A quick note to say ....

...that when we say we sell the clothes we love to wear we really mean it!

Here are a couple of recent snap shots, one of Sarah wearing an Alice Collins Polo and Amazing Woman Jeans on a recent visit to the herd of Large Black Pigs that she keeps with her husband Rob by the MP Elizabeth Truss. http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming-news/mp_elizabeth_truss_praises_food_network_for_rare_breed_pork_near_oxburgh_1_1389997

The other is from The Houghton Horse Trails last weekend. In our lovely tent you can see from left to right, Sarah in a Bariloche blouse, our famous gin swilling mannequinn in an Alice Collins Polo and Becky Barber and Louise Collins both from Alice Collins sporting their summer 2012 collection.

Now the summer has arrived (?) as I write is pouring with rain and 10 degrees outside, we are starting our show season so will be incredibly busy over the next couple of months.  At the end of July however we will do a show special blog with lots of photos of friends from all the places that we have visited plus snippets of gossip and style hints (one for Sarah - loose the hat!). We also have a couple of interviews to look forward to - one with our local Norfolk style guru Jo Allen, a chat with Grenouille who supply us with our fantastic gilets and hopefully an interview with Antje of CPM.

I hope that you all have a fantastic summer - If you are at The Suffolk Show, The Royal Norfolk Show or The Sandringham Flower Show please come and say hello - we would love to catch up with you.

Best Wishes

From The Artichoke Girls

ALICE COLLINS

The Interview

At last the long awaited interview with one of our favourite suppliers Louise Collins of the amazing Alice Collins. I hope you will agree that it was worth waiting for.

Louise, what is your connection with Norfolk?

My husband Dean, of BB Adams Direct is a Norfolk Boy and although my business which is based in Leeds takes me all over the country I try to get home as often as I can.

Where did the inspiration for the brand name ALICE COLLINS come from?

It is my daughter's name and both celebrate their 24th birthday this year.

How would you describe the Alice Collins brand?

It is where Country Meets Fashion. A range of individual practical clothing that concentrates on design detail.

So who do you think that the Alice Collins Woman is?

The Alice Collins Woman has a busy but fairly casual lifestyle. She loves colour and wants a garment that is of good quality and fit. She is influenced, but not dictated to, by changing trends - wanting stylish but practical clothes.

What is it that makes this seasons collection so special?

It is a striking collection of tops in a combination of block colours and stripes from this seasons colour palettes - dusky blues and pinks, navy & white and the lovely jelly red, aqua and green. We are very proud of the lovely button and embroidery details on placketts & cuffs.

What are you wearing from it?

The 42 knots sweatshirt shown on the right. It is incredibly comfortable to wear and a very flattering cut. The Navy and White colour scheme makes it smart but casual and it will look just as good Crabbing in Cromer as it will at The Houghton Horse Trials where I hope to catch up with The Artichoke Girls in May.

....So What can we look forward to inWinter 2012?

A wealth of textured knitwear, tweed jackets with great button detail that can be teamed with quirqy shirts and The 42 Knots Club Range -  classic tops with a twist in navy and cream - great for daughters, mothers and grannies alike.

Louise and her team love to hear from their customers

If you have any suggestions, comments or requests please make them on this blog or contact Louise directly at louise@alicecollins.com

We love The Shirt

This season's 'must have' is the shirt. For my daughter and her friends the inspiration comes from Kate Middleton. Me I'm just having a Princess Di moment. I've even dug out the pearls!

Joking apart Andrea and I started putting together our shirt collection a couple of years ago in response to our customers who were beginning to tire of T Shirts and were looking for something a little bit moreish.

We have a lovely range of everyday ladies shirts made by British Label Grenouille which come in two shapes and several different cloths including non iron seersucker. They are virtually indestructible and sell for between £32 & £39.  For the mid- range we have Double Two.  Another very well established British label that is working hard - and I might add succeeding - in updating it's design base. These blouses are fantastic not only for everyday but also posh lunches and dress down dinners too - they retail at under £50. 

This season we are delighted to welcome BARILOCHE & TINTA. These shirts are exclusive (I am pretty sure not for long ) in Norfolk to Artichoke. The cloth is sourced in Italy and France and the blouses are made up in Spain. Bariloche is as you can see a ladies shirt - with a difference - look at the inset details. They remind me of Ralph Lauren but are on sale at a fraction of the designer's price. Tinta is a softer rouched style more a pastiche of Gucci & Chanel but at special price this season of £52 - much more attractive to the Norfolk Pocket!

HOW TO WEAR THE SHIRT

...with a pair of our Oscar B or Anna Montana Jeans for that on trend look.

' I have been told that you shouldn't wear patterns on the largest part of your body - which is my bust - can I still wear Tinta blouses?'

....of course, just make sure that you have a block colour like a plain jacket over if you are wearing it as a blouse.  The best look we think however is wearing them as an overshirt with either a block colour or monochrome underneath.  Andrea is wearing hers with a white vest and wide leg white linen trousers and as always looks amazing as the monochrome not only elongates her legs but makes her look thinner.

I am wearing the Bariloche (which I love) over a vest tucked out for a casual look and tucked into my belted straight leg Amazing Woman Jeans under a jacket, complete with pearls & pumps for my Princess Di 'homage'. Looking good!

We love Anna Montanna Jeans

We have had a  bit of a hitch on the Louise Collins interview as this month she is running around the country making sure that lots and lots of shops in rural England stock her great range of clothes next Winter.  Fingers crossed she will be able to join The Girls at Artichoke say in April.

As we have some fantastic new jeans at Artichoke I thought that some tips on wearing them might be a good idea.  Anna Montanna are a German brand new to the UK . Each style of jean is sold in three different shapes and up to three leg lengths.  This season we are stocking size 12 to 18 but they are available in 10-26. Another bonus  - as well as bringing out a new styles each season they also carry  a never out of stock range so once you have discovered the jean that is for you, you can return season after season secure in the knowledge that they will fit.

Why dont you pop in try a pair yourself?

We look forward to seeing you

Best Wishes

Sarah, Andrea and The Artichoke Crew

PS: I forgot to mention the best bit – the price £59 – that equates to one leg in a pair of NYD’s !!

 " Jeans can look great on women of any size and age as long as they are bought with thought. "

Here are some tips from the artichoke girls for the woman who still lives in denim.

Choose jeans with some stretch. They look good and have the added advantage that you can not only sit down but eat in them too!

You don’t have to stick to denim. Other colours such as this season’s silver, lagoon and navy all look great.  Team them with one of our Jack Murphy Floral  or Tinta blouses and you will be bang on trend. (Thank you Kate Middleton)

For a more dressy look chose a solid, darker colour which will give you the added advantage of making you look slimmer. We have some amazing Oscar B jackets in store – these and your jeans will take you anywhere.

Have jeans in different lengths to wear with different heel heights.  The 7/8 ths trouser looks great on supermodels - having our hems at half mast just makes us look more bewildered than we actually are.

Slightly flared or wide legged jeans look great on many older women. They look fab with high heels under them. Wearing any trouser this way will give added leg length.

If you have good pins skinny jeans will look great tucked into boots just cover your tum with a slightly longer top.

.

Even in Essex don’t overdo the bling

BIG no no's

Jeans that cut into your stomach area. Muffin tops are not flattering!

Low rise jeans – the crack in your bum is not a good look!

Baggy jeans – even if you are a hundred you don’t need to look like it.

Shopping is fun but there are other things to do

Within a 10 minute drive of Artichoke there are several interesting places to visit and lots of lovely cafes and restaurants to tempt you.  We have listed a few of our favourites below - next time you visit us why not try one of them?

PLACES WE LOVE TO GO TO ....

Sandra recommends The Gamekeeper at Old Buckenham - she says the food is consistently good, the atmosphere is great and you dont need to take out a mortgage to go there. For more information visit http://www.thegamekeeperfreehouse.com/

Andrea loves Cafe Verde at Mattishall - her daughter Amy used to work there before she moved to Holt.  The food is at Cafe Verde is delicious and they are very proud that it is sourced locally in Norfolk. Something we support wholeheartedly. For more details visit http://www.southgreenpark.co.uk. Nikki Smith the centre manager is offering Artichoke Ladies a 10% discount at their farm shop until March 31st.  To get your discount voucher email sales@artichokecollection.co.uk and we will email it back to you.

We all recommend Lincolns Bistro which is on The Green in Hingham and is well known for it's reasonably priced light lunches. Details at http://www.lincolns-of-hingham.co.uk/

CAFES ON OUR LIST TO VISIT VERY SOON

Yaxham Waters - I popped in on Thursday, it was busy mid week which is always a good sign! They were serving light lunches in a relaxed enviroment. Andrea and I will be lunching there soon.
http://www.yaxhamwaters.co.uk/cafe.html

Yaxham Mill  - Recently renovated and it seems like another good find. Busy on a Thursday lunchtime in February so they must be getting it right - Yaxham Mill is on the list to visit very soon   http://www.yaxhammill.com/restaurant-yaxham.php

PLACES TO VISIT

Top of our list is the historic village of Hingham itself.  With it's grand Georgian architecture and beautiful church it is definately worth a visit. In the centre you will find Mongers architectural Salvage http://www.mongersofhingham.co.uk/ and on the outskirts interior designers Margaret Sheridan http://www.margaretsheridan.co.uk/

Further afield is Peter BealesRoses which needs no introduction and a mile or two on from here based at St Georges Distillery you will find The English Whisky Company which is definately worth a visit - tours run every hour throughout the day. http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/

So as you can see there is a bit more to do than shop in Hingham, but please remember to come and say hello to us too.

Next Month........A profile of Alice Collins, one of our favourite labels selling 'The Country Look' for grownups - meet Louise Collins the woman behind it all. If you have any suggestions or questions you would like us to ask Louise please let us know.