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Welcome back to another ‘Desk Tales’ blog post. Our assistant fashion designer Alison Thompson gives us a ‘show and tell’ of all the trinkets, collectables and essentials lying on her studio desk…

1. Bird Notebook and Brooches

I love bird motifs. This bird notebook is really useful for meetings and looks pretty too! I also have quite a collection of bird brooches, these are my favourite.

2. Frida Kahlo Book

Frida Kahlo is one of my favourite artists. As an artist she produced some really interesting and vibrant self portraits and as a woman she dresses with such flare and beauty. This book is a great read if you’re a fan, she led such an interesting life.

3. Fashion Box Book

This book is a great source of inspiration. I always have it on hand.

4. Tape Measure

A vital tool for any designer. I couldn’t do my design packs without one.

5. Tea Cup

I am a big tea drinker! There is nothing like a good cuppa in your favourite mug – the Bluebird Duck Egg Mug and Bluebird Duck Egg Set Of 4 Corkback Coasters

6. Exhibition Guides

I like to think of myself as a bit of a culture vulture! I try to go to at least one cultural thing every weekend, be it going to a gallery/ museum/ theatre/ gig etc. Exhibitions are also a great source of inspiration for our seasonal mood boards.

7. Fabric Swatches

My desk is usually piled high with our fabric swatches. We are always on the look out for new and interesting fabrics and soon will be working on Autumn Winter 2013!

8. Button Size Chart

I picked this button size chart up from a trim store when I lived in New York. It has been so useful when doing my design packs.

9. Sketching Template

Meet ‘Doris’! I do all my garment sketches on Doris, I’d be lost without her!

What have you got lying on your desk? Tell us below or tweet us @LauraAshley__

As Fashion Director of Stylist magazine, Alexandra Fullerton works in central London. Despite this capital location (alongside frequent travel to Milan, Paris and New York) Alex’s heart belongs to her home in the North Essex countryside. “The weekend is sacred and I can’t wait to get out of the city on Friday night. Our friends always want to come over and entertaining is one of my favourite activities, along with gardening, baking and rooting around car boot sales to buy other people’s junk (a hobby my husband despairs of!)” It’s clear that vintage British style, and Laura Ashley in particular, is close to Alex’s heart. “I have several pieces of my mother’s vintage Seventies and Eighties Laura Ashley but I love the modern prints and textures too. They’re perfect for the eclectic style I’ve decorated my home in.”

Alex has kindly shared some of her weekend snaps at home in her beautiful country escape. Spot her Laura Ashley home pieces…

Laura Ashley Imogen cotton bedlinen

“Saturday starts with clean sheets and a well deserved lie-in”

Laura Ashley Emmeline pair of cream wall hooks

“These clever hooks help keep my dressing room tidy. My husband mounted them onto a beautiful piece of oak to add authenticity. The back of this Stalk Print Cotton Cropped Top has a lovely ribbon tie at the back of the neck”.

Truscott Cotton Reverse Quilt in Duck Egg

“Making the guest bedroom perfect is a joy! We have a subtle butterfly theme and have ensured there is a super-comfy quilt on the bed, alongside a stack of books and magazines, water and chocolate.”

“The guest bedroom Astor curtain tie-backs and my collection of vintage perfume bottles.”

T-shirt: Laura Ashley Limited collection for Uniqlo

“No Spring weekend is complete without time in the garden. Whether it’s tending my herb tubs, weeding or simply sipping iced water under my vintage bunting I can’t wait to get outside!”

Floral Printed Glass Jug

“This jug goes perfectly with my car-boot found bird glasses!”

Curtains in Vittorio Gold Damask with vintage brass tie-backs. Cream footed marble bowl

“Cosy up… My reading nooks where I can settle down with a book if the rains sets in. The cream footed marble bowl I tend to keep well stocked with sweets and within easy reach!”

“The drawing room houses a mix of vintage buys and fresh new finds including the Baylis Pleated Cushion and Archer Gold Leaf Lamp.”

Alex wears Stalk Print Cotton Cropped Top and Willow Under Bed Storage 

“One of my favourite weekend activities is tidying my wardrobe (really!). Archiving old pieces into storage is really satisfying.”

Which pieces do you like in Alex’s home? Love to hear your thoughts below or tweet us @LauraAshley__

Florals are having a moment in a BIG way this season and who better to look to for some inspiration than us… Laura Ashley (the darling of floral prints and patterns). We can barely turn the pages of our favourite titles without being hit with a case of floral fever.

The pages of some of our favourite fashion titles (Grazia, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour & Red magazine) awash with florals

One has always been partial to a pretty petal or two (you know us!) so let us guide you through the flowery forecast…

For a trend that ticks all the style boxes, our team of in-house designers have been taking inspiration from the ultimate flower destination – Columbia Road, vintage florals and old traditional seed packets. Our fashion story ‘Flower Market’ combines all these pretty influences into placement prints teamed with textured weaves and metallic finishes.

Designer’s inspiration board

How to wear the trend? Our Spring blooms are appearing across the fashion pack in all manner of bright blousy floras and garden inspired eye-popping guises. However our mantra for wearing florals this season is quite simply ‘Mix it Up’- it sounds intimidating but mixing up and clashing your florals this season is the order of the day.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with head to toe floral, Elle magazine have quite simply identified this trend as a ‘mash up’ so you can’t go too far wrong!

1: Bloom Print Crinkle Cotton Dress

2: Colour Block Linen Pencil Skirt

3: Poppy Print Linen Cardigan

4: Sheer Linen Butterfly Flower Embroidered Top

5: Garden Flower Print Cotton Skirt

6: Poppy Print Linen Shell Top

7: Coming soon

Flower Print Hem Jersey Maxi Dress

How will you be wearing your florals this summer? Tweet us at @LauraAshley__

Whenever we spot Chloe dashing down the corridors of Laura Ashley’s head office we have a pang of accessory envy. Not too surprisingly she is our Assistant Accessories Buyer with a sharp eye for mixing up eclectic hosiery, brooches and jewels.

Her latest affection is our spring light-weight scarves, in a whole host of fresh hues and playful prints. For some new season inspiration take a look at which Laura Ashley scarves she’ll be sporting this season and how she’ll be knotting, tying and styling them up…

Sheer Silk Contrast Border Scarf

THE TURBAN

The turban headband is a key style this season as spotted on the SS12 catwalks (note Anna Sui spring show). This feather weight monochrome print scarf makes it an ideal choice to twist at the front and then fold back into a turban style. For tips on how to tie head scarves the girls at Head Office love the Daily Candy Los Angeles step-by-step video if you need a little helping hand.

THE SCARF BRACELET

I love to double up my scarves as a bracelet. To do this all you need is a thin oblong scarf, and then twist it until it ties back on itself and knot in a bow. It makes a fun statement and you can use it as a scarf if needed later on in the day. Very versatile!

Pink Dragonfly Print Silk Scarf

THE SCARF PLAIT

For a playful bohemian look (great for festivals) I have been known to weave finer, skinnier scarves through the plait of my hair. If you have long hair give it a go- you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Uniqlo /Laura Ashley stole

UNIQLO / LAURA ASHLEY HEADBAND

This floral scarf is a collaboration with Uniqlo, inspired by one of Laura Ashley’s archive prints. The blousy print brings back the traditional look of Laura Ashley and with florals being the hot topic of conversation this SS12 it really is a key piece to brighten up any outfit! I like to style this up as a headband or tie it on to a beach bag when I go on holiday.

Bordered Flower Butterfly Print Scarf 

RELAXED COWBOY TIED SCARF

The classic cowboy tied scarf is so easy. Simply tie the vertical ends together at the back of your neck. This is a great way to dress up a plain top. This beautiful print is my favourite in the collection. It comes everywhere with me.

To view our range of pretty spring scarves have a browse here

Dina describes her blog ‘She Loves Mixtapes’ as a “dreamlike journal comprised of original photography, writing and illustration, with a focus on vintage style”. When she tweeted us a link to her dreamy imagery, all styled up in a divine vintage Laura Ashley floral frock we just had to share these with you. Reminiscent of our very own 1970’s romanticism, take a trip down nostalgia lane…

Tell us Dina, how did you come to own your vintage Laura Ashley dress?

This dress was my mum’s in the days of her youth ‑ it’s probably from the early 80′s! We are both avid collectors of vintage Laura Ashley and own a few signature floral dresses, a floor‑length purple taffeta gown and a couple of skirts. This dress is my favourite though, because of the lace collar and pastel print. I adore the springtime freshness it exudes.

How would you describe your personal style?

As my mood alters, so does my style, but I guess there will always remain an element of the past in the way I dress. As a future literature student, I’m partial to dressing up with certain book characters in mind ‑ boater hat sometimes included!

What occasions do you typically wear the dress for?

When the weather is nice, anything… These photographs were taken on a stroll by some local lakes. I also wore it to Frieze Art Fair ‑ with a leather jacket, sunglasses and huge platforms, so it didn’t look too girly!

Which dresses do you like from the current Laura Ashley range and why?

The Black Weave Mock Pocket Shift Dress is lovely ‑ I can just picture it being worn with a cream blouse underneath, some brogues with bright tights and a beehive for a striking 60’s look.

Do you have any vintage Laura Ashley? Did you know that Laura Ashley has an archive in London and Wales? If you have any old pictures of you in Laura Ashley we would love to see them on our facebook page or even better if you have any unwanted vintage pieces please donate them to our archive and help us continue to capture our past. You can contact our London archive on: 020 7880 5379

To visit ‘She Loves Mixtapes’ click here

Spring might just be my favourite season. After all those grey days and dark nights, waking up to streaming sunlight is an absolute joy. Okay, so it’s quite cold outside and we’ll get plenty of rain, but still. Spring is here!

Dressing for spring can be a little tricky, however. Jacket or no jacket? Bright colours or basic black? And are tights still necessary? So I’ve chosen my favourite pieces from the Laura Ashley Spring/Summer 2012 collection and applied some seasonal styling. Take a look…

Casual chic

Coloured Stripe Cotton Rich Knitted Dress (accessories and brogues- Jen’s own)

The bright, multicolour stripes on this simple jumper dress will cheer up the dullest day. I wore it with a chambray shirt, tan brogues and a trilby for a cute and casual look that’s perfect for weekend walks.

Sharp and smart

Striped Cotton Knit Ruched Sleeve Jumper, Lightweight Rope Waist Parka Coat (accessories and jeans- Jen’s own) 

The cream trench coat is a spring staple, but I love this updated parka version. I wore it with Parisian stripes, dark denims and classic courts for a laidback take on a smart workday outfit.

Date night

Dark Print Dragonfly Print Slip-On Dress (scarf and shoes- Jen’s own)

My eye is always drawn to quirky prints and this beautiful dragonfly dress was no exception. The fitted shape is figure-flattering and I love the rich mauve colour – mixed with leopard print, it really pops!

Jen

x

http://www.littlebirdfashion.com/

Steeped in nostalgia and heritage, stepping in to the Welsh archive transports you back to the sights and smells of Laura Ashley back when Laura and husband Bernard first printed floral scarves on their kitchen table. An old photograph of Laura Ashley sitting at her desk hangs above the door-way to the archivist’s office, fabric covered photo albums and books decorate the shelves, folders of fabric swatches pile high and romantic imagery from the 1970’s adorn the walls.

Before each article in the archive is carefully stored away into it’s appropriate box (there are floor to ceiling boxes of Laura Ashley treasures), it is photographed and described for our designer database. The archive has become our most invaluable resource for both the home and fashion design team, taking snippets of inspiration from our past (whether it be an interesting print, motif, vintage fragrance or even a photograph) and reinventing in a fresh modern way for today.

Ann the Archivist’s desk adorned with pretty postcards

Visitors are always greeted with a cheery welcome from our in-house archivist Ann who has overseen the smooth running of our highly secured archive for the last 10 years. Trying to browse the archive often instills this overwhelming feeling of ‘where to start?’ so we caught up with Ann to find out more about the ‘best bits’ in a small but insightful Q+A…

Tell us about your favourite pieces from the archive and why?

There are so many pieces we hold here in Wales that it’s very hard to pick my favourite! Even now I find myself opening boxes and coming across old garments and thinking they are still fab. Anyway, I’m very fond of the porcelain doll that we did from the 1980′s which I think bears a slight resemblance to Laura…

The most fascinating inspiration prints are stored at our London archive (where the designers are based) but I adore these trees, dog and deer prints…

There is also a great poster, from the 1970’s, showing a young girl in an over-sized coat with a heraldic print and the words “Actually it’s a Laura Ashley”. This made me smile when I very first saw it as it’s so quirky and fun for it’s time!

The kindest archive donation you have received?

The most interesting donation is a scarf from 1954 which is now the oldest piece in the Archive.  The scarf, as you will see from the image, is a very simple print but I like the idea that someone has held onto it for so long and didn’t throw it way.

Who is your most memorable visitor?

Last October Jane Ashley (Laura Ashley’s daughter) visited the archive for the first time (lots of our employees here in the Welsh offices have been with the company for almost 40 years and knew Jane when she was just a teenager so they were very excited)- she was definitely the person I have been most happy to see. I have met Jane before but it was nice seeing her here in the Archive and reminiscing about the past. She stayed a couple of hours and liked seeing the pictures that are in my office and the large photographs on top of the cupboards (a lot of which she took herself- being the Ashley family photographer back in the 1970’s and 80’s). She was also especially keen to see the personal press cuttings of her and her family from the 60’s and 70’s.

Jane Ashley photograph from the 1970′s

If you have any old vintage Laura Ashley items that you would like to kindly donate to the archive where they will be looked after and treasured please contact our London archivist on 020 7880 5379

Ever wondered what a week in the life of one of our fashion designers looks like? Michelle our Design Assistant gives you an insider look at her week in pictures…

Welcome to my week in pictures. We are really busy this week researching and designing our last stories for Autumn/Winter 2012…

Archive Jumpers: We have been searching for inspiration for our upcoming Archive collection and this week received a big box full of old 1980′s fairisle jumpers. It’s thrilling to see old designs and then bring them back to life again.

Vintage shop reports: We called in some old Laura Ashley shop reports from our archive in Wales. There are some beautifully presented books full of pictures of our old stores way back in the 70′s & 80′s – it is always so fascinating to go back in time and see what people used to buy from Laura Ashley. It is also an invaluable source of design inspiration for new collections (taking something old and reinventing it for today). It’s strange to think that our designs will be archived there one day too!

Choosing AW12 colours: We have been researching new colours and inspirations for our AW12 collections very closely. Don’t want to give too much away but there are some stunning colour and print ideas in development!

Peppermint Tea & Mug: My favourite mug: the girls at work bought me this initial mug for my birthday last year. I love the vintage style lettering. I also have a new addiction to peppermint tea for a little pick-me-up while I am working.

Illustration for Laura Ashley website. It’s nice to mix things up every now and then. I work closely with our web team when it comes to providing trend/outfit information- we are just launching our Emporium story so I was asked to do some illustrations that could be worked into the online page designs. I love the chance to be extra creative!

The illustration on the right is of our popular Spot Print Silk Dress (from our Emporium collection).

The jumper: After the chilly days we have been having I chose my Laura Ashley cable knit sweater to wear layered up over a vintage dress. We have designed lots of cosy pieces this season and the jumper is definitely having a revival at the moment: so easy to throw on over dresses or jeans. Look out for some of our looser easy fit shapes as these are really key for the next few seasons…

Shop Laura Ashley knitwear here

Packed Lunch: I am making an extra effort to add variety to my weekday packed lunches at work, I would recommend some baked omelettes with salad (super quick and easy)!

Sketching: The majority of my time this week has been spent sketching; we are in the process of signing off our new styles so we can put the garments into work and then see them finally made up for our selection meetings. We have a lot of sketching to do, so its heads down and pencil in hand for the best part of the week…

Saturday, Venn Street Market:  We have a beautiful little food market that comes to Venn Street in my local area of Clapham (South London) on a Saturday. They sell all fresh produce and the most amazing cakes and chocolate brownies I’ve ever tasted.

Visit the artisan producers of Venn Street Market including Borough Market favourite cheese-mongers Borough Cheese Co and Gastronomica.

Battersea Park: This is my favourite place in London, it is so big and full of random interesting sculptures, little flower gardens and pathways – you can get lost in there for hours. There is always such a buzz – full of people walking, playing and exercising.

Amazing Super Salad and lunch with a friend- I met my friend for lunch on Sunday, we had a little walk around Northcote Road (Clapham Junction) and stopped at Gail’s for a bite to eat.

I had a little Giant Couscous and roast vegetable salad, mmm.

Meet fashion stylist Lynda Bell. Every time we see Lynda- we can’t help but covet her perpetually stylish and well put together outfits. With a fashion editorial background that spans seven years across titles including Red, InStyle and most recently Easy Living Magazine (as Junior Fashion Editor) we couldn’t wait to see which of our Spring pieces she would be wearing for her three dream Valentines dates. Lynda shows us her top three city outfits with her desirable date destinations to match…

London

London is the place to be this year – I am so excited about the upcoming London Fashion Week (showing Burberry Prorsum, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Jonathan Saunders and so many more), the Olympic Games in July and August and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June. As daunting a city as London may seem, one of my favourite blog/websites is www.greatlittleplace.com which gives amazing ideas on little known delights in cities around the world. Also recommended by GLP, I love heading into central London for the trendy Dover Street Market (just a stones’ throw from the luxurious Ritz and Wolseley), home to the Rose Bakery on the top floor, tempting us with cakes, pastries, salads, soups – all served in beautiful handmade ceramics. Perfect for brunch!

Rose Bakery- Dover Street Market

Next stop on my romantic date in the capital is to head across the river to the London Aquarium in time to see the new family of Gentoo penguins. Tickets cost £7.50 and well-worth it – 14 zones over 3 floors with mammals, fish and plants galore as well as feeding times means a fun filled afternoon.

The only stress-free way to travel around the city is by boat, and many services run from central London, heading west. I love to get the Westminster Passenger Service to Richmond and wander around this pretty and great-for-shopping Georgian town.

For a special date – you’ll want to check into The Bingham situated on the River Thames, it dates back to 1740 and it is sumptuously decorated and stylishly styled. Stay in one of the River rooms, and treat your other half to an in-room treatment – choose from reiki, massages, reflexology, manicures/make-up (only available in Large, River or Superior Double rooms).

The Bingham

Dinner can only be at the captivating and little-known Petersham Nurseries which I love – the restaurant (or café if you just want a lighter meal) is attached to a very special and chic garden centre. The only challenge you’ll face, is to try and exit via the amazing shop, and leaving empty-handed… (Be sure to book in advance!)

Petersham Nurseries- image by Catherine Frawley

Petersham Nurseries – Left image by David Loftus. Right image by Keiko Oikawa

What to wear in the Capital? Follow your trendy magazines, and team your cool urban leather jacket with a pop of colour and a fab printed scarf – bang on trend for this season! This Laura Ashley leather jacket is so soft and supple – you’ll keep it forever and it’ll only get better with age…

Lynda wears: Leather jacket- shop here, Paisley Pashmina-Style Scarf- shop here, Pink Wool Mix Button Front Skirt- shop here 

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city very close to my heart. As a Scot, I spent many weekends visiting the city and learning about the history at school. However, it was only since moving to London, when I really fell in love with the city. Even more-so when my husband proposed to me in the castle! The Witchery by the Castle is my choice for a romantic secret hide-away; it feels like you are whisked back in time as the restaurant is filled with candles and wood panelled walls, and is best enjoyed at night-time for a special supper. We were thrilled to stay in the Witchery also – with rooms as small or as grand as you like – it’s impossible not to imagine kings and queens at every corner.

The Witchery

My choice for where to stay is in Leith – a trendy area to the north of the City near the old dockyards, now home to chic shops and Michelin star restaurants; my favourite is Kitchin by Tom Kitchin (star of the Great British Menu TV show).

Kitchin by Tom Kitchin

Make sure you visit the major sites, but head to a few off the beaten track – the Royal Botanic Gardens are near to Leith and are truly romantic and relaxing….

Crocuses at The Royal Botanical Gardens

What I’ll wear – wrap up, the weather is quite unpredictable North of the Border! This gorgeous lightweight hooded parka is a wardrobe staple and the cute cable knit cardigan will keep me warm. This perfect tote bag is a great shape and size for city-shopping too!

Lynda wears: Lightweight Rope Waist Parka Coat- shop here, Cream Bobble Knit Cable Cardigan- shop here, Metal Square Layered Bracelet- shop here. Leather Loop Through Tote Bag: Coming soon instore and online 

Venice

I have been to Venice once and have been secretly plotting a return visit ever since. It is a dramatically romantic city – at every turn, tiny ancient alleyways give way to stunning views of bridges over the water. The maze of street and bridges make it impossible to avoid getting lost, not to mention the fog you’ll undoubtedly encounter– but fear not, it is made for getting lost in – with delicious trattorias and cafés at every turn! Valentine’s Day in Venice is closely followed with the annual carnival on 19^th February, so extend your trip to take in this amazing spectacle of costumes and the iconic masks.

Once you have checked into your hotel, a Venetian requisite is to take a gondola ride – yes, its expensive, clichéd and oversentimental, but oh so romantic! Whilst you lie back, snuggle up to your partner, listen to the soft lapping of the canal water and let your mind roam… this is a once in a lifetime fantasy.

For meals, try to plan ahead – this city thrives on tourism and for a more special meal, do some research in your area for a desired restaurant. Some of the most romantic restaurants lie inside hotels, with smaller more family-run establishments on every street. For a sleek alternative, try the glamorous Centrale Lounge with cool music and atmosphere; stay for cocktails and you might spot a few celebs (previous customers include Charlize Theron, Christina Aguilera, DJ David Guetta and Juliette Binoche).

For an ultimate treat – take a water taxi across the water to the island of Torcello for the famous Cipriani Hotel. Another Venetian must-do is to enjoy a Bellini in Harry’s Bar – the unassuming exterior is filled with vintage furniture and sleek waiters in white, this is where the Bellini was created. When I came here, we ordered an indulgent chocolate cake to share, and it was so rich and large, that we couldn’t even finish it! I dare you to try…

On this date, swap your regular stripes for spots, and add a burst of colour to your monochrome look. This every-day dress nods to the retro trend hitting the catwalks, as well as mixing prints – try this bow print or a floral to play with the look…

Lynda wears: Black White Spot Weave Sleeveless Dress- shop here, Black Cotton Knit Embroidered Bow Cardigan- shop here, Leather Contrast Loop Purse: Coming soon instore and online.

What are your plans for February 14^th? Tweet us is at @LauraAshley__

If you haven’t already spotted our yet-to-launch collaboration with trendy Japanese brand Uniqlo ‘going up’ on the Sunday Times Style Magazine barometer – take a pre look for yourself at this year’s prettiest collaboration here on the blog! Following in the footsteps of Jill Sander and Charlotte Ronson, we have collaborated with our friends at Uniqlo on a range to mark the 10th anniversary of their hugely popular UT collection.

You lucky fans can expect a Laura Ashley UT collection of stylish easy-to-wear tees, stoles and tunics- available in Uniqlo stores or online at uniqlo.com.

Laura Ashley for Uniqlo tees: Available from the 6^th February in Uniqlo stores and at uniqlo.com

Laura Ashley for Uniqlo tees on Sunday Times Style Magazine’s ‘Going up’ barometer.

For casual days we’ll be teaming our tees with a floaty maxi skirt or a comfy pair of Laura Ashley twine cotton short length trousers

The first drop of tees will launch on the 6th February (not long now!) and the rest of the collection will be available on the 20th February in Uniqlo stores and at uniqlo.com only. Follow us on twitter for all the latest updates: http://twitter.com/lauraAshley__