Thursday 15 December 2011

PACKING AWAY ANOTHER YEAR

I have just finished the last item for my Spring/Summer Collection 2012 and so am ready to close the shop tomorrow for a well earned holiday and travel period until Feb 20th.  It's been a great year; best ever sales, super duper new website, learning curves and new experiences.  I'm REALLY looking forward to this break, but am very excited about next season's collection;  lots of colour (quite a change for me) and new fabric types.  The photoshoot is organised for March 6th and the collection should be online by end March latest.



I've spent the last couple of days planning my annual trip in January to Cape Town, in South Africa.  It's my fourth trip and it's such a nice feeling to be going back. I stay with my Capetonian friend Binky and it is home from home.  Binky runs her own business too (www.designafrika.co.za) and from the moment I arrive we are brainstorming and enthusing about more or less everything.   I just love the creativity and enthusiasm I find in Cape Town ... it is literally exploding with ideas and positivity, despite, or maybe because of, the obvious problems.  Spending time out there has really changed the way I look at the world and is always inspiring.



And then to India!  My first trip, to New Delhi, which although isn't the production centre for fabrics, is where I will find the best collection in one place, will be in February.  I saw some Indian silk when I was in Cape Town last time which just shattered all my preconceived ideas about Indian designs and so I just had to go and see for myself.  I am getting more and more excited about this visit and will almost certainly be writing about it here.



Kicking off my travels will be a week over Christmas in the UK catching up with family (and sleep)  then back to France for another wonderful week's couture workshop with my guru, the talented Yvon Chevalier.  Haute Couture trained, he is a bundle of energy, enthusiasm and technical knowledge that leaves me reeling each time we work together.  What a great way to start 2012 ... I shall arrive on the 1st Jan, champagne chilled and ready, scissors and sketches in hand.  Once I'm back from India I just have time to fit in another week in the UK, with my kids this time, for another family week, then it'll be back to the workshop and full steam ahead with S/S 2012 on Feb 20th.

So all that remains is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best of New Years.  If it's anything like this year it's going to be amazing!












Tuesday 11 October 2011

Bits and Bobs

Autumn just doesn't seem to want to come ... we are basking in 31 degrees in mid October, and while it's always lovely to have the sun, it isn't much good for reminding prospective customers that they will be needing a new cashmere coat! But no complaints from this designer; this has been the best year ever for sales, so a big thank you to all my customers.
The new website is up and showing my basic range, but as you know, I am always making extra bits and bobs so here are a few photos to entice you ...

A hand knitted chunky sweater in organic Alpaca yarn, (yarn from Esgyrn Guanaco http://www.guanacosales.com)


A really fun jersey print; looks great over black trousers or white jeans


Colour variations of my little cropped unstructured jacket


And last, but definitely not least, a jacket that I made from some genuine 60's fabric given to me by my Aunt. So lovely I have just had to keep it for myself!

Friday 9 September 2011

BEVERLY SMART now available in Paris




I am very happy to announce that you can now buy the Beverly Smart collection in Paris. How exciting!

Je suis ravie d'annoncer que vous pouvez maintenant acheter la collection Beverly Smart à Paris. Quelle bonne nouvelle!

Juliette Ozouf
20 rue de l'Echaudé
75006 Paris

Tel: 01 43 29 74 51


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Thursday 1 September 2011

Fashion Shoot Autumn/Winter 2011



Wow, what a day yesterday. Much juggling of dates to unite 7 busy women to coordinate this season's photoshoot which ended in the most amazing shots and a day full of fun and laughs. Last week I went over to the Abbey here in Lagrasse with Kate McLean, Graphic Designer/Photographer extraodinaire, to help me choose a location. We fell in love with the little cloister and monks dormitory and Perrine, the abbey guide, was immensely helpful in helping me get the necessary permission from the powers that be. Once the location was found my stress levels descended to 'manageable' and my brain shifted into organisational mode and everything fell into place. I was SO much more organised this time than for summer 2011 (my first real photoshoot). I had the wonderful Caroline Janzen-Quigley as dresser and chief assistant which freed me up to be out with the photographers Seren & Dawn Stoloff. Heidi Komarek-Freysinet was super model and make up artist, with the very talented Myriam Favorito doing hair. And not forgetting my two other models Fronza Woods, bringing a serene and regal look to the clothes and Joelle Chauvet-Smart, my daughter, whose youth and just 'being'-ness gave the clothes yet another personality.

The professional shots are for another time, but here are some of my snaps through the day.