24 Beautiful, Budget Friendly Wedding Dresses to Say ‘I Do’ In This Year
Whether you're newly engaged and are living in your bubble of lurve or have had your big day pushed back so many times you gave up on finding the dress, it turns out the good ol' British high-street has well and truly got you covered in finding the perfect number for your once in a lifetime day.
We don’t mean to alarm anyone but weddings are a THING again and saying ‘I do’ to your boo just became a reality once more after 18 months of uncertainty and cancelled plans- we love, love! Whether you’re newly engaged and are living in your bubble of lurve or have had your big day pushed back so many times you gave up on finding the dress, it turns out the good ol’ British high-street has well and truly got you covered in finding the perfect number for your once in a lifetime day.
Money Saving Expert estimates the average wedding can cost anywhere from £18,000 to £32,000, making the rise in high-street brands stocking beautiful and both contemporary and classic wedding dresses all the more appealing. Brands including ASOS, Whistles, Monsoon and Next are killing the game with their dreamy selections starting from as little as £90, as well as slightly pricier destinations such as Reformation and Olivia Rubin offering gorgeous gowns for considerably less than the average price.
Silky, chiffon, short, long, jumpsuit or mini dress, the high-street gems available to help you wow on your big day mean you’re spoilt for choice in the white (/ivory/cream/baby pink) dress of your DREAMS. Which one do you have your eye on?
As a nation, it's time to manifest some serious warmth, and when that time comes we need to be prepped and ready to hit the Lidos, parks, garden sun loungers and British beaches in a swimsuit or bikini that leaves us feeling 10/10.
The buzz of an airport and stomach flipping motion as your plane jets off towards warmer climates might still be an unfamiliar feeling for many of us this summer, but it doesn’t stop us getting our hopes up every time we feebly check BBC weather in the hopes of some well-needed sunshine. Football’s coming home, Love Island is back on our screens and all we need now is a heatwave to complete a proper, British summertime celebration.
As a nation, it’s time to manifest some serious warmth, and when that time comes we need to be prepped and ready to hit the Lidos, parks, garden sun loungers and British beaches with our best-pedicured foot forward and in a swimsuit or bikini that leaves us feeling 10/10. Whatever your swimwear concerns (because God knows it can be a nightmare to shop for) the team have compiled their current add-to-basket worthy picks to see you through the rest of the summer season, and ensure we all get a fire Instagram photo as soon as the temperature hits anything above 22 degrees. Hey, we’re in the Euros final, anything can happen in 2021!
Zoe
Being pregnant, I’ve found the offering of maternity swimwear a bit dire, but have found that the “crinkle” style is my favourite to wear! They mostly come in one size which means the stretch they have to offer is SO good and still comfortable. I also like that you can different styles of crinkle costume too, so you still feel somewhat stylish with your beach ball tum and enlarged boobies out the front!
I do a lot of sea swimming in the summer months so swimwear leaks will not be wasted on me in 2021. I’ve had my fair share of camel toe slips and see-through disasters, so at this point I’d rather invest in a few trusty pieces that will make this water baby’s ocean dips a plain sailing, blush-free experience. Sezane have got some beautiful cozzies in at the moment (I’ve full on coupled up with this floral number) and Monki have got some great separates you can mix ‘n’ match with different bikinis. Always a win when you’re in rush to get to the beach. Just grab whatever’s at the surface of your underwear drawer and go!
When it comes to swimwear I’m usually much more adventurous with colour than I am with the rest of my wardrobe. I’ve gone for a couple of options, this lilac bikini in that material I can’t quite describe as well as a costume in a similar palette with a cool straight neck line. I’ll alway pair swimwear with an oversized lightweight shirt, it’s such a good holiday vibe and great when I want to get my skin out the sofa. Love these lilac sunnies and some sandals that go with everything to finish the look!
We might not be jet setting anywhere exotic this year but Brighton beach is where it’s AT in my opinion no matter the travel restrictions. The weather has been somewhat lacklustre this summer so far I have to say but I love a little dip in the sea even when it’s not scorching outside so having a few good swimwear options I can rely on is essential. Swimwear is definitely something I’ve scrimped on in the past but the older I’ve got the more I’ve realised the importance of investing in certain items and I really do think swimwear is one of those things- no one wants a saggy bottom or see through boob! I see Frankies Bikinis a lot on Instagram and I think they’ve absolutely nailed Gen Z/trend driven but classic bikinis- if I was going on Love Island this is where I’d shop.
I love getting new swimwear as it feels like I’ve come so far in body confidence when wearing it! I used to hate buying swimwear when I was in my teens and I always felt so insecure wearing bikinis, but now I love parading around in little bikinis because who actually cares! Everyone is too busy having fun to even focus on what you are wearing on the beach/round the pool. I found this really cute pink bikini from AsYou, who isn’t loving pink at the moment?! I also love a crinkle style, so this blue set from Weekday and this swimsuit from 4th & Reckless were perfect finds.
I’ve struggled to find any swimwear pieces I really like this year. I like bright colours and bold patterns but most plus size swimwear is really boring and bland. My go to style is a bikini with high waisted bottoms and a very supportive top otherwise my boobs scrape the floor and they get in the way when I diving to the bottom of the pool doing handstands. I’ve got a few here that I would wear but to be honest, if there was more of a selection I’d still go for bolder, brighter.
The Year Of The Micro Wedding: 2021’s Trending Flowers & Colour Schemes
We spoke with Kate Symington, the floral designer at Gloam, to get her expert opinion on the colour combos and floral fancies to have on your radar for 2021 and beyond.
After a year-long hiatus, wedding season is back with a bang and soon-to-be married couples will finally be able to have their confetti moment. Alexa, play Etta James.
Despite roadmap delays and England’s big (freedom) day getting a postponement of its own, weddings will go ahead this summer, albeit on a more intimate scale and with less dancing. Probably a good thing for those of us who think we’re Patrick Swayze after a couple of sherbets. Nobody needs to see that.
So, what does the birth of the micro-wedding mean for this year’s floral trends and colour schemes? We spoke with Kate Symington, the floral designer at Gloam, to get her expert opinion on the colour combos and floral fancies to have on your radar for 2021 and beyond.
From seasonality and sustainability to elaborate cottagecore tablescapes, there’s a whole new dawn of wedding day trends to ensure your special day is larger than life in spirit, no matter how small the guest-list is.
Get saving these ideas to a secret Pinterest board immediately.
How have the current wedding regulations influenced what people want for their wedding flowers and colour palettes?
The Covid wedding rollercoaster has been challenging for many couples, and we have found many people have definitely had a change of outlook. They have opened themselves up to exploring seasonality and have relished playing with colour and texture. Couples have wanted more personal floral elements so that everyone feels part of the occasion. There has been a genuine wish for floral designs to emphasize the joy of finally getting married.
In the age of the micro-wedding, it’s all about the detail. How can you use colour to really marry (excuse the pun) all your elements together to complement the style of your wedding?
When most couples think of colour – they focus on details like flowers and wedding attire. But the colour palettes that form part of a Gloam style brief really do ‘marry’ the whole celebration together. Elements that we always consider include stationery, draping, table linens, signage, candles, statement furniture, and bespoke installations. Colour becomes a journey and a vital element of the story of your day. From the moment you send out your save the dates to that moment when guests arrive at your venue – colour can be the thread that connects it all.
What are the need-to-know colour schemes this year and what’s the best way to incorporate them into wedding decor and flowers?
We’ve seen several elements at work with colour palettes for 2021. Bright, Vibrant, and Joyful – couples are turning their back on safe. They want to make a statement – they really want to mark the occasion as, for many, it’s been a long road full of delays and cancellations. We have been making colourful signage, bright bouquets, and tiny colourful table details. It brings a wonderful kitsch feel to the fore.
Neutrals – this is a soft, relaxed palette made up of beige, ivory, smokey coppery pinks, terracottas and nudes. Ideal for those couples looking for a more chilled and relaxed feeling. These earthly tones add warmth and depth and pair well with a boho feel. These tones can be added with the use of dried elements, vintage rattan and textured fabrics. Details like ceramic bowls, woven placemats and copper detail can accentuate this vibe.
Seasonal Meadow – this isn’t really technically a colourway but a framing of your style. Couples commit to their seasonal, buying locally and sustainably. For example, in summer, you will have buttery yellows, vibrant lilacs, zesty greens and fizzy pinks. The look will be floaty and full of texture. This look can be paired with playful signage, low-level floral installations and gathered wild bouquets.
Any advice for anyone who doesn’t have an affinity with any colour schemes and flowers – where do you start?
When it comes to flowers and colour schemes – the best place to start is to follow the season. Speak to your florist about what’s going to be available. This might open you up to something you’d never even thought of. Each season has something wonderful to offer and you’ll be getting these elements at their best.
Other things to consider include your venue – some have quite a distinct decor while others can be more of a blank canvas. You might also want to think about the mood you are trying to set – festival vibe vs. romantic or party vs boho. This can help you define your colour palette. And a biggy – what colours do you actually love!
What have been the most popular flower requests for 2021, so far?
Peonies are always a firm favourite, but the season is so fleeting. And Ranunculus are so dreamy. We can’t wait to hit dahlia season! We try to advise our couples that the way to get the best out of our local supplies is to give them a colour spectrum to work with and let them select the finest blooms of the season. The results can be magical.
Has there been a rise in single stem floral arrangements or are big fairy-tale bouquets still enjoying their long-standing reign?
I think what we’ve seen when it comes to the design of bouquets is a sense of freedom. Couples are totally thinking about what they want and what makes them happy rather than being on-trend. We’ve made more single stem bouquets this year but also greenery only, wild and small, wild and large, dried mixed with fresh and dried only arrangement. We love that our couples feel so expressive.
Have you seen a shift in demand for wild nature-inspired arrangements over curated bouquets?
Our in-house style is wilder, gathered and a little unruly. We find that most of our couples are already very open to less curated arrangements. This trend also reflects the fact that wedding planning has been a little wild over the last year and a half. With all the rules and compliance that’s been involved in actually getting married, couples have definitely wanted to express themselves more and have achieved this by getting more creative with the details they could control.
We were initially surprised by the wish to increase the level of investment when it came to smaller weddings – we had expected people to reduce, reduce, reduce! But they wanted things to feel even more unique, and with the smaller numbers, they could re-look at certain elements they had discounted when dealing with a 100+ guest list. We had one couple create personal florals for all the guests who could not attend the ceremony – they were then delivered to those who were unable to be there.
What are your best tips for anyone having a monochromatic wedding?
Why pick one colour when you can have all the shades! We would definitely recommend picking ‘shades of blue’, for example. Don’t close down the design from the get-go – one rigid colour will make selecting items for your day so much more complicated and could leave things feeling flat. By using different tones, you can incorporate subtle contrasts and visual interest.
For anyone who’s not necessarily into traditional bouquets and flower arrangements, what other decorations can they incorporate to create a focal point at their wedding?
We are seeing couples really tuning into their venues when it comes to floral decor. Rather than thinking we need an arch or some urns – they are looking at their venue’s features and really trying to shine a light on those things that made them fall in love with the space. For example, a venue could boast a beautiful staircase or some rustic window ledges. Beautiful doorways might be the perfect spot for a romantic entranceway. Couples may want their guests to appreciate a great ceiling – making hanging installations a great asset. There are some powerful fireplaces in many venues just waiting to be adorned.
Due to limited dancing and restrictions, guests are spending even more time seated at the table. What’s your advice for nailing that tablescape magic?
If you want to make your tables sing, surprise your guests, make it personal and add texture and delightful hints of colour. With guest numbers, lower than normal, couples have invested in statement glassware or decorative plates. Adding little gestures like a floral detail to each individual plate always raises a smile. And adding a tiny handmade element that guests can take as a keepsake always adds a bit of magic.
The aisle meadow has proved pretty popular this year, it’s like cottagecore on heat! What are some things to consider if you’re going for this floral style?
Many of our couples are opting for floor-level arrangements rather than the classic arch or hanging installations. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of opting for an aisle meadow: Firstly, consider the space – you will want to ensure that you still have enough space to walk down the aisle comfortably – you don’t want you or your guests getting tangled in them. You may need to direct your guest into their seats in a slightly different way – have someone on hand to help do this.
Think about how to maximise your investment because a full aisle meadow is a statement piece and will be a central part of your floristry budget. Depending on the meadow’s construction, your florist might be able to reposition elements of it after your ceremony so they can be enjoyed throughout the day – but this will need to be agreed upon in advance.
Have you seen a shift of focus on sustainability and using local seasonal blooms this year, at all?
There is a clear shift towards sustainability and seasonality. Many of our couples list this at the top of their must-haves. Venues like Guardswell Farm are also helping to drive this trend with their in-house sustainability policies.
What’s the best way to dress a micro-wedding in terms of decor and flowers – any strict dos and don’ts to adhere to?
When it comes to a micro wedding, the number one requirement is that the couple gets exactly what they want. This simple requirement can often get diluted when dealing with an extensive guest list. In terms of dos – focus on the detail and the personal touches. Focus on things you couldn’t do with lots of guests, invest in the things you really love.
One of our recent couples had armchairs and sofas for guests to sit on during the ceremony, making it feel so welcoming and informal. Do away with seating plans. Instead, you might want to create bespoke menus for each guest. Be flexible. There’s no focus on a schedule – take time with your guests – enjoy the surroundings. You don’t need a rigid order of events.
Whilst England's place in the Euros remains to be seen, at the very least we know it's coming home for tv and film this year.
The football’s on, we’ve coupled up with Love Island again and cinema is back, ah sweet normality, it’s good to see you again. Whilst England’s place in the Euros remains to be seen, at the very least we know it’s coming home for tv and film.
From The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4, the police dramas we only just got round to watching nearly a decade later (mother of god) and this summer’s cinematic must-sees, here’s a recap of the latest tv shows and movies we’ve been watching on the big screen and the medium screen, as a reward for how shit the tiny screen makes us feel.
Nothing strips down your entire existence quite so ruthlessly as a family of glowing rectangles, does it? Here’s what we’ve been cancelling all social plans to watch lately.
Larrese’s Picks
Line of Duty
Mother of god, I’m embarrassingly late to the police drama party but when season 6 was trending a few months back, I thought I may as well see what all the fuss is about once and for all, so I got fully acquainted with the AC12 gang. I don’t know what kept me all these years. I’d seen snippets and some spoilers on Goggle Box (mainly the Trump cameo) so I knew the main premise of the series but not enough for it to ruin the show for me. The cast are brilliant together – Hastings, Kate and Arnott have my heart. I recently discovered Martin Compston is Scottish which blew my mind and made me fancy him even more. His London accent is ridiculously good. PS I’ll never misspell definitely ever again.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
No YOU went to the cinema the day it opened on your own to watch a children’s film. I don’t think I appreciated how much I loved going to the cinema before the pandemic. It’s the only way to get me to sit and actually watch a film. If I’m at home, I’m on my phone replying to emails or mindlessly scrolling, so the cinema is the perfect place to force me to sit still, switch off from the small screen and treat myself to the pure uninterrupted joy of the big screen. Admittedly, there wasn’t a great deal of choice so I was forced to watch Peter Rabbit 2, really (cough, liar, cough), and I loved it, not quite as much as the first one – that was a bit more cottagecore fluff, this one was a little more action bunny, but wholesome viewing nonetheless.
Anne With An E
The perfect tv comfort food for a rainy day. The Netflix original is an adaptation inspired by the Anne of Green Gables book series by L.M. Montgomery. It’s a coming-of-age story about a young fearless Canadian orphan trying to find her place in the world. She’s mistakingly sent to live with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, where she transforms the lives of everyone she meets with her exuberance and wild imagination. Actress Amybeth McNulty is perfectly cast as the spirited anti-heroine, Anne Shirley. Her talent alone makes the series impossible not to binge, as does the stunning backdrop of Prince Edward Island. I feel a trip to Canada coming on… when we’re allowed.
Mare of Easttown
Adding this in as a tv series I’m currently trying to get into but can’t promise I’ll finish… does it get better, guys?! I’ve heard great things about it and Kate Winslet is in it so it’s gotta be worth a watch, surely? But the first episode just didn’t rock my world. Something’s not quite reeling me in so, I’ll probably finish watching it on my deathbed along with all the other iconic films and tv shows I’ve missed. RIP Grey’s Anatomy.
The Bold Type
Forever wishing I’m a Sutton, completely gutted that I’m a Tiny Jane through and through. I loved everything about this show. Even Pinstripe. Fancied him in a major way – I don’t make the rules. The alchemy between the three characters, Kat, Sutton and Jane is what saves this show from veering into the glossy, media gal rom-com archetype. Yes, it’s wildly unrealistic – Jane writes one article a week, always takes a lunch break and reports directly to her Editor in chief who cancels Beyonce to be a shoulder for Tiny Jane and is a treadmill marching angel – but the love story shared between these three gal pals is what kept my subscription to Scarlet magazine going strong.
Danielle’s Picks
The Handmaids Tale – Season 4
Even though I’m only 3 episodes into the latest season I had to put this series in my choices as I’ve been gagging for it to come out for months! I always used to think the premise of this show sounded too depressing and macabre but as soon as I gave it a go I was hooked. The women portrayed in this show whether you love them or hate them are f***ing epic, every performance is so ridiculously good. The new season is a refreshing step change from the previous 3 (I don’t want to give away any spoilers) but it feels like it could go in any direction right now and it’s SO exciting.
Loki
I’m always a sucker for a Marvel series, especially as it’s something I can enjoy with my partner Harry. We watched WandaVision and loved it, they’re like watching a 6-hour movie dedicated to one character. Anything Marvel produces is usually packed full of humour, twists & turns, easter eggs, and great storylines and Loki is no different. The series takes place after Loki steals the tesseract in End Game and he’s brought to the TVA (Time Variance Authority) after an alternate version of Loki created a new timeline. Owen Wilson stars in the new series and he’s as lovable as ever. Definitely recommend giving it a go if you’re into the ol’ MCU.
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 6
It’s back, back, back, back, back again! Obviously, I’ve smashed the series 13, the UK series 2 and Down Under already this year but you best believe but All-Stars has my heart. I love seeing queens come back and show how much they’ve improved, with elevated looks and vibes. The challenges are top tier, and I love the format of the queens voting each other off. If you’ve never watched RuPaul’s Drag Race what the hell are you doing with your life? This series I’m rooting for Raja O’hara, I love everything she’s shown so far and I’m glad she’s getting that redemption after being too caught up in the competitiveness of her season.
Bo Burnham: Inside
Wow, what a masterpiece. Bo Burnham creates genius musical comedy specials and has done for years but this one hits different. Bo wrote, directed, filmed, and edited the whole thing from a tiny apartment over the year we all has to stay inside. it touches on his mental health over the course of the year, as well as his feelings doing stand up before the pandemic, the dangers of how addictive digital is for all of us especially young adults, and of course Jeff Bezos and his mighty wealth. This special really holds a mirror up to society and points out so many ugly truths we’re just not talking enough about, but it also pokes light-hearted fun at topics like sexting and ‘white women’s Instagram’ accounts (yes I felt very attacked). Urge you to give this one a watch!
Charlotte’s Picks
Cruella
This was my first cinema trip since Christmas when I managed to squeeze a visit in between lockdowns and boy oh boy was I excited. I managed to see Cruella just before it left cinemas and I so wish I had been sooner because it was one of those films I could easily have gone and watched again the next day. I love both Emma Stone and Emma Thompson (special mentions to The Amazing Spiderman and Love Actually) at the best of times so seeing them be the boss ass b*tches they are on screen together was such a joy. The plot was imaginative, surprising and sprinkled with plenty of humour, wit and simply everything I hoped for and more. I always love admiring the costume department of any film I watch and the emphasis on fashion in Cruella wasn’t something I was really anticipating but really blew me away. As a fashion graduate I loved the rivalry between Cruella and the Baroness who gave me total Miranda Priestly of The Devil Wears Prada vibes. 10/10 recommend and will be watching again soon on Disney+!
Love Island
You either love it or you love to hate it but I for one am overjoyed to have this trashy, addictiveness back on my screen! I think I was in the minority of loving winter Love Island so I had my fix more recently than those who skipped out that season, but I am still thrilled that it is FINALLY back. It really needs no introductions but I am already living for the memes, TikToks and group chats popping off every episode- the country is united and it’s all thanks to terrible flirting and cringe chat ups lines on ITV2- who would have thought it?!
Too Hot To Handle
I’ve got love on the brain and also live in a house of 4 girls so of course Netflix hit THTH has been on our TV at every given opportunity. I don’t know how I feel about this show, despite how much I’d heard about it, and mostly find the combination of Americans and Brits mixing (amongst other nationalities too) extremely jarring for some reason, ha. I also just find the whole concept so odd- like, if some of these people genuinely can’t go even one day without kissing or sleeping together then surely that’s a major problem?? It feels so bizarre to me, and I know a lot of it is probably put on for the cameras but seriously I would be so annoyed as a contestant who could easily stick to the rules when money is involved to have others throw it away for the sake of some heavy petting in a bedroom surrounded by strangers. Get a grip people!
Darcey’s Picks
Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey
(TW sexual assault) If you like a true-crime documentary, this is really one to sink your teeth in. Based on true events, it relives the kidnapping of Lisa McVey who narrowly escapes her kidnapper. However, and this is the big twist in the story, no one initially believed her. They said she must have been making it up because her story was too detailed (wtf?). I find films and series based on true events fascinating, and I massively admired the bravery of such a young girl who had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted. It’s an uncomfortable watch at times, but you are glued to the screen as she slowly convinces the people around her that this happened and fights to get who did it bought to justice. There’s a big twist too, which again is mind-blowing to think this is true and if she hadn’t persevered to get him caught he would have stayed on the streets hurting more and more women. Would absolutely recommend to any fellow true-crime lovers.
Sweet Tooth
I loved this series so much! Sometimes felt a bit close to home as it centres around a virus that made everyone sick (we are all potentially over this narrative now ha, although it is based of a comic from 2009), however this series is all about the ‘hybrid’ children that were born from this, who are half human and half animal. This series follows Gus who is a hybrid with a deer, so he has very cute antlers but also possesses abilities deers have like night vision etc! I don’t want to give too much away but I really enjoyed this series, I felt so many emotions while watching this and was really rooting for little Gus and his quest. It’s an easy watch and perfect for a Sunday snuggled in bed!
The Pact
SO BLOODY GOOD! Honestly I had kind of given up on BBC series after they have discontinued some of my favourite (Doctor Foster you will forever be in my heart). Also, 6 episodes a series? BBC we want MORE. Although actually, I feel this series was perfectly summed up in 6 episodes, but I think we could off stretched it to 8, just saying. This series follows a group of women who one night leave a co-worker in a forrest as a practical joke, I know even from that you know it’s going terribly wrong. Let’s just say they end up with an unexplained death and the women are now in a pact to vow to stick together in order to not go down for it. Would highly recommend and if you are anything like me you’ll be finished in a day.
Workin’ Moms
This pains me to say it, it really does, but I didn’t love this last series. I have been waiting for the new series for what feels like forever, but it kinda flopped? I am so sad to say this but I’ve been watching it for years and always so excited when the new episodes are released, but I just didn’t like the plot of the last series! Without giving too much away for people who haven’t yet watched it, but I think it’s because the moms aren’t all together, with Anne living in a new city. Also, Jenny is hardly in this series and just has some strange storyline running alongside the others, where she’s in some weird relationship with her boss? It just didn’t add up to me, Hopefully, the next series hits better!
Abi decided to start her small business for gender-neutral baby clothing after spending her career in kidswear buying and noticing how much of the clothing was quite gender-stereotypical when it came to colours and designs.
First off, how are you and how is your 2021 going?
Great question, thank you for asking. I have found 2021 really eye opening, from a personal perspective I think I have done a lot of reflecting on 2020 and the injection of serious growth we saw as a business and that I had to handle on one pair of shoulders. I stepped up but felt quite burnt out, so I feel like this year has been a lot about my personal growth and practising some self-mastery, as much as the business growth. The business has had some brilliant moments this year but the last two months have been tougher, we were hit hard with the impact of COVID in India for our production, and sales naturally took a little wobble when retail and life has opened up slightly. All in all it’s been quite the year so far, I thought 2020 was wild … but 2021, wow!
Can you tell us about your journey to start Claude & Co?
Claude & Co (named after my first cat) was a combination of my foundations in fashion buying, feeling Children’s products really resonated with me and my style and that you could have fun with it, and they’re tiny…who doesn’t love tiny things. I love women’s clothing but it’s too personal for me. I think having no children (as yet) helped me a lot…though it does seem to shock most people! A lot of Children’s brands are started by mums noticing a gap or giving it a go on mat leave, and it’s become the norm.
I noticed a gap in the market for a really well-rounded Unisex clothing brand.
During my career, and endless design presentations I noticed a gap in the market for a really well-rounded Unisex clothing brand, that was sophisticated and cool, appealed to parents, at an achievable price point. Really key though was having those small brand ethics that big corporate companies are rarely held accountable for. Fabric sourcing, Organic materials, sustainable packaging but with that wow feeling when your order arrives. A lot to ask of myself but I felt it was worth it!
I started slow, and had other toy and interior brands on the website. Selling those whilst working on my brand behind the scenes, I knocked on a lot of doors and previous contacts from my buyer life until someone listened. I knew what I wanted I just needed help to make it. I still work with the factory now and they make the most incredible clothing. I am so proud of the quality and level of Claude & Co. Now we’re five years in, and the brand has grown and the awareness too, we’re stocked in most countries around the world – all pretty much from my front room. We have a warehouse based in the U.K (as we used to pack and send everything from home eek) and the collection has grown steadily to where we are now and with I believe a strong future ahead.
We know you previously worked in buying, what steps did you take in your education/early career to achieve that role?
I started my career in fashion buying very young, I was really thrown in at the deep end. During my first year at uni, I took it upon myself to get some work experience in a buying office. I was offered a job after around a month of clearing the rails, sorting folders and asking the right questions. I left university that same day and gave it my all. For me, four more years made no sense when I had these big plans.
I was pretty determined from around 14 years old that I wanted to be a fashion buyer. I loved art (I still do, painting is my solace) I loved creating and I knew fashion was something that got me excited. I had a career day at school and they gave me some guidance on the idea of being an architect or a fashion buyer, which I had no idea even existed but sounded better than an architect because well…too mathematical. So that was me. Fashion Buyer in the making.
I worked my butt off and climbed that ladder fast in my career– I ended up as a buyer on Childrenswear for NEXT and I whilst I felt very “successful” having become a buyer and travelled the world turning left on the plane at 25 years old, doing what I felt was seen as a “dream job” I just was not satisfied. I was pretty sucked up in the corporate world and I think I burnt out pretty fast. I just could not relate to the people and attitudes around me and felt I was destined for something else. I had thankfully built myself a strong base to take time out, keep my home and invest some savings into giving something a go that I’d had the idea of for a while. So there we go, I leapt…with a lot of blind faith and a LOT to learn but with some good experience under my belt.
We love your gender-neutral clothing, why do you think it’s so hard to find on the market?
I have no idea; I think especially for baby clothing…there is so much gender stereotyping and it’s such a shame. When I am designing, I never consider the gender of a child it doesn’t enter my head. I just think whoever they are, will look so great in this and it can appeal to anyone. I try and keep to neutral earthy colours and interesting fabrics, focusing on something a bit more sophisticated.
I try and keep to neutral earthy colours and interesting fabrics, focusing on something a bit more sophisticated.
I really think it’s just ‘how things have been’ which I like to think Claude & Co will be at the forefront of a natural edge towards being different. I lived in Amsterdam not long ago, and I think there was a welcome and different approach there which I’ve absorbed. The clothing for Children centred around a lot more independent brands and less high street retail which was far more open to unisex and ethical fashion. I think indie brands really are at the forefront of championing this, it’s just reaching people that’s the challenge!
What is the process like for designing products and picking out your slogans like “Milking It”?
I am quite dry in my sense of humour, and I knew that slogans had to play a part in the brand to stop things being too cute and serious. We’ve had a few along the way and Milking It – has really stuck. So much so it’s now trademarked in the U.K, the USA, Europe and more to come…safe to say we’ve had a few copycats along the way! I heard a friend say something along the lines of “you spend your years building a brand, then years protecting it“ amen to that.
Milking It is what we are most recognised for now and I just never get bored of it. I can just picture every parent smirking when they change their baby into it, who no doubt is 100% milking it. In every sense.
I love the design process; I think that’s where I find the most validation in my business and happiness. Something coming to life from my head is the best buzz. I normally consider what I feel is missing or I’d love to see out there. Seeing little ones, and matching parents in the ideas from my head is the best feeling. I tend to start with a sketch, and I brief the factory to do a toile (a mock up) on that and we put it with fabrics and get samples made. I love all those little attention bits, the labels and stitch colours, button placements etc. All makes such a difference to the end result.
Can you tell us about some highs and lows of starting your own small business?
Five years in, I can say there has been some extreme highs and lows. In every decision you make you either learn or you grow which is important to recognise. There really is no “how to” guide. Every decision big or small has been totally on my shoulders. Which some days I find easier than others!
High points, those ‘pinch me’ moments when you curate and dream of a brand and see people wearing or loving it – Zoe and Alfie the exact example here! Seeing them receive their order, watching as a fly on the wall, was one of my proudest moments. I have imagined that moment for expectant excited parents so many times but never witnessed it. I imagine how many people have had that feeling through buying something I created, that’s a high.
A big positive is flexibility! Your time is your own, which works well for me. I like to structure my days, but I am so unproductive from 11am-2pm so I normally allow myself some time for exercise, a great lunch, meeting a friend etc but I get up at 6am and work, because I love a peaceful morning and I find my work is better that way.
Flip side is, you must be so driven to keep getting up and going day after day. No one else is pushing, so you have to bring that energy. It’s tough, especially when sales aren’t as positive, or the delivery is missing somewhere between India and the U.K and no one knows where, or your website crashes when launching new product (all things I’ve had to handle). With that, I find there is no off button. When you’re on holiday and not relaxing because you just need to send that email, post on instagram, I feel like I need to learn to be more present which I think a lot of small business owners can relate to.
Skies the limit. I love that feeling when it’s my own company. It comes with the fear factor but there is no ceiling with your own brand. I love that the future is in my own hands.
I think all moments of validation are really personal to the business and person behind it. Everyone has their own dream, and vision to tap into. The high points totally outweigh the low, which is the reason we do it!
What’s the best advice for someone wanting to start a new business?
You need to align your mindset and motivation to get moving. Be totally sure that you are passionate about what you want to create or sell. Either a service based or product-based business that applies. Someone’s passion for their brand or profession shows and its infectious. I think it helps people connect with you. You can tell when something is half hearted!
I’d also say, spending your time looking too much at your competition is dangerous. Be focused on your own mission, people will come and go. You will think everyone else has something you don’t but all journeys are different. Someone can turn over a million pounds and make no profit, it’s all relative to your goals…!
I’d also suggest getting advice and being clear on areas that make you feel nervous. I always found figures and accounts daunting. Turns out I just needed to find the right fit for me with my accountant, she is the best decision I made last year! I am growing more and more confident, and I feel like we’re a team. When you work on your own it’s so important to find that support.
I’d always recommend for someone to go for it with starting their own business. There is always room for what you want to create, and I think if you have that idea and passion then you’re so much further than most people. Get your plan in place, get your people in place, and be brave. No growth ever happens in your comfort zone.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on newness for next spring and I am really feeling a bit of 70’s styling and some country and western details. Tricky as I never like to be too “trend” led especially with unisex baby clothing, but a little nod won’t hurt. I love working really in season, I cannot hold onto ANYTHING If I love it, booking too far in advance just doesn’t work for me. So If I am working on something it’s likely to launch soon. Nightmare to manage but it makes me happy!
I have been trying to look at refreshing our Milking It collection to grow it a little more with some new fabrics and sleepsuits. I hope I’ll be able to launch them this Winter, so eyes peeled! I keep trying to think of the friend of “milking it” as another slogan, so if anyone has any great ideas let me know!
What are some of your other favourite small business baby brands?
Oh so many. My dearest friend Eleanor from Nellie Quats – we’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders and I don’t think I could do this without her. She has the most beautiful girlswear brand. Totally different to Claude & Co which I think helps our friendship. I have a great relationship with Bethany at Ando Stores, and we’ve worked on some collaborations together to sell exclusively across our stores, and there’s more to come. Her eye for product is like no other, and I think when I have a baby (one day) I’ll be shopping on there 24/7. Some brands I love, Silly Silas (dreamy combination with Claude & Co) Artipoppe carriers are so hot right now and I love them. I’ve always really admired Gray Label for their simple design and clean lines for baby clothing. I like Garbo & Friends and Konges Slojd for interiors and accessories. Olli Ella have always been a big support to me as a brand and I love their entire process and success, they’re wonder women. It’s so inspiring. Not strictly Childrenswear but ‘Mustard Made’… those girls are incredible as are their lockers. The independent childrenswear market is so huge, and I am proud to be in the mix.
What does your perfect weekend look like?
I’m such a brunch girl. Meeting a group of friends or family for slow brunch in the sunshine or by a cosy fireplace is heaven to me, maybe a walk and little shop around. We live in Winchester and it’s great for independent coffee shops. We have an allotment and love spending time there during the summery days, it’s so peaceful. An evening date with my boyfriend, a nice meal somewhere and a great bottle of wine…clearly our life revolves happily around food and socialising.
I love to paint, they keep getting bigger and bigger and we have zero wall space! I have a thing for still life painting with oils, and it’s how I zone out. So taking Sunday to paint is my happy place, preferably with a historical romance tv show on in the background. Bridgeton five times now. Help. Haha!
What do you always carry with you?
My backpack, with so many half used lost and found Mac ‘faux’ lipsticks that it’s a crime. I always have my glasses as I am pretty blind without them! Otherwise I travel very light, I think a year of lockdown has meant it’s normally phone and mask in one hand and glasses in the other.
What would your last ever meal be?
I love good food; I don’t eat dairy now…so I think last meal ever I’d be all over the cheese! Pasta is my go-to, and as basic as it would be…mushroom pasta loaded with a MOUNTAIN of truffle would see me off nicely with a good bottle of red wine. Preferably sandwiched between some crisps and dip and some passion fruit cheesecake to finish thank you! My mouths watering. Ha-ha.
What is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?
It’s so exciting when you realise that there is no limit to what you can achieve. Learn about practising manifesting and mindset. Might sound totally woohoo to some people, I hear you. But try to read or listen to books about it. It really has changed my approach to business and life a lot. Learning about being aware of your own power is so addictive. You can take responsibility for the world you create around you. ‘Thoughts become things’ people!
One thing that really helped me align with my ambition, I wrote down moments in my past where I’ve felt validation, whether that’s work or personal, really describe them and be aware of that feeling. Then write, picture or just imagine how they might show up your future. Let yourself go there and get moving towards it.
If book boners exist, then trust us when we say we’re going to be well and truly pitching a tent this summer. Here’s a look at the blurbs!
Our book club dump is here to complete your balmy summer TBR list. In this semester’s line up, we’ve got the ultimate beach read in Lizzy Dent’s latest feel-good rom com The Summer Job, Transcendent Kingdom – the ruminative second novel by Yaa Gyasi (prepare to be both speechless and ruined in the best possible way) and A Slow Burning Fire by Paula Hawkins, a scorching new thriller from the best-selling author of The Girl on the Train.
If book boners exist, then trust us when we say we’re going to be well and truly pitching a tent this summer. Here’s a look at the blurbs!
July – The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
Part Bridesmaids, Fleabag and Bridget Jones, there’s no poolside pal with a sense of humour quite like Lizzy Dent’s The Summer Job.
Have you ever imagined running away from your life?
Well Birdy Finch didn’t just imagine it. She did it. Which might’ve been an error. And the life she’s run into? Her best friend, Heather’s.
The only problem is, she hasn’t told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems…
Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?
And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she’s ever actually liked (but who thinks she’s someone else)
Yaa Gyasi’s searing follow up to her acclaimed best-seller Homegoing delivers a powerful and moving portrait of a family of Ghanaian immigrants, ravaged by depression, grief and addiction.
As a child Gifty would ask her parents to tell the story of their journey from Ghana to Alabama, seeking escape in myths of heroism and romance. When her father and brother succumb to the hard reality of immigrant life in the American South, their family of four becomes two – and the life Gifty dreamed of slips away.
Years later, desperate to understand the opioid addiction that destroyed her brother’s life, she turns to science for answers. But when her mother comes to stay, Gifty soon learns that the roots of their tangled traumas reach farther than she ever thought. Tracing her family’s story through continents and generations will take her deep into the dark heart of modern America.
September – Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
One of the most talked-about authors from the last year following the success of her novel to tv show Normal People – Sally Rooney is back with a brand new book based in Dublin following a quartet of young friends, their lives and their loves.
Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a distribution warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend Eileen is getting over a break-up, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood.
Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon are still young—but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They have sex, they worry about sex, they worry about their friendships and the world they live in. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world?
The author behind the global phenomenon The Girl on the Train is back with her highly anticipated new thriller. A Slow Burning Fire explores the way no tragedy happens in isolation. Expect a dark plot, intensely believable, human characters and explosive gasp out loud twists.
‘What is wrong with you?’
Laura has spent most of her life being judged. She’s seen as hot-tempered, troubled, a loner. Some even call her dangerous.
Miriam knows that just because Laura is witnessed leaving the scene of a horrific murder with blood on her clothes, that doesn’t mean she’s a killer. Bitter experience has taught her how easy it is to get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Carla is reeling from the brutal murder of her nephew. She trusts no one: good people are capable of terrible deeds. But how far will she go to find peace?
Innocent or guilty, everyone is damaged. Some are damaged enough to kill.
Look what you started.
What book has got you truly hyped for a summer of good reads?
General acts of self-care that keep you feeling stable and grounded might be as simple as taking the bins out or changing your bedding, but oftentimes treating yourself to some well deserved TLC can be just what you need for a mental and physical recharge.
Pampering is second nature to most of us after 18 months of desperately trying to entertain ourselves indoors, so it’s safe to say the team didn’t struggle in picking out our dream evening-in accompaniments. Pass us the Vino, please!
General acts of self-care that keep you feeling stable and grounded might be as simple as taking the bins out or changing your bedding, but oftentimes treating yourself to some well deserved TLC can be just what you need for a mental and physical recharge. Never underestimate the power of the humble face mask.
And finding a peaceful state of mind doesn’t have to involve a far flung holiday destination or exclusive spa day (which is just as well really, Boris)- it can be as simple as carrying out small acts that encourage a state of zen in your own home. Be it a bubble bath, curling up with your favourite book or blasting Ms Swift’s Folklore (a surefire win), it’s important to prioritise recharging your batteries now more than ever as your social calendar fills up.
Keep scrolling to see the team’s must-have pamper picks…
Zoe
When it comes to a pamper evening I tend to start off with a bath and a body scrub, followed by a moisturiser! Slip into some freshly washed pjs, whack on the Neom well-being pod with an essential oil and some good eye masks and just relaxing for a while, maybe listen to a calming app or meditation and then pop a space mask on. If you stay awake past this point I’ll be surprised haha!
If I’m having a pamper night I’m doing it properly, ordering in the Whispering Angel, getting the bougie face mask out, having a long soak in the bath and maybe even moisturising my body for once. You know it’s serious when the body moisturiser comes out. Part of my pampering ritual includes slipping into some fresh pjs and slippers and then spending the rest of the evening reclined with the pink water. Cheers to that!
When it comes to a pamper evening the key words for me are “mask” and “moisture” I basically want to go to bed feeling like a slippery seal. I’ll start with a bath and whack off all body hair below my eye brows with an Estrid razor, believe the IG ads it really is the best, you’ll never go back after you’ve tried it. A lot of hair masks are just conditioners left on longer so I prefer to use the Olaplex no.3 which is a pre shampoo treatment that you can really feel a difference with after one use, it works to fix hair instead of just coating it in something, again believe the Olaplex hype nothing comes else close to their technology. I’ll also do a face mask whilst my conditioner gets to work and this new Summer Friday’s one sounds divine! Then when i’m out the bath I’ll moisturise my whole body with a cream I reserve ‘for best’ and maybe even do a foot mask now I’m all about the sandal life.
I love a pamper night and I think it’s so important for your mental wellbeing to take some time out treating yourself and relaxing. I absolutely love the Olaplex No.3 hair mask, It’s transformed my hair and I use it once a week! While I have a hair mask on I always need a face mask too, this Mugwort one from axis-y is incredible, really clears the pores. Foot masks are also a good addition to a pamper night too. I recently got a new body scrub for my birthday and it is INSANE, it’s from Mallows Beauty called the Coconut and Coffee Body Scrub, my skin has never been so soft (also fab for getting off leftover self-tan). Lastly a nice relaxing candle really sets the mood, some snacks and a good Netflix series.
I consider myself a bit of a queen of pampering and knowing what makes me feel good as a suckler for routine and self-care so my evening in routine is nailed! It sometimes feel superficial to include beauty/skincare in a self-care category but often physical pampering is such a beneficial, tangible step you can take in making yourself feel good and a hair mask and clean, fresh face are my go-to, easy steps. I’ve spoken about this Bleach London mask before because it’s just so blaaddy good and is a must for anyone with coloured hair IMO! The Peachy Clean Scientia is also a dream and oil cleansers always feel quite luxurious for a pamper night I think.
To really set the mood I’ll light some incense and pop on my favourite chill tunes which rotates between Folklore and Evermore and voila, the perfect pamper evening.
When I think pamper nights I imagine me and my mum sitting on the sofa, face masks on, cucumber on the eyes and painting our nails. We’ll have a good film on in the background and burn a lavender candle. Probably have a cheeky glass of wine and of course some snacks too.
June Book Club: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson
Not only is this manifesto a fierce and defiant reclaiming of space for young black queer people, it’s a clarion call to fight for your right to live a full and authentic life.
In their best-selling memoir-manifesto, All Boys Aren’t Blue, LGBTQIA+ activist, acclaimed author and journalist, George M. Johnson, explores the reality of growing up queer and black in America.
Through a series of powerful and unflinching essays, George unpacks a plethora of timely subjects such as gender identity, institutionalised homophobia, consent, toxic masculinity, family and brotherhood.
From the memories of getting their teeth kicked out by bullies at age five to their first sexual relationships and the precious bond with their grandmother ‘Nanny’, each page wrestles with trauma, triumph, Black joy and tragedy in a moving exploration of ever-evolving selfhood through a Black lens.
“Navigating in a space that questions your humanity isn’t really living at all. It’s existing. We all deserve more than just the ability to exist.”
Not only is this manifesto a fierce and defiant reclaiming of space for young black queer people, it’s a clarion call to fight for your right to live a full and authentic life.
Keep scrolling to read the team’s reviews of this emotionally frank and essential read.
Lareese
It’s been a while since I’ve read a memoir and this one by George M. Johnson reminded me why I love them so much. They’re like a palate cleanser between fiction – raw stories that bring you right back to what you both fiercely love and detest about humanity. George’s story is an unvarnished & courageous telling of their childhood and adolescent years growing up under the duality of being black and queer. In a series of personal essays and letters to his family, some heart-warming and hopeful, others devastating and painful, they reflect on the experiences that made them the person they are today. From encounters with bullies, to coming out and finding brotherhood in a college fraternity, they write a reassuring testimony that, even in trauma, there can be joy, love and healing happening. The football scene broke me and every moment with his grandmother made me cry happy tears. I can’t wait to read more about her in their next book. George was simply born to tell stories and I’ve no doubt after reading this powerful account, many others will feel brave and proud enough to tell theirs, too.
Rating: All the stars
Would you recommend it: It’s an essential read
Danielle
I love reading memoirs and short stories, it’s a great way to dip in and out of a book with ease whilst still getting really great plots and insight into someone’s life. George’s stories need to be told, they are such a powerful storyteller and there were moments where I was glued to the pages. The book is packed full of raw stories where George then goes on to explain what they symbolize which I found helpful. You could be the most open-minded LQBTQIA+ Ally, and you would still learn something about how much our society is entrenched with homophobia, gender stereotypes, and toxic masculinity. I was constantly laughing, then crying, then laughing again throughout the book and I’d honestly recommend it to anyone. Of course, there are hard-hitting segments but don’t let that put you off in place of another ‘easy beach read’.
Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend it: Definitely, to everyone!
Charlotte
This book is the definition of POWERFUL if I ever did see it and I feel so moved even a couple of weeks after finishing it. George is a born storyteller and it’s a privilege being able to hear the rawness, honesty and both joy and pain of their experiences and the intersections of being both black and queer. It’s always hard to review a memoir and someone’s personal life experiences but despite that it deserves a 10 out of 5 for how much I know it will help those who are put through similarly challenging circumstances, as well as to those of us who want to be better allies to people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.
I don’t normally pick up books in the style or format of short essays and letters but it was such a fitting way to communicate the themes and conflicts George felt and felt really digestible despite the heavy subject matter. I think it would be a really wonderful one to listen to as an audiobook and image it would be even more moving in this form! Personal, moving, outspoken and will have you crying both sad and happy tears, I recommend everyone reads All The Boys Aren’t Blue.
Rating: 5/5
Would you recommend it: 1000%
Holly
Well, I am absolutely blown away. Usually, I’m a solid young adult fiction fan, but all boys aren’t blue has genuinely really changed my outlook.
I actually have a couple of chapters left, partly because I don’t want it to end, partly because it can be quite hard to read at points. It’s shocking, and upsetting but so full of love and courage and makes my heart feel warm, I feel like I’ve learnt so much.
One reason I resonate so deeply with All Boys Aren’t Blue is that I am part of the LGBTQ+ group, and although I have experienced discrimination, my experiences are nothing compared to George’s. The first ‘experience’ I found the hardest to read, George was so young when they faced their first discrimination and to this day, can’t pinpoint exactly why they were targeted.
George M. Johnson writes so openly and honestly, I think it’s incredibly brave to share their experiences. All Boys aren’t Blue will help so many people. People from minority groups, ally’s, and people that need to be educated go read this! The whole novel shares an important message about being your true, authentic self, whoever you are and I know that’s something everyone can relate to.
Making The Most of July, Even If Summer Is Flaky AF
Summer might have done us dirty so far - June has a lot to answer for - but our spirit is far from broken.
It’s lukewarm below-average summer, bitches. Our free trial of nice weather has ended but we move. Summer might have done us dirty so far – June has a lot to answer for – but our spirit is far from broken. We still believe it’s coming home and we still believe our bikinis will have their time to shine…
As long as we have a good run of BBQs, corn on the cob, Aperol, crisps and dip, floaty dresses, pedicured toes, Calippos, sunsets, feel-good playlists, Love Island memes, carefree beach days followed by a superior shower (that post-swim hair wash always hits different), paddling pools, long balmy evenings, fish and chips and the faint holiday waft of sun lotion in the air, then we will enjoy this glorious time of year, whatever the roadmap to nowhere is saying. Here are 20 ways to make the most of July!
1. Enjoy the thrill of live sports in the company of unhygienic screaming strangers again. It’s coming home (even if it probably most definitely isn’t)
2. Remember that one time in 2002 the teachers let you come in early to watch the England vs Brazil game instead of going to lessons. Pure nostalgia.
3. Find yourself hankering for a pumpkin spice latte and a Christmas dinner because we’re officially closer to Christmas than January and British summertime really be like that.
4. Wear so much gingham, people start sitting on you to eat their sandwiches and tuck into their punnet of strawberries.
5. Somehow survive a 12-hour bottomless brunch. What year is it?
6. Cancel all plans that require leaving the house after 9pm on a week-day for the next six weeks…
7. Let the Casa Amor chaos commence.
8. Bond over how collectively ridiculous everyone looks when trying to walk barefoot on a pebbly beach whilst simultaneously trying to pretend it doesn’t hurt. Much grace. Much composure.
9. Ask yourself if the risk of being sociable is really worth it because POLLEN.
10. Wonder if you’ll ever get through all the tote bags you continue to throw in that one mother tote bag
11. Transfer money from your savings account to your current account. Repeat every three to five working days.
12. Tiger bread and Lurpak. That’s it. That’s how you make the most of July.
13. Think about quitting your job if your manager hints about coming back to the office one more time.
14. Not to be dramatic but unless we get a work uniform allowance for office clothes, no thanks.
15. Attempt to shake up your week-day dinners because you’ve been eating fajitas twice a week for a decade now
16. Before crawling back to the iconic permanent fixture that is: jacky p, cheese and beans. It’s like herpes for carbs, it always comes back.
17. Rest without guilt. You’re welcome.
18. Wonder if you’ve ever been sufficiently hydrated. Ever.
19. In the words of Matt Haig, “get a routine baggy enough to live in”
20. Feel shocked and disgusted at how expensive the outside world costs. My Monzo pots are in the worst shape of their lives but C’EST LA VIE.
With inclusive sizing and a range of unisex designs that you can look cute AF matching with your S/O in, there's certainly no harm in having a cheeky scroll in the Love Island ad break, right?
If you’re anything like us then the ASOS app is visited similarly to our holy grail social media- regularly, obsessively and with bated breath at what newness awaits us. It’s no surprise therefore that coming of age brand COLLUSION which is exclusive to the site is one we simply can’t get enough of. With inclusive sizing and a range of unisex designs that you can look cute AF matching with your S/O in, there’s certainly no harm in having a cheeky scroll in the Love Island ad break, right?
Key mentions go to the green knitted swirl co-ord that is giving 10/10 House of Sunny vibes, the satin zebra print scarf top that would look banging with a golden tan, and the unisex branded shorts for slobbing out in front of the TV in. It’s affordable, unique, and with six collaborators- students, stylists, activists, image-makers and authors- designing for the label in the past year, you know you’re on the right track for a stylish outfit you can rely on.
Which items are going straight into your basket? No judgement on the quantity of pieces here…
