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Categories: Beauty, North East

North East Salon Wynyard Therapy Relaunches Under New Ownership

Wynyard Village, County Durham is known for its executive housing, premiership footballers and its beautiful woodland areas and green spaces. However, in the heart of this cute little village is a salon that’s been through a huge transformation recently. Wynyard Therapy has had a presence, primarily as a hair salon for over a decade now, however, in the last year it’s undergone something of a rebirth…

That’s down to new owner, entrepreneur Alice I’Anson Widdows and her determination to offer a premium experiential hair, beauty and aesthetics service to the men and women of Wynyard, and its surrounding areas. Expanding the offering to more than just hair was part of a masterplan that would see Wynyard Therapy become something of a one-stop-shop and a community haven.

In the year that Alice has been at the helm of Wynyard Therapy she has run a tight ship. With her background in superyacht events which has seen her travel the world in every type of weather, she’s used her crew management skills to the salon to great effect. Having grown her team from five to eleven (recruited from the local area), Alice says it’s been rough at times given her need to strive for “seven star service” and the “ultimate customer experience”. Ultimately, and reflecting upon the achievements of the past year of ownership which includes the salon being awarded three prestigious local awards, Alice says “It takes a village” when discussing some of the hurdles in her path and credits her team for their hard work and determination throughout what has been a rocky transition period. In fact if I had to guess, I’d say she feels that the team she’s assembled are her proudest achievement in this venture so far.

It’s important to remember that in a post Covid 19 pandemic world, new salons are on the decline. Wynyard Therapy is one of only 2215 (at the time of writing) hair and beauty salons in the North East region currently in operation. The hair and beauty industry was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic following lockdowns, forced closure periods and then the introduction of social distancing which reduced salon capacity in the months leading out of the pandemic. The relaunch of this village favourite has offered employment to local people as well as a real focus on giving residents a menu of services that they actually want.

Alice has a long term goal to offer clients more than just a luxury salon experience though. Looking to the future there are plans to offer wellbeing events which will focus on specific, client driven topics such as menopause, teen skin and men’s health. But back to right now, one year in to ownership and Alice is beaming as she talks about her team, and how fully invested they are in not just offering a top notch service to their 3000+ strong client base, but also a safe space for clients to offload their worries, and to trust their stylist or practitioner to give honest advice on colour, style or chosen treatment. All of this of course, backed up by years of experience and ultimately confidence – something Alice feels is very important in her tight knit crew of staff.
So, what’s changed? Well after two years of market research Alice has introduced a skin clinic to Wynyard Therapy offering high quality aesthetics which are dentist led – why is that important? Dentists have comprehensive knowledge of facial anatomy and ultimately facial mechanics, they’re also able to prescribe meaning that treatment is immediate after the point of consultation, and most importantly they’re able to prescribe and treat in the extremely unlikely event of a negative reaction, a huge factor to consider when deciding where to book your aesthetic treatment. In addition to aesthetics, new to the line up is medical grade skincare as well as pharmaceutical skincare which have all been selected to compliment the results driven skin treatments and programmes available enabling clients to take a little bit of the in-salon experience home with them.
The much loved Hydrafacial will launch at Wynyard Therapy in December, as one of the most powerful, non-invasive skin resurfacing treatments available, with no downtime, that’s a huge coup for the community given that the nearest beauty salon is in the next village. There are plans to offer more high quality, technology based facial treatments over the next twelve months and a focus on professional development within the team to ensure that the treatment, the environment and the delivery are all part of that luxury experience the salon is striving for.
The hair salon has had a makeover too. Not just a physical refurbishment but in the products and services offered. As a L’Oreal Professionnel salon, products are prescriptive to your hair’s needs and whilst there are recommendations, there’s no hard sell – the focus is ultimately on the customer experience, Alice is very clear about this as she tells me “I want everyone who visits the salon to feel like a guest”
So far, the new and updated Wynyard Therapy has been well received within the community. A recent launch event led to some amazing feedback as clients new and old were invited to try out taster treatments and tour the new clinic space. Well, as the salon’s strap line says, “Everyone needs a little Therapy!”

If you’d like to find out more, or join the invite list for future events, visit

 www.wynyardtherapy.com to sign up.

With thanks to Nicci King Photography for images
Categories: Fashion, North East

Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The Ice Bar slid back into Newcastle this week for its second term at STACK, this time with a shiny new sponsor in the form of Grey Goose Vodka and making its grand entrance with a New York theme.

That’s right, everything inside has a nod to the city that never sleeps and it’s just fabulous.  From the huge to the very tiny, there’s something to capture your attention for every single one of the twenty minutes you get inside and it’s all been painstakingly carved out of, or encased in ice.

New York Nicks Basketballs encased in ice in the New York themed ice bar at STACK Newcastle in January 2020

We were invited along on launch day to check it out.  When you arrive you sign in at a welcome cabin and you’re given vouchers dependent on which package you’ve booked – we were there for the basic entry deal, a simple entry to the Ice Bar, shot of something from the bar and a hot chocolate after leaving.  After signing in you’re given gloves and a faux fur hooded cloak to keep you toasty once inside.

You enter the Ice Bar in groups which are pre-booked online so it’s never overcrowded and the numbers are controlled in order to maintain the temperature inside.  Once you get in there you’re immediately faced with ice, and a lot of it.  You  round a corner into the bar and it opens out into what’s actually a pretty big space.

Inside the New York themed Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

The bar itself is completely carved from ice, as are the glasses the shots are served in.  The toffee Schnapps served as the drink included in the entry fee is simply divine, it’s made fresh on site each evening by the bar staff specially for the event to a recipe they “just came up with”.  There’s also a non-alcoholic apple version available for kids (or adults who just fancy it) and I have it on good authority that that’s pretty amazing too.

Shot glasses made of ice at the Ice Bar in STACK Newcastle in Jan 2020

So what can you expect to see inside the Ice Bar and is it worth going back if you visited last year?  Well, yes actually.  It’s better.  I’d say it’s a lot better.  Firstly, this time everything is tied up with a theme so it makes more sense, secondly there’s a designated seating area and it’s decked out with rugs so if you want to just sit, you can.

The main focal point is the Friends set piece and sofa, it’s the definite Insta zone of the Ice Bar and the lighting around it is so much better than it was in there last year so make a beeline for that if you get in there this year.  There’s some sporting memorabilia in there too in the form of the baseball bat with which Babe Ruth scored his first ever home run and it’s fully encased in ice.

The famous blue Manolo Blahnik pumps given to Carrie by Big in Sex and The City are in the ice too as well as some Tiffany jewellery and there’s a Yellow cab carved out of ice which looks really slick.  Oh, and it just wouldn’t be NYC without Lady Liberty in there now would it?

The Statue of Liberty carved entirely from ice on display in the Grey Goose Ice Bar at STACK Newcastle

After twenty minutes are up, and trust me you’ll be feeling it at sub zero temperatures, you’re ushered out in your group and directed to the end of the bar where you’re served hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows and given the option of mingling with the masses at STACK or heading to the Warm Room at the opposite end of the DJ stand to defrost fully.

Overall, it’s a fun activity, doesn’t take up a huge amount of time and doesn’t cost a fortune.  Check it out while it’s here, it’s not around for long.

Pixie

TICKET PRICES

Mon-Thurs (Off Peak) / Fri-Sun (peak)

STANDARD ADULT — £10.00 off peak /£15.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

PREMIUM ADULT — £15.00 off peak / £20.00 peak

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate
Glass of Prosecco or Bottle of Beer

CHILDREN — £6.00 per child

No Under 7’s are permitted in the Ice Bar

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire
Ice Shot (non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

FAMILY TICKETS — £30.00 off peak / £38.00 peak

A family booking can be made consisting of 2 adults and 2 children.  More children can be added for £6.00 per child.

Includes Entry
Jacket and Glove Hire Ice Shot (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
Hot Chocolate

Categories: Fashion, North East

Exploring Steve Messam’s Hush

Because we made the decision to paint our Batcave and I’m an absolute shocker when it comes to ruining gloss paint.  Seriously, I can’t resist slapping a hand down in wet gloss, or at least a finger, I have to be removed from the area completely for a period of at least eight hours – we took a family trip out to Upper Teesdale this weekend to Bales Hush on the recommendation of my friend Laura from Pop Up Studio.Bales Hush is an old lead mining site on the Raby Estate in County Durham and it’s quite a site to behold anyway – it’s feature within the landscape created when miners worked the hillside by hand to expose a mineral vein, after which the land was flushed with water to reveal what was below.

Now Bales Hush is a huge gouge spanning over 400m in length and up to 20m deep in some places.  It’s an amazing natural feature that you can hike up to and through at any type of year, providing you can manage the terrain.  On Sunday we managed to catch the final day of environmental artist Steve Messam’s ‘Hush’.  A large scale, temporary outdoor art installation which occupied Bales Hush for jus 17 days over the Summer.  Inspired by the landscape, geology and mining history of the area, Hush fills the space with 5 kilometres of recyclable yellow fabric formed into hundreds of sails which flow through Bales Hush in the breeze.

Steve Messam's Hush, a large scale temporary art installation at Bales Hush in Upper Teesdale. Pixie Tenenbaum stands in Bales Hush under the saffron coloured sails. Image taken by Pixie Tenenbaum for Fashion Voyeur

We arrived at Bowlees Visitor Centre having done some advance research into the hike, there’s a much closer carpark at the foot of Bales Hush but we were looking forward to being outdoors and killing a full day with some exploring.  The hike from Bowlees to Bales Hush is around an hour (1.8 miles ish) and is over varying terrain.  None of it is particularly difficult but there are walls to climb over, a river to cross and hills to ascend and descend, so depending on your fitness levels, it may take more or less time.

The views throughout the hike are spectacular.  It’s one of those hikes that looks like it’s been pre-filtered.  There’s a section which opens up on to Christmas Trees which is just breathtaking and every now and again I spot a tiny house in the distance and wonder whether Amazon Prime deliver there.

When we reach the river, I’m tempted to just plough straight through it, then I’m reminded by Bo that I’m only around half way and still have the return journey to do in the same shoes – plus, there’s a very clear and pre-determined rock path set out for people who don’t want to get wet.  We opt for that and power on up the hill to the farm on the other side.

As we exit the farm we get our first glimpse of Hush from a distance.  The sails look like spun gold and the people like ants crawling towards it from here.  The banks either side of the gouge don’t look steep but as we get closer it’s clear to see that it’s an optical illusion.  You can approach Bales Hush from any direction, either the left or right bank, or you can walk straight through the bottom of it and then come back down on of the bank sides when you reach the end.  We did all of the above.  We walked up the left side and then explored through the middle of it – we actually spent quite a few hours up there exploring over different terrain and got caught in rain and some blistering heat too.  If you’re heading up that way, make sure you take a decent pair of shoes and something you can layer up with in case it’s cooler when you get to the top.

The installation itself is just beautiful.  It’s serene and peaceful up there despite being busy with people.  You can’t really get a sense of the scale of it in a picture suffice to say that it’s huge.  You keep walking thinking you’ve reached the end of it and it unfolds its golden sails further and further.  Another thing that’s impossible to convey is the sound; from the top you can’t hear it but once you step into the void and you’re underneath the sails you can hear the rippling of the fabric all around you like a whispering.

A large scale temporary art installation by Steve Messam occupies Bales Hush in Upper Teesdale in County Durham for 17 days over Summer 2019 photographed here by Pixie Tenenbaum for Fashion Voyeur. Large saffron coloured sails fill a natural gouge in the landscape

The hike itself was really enjoyable.  Given that I had hip surgery in April which hasn’t gone entirely to plan this felt like natural rehabilitation and it was great to be outdoors as a family doing something fun and moving around – that’s not something I’ve been able to do for a while.  Even Plankton enjoyed it and it takes a lot to motivate him to do anything, even getting him to put clothes on and leave his room is a chore.  The installation was breathtaking, I found it calming and soothing and loved being above and below the sails, Bo quite enjoyed getting in amongst them and straightening them all out and unravelling them so they could flow properly in the wind and making people’s photographs look nice – well if it keeps him happy right?

Pixie

Categories: Lifestyle, North East

A Stay at Beadnell Towers Boutique Hotel

When we were invited to stay overnight at Beadnell Towers as a treat for Bo’s 40th birthday we jumped at the chance.  We’d been invited to the relaunch of this 18 room boutique hotel in the heart of Northumberland and couldn’t make it but after seeing the press pack we’d been desperate to visit.  Set in Beadnell Bay, which was recently listed at number 16 in The Sunday Times Top 40 UK Beaches, Beadnell Towers has undergone a radical but sympathetic restoration and refurbishment which pays homage to the character of the original stone building.

Beadnell Towers Hotel under Stormy Skies taken by Pixie Tenenbaum for Fashion Voyeur Blog

On the day of our visit there was a storm of epic proportions which brought the A1 to a standstill and delayed our check-in massively.  We aquaplaned our way there and instead of the 90 minute journey we expected, it took us a hideous 4 hours to get to our destination meaning we checked in right before our dinner reservation at 6pm, giving us just enough time to change.

Staff at Beadnell Towers are friendly and welcoming and offered to carry our soaking bags up to our room for us, after such a long and frustrating journey a warm friendly greeting hit all the right spots.

Walking through The Towers, you can’t help but be drawn in by the attention to detail, from the point of entry the tone is clear; Beadnell Towers is a home away from home.  They’ve thought about the things you might have forgotten, rainboots by the door, umbrellas incase of bad weather, beautiful toiletries in each room and a pantry on each floor with fresh milk and bottled water for guests to use at their convenience.  Management want you to use The Towers like it’s your home and it’s been renovated with that in mind; there’s a water cooler by the entrance laced with fresh fruit, a library tucked away at the back of the bar and pet bowls are provided.  There’s even a cute secluded roof terrace which we were shown, however didn’t get to use given that the weather was absolute garbage.

After a short walk up a huge open staircase with the original stone wall and some beautiful feature lighting, we’re shown to Muckle Hoose.  A suite like no other.  This double room packs a punch and a pinch me moment as the door opens to reveal its twin copper bathtubs sitting atop a backlit plinth behind the bed.  The room has everything you expect from a luxury boutique hotel – and more.  There are tea and coffee making facilities in each room along with locally sourced shortbread biscuits (the hotel are happy to provide more if you ask), an iron and ironing board if you fancy taking a load up with you, and a wardrobe for stowing luggage.

There’s a handy writing desk in the room, a huge TV which you can temporarily sync up your Netflix and Prime accounts to to use whilst staying in the hotel (just remember to ‘forget this device’ before you leave), a small thought, but one which makes all the difference especially when the weather isn’t so great, or if you have small children to entertain whilst you’re getting ready.

The bathroom is lavishly appointed, considering there are two tubs in the room; the separate bathroom has still been a huge consideration in the design of the suite.  There’s a huge double walk in shower with drencher heads, there’s easily enough room in there to move around too – these are meticulously planned and built bespoke for the space and it shows in the build quality and the amount of space in each room.  Jack and Jill sinks mean that two adults can comfortably use the bathroom at the same time with no waiting around and there’s the added luxury of automated low level, low wattage lighting as any night wanderers or insomniacs like me will discover.  These are all very thoughtful, very cool extras that will make you rethink your home spaces from the moment you check out.

Ok so what did we get up to?  Well, we didn’t actually have a lot of time given our utter debacle of a journey so we landed, had a quick change and headed straight downstairs to our dinner reservation in the hotel’s restaurant.  The restaurant itself wraps around from the hotel bar and constantly smells amazing.  We had a brief chat with the chef who advised that where possible it’s the ethos of Beadnell Towers to use local ingredients and produce in a mission to support other local businesses and growers – something we really liked.

Beadnell Towers Seafood Sharing Platter

As we sat and pored over the menu I drank a local gin, with tonic – a total rarity for me as I’m usually alcohol free but it was super refreshing, reminded me of Menorcan Summers and I wasn’t hammered after one – bonus.  The menu at Beadnell Towers is a treat just to read, there are some absolute culinary delights on there and it took us an absolute age to decide, but we finally settled on the most amazing Seafood Platter of locally sourced fish, mussels, crab and other weird and wonderful things.  As with everything that leaves the kitchen, the presentation of the more exotic food on the menu at Beadnell Towers is what draws you in – we overheard three other tables ask their servers what it is that we were having just based on sight.

Over dinner we got chatting to Deputy Manager Joann about Cadwell Park – the next place we’re visiting and we discover that her mum set a land speed record some years ago at that very race track so we bond over all things motorsport and she’s genuinely interested to hear about what we’ll be getting up to on track the following day so spends some time chatting with us.

Pixie Tenenbaum standing in front of two filled copper slipper tubs at Beadnell Towers Hotel in the Muckle Hoose Suite

After dinner when we decided to call it a night, we swung by the pantry to pick up some water and found it empty.  A quick visit to the bar proved fruitful, we were advised that if ever the pantry is empty, the same bottled water is kept in fridges behind the bar for guests too so it’s always nice and cold.  Once back in our room, we decided to test out those copper slipper tubs.  One of them is perfectly positioned for watching TV, the other not so much so you have to either turn off the TV in advance or attempt to force your partner to talk to you if, like me, you forgot and also drew the short straw.

We found two unexpectedly brilliant things about Beadnell Towers Hotel, they’re probably the two most important things when it comes to an overnight stay anywhere either in the UK or further afield, and quite possibly the most overlooked; these are the bed, and the breakfast.  At this hotel I’m assuming all of the beds are pretty much the same but can only comment on the one that we slept in in the Muckle Hoose suite and we can honestly say (both of us) it’s the most comfortable bed we’ve ever slept in.  We tried (very hard) to find out what type of mattress was on it and failed so have made a note to contact the hotel and ask because as a Fibromyalgia and Ehlers-Danlos sufferer, it was the most perfect mattress, period.

Secondly, the breakfast.  Worth visiting for alone.  The breakfast is fit for a king; for hotel residents there’s the obligatory continental set up – with a twist – as a lot of what you see in the buffet has been sourced locally.  You’ll find grains, cereals, fruit and yoghurt.  Then there’s a separate table set up with muffins, pastries and other deli type goods some of which we brought away with us for our journey – encouraged by hotel staff.

The real joy though is in the cooked to order breakfast menu.  Once you’ve steeled yourself with something from the buffet and some of the best freshly ground black coffee I’ve had since Spain and Milan, you’ll find yourself at sixes and sevens trying to select something from the concise, but mouthwatering breakfast menu.  From Craster Kippers to American style pancakes and the obvious choice of a Full English, each breakfast option is prepared fresh to order in the semi open kitchen.  Being a stalwart, Bo opted for the Full English breakfast, and being a fence sitter I opted for both the American style pancakes (in tribute to Miami) and Eggs Benedict because it’s a breakfast favourite of mine and I consider myself to be an excellent critic.

In between ordering and actually eating, we decided to head over to the kitchen for a chat with the chefs and they told us that occasionally new and unique dishes are added to the menu if local fishermen come up with something weird and wonderful in their catch.  As our food arrives at the table it’s clear to see that breakfast (in my opinion) is the dish that Beadnell Towers puts their passion into.  Most guests have travelled to Beadnell from around the North East or further afield to visit the magnificent coastline we have up here, the likelihood is that they’ve been out walking, hiking, boating or driving onward and exploring during their stay and this hotel has quietly considered all of that.  That’s why there are rainboots and umbrellas, drencher head showers to soothe aching muscles, sewing kits in the rooms to darn split socks and the most comfortable beds you could ever imagine to take a load off after a heavy day.   The creature comforts like TV’s which allow you to sync up your own streaming services, free and easy access to water and milk – little things which go unnoticed but make a stay that little bit smoother.

And then there is the breakfast.  Because after you have explored, or even before you have explored, you need to fuel up.  The hotel serves up a breakfast of champions; the Eggs Benedict is as good as Phuc Yea (my favourite Eggs Benedict ever), it doesn’t have that harsh change in temperature or texture and the eggs are cooked to perfection.  The Full English got the double thumbs up from Bo and I wasn’t offered any so I guess that means it was pretty awesome right?  The hands down winner though was the pancakes.  A small stack of light, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

After breakfast when we came to check out, we had to leave early as we had to pick up Plankton from his respite unit then get the bikes in the van ready to head to Cadwell Park for our track day (which you can read about here).  Because the weather had changed and started to brighten up, you could get a sense of just how pretty the immediate surrounding area is.  We’ll definitely make time to re-visit Beadnell Bay and explore the area, we’ve heard the fish and chips up there are amazing!

Pixie

Categories: Fashion, North East, Pixie

Sustainable Fashion: Finding Treasures in Your Own Wardrobe

We all know that rush that comes from buying a new pair of shoes, or a really great, well-made handbag, ore even just the perfect pair of jeans.  In fact, shopping is up there with addictions such as gambling and alcohol, and is often termed a “secondary addiction’ as it quite often slides in after a different addiction disappears.  Yes, we’re a nation of shoppers.  We spend what we earn and the fashionistas amongst us put our wages straight back into our wardrobes and shoe closets.

A shot of Carrie Bradshaw looking into her closet longingly - Fashion Voyeur Blog

“I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet.” – Carrie Bradshaw

But in 2018 there was a huge shift in the fashion industry, one that saw a light shone on the damage done to our environment and the finger of blame was largely pointed at fashion.  We were shown an ocean once thriving, now nothing but dust.  All for the production of cotton for fast fashion.  The cries were that fashion is fickle, but it’s also a very complicated beast to understand as there are so many tiers, so many layers, and so many season and micro seasons within each level.  It’s difficult to find where the blame does lie, other than to know that garment production plays a huge part in the responsibility of environmental destruction.  Making clothes out of a non sustainable material, unethically, is a challenge.  One which may, or may not be solved.  Pointing the finger most definitely will not solve it, making more conscious decisions at a personal level however, can definitely go along way to make your own contribution towards potentially conserving our environment.

Here’s what I suggest:

1.RE-DISCOVER ITEMS IN YOUR OWN WARDROBE

Pixie Tenenbaum Photographed by @meganlscottphotography
Pixie Tenenbaum Photographed by @meganlscottphotography

This is a personal favourite of mine.  We all have wardrobes and closets of different sizes, I’m a hoarder so mine are huge, I never throw anything away, just move it from floor to floor or from property to property so when I rediscover something, it’s like finding treasure.  (I’m aware that makes me sound like a fucking gross snob but I swear I’m not, I still burp and pump like everyone else.)  I found this Gucci Jackie O bag in black leather and denim when I was looking for something else.  It’s pristine, I bought it when I was 20 years old and living in London and I’m pretty sure I was so terrified to use it that I never did.  That means it’s now brand new and twenty years old, still stuffed and in its original dustbag – probably classed as vintage now.  Simple things like this amaze me.  I took it out to shoot with my Blogger and Photographer friend Megan Scott and I swear, this brought me so much joy you wouldn’t believe.  I also rediscovered a dress I haven’t worn for years, I put it away in a box in the attic, it’s been in there for around 9 years and when I tried it recently it just worked.  Obviously I’m 40 now and my body has changed, my hair is different and my style is different.  Things change, don’t throw things away, hang on to them and restyle them.  Fuck Marie Kondo, if you have the space and you genuinely think you might use it again, keep your stuff.

2. TRY OUT CHARITY SHOPS / THRIFT STORES / VINTAGE FAIRS / ANTIQUE FAIRS

All of them. Charity shops are a little more hit and miss as you’re more likely to find damaged items, or pieces that are just other people’s rubbish, however, in recent years, they’ve gotten a lot better.  St Oswald’s in Jesmond is a good bet and they put together a pretty enticing window display.  There’s also a very good one in Chester Le Street which seems to change it’s name every week so I won’t include it because by the time you visit it’ll be different.  In terms of vintage, Clerkenwell Vintage Fair at Freemason’s Hall in Holborn is amazing, it’s seasonal but generally four times per year.  Trendlistr is an amazing curated vintage seller with a studio for viewing and trying on, and there’s also an online selling platform too for the pieces that aren’t in the studio.  If you’re up here in the North East, you get the best of both.

The best thrift store we have up here is one I change my mind on quite a lot, at the minute it’s probably Retro which is on High Bridge Court, but last week it was the Durham American Thrift Store which is a HUGE thrift store in Langley Moor.  It just depends what their stock is like.

Antique fairs are a bit more exciting.  You can roll through these in a flash, especially if you’re looking specifically for clothes and accessories.  I tend to get caught up in picking up stuff for the kitchen but generally speaking, antiques fairs are where I go for hats, they have the best and most outstanding (by that I mean as in standing out from the crowd) collections you’re likely to come across.  You’ll find crowns, tiaras, hats, widows lace, cloches, all kinds of weird and wonderful hats at an antiques fair and the one I tend to head to first is the seasonal Colin Caygill Antiques Fair at Gateshead Stadium.

3. BUY LESS, WEAR MORE

Try different ways of styling what you already own.  I know that’s easy for me to say as a Stylist, but trust me, there are lots of different ways to wear what you already own, it’s why a Capsule Wardrobe is called a Capsule Wardrobe.  Set yourself a Rail Challenge where you pick yourself 12 items from your wardrobe and see how many different ways you can style them in a 7 day period.  If you work in an office it’s something that can be great fun, if you’re a busy mum parenting the kids at home – not so much, then you need to get your fashion kicks in other ways.  As a busy mum myself, I take great pleasure in wearing my son’s clothes when he’s at school, I’m contributing to the sustainable fashion movement and still getting a new outfit every day.  Plus, he has some freaking cool clothes man.  Double the wear and he doesn’t even know I’m doing it.

4. DO NOT BUY INTO THE “YOU CAN’T WEAR AN OUTFIT MORE THAN ONCE” BULLSHIT

This is one thing I can’t stand about the Blogging / Influencing community and something I appreciate that I’ll never be able to change on my own.  The whole ridiculous ethos of “I would never be seen in an outfit I’ve been photographed in”, or, “I can’t wear something I’ve worn before”.  It’s utter bullshit, I don’t know how this came about, it’s like Bloggers suddenly believed they were A-List celebrities, except an A-List celebrity would never behave like that.  You are single handedly contributing to the problem you are preaching about.  By saying that you won’t be seen in the outfit you just posted to Instagram, you are contributing to the sustainable fashion problem directly.  It’s just crazy and unbelievable that people don’t see that.  I’m more than happy to be seen in my clothes more than once, twice, three or more times, clothes are built to last, hence the term sustainable.  I’ve had other local Bloggers say to me that they wouldn’t dare, and they think it’s disgusting that I wear the same clothes a second time, or “Do you know you’ve worn that before?” (er, yes I do, they’re my clothes) “It might be time to throw that T-shirt away, you’ve worn it before” and “You’ve already posted that on Instagram”.  I’m literally facepalming right now.

Wear your clothes.  Wear them out.  If you get sick of them and no longer want them, pass them on to a friend or a charity store. Or, and that leads me on to my next point….

5. ORGANISE A CLOTHES SWAP OR SALE

Got a closet full of clothing and accessories that no longer fit, isn’t your style, no longer works with your brand new hair shade or you feel you just need a change?  A clothes swap or sale might be for you.  So what’s the difference?  Well, a Swap is basically a night in with a selected group of friends who each bring round some pieces from their wardrobe that they no longer want.  You agree to showcase your pieces and then swap anything you don’t want, for something you do want.  Simples.  The problems with this is that you generally need to swap with a group of friends who are all the same size –  I don’t know about you, but my friends come in all shapes, heights and sizes.  This is why sometimes a sale is the best option.

A Sale is similar except you exchange cash.  You might be saving up for something, moving home, saving for a car, for medical treatment, decorating or giving proceeds to charity (all of these are perfectly acceptable).  You set a price, your friends might haggle, once you agree, you complete the sale and sell your item.  I like these ones, they’re like eBay or DePop but more personal, usually in someone’s home, with a few drinks, a few nibbles and you generally get to pick up some amazing bargains and make some awesome new friends.  I went to one in London and met legendary designer Pam Hogg which completely blew my mind.

I’m actually thinking about holding a private sale at my home maybe in April of this year so drop me a comment, message or email if you fancy coming – I promise, it will be mint.

Pixie

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