Where Can You Wear a Black Cocktail Dress?

We are in to the full swing of Christmas now, and with only a few days left before most people finish work before the new year, there are Christmas parties and nights out going on left, right, and centre. 

This is an exciting time of year, and we are certainly looking forward to entering in to the festive spirit of things, but a lot of women will be struggling with the age old conundrum of deciding what to wear to all of these social occasions! 

It can be a struggle at Christmas between choosing something comfortable and safe, or going for something sparkly that might be a bit out of your comfort zone, but, in our new blog, we think a black cocktail can solve more problems than you may think:

"Dresses are great to wear for any kind of party or gathering, but black cocktail dresses have a classic, sophisticated, elegance that will allow you to wear the same dress almost anywhere.
At first thought, a black cocktail dress may seem a bit over the top for some occasions, but if you start thinking of it as a normal black dress, then you will realise that it can be adapted for almost anything. For example, you can go with the traditional formal look by putting your hair up in an elegant chignon, adding delicate silver jewellery and matching black heels, or you can layer it with a soft waterfall blazer, fashionable statement jewellery, and flat pumps."

Don't stress too much about what to wear over Christmas, just make sure to concentrate on enjoying yourself. Merry Christmas!

Don't forget to pop in to Goose Island for your last minute Christmas gifts, and our early New Year sale with up to 70% off!

Tips for Successful Dress Shopping

Christmas party season is upon us! You are getting the champagne ready, decorating the office, and creating some tasty Christmas nibbles, but what are you going to wear?

What to wear to Christmas parties can be a bit of a bug-bear. However, you can never go wrong with a dress. An entire outfit in one, dresses are the perfect elegant choice for any Christmas occasion and are easily dressed up or down depending on your mood.

This is great, but shopping for the perfect dress can be a nightmare. There are so many styles and colours being flashed at you from every high street store, that it can be hard to know what you want. That's why we have put together our latest blog to give you a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when hunting down that Christmas party dress:

"It is a good idea to give a little thought to the style of dress you want before you head out dress shopping, otherwise it is easier to become overwhelmed by everything on offer, rather than efficiently eliminating certain styles before you even get started. If your Christmas party is a formal occasion, consider a long elegant dress, if you are concerned about problem areas, think about going for a dress that covers these, such as long sleeves or a wrap around dress. Similarly, give some thought to the venue you will partying in; if you are heading to a hotel or a ballroom, then a formal dress is suitable, but if you are going out for a local meal and a few drinks, a sparkly party dress may seem like you are a bit overdressed."

The most important thing overall is that you feel comfortable, and are happy with the way you look. Don't be tempted by loud, sparkly dresses if you are not going to feel comfortable in the; you'll only put a downer on your evening if you are always worrying about what you look like.

Relax and enjoy yourself - it is Christmas after all!

Tops you Can Wear to Party the Night Away

The festive season is upon us, and we know that everyone is thinking about their Christmas party, whether that is in the office or a night out with the girls. A lot of people are also starting to fret about what wear...

Dresses are the go-to for Christmas occasions, but we think you can look just as stylish wearing a lovely top, with trousers or a skirt. In our new blog on our website, we have laid out a few tips and suggestions when looking for a Christmas party top:

"As with all ladies clothing these days, there is a myriad of different styles, cuts, and colours to choose from; making it easier to find something that suits you and your individual style. For a Christmas night out, you might want to think about looking out for tops that feature embellishments, such as sequins or diamantes for a bit of seasonal sparkle, or tops that feature a sheer or lace overlay to add a some classic elegance."

A top can be just as formal appropriate for any occasion as a dress, not to mention, you're more likely to wear a top again, than a posh dress! We've even suggested a few of our favourite tops that were made in Italy to carry you through the festive season, including details like velvet flocking, lace crochet, and sumptuous plum colours.

Don't miss out on style by only looking at dresses this Christmas. 

Do You Think Women's Cardigans are Stylish or Dowdy?

Halloween is already over, and even bonfire night has passed us by, which means that Christmas will be upon us before we know it. Some people are eagerly counting down, and others think it is far too soon to be thinking about Christmas, but you can’t deny that after an unseasonably warm October, it is quite refreshing to have a spell of season-appropriate weather.

With this new chilly weather setting in, it is the perfect excuse to hunt for some new cosy items to keep you warm. As women, we seem to favour cardigans more than men, and there is nothing easier than throwing on a comfy woolly cardigan that goes with everything, so you know you have a few reliable options for colder weather.

Cardigans are a popular cover-up throughout the year, but some people still feel that women’s cardigans can be a bit frumpy or dowdy. As with most fashion items, the choice is so wide and varied that you are sure to find a style or shape to suit you, leaving you feeling stylish rather than unfashionable.

Long Wool Mocha Cardigan – made in Italy

This thick wool cardigan is perfect for keeping you warm, but long waterfall style is also on trend at the moment, along with the seasonal mocha colour. This cardigan is certainly far from frumpy and firmly stylish and could easily be thrown on over jeans and a t-shirt for some weekend errand running, or it would look lovely with black trousers and a blouse for the office.

Fluffy Grey Cardigan – made in Italy

This women’s cardigan could not be anymore cosy. This is perfect as a festive addition to your wardrobe, and will certainly add interest to any outfit. It is the perfect piece to show off a bit of glamour on a night out or a festive party, and would look great paired with a black jumpsuit and stand-out heels.

Plum Floral Kimono Cardigan – made in Italy

Kimonos really made a splash in the fashion world this summer, but that doesn’t mean they have to be relegated to the back of the wardrobe for the winter. This plum colour kimono lends itself to the festive season, and the fringe adds another level of interest. This might be a cardigan choice for milder days that aren’t so frosty, but it would look great with almost any outfit, and you can continue wearing it when the weather warms up.

Grey Wool Stripe Gilet Cardigan – made in Italy

This is not a cardigan in the traditional sense, but it will still provide warmth and comfort on colder days. Similarly to the kimono, the gilet has become an increasingly popular item of winter clothing, and this particular piece will lend some classic elegance, without feeling ‘puffed out’ or frumpy. This gilet would look great paired with a long sleeved top, jeans, and knee high tan boots, for a perfect winter outfit. 

Swansea City Centre Upbeat Despite Recent Closures

Swansea city centre has faced some tough times in the recent economical climate, and as the Co-operative store on the corner of Portland Street and The Kingsway is closing its doors this week, it would seem that the city centre is still suffering.

The Evening Post reports that the Co-operative store, which was once the home to Mothercare and C&A, will be empty once again on Saturday. The same article also reflects on the recent closures of Mountain Warehouse on Oxford Street, as well as Phones 4 U and Monsoon, which have been part of the city centre for years. However, it is not all bad news;

“A planning application has already been submitted for the Mountain Warehouse site, and Barclays is carrying out a major refurbishment of the former La Senza building on Oxford Street as it prepares to relocate from The Kingsway.
National chain Las Iguanas has confirmed it’s moving to Wind Street and independent fashion retailer Goose Island, which has shops in Mumbles and Cowbridge, has opened in Plymouth Street.”

We opened a new store in Swansea city centre on November 1st. At Goose Island, we believe that it is important to invest in the city centre, as we believe it can still be a successful and bustling place where people can find everything they are looking for. Our new store had a successful opening day, and has remained busy since, seeing a steady footfall of new customers.

The Evening Post article also highlights a number of figures and statistics which show that Swansea is actually fairing a lot better in the retail sector than most of the UK. According to R3, the trade body for Insolvency Professionals, 21.82% of Swansea city’s retail businesses have a higher than normal risk of insolvency, compared to 22.21% of retail businesses in Wales, 25.04% in the UK, and 26.65% in London. These figures show that the city centre is heading in the right direction, which will surely give retailers a boost coming up to Christmas, however, more still needs to be done through schemes such as Swansea BID.

Goose Island’s owner and manager, Karen Hutchings, was given a chance to comment in the article on our new store opening, as well as the city centre situation in general;

“Swansea city centre is facing serious challenges with a number of national chains closing down, continued competition from out-of-town shopping centres, and the growth of online and mobile retailing.
Our shopping centre needs to be a social place with a vibrant daytime economy, offering something that neither shopping centres nor the internet can match. We want to show our commitment to the city centre rejuvenation by opening a boutique that offers shoppers a personal and high quality shopping experience. We hope that other independents will follow suit as we believe this approach will be a huge step in the city centre regeneration plans.”

We are looking forward to connecting with a lot more Swansea customers at our new store, and hope to see the growth of other independent retailers within the city centre in the near future.

You can read the full Evening Post article here.

How to Use Accessories to Change the Look of Any Outift

Most people have a few favourite items of clothing that they love to wear more often than others - those go to outfits that are thrown on when you can’t think of anything else to wear. Some people even have a ‘capsule’ wardrobe made up of a few different items that they can mix and match. But how do you stop yourself from becoming bored? There is only so much you can do with just a few items of clothing.

However, this does not mean that you need to stop wearing your favourite top and jeans combination, or you need to go out and buy 50 new outfits. There are other options that can bring to life boring outfits, or add a bit of personality back in to over-worn pieces of clothing.

Ladies’ accessories have such an incredible range and variety, you can find so many different pieces to suit any occasion, style, or mood. The right accessories can help you bring life back to old outfits, and even adapt them to certain occasions that you never would have thought of before.

Adding a necklace to an outfit can instantly change the entire tone and purpose. If you have a faithful black top that you wear often, try choosing a necklace that stands out against the black. Statement necklaces are extremely popular at the moment, and adding a beautiful, oversized necklace, with a bit of sparkle, against a black top would be perfect for a night out or special occasion. Additionally, add a long, simple, pendant-style necklace for a touch of understated elegance suitable for weekends or the office.

Similarly, other jewellery and accessories can create the same effect. Try wearing larger, brighter, and more ostentatious necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, when you are heading to a part or a night out, and simpler, plainer pieces for day-wear. However, try to remember to balance out your look – don’t wear large necklaces, bracelets, and earring all at once, it could be too much!

Another accessory that ladies can’t seem to be without is a handbag. Again this accessory varies wildly in style and quality, and can be used to make a significant change to any outfit. We all have a favourite handbag, one that we take with us wherever we go and is full of our daily essentials – as well as a lot of non-essentials – but as your styles and occasions change, it might be worth mixing up your handbag habits. A large black handbag is great for carrying around every day; it can fit your lunch in for work, and gives you plenty of room to carry around an umbrella, a hairbrush, and anything else you might need to survive the winter weather. However, you could try just changing the colour of your regular handbag if you are looking for a subtle deviation. Brown and tan colour bags are always on trend through autumn and winter. If you are heading out the evening, step outside of your comfort zone a little and opt for a glittery or sparkly mini clutch bag. This will instantly add glamour to your outfit, and the upcoming festive season is the perfect excuse.

Necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, handbags, as well as scarves and hats, can truly change the look of any outfit, and carry your style through day to night, and many other different occasions. When you are next putting on that same old outfit, take a moment to consider your accessories – change something, mix different elements up, and be creative – you could have a whole new outfit without buying a single piece of new clothing.

The Right Jacket Could Lift a Lady's Style

As the good old British weather dictates, a suitable jacket is an essential item in any lady’s wardrobe. Even in the summer, a jacket might be needed to ward off any cold spells, and cover up when the heavens open. However, a lot of ladies will only have one jacket in their wardrobe that they wear again and again in all weather.

There’s nothing wrong with a good reliable jacket, but wearing the same one day in day out can become a little monotonous, especially when there are so many different styles of jacket available that can really add something to your style, as well as keeping you a bit warmer.

There are numerous styles of jackets that come in and out of fashion, but something like a blazer will always remain classic. You can get tailored blazers, boyfriend blazers, cropped blazers, waterfall blazers, and much, much more, so there is bound to be a style that suits you. You could add a plain neutral-coloured blazer to almost any outfit, and it would instantly make your style seem smarter and more ‘put together’, and a patterned or bright colour blazer would always add some style and excitement to a monochrome outfit. Jackets can be like an accessory themselves.

Similarly, cardigans are another kind of jacket that can have the same effect as blazers. They needn’t be saved for colder weather, as there are so many variations available, that you should be able to find one for all kinds of weather, styles, or occasions. A cropped cardigan would be perfect to add over a shirt for appropriate office wear, and a long-line waterfall cardigan would be great for a relaxed weekend style. Even on formal occasions, a cardigan-style shrug is a perfect way to cover up with something easy and light.

As we are now moving in to the colder months and winter is approaching, it might be wiser to also start thinking about warmer jacket styles to keep out the cold, while still delivering on style. Gilets and vests have had a resurgence in popularity over the past couple of years, and there is almost as much variety as there would be with any other jacket style. A gilet, or a waistcoat, such as our own Made in Italy ones, is a great choice for a winter jacket as it keeps your body warm, but allows your arms to move freely without being constricted by any thick coat sleeves, not to mention that they all look incredibly cosy.

In a similar way to gilets, ponchos are also becoming more and more popular as a style of ladies’ jacket. They are perfect to simply throw on over any outfit, and instantly appear appropriately snug and wintery, as well as leaving your arms free from any heavy sleeves like a gilet. Our own Made in Italy ponchos are perfect for this winter.

There are so many jackets styles to choose from, including some that you may not have thought of, that it seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity to only stick to one reliable jacket. That jacket will always be a staple in your wardrobe, but you can really change up your outfits and sense of style by trying out different jackets. Try thinking of a jacket as an accessory the next time you are looking to cover up.