It’s our favourite time of year, our 2 Day Brand Event is here! We asked House of Fraser staff what they had their eye and here’s what they said…

Biba Faux Fur Sheepskin Coat was £225 now £135

‘I’m definitely treating myself to this cozy number, I’ve had my eye on it for ages and now the temperatures dropped, as well as the price, it’s the perfect excuse!’

Gant Lambswool Jumper was £80 now £70

‘I am going to be buying my dad this Gant V-neck jumper, he has about 3 already but has requested another in a different colour, they are his fave!’

Wolford Tights was £21 now £16.80

‘As with every event, I try to re-stock my tights collection before they get mid-winter bobbly-ness. Buying Wolford tights feels decadent, but when they’re such good quality and 20% off, I can’t resist.’

Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Collection was £52 now £46.80

‘I’m a big fan of Bobbi Brown’s make-up, as are some of my best friends. I’m buying this for one of them this year (it’s also on my Christmas wish list – hint hint santa!).’

Toshiba 22DL833 LED TV/DVD Combi was £279.99 now £229.99

‘I have just moved in to my dream home and this is the perfect reason to nab this TV, it’s such an amazing offer I don’t have any excuse not to!’

Cath Kidston bath robes from £22.40 – £26.40
‘This is a lovely fun bathrobe for little ones, absolutely love the prints and sizings great so will keep them cozy for years to come!’

Linea merino wool jumper was £50 now £30

‘My boyfriend has these in every colour as it’s a 100% merino wool jumper for just £30. Effortless daily outfit for work with a shirt underneath and smart trousers, perfect! And here’s a tip, it says hand wash but so far they have survived on a 30 degree wash – even better!’

Bare Minerals Get Started Light Kit was £48 now £43.20

‘I’m getting every female friend and family member this as it is includes the best foundation within an amazing value pack. Top quality brushes x 3, 2 shades of foundation [one for pasty winter one for ‘with a tan’ summer, concealer, bronzer, finishing powder and a DVD to show you how little you actually need to use! We have all bought Medium as we are all have ‘not too pasty’ skin – it includes the medium beige and medium foundations which when I was testing the colours in store most people were being offered!’

What have you got your eye on in the months 2 Day Brand Event?

**2 Day Brand Event ** What’s in your basket? is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

The Great British summer is not something you can tame. It goes from scorching hot heat waves to wet, windy in the blink of an eye – which makes planning a traditional picnic more than a little problematic.

But have you ever considered one indoors?

It may sound odd but let’s face it, quirky is cool! So when the British weather hands you a lemon start making lemonade…and drink it indoors! Invite friends, family or make it a date between you and that special someone.

Here are my top tips for holding an indoors picnic!

1. Find a room big enough!

For a lot of homes, this will be the living room or dining room. Clear a central space in the room, moving all chairs, tables etc to the sides of the room. Ideally you’ll want this room to be filled with as much natural light and views of outside as possible so open those curtains and open the window (if it’s not raining or course).

2. Lay down your ‘grass’

Use a traditional picnic blanket or car rug for a classic look – or you could opt for a contemporary style and use a throw. Whatever works for you – it’s your indoor picnic after all!

3. Recall the sounds of summer

Add a little ambience with some relaxing background music? Opt for natural bird song or the sound of a bubbling stream (for hippy chic) or channel your inner festival goer with a summer album of choice.

4. Add vegetation

If you have house plants or vases of flowers bring them into your picnic space, for a natural feel.

5. Get comfy

As your floor will undoubtedly be harder than a patch of grass, it’s best to get some cushions or pillows to sit on. Scatter these around the edges of your picnic rug.

6. Bring out your best china

The great thing about having an indoor picnic is that you don’t have to compromise on china. Feel free to use your favourite plates and cutlery and glasses, or if you’d rather opt for an authentic picnic feel, use classic paper plates and plastic cups – the choice is yours.

7. Unveil the star attraction!

Prepare your picnic food before laying out your rug, cushions etc as you would on a normal picnic – so it’s all ready for the big reveal! I recommend classics like sandwiches and cupcakes with lashings of ginger beer – or if you love a BBQ, grill up hamburgers and sausages with rolls and all the cheese, relish and barbeque sauce trimmings.

Relax with card games, board games or even charades.

Sun? What sun?!

Check out some product ideas below that’d be great for your indoor picnic.

Indoor Picnics: a wet summer alternative is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

The floral trend has reached fever pitch – and with bold bright florals now adorning my bed linen, table linen, mugs, plates and even notebook – my flat looks like its lost a fight with an English country garden. And that’s exactly the look I’m going for!

If you’ve not dipped your toe into this fresh summer trend, then one of the easiest ways you can do is by starting with your bedroom. Bold bed linen forms an easy base for your look and means that you don’t need to fork out on new furniture or paint work. Just find a style that suits your current scheme and there’ll be no stopping you.

Here are my top 3 tips to blooming success:

Linea, 'Ren' bed linen, was from £12 now from £9.60

1. Use Bright Blooms  This season, large prints in bright shades are everywhere and really work well in a modern home like mine. To make the most of this print, keep your base furniture, walls and flooring plain and use a few choice accessories to lift the look – brightly coloured cushions and vases in zesty shades are just the ticket.

Cath Kidston, 'Rose' blue bed linen, from £14

2. Repeat the pattern across accessories/wallpaper/your rooms  Country house florals are everywhere and one of the best ways to make this look work is by repeating the pattern on accessories. This gorgeous Cath Kidston rose bed linen can be bought with a matching dressing gown that completes the floral fantasy with a flourish! Sanderson also do great matching wall paper and curtains as does the Linea clover collection. Just add real roses and rose scented candles to complete the look (Cornish cottage with to-die-for views and hunky surfer neighbour: optional).

Pied a Terre, 'Devine' bed linen, was from £15 now from £12

3. Choose an accent shade  Look carefully at your print to find a secondary shade which will work as an accent on accessories. This Pied a Terre bed linen works perfectly with this season’s hottest accent shades of zesty lime and deep purple. Once you’ve decided on your shades, accessorise your room with statement cushions, throws and vases.

Flower Power: how to decorate your bedroom with florals is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

As I wandered around Chelsea Flower Show last week, trying to justify spending an obscene amount of money on a single glass of Pimms, I found myself becoming increasingly captivated by the colours and vibrancy of the flowers. And whilst everyone else around me was planning their garden makeovers, I was concentrating firmly on my wardrobe. What if you blended bold orange with hints of lavender? As the Monaco garden did so brilliantly.  Yes, the Chelsea Flower Show is a hotbed of style inspiration, from the angular shapes of the Bird of Paradise, to the softness and delicacy of the peony. Here are my favourite dresses to wear in the most stylish of gardens:

Sizzling tropics

Be inspired by tropical flowers, in this summer’s hottes shade; zingy orange. Touches of bold green might sound scary but actually look amazing. Pair these dresses with lightly tanned bare legs and a pair of flat sandals for an exotic summer look.

Eclectic arrangements

This breathtaking tree at Chelsea, was definitely one of the highlights for me, the fantasy element of the flowers interwoven with the branches of the tree really was quite magical. This is a perfect starting point for a gorgeous summer dress, opt for fantastical shades, and vibrant prints, these two dresses would be perfect for a summer wedding or garden party.

Magical meadows

Wild flowers were in abundance at Chelsea, and this got me thinking… the Stepford Wives had the best style… those ’50s prom dresses with fabulous floral prints. When I found these gorgeous dresses from Oasis, I nearly fell over with excitement. This shape flatters everyone, and looks amazing paired with peep toe heels and a pair of cat-eye sunnies.

Country gardens

For those of you who like your garden and style a little more traditional, these stunning floral shift dresses are a must. They are perfect for wearing to work or for play, and can easily be dressed up with a pair of heels and tailored jacket, or dressed down with sandals and raffia bag.

Oriental florals

A key trend for gardens and catwalks alike was the Orient. In the gardening world this was all about pagodas, water features and dramatic planting, for fashion Oriental means statement prints, rich shades and feminine shapes. If you want a floral dress that isn’t too cutesy or overly girly, then these two are for you.

Style inspiration: Chelsea Flower Show is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

With summer on the horizon it’s time to get that summer wardrobe marked for ‘best’ ship, shape and stylish. Whether it’s a summer wedding, garden party, day at the races or just a barbeque in the garden with friends, our Event Dressing guide is all you need to ensure you’ll be no shrinking violet at this seasons main events.

Summer Wedding

Whether you’re the bride or a guest, the summer wedding is the ultimate excuse to harness your bohemian side. Summer weddings for a bride–to-be means easy, floaty and comfortable, anything to elevate you to Grecian goddess status is a massive thumbs up. For the guests, use this as an opportunity to experiment with colour, print and shape. The maxi dress is a great wedding wardrobe addition that will keep you cool and chic come rain or shine. Want to add an edge to your outfit? Follow in the footsteps of Tara, Beatrice et al. and stand out from the crowd with an elegant fascinator.

Garden Party

There’s only one style rule that needs to be abided by for the summer garden party and that’s COLOUR. Go girly with pretty tea dresses and embrace prints in all manner of ways through the full skirted prom dress. Wedges are a great option over heels in order to avoid involuntary games of stuck in the mud.

Shop our Event Dressing collection

THE MAIN EVENT is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

My good friend Luke and I always take pride in our dress, grooming and general presentation.

Luke tends to go for a modernist take on classic tailoring whilst I channel 1950s/1960s vintage style.

So imagine our surprise when we came into work wearing matching outfits!

We couldn’t stop laughing and neither could a few of our fellow ‘Hoffers’. We looked like members of some sort of selective club. If it was anyone else it could have been a bit embarrassing but, because it was the well turned out Luke, it was actually good fun.

And in all honesty, this wasn’t the first time it’s happened. At our work Christmas party, we both wore velvet jackets and bow ties – Luke’s was red and wore his dickie bow casually draped around his neck, while I played it safe with mine neatly fastened and teamed with a vintage 1970′s blue jacket.

I guess Luke and I have an instinctive eye for style, so we’re bound to ride the same wave of fashion from time to time.

Yesterday can only be called something of a confidence day. Wednesdays are quite busy for me and I also had a friend’s birthday drinks to go to after work so some sort of effort was required. Red is a colour that demands confidence so it was an obvious choice.

I went for a mod inspired white and blue gingham check shirt with a button down collar and a lovely Linea merino garnet red v-neck jumper.

Luke was also wearing a gingham check shirt with button down collars and a rather smashing burgundy retro cable knit cardigan with pockets.

I think Luke thought along the same lines that the red knitwear complimented the red of the check shirts and I must say it certainly did.

If you fancy joining our gang have a look at some shirts and knitwear that fit perfectly into our look:

Checkmate: Game, set, match for the gents of eCommerce 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

Its gorgeous delicate print evokes just the kind of coastal nostalgia we should all indulge in at this time of the year…I’m thinking cream teas with clotted Cornish cream and homemade jam slathered over warm freshly-made scones…

I’m eating them whilst sitting in my cottage garden amongst the roses. The bees are buzzing, the birds are singing and the sea is gently ssshing in the background…

And then the phone goes. And I’m back in the office.

Outside the window it’s cold, it’s grey and it’s unmistakably London.

Still, we can all dream eh?

Click here to start your day dream…

Dreaming of…cream teas by the sea is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

The date’s been confirmed, the venue’s been booked and we’re all putting our names down for a night of raucous drinking and dancing.

Yes dear reader, ‘tis the season of the ‘Christmas work do’. And, the question on everyone’s lips right now is, ‘are you dressing up?’ My response has so far been a rather vague ‘sort of’, because deciding what to wear for the occasion can be a bit of a minefield. ‘Is that too dressy?’ ‘Is this too casual?’ ‘Why bother?’ are the thoughts that inevitably circulate in your mind. So, before you make your decision, make like Julie Andrews in the ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘start from the very beginning, a very good place to start’…with the location.

Obviously the location of your staff party can act as a helpful aid in directing you to sartorial success. If your party is held in an upmarket bar or club, then wear something you’d normally wear on a Saturday night out. However, if it’s in a pub or bowling alley, you’re fine to go in jeans and a casual top.

 Timing is also key. If you’re going straight from the office to the venue, then you have two options:

 1) Wear your outfit during the day and go straight to the party

  or (and this is my preferred option)

 2) Bring a change of clothes and do a quick Clark Kent in the cubicle of your office loos.

I personally think that you can’t fail with the tried and tested smart casual look, so go for classic smart jeans and a tailored shirt. If you want to make a night out of it, then you could opt for tailored trousers – but remember – if it’s cold, then it’s a good idea to add a smartly tailored jacket to keep you warm and add a touch of sophistication.

Avoid ties or bow ties unless your ‘do’ is formal but do inject a bit of personality into what you wear by adding a colourful pocket square or some jazzy cufflinks. Finish off your outfit with some smartly polished shoes and you’re all set to look cool for yule!

So, is it all worth it? 

In my mind, yes. Going the extra distance and consciously making a bit of an effort with your outfit can only be a positive thing. Not only will you look and feel good, but you’re bound to receive positive comments from your colleagues and maybe even that much sought after nod of approval from your boss. (Mine will be reading this, so fingers crossed!)

I can’t promise that donning your new designer shirt will give your boss cause to give you that pay rise/promotion/pat on the shoulder you’ve been angling for, but it can’t hurt, right?

Here are a selection of my favourite potential work Christmas party outfits:

Explained: Office Party Style is a post from: House of Fraser Blog

Yes gents it’s that time of the week you’ve all been waiting for.

Enter The Famous Friday Shirt.

This week following on from the heritage country inspired trend that is so hot right now I thought this pigeon repeated print shirt.  On a cool blue base these fine feathered friends add a truly British country style with a modern quirky edge that is sure to get positive comments from friends and new admirers alike.

And as always, if you’re an early bird and order your shirt by 3pm today you’ll get it delivered tomorrow. Well in time for your Friday or Saturday night out.  Get it now…

The Famous Friday Shirt…The early bird catches the shirt is a post from: House of Fraser Blog