SMARTGIRL

PACKING AWAY ANOTHER YEAR

2011-12-15T17:04:00.001+01:00

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!

Bits and Bobs

2011-10-11T15:32:00.008+02:00

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!

BEVERLY SMART now available in Paris

2011-09-09T12:28:00.006+02:00

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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Fashion Shoot Autumn/Winter 2011

2011-09-01T13:03:00.009+02:00

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.

2009-11-07T18:18:00.006+01:00

Well, it’s been a long time since my last entry, and for good reason. I’ve been selling one house and moving into another, which as we all know is one of the three most stressful things one can experience. I confirm.

On the “amazed” side is the fact I sold my house in precisely 4 weeks from signing the contract to completion, and moved out in 2 (of those 4). Unbelievable. That’s what happens when you sell to a banker. Yet another of their extraordinary benefits would seem to be pushing their loan application through in a couple of days.

On the “I don’t believe it” side (though would be better titled “should’ve known better”) my ex breaking into the house and stealing radiators, saying he’d clear the house, then leaving it full of stuff, and generally behaving very badly; the bank sending me into a total panic by taking €11000 more than they should have in penalty charges, later to be admitted as a mistake and reimbursed. But it’s all done and dusted now and the page is turned. A serene and tranquil life stretches out ahead of me now, oh bliss.

It’s interesting moving from 280 square meters to 70. It involved very therapeutic and very radical throwing out, which wasn’t anywhere near as painful as I had feared, in fact quite the opposite; I was quite amazed at all the junk that I’d been dragging around with me all this time, for reasons I couldn’t begin to explain or even fathom. Key trinkets, that I loved, but could not find room for became presents for appreciative friends. Various bits of furniture were despatched to new homes, and a lot went to Emmaus (bit like Oxfam), in particular a huge chunk of my wardrobe, which has gone from 5 linear meters to 1! Now that IS radical! Of course, now I’m constantly looking for an article of clothing that I realise that I’ve given away.

In my new compact apartment, instead of having to waste time walking through a huge house and climb the stairs, I can now call my kids to dinner without even raising my voice. I get to hear them giggling together in sibling collusion, something I missed when I was a floor below them and which warms my heart. Everything takes much less time … setting the table for dinner with only 1 metre between the cutlery drawer and dinner table, instead of 4. Sounds not much but I’m telling you, all those extra seconds saved are going on much more interesting projects! I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but I feel more at home here than I think I ever have anywhere. It looks just how I want it, no style compromises with anyone, and I am in control of my own domain. Peace at last.

To speedo or not to speedo

2009-09-18T19:22:00.009+02:00

Well now I've seen it all. A British waterpark has banned Speedos, and is even considering introducing mandatory bikini waxing for men, in a bid to "prevent unsightly hair being on display". What is it with the Anglo-Saxons and bodies? For goodness sake, what a bunch of prudes. It's the same over the Atlantic where, when I was there last week, I was taken aback to find huge billboard adverts proclaiming the sale of bras that definitely won't show your nipples. Why stop there? Why not sell bras that flatten your chest completely so we all look like girls (well, I'm already there) and trusses to hide mens bits too? What is going on? Are we all to be turned into Ken & Barbie, completely sexless?

In our local swimming pool (in France) men are ONLY allowed to wear Speedo type trunks, and those horrendous bermuda short, or rather long, things are banned, as guys have been coming in swimming in their day wear. And they all, for the most part, look very nice in them, thank you very much (and to the comments about the beer guts etc, well they look revolting whatever they're wearing, clothed or unclothed). Will we ban athletes and swimmers from wearing their most revealing kit? If we do, then I for one will stop watching ... it's a real treat to see the human body at its most magnificent. And as for missing out on Daniel Craig wearing his, well don't even start me off on that one ....

PS. Bring back cod pieces, that's what I say; mind you, they'd just be padding those out too.

Holiday Thoughts

2009-09-14T19:48:00.015+02:00

I had a week's holiday last week, helping my best friend get through a landmark birthday. She lives in Massachusetts, so it was an American Week. The more memorable moments: her Bassett hound dribbling brown dribble all over my white linen skirt, and then white dribble all over my black linen skirt; drinking champagne on Plymouth beach, looking across the Atlantic to where it all started, collecting souvenir stones and shells; going to see Julie & Julia; being ladies that lunch (I have 3 extra kilos to prove it); receiving the most divine Marc Jacobs ring for my birthday; snoozing through "Duplicity" due to a sauvignon blanc and champagne haze (I didn't miss anything, VERY disappointing film).

It does have to be said, however, that the week was severely stylishly challenged. As you know, I refuse the "if you can't beat them, join them" philosophy, especially when it's just for one week, so made a point of NOT EVEN PACKING my jeans (tho' had to borrow my friend's after said Bassett slobbered all over white linen skirt), but I do empathise with her cries for help on the style front. Okay, she lives in the (smart) country, definitely NOT urban, but all I saw were sweat shorts, sweat shirts, sweat T-s (and lots of sweat with all that jogging and power walking), and you do begin very quickly to feel like you've just landed from outer space. We (her husband, two lovely daughters, she and I) completely dressed up for dinner on The Day, and went to a smart and chic restaurant, but were surrounded by people who looked like they'd just left the gym. Such a shame. Is style only reserved for the city? But we made all heads turn and looked FAB and felt even better.

So, back in sunny southern France, still bolt awake at 2am from jet lag, my break already seems weeks ago. Piles of pancakes for breakfast, tear-inducing giggling fits, non-French wine (oh bliss), all that will have to be put on hold for my next visit.

PS. Did I rant about being a tall person in economy class? €50 to get an exit seat? I DON'T THINK SO. I was lucky on this trip and managed to charm the ground staff, but really. It's an outrage.

Elegance

2009-08-28T21:39:00.006+02:00

Today's subject came to me today while chatting with a client in the shop: my mission is to spread some some elegance around the world. We live in an era of "dressing down". The comment I must hear the most frequently is "oh I just don't have the occasion to wear that". Why do we have to have an "occasion" to wear something lovely and elegant, to make us stand out and look beautiful? We've all known that feeling of taking time and care over how we dress, make up, perfume ourselves, for some special event like a party or wedding. Why would we not want to feel like that everyday? My best friend recently lamented the fact that when she turned up at her local wine bar in a simple black dress and heels, the comments were "ooh, you're all dressed up", making her feel overdressed and slightly ridiculous. I told her she had to translate this into "Wow, you look beautiful". And as I said it, I realised how true that is. People have a hard time saying "you look beautiful/lovely". Too personal and intimate. So instead they make a general comment on the fact that you look different to them, in their dressed-down-I-don't-care-about-how-I-look clothes, when in fact you've really brought some glamour into the room, enough to bring out a disguised compliment. How fab is that? How wonderful to brighten up someone's life by looking good. It's not just the role of celebrities or beautiful people, we can all do it. And it's like anything, the more often you do it, the easier it gets. It's also contagious, which is the best bit; watch how your friends take your lead and smarten up. Let's think elegant (and I'm not just talking clothes either). I'm not suggesting we should all be another Audrey, that's a pretty tough call, but just spending a couple of extra minutes a day to think about what to wear can make all the difference. Bring some beauty into the world on a daily basis. And when you see someone who looks lovely, say it, say "wow, you look wonderful". Watch their face light up.

Bra Straps

2009-08-21T15:26:00.002+02:00

I've always thought a blog was so 'nombrilist' as the French say so well (nombril = bellybutton, ie inwardly focused) but having been enchanted by The Sartorialist, being a bit of ranter(ess) and often a witness of the most interesting scenarios in my shop I thought I'd put some of it down here, if for nothing more than my own bit of personal therapy. "Get it out and let it go".

So, today, I am going to start with my Summer 2009 rant: bra straps. What is it with the wrestler back t shirts (made for athletic, well formed, even, dare I say it, small boobed women) worn by big boobed, less well formed women with the obligatory bra underneath? All the beauty and sexiness of the wrestler back cut is completely lost in a mish-mash of bra straps, varying from matching colour of t-shirt to contrast to the worst of all, 'transparent' straps. It looks awful, and making the excuse that it's the 'fashion' or 'everyone else is wearing it' is just not acceptable. Fashion should be selective, and doing what everyone else does is a bad excuse for laziness. For goodness sake, there's enough choice around to be able to find a t-shirt that suits your body shape; make an effort.