Retro beach wear for dudes

Now to be fair, looking out the window this week you’d never know that we were supposed to be having beach weather. The usually reliable first two weeks of May have totally let us down this year and we have seen several people striding out in wellies today. And it’s not even festival season. Sigh!

However, we can still dream, and no doubt quite a few of you will be hitting the beaches of somewhere hot and sunny soon anyway, so we’re going to plough on regardless and introduce you to our uber cool collection of retro beach wear for men.

We are totes loving these floral beach to bar shorts, which will look most excellent with a plain white vest and a pair of flip flops. Something very 50s about these swimmers, don’t you think? Just add surfer hair and you’re good to go!

If you’re not sure you can pull off the floral look then we have a range of check alternatives like these very funky aqua and pink shorts

Or these slightly more sedate black and white check swim shorts – perfect with a plain black vest.

Work the nautical trend with this navy and white striped vest and some cut off denims for the perfect chilled-out look on a summer’s day.

Nothing says retro quite like a California surf t-shirt. This vest will look great with everything from plain navy swim shorts to combat shorts and jeans.

Back to Cali again for this Monterey Bay tee – again great with jeans and shorts and your fav flip flops.

And finally, don’t forget to stock up on a few plain vests for wearing on their own or under an open shirt. Available in a range of different colours.

Tropical Fever!

We are loving the fact that this year’s must-have print is big, bold and tropical. Whereas last year was all about ditzy daisies, this summer it’s all about fabulous hibiscus and big island blooms in bright bold colours. Not for the faint hearted, but if you can pull it off then why not add some tropical colour to your summer wardrobe and embrace the brightest pinks, blues and yellows that you can find?

A perfect example is this stunning body-con dress with black mesh detail on the neckline. This gorgeous dress will be ideal for nights out on your summer hols. Accessorise with a great tan and some black wedge sandals.

If you prefer something a bit more loose fitting and floaty then this fabulous utility blouse will be right up your street. The colours will look good on everyone and the relaxed cut and style of the blouse means you can wear it with everything from skinny jeans to a pair of cut off denim shorts with flip flops.

Neon yellow shorts are hot hot hot this summer and this pair will look fantastic with a simple white vest and a pendant. Yellow is not great on pale skin so we do recommend getting the fake tan out if your legs are looking a bit ghostly after the winter!

 

If you’re not quite brave enough to go for yellow then these blue shorts might be a better option. They’ll look fab with the tropical print blouse above and some oversized shades for maximum style brownie points.

And finally, if you just want to add a hint of tropical colour to your wardrobe then this sexy black vest with neon zip trim will do the job nicely. This will look great with super short denim cut offs and big black sunglasses.

Making peplum work for you

When Mrs Beckham set the catwalk alight with her stunning peplum dresses a couple of years ago, little did we know that two years later the style would still be huge on the high street. The great thing about peplum is that it looks good on pretty much every shape and can be worn lots of different ways depending on your taste and personal sense of style.

Here are a few of our suggestions on how to work the look.

Team this pretty yellow peplum top  with a pencil skirt for a sexy, sophisticated office look

This blue version will look great with some white skinny jeans  and some pretty pumps for a laid back summer outfit.

For a smart summer office look, wear it with some city shorts and some colour block wedges to complement the pretty blue shade.

Heading for a smart lunch out with the girls? Then team this very pretty peach peplum hem t-shirt  with some cropped white trousers. Simple yet chic!

 

And finally, this pretty floral version will look great with some cut off denims  and wellies  for the perfect festival look.

Summer essentials for boys and girls

If you taking the family away this summer for much needed sun sea and sand it might be time to look at the kid’s summer clothes to see what fits and what doesn’t.

Here are some of our favourite summer essentials for boys and girls.

So then, little ladies first. These adorable strawberry shorts are perfect for running around on the beach. Plus they’ll hardly take up any room at all in the luggage.

Little heads need more protection from the sun than grownup heads, and this Peppa Pig reversible sunhat will do the job nicely.

Add these Peppa Pig sunglasses, factor 50 on the face and that’s the whole head department pretty much taken care of!

More strawberries – and why not? We love this gorgeous little pink hearts and strawberries swim suit. Perfect for your little water baby.

This pretty playsuit will be perfect for a meal out with Mum and Dad when the sun goes down.

 Wear it with these cute flip flops and a cardi in case it gets chilly.

 And finally, these cute little dresses will be easy to put on over a swimming costume and just lift over the head when it’s time to hit the surf!

And so to the boys. These check patterned swimming shorts will look great with a plain white t-shirt or on their own when it’s time to bury Dad in the sand.

Protect your little man from sunburn and any swimming nasties with this all in one surf suit. Available for ages 3-6 months up to 4-5 years.

Stock up on t-shirts with a couple of these handy two-packs.

 Also available in plain and striped versions.

 If he’s not a fan of Peppa Pig then protect your little boy’s head from the sun in this rather cool reversible check beanie.

Jelly shoes are the perfect holiday footwear for tots as it doesn’t matter how wet they get by the pool or on the beach.

These belted check shorts will look very smart with a polo shirt when you’re heading out for a bite to eat.

And finally, don’t forget the sunglasses. These Tigger ones are the biz!

Summer maxi dresses

Now we don’t want to get too excited but that is actually blue sky we can see from the office window (as opposed to angry grey clouds), so we might actually be able to walk to lunch without the need for an umbrella and a pair of wellies! Just in case we do actually get a summer this year – well you just never know, it could happen – we thought we’d take a look at some of the gorgeous maxi dresses we have in stock at the moment.

This sheered top maxi is the perfect dress for a hot summer’s day. The gorgeous floral print will look lovely on all skin tones and the elasticated sheered top means it will fit any bust size comfortably. Wear it with pink or blue wedges and a chunky necklace.

With stunning embellishment around the neckline, this sexy black dress will look fantastic on a night out with some black sandals and an armful of bangles.

Keep things simple and fresh with this pretty white maxi, which will look great with a faded denim jacket and some tan flat sandals. Add a pretty scarf for a splash of colour.

Another great dress for night time, wear this one with a belt around the middle to really show off your waist. Perfect for dinner out when you’re on your hols.

This navy and white striped maxi is ideal for a chilled out picnic in the park. It’s super comfy and will look great with either cute pumps or flip flops. Wear it with a scarf or some red beads.

Got an informal wedding to go to this summer? Then this pretty floral number will be just perfect. Wear it with matching jewellery and a fun fascinator to finish the outfit off.

 

Let’s go Team GB!

Now, as a nation its gotta be said we love any old excuse to party and celebrate the best of british. With the Queens Jubilee just around the corner we have a fantastic range of british-themed goods bound to tickle your fancy. From home and wardrobe to t-shirts, prints and accessories we are bound to have what you’re looking for when throwing the best street party of them all.

Try this one with navy chinos instead of jeans for a relaxed, casual look. Perfect for the up-coming bank holidays.

Our fantastic range of dinnerwear is just the ticket for serving up tea and cakes.

Get the party started with our official party bunting whether it’s in the house, the garden or the street with all the neighbours involved:

Here are just some of the very British things about Britain that will make you smile – all on one handy canvas that you can hang in your living room or hallway. Fish and chips of course

This Big Red Bus cushion from our homeware collection has retro written all over it and will look perfect in your living room.

Add this funky canvas to the wall for the perfect finishing touch.

And finally, if you have a mantelpiece, this clock will look just dandy sitting on top.

 

Stylish wedding outfits that won’t break the bank

Now, while most of us just love a good wedding, especially if it’s the wedding of a close friend or family member, having more than one or two to go to in summer can really start to take its toll on your bank account. There’s the wedding present to buy, the hotel room to pay for (unless you’re lucky and the wedding is on your doorstep) and of course a new outfit to buy for each one (unless you’re a man and get away with just changing your tie!). The good news is we have just launched a new collection of totally fabulous and totally affordable occasion wear, which means you can have a new outfit for each wedding without feeling guilty. Here are some of our favourite pieces.

Add some bright, fun accessories to this simple racer back sun dress and you’ve got the perfect outfit for a summer wedding. We’d suggest a big chunky neck piece and matching bracelet, some platform pumps and a cute fascinator.

 

Work the tailored VB look in this beautifully cut red peplum dress. This dress will look fantastic with a wide brim hat and the highest heels you can manage!

We love this gorgeously girly sequin lace dress in mint.

These peeptoe sling back platforms will finish the outfit off perfectly.

This linen dress is perfect and practical for summer to leave you pretty in pink

This classic pencil dress is beautifully cut to emphasise curves in all the right places.

Why not add a big, bright corsage in pink to add a splash of colour to it?

And finally, here is a selection of the all important accessories that will add the finishing touches to your outfit:

This pretty satin curl fascinator will work for either long or short hair.

Pop all your essentials in this pretty layered frill clutch.

And add a bit of bling to your wrist with this pretty bead criss cross stretch bracelet.

Now, all you need is the sunshine and you’re all set for a great day out!

Look the bees knees in these print tees

The popularity of the iconic printed tee trend continues to grow for SS12, so we’re excited to introduce our new range from Denim 73 that has arrived in stock. With prints of music icons across various decades and generations, these are a fashion must-have for the summer.

All of these tees will look great teamed with a pair of jeans for a casual retro look.

 

What better place to start than with the ‘fab four’ with this Beatles street tee.

Or this classic polaroid-style print.

 

This Elvis the King tee can add a bit of shake, rattle and roll to your wardrobe.

If you’ve got a bit of inner-punk at heart, this Sid Vicious print is for you.

For a bit of an urban twist, here is a print with non other than Mr Beyonce Knowles, Jay Z.

For a modern icon, you can go for the current queen of pop Rhianna

Much of this range is exclusive available online, so click here to see the full range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look lovely in lace

Until quite recently, lace was a material reserved for ladies of a certain vintage and wedding dresses, however, it has enjoyed something of a renaissance over the last couple of years and is now firmly back in favour with designers for both the catwalk and the high street. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, so if a full-on lace frock seems a little bit too teenage Goth for you then why not opt for something with lace detailing around the collar or cuffs instead? Here are some of our favourite ‘hint-of-lace’ pieces from the current Be Beau collection.

This gorgeous denim playsuit gets the feminine touch with lace trim around the neckline. Wear it with chunky wedges on a summer night out.

If you haven’t yet invested in this year’s maxi dress then take a look at this stunning rose and lace number. The lace trim around the layered seams combined with the pretty pink and black colour scheme means you could easily wear this to an informal wedding or christening party.

If you prefer your lace with a vintage feel then this stunning cream spot and lace top will be right up your street. It will look fab with dark denim skinnies, some vintage sandals and some burnished gold earrings on a night out.

Keep things simple with this pretty navy and white stripe vest and get two summer trends in one. This will look lovely with some white cropped trousers or some cut off denims for a more dressed down look.

This knit and lace shrug is the perfect example of how a little lace detailing on the sleeves can make a simple cardi that bit more special. Wear this over a plain white cami with your favourite skinny jeans and some ballet pumps.

And finally, for a great festival look, wear this gorgeous coral and lace trim top with a denim skirt, some wellies and the all-important rain proof parka. Pretty and practical – just what you need for a day of outdoor music and frolics.

Bikinis and beach dresses – it’s time for the holiday wardrobe!

In the words of the Queen of Pop herself – Holidaaayayyaaaay! Yes, the holiday shop is officially open and jam packed full of fabulous dresses and swimwear and pretty much everything else you could need for your week or two in the sun. There are so many gorgeous things we’re just going to dive right in and point you in the direction of some of our favourite pieces.

First up is this trés chic twisted bandeau top in a pretty polka dot print, which is ideal for ladies with a smaller bust.

Plain black briefs are also available to match both these bikinis.

If you prefer your bikinis to pack a bit more punch in the print department then why not go for something like this soul clash ring bandeau in gorgeous shades of pink and orange. This will look great with a pink sarong when you’re strolling down the beach.

And here are the matching briefs.

A simple sundress that you can throw on over your bikini is a must when you’re on holidays. This green and white striped one will be perfect when you’re heading for a spot of lunch and need to cover up.

This Tropical Lily sarong will look lovely with some black sandals and some simple black beads for a chilled out evening look. Perfect for a night sipping cocktails!

Add some funky flips flops and a big floppy sun hat to this pretty striped jersey dress and you’ve got the perfect summer outfit whether you’re in the park at home or on your jollies.

And finally, another really simple dress that will be perfect for the beach. This kaftan comes in a range of pretty colours and is a steal at just £6. We say buy two or three so you’ve got plenty of choice!