Author: girlintheprettydress

Long Tall Sally’s New Manchester Store

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If you’ve been following Long Tall Sally’s Instagram lately you’ll know they recently launched a new store in Manchester (my hometown) with a brand new design. What you probably don’t know is that they sent customers in the area a 10% off voucher to celebrate the opening. A new store and a new summer wardrobe at 10% off? How could a girl refuse?!

I took ‘Mum in the Pretty Dress’ along to explore with me and we were both impressed. The space did feel a little smaller than in the previous store but the layout made everything much more accessible. The most noticeable improvement though has to be the changing rooms – they are so much more secluded and private than they previously were with a lovely plush carpet under foot. Finally there was a very thoughtful inclusion of in-store seating. Initially I thought this was for trying on shoes but there were a fair few men folk using them during our visit while their other halves took advantage of those lovely changing rooms.

If you’ve been itching to see more of the redesign here’s a sneak peek. (Complete with racks of the latest TTYA4LTS collaboration which snuck into the store here early!)

Introducing Cali

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As some of you may have noticed, my blog posts have been few and far between over the past few months. I’ve hinted about the reasons for this once or twice on Instagram, but I thought it was about time I shared the whole story. Brace yourselves for extreme cuteness.

Back in October I brought home a tiny little bundle of joy. And I named her Cali.

I knew owning a puppy would be difficult, especially for someone who is in their mid-twenties and has a full time job. So before I committed to the idea I did a lot of research and made a lot of plans. Most of these went out of the window on the first night…

It was a week before I could get more than a couple of hours sleep at a time, toilet training was a nightmare and there are teeth marks on pretty much everything I own. But I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

By far her best feature is her enthusiasm for life. It doesn’t matter what kind of day it’s been – she always acts like I’ve made hers just by showing up. She is completely in love with the world. She loves to make friends and most people love her back (which is just as well because she’s no manners and a bad habit of getting mud on people’s clothes.)

I plan to write more about her in time but for now here are a few snapshots from her first few weeks in her new home.

December in Scotland

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Last month we had a short family trip up to Scotland – back to my favourite area on the west coast. We’d decided to travel with 3 dogs in tow so were limited on options for where to stay but struck it lucky with a beautiful rented cottage on the Ardmaddy Estate.

We weren’t quite so lucky with the weather (having arrived in the lead up to ‘Storm Desmond’) but we made the most of the few moments that the sunshine managed to break through the clouds. The Ardmaddy estate is only a few miles from the Isle of Seil – which gave us the perfect opportunity to explore this ruggedly beautiful island.

Sneak Preview: F&F SS16

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A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to preview the F&F Spring/Summer collection in London. If you’re a fairly frequent visitor to this blog you’ll know that I’m a big fan of the F&F brand and have featured a fair few of their pieces in the past – so I was naturally curious about their latest collection.

On a chilly, rainy November day in London, the collection was a breath of fresh air and has already got me thinking about my summer hols next year.

The collection as a whole was heavily influenced by the idea of travel. The lookbook collection underpinned this by featuring linens and a nautical theme, interspersed with some corals, while the other collections all took inspiration from a different part of the globe (my favourite of which was ‘Latin Rose’). Delicate fabrics with intricate florals and watercolour inspired designs were interspersed with slightly heavier fabrics which leant themselves to the ongoing trend for 70s nostalgia.

The prices were all very reasonable – the suede jacket pictured below is priced at just £45 – but the quality hasn’t been compromised as a result. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the lingerie collection – which was exquisite in design.

The collection is scheduled to hit stores from March onwards.

The Girl In The Pretty Dress Guide to Vintage Shopping

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One of my favourite purchases this year (and by no coincidence, one of my favourite outfit posts) was this fabulous canary-yellow vintage skirt. I was bitten by the vintage bug and I’ve been seeking out vintage sales ever since so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far…

1) Vintage shopping can be a tall shoppers heaven. The added length of yester-year’s dresses/skirts makes them perfect for those of us who are long and leggy. (Waist-height can still be tricky but it’s amazing what you can find if you’re prepared to rummage through the rails.) It’s also the perfect way to nail throw-back fashions like the current 70’s trends.

2) It’s about more than just the clothes. It’s a costume-jewellery paradise (I’ve never seen so many sparkly things in one place) and perfect if you’re looking for a one-off piece of furniture.

3) It pays to think about your underwear in advance of your shopping expedition. Most vintage sales have make-shift changing booths so make sure you’re covered just in case. At the last vintage sale I went to one of the booths was no more than a wicker screen…

4) There is always cake. I don’t know why but every vintage sale I’ve attended has had a cute little tea-and-cake cafe running in the corner. Which suits me just fine. The added bonus is that you can usually buy the seat you’re sitting on if it takes your fancy.

5) Do your research beforehand. Most vintage sales are one-off or annual events so it helps to follow vintage stores online to see where they’ll be showcasing their wares next. I’ve included some links below to get you started!

Vintage at Manchester Cathedral – Manchester (pictured below)
Pear Mill Vintage Emporium – Stockport
Rif Raf Furniture – Manchester
The Vintage Village – Stockport
Nells Loft – Liverpool
Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair – Newcastle
The Vintage Furniture Flea – London
Portobello Road – London
Judy’s Vintage Fair – Various locations and dates

Something for the Weekend: Waddesdon Manor

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Waddesdon Manor is a former Rothschild home located in Buckinghamshire. I’ve visited a lot of National Trust properties this year, but this has to be the most opulent of them all.

It’s so large I couldn’t fit the entire building in one photograph, and it takes 15 minutes to walk from the car park to the property (they run a shuttle service for those less inclined to hike across the fields).

It was designed by a French architect in the style of a french chateau and used as a weekend home. The family are still involved in the upkeep of the property and the charitable works associated with the estate (including the aviary which has a role in the conservation of endangered tropical birds).

Inside the house is filled with all kinds of curiosities – including the Elephant Automatron I’ve included in this post. (It’s also currently playing host to several art exhibitions/installations – my favourite of which were the paintings by Francesco Guardi, an artist who captured Venice so beautifully.)

LV Series 3

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I was walking down The Strand in London recently when something caught my eye… It had the words ‘Louis Vuitton’ and ‘free’ on it so I had to investigate further! What followed was a wonderful walk through the Louis Vuitton A/W 15 collection and the opportunity to see how it intertwines with the history of the brand.

In their own words: “Series 3 is a stand alone exhibition showcasing a designer and his creative process and influences. Far more than a simple collection it is a stream of consciousness, dreams and self-reflexive journeys. Inside a designers mind, muses intertwine with cherished memories and visions of new shapes, cuts and meticulous craftmanship. He sits between the past he embraced and the future. The designer’s careful thoughts pair with a delicate artisanal touch: a new moment of excellence born in this union. “Series 3” retraces Nicolas Ghesquiere Autumn/Winter 2015/2016 collection for Louis Vuitton. “Series 3″ is a sensorial journey, venturing deep into the designer’s soul and an artisan’s heart. An adventure along the emotional corridors of Louis Vuitton.”

There are regular tours through the exhibition (led by charmingly handsome tour guides in perfectly tailored suits) and along the way there’s the opportunity to meet one of the artisans who painstakingly manufactures each bag by hand.

This Louis Vuitton Series 3 exhibition has free admission (online reservation is recommended but not strictly necessary) and runs until the 18th October at 180 The Strand.

If fashion exhibitions are your thing, then you might also want to check out Chanel’s Mademoiselle Privé exhibition which will run at the Saatchi Gallery from 13th October-1st November.

Alghero, Sardinia – Part II

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This is the last post in my Sardinia series. I may have only spent a week there but there was so much to see and do – when I got home and started wading through all the photos I realised how much we’d packed in. If I could do it all again I would go for longer so that I could take a little more time to soak it all up. It really is a little gem of an island.

On my last night on the island, I was really craving Pizza so, on a recommendation, we headed of to ‘Casablanca’ – which must be the cosiest little bistro in the Winter months as the restaurant has gorgeous vaulted ceilings. It was so warm though, that we opted to sit out on the street under the night sky and take in the atmosphere of the Old Town.

Dress: Grace & Mila (similar here)
Sandals: F&F

La Pelosa & Neptune’s Cave, Sardinia

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Having had such success with our guidebook when looking for somewhere to eat out, we decided to give it another spin for the next day’s activities.

La Pelosa was listed as one of the most spectacular beaches on the island so we headed over to it. Unfortunately, everyone else must have thought so too… when we got there you couldn’t see the beach for people. The waters were a stunning colour but the area lacked the tranquility we were craving so after snapping a couple of photos we turned around and headed back to Alghero.

On the hunt for another activity, I remembered reading about Neptune’s Cave and we managed to book ourselves onto the last trip of the day.

Things couldn’t have worked out better – even if we’d planned them. We had a quick bite to eat on shore, then hopped aboard and set sail for the cave. It takes about 40 minutes to reach by sea – and you have to pay extra for the crossing – but it is preferable to walking from the car park, which involves a climb of 654 steps.

The cave itself is roughly 80 million years old. I can never remember which is a stalactite or a stalagmite – but there were a lot of them! The very helpful guide (who spoke 4 languages) told us that only 1% of the cave is still “living” due to reduced rainfall in the area.

Tall folks take note though – there are a lot of low ceilings and things to bang your head on (as demonstrated by the blurry photo lower down)

Alghero, Sardinia – Part 1

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Alghero may not be the largest place to visit in Sardinia but it’s certainly one of the prettiest.

The old-town is by far the most picturesque part – and can be reached via little archways leading off the harbour. Be warned though – the streets are made up of pebble-stone cobbles and therefore not somewhere you should venture in heels.

On our first night we headed for dinner at Il Pavone – a restaurant the guide book recommended. We got there a little early, which was a blessing as we managed to catch the sun setting over the sea in the harbour – a little bit of pink-tinged magic.

Almost everywhere you go in Sardinia dinner is made up of 4 courses: Antipasti, Starter, Pasta/Risotto course and Dessert. Il Pavone did not disappoint on any level. I’s been owned and run by the same man for decades and he took the trouble to introduce himself to all the diners that evening. The waiter had been there for 25 years and between them they helped us pick the most amazing selection of food. However, our guidebook had advised us to ask for ‘black gelato’ for dessert and it wasn’t on the menu. Nevertheless we asked …and were provided with the most amazing gelato I have ever tasted.

I didn’t take my camera to dinner so unfortunately can’t show you this wonderous dessert on the blog. I did manage to snap a quick picture on my phone so if you follow me on Instagram you’ll be able to see it for yourself.

Dress: Mango (similar here and here)