ilovegorgeous winter sale - great reductions!

There's 30% off in our winter sale on our website now - please visit www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk to shop at great prices!

Happy shopping!

Things to do with the children...

So, the last posting dates have passed, so while your little ones are waiting for Father Christmas to come, why not keep them busy with these festive activities?

We love this idea from Babyccino, hands and feet reindeer! We're sure Rudolph would love to see a garland of these along the fireplace this Christmas morning! Click on the link for a how-to.

And how about something delicious to leave on the hearth for Father Christmas this Christmas Eve? These star biscuits are yummy and are great to make together. You could also make a hole in the top, thread them with ribbon and hang some from the tree... (with thanks to BBC Good Food Magazine for recipe inspiration and picture!)

Sugar Cookie dough:

• 200g unsalted butter , at room temperature
• 150g caster sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 300g plain flour , sifted 

Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the egg and the vanilla extract, beat until smooth, add the flour and bring together to make a smooth dough. Roll into a ball, flatten and chill in the fridge for about half an hour. Then roll it out to about 5mm thick, use a star cutter, or any other shaped cutter you like, and if you want to hang them on the tree pierce a hole in one point of the star with a skewer (not too near the edge, or it will break when you hang it). Place on a baking sheet and chill for about 15 mins before baking at 180 degrees for about 10-12 mins.

A simple and pretty way to decorate these is to brush with a little beaten egg white and sprinkle with silver balls, crystal sugar or edible glitter! Santa will LOVE them!

Enjoy your holiday break, and don't forget our sale starts on Boxing day, 26th December.

Merry Christmas, with love from all at ilovegorgeous! x

Last minute panic?

Need a party dress in a hurry? Don't worry... you've got until 2pm on Wednesday 21st December (GMT, UK orders) to place an order that will be delivered before Christmas!

That Christmas feeling...

20% off stocking fillers...

Take a look at our website today for a wonderful 20% discount on a range of last-minute stocking filler ideas...

click here for 20% discount!

We've found the perfect present...

... for the person who has everything.

There's always one person on your list who is so tricky to buy for, isn't there? We think we may have the answer. Our dear friend, and ex-ilovegorgeous... girl, Vicky Smith makes the most fantastic jams and preserves, and has just launched her website, offering hand made artisan jams by subscription.

At ilovegorgeous... HQ in Yorkshire, we are massive fans of Vicky's jams, marmalades and jellies. When Vicky worked with us we were lucky enough to be able to try out her new flavours and combinations and eat her preserves every day on our toast!

Take a look at her website for more information and inspiration... http://www.jamsmith.co.uk/

Christmas Shop Window

One of the magical things about Christmas shopping is seeing all the beautiful displays in the shop windows. Snow, fairies, baubles, lights, sparkles... this year our window has a sweet little Bambi deer, do you like it?

Late Night Notting Hill

This Thursday evening, 8th December, we're participating in the first Late Night Notting Hill event. Our shop, at 52 Ledbury Road, is joining in with this exciting evening of shopping and treats!

Along with more than forty other boutiques, we'll be open from 5pm until late and we'll be offering you a glass of champagne and a mince pie while you browse, a fabulous 15% discount off your purchases on the night, and gorgeous free gift wrap too!

You can download a PDF map of W11, where you'll find our shop, as well as all the other lovely stores participating in the Late Night Notting Hill event!

If you're out and about in London this weekend...

We have two recommendations for you -

The first is our Sample Sale, which takes place in our design studio on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th from 12-6pm at Studio 104, Great Western Studios, 65 Alfred Road, London W2 5EU.
There will be production samples for sale from past seasons, a good range of sizes from baby upwards, some one-off pieces and unique fabrics - all at fabulous prices! We'd love to meet more of our customers, do drop in to say hello and have a look at the wonderful range of special samples.

And also on Sunday 4th if you're in Camden between 12-5pm, pop in and see the Lovely Merchants:

Christmas shopping at ilovegorgeous...

Take a look at our Most wanted selection for the best festive dressing, and don't forget we're offering free returns until January 10th, and free worldwide shipping over £150.

We have a lovely selection of gift sets too, outfits put together in a beautiful gift box - we've taken 10% off the combined price of the items, and we'll wrap it beautifully in the gift box for no extra charge!

And don't forget we offer some wonderful stocking fillers too - jewellery, hair accessories, dancing shoes and cosy knits and super warm tights to name but a few...

12 days of Christmas advent calendar

Want to win an ilovegorgeous... Party Star dress?

Want to win eleven other covetable prizes from the likes of Isabella Oliver, Wilbur & Gussie, Party Pieces and Molly Brown?

The Little Style Book, Maggie & Rose and The Party Times have teamed up to bring you a fantastic competition offering a fabulous prize every day from 1st to 12th December. From a photoshoot to a night's babysitting, dinner for two or a catered dinner party, the gifts are really special!

Log on to The Little Style Book Little Magazine to find out more!

click here for more information

Nikki Hahn wears ilovegorgeous...

We are thrilled that gorgeous young American actress Nikki Hahn has become a fan of ilg - see these wonderful pictures of her in our Empress Dress and shaggy collar coat.  Perfect ...and we think the clothes look good too!

Mummy and Me

We have so many comments from Mummies who wish we made Mum sized dresses too... well, so far, we don't, but in the spirit of the party season, here are a few suggestions for your gorgeous girl's special outfit - and one for you too...

Picture the scene - a Christmas party, fun and games for little ones, and canapes and cocktails for bigger people (well, a girl can dream)...

H&M gold cardi £24.99

ilovegorgeous... Gold lurex cardi £48

Star Print Dress, L'Agence at Net a Porter, £420

ilovegorgeous... Teal Party Star Dress, £64

Metallic shoes, LK Bennet at House of Fraser, £175

Gold shoes, Penelope Chilvers for ilovegorgeous... £48

 
 

Gretal Clutch Bag, Monsoon, £22

ilovegorgeous... Teal Star Party Bag, £20          

Time to give

Much excitement in the Yorkshire office this morning - the girls saw Matt Baker on his rickshaw near our offices in Richmond, cycling his way through the misty countryside in aid of Children in Need...

Today Matt is cycling from nearby Barnard Castle to York - 70 miles in one day, brave man!

To donate £5, text "MATT" to 70705, texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message, £5 will go to BBC Children in Need. Click here for full terms and conditions. (You must be over 16 and ask the bill payer's permission.)

Party 24/7!

We're all abuzz with Christmas party chatter this week - the ilovegorgeous... girls are getting together for their seasonal soiree and the inevitable cry of 'But I've nothing to wear!' goes up and so we all think about party dresses...

And for your gorgeous girls we know the perfect dress is all-important for those special parties, so we have put together our must-haves for the party season here!


It's not just dresses to think about - how about a cosy and soft gold cardy to keep her warm on a frosty evening; a smart party coat; a little party bag for her sweeties and (chocolate) coins; a bow for her hair and some gold dancing shoes? We've got it covered, from head to toe!

must-haves for this winter's party season...

A treat for tired winter skin

This month we've teamed up with Nude skincare to offer you a free sample of their award-winning Replenishing Night Oil and an exclusive discount code which you'll receive in with your order, offering 15% off purchases from Nude's website - just in time for your Christmas shopping! 

Spirit of Christmas

ilovegorgeous... will be at the Spirit of Christmas shopping fair at London's Olympia until Sunday 6th November, with a stand of fabulous ilovegorgeous... archive stock at prices reduced up to 50% off original selling price! There are plenty of party dresses, cosy knits and warm winter day wear. We'd love to see you there, come and say hello if you're one of the estimated 33,000 visitors to the fair! Details of how to get there and other exhibitors at the Spirit of Christmas website.

There are so many gorgeous things to look at - but one exhibitor we love is Butterfly Blue. Their scarf and ribbon belts are a real discovery - a really simple concept but so clever and pretty! You get a leather belt with D-rings attached either side and then you can buy pretty Liberty print scarves, silk scarves, or use your own favourite scarf, ribbon, vintage fabric... the combinations are endless. They look great finishing off your jeans, gathering in a waterfall cardy, over a knitted dress or a gilet... genius idea!

 How's your Christmas list coming along? Don't forget to order your gorgeous girl something really special to wear on Christmas day - until 7th November we're offering free gift wrap with orders over £50, a perfect special gift box to delight her on Christmas morning!

And in your stocking? What could be cosier than a cashmere poncho? We love this cabled version with toggles from luxury loungewear brand Charlotte and Co - versatile and beautiful. Here's hoping...

Oh Baby... you're gorgeous!

We're celebrating our beautiful babywear this week... scrumptious miniature versions of some of our most popular dresses and knitwear, as well as sweet ruffled knickers, cosy cashmere blend babygrows, jumpers, hareem pants, mittens and booties.

And our friends at Sheerluxe have featured the Happy Carmen silk baby dress in their online magazine, saying "Definitely an investment, but equally one of the most divine little dresses around: pretty but not too frilly, and she loved the feel of the silk."

Happy Carmen baby dress, available in Grey, Coral or Teal silk, £96

Remembering the Just So Festival...

A lovely surprise in our inbox this week...

The lovely people at Wild Rumpus, who organised the Just So Festival this summer sent us a few pictures showing our installation of dresses as lanterns in the trees! We think they look quite pretty, what do you think?

To see more highlights of the festival, take a look at the Just So Festival 2011 photo gallery...

And if you fancy some spooky shenanigans this weekend, why not take a trip to Nutcrack Night in Lancashire?

20% off ilovegorgeous until 20th October 2011

There's a wicked Halloween offer for all our lovely customers this week...

We are offering 20% off when you buy any two items (excludes shoes) until midnight 28th October. So now there is no excuse for not DRESSING UP!

Click through to www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk to take advantage of this scarily good offer!

Behind the Scenes - our Yorkshire office

We're incredibly lucky to have our office in the Yorkshire Dales, a beautiful place to work. The journey to work is different every day with the landscape changing colours and mood with the weather. We are surrounded by hills and the Swaledale landscape of stone walls and black-faced sheep.

Our base in in the converted stable block of Aske Hall, near Richmond in North Yorkshire, is where all your mail order parcels are packed, and if you ring us for advice or help, that's where we answer your call. Clare and Jess answer most of your calls and are happy to give you guidance on sizing or completing an outfit - you'll always get friendly help and advice!

We also ship out boxes from here to the lovely boutiques around the world who stock our clothes, so the office is a hive of activity (and a warren of boxes!).

There couldn't be more of a contrast between our chic Notting Hill flagship store and our rural head office in Yorkshire - but the ethos is the same... friendly, personal service and the loveliest shopping experience you can have, whether you're in London or on the other side of the world!

Party in the press...

Junior Magazine and Tatler featured our A/W launch party that was held in our Notting Hill shop, take a look at their lovely snaps!

We can't wait!

From next week we will be sneaking delicious mini bars of chocolate from Melt in all parcels. We adore their chocolate which is hand made on the premises in their small Notting Hill shop. The best news is it is also available for mail order!  Check out http://www.meltchocolates.com/

24 hour 20% discount on cosy ilovegorgeous winter coats...

From midnight GMT tonight, until midnight tomorrow (11th October) you can save a whopping 20% off winter coats, simply by entering the code COAT20 into the coupon code field at checkout on the website, and applying the discount to your total.

This is a limited-time offer, just in time for the cold weather coming!

Shop our range of coats by clicking here...

Party time for ilovegorgeous...

We held a wonderful afternoon party in our Notting Hill store last week for our loyal customers, friends and some very special little people too...

We were lucky enough to have friends to help out with our goodie bags too, including the very talented Giles Andreae, with his joyful new books - World of Happy.

With some of these wonderful books to look at we could be sure of some happy little people, they also enjoyed face painting, fairy cakes and biscuit lollipops from our friends at Biscuiteers!

A wonderful party for our gorgeous little customers - and some bigger ones too!

Starry Starry Night...

 

Star prints are all the rage this autumn and winter, with many of the major designers showing star prints for blouses, dresses, scarves...

German magazine KidX celebrates our own range on their blog today, with a round-up of some of our cutest clothes and accessories.

The star print clothes, hairbands and bags make a sweet, on-trend statement for your little stars this season!

ilovegorgeous loves... Sisters Guild

We get to work with some lovely people, it's wonderful to have stockists with beautiful stores, websites and blogs. To share their creativity with you, we're going to run an occasional series featuring some of our lovely stockists. And first up is Sisters Guild, a beautiful online boutiqe and inspiring blog.

We asked Bekka and Carla, founders of the company, to choose their favourite piece from our current collection - and they chose the Mauve Star Debbie Dress. Why? "Because it's such a unique design and the Mauve colour for the autumn and winter season is beautiful.  Also, the Debbie dress is a style we would love to wear to a party!"

A favourite product from elsewhere in their store is this quirky range of Felt bags from En Gry & Sif.

And in turn, we love the Monday Makery on their blog - creative ideas to make and do with your little ones, from recipes to sewing projects. Step by step instructions and clear photographs help every project become a success. Browse their blog and enjoy Bekka and Carla's flawless taste and incredible creativity!