Oliver Bonas

The most wonderful shop has opened in Cabot Circus recently that I can't go a day without stepping in to. Oliver Bonas has opened its first shop outside London and it is in Bristol :) Oliver Bonas has 27 shops in London and was started by.... well you guessed it - Oliver Bonas! It all started from him bringing home interesting and different gifts for his friends.It has a wonderful selection of homewares, gifts, womenswear, things for children and of course at this time of year Christmas stocking fillers. I have already managed to find a couple of unique Christmas presents here and have dragged Mr FF round it and pointed at quite a few things. So if you want to find a beautiful gift or just want to spoil yourself do check out Oliver Bonas online, in London or even in Bristol. If you do pop in Bristol you will probably find me there... I just can't get enough.... My Christmas list is getting longer...

Anyway speak soon lovelies!
Fashion Fantasist xx

Pop-Up Christmas

A lovely Pop-up shop has, well, Popped-Up in Cabot Circus this month...

This year, the run up to Christmas has seen over 100 local artists come together as part of ‘Pop-Up Bristol’ - a new initiative from Made in Bristol that has showcased a diverse range of independent galleries and creative talent on the high street for the first time, adding a new dimension to Christmas shopping at Cabot Circus this year. The pop-ups offer the opportunity to purchase quality gifts and one-off pieces by up-and-coming artists.

Drawn in Bristol is a newly formed, locally focused illustration collective which hosts regular events & shows in the city. The collective has 50 members and celebrates the work of Bristol based illustrators by providing them with a platform to showcase their work. Their stunning shop can be found in Quakers Friars and features original illustrations, prints and cards, handmade toys and locally designed T-shirts.

‘Upfest’, established in 2008 and now Europe’s largest graffiti art festival, adds a new dimension to Level 1 of the Glass Walk in Cabot Circus with an urban art and graffiti gallery, ‘POP-UPfest’. As well as urban style artworks, the gallery will feature Bristol street art photography and weekly live drawing events.

Along with these, the ‘Smithson Gallery’ pop-up provides a platform for a variety of talented artists and styles, offering original art and prints alongside great cards and original gift ideas including bags, cushions, tea towels, ceramics and decoration.

Pop-Up Bristol will be hosting a party to celebrate the one-month countdown to Christmas on Thursday November 24th at 6pm across their three temporary festive galleries at Cabot Circus!

The event will offer guests a fantastic opportunity to see and purchase all the brilliant artworks the shops have on offer and will also feature live drawing and music. There will also be a chance to meet all of the diverse and talented artists involved in the project along with some exciting special guests.

So if you are around in Cabot this Christmas season make sure you Pop by! They will be open as follows:
POP-UPfest: Open now - 24th December (level1, Glass Walk)
Drawn in Bristol: Open now - 3rd December (Quakers Friars)
Smithson Gallery and Gifts: Open now - 24th December (Level 1, Glass Walk)
Bristol Creatives: Open now - 24th December (Quakers Friars)

For more information check it out here!

Best wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

P.S I am really excited about Christmas! :)

Truly Sorry

I write this post to apologise... I have been absent and out of touch and there is no excuse! Sorry!!!!!! I hope you have had a lovely bank holiday - it seems the sun has finally decided to come out! Yay!

Last weekend I visited my sister in Edinburgh. It really is a beautiful city with wonderful boutique shops and wonderful architecture. I found this little beauty in Urban Outfitters....

I would just like to find a charming straw boater to create the perfect summer look.

I hope there will be more posts to follow that you will enjoy... But to tide you over I have started a Tumblr account that will show imagery that inspires me and different things that catch my eye. Please do stop by!

Speak soon - I promise! :)

Best wishes,

Fashion Fantasist xx

Fashion Weekender

Hello All!

Just a few trend images from the Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender (2nd - 3rd April) in case you missed the event!Denim Dury by WarehouseSpring Forward by Dorothy PerkinsFeeling Good by Ted BakerNeon Rainbow by ZaraThe Cash by Harvey NicholsMr Sandman by House of Fraser - I love the outfit with the shorts!!Nude Study by Harvey NicholsCannes-Tastic by House of FraserFrocks and Frolics by French ConnectionLadies Who Lunch by Hobbs

On the Saturday alone the Fashion Weekender attracted over 100,00 visitors!

Fashion Fantasist xx

Spring Into Summer...

... With Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender this weekend (2nd - 3rd April).Taking place in the centre of Cabot Circus under the glass roof, I hope it isn't raining but if it is you should all stay dry, the catwalk will showcase the hottest trends from the new season collections. Bringing together the best of high street and designer brands.

Vintage has been a key theme over the past few years and spring/summer will see 70’s glamour making fashion waves. Cabot Circus will show you how to create unstructured gypsy-like silhouettes and work shimmering fabrics, chunky heels, wide-leg trousers and figure-hugging waistbands, whatever your style or budget.

The Fashion Weekender will also celebrate the return of good old-fashioned glamour, nudes and muted tones and the rock-and-roll inspired ‘cool rider’ look.

Each show will be created by stylist JP, who has worked with a host of celebrities and recording artists and currently runs his own London-based fashion consultancy. Visitors will also be able to seek out the latest hair and beauty trends with experts from Sanctuary Spa, Seanhanna and other beauty brands giving free demonstrations and taster sessions. So it will be the perfect time to discover a new look.

Discounts of up to 20 per cent will also be on offer at many of Cabot Circus’ iconic fashion stores and restaurants over the course of the Fashion Weekender and all those attending will be invited to enter a competition to win £1,000 worth of fashion!!!!! - Yes Please!!

The fashion show will run a few times over the weekender - Show Times - Saturday 2nd April - 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm - Sunday 3rd April - 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm and it is a completely free event!!

Unfortunately I am unable to attend because I am visiting my family for Mother's Day but if you do get the chance to pop to Cabot Circus over the weekend it is going to be a fantastic event. The catwalk is on level 1 outside House of Fraser (I have been walking past it on my way home from work!)

Enjoy and have a lovely weekend
Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx

Flutterby Butterfly

Hello Lovelies,

Sorry it has been so long!!!! As some of you may be aware I have managed to land myself an office job and am only just getting used to the Nine - Five (Thirty!) mentality. But I do have some blog posts planned to make up for my lack of posting (A whole two weeks!!!!)

I have realised that I haven't shared with you my latest wardrobe additions. They are from a few separate shopping trips but all the items slot quite nicely in to my new office work wear wardrobe.

Peach Slouchy Trouser from Miss SelfridgeButterfly Shirt from MangoJumper from Miss Selfridge SalePleat Trim Collar Top from Miss Selfridge - Love this detail!H by Henry Holland Zebra Top from DebenhamsLace Jumper - Topshop Sale

I hope you are all well and enjoying Spring. I promise to have some more blog posts soon!

Best Wishes,
Fashion Fantasist xx

Feeling Frilly

With all the rain I am already starting to think about Summer! Have found a couple of pieces that I can't wait to wear once the sun starts shining again.This dress is from Primark and I was immediately drawn to the print. It reminded me of vintage fabric and even though every other person will probably have this dress I still think something about it is unique and interesting.These sweet frilly shoes were found in the Topshop sale! I am very pleased I have finally bought these shoes as I have been lusting after them for quite some time!! They were perfect to go with a dress that I had for a wedding. Here is the dress, it is from Great Plains and I snapped it up at a French Connection Sample sale for £15!!!So as you can probably tell I will be wearing some frills this summer - and I can't wait!!

Hope you are all staying warm and dry!!

Fashion Fantasist xx

10% OFF Ethical Fashion

The Unique Bristol Fashion Brand Charlie Boots is offering 10% off to all readers of this blog!!!!The label “Charlie Boots” is the brainchild of Charlie Boots, Bristol based designer who creates original , stylish womenswear and bags from ethically sourced materials which are then fabricated to a very high standard by a small team of talented seamstresses.

The ethics of the fashion industry have been thrust under the spotlight in recent years as exposes uncovered the true cost of high street fashion in relation to the environment and the human cost of the workforce needed to produce the high volume/low quality garments it demands.Charlie Boots’s vision is clear: “I want to show the fashion world that you do not have to compromise when it comes to style and quality when the ethical history of your clothes is important to you. I believe that people will love my ethical clothing for it’s innovative designs and for the care and attention to detail with which they are made. The fact that they are produced from ethically sourced materials and made by people being paid properly for their expertise is simply the way modern fashion should be. As consumers, we shouldn't expect anything less.”

Charlie Boots offers its customers an exciting range of day and evening wear that utilises fair trade, sustainable , organic, reclaimed and vintage fabrics such as 1930’s ‘feedsacks’ and kimonos from the 50’s onwards. Each design is limited to only ten items and due to the rarity of many of the fabrics, some are complete one-offs.

The Charlie Boots website also sells organic knitwear from Lowie and Eka and handmade jewellery.

Charlie Boots is currently offering 10% off (until the 25th of December) to readers of this blog. To claim your unique Voucher code please email hello@charlieboots.com and give the name of the blog you are reading. A text or email will then be sent with the discount code!

This cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

I have blogged about Charlie Boots before - I think it is a wonderful company with great values - so get shopping!!!! You may find some Christmas presents too!

Happy Shopping!!
Fashion Fantasist xx

Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion

Bristol has been shortlisted as one of six UK cities as most stylish by leading fashion and celebrity website OSOYOU.com!!!!So all you fashion-ey folk get yourselves down to Cabot Circus tomorrow as the editorial team from OSOYOU.com will be looking out for and photographing the best street styles.

As well as the potential to be crowned the UK's most stylish city the individual with the best street style will win £500 of shopping vouchers and the latest Blackberry Torch.

Beth Wond from OSOYOU, who is organising the tour of the UK, commented, "Bristol has upped its game in the fashion stakes since the opening of Cabot Circus and we feel it now deserves a place on our shortlist of cities. We've heard that Bristol has a very individual and edgy style - we now want to see it for ourselves. We want Bristol's fashion crowd to come and show us how it's done Thursday!"Other cities nominated include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh. So come on stylish Bristol boys and girls lets hit Cabot Circus tomorrow and show them how it's done - Bristol Style!

OSOYOU.com will be at Cabot Circus Thursday (14/10/10) 12:00-3:00pm.

Also make sure you vote for your favorite style star from October 18th on www.OSOYOU.com

To keep up to date with whats what at Cabot Circus check out their webpage or find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Good luck!
Fashion Fantasist xx

Happy Belated Birthday Cabot Circus

I missed Cabot Circus' 2nd Birthday (25-26/9/10) but I have been informed that it was a great success!!

Over 168,000 people turned up to help celebrate over the weekend and the total footfall for Saturday was up 18% compared with it's first birthday! Cabot Circus also raised more than £8,800 for Breast Cancer Care through the sale of the Ultimate Fashion Weekender goodie bags!!! That is just amazing and very inspirational - I have recently got involved with organising a show - but more revealed about that at a later date...

(How great is this photo! Look at the girls faces in the background!)

James Baily, the Center Manager said - "We are delighted with the excellent turn out from our shoppers who turned up on their droves to help us celebrate our second birthday in style. It was a fantastic weekend thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part. It was especially great to see the interest in Cabot Circus has continued to grow two years on."I was sent some photographs from the event and it does look packed. I am very jealous of the people who got to see Gok Wan!!!Hopefully I will be able to make it to their Third Birthday - well trust me I am blocking out the weekends in September already in anticipation!!

If you did manage to go please share your stories? What hot fashion trends are hitting Bristol?

Best Wishes
Fashion Fantasist xx