Kelly comes out on top! 

“If you could look like anyone in the world, who would you choose?”  This is a common theme of chit chat in our shop…. from the stylist team to the customers!  That’s why there were a few knowing glances last month when Kelly Brook strolled in to browse our new summer stock. 

What is it about Kelly?  Well, she is a real woman.  She has all the curves in the right places mixed with a huge amount of self-confidence and zest for life!  Anyway, she headed straight for the Vix bikinis, tried a fair few on and settled on the Vix Tortoise , Vix Zebra Tube, and the Vix Solid Tube.

 Then, Hannah, our fabulous shop manager, convinced Kelly to try our cup- size brand Eda as they are cut especially for her shape. She agreed and bought the  Miami and the Coral (in store only).

She them spotted the cut-out one-piece by Ondademar and had to have it – she looked AMAZING!

Kelly swept out of the shop with her new swimwear in tow leaving us all to agree that perhaps we too needed one more bikini for the summer ahead! 

Just one final note:  the press got wind of Kelly’s fabulous figure in Vix, Eda & Ondademar – have a read: 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1290528/Why-Kelly-Brooks-165-Vix-bikini-the-summer.html

All in one....

I was out enjoying a delicious dinner with 3 girlfriends earlier this week.  The excitement of the summer led to holiday chat which, in turn, led to wardrobe planning….  And suddenly there was a divide:  were we bikini birds or one-piece posers?

It’s clear that the more body confident of us will happily opt for the bikini but – interestingly – the one-piece shouldn’t only be chosen as a ‘cover up’.  Karla Colletto’s swimsuits http://www.biondicouture.com/Catalog.aspx?bid=26   are masterpieces this year, full of ruffles, twists, cut-outs…..The debate is an ongoing one but, as the one-piece is so on trend this summer, we are seeing more and more of our clients purchase both bikinis and one-pieces. 

Molly Gunn – a freelancer journalist and now ‘friend’ of Biondi – wrote a great article in this week’s Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/7861723/Swimwear-clinic.html

highlighting some of the issues we have choosing our swimwear.  The day the article appeared in the newspaper led our phone to literally ring off the hook in the shop and the site was busy too!

So what is my parting advice?  Well, my mantra has always been the same:  ignore trends unless you have an amazing shape and focus on the fit.  As always, I am around for advice:  claudined@biondicouture.com or do call/visit the shop. 

The Beauty of Bespoke

Are you one of a kind?  I tend to think that – as women – we take huge pride in being our own person and choosing clothes which will flatter and complement us.  In fact, as a teenager, I couldn’t bear to pull on leg warmers just because…. well, everyone else had them on.

More importantly, we like to look different.  Last year a woman I hugely admire, Anya Hindmarch, launched a bespoke service in handbags, giving her clients the opportunity to have a hand in designing something completely unique and personal.  I realised then the real reason why we had created the bespoke service here at Biondi ( all those years ago) allowing clients to  design (with our assistance) made-to-measure, bespoke swimwear.

A few big names have dropped by Old Church Street to be measured up…. it’s a lot of fun and not all tape measure!  With more than 100 colours and prints to choose from and armed with our charms, beads and other accessories, the process allows you to create swimwear which will not only flatter you greatly but also make you feel truly unique on the beach!

But, enough about the bespoke bikini as bespoke now comes in all forms.  My bespoke awards would go to:

http://www.larabohinc.com/ for jewellery

www.jomalone.co.uk for smells

www.dicha.co.uk for vintage

www.katestarkeycouture.com for elegantly tailoring

www.anyahindmarch.com for bags

Food Glorious Food

So – like me - you've booked your summer holiday and bought your beautiful, designer bikini… and the only nagging thought is the 5 lbs you promised yourself you’d lose before facing the beach.  Sound familiar?

But don’t panic, it’s not too late, I’m going to tell you my secrets, with a little help from my friends!

1)                   drink water and then drink some more.  It does in fact make you feel full, healthy -and makes your skin look less ‘London’!

2)                   think swimwear – I always think swimwear before I eat chocolate and, just sometimes, it puts me off!

3)                   Get busy with salads, they take ages to prepare so a little nibbling as you go and…. You’re full before dinner!  Check out Jennifer and Courteney’s http://www.handbag.com/celebrity/Courteney-Cox-reveals-Anistons-10-year-diet/v1

4)                   Embrace brown rice, non-dairy milk (oatley is a good one) and cut down your fruit intake – but you can still wear leather shoes!

5)                   Keep trying on that bikini – maybe even wear it around the house….! It will remind you how much better you will feel once the 5lbs have flown away.

6)                   Purchase a totally forgiving kaftan to make you feel more confident http://www.biondicouture.com/Products/240/chevron-batwing-kaftan.aspx

7)                   Don’t eat baby food, starve yourself or let the 5lbs get in the way of having a great holiday!

All that glitters

We have all learnt the hard way.  Should we take that beautiful piece of air loom jewellery on that beach holiday or not?  ‘Of course not’, says all who have lost and never found again.  But, fret not, holidays don’t need to be jewel-free.  I will be continuing my search this week at http://www.londonjewelleryweek.co.uk/ to add to our collection of holiday jewels in my bid to prove to you all that glitters may not be gold….

Stop by the shop to try on the beautiful holiday sparkles, perfect to add to your poolside glamour or even as a clever gift for a girlfriend…. online you’ll find just some a small selection of the 2010 gems http://www.biondicouture.com/beach-accessories/jewellery.aspx

Other clever ways to accessorise your beach look would be to snap up one of Anya Hindmarch’s colourful clutches http://www.biondicouture.com/Products/171/rochelle-straw-clutch-bag.aspx , choose a Seeberger visor (for each outfit?!) http://www.biondicouture.com/Catalog.aspx?bid=25 or simply shade your eyes with Oliver Peoples Strummers http://www.biondicouture.com/Products/16/oliver-peoples-strummer.aspx

Cellulite – the bottom line

Orange-peel skin, lumpy and bumpy, wobbly bits….. find me an honest woman who doesn’t have a little cellulite?

The point is that while we can of course take steps to improve the shape of our legs, the easiest way to look great and feel great in your swimwear is to self tan for confidence, choose a swimsuit or bikini made using quality fabrics and never leave home without a fabulous cover up!

Dr Howard Murad (www.murad.com) recognised as one of the world's foremost authorities on skin health, lists a range of food which apparently help ‘the dimples’ disappear such as egg, spinach, peanuts (peanut butter – honestly?!) and oily fish, amongst others. 

Kate Shapland (beauty writer for Saturday Telegraph Magazine) says to scrub away the winter webs and recommends a range of delicious looking potions - check out:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/beauty/7771509/Summer-beauty-special.html

I agree wholeheartedly with their advice but also think we are busy women who need look no further than the Ondademar Marrakech bikini http://www.biondicouture.com/Products/191/marrakech-bandeau-bikini.aspx and matching beaded tunic http://www.biondicouture.com/Products/159/marrakech-beaded-tunic.aspx

Oh and most importantly, despite any lengthy preparations or none, you’ll only look as good as you feel.

2010 Trends

If I had a manicure every time I was asked about this year’s hot list for our beach wardrobe, my nails would look a darn sight better than they do!  Journalists, celebs, our lovely customers and even my mum seem keen for advice as they start their swimwear shop to update their ‘poolside wardrobe’.

So – you heard it here first – 2010 is all about femininity as it lures us into fabulous ruffles.  Combined with the vivid seasonal purple, we will be looking our best either in or out of the water! Finally, the bandeau bikini lives on in a ‘I’m here to stay’ way.  I think it’s the bare shoulders which flatters women all of shapes and sizes….

I’m off to Cuixmala in Mexico and my Anya Hindmarch holdall (I travel super light) will be bursting with Ondademar and Karla Colletto one pieces as well as the new-in Vix’s teresa tube zig zag bikini.  But my icing on the cake is the Allegra Hicks tie back maxi dress – quite simply the most elegant kaftan I have ever seen/worn/not ironed… The woman is a genius.

Anyway, after a long and cold winter, spring is here and Biondi has more styles and carefully selected brands than ever before.  Shop here or come in and see me and my team for advice and guidance.

Go on birds, get chirping!

A Spoon-full of Sugar

If you’re an avid reader of Daily Candy (aren’t we all?), then you’ll know why there were queues down Old Church Street last Friday and Saturday.   A little birdie told our friends at Daily Candy in advance about our rather exciting sample sale (yes it’s true – a wacking great 70 per cent off current-season swimwear) and from there bikinis and swimsuits were skipping out of the shop before we could say ‘Bon Voyage’ to those looking for the ultimate pre-hols bargain!

Just a few pretty pieces left unclaimed, so do trot by and smile sweetly at Hannah or Caroline! 

http://www.dailycandy.com/london/article/71991/The+Weekend+Guide

Fashion Stalker!

Now for those who haven’t been into the boutique, Hannah is divine. It’s fact – every dress she puts on looks amazing on her and, quite frankly, sells out!

This morning was a first though, even for Hannah. She was followed all the way from the tube and the fashion stalker only plucked up enough courage to ask her where her maxi dress was from, outside Biondi!

In came our fashion stalker, the dress was tried on and purchased before I could finish my coffee and croissant!

The moral of the story: always follow a dress you love.

We’ve gone live!

It’s been weeks of picking and shooting product, designing pages, tweaking pics, styling shots... and not enough sleep (!) but I'm thrilled that the fab, new Biondi site went live today! It’s a similar feeling to seeing your suitcase arrive on the baggage carousel: huge relief but also excitement about the trip lying ahead...

Our online journey is just beginning... By the way, I’m not a blogger per se. I just thought some of you might be a tiny bit interested in the goings-on behind the shop, the site, my retail and wholesale businesses and what amuses us day-to-day in our swimwear hideout on Old Church St! Anyway, someone mentioned that I might be the first bikini blogger. How fun.