MyStreetChic sets World Record at Cabot Circus!
At Cabot Circus, we were delighted to host an event to mark the launch of new street-style inspired website MyStreetChic.com recently, and even more pleased that the team managed to set the World Record for the highest number of topknot hairstyles in one day!
The MyStreetChic team made fashion history with a little help from our experts at Cabot Circus, with Robin James Salon stylists on hand to create the hair, alongside make up artists from Bobbi Brown (both brands are based at House of Fraser). Sanctuary Spa - based in Quakers Friars - also provided shoppers with mini manicures and feel-good treats to ensure they went away feeling glam and relaxed.
Have a look at highlights from the day here – and check out the MyStreetChic website soon, it contains heaps of fashion and beauty advice and features and shows how real people are interpreting the latest trends around the country.
Festival Fashion
Festival season is almost upon us, with the mother of all festivals, Glastonbury, set to kick things off in style next week!
However festival fashion can be tricky – especially when the weather is sunny one minute and pouring on us the next! What to pack eh? Our advice is to take lots of layers so you can wrap up warm when you need to and then strip off to make the most of the sunshine when the sun comes out. And make sure you pack both wellies and flip flops, of course.
Here’s our tips to help you stay looking stylish, come rain or shine…
Feathers and Playsuits!
Want to stand out in a crowd? You certainly won’t get lost in this feature headdress by Bitching and Junkfood at Urban Outfitters! Guaranteed to brighten up any outfit.
Playsuits look fab with tights or leggings and wellies, making sure you still look great even if it is muddy. We love this printed number from Ted Baker, which is now reduced to £60, from £119.
Hat & Sunglasses
You’ll definitely need a hat and some sunglasses if the weather is kind to us. Just how cute are this pair from Urban Outfitters? And at £16, they won’t break the bank either…
This year it’s all about the oversized hat, and this cream one from Warehouse will go with everything.
Shorts and Waistcoat
Take inspiration from Kate Moss and invest in a tasseled waistcoat for an on-trend rock-chick look, and wear with a great pair of denim shorts. If there’s one ‘must have’ festival fashion item, denim shorts are probably it! Ideal with a flowery top and sandals in the heat, equally as good with wellies.
Now only £20, this waistcoat is a steal from Label Lab at House of Fraser:
Coral is one of our favourite colours this year - love these shorts from Topshop!
Wellies!
Wellies are a must – thankfully the fashion world has cottoned on to this in recent years and you can now get them in a myriad of colours and styles, meaning you can be practical yet stylish. Perfect! We’re in love with this cobalt blue pair from Hunter, available in Topshop.
Touch Eclat has six new shades
For years Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat has been the go-to concealer for millions of women around the World – with one pen sold every 10 seconds! It feels like a long time coming, but YSL has finally re-released the iconic product in six new shades, suiting all skin tones from the fairest of tones to darker shades that are ideal for Black and Asian skin.
Touch Eclat is fantastic for highlighting and contouring and has a lovely smooth, natural finish. The new range will be available in House of Fraser at Cabot Circus from 14 July.
Matthew Williamson teams up with Accessorize
Iconic British designer Matthew Williamson has created a bracelet with Accessorize to raise money for charity.
50% of the profit will be donated to The Monsoon Accessorize Trust, helping disadvantaged women and children in Asia, with the other 50% going to Too Many Women, which aids Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
The bracelet will retail in Accessorize for £15 and we love the colourful threads and ten golden charms. Cute, quirky and all in aid of a great cause!
Beauty offers
It seems to be beauty time at Cabot Circus at the moment with lots of amazing deals on offer that we recommend you make the most of!
First up is one of our favourite beauty brands Elemis (located in Harvey Nichols) which is currently giving you the perfect excuse to kick-start your summer beauty prep. Until Sunday, (May 22) Elemis is giving away mini treats when you buy two full-sized products.
Choose five from ten travel-sized must-haves, worth up to £82, including best sellers from the fantastic Pro-Radiance, Pro-Collagen and Tri-Enzyme ranges amongst others. Buy a third and you’ll receive a free full-size product.
Also running until 28 May is Clinique Bonus Time – available at House of Fraser. Purchase two or more Clinique items in store from and receive a complimentary gift bag.
The gift bag includes all you need for a natural pretty look, including Superdefense SPF 25 moisturiser, Superbalanced foundation, Blended face powder, High Impact mascara, Superbalm moisturising gloss and blusher brush!
This fab offer is exclusive to House of Fraser.
The Big Student Takeover!
Students from across Bristol are set to descend on Cabot Circus on Thursday (12 May) for the Big Student Takeover – a one-off shopping event with over 50 retailers offering discounts of up to 20%.
As well as getting money off, there will be lots of freebies incuding goodie bags, drinks and competitions in many of the stores.
Over 50 retailers throughout Cabot Circus will be hosting exclusive discounts for students, with price reductions in selected shops and restaurants ranging from 10 to 50%. Urban Outfitters and Schuh will be offering students a 15% discount, while American Apparel, Cult Clothing, French Connection, Republic and River Island will be slashing prices by 20% just for the night. There will also be lots of in-store entertainment on offer with DJ’s and bands performing.
Students need to register in Quakers Friars where they will receive an all-access pass that will enable them to take advantage of the offers available in store. To ensure registration students will need to bring their student ID.
For further information and to see a full list of the retailers taking part, visit www.cabotcircus.com.
Summer workwear
Getting ready for work can be tricky in the summer – how to you prepare for all weather scenarios and look stylish yet professional in the office?
Tapered trousers are versatile and work on most body types and the loose fit means you’ll be comfortable and cool at work. The cropped length allows you to show off a fantastic pair of shoes too – sounds like a bonus to us! This coral pair from Topshop are perfect for the summer and the colour is right on trend too.
This ruched blouse from All Saints is a great choice for the office and looks fab tucked into tapered or tailored trousers or a fitted skirt. Everyone should have a good blouse in their summer wardrobe and this All Saints number will look perfect with this seasons nude tones.
Sometimes you need a killer dress and one of our favourites is this fitted style from L.K. Bennett – smart, stylish and flattering. We love the tan colour and think it would look fabulous with nude or tan heels.
Finally, offering the perfect slouch factor, this Warehouse drapped jacket is smart enough for the office, but perfect for the weekend too. Wear over light or dark tones; either way you’ll look great.
Fix up, look sharp…
Harvey Nichols has launched its first ever own-label menswear collection, available in the Quakers Friars store now and recently seen on the Cabot Circus catwalk…
Featuring classic tailoring with a contemporary edge and using only the finest Italian fabrics, this exclusive range boasts stylish suits, shirts and ties to cut a corporate dash. Prices start from £40 for ties and £60 for shirts. Classic wool suits are £395, while mohair blend suits cost £450.
We also think that House of Fraser have nailed the colour blocking for men trend with this electric blue suit teamed with a casual cream t-shirt – at £550 it’s not cheap, but it is chic. Sunglasses by D&G at £115.
New Heights
This season, statement heels are bigger, brighter and better than ever before! As most of you will know, 70′s inspired pieces are huge for the spring, and that includes shoes. This season, expect to find lots of earthy-toned wooden platforms (and sliver gladiator-style heels) in stores. We love chunky heels because they can be easily dressed up or down, making them a versatile investment.
As seen on the catwalk at our Fashion Weekender, colour blocking is officially one of the biggest trends in town this year. But don’t just think about opting for dresses and blouses – colour is available from top to toe! Whether you opt for full colour blocking or add bright heels to a neutral outfit to add an eye catching element, there are plenty of options in the shops right now. And this summer, don’t be afraid to team colours that you have been traditionally told will clash!
Here’s some of our favourites:
Spring in the air at the Fashion Weekender
First of all – a huge thank you to everyone that came to our Fashion Weekender last week! And what a fabulous few days it was, with retailers from across Cabot Circus showcasing the best of the new season.
2011 really does seem to be the year of colour – the brighter the better - with colour blocking shown all over the designer catwalks and now hitting the high street with gusto.
Zara nailed the trend during its scene at the Fashion Weekender – the perfect clashing of colours. All items are available at Cabot Circus.
Nudes were another key trend shown on the catwalk, with both Harvey Nichols and LK Bennett dedicating a scene to the look. We loved the slinky fabrics and tailoring, paired with minimal accessories for a chic and flattering look. Gorgeous clothes from Harvey Nichols during the last show of the day on Saturday:
Gypsy and seventies – and plenty of denim – were also shown by several of the retailers including Next, Dorothy Perkins and Warehouse. We particularly loved Dorothy Perkins take on Spring / Summer – wide legged flattering trousers, chiffon blouses and wide brimmed hats at the ready.
For anyone that missed the Fashion Weekender, here’s a video of Sunday’s shows for extra style inspiration…
Shades of Spring
Spring has officially sprung and after a cold and long winter, we’ve been really excited to see all of the new styles appearing in the shops. It’s now time to forget functional fashion and embrace the new season trends – and with our Fashion Weekender taking place on Saturday and Sunday (which is free for all to attend) there will be plenty of inspiration on offer. Here’s a sneak preview of some of the key trends that will appear on the catwalk this weekend…
Colour Block
Stunning neon and jewel hues dazzled on the catwalk this season. Our tip is to wear it in bold designs and make sure it’s eye-poppingly bright. Here’s a few of our favourites:
70s Glamour
Vintage has been a key theme over the past few years and this season 1970′s is making fashion waves. Key looks? Flowing jumpsuits, flared jeans and must-have platforms.
Neutrals
Whether it’s soft off-white, creamy beige, or rich biscuit, the new neutral fashions use strong textures and structure to add sophisticated style.
Don’t forget the Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender this coming weekend – Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April – where you can see these trends and much more on the catwalk. Discounts of up to 20% also available in our stores and lots of free beauty treatments on offer frmo Sanctuary Spa, Seanhannah, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser beauty. See you there!
Cabot Circus Fashion Weekender
Cabot Circus will be stepping into the new season in style with a series of free catwalk shows celebrating the best of spring and summer on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April.
Taking place in the centre of Cabot Circus under the glass roof, the catwalk shows will showcase the hottest trends from the new season collections, bringing together the best of the high-street and designer brands.
After a cold winter, it’s time to forget functional fashion as the new season will welcome the revival of colour in 2011 – pop and vibrant block colours were seen all over the catwalks and the look is set to be one of the key trends on the high street.
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 on-hand to give demonstrations and free taster sessions to shoppers.
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.
Cabot Circus retailers that will be featured in the Fashion Weekender include Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, French Connection, Next, Monsoon, New Look, Reiss, Dorothy Perkins, River island, Ted Baker, Urban Outfitters, Warehouse and Zara. See you there!
SHOWTIMES
Catwalk – level 1, outside House of Fraser
SATURDAY 2 APRIL
11.30am
12.30pm
2pm
3.30pm
4.30pm
SUNDAY 3 APRIL
12pm
1.30pm
2.30pm
3.30pm
Spring/Summer Fashion Shoot
We’ve recently been shooting our Spring / Summer photography featuring some of the best pieces from the high street - here’s one of our favourite shots. The full gallery is on our Facebook fan page. We would love to know what you think…
Top to Bottom:
Model 1
Striped dress,£130, Pied a Terre at House of Fraser, Levels 1,2 & 3
Necklace, £235, Azendi, Level 1
Shoes, £155, L.K. Bennett, Quakers Friars
Model 2
Suit jacket, £59.99, trousers, £29.99, H&M, Level 1
T-shirt, £14, Topman, Level 1
Shoes, £125, Kurt Geiger, Quakers Friars
Model 3
Dress, £159, Reiss, Quakers Friars
Necklace, £18, House of Fraser, Levels 1,2 & 3
Blue pumps, £20, Barratts, Level 1
Red Shoes Evening
In case you haven’t heard, Harvey Nichols is holding a special event this evening showcasing the best in designer accessories with an event to mark the opening of its dedicated Christian Louboutin area.
The “Red Shoes” evening will be staged at the Cabot Circus store tonight (Wednesday March 9), from 6.30pm-9.30pm.
Guests can walk the red carpet and discover the latest trends for shoes and handbags. Tickets cost £10 and include cocktails and canapés, Spring Summer 2011 presentations and a goodie bag. For tickets and further information, contact the store now on 0117 916 8888!
Gok’s Roadshow – Cabot Circus episode on 1st March
As many of you will know, Gok brought his Channel 4 production team to Bristol at the end of January to film an episode of his new series ’Gok’s Roadshow’ in Cabot Circus, where he took on stylist Brix Smith-Start in the high-street versus designer face-off on the catwalk.
The Bristol episode will be aired next Tuesday (1 March) and we can’t wait to see Cabot Circus on the small screen!
As part of the new series, Gok is doing his best to help Britain’s style-starved women and in Bristol he met three lovely ladies – all mental health workers.
Avid cyclers, Becky (32), Tors (33) and Sarah (37) had ditched fashion in favour of bike helmets and high-visibility jackets but all three received a glamorous makeover from Gok and we can’t wait to see them strut their stuff on the catwalk on Tuesday…
The thousands of you that turned up on that freezing Friday night when he filmed will already know who won – Gok or Brix – however the rest of you will just have the wait until Tuesday!
Until then, here’s a clip of Gok in action working his magic to transform a simple nude dress into a show-stopping evening dress…
http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/on-tv/goks-clothes-roadshow/series-1/goks-clothes-roadshow-sheer-look
Stuck for Valentine’s Ideas?
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Cabot Circus has plenty of inspiration for last minute plans and treats! From cards and gifts to romantic treats and meals for two, we’ve got it covered.
The newly opened Sanctuary Spa in Quakers Friars has an amazing range of treatments which we think will go down a treat with everyone! Purchase a 55 mintute treatment now and receive a Jessica Nail Polish and glass of champagne for free – valid until 26th February. http://www.thesanctuary.co.uk/spa-indulgence:-free-nail-polish-champagne-spa-offer.htm
Carluccio’s also has a great dining offer this Valentine’s Day – a special four-course set menu for £28 per person, including a glass of prosecco on arrival and coffee and chocolate hearts to finish, Yum! Further details here: http://www.cabotcircus.com/website/WhatsOn.aspx?currentSectionId=8aef98db-d22d-43fe-b323-52b19de6afda&mode=EatingOffers
Gift Ideas for her
Getting the right gift on Valentine’s day can sometimes be a little tricky. To help out, we’ve picked out a few items we think she’ll love this year.
Or how about treating yourself or your loved one to this limited edition doughnut from Krispy Kreme!
Wonder Jeans
Ladies – if you’re still worried about those post-Christmas pounds, for a quick fix solution try out a pair of Wonder Jeans which can help pull you in and lift in all the right places.
The bootilicious Wonder jeans from Salsa have been specifically designed to push up bums with their unique set of three lateral folds and rounded panel. This new concept in pattern and production instantly and naturally highlights the feminine posterior for a curvaceous and attention–grabbing look. The fabric has a great subtle stretch nature, giving you the perfect fit.
House of Fraser at Cabot Circus has the range in stock now – we love these Skinny Wonder Jeans at £95 per pair. Say hello to your new favourite jeans!
Gok’s Back!
Gok Wan loved Bristol so much in September he’s back – and this time he’s bringing his entire team with him! On Friday 28 January, we will be hosting Gok Wan’s Channel 4 programme, ‘Gok’s Roadshow’ at Cabot Circus.
As part of the new series, Gok is taking his catwalk show on the road in a bid to help Britain’s style-starved women. Gok will also take on fellow style expert and fashion foe, Brix Smith-Start, in the high street versus designer face-off. Models will be sent down the runway to show off different outfits chosen by Gok, championing the best of the high street, and by Brix, who favours exclusive designers, while members of the audience get to vote on their favourite.
Everyone is invited to this fashion first for Bristol – so don’t miss the catwalk finale outside of House of Fraser under the glass roof at 5pm on Friday 28 January.
January offers at Cabot Circus
According to experts, this week saw the most depressing day of the year – Blue Monday – when we’re all supposed to be feeling gloomy after the festivities of Christmas and New Year.
However there are plenty of amazing deals to be had at Cabot Circus at the moment that might just take some of the January misery away!
Harvey Nichols Restaurant is running its 2 for 1 dining offer again until 10 February – we’ve sampled this one ourselves and can testify to the yummyness. The promotions means that two people can enjoy a 3-course lunch or dinner for just £19.50.
Yo Sushi! is also offering 40% off all plates throughout January – download your voucher here: http://www.yosushi.com/offers/40-percent-off-jan-sale
On top of this, both Caluccio’s and Tampopo are offering 2 for 1 on main courses and Gourmet Burger Kitchen have a ’buy one get one for £1′ on main courses – visit the Cabot Circus website to download vouchers.
Finally, the Robin James Aveda Spa - located on the ground floor of House of Fraser - is offering 50% of all treatments throughout January. The perfect excuse to treat yourself to some post Christmas pampering!
All we want for Christmas
Christmas is nearly upon us – if you’re not ready yet don’t panic! Cabot Circus is open until 8pm tonight (Wed 22) 9pm tomorrow (Thurs 23) and until 6pm on Christmas eve.
Here’s some inspiration for last minute presents…
For her
Santa’s Selection
Time to Sparkle
The Christmas party season is almost here and if you’re anything like us, you’ll be searching for the perfect party dress this weekend! Here’s some festive fashion inspiration that will carry you through the party season in style…
Glitterati
We love this look from our new Christmas campaign – plenty of sequins and shimmer to get you into the party spirit.
Sequin skirt, £65, Topshop (level 1), Animal print top, £89, Reiss (Quakers Friars), Sequin shall, £35, Topshop (level 1), Bracelet, £45, Guess (level 1), Carvella shoes, £130, Kurt Geiger (Quakers Friars)
Wow Factor
Add a touch of va-va voom by stepping out in style with these show-stopping, glamorous heels. Guaranteed to glam up any festive outfit!
Christmas TV Ad Campaign
We are very excited about our brand new Cabot Circus Christmas TV ad! Keep a look out on ITV, or take a look at the link below. We’d love to know what you think of it.
