Take time out from shopping the January sales and treat yourself to a complimentary coffee…on us! Simply print out the above voucher and take it along to a Cafe Zest within any House of Fraser store and receive a complimentary hot drink with any other purchase.

Just something to say Happy New year!

Have a coffee on us! is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Something is happening at House of Fraser Oxford Street.  Men’s Formalwear has undergone a huge makeover, so step instore for a seriously luxe shopping experience in our brand new gentleman’s club inspired department. Staffed by exquisitely turned out Saville Row trained experts, finding the perfectly tailored suit is a breeze. Whether it’s off -the-peg or one-of-a-kind, for the office or for your wedding, we have just the ticket.

To celebrate the opening, House of Fraser Oxford Street is hosting an evening of shopping, drinks, goodie bags and a 20 per cent discount on formalwear for Telegraph readers on November 16. The Telegraph have 100 pairs of tickets to give away. For your chance to win a pair, enter before Friday November 11. Good luck!

Welcome to The Gentleman’s Club: Oxford St gets a Makeover is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Expert Reviewer: Tiffany, Our Assistant Merchandiser on Skincare

So summer might look to be over already with nothing but dreary weather on the horizon but Decleor have just launched a new range that will keep autumn and all the bad things it does to your skin at bay. Their new Life Radiance collection has not only Decleor’s beautiful floral scents but also some fantastic discoveries in skin radiance; it includes active ingredients that boost the skin’s natural defences to create immediate and long-lasting radiance, or so they say. So I’ve been asked to try it out and give my humble opinion…

I started with the Aromessence Neroli serum, the first thing that strikes you is the absolutely amazing smell, and it’s beautiful. If you have never had the pleasure of smelling Decleor’s Aromessence serums please go and try it, the only way I can describe it is as relaxation in a bottle. I warm 2 drops in my hands, take in a lovely scented deep breathe then lightly apply to my face. I trace a figure of 2 over my acupressure points from the inner corner of my eye, over my brows to the outer corners then down cheeks and finally down to my jawline. Once on the skin it absorbs quickly and the scent fades leaving me feeling calm with beautifully soft skin.

Next I use the new Double Radiance Cream which contains the newly discovered Saro Essential Oil and Plant Prebiotic which boost the natural defences of the skin to provide immediate but also long lasting radiance. The cream comes in 2 separate tubes holding the different active ingredients that you mix together yourself. I pump a small quantity of each into my hand, then warm and mix before smoothing onto my face. This product again smells fantastic and goes on lightly and absorbing quickly; a second wave of aromatic bliss to set me up for the day.

I use both the serum and the cream morning and night but I also used the Life Radiance Scrub every couple of days. It comes out clear with small granules in a gel like base. I apply it to dry skin and massage gently with my fingertips before rinsing with water. This is the single best smelling scrub I have ever used as well being light and gentle on my face. As you massage the scrub the gel absorbs into your skin and the granules gently exfoliate. My skin immediately felt soft and perfectly smooth.

So enough with the what and the how… the results: my skin feels amazing, absolutely gorgeous. It’s soft, supple, smooth and glowing, radiant in fact, to the extent that I’ve actually been complimented on how good it looks by friends and colleagues. The process of applying the serum and cream is so enjoyable with such lovely scents that it feels like a treat every morning and night. The scrub has a great smell and is so light; it has none of the harshness that i’ve experience with other products in the past. I have to say I’m honestly grateful that I got to try these products as I would not have thought of radiance as something that was a skin concern for me but having seen the difference I would never go back. I couldn’t recommend it enough. Find the collection here.

(What’s even better is that you can go to store for a treatment and the cost of the treatment is redeemable against products!)

Expert Review: Decleor Life Radiance is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

This weekend Benefit invites you to have your brows wowed!

Head to the Benefit counter at any of the participating HoF stores below and receive the ‘Benefit Signature Brow Arch’, it’s like an instant eyelift but without the surgery. Get your FREE brow wax when you purchase two or more products on the 18th and 19th June.

Participating stores are –

HOF Bluewater

HOF Lakeside

HOF Norwich

HOF Glasgow

HOF Manchester Kendals

HOF Dundrum

Find out what a difference a brow makes! Offer exclusive to House of Fraser Benefit brow bars, subject to availability.

Shop Benefit Cosmetics

Calling all benefit babes is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

On Friday, I made like a roving reporter and hit the UK’s biggest consumer event, the Ideal Home Show. Armed only with a camera, a bottle of water and my trusty iphone (essential for timely tweets!) – I battled the crowds to discover what’s hot and what’s not in the world of home interiors.

Here’s what I learned…

1. ‘Cool Britannia’ is cooler than ever

The trend for regal-inspired interiors has hit fever pitch – hardly surprising given the impending royal nuptials. I say any excuse to add a regal feel to one’s home (read: castle)

Jigsaw tudor throw, £155     Heraldry cushion, £69

2. Wooden accessories hit the mark

Adopt the Good Life ethos and carve your own home out of wood. Or, make like us and cheat a little…

Linea table mates, £9.60   Cookery book stand, was £24 now £19.20  Dexam lemon reamer, £3.50

3. Colourful shades are all the rage

Ethnic-inspired lights give an exotic feel to your home and put boring cream ones to shame!

House of Fraser ‘Tiffany’ lamp, £85

4. Crafty is most definitely cool

From re-vamping old furniture with PVA and old wallpaper, to making over old antique lamp shades, TVs Linda Barker was on hand to argue the virtues of crafty-time. Here are my favourite craft-inspired pieces…

Gisela Grahame: ‘folk hen’ wall hooks, £10 and wooden heart frames, £10 Linea: love blocks, £9.60

5.  Fabulous florals are here to stay

Nothing yells summer like the smell of freshly cut grass and a garden full of roses – sigh. Here’s a choice pick of the flower bed…

Linea: ‘Libby’ bed linen, from £9.60 ‘Clover’ dining set, from £5 Cath Kidston: rose bed linen from £14

6.  Ken Barlow sure gets around…

OK, this isn’t strictly home interiors, but I couldn’t resist a sneaky peek inside the Rovers Return pub exhibit at the show. And who should I find inside but one Ken Barlow. Make mine a pint of bitter and a packet of crisps please Ken!

6 Things we learned from the Ideal Homes Show is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

It seems that this year, design sisters Susan Collier and Sarah Campbell have much to celebrate. Not only does 2011 mark their 50^th year as textile designers – it also sees the launch of an exclusive new interiors collection for Linea at House of Fraser.

Last week, we caught up with the award-winning duo to talk design inspiration, working for Yves Saint Laurent and just what they get up to when they’re not elbows deep in paint….

How would you describe your Linea by Collier Campbell collection?

It’s vibrant, inspiring, confident and fun.  The four designs are classic, simple, charming and contemporary – lovely to live with.

Do you think there’s a typical Collier Campbell customer?

Our typical customer celebrates colour and pattern, is creative and has their own “point of view”. They transcend age, fashion and the norm – and they expect the unexpected.

You’re famed for your vivid floral prints – do you both have a favourite flower and if so, what is it?

So many favourites – English marigolds, deep red & orange nasturtiums, little Mexican daisies, morning glories, foxgloves and soft blue geraniums, deep pink lychnis and glorious eremurus to name a few.

How did you both get into designing?

Having worked for Pat Albeck and Peter Rice as a girl Friday, Susan married and pursued the idea of “painting for textiles” as her career – starting with scarves for Robert Allen and Jaqmar and on from there – Sarah came to help in the school holidays …

Do you think the fact you’re sisters helps or hinders your designing?

It’s worked well for the last 50 years!

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would you choose to be?

Susan – in my garden surrounded by good friends and family.

Sarah – here and now.

Do you have any tips for anyone looking to brighten up their home this spring?

Clean the windows and let the sun shine in!

You’re celebrating your 50^th year of designing, what have been your career highlights so far?

There have been so many …. being the first and only designers of printed textile to win the coveted Duke of Edinburgh’s designer prize, and the first women too in 1984. And as always with design – the best is yet to come:

We’re looking forward to our new Linea range for House of Fraser launching, as well as the re-launch of our own Collier Campbell brand this spring. In May, we’ll have our own exhibition at the National Theatre and will be launching a new decorative fabric collection …

What inspires your design now and what inspired it when you first started designing in the ‘70s?

Everything from ants to zebras, atoms to the zeitgeist.

In your Linea by CC collection, you’ve designed beautiful tea sets – describe your perfect tea party.

The Mad Hatters! With wonderful rich fruit cake and sharp cheddar cheese …

You famously worked for Yves Saint Laurent – how did you find it?

In the early ’70s one of our Liberty of London silk dress designs caught his eye … he wanted a range built round it, we had the most joyous time painting the sketches, singing and dancing, and the results were the two prints used in his first off-the-peg Gypsy Collection – we loved it.

When you’re not busy designing, what do you both like to do in your downtime?

Downtime? Now there’s an idea! We’d laugh, paint, walk, talk, cook, read, play, dig the garden, see the children & while the sun shines – make hay!

IN THE HOT SEAT: SUSAN COLLIER & SARAH CAMPBELL is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Sometimes things just make sense. Deep pile rugs on polished wooden floor boards, antique drinks cabinets aboard your private yacht (yuh-huh)  – and the launch of a smart new interiors collection that puts the ‘slick’ in city living.

With the latter in mind, we’re all bouncing with excitement…

Kenneth Cole (New York über brand) has not only redefined Manhattan style and influenced the wardrobes of thousands of men and women in the UK and stateside – it’s on the cusp of doing the same for our homes.

An interiors collection that can inject our homes with loft-style city chic is food for the urban soul – and the fact it’s launching just in time for our annual spring clean bodes well…

The collection’s strength is its minimal streamlined furniture and predominantly monochrome colour palette with highlights of bright red (this season’s must-use highlight colour) to make your room ‘pop’.

Gorgeous, minimalist white dining sets are given a painterly feel with bright ‘brush strokes’, while statement retro red lamps lighten up moody corners and off-set dark wood finishes.

Last Thursday we opened the doors at HOF towers to give the interiors press a sneak preview of the collection in its entirety – and not wanting our lovely blog readers to miss out, we thought we’d share a few pics with you too…

The collection will be launching in stores and online at the beginning of March, so we promise you don’t have long to wait!

Be excited, be very excited…

Psssst: Kenneth Cole interiors collection – coming soon is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

From ‘Property Princess’ to ‘Queen of Christmas’ in the last 10 years, she’s endeared herself to the nation with her bubbly personality, penchant for all things homely and her brilliant on-screen chemistry with the lovely Phil Spencer.

Add to her busy TV schedule, a husband, two young sons (Bay and Oscar), two stepsons aged 8 and 11, a house in London and a pad in Devon (pause for breath) and you’d be forgiven for thinking she might have enough on her plate…

But oh no. In between the shoots, the family and the chaos, Kirstie has designed her very own bed linen collection and it’s really rather gorgeous.

I met up with Kirstie last Friday in our Westfield store to talk bed linen, Christmas preparations and the wonderful world of Kirstie.

What can people expect from the new collection?

Appealing designs with a gorgeous vintage feel. It’s my bed linen range, so you’re not going to get day-glow spots! It’s all totally true to me and what I like.

Which is your favourite design?

‘Miranda’ was always my favourite, although recently I’ve developed a sneaking fondness for ‘Lydia’ as it combines traditional patchwork with a very fresh floral. If I’m honest I change my mind about my favourites quite often!

Miranda (left) and Lydia – Kirstie’s current favourites

In your latest series you’ve shown yourself to be quite the Christmas angel, would you take on Nigella for the ‘Queen of Christmas’ crown?

No. The thing about Nigella is she’s a very talented, brilliant cook and that’s what she does. In some of the shows we’ve done, I’ve cooked and baked, but everything I do is always overseen by an expert who guides me.

What’s your favourite ‘make do and mend’ tip?

I think you can freshen up your old clothes enormously by swapping old buttons for bright new ones. That’s my personal little thing. I’m also a terrible ribbon hoarder – ribbon is hugely powerful, so make sure you save all your old bits of ribbon and keep a safe stash somewhere in the house.

What’s a typical Christmas day like for you?

I always used to spend Christmas with mum and dad; but last year, and this year, I’ll be spending it with my in-laws. This year we’ll be having

ham, goose and parsley sauce. It’s a joint effort in the kitchen, but I’ll do the apple sauce for the ham and all the decorations. I’ve already got the crackers and I’m doing a blue, red and white theme for the table. The main focus is always around the kid’s stockings though really – that’s the cause for most of the excitement!

So you’re a big fan of Christmas?

Yes. It’s a day when the telephone won’t ring, when you don’t check your emails and when you’re just wholly with your family. I absolutely love it!

And do you spend the afternoon relaxing in front of the TV like every other family?

Yes, in fact last year Ben (her partner) gave my 81 year old father-in-law the film Bruno, which I couldn’t believe! We watched it on Christmas Day and laughed all afternoon!

What’s the best Christmas present you’ve ever had?

I think this (showing me a stunning gold bracelet watch) from Ben (Kirstie’s husband). He gave me this on Christmas Day a couple of years ago and I think it’s beautiful. He always spoils me with gorgeous jewellery that he buys from the auction rooms in Devon. He’s really good at picking pieces out for me during the year and then hoarding them away until a special occasion.

Do you and Phil buy each other Christmas presents?

Yes, quite often I’ve got him scarves, but I can’t tell you what I’ve got him this year in case he reads this. I can tell you that it’s his birthday tomorrow and I’m getting him swimming trunks.

Swimming trunks…really?

Yes, we’ve been doing this travel show and his trunks are a bit…well (pulling a disapproving face)…so I’m going to get him a really posh pair.

If you could buy a house for anyone in the world, who would it be?

That’s really hard! It would have to be someone in the UK because I’d never do it somewhere I didn’t know.

How about Kate and Wills?

No, I think he knows what he wants and wouldn’t be led very easily. Ummm I’m taking this question way too seriously. How about Cheryl Cole? Yes, that’s good – I’ll help Cheryl Cole find a new home.

Who’s the most famous person in your phonebook?

God!

You’ve got god?

No, not god! It’s hard to define fame really. How about Richard Curtis and Davina Maccall?

And finally…there’s a certain Fraser Bear I brought with me – will you oblige him with a cuddle?

Of course – ahhh he’s very cute, can I take him home?

So there you have it. Our TV heroine really is as down-to-earth and lovely in the flesh as she is on screen. In our eyes she really is the undisputed Queen of Christmas. You can find her gorgeous new collection in our stores or online here

PS. Fraser Bear would like to inform you that he’s now happily residing at Kirstie’s and won’t be returning to the office any time soon. Should you wish to adopt one of his cousins, however, you can find them here.

Meet Kirstie Allsopp: the new Queen of Christmas is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

This week we’re giving away so many amazing goodies just for you! All this week we will be giving out prizes for you to win, and all you have to do is engage your Twitter and Facebook.

Prepare yourselves for the incredible prize list… up for grabs are:

1 Rugger by Gant bike

5 Aftershock dresses (pictured above)

5 Vita Liberata in store spray tans

10 £25 House of Fraser gift cards

10 CoverFX Primers

10 Lab Series Skin Revitalisers

10 Gentry Grooming shave oil and face wash combos

10 pairs of tickets to the Sue Timney exhibition

See we told you it was good. To be in with a chance all you have to do is…

To enter on Facebook, you need to Like Us and update your status to I’m a @House of Fraser fan and all I want for Christmas is xxxx then enter the name of the prize you want to win (e.g. I’m a @House of Fraser fan and all I want for Christmas is a CoverFX primer).

Click here to go to our Facebook page

To enter on Twitter, you need to follow us and then tweet All I want for Christmas is to win a @hotathof XXXX then enter the name of the prize you want to win (e.g. All I want for Christmas is to win @hotathof a CoverFX Primer).

Click here to go to our Twitter page

It really is that easy, and if you want to increase your chances of winning (and let’s be honest who doesn’t?!) then you can enter via Facebook and Twitter.

So what are you waiting for? Get Following-Tweeting, Liking-Status updating and win lots of lovely goodies.

Good Luck!

For more details and terms and conditions click here

Christmas has come early… Amazing prizes to be won is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

To say thank you to all our lovely blog readers we want to give you a fabulous 20% off this weekend. There is 20% off a wide range of selected brands in Women, Men and Home, plus 10% off beauty, electricals and furniture.

You can use the discount from today for four days… that should make Christmas shopping a little easier on the purse strings.

To receive your discount just enter FRIENDS10 in the promotional box at the checkout, alternatively click here to download a PDF voucher which you can use in store.

For more details on the offer click here

Click here to start shopping

Click here for your voucher

Happy shopping!

20% off for all our lovely House of Fraser blog readers is a post from: House of Fraser Blog