute.

With a lack of cool baby clothing around for boys, sometimes I even took it upon myself to make my own. Amongst these vests made with photographic printing paper, was this Boba Fett design. Michael looks like he just loved it, doesn't he?

There is one UK brand who I found who actually did sell inventive and unique baby items you just wouldn't see elsewhere and that was Twisted Twee. I love their designs and this will actually be my fourth blog post about the brand. I'm featuring them again for any newer readers, or anyone who might now have their own new addition since the last time Twisted Twee was on The World of Kitsch. 

Enjoy! 

This design with a saddle for Dad's back is fashion genius  

Make Everyone Jealous of Your Amazing Muff.

On Saturdays Michael and I are making a habit and tradition of going for cake in Bob & Bert's in Menary's Bangor. I can usually get away with a quick whizz round Menarys's beauty hall and Tempest's fashion department with very little complaints from Michael, with the promise of cake ahead.

Yesterday we found a new brand in Menary's accessories department, Powder Socks. Both of us were drawn to the bright colours and quirky designs. Michael says he's going to buy me the lime green pair for Christmas.

When I got home I Googled the brand and discovered their other products. Gorgeous felt hats, ladylike gloves with a modern twist, and MUFFS.

 Powder's fake fur collection includes four cosy muffs, at £30 each. The cute little bow is so sweet. I reckon a muff would make an excellent Christmas present. It's the sort of item your always wanted, but might not buy yourself, so gifting one would be a cool idea. 

But remember! A muff is for life, not just for Christmas! 

Broken Warhol Handbag Woes

Years ago I discovered a brilliant handbag I had to have in a local charity shop. It was a shoulder handbag with a bright & cheery painting by numbers design, which turned out to be an Andy Warhol print. 

I totally loved it and used it as my main bag for a good year, until one of the plastic straps broke. I couldn't bear go throw it out and I headed straight to eBay to try and get a replacement. But there weren't any for sale. So I saved the search, and five years or so later STILL not even once has the bag been up for auction or sale.

That's the print, but I can't even find a picture of the bag I owned, let alone find a replacement one to buy.  

The brand that has turned Warhol's classic prints into bags, phone cases and Mac sleeves is UK company Incase.

As of today they only have one Warhol item in store, a phone case, but a quick search on eBay and you can bid on lots of different Incase bits and pieces. Prices are around £20 for Mac cases.  

My painting by numbers Warhol eBay search remains, but if anyone ever sees these bags on sale in a store, please tell me! 

Accidental Goth & The Most Ridiculous Fake Fur Scarf Ever

Revolution at Superdrug: Make Me Tonight Atomic Shade £1

So tonight while doing my makeup I tried my £1 purchase of last week Revolution's Make Me Tonight lipstick from their Atomic range. I seem to accidentally have gone goth.

From my teenage years up I always dressed punk or rockabilly, but never quite goth. I have sort of evolved into just being a normal dresser with the odd crazy accessory or scarf now and again.

One of my oddest accessories, which I don't often wear, but love, is this plush fake fur scarf from H&M. Yes, it has a pretend fox's face on it. 

As you can imagine it can be tricky to find the right occasion to wear a big fluffy toy fox to, but when I saw it in store however many winters ago it was, there was no way in hell that fox wasn't going home with me.

So it's a few seasons old, and only cost £7 I think when it was on sale in H&M, but I've found two on eBay for around £18.50, should you feel inclined to need to own one too. 

http://r.ebay.com/5zaXP1

Don't be put off by the auction photo having Avril Lavigne wearing it, you know you want one too.

He goes very nicely with my big gentleman fox tattoo. Well, you have to match your accssories, don't you?

My fox tattoo by Chris Crooks, White Dragon Tattoo Studio, Belfast