We’re now on the home straight, hurtling towards the summer holidays.  Hoping for long lazy days on Cornish beaches, sailing, surfing, Pimms and relaxing balmy evenings.  Well, we’re certainly hurtling towards the holidays but the reality will be Cornish beaches, in the rain, sailing, in the rain, surfing in the rain, Pimms, lots of it, under a brolly and long, long, evenings drying soaking wet kit and arguing about who’s cheating at Monopoly!  Just as we’re about to surrender and pack up a leaky tent, we’ll have two days of glorious sunshine, litres and litres of ice cream and we’ll all agree that it’s been the best camping holiday yet! Luckily I have all the survival equipment I need thanks to Dents. (And Cadburys!) Beach bags, sarongs, sun hats, rain hats, gloves and even a raincoat from our Factory Shop. The bags are great for the beach or for browsing around the local farmers market.  Tough but glamorous! In preparation for the latter I felt a short trip to London was required in order to indulge in another quintessential British pastime, Afternoon Tea at The Ritz. What a very lovely afternoon, gossiping, juggling ornate silver pots of tea, gulping peachy pink champagne (forget cloudy lemonade!), divine cakes and tiny sandwiches. I had a whole family to dress that day, dresses, killer heels and bags, bags, bags. Festooned with petals from head to toe. I’m ready for anything now!

Glastonbury fever, only 32 days to go… Oh, what to wear?

Did everyone know that we are only just down the road from Glastonbury? In fact many of you will come within half a mile of our factory shop – good news, as I for one cannot wait to start pulling together my festival look, and this season it’s all about the 70’s.

With bold patterns mixed with ditzy florals, retro shades, crochet tops and denim shorts, it all seems a bit of a mis-match, which is how I’m justifying throwing all my favourite pieces from the Dents collection together.

After much deliberation I have settled of this fab hat to cover my unruly hair…

teaming it with this cute little duffel handbag,  and with only four days to pay-day : ) …

I also have my eye on this little clutch. Naughty, I know, but with the legendary Paul Simon and U2 there, I feel like I should make the effort.

So, hey, the sun is out (well today anyway), and the heat is on, so I’m daring to bare in style.

Kelly -x-

If you are a fan of Instyle you may have spotted our fabulous nautical stripe bag in this month’s issue (June 2011). It sits alongside Paul Smith sunnies and Kurt Geiger shoes to re-create the Moschino SS2011 catwalk look, but we here at Dents think that it is so much more versatile… As anyone who even vaguely keeps up with fashion will have noticed, stripes are BIG this season. Whether they are wide or thin, horizontal or vertical, or even multicoloured or nautical, they are the one thing that is an absolute must for the fashion forward right now. If you work the Fendi look, or dream of Dior, then you will have no problems fitting this piece into your wardrobe. The more tailored cowboy & indian inspired looks of Hermes & Gucci also have a place for this with its chic tan trim. However, if you are more of a toned-down-classic Stella McCartney/Calvin Klein type or a girly Goddess like D&G, then you will probably be wondering if there is a place in your wardrobe for more pattern or detail… If so, then never fear, your Dents fashion guide is here!!

Dents multi coloured driving gloves 7-9041

We recommend these beautiful striped leather driving gloves, as featured recently on Gok’s Fashion Fix (available at Selfridges soon and our online shop now)… …and this handy metallic striped leather clutch bag which could double as an extra large purse – if you, like me, have far too much to fit into a regular sized one. It could be that perfect piece you’ve been looking for. Keep it inside your Nautical Tote during the day and simply drop your phone and lippy inside and you are ready to go in the evening. All in all, I know what I will be wearing this season, and you’ll be able to spot me sometime soon in Bath wearing my favourite stripe of the moment… Prizes for anyone who can pick me out of the crowd?!! Nautical bag available at stores nationwide this season… Also available in this lovely satchel shape, online too…

Yay! Finally we are emerging from the cold, dark winter months, into glorious Springtime! The daffodils are growing nicely in the garden, and the blossom is beginning to bud on my apple tree. Surely it’s time to update and rejuvenate my wardrobe with a little Spring colour?

So it is out with the black and grey, and in with the fabulous colour palettes for Spring! For us the three big trends have been:

Neutral Nudes and Toffee tones Bright blues of all shades – including sparkling turquoise Azure and deep Marine blue Sugared almond shades of Lavender and the palest of pinks

Looking thorough our online shop, I am tempted…

I adore the patent snakeskin Azure tote 20-1307 – so useful for work! But then the geometric laser cut out detail Nude tote of 20-1309 is equally fabulous.

My definite favourite is the studded clutch 20-1294. I so want this bag!

And I had made my mind up to buy the Nude… but I have just seen the dramatic Black version. Oh bother – maybe if I make a list (it may be quite extensive at this rate) then maybe I could have them all for my birthday!?!

And this is all before I have even had a chance to look at the leather handbags page!

Move away from the mouse Laura……

Laura x

 

So tell me, have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? I still have loads to do – Christmas really seems to have snuck up on me again this year (which is a really daft thing to say… because it’s the same date… every year)!  Must do better next year (there’s my New Year’s Resolution sorted)!

 It’s so difficult trying to find that great present that each person really wants to receive (and I have discovered that smellies* just don’t cut it anymore)!  Thankfully I have a little trick up my sleeve with the Dents online shop.  So, that’s the family sorted… phew! Take a look yourself and you’ll find all your stresses melting away.

 Now don’t forget it’s also the Christmas party season! A perfect excuse for every lady  (and gentleman) to purchase a new outfit (or two) for the festive season. Or you may be keeping withthe classic LBD from last winter.  In which case the easiest way to update it is with a new pair of shoes and a gorgeous bag. I have personally narrowed down your difficult decision to 3 fabulous options:

One – the cute and sparkly sequin number – surprisingly big enough for your all your party needs. It will still be sparkling long after midnight.

Two – the delightful rich jewel coloured taffeta clutch will brighten any party outfit and is roomy enough for all of the essentials.

Three – the stunningly cute, classy clutch in the winter 2010 fabric of choice – velvet. So rich and luxurious, you cannot fail to impress your companions with this little clutch.

Quickly now, hurry off to your nearest Dents stockist, before these all sell out!

Have a great Christmas,

Laura x

*For our overseas readers… this is a British alternative for bath oils and perfume: )

The items featured are available at Dents stockists everywhere…more casual handbag stylesare available at our online shop.

A flash of colour is surely the way to brighten these dull autumn days. And we have lots of colour in our autumn purses, with brand new motifs and crocodile prints.

The winter’s most popular handbag silhouette is the clutch. Whether it’s fancy or metallic evening style, or casual leather day style, you’ll want to get your hand on one… and we still have someclutch handbagsand other styles available at deep discounts…

From Laura, Design Department…

Well, I’m getting married in September and with less than 3 months to go the pressure is starting to build! As well as my huge list of things to finish (favours, table decorations etc) I am frantically trying to sort out my Mother’s outfit – it’s so stressful!!

All of the stores are heading into sale season and I can’t decide if I want her to wear bright Spring Summer or hold on and buy richer jewel coloured Autumn Winter!

Of course she has to wear a hat and beautiful gloves (that is all sorted – I work for Dents)! So I just need to find her a fabulous outfit to wear! I really love our metallic bag from our Autumn 2010 collection and last weekend’s shopping trip involved carrying this bag into every available store to find an outfit to suit! I am currently working on Spring 2011 and metallic is big news – it just goes to show, everyone still likes bit of sparkle!

The Pewter sparkle of the bag works really well with bold summer colours but it would also make a fabulous highlight against richer darker colours. Mum (of course ) wants a larger bag (to carry the kitchen sink?) but I think this bag is perfect for her.

So help me, do I swoop in quickly and buy Spring or hold my nerve and wait for the delights of the Autumn wardrobe?

Laura x

We are now getting ready for our media preview day to launch our new Spring Summer 2010 Collection – and what a collection it is; certainly our most exciting yet. It is full credit to our talented design team who have created some stunning new looks for next summer.

I love the colourful cut-out summer gloves, they are going to be huge; and the vibrant Caribbean and Talcum Powder shades bring a brand new freshness to next year’s summer accessories. Colours always fascinate me – how many shades of blue for instance can you get? Yet every year sees new shades that really are different – it seems the scope is endless.

One item I am going to see if I can obtain as soon as it becomes available next spring is the fuchsia coloured cheetah grab bag; animal prints are so strong and mixing them with such vivid colourways will make a real talking point. It is also the ideal day-to-evening bag for everyday use for work and trend setting fashion for trips out to dinner or the pub afterwards. Perfect.

There are so many exciting new designs in the 2010 Spring Summer Collection and I know we won’t have room to display them all for the media day in our London showroom. However, even if we keep the numbers down, it is still going to be one of our most dramatic launches for a new season. I know the journalists who are coming to see us will love it.

Sally