Designer Label Fashion

It may feel like it’s been autumn for ever already, but now it is September we have every excuse to start shopping for new season cashmere.

And Pure Collection - the cashmere specialists - are offering a 10% discount off their new season cashmere, plus free returns. Just visit the Pure Collection website where your offer code will be automatically applied.

Worried about the ethics of cashmere? Pure Collection now source 100% of their cashmere from goats that are raised in a sustainable way. Pure Collection is the only brand that uses 100% sustainable cashmere.

Why buy luxury cashmere? Cashmere is great for autumn - it is fine and thin, so perfect for layering, and it really keeps you warm (if it can keep a cashmere goat in the mountains warm, it can keep the chills at bay from Glasgow to London). With this season’s new colours, you can enjoy on trend cosiness in the knowledge that you’ve bought a winter woollie that you can keep on bringing out of the wardrobe for years to come (as the more you wash cashmere, the cuddlier and cosier and softer it gets).

Visit Pure Collection now for 10 percent off their autumn cashmere range, and free returns.

I love cardigans. And I love Jess Cartner Morley in The Guardian, particularly as today she’s showing us on video how to wear cardigans (warning - it’s more complicated than you think), particuarly the Michelle Obama way (which means bright colours, belted).

If you thought cardigans were only for keeping out the chill on that post-pub walk home on a summer night, think again (that’s what boyfriends’ jackets are for, or a taxi).

So follow Jess’s advice with your cardigans and belt them, add some colour with them, stick a ruffled blouse underneath, and who knows, as well as looking on-trend and gorgeous you might also do a Michelle O and snaffle the next saviour of the world.

Once you’ve watched Jess’s masterclass why not browse the Matches knitwear section here to stock up on cardigans - from Theory, Yves Saint Laurent, Diane von Furstenberg, Chloe and more.

Or check out my favourite, below.
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Cashmere is like a cup of tea - for some reason it works on a cold day or a warm day. And Pure Collection’s summer cashmere collection is available in a range of ice cream pastels and gorgeous brights, making it perfect for snuggling up in on a breezy summer morning, or in the evening as the sun goes down and you want to stay outside nursing that last glass of wine…

And now you can get 15% off Pure Collection’s summer cashmere range plus FREE RETURNS - just visit Pure Collection and the discount is applied. This cashemere discount offer runs until 15 June 2009. Browse cashmere cardigans, sweaters, camisoles, vests and more.

Pure Collection are proud to say that they now source 100% of their cashmere from goats that are raised in a sustainable way. Pure Collection is the only brand that uses 100% sustainable cashmere.

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Do you hanker after a serene white-and-neutrals home that you can waft around while draped in grey satin PJs and a luxuriously soft cashmere wrap, in a cloud of beautiful scent? Well if your kids’ Nutella-covered handprints are your only household decoration, and your elderly flannel PJs are decorated with cartoon kittens, now is the time to add some White Company elegance to your home and get 10% off! Yes, you can save 10% on your order at The White Company on Spring season goodies … and if you spend over £25 you get FREE standard delivery!

Visit The White Company now and save 10%.

All discounts exclude made-to-order, furniture, beds, mattresses & gift vouchers and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Free standard P&P to UK only. This White Company offer ends on 8 April 2009.

So… you wait ages for a 10% off cashmere offer then two come along at once. As well as the Pure Collection cashmere offer the other day, Denner Cashmere are also offering 10% off their beautiful Spring collection. Just use voucher code WEBGA2 at the Denner checkout.

This stunning silk and cashmere long line cardigan is 2 ply 55% silk, 45% cashmere. Available in sizes S (8-10), M (12-14) or L (16-18). Cashmere silk mix cardigan available in aqua, hot pink, navy, black, electric blue and terracotta. Long line silk and cashmere maxi cardigan from Denner Cashmere, £125 (or £112.50 with 10% discount if you use the discount code).

Denner Cashmere now offer over 30 gorgeous colours. Their ranges cover 100% cashmere, silk and cashmere, & cotton and cashmere.

Visit Denner Cashmere now for 10% off the Spring collection - just use voucher code: WEBGA2 at the Denner checkout.

Pure Collection - the only cashmere brand that uses 100% sustainable cashmere - is offering 10 pecent off its Spring /Summer range. Just visit the Pure Collection website, choose your purchases, and the 10% discount will be applied automatically. And there’s FREE returns.

That means this stunning transitional perfect-for-layering longline cashmere cable cardigan with short sleeves, usual price £179, is only £161.10. This super soft cable cardigan is 100% cashmere with opalescent shell buttons. Length is 85cm, 33.5in.

Since April 2008 every 100% cashmere garment that bears the Pure label has been produced using cashmere acquired from sustainable sources.

Breton tops (those blue and white stripey ones beloved of authentic French fishermen) are enjoying a fashion resurgence this season, along with all things stripey.

This cute take on the stripey Breton top from designer label Demylee, £238 at Matches Fashion, is the nicest we’ve found so far - and it’s 100% cashmere so you’ll be cosy as well as on-trend. This striped Breton-style top has buttons on each shoulder and a fitted style, so it’s perfect over jeans of any description, cropped trousers (for some Spring French chic), or even with a smart pencil skirt.

I guess this also fits with the season’s all-things-nautical approach too (and it’s not even made by Stella McCartney!) so for one top you get to tick off two trends.

(Is it just me or are there a million more “essential key trends” this season - and in a year when we all have less money to spend? What happened to all those fashion futurologists who were supposed to pick five years ago exactly what we want to wearing now, and, you know, tell the designers? Spring / Summer 09 is apparently all about fringing. And stripes. And pinks. Oh and coral which is sort of pink. And neutrals, because of the recession. But don’t forget sparkle and lux, as we all need cheering up. And cobalt blue. And ruffles. And prints and colourblock too. And skirts and dresses and trousers and suits and tops and jumpers and… and… and…)

The new First Lady Michelle Obama surprised and pleased plenty of fashion journalists with her choice of outfit for her husband’s inuaguration - a gold embossed coat and shift dress.

The coat and shift dress are by the Cuban-born designer Isabel Toledo, a designer who is considered quite avant garde. Sher works with her husband, a sculptor, focusing on cut and construction rather than trends.

In the UK the luxury fashion and lifestyle site Couture Lab, currently have a couple of pieces by Isabel Toledo available to buy, which you can see here - her new collection is expected at Couture Lab soon. (We’ll blog about the new Isabel Toledo collection when it arrives.)

If you’re looking for a dress in a similar style to Michelle Obama’s check out this gorgeous bright yellow sleeveless jewelled dress by Lanvin. With glass and plastic beading and strands of silver toned beads, this yellow Lanvin sleeveless jewelled dress is €2,439 at MyTheresa.

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Apparently Michelle Obama also had a cardigan on, though I expect she was still freezing. (That would be the hardest part for me. I could have sat shivering through his fabulous speech. In fact I did sit shivering through his fabulous speech, as our central heating had gone off. But once they got to the inauguration poem I would have been shrieking for a hot water bottle and a big cashmere blanket. Then again, I’m not really into poems.)

So keep warm in your shift dress with a cosy cashmere round neck cardigan from cashmere specialists Denner Cashmere. This cashmere cardigan is available in a range of colours  - primrose yellow cashmere cardigan is currently £73, reduced from £97, in the Denner Cashmere sale.

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Finally, did anyone else notice those gorgeous pale green leather gloves Michelle Obama was wearing? I love coloured leather gloves, they always look so chic. And you get to shop more as you need different colours for different outfits. There is a fantastic range of coloured leather gloves at the Anedoti boutique - including this beautiful pair of green leather silk lined leather gloves, below, for £42.50.

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By the way, we know Michelle Obama is a hot shot lawyer and not just a fashion plate. And we’d have blogged about Barack’s outfit too, only there’s not much to say about a well cut suit and a long coat, lovely though they were.

Update: Mama La Mode have a range of baby cashmere blankets, hats, and mittens in their baby cashmere sale >>>>

Wrap your baby up in warm, soft, snuggly cashmere.

I must admit, the only time I’ve been near baby cashmere is when I have accidentially shrunk grown-up cashmere in the washing machine. But baby cashmere probably isn’t as impractical as it sounds - it’s said that washing cashmere actually makes soft cashmere even softer, and if you are worried about your perfect baby being sick on its perfect baby cashmere, you could always start with a cute cashmere baby hat (I have yet to see a baby vomit vertically).

The White Company has a range of cute and soft luxury baby cashmere, some of it in the White Company sale - from baby cashmere cardigans to luxurious baby cashmere shawls, an ideal christening gift. And it’s cheaper than shrinking your own.

This luxury cashmere baby shawl is pure cashmere with a scalloped edge. it is available in Oatmeal. This lux cashmere baby shawl is reduced from £117.45 to 93.95. Lux cashmere baby shawl at The White Company.

This soft, pure cashmere cardigan for babies has a fair isle design and is available in Ivory. With a rolled hem and cuffs, it is reduced from £55 to £33. Cashmere fair isle babies cardigan at The White Company.

This soft, pure cashmere lace-knit shawl is available in Ivory, Ivory with a blue edge, and Ivory with a pink edge. This lace knit cashmere shawl is £97.87 at The White Company. Cashmere lace-knit baby shawl at The White Company.

These hand knitted Mary Janes in pure cashmere are an ideal gift for a baby girl. They come in a silver star gift box. These hand knitted baby shoes are available in Ivory and are reduced from £25 to £20. Cashmere hand knitted Mary Janes for babies at The White Company.

Visit the White Company now for more cashmere for all the family - and get 10 percent off non-sale purchases.

Or read more about cashmere in our cashmere feature.

We may not be getting a white Christmas but it is still going to be cold enough in the next few weeks to warrant a special cashmere treat (and if it isn’t, then move somewhere colder).

Snuggle up in soft cashmere (combed, one would hope, from the belly of a cashmere goat specially for you). If you haven’t yet treated yourself to some good quality luxurious cashmere, now could be the time to do it - because…

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Cashmere specialists Pure Collection have started their winter cashmere sale - and they are offering discounts of up to 60% off their cashmere!

Pure Collection offer cashmere for women - cardigans, jumpers, sweaters, V-necks, polo necks, coats, hats, scarves, dresses and camisoles - even hot water bottles. They also offer men’s cashmere, though I don’t think they do camisoles.

A couple of my cashmere favourites from the Pure Collection winter sale are below - both will work with current and continuing fashion trends into 2009.

Or visit the Pure Collection cashmere sale now and browse.

This round neck cashmere sweater with short sleeves would look lovely over a fitted shirt, over a thin silk long sleeved tee, or just on its own. It is available in a range of colours including burnt orange, navy and pale lavender. This short sleeved cashmere sweater is reduced from £69 to £39. Find out more or buy this round neck short sleeved cashmere sweater from the Pure Collection cashmere sale.

This stunning semi-fitted long line cardigan is made from superfine cashmere.  I’d wear this in the black version, or in the heather grey / heather charcoal version (which has a contrasting trim). This superfine cashmere cardigan would look - ahem - super fine left completely unbuttoned but with a narrow belt over a white fitted blouse. Now £99, reduced from £189. Find out more or buy this longer length superfine cashmere cardigan from the Pure Collection cashmere sale.

I have several cashmere jumpers from Pure Collection and a gorgeous stripy cashmere cardigan (which is sadly slightly damaged since my luxury-loving cat tried to eat it… whilst I was wearing it). I have always found their customer service to be brilliant too.

Or read more about cashmere in our cashmere feature.