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Housed at the elegant Pizhanger Manor, country retreat of British architect Sir John Soane, sits newly opened style exhibition Second Nature. Curated by Gemma Williams, a previous archivist at Laura Ashley, Gemma has unraveled the unique relationship between fashion design and the natural environment.

With the natural world being a constant source for fashion design, even still in this modern day, nature holds a strong influence over changing fashion trends. Its presence can be found through prints, patterns, fabrics and even silhouette design.

Bringing together over 40 designers and artists from all around the world, the exhibition displays an array of awe-inspiring pieces, featuring our very own floral printed Laura Ashley dress from the 70’s!

Welcoming you as you walk in, this Laura Ashley dress on display was handpicked by our dedicated archivist Angela. A devotee of country living style, this 70’s style floral became a notion of British style, redefining nature in printed pattern form.  Nature influences are still very present at Laura Ashley today (only with a modern twist). You can see this in our Royal Bloom collection which plays true to our floral inspired roots.

Around the corner lays two wonderful greenhouse structures, playing host to a collection of fashion pieces from other contemporary designers.

Alex Mullin, Giles, Roland Mouret and Roksanda Ilioncic. 

Antonio Berardi, Cong Tri, Donna Karen and Fyodor Golan. 

Curator Gemma documents how fashion and the seasons reflect each other, with spring/summer and autumn/winter being the foundations in both the fashion industry and the nature cycle.

Temperley London, Yiqing Yin, Peter Pilotto and Wali Barrech.

Hamish Morrow, Zandra Rhodes, Michael Kampe and Felicity Brown. 

Not only influencing print and pattern, but also the silhouette of nature can be interpreted in many ways.

Get interactive with the sound track from Stephen Paul Basford

Swash, Heligan Gardens. 

Tucked away, follow the exhibition into the Cabinet of Curiosities. Inspired by Sir John Soane’s collection of objects from the natural world, the exhibition displays an array of quirky fashion accessories…

Moth Face Mask by Piers Atkinson.

Adjacent to the gallery is the Pitzhanger Manor House, designed by architect Sir John Soane, the exhibition draws on his fascination for nature. Set in the beautiful gardens that surround the manor house, be sure to bring along a picnic and enjoy the scenery before taking a tour of the listed manor house, which is open to the public to enjoy.

Will you popping on down to the Second Nature gallery?

 Second Nature Exhibition,

17^th May – 7^th July,

Free to Attend,

PM Gallery & House, London.  

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Smart phone obsessive? We know how you feel! Whether it’s planning our next adventure with friends, catching up on our latest emails or snapping a tasty foodie pic – we know the score! With technology getting seriously stylish, it’s easier than ever to add a chic touch to your phone and keep it protected.

Flaunt your style credentials with our very own Laura Ashley on-trend printed offerings, from butterfly fancies to bold florals – become a techno-trendsetter.  A simple way to rise your fashion standing, extend your stylish personality and change cases to suit your go-to trend of the moment!

To treat our stylish readers, we are running an exciting competition on Twitter where you will have the chance to win one of four iPhone cases and USB’s we are giving away!

Simply pop over to our Twitter page and tweet:

GADGET GIRL BLOG Give-Away! RT+FOLLOW @LauraAshleyUK to #WIN 1 of these Phone cases+memory stick: 4 for grabs! http://bit.ly/10DPQTt

Get tweeting, fingers crossed and good luck!

Winners will be announced on Wednesday the 15^th May, follow @LauraAshleyUK to find out if you’re a winner!

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With the sunshine finally here to stay, it’s officially time to whip out your summer wardrobe and mix in the new trend pieces for the summer season! And what better way to celebrate the warmer weather than a cheeky little styling challenge? When it comes to the fashion stakes, we look no further than our trusty list of blogger fashionistas we have on our online-speed-dial. Handpicking our go-to stylish blogger ladies, we invited Harriet, Paula and Natasha to take part in our Three Ways To Wear Challenge.

Here’s the lowdown…

Introducing our fabulous Lace Front Blouse, a delicate lace in soft cream with faint intricate gold detailing, this blouse is a fabulously feminine, versatile piece. We asked Hannah, Paula and Natasha to style the blouse anyway they wanted, whatever the style or occasion…

Ready, set… style!

Harriet, blogger at Where is Harriet?

Effortless Casual Chic

To celebrate the beginning of Summer (finally!) I styled the cream lace blouse for a casual sunny Saturday in my hometown. Strolling around my local park, ice cream in hand, I enjoyed the perfect day in the sunshine. To beat the late afternoon chill, I paired with the Colour Block Cardigan – the colour pop of coral is very in keeping with the summer theme!

Paula, blogger at Pink Bow

Monochrome Day-Time Cool

Catching up with friends over afternoon tea, I paired the cream lace blouse with these printed monochrome trousers and black Milano cardigan (in-store). The perfect ensemble, the outfit was dressy without being overdressed. With this style of trousers so on-trend for S/S13, I found these to be a very comfortable and a flattering fit. Pairing with simple accessories, these tortoiseshell sunglasses and a couple of simple ethnic silver rings finish the outfit off perfectly!

Natasha, blogger at Girl In The Lens

Preppy Summer Mash-up

A true mash up of styles, sometimes you just got to forget the trends or what fashion dictates and just go with your instincts! This beautiful blazer has been one of my most-worn pieces over the past few weeks. I love the subtle polka dot print, and the silky feel is so light and perfect for summer. I’m also loving the cream blouse – nothing screams summer more than white crotchet lace, so with this outfit I’m practically bellowing!

Wow – there’s really no denying these girls have serious style. Each outfit delivers a personal stylish stamp on our fabulous cream lace blouse. Long gone are the days of being in a style rut, taking inspiration from these fashionable ladies we are truly set for summer!

Which blogger’s style caught your eye? We love them all!

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JUST PEACHY

Banish thoughts of the archetypal peach satin bridesmaids dress and say hello to this fruity beauty. Perfect for a summer city wedding, the shape suits everyone, thanks to its clever tummy-skimming drape. Pair with creams and golds – and just add sunshine!

Peach Cream Mock Wrap Dress

PICK OF THE BUNCH

This fresh floral dress is the modern way to do a country wedding. The floral print is big enough not to look twee, and the pattern is a budget-friendly way to fill your day with blooms! Keep bouquets soft and unstructured to continue that easy breezy vibe.

Floral Print Crinkle Cotton Tie Waist Dress

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

Continuing the pattern trend, this bold floral print is perfect for a bright, festival-style barn wedding. Let the yellow, pink and purple pattern inspire your palette – filling jam jars full of just-picked flowers and tying ribbons in the trees. Let this flower-filled dress do the talking and forget bridesmaids-bouquets – give them flower wrist corsages instead.

Poppy Print Cotton Sleeveless Dress

PRETTY IN PINK

Scared of putting your bridesmaids in white? Opt for the palest shade of baby pink instead to still get that clean, light palette. A modern take on a classic, the lace panel adds an extra feminine twist for this ultra-romantic look.

Lace Front Micro Pleat Sleeveless Dress

To visit Brides Magazine click here

Which is your favourite bridesmaid look?

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Fashion Targets Breast Cancer is back! Stylishly leading the way for seventeen years, the 2013 campaign is fronted by fashionable mother and daughter duos Daisy and Pearl Lowe alongside Kelly and Sharon Osborne. Urging women to unite together is the powerful driving message behind this years Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, by coming together we can embrace this incredible cause and find a fashionable way to fundraise.

Getting involved couldn’t be any easier, just simply Wear Your Support! We at Laura Ashley have specially designed two unique dresses to take you fashionably through the summer months, whether it be a relaxed weekend look with our Yellow Striped Dress or a plush occasion calling for our beautiful Printed Fit & Flare Dress. Taking exclusive place within the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Collection, 30% of all sales will be donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. All funds raised will go towards their life-saving work in fighting the terrible disease, improving the lives of women affected by breast cancer and developing better treatment. With 1 in 8 women being diagnosed with breast cancer, now is the time to jump on board and do something about it!

Looking chic and raising money for a must needed cause? We’re in! So step up your fashionable game, lend a helping hand and treat yourself to one of our beautiful dresses on offer – as seen on Vogue Online (Oooh!!).

Yellow Stripe Belted Dress

This on-trend pastel offering is a firm favourite of ours, effortless laid-back cool this dress calls for sunny weather ! Dress up with wedges for a fancy brunch with the girls, or pair with a satchel and sandals for a family stroll in the sunshine. A worthy summer investment for any stylish lady’s wardrobe!

Printed Fit & Flare Dress

Slip on this beautiful printed dress and play true to the retro 50’s vibe. Perfect for any fancy occasion, the muted pink pastel shade with subtle prints of floral blooms and candy stripes is sure to be a head turner!

The Wear Your Support! campaign officially launched on Monday. Over the next six weeks women up and down the country are coming together to step fashionably forward and pave the way to raising vital funds for Break Through Breast Cancer. If you fancy reading more about the campaign, the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer website has some fabulous ideas and tips to set up your own fundraising plans. In the mean time don’t forget to show off your stylish outfit to the world and tweet a picture to @FashionTargets  @lauraashleyUK 

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Picture this…  the morning sun creeping through a spectacular city scape, fresh spring air breezing through your hair, whilst cycling your very own retro Pashley bicycle (with decoupage bike bell and cutesy wicker basket).  For many ladies up and down Britain this is fast becoming a pleasant reality with a surge of retro bicycle shops popping up across our cities and our new found pursuit of a healthy commute. As we remain hopeful that the weather is going to warm up a little this spring, office chat has quickly turned to the idea of cycling to work. Toying with the idea yourself? Carry on reading for our top retro bike shop finds and nailing chic cycling style…

We recently discovered vintage cycling website Beg Bicycles. A far cry from the more macho road and mountain bikes these pretties are definitely for the girls! We adore Beg Bicycles’ Dutch bike BETTY in Flirty 30’s Green, go great with our polka dot green dress…

For the ultimate in British the retro, the hand built Pashley bicycles are the classic choice. We’ve already spotted ours at the friendly East Central Cycles in Exmouth Market. But we have also been tipped by our cycling friends that the ultra light and stylish Daily 1 bikes (with integrated front basket) from trendy independent bike shop Push in Newington Green (North London) are also well worth a look.

Pashley Bikes in East Central Cycles

Push Cycling Shop

For the hippest cycling hang out in London town, head to Look Mum No Hands in Old Street for a quick coffee pit stop en route, bike maintenance (which they are now offering courses in) or simply to admire the cycling paraphernalia.

Pinpointing some of our most picturesque cities in the cycling stakes here is our round-up of our top cycling shop independents across the rest of the UK…

Bells Bicycles (Hastings): Where the fashionable girls shop for bikes! Described by Vogue as “A cyclist’s heaven – from fast track bikes of the Forties to classically-inspired contemporary designs. Now that’s a good idea” Vogue, Oct 2012

Rockets and Rascals (Plymouth): Recently opened in the seaside city of Plymouth, trendy Rockets and Rascals is principally a specialist cycling retailer but also boasts a fine brew in it’s Barbican café (hangout for cyclists) and some top class mechanics at their cycling workshops, on hand with everything from upgrade advice to mending a puncture!

Camcycles (Cambridge): Can you think of anything more romantic than cycling around Cambridge’s jaw-droppingly stunning city? Nor can we. For new as well as second hand bikes head to Camcycles, which now offer bikes from Bronx and Raleigh. Great place for pocket friendly options!

Exemplified by our most stylish cycling celebs (Florence Welch, Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst) your cycling style is just as important as your ride. Take a look at our Preppy fashion collection picks for the sports luxe look covered in a flash…

Pale Yellow Cotton Knit Pocket Cardigan / Cotton Slim Leg Chino Trousers / Yellow Stripe Sleeveless Belted Dress / Green Cotton Mix Short Cardigan /  Navy White Spot Print Blouson Top / Black White Stripe Linen Mix Top

What will you be wearing on your bike this spring? Any local cycling shops we should know about? We’d LOVE to hear your recommendations in the comment box below…

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Tucked away, deep within the Laura Ashley headquarters lays the closely guarded Archive, preserving sixty years worth of Laura Ashley history, it plays host to a wide collection of fabrics, wallpaper and clothing through the eras. A constant source of inspiration for new season collections, the archive is a treasure trove of patterns, prints and colour ways that can be adapted to suit the modern taste of today’s interior trends. We invited Angela, our archivist, to reveal her week in pictures from working in the Laura Ashley archive to spending time with her daughter Freja in her spare time…

THE ARCHIVE

My days in the archive are quite varied; sometimes I’m concentrating on cataloguing past and present items or answering enquiries. Other times can be very busy with designers coming into the archive to research new stories.  I love being able to open the boxes and drawers and have a rummage – there are some beautiful things in here!

My favourite items in the collection are the beautiful examples of 1930′s bias cut dresses.  I particularly like that style and era, the details and prints are amazing. Ladies must have appeared so elegant back then, you can imagine the Great Gatsby lifestyles they might have led!

I work closely alongside the fashion and interior designers to provide inspiration for new collections. They like to come in and sort through the many cupboards and drawers of prints and fabrics, with some even coming in for several hours at a time!

The most rewarding thing about working in the archive is seeing a print make it into a final collection, especially if it has been changed a lot from the original piece.  I like being able to go into store and know that a print on a dress has come from something completely different like a tiny piece of ceramic because it shows that the archive is always new and inspiring.

FAMILY TIME

My daughter Freja recently celebrated her second birthday, so early Saturday morning we popped on over to the Pottery Café (with some of her little friends) in Richmond to decorate and paint egg cups! It was so much fun and the children really enjoyed getting stuck in.

KNITTING O’ CLOCK

Being a busy working mum I don’t have that much time to knit, but I love to do little projects when I can.  I recently saw a gorgeous bunny egg cosy online and had to have a go for myself… It looks super cute on our painted egg cups above. Future birthday presents now complete!

Iknitlondon is one of my top knitting shops and happens to be on my favourite street in London, Lower Marsh in Waterloo.  As well as selling an amazing range of yarn and knitting accessories, they also run a number of classes with a knitting club in the evenings, where you can just turn up with your project, grab a cup of tea, have a knit and enjoy a good natter!

HAMPTON COURT PALACE

Living a stones throw away from Hampton Court Palace, we like to visit new exhibitions or simply stroll around the beautiful gardens. This weekend it was a very wintery March day, so we just went for a quick walk and then made full use of the warm coffee shop!

I love the details in the brickwork and chimneys especially, but it was also great to see spring appearing despite the chilly temperature – this golden pear tree stays in bloom all year round.

A TRUE COLLECTOR

As a child I was given a jewellery box containing costume jewellery that belonged to my Grandmother, since then I’ve always loved collecting jewellery.  Sparkly pieces are my favourite, but anything a bit different and unusual can be found amongst my hoard!

THE FRENCH TABLE

My partner and I took a night off from our busy lives to go out for dinner with friends. We went to a lovely resturant called The French Table in Surbiton, ordering a very yummy and beautifully presented pudding….

KINGSTON

Living in Kingston, an ancient market town, we are really lucky to see all the amazing monument’s the town has to offer. On our walk down to the local market we pass the Guildhall with its amazing Art Deco entrance and the Coronation Stone where 7 Saxon kings of England were crowned.

Not to be missed is the telephone boxes sculpture ‘Out of Order’!

ON LOAN!

From time to time I look through the archive searching for pieces that can be displayed at various exhibitions around the country. I recently found this deer print dress which will be loaned to the ‘Second Nature: Fashion’s Love Affair with Nature’ taking place at the Pitzhanger Gallery in London from the 16^th May – 7^th July 2013.

60TH ANNIVERSARY 

This year at Laura Ashley it’s our 60th anniversary and I am delighted to be part of the celebrations. I really enjoy my time working in the archive, collecting and preserving the history of Laura Ashley. One of the most treasured pieces in the archive is this silk scarf kindly donated by a lady who purchased it from a boutique in the 1950’s in London.  It is the earliest piece of Laura Ashley product we hold in the archive and was hand printed on Laura’s very own kitchen table!  It has a print typical of its time – a bold modernist 50’s design. This is the only one I have ever come across and so I was ecstatic to add to it to our archive!

We loved this snap-shot into Angela’s week. If you are interested in the archive and fancy donating some vintage Laura Ashley (1950s-1980s) Angela would love to hear from you! Angela can be contacted at angela.jeffery@lauraashley.com

Did you enjoy this sneak peak into the Archive with Angela?

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Fashion blogger Sarah (My Sentimental Heart) loves nothing more than spending her weekend being a tourist in her own city of London, exploring new exciting places and rediscovering old favourites! Taking advantage of the delightfully sunny weather this past weekend, Sarah talks us through her relaxing journey around the city, not forgetting her stylish, on-trend outfit – Sarah’s handpicked pieces from the new Spring collection Resort.

Sometimes living or working in a big city can make you a bit blinkered when it comes to exploring and finding things to do, but last weekend I was determined to make the most of the much anticipated spring sunshine and see some of the most iconic parts of London on foot.

Starting my journey in Covent Garden, I headed to some of my favourite shops before grabbing a sandwich and walking to St.James’s Park for a picnic style lunch. St.James’s is probably my favourite park in London‑ it’s one which I used to visit regularly with my family when I was younger, so it was lovely to pay a return visit and enjoy watching the world go by! From there, we made our way to Buckingham Palace (of course posing for the obligatory tourist style snaps!) before heading to the South Bank via Horseguards Parade and Westminster Bridge.

Given that the weather was so cheery, I took the opportunity to put together an outfit featuring some of my favourite pieces from Laura Ashley’s spring collection:

Foulard Print Blouse / Straight Leg Jeans / Leather Tote Bag (In-store now)

This Foulard Print Blouse is a piece which I’ve had my eye on for a while‑ it’s the perfect nod to this season’s bohemian trend and the collar detail makes it ideal for layering under knits (especially as there’s still a bit of a chill in the air!) I’m always on the lookout for the perfect pair of jeans to add to my wardrobe, and this straight leg black pair are not only versatile, but they’re also ultra comfortable. Here I styled them with a slight turn up just to add an element of vintage chic‑ especially as the appearance of the sun gave me the chance to dig out my favourite pair of retro sunglasses!

Finally, anyone who knows me will happily tell you that I’ve got a real handbag addiction, so this leather tote is something which is definitely one of my new season essentials. I love the slouchy shape, and the burnt gold colour makes it really easy to team with so many of my wardrobe favourites. On a practical note, it’s also big enough to accommodate all of my essentials (including a stash of sweets which kept me going throughout the course of my day!)

What do you think of Sarah’s outfit? We love the print of the Foulard blouse and added touch of turning up the hems of the jeans – stylish tip!

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Word on cyberspace is social networking site Pinterest is the hottest new trend in the stratosphere. Whether you’re planning a wedding, hungry for a tasty new recipe, on the hunt for an unusual holiday destination or looking to revamp your living space, virtual online pinboard ‘Pinterest’ is your go-to source for inspiration. For those of you yet to sign up, we have compiled our own guide to getting to grips with Pinterest, a must-have guide on Pinetiquette 101…

The Basics

Pinterest is your one-stop-destination for inspiration, with people all over the world sharing their ideas, dream products, tips and tricks. This online virtual scrapbook is home to thousands of shared images and videos called ‘pins.’ Free and super easy for anyone to register, it’s time to get involved and start pinning!

Pick A Theme

Getting started couldn’t be easier, simply start by creating a number of themed online boards to host all your different interests and topics. A collection of must-try crafting tutorials, stylish outfit lookbooks, memorable quotes or film recommendations, you name it – you can create a themed board for it! Perfect for planning a project, whether that’s re-modelling your kitchen to planning your big day, Pinterest is your online space to collate all your ideas and coo over the creative ideas people you are following are sharing too!

As you can see from the Laura Ashley Pinterest account we have created boards that tap into our own interests from ‘Beautiful blooms’ (flower inspiration) and ‘Pastel Hues’ (spring trend) to ‘Bright Buys’ (our favourite lighting) and ‘Book Club’ (our latest reads)…

Get Pinning

Build up your own boards by repining other user’s pins, or upload your own images directly from your own internet browsing. Simply drag the free Pinterest bookmark button (‘Pin It’) in to your browser and if you happen to stumble across an idea or image elsewhere on the web, simply click the ‘Pin It’ button and the image will go straight to your preferred board. Yes it’s that easy!

Get Interactive

Pinterest is an interactive community, with users sharing and discussing ideas. Keeping up to date with your favourite pinners is very easy, simply following their pinboards will ensure their latest pins will automatically appear in your news feed. Follow other pinners that have similar interests and in-turn you will gain a following over time too.

Sharing is Caring

As well as sharing your favourite pins on Pinterest, you can also post them on other social media networks such as Twitter or Facebook, so your friends can keep track of your inspiring ideas too. Be sure to download the Pinterest App on your phone to be able to ‘pin on the go’, allowing you to upload images or videos directly straight from your camera (how techy!).

Few to Follow

We have rounded up a few of our favourite Pinterest users to get you started…

Holly Becker (author and pro-blogger of decor8blog.com) http://pinterest.com/decor8/

Heart Hand Made Blog – http://pinterest.com/hearthandmade/

Country Living Magazine – http://pinterest.com/countryliving/

A Thrifty Mrs - http://pinterest.com/athriftymrs/

Quadrille Food (for great foodie reads) http://pinterest.com/quadrillefood/

Torie Jane – http://pinterest.com/toriejayne/

Who are you following on Pinterest? What are your top tips?! Love to hear your tips below…

We’d love to be ‘Pin Pals’ with you. Click here to follow our Laura Ashley Pinterest boards.

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When it comes to style, there is no denying that our first port of call is fashion blogger Olivia. Bang on trend with the latest must-have pieces and amazing vintage finds, ‘What Olivia Did’ is a blog we can rely on for trusty style advice and outfit inspiration.

We were delighted to see Olivia’s new 60’s inspired outfit post, rocking none other than our Laura Ashley Trench Coat and Colourblock Shift Dress. We love how she has layered her dress over a long-sleeve white shirt for a modern (and weather friendly) twist. Perfect for the office or after-work dining, the Trench Coat thrown over adds a classic tailored touch – and suitably lightweight for spring!

Fashionista Olivia told us ‘It was one of the easiest things to throw on and certainly left me feeling pretty ladylike for the rest of the day!’ In true Olivia style, we are making a mental note to hunt down a chic bowler hat and get a slice of the lady-like action with the Colour Blocking Dress and Trench Coat (in-store now)!

To read more of Olivia’s post – check out her blog post here. What do you think of the way Olivia has styled our fashion pieces?

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