New York and London - two fabulous cities

Good morning all,

Apologies for not writing sooner; I have been away on honeymoon for a week in the Big Apple - and what fun it was! Plenty of sightseeing, shopping and general New-Yorking. One of my favourite areas was that of the Meatpacking, merging with Greenwich Village - so funky and uber stylish; far away from the hustle and bustle of Time Square. And the shops....wow. Well, I had a magnet to Louboutin and fell in love with Theory and some of Helmut Lang's new AW11 pieces (some of which you can get at the fabulous net-a-porter.com. His asymetric styles are just so flattering (and go perfectly with BoBelle's gorgeous new Brackenbury and Chiswick bags). These Smoking pants below, classic blazer and Brackenbury Satchel look so perfect together - and so wearable for the new season:

The choice in the States is vast and most flock to the department stores for inspiration. My advice? Head out of town and wander around the small boutiques soaking in the new trends, colours and styles. It is far nicer and less stressful, I found! Plus, there are no queues for the changing rooms and the assistants can help you pick the perfect outfit. Then there is the bonus of sauntering along and finding a bar and enjoying a much-needed cocktail and a sit down. Marvellous.

I have to say though, writing this blog now with the sun shining in the office in West London and a proper cuppa to hand, I do wholeheartedly love London - it is full of endless possibilities, excitement and above all, BoBelle! What is your favourite spot in London? Mine has to be St Paul's - its sheer domination, size and history makes it the most interesting spot for me.

Enjoy the sun, fellow readers!

Claire

LFW (en route via M&M's world....)

Having had a fabulous newtworking lunch with those wonderful ladies from Kleinwort Benson, I thought I would stroll the 2 and a something miles through Mayfair and central London to view some of the collections at LFW. It was a glorious day and whilst ambling through the crowds at Regent Street down to Piccadilly and beyond, what do I stumble across but the biggest M&M's shop ever - in fact its proper name is 'M&S's World'. Wow. I used to love M&M's as a child! Just in case you hadn't seen this chocolate haven, have a peek here:

Isn't it amazing what a brand can do? The layout was oh-so-clever as you had to go downstairs to get to where the actual sweets are, thus having to walk through the cushions, mugs and toys in order to get there (increasing your chances of buying something on the way). Not to mention passing the lady at the front who asks if you'd like a basket. Really, very clever layout.

Having satisfied my chocolate fix without actually purchasing any (I may be a fan of business and strategies, but paying over £2.00 for 100g of M&M's is just robbery! As if they advertised the price anyhow, that was only divulged when you got to the till and realise your child has totted up a £20 bag of chocolate...) Anyway, I was off to LFW to enjoy the exhibitions and to enjoy a cheeky cocktail or two with a friend of mine (who is so lucky as not only does she go to the Burberry and Mulberry shows, she also received a personal invite from Erdem. I was not jealous....obviously).

The day was stunning with bright blue skies and wonderful, wonderful fashion:

I haven't yet been to New York fashion week, so I cannot really comment, but all I can say is 'wow' to the setting for LFW - where else is simply more breath takingly eye catching than Somerset House? Truly stunning. BoBelle London has some gorgeous new accessories launching for the Christmas period and our new website (launched NOW!) is set to be a real winner with you all, I think.....Fashion is very important to us Brits and I hope my London label is loved by you all for its sleek and classic designs, amazing quality finishing and subtle branding. The economy might be a little wobbly right now, but invest in all things long-lasting, such as those accessories from BoBelle London, and you will thank yourself in years to come. Great Britain has to nurture new businesses and designers to help push through this tough time - LFW is so monumental and deserves all of the fabulous attention it gets. Long let it reign.

Royal Wedding fever!

The anticipation on who was designing The Dress left all us fashion folk in a slight sweat. Turns out the fabulous Sarah Burton designed the stunning dress, and what a beautiful piece it was. Hand made (of course) using the finest silks, lace and other British-sourced materials. The Victorian-esque corset, flowing veil and elegant long laced arms made the stunning Kate Middleton look even more beautiful; a real Princess.

The whole of Britain was in the party mood on this glorious celebratory day. Street parties dominated, and not just any old street party would do. Everything had a wonderful patriotic feel to it - a much needed boost for our flagging self-esteem. Bunting, sausage rolls, Pimm's and the classic Victoria sandwich cake ruled our streets; and everyone was invited. I think the one of the biggest streets to join the festivities was the shopping destination in London; Regent Street.

The newly-weds drove to Clarence House in style after their nuptials in the grand Westminster Abbey (it was very hard not to expand here on some of the stylish and then outright bizarre outfits sported by our finest guests!) and today are on their honeymoon - we at BoBelle London wish them all the best.

Small Business is Big Business event with Boris Johnson and Tim Campbell

Having found the invitation via Twitter (can you believe that is how we network sometimes now?!) I thought it would be thoroughly enjoyable to attend the Q&A that was being held in St Paul's with the Mayor himself and a selection of panelists to discuss the ramifications of the credit crunch on small businesses.

After a small introduction of each panelist, the questions came flooding in from the audience. Electric vehicles, the banks, scope for growth, social enterprises and more (as well as the CC) were discussed. About 500 people attended the event; I had hoped for a little more banter on small businesses in particular, and even micro businesses. The issue of funding is still major and often a real hindrance for some reaching their goals. I have to say, the room was packed with energy, vibrancy and entrepreneurial flair. I was honoured to be a part of it and as soon as I could, ran down to speak to the panelists myself.

I have actually met Boris Johnson before in Oxford prior to him becoming Mayor. I find him hilarious; incredibly articulate, bright and charasmatic. Tim Campbell was inviting, passionate and energetic. He was really pioneering social enterprise and helps a lot of underprivaliged children focus on their skills and building certain attributes. Sue Terpilowski is from the Federation of Small Businesses, of which I and BoBelle are members. The FSB exists to bridge the gap between businesses and the government. If ever you have an issue with something, you can call the FSB. If ever you need advice on insurance, HR queries or networking, you can call the FSB. They really are fantastic and a great asset to have. Colin Stanbridge, as well as being noted for working at the BBC for as long as I can remember, is part of the Chamber of Commerce. He again was incredibly articulate and found him to be light-hearted and gentle, too.

I wanted to question Boris, Sue et al issues on finance, how London is helping businesses grow, what incentives there might be for micro companies and how they think England will get out of this recession. Of course, not all of my questions were answered! I do however have all contact details so will find out more and let you know.

I am really looking forward to the next event; I hope it is longer next time. It is a great way to boost one's confidence; there is nothing more exhilierationg and exciting than meeting budding business men and women who are all in the same position and who all have one thing on their mind; growth.

Let's see how BoBelle London will carry on growing, shall we?

Pictured above are the programme and the panel of judges, with Boris standing

BoBelle London's new boutique and expansion

Dear all,

I just wanted to keep you updated on the progress of BoBelle London. Having re-designed the website and updated all of the images care of Amanda Maddox and Bloomhost (http://www.amandamaddox.com/ and http://www.bloomhost.net/), BoBelle London has never looked better!

We have been working incredibly hard and we are really starting to see the results! Over 50 boutiques are stocking BoBelle and we are also in talks with two massive brands to expand BoBelle London and really publicise ethical fashion!

We have some great stockists around the country including Cologne and Cotton in Leamington Spa, London and Bath, Badger in Brighton, Yates Buchanan in Notting Hill and Vanilla in Oxford, but to name a few. Furthermore, one of our favourites is http://www.ellageorgiajewellery.co.uk/ - a fabulous online boutique and store in Boroughbridge in Yorkshire. The founder, Sian Foster, has some beautiful bits and pieces including jewellery, accessories, great stocking fillers, fashion and more. Please do look at her site as it is a real find.

See below some of our latest images from Marie Claire and Fashion Conscience. We also are taking pre-orders for Christmas, so if you want something reserved, please do email sales@bobelle.co.uk straight away!

Lastly, how has the postal strike affected you? We have had to send everything Special Delivery which has been fortunately reliable, albeit expensive! We also have a courier service which we will be using for Christmas especially!

Please do email or message me with feedback as I would love to hear from you!

Best wishes

Claire

http://www.bobelle.co.uk/

Seen here is the Deep Purple Handbag and matching Gaia Purse. This gorgeous handbag is so incredibly soft and strong. Hand made under fair trade conditions this BoBelle London handbag in Deep Purple has fashion written all over it. Did I mention our deep red signature lining? Snap up yours now!

Click HERE to buy and read more about the Hemera Handbag from BoBelle London.

Perfect for Christmas this Ravishing Red Theia Clutch and matching Aphrodite Wallet is certain to add a statement to your LBD. Turn heads and stand out from the crowd with BoBelle London.
See and buy the Theia Clutch Bag in Ravishing Red HERE
See and buy the Aphrodite Leather Wallet Click HERE

What about a little unique stocking filler? Try the Hestia Keyring from BoBelle London; this is a sure way to bring a smile to a loved ones face!

These Hestia Keyrings sell so well at BoBelle London. Brighten up an everyday staple - and always have change on you! The little purse opens up and is fabulous for keeping pound coins safe for emergency car-parking, chocolate or cocktail!
See the full range and buy HERE

Please do keep an eye out on BoBelle London and do let me know what you think as feedback is so important to us!

Many thanks

Claire
http://www.bobelle.co.uk/