Bbbbrrrrrr, it’s a bit chilly this week isn’t it? It’s a good job we’ve just had a brand new delivery of super-cosy knitted leggings then isn’t it!
We still have the coveted Esna knitted leggings, as seen on Lucy Mecklenburgh from TOWIE and now to add to the collection are the beauties you can see below, in a variety of colours and prints, pair with a chunky jumper or under a dress for the perfect way to keep warm.
This season sees a revival of everything 1960′s, whether it be in television productions like ‘We’ll take Manhattan’ to 60′s inspired clothing.  This trend is going to be massive this Spring/Summer, think shift dress, high wedged heels and beehive hair. Here at Yumi we have it all covered for you to look fabulously 60′s with a modern updated twist and better still it’s all new in, so you can get these items now and be ahead of this Spring trend. These dresses are incredibly versatile think opaque tights and knee high boots now and bare legs and heels in summer, either way you’ll be rocking the 60′s vibe!
Want a striking new look for this inbetween time of year? You’re bored of wearing the same Winter clothes and it’s maybe a bit chilly for a floral dress, then the perfect trans-seasonal look is monochrome!
This chic colour-way never goes out of style, just team one of our Spring/Summer 2012 dresses with some woolly tights for a great January outfit, add a colour pop with a bright pair or keep it classic with black or white. Stunning.
Click on the images to shop AND get over to our Facebook page >> here << to enter the competition to WIN a Yumi dress, a selection including two of the beauties below! x
Yumi has designed a sexy, chic sheer polka dot dress similar to those worn by A Listers Kate Winslet and Liv Taylor for the perfect Xmas dress and at £44.99 the dress is a steal!
Get yours today for the celeb designer look, sure to turn heads.
Amy Childs was spotted in our fabulous Yumi Leopard print dress this week  and with its long sleeves its the perfect Autumn dress to keep the growing cold at bay. Not to mention the dress is very on trend, with Leopard print being big news this season. Holly Willoughby wore a Leopard print dress that is very similar to our Yumi dress, as seen on Amy Childs, on a night out illustrating that this essential Leopard print dress can be worn during the day like Amy or on a night out.
Release the animal in you today and buy some on trend animal print pieces from yumidirect.co.uk!
All this week we have been adding new pieces online to our new Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, including all of the beauties below. Whether you need party frocks or long sleeved dresses, through to knitwear and of course, the all important decision of what will be this years Winter coat, the new collection has it covered! Click here to shop.
Yes, I know we’re just gearing up for Summer but in the fast-paced fashion world, we work seasons ahead and are all thinking about the Autumn/Winter collections, which will be launching later in the year.
We held a Yumi press preview event last night in our central London showroom to showcase our upcoming gorgeous Autumn/Winter collection and it went down brilliantly! Here’s a little sneaky peek of the night, including customised Yumi cupcakes and a glimpse at our signature quirky prints for next season – enjoy!
Check our the new Spring jewellery styles we are uploading onto the site right now! Including this 3D Flower beauty with a bright neon touch, the perfect Spring ring and completely on-trend! Yes, taken a bit of a liking to this one…..
As soon as we heard about this we did a little squeak and a jig. Honestly. We weren’t alive when Biba first came round (well, some of us, but not me….) but the legend has held true and the style has never faded or outdated.
“From a mail order company in the early sixties, to a global fashion phenomenon of the early seventies, Barbara Hulanicki’s Biba was a store like no other. Fashion has mourned its loss since Biba closed its doors in 1975. Until now… It’s 2010 and Biba is back. Exclusively at House of Fraser, the newly relaunched Biba has taken the ethos of original Biba and reworked it for the fashion savvy of today, like the brand’s face – Brit model-of-the-moment Daisy Lowe.”
Biba was one of the first examples of celebrity selling power – a pink gingham dress very similar to that worn by Brigitte Bardot was available and girls went crazy for it. From wikipedia: ‘The shops’ main appeal was that an average girl in London could, for less than 10% of her weekly earnings, share the look of popular icons of the time such as Cathy McGowan, the ‘Queen of The Mods’ and presenter of Ready, Steady, Go, a popular TV music show. What was seen on TV on Friday night could now be bought on Saturday and worn that night. It made you feel special. As the Biba style (tight cut skinny sleeves, earthy colours) and logo became more and more recognisable, the more and more people wanted to be seen in it.’
This all feels extremely familiar now, and in fact, celebrities drive the fashion industry to a huge extent these days, but back then, to be able to wear something that looked similar to that of a celebrity was amazing.
The Biba Logo, designed by Antony Little, became an icon, the gold and black art deco styling extremely popular with young girls at the time.. To create a look for Biba in the first store, Little painted the Biba sign above the shop and blacked out all the windows. The blacked out windows didn’t allow the store’s interior to receive any sunlight, which was vital for the Biba’s art nouveau atmosphere.
Biba was the first to set a standard for brand marketing and the first high street store to create a look for itself. The logo was seen on everything: from clothes to food, to wallpaper, creating an immediately recognizable identity from any piece sold at the store. But Biba never wanted to be considered an average high street store; and as a result the interior layout was always innovative and was set to enhance the clothes rather than just to hold them. The clothes were always displayed in an unusual manner, including hanging from coat stands. Sound familiar?? Any of you who have visited our stores know we believe in this ethos too and Yumi always create innovative and exciting shop interiors, much like Biba back in the day!
Unfortunately financial issues and the huge undertaking that Biba had become meant it was forced to cease trading in 1975.
But now, House of Fraser has reinvigorated the brand and it launches this month! Go to My Biba to check it out.
Yumi of course has concessions in House of Fraser up and down the country, so while you’re checking out Biba, get yourself over there and shop the new AW collection! We have stands in all major House of Frasers, including:
Lincoln
Sutton Coldfield
Leamington Spa
Northampton
Shrewsbury
Aylesbury
Solihull
Middlesbrough
Carlisle
Exeter
Bournemouth
Huddersfield
Altrincham
As well as our very own retail stores around the country in Notting Hill, Guildford, Bath, York, Richmond, Tunbridge Wells, St Ives and Bristol! Clearance stores for those last season bargains are at Hatfield, Gunwharf Quays and the Clarks Outlet Village in Somerset.
Do you love the Biba style as much as we do? What’s your favourite vintage look? Â xx
We hope you’re as excited about the new season at Uttam Boutique as we are; so here’s a round-up of the key trends you can’t afford to miss out on! All these beautiful dresses encompass mini trends such as studding, crochet textures, elegant layering, vintage glamour and all things animal and botanical inspired! A great example of how you can achieve the layered look with just one dress, is:
This lovely gathered hem rouched dress with lace sleeves.
Click here to see all the new season Yumi & Uttam trends, and then shop now!
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