Redistributing Fashion Friday 16th March 2012

Chic&Seek’s next Event – Redistributing Fashion Friday 16^th March 2012

Next month Chic&Seek are organizing a very special fundraising event to raise money for The Rugby Portobello Trust. This is a Notting Hill charity that helps young people who have had a tough start to life.

Before starting Chic&Seek I did voluntary work for this charity assisting with a cookery class on a Thursday night. I felt motivated to give up some of my time to understand and connect with my neighbours who weren't as priviledged as myself.

My work life balance tipped and I didn’t have the time to volunteer anymore, but I have kept in close contact with the charity and last year they asked if I had any ideas for a new event to help raise money and awareness of the charity to a younger audience.

I came up with the Redistributing Fashion event - a carefully curated mix of independent businesses without shops, just like Chic&Seek. Every high street seems dominated by the same homogenous brands, when actually there's so much more interesting and beautiful things to buy if you know where to get them - see the list below for exhibitor list so far.

There will also be a Health&Happiness zone where you can pose in our Chic&Seek photobooth, have your Tarot card read, get your nails painted or have a neck and shoulder massage!

Put the date in your diary - 

Friday 16^th March 2012, 20^th Century Theatre, Westbourne Grove 10am – 8pm. 

All we ask is for a donation on entry! (£5 suggested)

There will be a very special Chic&Seek rail with clothes donated by celebrities, all proceeds will go to the charity. There will also be a raffle with lots of fab prizes which we will be announcing on Facebook and Twitter on the run up to the event.

So make sure you are following us!

www.facebook.com/chicandseek

Twitter - @thechicseeker

FASHION

Chic&Seek – www.chicandseek.com

Tallulah & Hope – www.tallulahandhope.com

Olga Olsson - www.olgaolsson.com

Ligne Desoire - www.lignedesoie.com

Happy Coat - www.happycoat.com

Lime Green Bow – www.limegreenbow.co.uk

The Raw Denim bar - therawdenimbar.co.uk

Lucza – www.lucza.com

JEWELLERY 

Sasha Kamen – sashakamen.com

Lavi & Belle - www.laviandbelle.com

Stella & Dot - www.stelladot.co.uk

ACCESSORIES

Hayley Menzies – www.hayleymenzies.com

Tina Sparkle – www.tinasparkle.com

Honey Lulu – www.honeylulu.com

Buddha Babe thongs

LIFESTYLE

1. Vanessa Galvin - tea towels & lavender bags 

2. Violet & George –  www.violetandgeorge.com

3. Marion Rhaodes –  marionrhoades.co.uk

4. The Collective Designs - thecollectivedesigns.com

CHILDREN

Mille Manu - www.milliemanu.com 

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Freedom2Train - www.freedom2train.com

Florina Temudo - florinatemudo.com

Love a Locavore - www.lovealocavore.com

Starbucks

Au Facial - providing mini treatments

Elenor Henderson massage

POP/DOWN to our POP/UP - till 6th November

The Wardrobe Change-Over

Following on from last week's post covering the essential wardrobe management we all have to face from time-to-time, let's move on to the final key step - The Wardrobe Change-Over. 

Now, although the sun's shining and its close to 20˚C outside (uh huh - I did write this a few weeks ago), I’m wading through a sea of cashmere on a mission to have a neatly edited selection of clothes hanging in my wardrobe for this winter. The key word ladies is most certainly - EDITED. 

I store my winter clothes in white habitat boxes that go in the top of my wardrobe and I have a few large trunks in the garage for winter coats. Having pulled these out after nearly 5 months, they're creased and in need of steaming and dry-cleaning.

If you are planning on re-selling your clothes, make sure they are neatly pressed and dry-cleaned. Many consignment boutiques will not take them otherwise, it will also save you money in case they charge you for the  dry-cleaning service.

I’m packing away my summer things in separate boxes, one for holiday clothes, bikini’s sarongs etc., the others are work/summer dresses, casual wear, belts and scarves. 

Anything that might need dry cleaning, I have decided to pack away and it makes sense to clean it at the start of next season so they return to your wardrobe neatly pressed or you can take them to be re-sold for the start of next summer.

I have kept all the original packaging for my sunglasses so they are scratch free and if I want to update them with a new pair they will be ready for re-sale next year!

Good Luck Ladies, and remember,

A change is as good as a rest…

Paris Chic Open House // Thursday 6th October 9am-12pm & 6pm-9pm

Swing by and see all the new stock we've had in - grab a glass of bubbly, enjoy a manicure, and see what delightful pieces of jewellery the Laviandbelle have for you!

We're open to everyone both in the morning 9-12 noon (coffee & croissants, obviously), and again in the evening 6-9pm (bubbly, canapes, and manicures), so pop by to 35 St Lukes Mews, W11.

info@chicandseek.com

Out with the old, in with the NEW!!

Time is flying, I can’t believe September has already come and gone, and in a blaze of glory! Summer months at Chic&Seek have been busy, busy busy - and we've made a few tweaks at the Mews House, so its looking even more sumptuous. If you get the chance, pop in and see what you can find for this Autumn/Winter season. 

This past weekend I've been busy re-organising my wardrobe. 

First off - I've sorted through my shoes, created a bag for charity, a bag for re-sale and started packing away my summer shoes in their orginal shoe boxes or plastic transparent boxes. It’s a tough job and I’ve realized that some of my shoes are more like old friends rather than functional items to walk in. There are definitely a few pairs that I just love to marvel at, can’t bear to part with, but never see the light of day because they are either simply too uncomfortable, hold memories or aren’t on trend right now, 

but I know I’ll wear them again….

Most girls have had those moments where they are obsessed with a pair of shoes, spend hours tracking them down and for some reason, they just never ended up being suitable for them or their lifestyle. 

When that lust turns to loathe and the first waves of guilt and despair of how much money you have wasted appear on the horizon, FEAR NOT, you know that you can always sell those items on Chic&Seek, recoup some cash and buy something more suitable.

What I recommend to all you ladies with a penchant for the chic and fabulous, and hoping for the possibility of getting a decent return on those accidental purchases is:  

- keep all original packaging and proof of receipt, especially for the big ticket / high value purchases. Pop the receipts in an envelope and keep them together or inside the original packaging. Et Voila! 

- those wanting to re-sell, do it as early as you can. The more decisive you are, and the less you hang on to those items, the more desirable and valuable they are to potential new owners! 

And remember ladies...

Part 2 to follow soon - The Wardrobe Change-Over

Paris Chic Open House @ St Lukes Mews

In celebration of some of our favourite fashion houses and the upcoming Paris Fashion Week Chic&Seek is having an Open House at the Chic&Seek Mews House - in just a week's time! 


Join us for some Champagne, Canapes, and a complimentary manicure! A perfect end of summer opportunity to see what we've got available for your next Chic Season, and for those of you who have never made it to our little house of all things Chic, this is the perfect chance to visit.


Oh, and there's beautiful and affordable jewellery from our friends at Laviandbelle!

Thursday 6th October

9am - 12noon & 6pm - 9pm 

35 St Lukes Mews

W11 1DG

R.S.V.P - info@chicandseek.com

just a hop, skip and a twirl from Portobello Road

info@chicandseek.com

LoLo Loves Vintage // The People's Republic of Chi(c)na

So after another foray into the jaw-dropping world of China, land of a million different varieties of delicious foods, and some not-so-delicious, land of billionaires, millionaires, skyscrapers that pierce the sky, never-ending car-horns, never-ending variations on the contrast between new and old, real and fake, luxury and not-so-luxury...

It's enough to make you want to take a minute, or perhaps 90-minutes, and try to process it whilst enjoying the perfect full-body massage. More on that later.

So Ladies, first stop - Shanghai.

Although not as vast as Beijing, Shanghai does seem to have that beautiful quality of holding many secrets hidden, tucked away, deep within it's constantly evolving landscape  - from the towers of Pudong, to the residential madness around Suzhou Creek, the old-world majesty of the Bund, the expat bubble over Jing'An and Xintiandi, through to the tree-lined beauty of the French Concession. And that's just a mere glimpse of what's really there to be found.

There's always more.

For now - let me just start with a cute little discovery from my most recent wanderings in Shanghai.

LoLo Loves Vintage. 

87 Wuyuan Lu - just keep an eye out for her sign peeking out from the wall
near Changshu Lu
Shanghai
Tel: 137 0180 6644   

Home to a veritable aladdin's cave of vintage - clothing, bags, shoes, dresses, accessories, more more more...

All collected by the charming Lolo aka Little Bear (?!) who I plan to try and catch again next time I visit. Collecting her horde of goodies from all over - Europe, the U.S. and wherever else she might find herself.

LoLo Loves Vintage is tucked away off Wuyuan Lu, off Wulumuqi Lu, deep in the French Concession. Whether you're taking a stroll along Wulumuqi Lu for a quick breakfast bite and feel a little urge to hunt for a vintage goodie, or just happen to be in the neck of the woods and feel like a cup of tea in the garden before your massage appointment, pop in, have a dig around, and say hi to LoLo.

Now - back to that massage. Head down Wuyuan Lu, keep going past Wulumuqi Lu, past a few other not so great massage spots, until you see the sign for Yu's Massage (366 Wuyuan Lu)... ahhh, heaven. 90 minutes, aromatherapy oil massage - around 200RMB // £20.

 

More from the People's Republic of Chi(c)na to come....

Tara x

Chic Seeker in the Spotlight // NY Seeker

The second in our series of conversations with some of our favourite Chic Seekers, and today it's the turn of our young, glamorous, conscientious, beauty - NY Seeker (NYS).

Age: 27

Profession: Private Equity

Appointment: June 2011

So, NYS, how did you find out about Chic&Seek? 

A colleague of mine read about it in Daily Candy and sent me over the link knowing how much I like shopping, and also suggesting I might want to re-sell some of my own clothes.

I'm always intrigued to know more about my clients - particularly if you remember the first designer purchase you made, and whether you still have that item? 

I remember my Dad buying me some Gucci shoes in Harvey Nichols before starting uni, and actually I think you sold them the first time we met and you came to collect some clothes from me. They were a classic style with the snaffle hardware, though they were pretty well worn!

The other piece that I was reluctant to sell but you have it on your website is a Temperley dress my Mum bought for me. It was probably around £1,000, so my Mum kept asking if I was really sure I wanted it. I actually wore it to a Sandhurst Ball, which turned out to be a total faux-pas as I learned that proper attire was a full-length ball gown. Needless to say, I spent the whole evening feeling a touch embarrassed.   

Who would you say are your favourite designers & labels these days? 

Temperley, Miu Miu, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson and Alexander McQueen. For me McQueen does the best jackets, beautifully tailored, absolute classics. I don't think I'd ever sell mine.


So, aside from your visits to see us at Chic&Seek, where do you like to shop?

I really like to shop in New York. I probably visit 3-4 times a year, and head to the Meat Packing District, SoHo, and Barneys (4th & 5th floors). The customer service is just so much better in New York. I always feel a bit guilty shopping in London, like I should be making better use of my time! I also have a boyfriend now, so we tend to spend time together at the weekends - cancels out the shopping time.


It's interesting what you say about customer service in NYC, you definitely see a lot of differences all around the world, and it really makes a difference to the whole experience. So with your fondness for New York , what are your favourite American brands?


Let's see - I do like ALC, The Row, Tucker, and Piper Lime.

Now how about shopping online? Especially as you've mentioned customer service, do you ever shop online? 

Occasionally, and really only for US brands. I tend to look on net-a-porter, but more for inspiration. Then I like to go into the store, touch, feel, and try on the clothes.

Do you prefer shopping with friends, or is it more of a personal, flying-solo shopping experience? 

I much prefer shopping alone, to be honest. If a friend has similar style to you, you don't want to buy the same things. It can also get difficult if your budgets differ. I cannot handle places like H&M!


Any new shopping discoveries recently you'd care to share? 

I have just found Ninivah on Walton Street (Knightsbridge). They have really beautiful ethnic prints. I bought a really cool reversible bikini there.


Now - when we first met you had, how can I put it... an OUTRAGEOUS bag collection. I think I must have sold about ten of your bags ranging from a Zagliani Python tote to a Balenciaga Lariat bag. What might I ask are you carrying now? 

I have streamlined my collection! I use three bags; a Hermes Kelly, Chanel 2.55, and a large vintage Chanel from the 80's.

Please do tell - where did you pick up the Kelly bag? 

I saw it in the Hermes store in Zurich. I couldn't actually believe they had one in stock. I probably spent 4 days thinking about it and then decided to get it. It's tan with silver hardware.

 

Well - I'm certainly pleased to know that you haven't streamlined your shopping habits completely and you're still using Chic&Seek regularly. What is it about Chic&Seek that you like? 

It's convenient and easy. Each time I need a clear out you come and collect making more space in my wardrobe. Although the clothes I part with I no longer wear, I like the idea that the next owner will value and appreciate them and that is important to me.

Thanks NYS, let's catch up again soon x

Yohji Yamamoto @ V&A

Celebrating 30 years of ground-breaking fashion, the V&A has been exhibiting a beautiful retrospective of the Yohji Yamamoto's work since early March. The exhibition only has a few more weeks to run, ending on July 10th, so luckily I had the chance to sneak away from the office for a quick tour of inspiration and education around the installation.

While Yohji Yamamato might not be as regular a presence on Chic&Seek as we might like - we have got one beautiful leather tote bag available now - his designs are always distinct and more often than not breath-taking. If any of you haven't yet had the chance, I'd recommend taking an hour or two to get lost in YY's pure passion for innovative design, appreciation for timeless craftsmanship, and above all else, his love of fabric and textiles.

Available now at Chic&Seek

"When I started making clothes, all I wanted was for men to wear men's clothes"

For further information see the what Ligaya Salazar, V&A Curator of Contemporary Programmes and the curator of the YY exhibition, has to say her own journey in planning, designing, and executing this stunning exhibition on her blog for the V&A.


V&A Yohji Yamamoto exhibition homepage 

Remember ladies, this exhibition uses timed tickets so you might want to book in advance - though I have to admit that I did just turn up and waltz in....

Mid-Summer's Night Open House...

With the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in full flow, and Henley Regatta and numerous Polo matches right around the corner, we can all agree that the British Summer has begun.

To help you find the right outfit for the perfect summer event Chic&Seek is opening the doors to our beautiful Mews House this evening for a chance to browse our collection, including 40% discount on selected items. So join us for a glass of chilled prosecco and come find the perfect summer outfit from our selection of designer pieces.

Thursday 23rd June, 6-9pm

R.S.V.P  -  info@chicandseek.com