Long Cardigans are Perfect to Add Layers to Any Style

As soon as the year rolls around to autumn and winter, all the fashion catalogues and adverts will be featuring layers in a big way. Layers can make an outfit look perfectly put together - and keep you warm as an added bonus!

We love the layered look at Goose Island, and fully subscribe to the Lagenlook, using beautiful, floaty, feminine layers to create a unique and individual bohemian style. 

In out latest blog, we talk about one of our favourite fashion pieces, long cardigans, and how you can use them to create this popular layered look.

"Whether it is two layers or five, due to their inherently long and flowing cut, long cardigans can instantly create a bohemian-style layered look. Simply wear one over a dress, add as a layer before a heavier coat, or even layer it underneath a vest or gilet. Long, wool cardigans are great to wear when the weather is still cold, and lighter, jersey material cardigans are a great choice when the weather is a bit milder, and are also great to use as a cover up over a bikini or shorts and t-shirt when you are on holiday."

Don't forget to take a look at some of our favourite long cardigans in stock! And we still have great prices available in our sale!

Buying Wholesale Women's Fashion

Goose Island is an exciting and unique fashion brand that sells women's clothing, accessories, and jewellery in our 3 shops in Mumbles, Swansea, and Cowbridge. However, did you also know that we are one of the only fashion wholesalers in Wales?

But do you know what wholesale means? There are often conflicting definitions of wholesale floating around, and a lot of people misunderstand what it means. Goose Island sells our clothing to other retailers across the UK and further afield where a market for our unique and eclectic style has been identified.

In our latest blog, we talk more about wholesale in general and give a little insight into how Goose Island operates as a retail business:

"Wholesale means that other retailers can buy our individual products in bulk numbers, to then sell Goose Island clothing in their own stores. These retailers can be anyone from department stores to independent shops, or wherever a demand for Goose Island clothing can be identified. From our warehouse in Swansea Enterprise Park we can dispatch large orders of our most popular women’s fashion wholesale items, and expand the Wales-based Goose Island brand."

Wholesale is a great way for other people to experience the Goose Island brand. Do you buy wholesale? Or do you know what wholesale is now?

Dresses Offer Endless Options for Women's Workwear

It's easy to fall in to a rut about what you wear everyday to work, and it's not surprising really. At typical 9 to 5 jobs, people are spending most of their time at the office, and combined with rushed mornings, it's no surprise that you just end up pulling the same thing out of your wardrobe over and over again.

However, we know that falling in to this style rut can make you feel a bit down, a bit boring, and a bit uninspired to enjoy your work. When you enjoy fashion, and enjoy putting outfits together like we do, then it's easy to keep buying more and more work clothes in the hope of adding something more interesting to your workwear, but you still end up buying the same things...

In our new blog we we talk about dresses, and the great versatility they can add to your work wardrobe, they are easy to throw on in the morning, and the entire look can be changed with a few different accessories:

"A quick and easy option for women’s work wear is dresses. Again, the variety is almost endless, and it eliminates the need to match up separates; one dress is one outfit. Not only that, but the look of a dress can be easily changed with accessories or an extra layer. For example, wearing a tailored blazer over a dress can create an exceptionally smart look, perfect for a meeting, or wearing a long pendant necklace, and flat shoes will create a slightly more relaxed look while still remaining office appropriate."

Your appearance at work isn't everything, but knowing you look great can also make you feel great throughout the day. Will you investing in any new dresses?

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.

Women's Knitwear - It's not all about the jumper!

As we approach the tail end of October, and the temperature has started to drop, everyone is starting to add a few items of trusty knitwear to their everyday wardrobe. There is nothing better than snuggling up in a cosy jumper, whether you are out and about, or even just sitting on the sofa at home; there’s something about this time of year that demands cosy comfort from your wardrobe.

However, being cosy and comfortable can sometimes feel like you have to make style sacrifices. Big, thick, woolly jumpers are great for keeping out the cold, but can be overly cumbersome under a coat, and can also appear quite shapeless.

Women’s knitwear doesn’t always have to be about bulky jumpers; there are many more options that will keep you warm, but still remain stylish.

Cardigans

Women’s knitwear comes in a huge variety of styles and shapes these days, and cardigans are a great option to add some style while still staying snugly warm. The sheer variety of cardigans means that you can usually find one to suit any outfit or occasion, and they are great for layering.

Knitted Dresses

Knitted dresses are one of the chicest knitwear styles. They are almost an entire outfit in one, and there is freedom to style them how you want as you can dress them up or down. They are also a great transitional piece for when the seasons start to change; meaning you will get great wear out of them.

Statement Jumpers

Women’s jumpers do not have to be boring. Gone are the days when jumpers meant chunky, garish items that were knitted by your aunt.  With all the options available today you can certainly find a jumper to suit your personal tastes, whether you’re into flowers, animals, stars, stripes, or slogans. Imagine this floral jumper with jeans and slouchy ankle boots, and it would look just as good worn with block skinny jeans and strappy heels for a smarter look.

Ponchos

Ponchos are no longer just for the Wild West fans out there. Ponchos are making a comeback in the knitwear world, with a whole host of high street stores stocking them as a must-have item for this winter. Ponchos are an easy and relaxed knitwear choice, giving you a simple alternative to a coat or jacket. They can even be styled with a belt at the waist. Plus, a poncho is essentially like wearing a cosy blanket, and who wouldn’t want that on a cold winter day.

Goose Island currently has a huge selection of fashionable knitwear for autumn and winter, including a great range of jumpers, cardigans, ponchos, dresses, scarves, and everything else you need to stay cosy and stylish at the same time.