The Raw Denim Bar

Pop Up Gift Edit - Our top five picks to gift this season

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:53:00 +0000

We teamed up with resale designer haven Chic & Seek for a shopping extravaganza at the luxury boutique located at 199 Portobello Road. For a limited time only, you can shop our latest style arrivals from the Bar including the amazing DL1961 Emma in Diamond, Rich & Skinny metallic Legacy in Geyser Foil and our favourite staple straight blue jean, Kasil's Vixen Sapphire. Get access to designer desirables and snap up coveted wardrobe must-haves from the likes of Chanel, Anya Hindmarch, DvF and Christian Louboutin for just the fraction of its original retail price. What's more? - Each week the boutique offers a hand-selected set of London's boutique designer labels including Rachel Vosper, Tina Sparkle and Hayley Menzies. With the arrival of the crisp winter breeze, Christmas lights switched on in Oxford Street and an undeniable lust for all things chocolate, we lined up our favourite gift ideas for Christmas ... avoid the rush and come down to Portobello Road and find your perfect present!

WorkCustom Mamba Leggera - a must-have for this season. Faux leather jeans with zipper front pockets and a super stretch for a comfortable fit.

Also available at www.therawdenimbar.co.uk ;)

Kristelle showing off the limited edition gold Chanel Reissue.

See more preloved designer handbags, shoes and more at www.chicandseek.com

The lightest and softest Cashmere shawls by Tina Sparkle!!! Each piece is hand-dyed and a perfectly unique gift.
Find out more about Tina Sparkle shawls at www.tina-sparkle.com

Cosy up with the scented candles by Rachel Vosper. We love "Choisya", a zesty mix of Mexican orange blossom, citrus and floral nuances.
Immerse yourself more at www.rachelvosper.com

You cannot go wrong with a super-fluffy pair of cuffs and cashmere hat with pom pom.

You can find more of Avec winter warmers at Pinterest

Happy Shopping!

Halloween in Style - Take the centre stage tonight with the help of Hollywood's denim icons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:12:00 +0000

Farrah Fawcett & Diana Ross

70s Flair - Get your favourite flares out or just add some colour to a pair of blue jeans for a groovy night out in the style of Farrah Fawcett and Diana Ross.

Elvis Presley & James Dean

There is no better time in the year to get creative and put your best impression of denim's most iconic denim boyfriends to the test.

Claudia Schiffer, Jane Birkin, Jean Seberg & Brigitte Bardot

Not a fan of dressing up? - Try a classic french look. Claudia Shiffer and Jane Birkin show us that you don't need a French accent to channel French chic.

Marilyn Monroe & Audrey Hepburn

Why not revisit Hollywood history and try as an alternative denim-inspired looks?

Debbie Harry, Thelma & Louise and Bon Jovi

...or rock the crowd tonight with one of these iconic 80s looks.

Happy Halloween!

XXX, TRDB

Autumn Spice - Be bold and invest in colour this season!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Feeling under the weather lately? - At TRDB, we are fighting the cold weather front with the best in colours that autumn has to offer. One of the favourite shades for this season is orange - from Dries Van Noten to Miu Miu and Céline, the colour was a key statement on the A/W runways. Raven Denim's Remy in Aztec channels this trend perfectly for your everyday wardrobe. See below for just a few inspirations of how to get your seasonal wardrobe spiced up with fall's hottest colour trend!

The Raven Remy in Aztec is available at www.therawdenimbar.co.uk.

The CutThe Remy is Raven's signature skinny. The premium label is meticulous about hand-finished details and cuts. The Remy skinny is a classic five pocket style jean in a soft, luxe denim fabric and flattering fit. A favourite style of stars and fasionistas including Sienna Miller, Cheyenne Meets Chanel and Yoo Jung Sue.

The Colour
Aztec is an amazingly versatile wash and a great colour for autumn. The colour hit the stage on the runways and is best friends with fall's must-have trend: leather!

To celebrate the arrival of autumn, we are offering 30% off all Raven Denim styles from the Bar. Just use the voucher code below and place your order before 18 October to claim this special offer!

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Peters) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:14:00 +0000

Petite Proportions

As specialists in denim our mission in life is to provide stylish, perfectly fitting jeans for women everywhere. We know that shopping for jeans can be a long and tiresome task and that finding the perfect pair to suit your shape is not easy, but with our new online page dedicated to finding you petites your dream denim jeans, you can get the best fit for your shape. Shopping for trousers has never been simpler.

L-R: DL1961 Cindy Petite in Switch, DL1961 Emma in Mermaid

Images courtesy of www.therawdenimbar.net

We've selected some of our favourites popular with petite proportioned celebrities such as Kylie Minogue and Madonna and lined them up so you need look no further to find a style to match your shape. We've got boot cute, skinny, dark wash, light wash and colourful brights so what are you waiting for? Click on the link below to pick your perfect pair.

Kylie Minogue

Image courtesy of www.lifeoftherichandfamous.com

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Peters) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Holiday? Keep it local

We've reached that time of year when the mornings are fresher and the evenings are colder. This year's holiday was a lifetime ago and next years get-away is so far into the future it's barely visible. Needless to day, heading into Autumn doesn't have to be all doom and gloom and if you still have several days of holiday to take or need some half-term inspiration then this year there's nowhere better to go than right here on the home turf.

Image courtesy of www.otherplacefowey.co.uk

One British destination that has remained a personal favourite and a place I've returned to time and time again (despite the unpredictable weather - but isn't that half the fun of an English holiday?!) is Cornwall. A part of England famous for surfing and fish and chips, I simply cannot get enough of the endless tea shops tucked away down cobbled streets and the smell of sea salt splashing against hidden coves. One part of cornwall that brings particular joy is the small fishing village of Fowey. Situated on an estuary the small town is an overflowing buzz of live music, eateries, galleries and precious little sweet shops serving up every fudge flavour imaginable.

Image courtesy of www.audioboo.fm

When in Cornwall, while away the day at The Well House tea rooms in the heart of Fowey (I strongly recommend the stilton and broccoli soup!) or set sail by hiring a boat and spend a day on the water. So if you're not quite ready to hang up your holiday clothes, make like me and head South. The weather is as unpredictable as the London transport, but one thing to be sure of is serious sweet tooth you'll be left with, so let Fowey show you exactly what it's made of.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Peters) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:22:00 +0000

A Question of Sport

New York certainly knows how to set the pace for Fashion Week and this year was no different with the Spring/Summer 2013 collections celebrating everything that is female. For the past few years we've seen a steady influx of pant suits, blazers and all things masculine creep into every collection on every catwalk but this time around androgyny has been given a whole new look. Although tailoring has gradually softened from season to season, there were no pussy bows to be seen and designers showcased a trend that is most definitely all woman. Summer '13 is all about sport luxe, the feminine way.

Each time Spring/Summer comes around we see the usual flurry of models draped in an explosion of colours and prints; florals, animal, spots and stripes, you name it, Fashion Week's got it. However this year bares an exception, for the Summer 2013 collections at New York Fashion Week saw colourways muted as an abundance of neutral hues sashayed down the runway.

Victoria Beckham S/S 2013. Image courtesty of www.style.com

A colour palette of creams, charcoals and pale nudes left all the fine detailing to the cut of the pieces. Structured silhouettes were softened with oversized lapels, and longer lengths shaped blazers. Skirts were shortened into loose fitting wrap around minis and shift dresses were kept feminine with dropped hems and relaxed peplum waists at Vera Wang. Designs were given a sporty edge with sheer panelling and splashes of colour; bright oranges were seen at Victoria Beckham and Helmut Lang and soft shades of grey leather added to the athletic feel at Alexander Wang. The female form took centre stage at Calvin Klein with gently sculpted corsets and bustiers in delicate satin.

Helmut Lang S/S 2013. Images courtesy of www.style.com

Calvin Klein Collection S/S 2013. Images courtesy of www.style.com

With this year's Olympics and Paralympics proving the talent of the world's female athletes, women's sport has been propelled into having a miniature heyday of its own and has clearly influenced designers across the border. Summer '13 is set to be the chicest yet and fashion isn't quite ready to let our love for sports go quite yet, so get your racket (and your legs) summer ready.

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Peters) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Autumn's Monologue

Despite the occasional bursts of sunshine we're being treated to here and there, we are experiencing for the most part increasing harsh winds and dull cloudy days, warning us that we are moving, or perhaps I should say have moved, rapidly into Autumn.

But here at The Raw Denim Bar we don't see this as bad thing as it gives us the perfect excuse to give our winter wardrobe a whole new look, and what better way to stay warm than with a new pair of jeans in gorgeous autumnal shades. We have something for everyone and have carefully selected the best of our Autumn/Winter pieces so you can tackle cold climate in style. Lucky for you our styles for this season are honing in on two of the hottest trends for Autumn/Winter 2012. Whether you want your look militant with chunky gold accessories and plenty of tie-dye or are more in favour of fashion's favourite Autumn trend metallics, we have jeans in every shape and size to cater for your denim needs.

Strewn across the Fall 2012 catwalk was everything from suits to blouses to dresses in glistening golds and shimmering silvers and so began this years love affair with metallics. If, like us, this is one look you simply can't battle the cold weather without then get your hands on a pair of Los Angeles based brand Rich and Skinny's chic gold metallic skinnies, Legacy Geyser.

L-R: Ralph Lauren A/W 2012, Jil Sander A/W 2012.

Images courtesy of www.style.com

If your wardrobe needs a sharper feel and an injection of print then stick with Rich and Skinny (they can do no wrong in our eyes) who have also hit the tie-dye nail on the head with their unique Autumn/Winter collection of patterned skinnies. Try our favourite printed pair, Legacy Monet Dye in Tully, to channel the military trend in a soft dusty green and deep aubergine colour.

Legacy Monet Dye in Tully from Rich and Skinny

Image courtesy of www.therawdenimbar.net

We all know that there are never enough hours in the day so if your staple needs to take you from day to night then keep the shades warm and work with colours. Whether its blushing reds, deep greens or gentle burgundy this year's hottest denim is anything but ordinary.

Back To School

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca Peters) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:57:00 +0000

So it's that time of year again, the schools have gone back and there's finally some time to sit back and have a drink (tea or wine depending on how the year's turned out so far) undisturbed for the first time in six weeks. But don't get too comfortable as back to school still means the twice daily school runs, chaperoning day trips and after school activities.

Luckily for us these various journeys can be made in whatever we could find to throw on in that day without the worry of our style choice ending up on the front of Hello magazine. For those in the public eye one rash decision, and quick dash in their jogging bottoms, won't quite cut it. But fear not, this has caught on amongst our A list pack of yummy mummies and, preened and polished to perfection, these doting celebrity mums have perfected the 'parental school uniform' by ensuring they dressed in a fashion staple; and there's nothing that says 'I've got this under control' better than the denim jean.

One celebrity mum famous for her denim choices when out and about with her brood is Victoria Beckham, a perfect example of minimum effort, maximum result (save for the hair and make-up). She was seen lunching with Harper at this week's Fashion Week looking quite the successful designer in a pair of dark denim high-waisted skinnies. Another denim lover (and mother) we can't get enough of is the gorgeous Miranda Kerr, rarely seen in anything other than denim, and we know baby Flynn isn't quite classroom ready but when he is oh what a pair they'll make. The beautiful twosome were seen walking in Sydney last week with Miranda in a pair of low rise figure-hugging blue drainpipes. Never one to keep it simple, singer Gwen Stefani opted for a pair of baggy boyfriend-fit stonewash jeans on a trip to the museum with son Kingston in California this week.

Whatever you're shape there's a denim style made just to fit you so if you feel that it's time you didn't look quite so 'bedtime beauty' the next time you're waiting in the playground or making an after school visit to the local park then why not visit our 'denim fit guide' on the website and find the perfect style for your shape as chosen by founder Wendy herself and featured in LOOK magazine. Who knew a pair of jeans could make such a difference!

Image 1 courtesy of www.blogs.babble.com

Image 2 courtesy of www. modelcandids.com

Image 3 courtesy of www. blottr.com

Weekend Love from the Bar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Happy weekend ahead from the Bar! Xoxo, the team @ TRDB


Made possible through TypePop. Image from TRDB A/W 2012 Lookbook showing Emma in Amethyst and Atalanta Weller shoes.

If I were a Summer Sale.. oh, I am!

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:42:00 +0000

The TRDB sale is now on and in the time honored tradition of a good sale, we've hacked the prices up to 70% off retail. This means tees starting from £12 and jeans from £40. Not only does this make good economic sense its also a sound investment. Our denim brands are premium quality and TRDB's Editor (me) makes sure the styles and washes we select will take you from season to season; year to year.

Start stocking up!

Shop TRDB's Sale Now

The Raw Denim Bar A/W 2012 Lookbok is out!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 08:00:00 +0000


The Raw Denim Bar AW 2012 Loobkook with 16 pages		more from user The Raw Denim Bar on yumpu.com

Brighten up your Denim Wardrobe!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:24:00 +0000

Feeling a bit blue these days? - At TRDB, we escape the gloomy weather forecasts by injecting some bright denim into our wardrobe. Inspired by the latest runway trends, we picked the hottest arrivals in our July style edit. We hope you'll enjoy our edit. Happy Friday!

☀ TRDB ☀

Styles upper row, right to left: Resin Catalyst in Cobalt Phoenix (£180); WorkCustom Viper Shorts in Indigo Blue (£95). Style second row: DL1961 Emma in Curacao (£99).

Styles from right to left: Kasil Benatar in Rose Thorn / £170; Rich & Skinny Legacy in Boa (snakeskin print!) (£160); Raven Wren in Blush (boyfriend) (£160).

Styles from right to left: WorkCustom Viper Short in Burnt Orange (brand-new arrival!) (£95); Kasil Minx in Tangerine (just in!) (£170); WorkCustom Viper Skinnies in Burnt Orange (£160).


Styles from left to right: Kasil Workshop Geek Shorts in Limelight (coming soon!); WorkCustom Viper Sateen in Canary (as seen on Emerald Street) (£123); Sundry Cropped Tank in Orange Stripes (coming soon) - see also Sundry Cropped Tank in Old Sail for similar style. See also the style edit of blogger neon blush of the Kasil Geek Shorts - we love the pictures!

TRDB's Denim Concierge visits Look magazine!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:35:00 +0000

The Raw Denim Bar's Denim Concierge popped by the offices of Look magazine to meet Style Directors, Zoe Aird & Hannah Hughes and Fashion News Editor, Lucy Wood for a Denim Concierge fitting complemented by some bubbles & delicious cupcakes. After completing the DC questionnaire online, Zoe, Hannah and Lucy each received a set of personal style recommendations to try on at their offices in London. With three very unique denim personalities, the style selections varied from edgy coated denim styles in a leather look to muted colours as an alternative to the classic blue jean. With a choice of six styles each - we included a few extra summer shorts ;-) ... in the hopes that the sun will come back at last - all three embarked on the hunt to find their perfect pair of jeans! See our snaps below for the final three winners and more...

TRDB's Wendy Montgomery personally picked delicious mini-cupcakes and was excited to see what style each picked to try on in the end:

From right to left: Lucy, Fashion News Editor, Hannah Hughes, Style Director and Zoe Aird, Style Director (Look magazine) checking out TRDB styles picked by the Denim Concierge team.

Zoe eyeing a pair of blue Kasil Benatar's.

The final three styles that made the edit (from right to left):

DL1961's Emma in Wick, our favourite coated denim for an edgier look
Kasil Minx in Rail, our latest arrival for summer...a cropped skinny in a stripe design, great to pair with heels and alternative to the classic blue jean
DL1961's Angel in Sprout, we love the muted colour for Hannah and perfect length to go with flats (soon available, email us for more information on this style)

Looking for a new pair of jeans - your new wardrobe staple, something unusual or some summer denim for your holidays? - Try the DC yourself and let us do the job of finding you the perfect pair of jeans. Visit our Denim Concierge page for more information or email our DC team directly with your questions.

TRDB Sample Sale in Notting Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Get your Fashion Fix

@ the Notting Hill Sample Sale

Enjoy up to 80% off boutique silk, cashmere & denim collections from brands such as Crumpet, Melabelle and The Raw Denim Bar. Pop down to 201 Portobello Road; the pop up shop will be open (until June 24th)!

Join TRDB For A Late Night Shopping in Notting Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:09:00 +0000

TRDB offers Denim Concierge in W11 - 201 Portobello Road

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Join us on Portobello Road for your Spring denim fix.

We are offering complimentary fittings, special discounts and late night Thursday shopping with Champagne.

Open daily 9:30-6:30.

Thursdays until 9:00pm

Style, fashion and free denim advice. Champagne is optional but highly recommended!

Win £500 to Shop at TRDB with StyleNest

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:41:00 +0000

We love our friends over at StyleNest. Not only is it one of those blogs that is really tuned in to what we want to hear about and read about, they might have one of the best set of competitions around.

From PowerPlate sessions to Boden Gift Certicates and now you can win £500 at The Raw Denim Bar.

Be sure to visit StyleNest to enter now!

They had me at Wellie... a TRDB review of Babington House

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:53:00 +0000

I must admit, I am a bit of a Soho House fan. From the amazing city locations (with rooftop pools) in New York and London to the perfect Bauhaus building in Berlin and now.. the country retreat that would be hard to be beat (unless of course it was all yours).

The drive and estate is lined with trees which would be more than a bit spooky at night (think Sleepy Hollow without the weird pumpkin head guy). Thankfully, we arrived at dusk. The entrance and actually most things are fairly unmarked meaning it takes a bit of exploring but isn't that the point?

photo courtesy of babington house

The bathtubs in each room are freestanding metal things with water pressure that I haven't seen since a run in with a broken fire hydrant when I was 12 years old. Even the most expensive London hotel cannot offer a comparable rain shower.

We booked the Walled Garden Room (3 months in advance, the wait was excruciating) and were not disappointed. My husband actually compared it to Post Ranch Inn (our favourite stateside guilty pleasure). You enter the room in to the bathroom and then can either walk down to a large living space with views on to your own outside metal tub and further to the hotel's vegetable garden. Or upstairs to a loft bedroom complete with a very large bed, soft linens and a warm duvet.

The spa appears as a potting shed, attached to the Walled Garden Rooms but the treatments are delivered as in any Cowshed spa. Cucumber or Orange water is provided, a gracious welcoming staff at the desk and of course, a quiet relaxing environment.

We spent one evening eating with friends in The Orangery. The food was amazing - great English food with that little bit extra that makes the best traditional restaurants just a bit more interesting, and a bit better - pallet wise. They offered a variety of dishes, I started with a three meat ragu with rocket pasta (it was green in case you are wondering) and Parmesan cheese. My main was a shared meal with my partner - a T-bone with chips and Bearnaise. Perfectly cooked and wonderfully presented, raised and on a slat of wood. Our friends enjoyed a fresh fish and the pork. Everyone was pleased which is saying a lot- we are all well traveled and well fed!

The grounds are beautiful. Grass courts for tennis, a chapel for those that get married at Babington and little touches around the space. Its shabby chic, country chic and luxury all wrapped up in a nicely distressed bow.

The second lunch we ate in the bar. I sampled their Bloody Marys (seal of approval - I had 3 and one on the next morning) and ordered a burger. My only complaint is the burger was undercooked. I must admit, I always try the burger if they claim to have a good one - I am in the constant search of of besting the best burger I can get at stateside restaurant staples like Blue Ribbon in New York or Nopa in San Francisco.

Dinner was again in the bar as we didn't have a reservation and didn't figure we would need one. That was silly, wasn't it. But I had salmon off the main menu - and it was simply amazing!

The Chapel at Babington House

Design Inspiration

They had me with the used Wellies. I only wish my solid black ones had this look. But mine are city Wellies, no mud, no weather to speak of .... maybe I should leave mine out there next time I visit.

Did I mention they had salted caramel ice cream? Two scoops please.

What more reason do you need?

Spring Wardrobe Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:09:00 +0000

It really doesn't feel like Spring when I sit in my office on Easter Monday watching the rain hit the window and the gusty wind take aim at my precious summer blooms that only sprouted 10 days ago during our 20 degree week. Where did Spring go?

Yet as I watch the rain, I cannot help but be hopeful, good weather will return again and then I need to be ready with all the must-have wardrobe updates.

Here is our top 10.

1. The Print Blouse – whether its a Monet print, equipments 70’s floral print or a simple snakeskin – the print blouse is the easiest way to dress up casual and look fabulous. Pair with some white jeans for a high summer date and a black blazer and pencil skirt for work chic.

photo courtesy of whistles

2. Summer leather or suede- leather generally is such an easy way to change up any look – a biker jacket to toughen up a girly skirt or a fitted jacket to wear with flare jeans. We think the laser cut (think affordable Alaia) variety is really special. Pair it with a bright blouse or a white tank and jeans. Not sure about this, go with a lovely summer color - maybe a pale blush pink leather or a pale suede.

photo courtesy of celeb spotters

3. A Bright Blazer – could be a neon if you are so inclined, but we really love the brighter reds, blues or even pink. This will make you stand out in a crowd. Don't feel like this is a one season thing either – wear this summer with another bright for a color blocking effect and in the fall with some black skinnies or moody top for a pop of color.

photo courtesy of stylebakery

4. Special Denim – either brights or print that take your denim wardrobe up a notch. We love Rich & Skinny's Python Print denim. Wear it now to work the trend and wear them in the fall because they just really work.

photo courtesy of Rich & Skinny

5. A Spring Oxford - we love Grenson's Women's line because they have just about every color combination we could ever want.

photo courtesy of Grenson

6. Embellished Sandals - we still have our color-blocked Bottega Sandals from last summer but will update our footwear options with something embellished.

photo courtesy of Melabelle

7. Your own IT handbag – in a bright color. Whatever suits you -wear it, clash it, love it!

photo courtesy of style hurricane

8. Layered bracelets - we love the leather look or the enamel look. However you do it, different colors and lots of them are a must.

photo courtesy of schlumberger enamel at Tiffany

9. A white watch might be tacky but we still love it for Summer! Don't want to do a big white watch, then do a men's Timex with a colorful strap.

photo courtesy of chanel.com

10. Denim Shorts - the shorter the better if you can otherwise, a boyfriend short or even a bermuda. Whatever you do, make them your own - be comfortable and confident.

photo courtesy of delias

Warm-up! SS12 Style Edit No.2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Pick your favourite pastel for this season! We love them all...and are so excited to welcome them at the Bar!

Just in time for the Easter weekend, we will be adding a few more lovely coloured summer styles to our denim collection including the supersoft WorkCustom Viper Sateen in Canary - featured in Emerald Street! :)

We have added a link for styles that you can already purchase online. Be the first to hear about new arrivals at our online boutique by subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter here.

About the styles:
1. Rich & Skinny / Lover Short in Blush - £46

2. Chan Luu / Scarf in Cameo Rose - £130

3. Sundry / La Mer Tee in Salmon - £42

4. Kasil / Benatar in Rose Thorn - Coming soon!

5. Raven / Wren in Blush - Featured in Cosmopolitan magazine! Very soon available!

6. Secession / Wide Neck Tee - £41
7. Sundry / Cropped Tank in Old Sail - £36
8. Secession / Circle Print Tee - £41
9. Kasil / Geek Shorts in Limelight - Coming soon!
10. WorkCustom / Viper Sateen in Canary - £123 BACK IN STOCK!
11. WorkCustom / Viper in Lucerne Blue - Coming soon!

Environmental Fashion Lets Go Global

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:55:00 +0000

Environmental Fashion

You don't have to buy Bamboo T-shirts and jeans made out of recycled plastic bottles in order to be a green fashionista. By following a few simple steps you can step up your awareness and reduce your footprint.

China
To go red is not very green - many of the clothing that is made in China are produced under appalling conditions. Not to mention the fact that while transportation itself is not as big of a environment cost as you would think, these low quality things are often wear one season and not worth fixing a button or even dry cleaning. When you invest in quality, something made in Italy, France or the US, then you are more likely to take good care of it and keep it for seasons to come.

http://www.accschinese.com

They are too cute to spend their lives making clothing! Especially clothing that ends up being binned the next season!

Designer Quality at High Street Price
Find the brands that buy from the same mills as the designer collections. Many of the high street chains are made in the same mills as high end collections. As an example, J Crew cashmere (retail starts at £138) claims to be from an Italian cashmere maker in the foothills of Piedmont. This is none other than Loro Piana's mill in Quarona meaning the same mill makes J Crew's £138 sweater and also Loro Piana's £1000 sweater. This is also the same mill that spins out fabrics for Brioni & Brooks Brother so Loro Piana's £1000 jumper isn't even the high end of the mill, a £10,000 suit is.

photo courtesy of jcrew.com

J Crew Cashmere - Fashion Colours, Quality, Good Price!

Collaborations
Be wary of collaborations - Great style, No quality.
I went to work early so I could get online and join the queue at H&M during the release of the Marni collection. And while I was overjoyed at the design of the little floral jacket and jacquard skirts; when they arrived, I was far from joyous. I realized the quality was so far from what I would expect, especially at prices higher than H&M's average retail price. They may have the designer's name but they don't have their make. Check over these coveted pieces before you buy!

photo courtesy of http://www.nitrolicious.com

Spending isn't Saving

Before buying on sale think whether you would pay full price. This is a valuable lesson to learn as we all love a bargain but as one very smart economist once said (my dad) spending is never saving. That said, snagging a bargain during the sales is both great for your wardrobe and also for your wallet but really, you should never buy something on sale that you weren't dying for at full price. And stick to classic pieces you can wear for seasons to come! A few days before the sale, visit the shops and see what there is on the rails for favorite designers. If you see something you love, try it on and then put it back. If you are still thinking about it when the sale starts, go early and grab it!!

My favorite Selfridges sale buy of all time- a timeless, classic Stella suit at 70% off retail.

Recycle or Up-cycle
In the UK, on average, there are 35kg of clothing bought every year and only 1/8 of that is recycled through charities - the rest is discarded. Besides shrinking landfill, you can rest assured the majority of this is cheap clothing bought on sale (ahem, see above) or bought at high street shops such as Primark. When you invest is something special from a high end designer or even the high end of the high street (e.g. Reiss, Whistles..) its very unlikely you are going to throw out a £100 skirt. Donate these or upcycle them to something new - there are lots of companies out there that will take something special (maybe a fabulous print skirt) and repurpose it. Furniture made out of denim, scarves make amazing pillow covers, a special quilt to take to Uni. Look around your house and think about what could have been made from recycled clothing....

Rather than buying at the high street, visit the following sites and see about snagging something designer at a resale shop - I promise you, the feeling of putting on a vintage Celine blazer is so much better than buying a new one from the High Street.

TRDB's favourite Fashion Recycling Events & Sites

Buy My Wardrobe - Their events are amazing - always a queue for the covetable VIP entry. Plus a new online site for shopping is coming. We are already salivating!

A Limited Edition Louis Vuitton from TRDB's Owner was on sale at one of these Events!

Chic &Seek - an online shop for resale featuring everything from Shoes to Jackets from Celine to Prada! We love!

The inside of the Chic &Seek Mews. Its like a shopper's paradise!

TRDB Events: Atmosphere @ High Road House Chiswick

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Together with BuyMyWardrobe, JADA Fine Jewellery and nailgirls, we hosted a shopping and pampering day at High Road House Chiswick last week. It was a lovely day - although we were missing out on all the sunshine outside :-S - and a lovely come together of denim lovers and fashionistas! See below for a few images capturing the atmosphere during the event.

Save the date as well for our first pop up shop this year at 201 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LU. We'll be there every day for two exciting weeks:
26 March - 8 April 2012
Late night Thursday until 9pm!

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The Raw Denim Bar at High Road House, 15 March 2012:

Warm-Up! Our Style Edits for Spring 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Coloured denim is perfect to add colour to your wardrobe - it's so versatile and a great staple for seasons to come. We are in love with red at TRDB and selected here our favourite styles! Pair it with grey and the lovely shrug by T-Los Angeles that will keep you cozy during a fresh Spring weekend.

Get the styles:
Habitual Audrey Legging in Sunrise
WorkCustom Leggera in Coated Red
DL1961 Emma in Tabasco
Lauren Moshi Farrah Crop in Tiger Eye
T-LA Raglan Shrug in Gold
T-LA Layering Tank
Chan Luu Scarf in Azalea
Lionette NY Venus in Red

The Raw Denim Bar Pops Up on Portobello!

noreply@blogger.com (The Raw Denim Bar) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:22:00 +0000

You're invited .... TRDB @ High Road House Chiswick (London)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:23:00 +0000

Denim, Diamonds & Designer Accessories ...

TRDB will host an exciting day of shopping and pampering at High Road House Chiswick on 15 March, from 12-9pm.

Come around and get pampered with manicures from nailgirls London, champagne and denim fittings! We'll have a denim sample sale, jewellery by JADA Fine Jewellery and resale designer treasures from BuyMyWardrobe!

More info below: