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. 

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.

New Goose Island Store Opens in Swansea

Goose Island is extremely pleased to announce the opening of our brand new store in Swansea.

The grand opening was held on November 1st, complete with champagne, nibbles, and a whole host of lovely new customers. Princess Jasmine and Alibaba, from the upcoming Aladdin pantomime at Penyrheol Theatre, also attended the opening and helped us welcome new customers, and even gave out their own personal fashion and style advice. Alibaba particularly liked our long red jumper dress.

We will be stocking all of our regular Goose Island favourites at our new store, such as our very popular shirt jumper and magic dresses, as well a whole host of new stock ready for the festive season. Look out for our new sparkly, glamorous clutch bags, soft tartan scarves, crystal bracelets, subtle tie dye dresses, dainty necklaces, and much, much more. We’ve even got a range of Christmas gifts ready to go.

Our new store is located on Plymouth Street in Swansea city centre, opposite the Eli Jenkins pub. This now means that we have three stores across south Wales, in Mumbles, Swansea and Cowbridge, and we look forward to meeting all of our new customers, as well as other exciting ventures in the future.