My Vist To John Lewis....

When I couldn't make a John Lewis blogger event that was being held in London in the Summer, I was contacted and asked if I would like a little personal guided tour of my local John Lewis in Cheadle Now I know this store very well and being the shopper I am, I am often in there browsing the many lovely departments. I also knew my local John Lewis had not long ago had an multi million pound overhaul and among other things it had received some new fancy merchandising, a beauty retreat, a waiter/ess restaurant and new room sets in their home department. How could I resist....When I turned up, I was greeted with a lovely new and very stylish window display....

Then it was time for me to meet the marketing and pr co-ordinator for John Lewis Cheadle, who was a pleasure to meet and certainly knows her stuff....

 ( Photograph courtesy of John Lewis )

It has to be said, when I first stepped into the new look John Lewis, I felt as though I had landed in a brand new store, and it took me a little while to get my bearings. I couldn't wait to see the new Beauty department....

So swish, and the perfect place to visit if you are looking for a little pampering. You can enjoy a 30 minute facial in the Elemis spa pod, and Elemis even offer a power booster facial for men. I like the sound of their Laura Mercier make up master classes, perfect for groups of friends. What is great is you don't always necessarily need to book an appointment for many of the treatments on offer, so if the shopping all gets a bit too much, you can wander over to the beauty clinics and see if you can have a treatment straight away. The ladies are just the friendliest, and were more than happy to have their photograph taken....

Just outside of the beauty area is the new haberdashery department, and a department I love it has to be said....

Lots of lovely new fabrics to drool over, and I am so tempted to buy one of these as a spare machine, I just adore all the colours....

Oh my, something just so pretty caught my eye, and we made our way over to have a look....

On my christmas list...yet again. Oh I just love it. A visit to John Lewis at christmas has you greeted with many lovely gift ideas and treats for loved ones. Champagne....

Chocolates....

Lovely country style gifts....

Then it was off to home accessories, so sweet....

And we made our way past the infamous jelly fish....

A design concept to highlight many of the wonderful prints, furnishing fabrics, trims and accessories on offer....

Then we went for a little browse around the children's wear department. A department any little fashionista would love....

And I couldn't resist a little mooch at the children's Hunter's....

For me, the toy department, did seem to have shrunk a little, though as it is now on a brand new floor, it could be just the new layout I needed to get used to somewhat....

 I fell in love with Hugo ....

And I think a great cause to give one a new home as 25% of the selling price is donated to the RSPCA. I also think their store bear was rather cute....

Women's fashion was indeed a highlight of the evening....

 The new display area for the women's bags was very eye catching....

Even menswear caught my eye, I do love a man in pink....

And quite a choice in the shirt and tie department....

Christmas decorations galore....

This seemingly is one of their best selling christmas trees, very minimalist in my opinion....

I however, like much more of a traditional number....

And there was a great choice of christmas stockings to be had....

I have to say my greatest like of the evening was to be found in the homewear department and boy I just loved it....

So, thank you JL for a super guided tour, I had a fun time and spied some very lovely things I may just go back for....

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Shabby Chic Tricks....Kitchen/Dining Area

Please welcome guest blogger Jo-ann Fortune from Vintage Brighton.com who shall be writing two posts for my blog on a subject and style I love. In her first post for my blog Jo-ann shall be offering up cheap and easy tricks to help introduce a sprinkling of shabby chic style into your kitchen and dining area. Keep an eye out for Jo-ann's second post, which covers idea's for your living room and bedroom, and where also there shall be the fantastic opportunity to win a Jan Constantine Love cushion from John Lewis. So Jo-ann, over to you....

TABLE DRESSING....Wipe clean vinyl table cloths are not only practical but can help transform your kitchen or dining area at low cost. Look out for cute dog prints, vintage-feel floral fancies and Fifties' polka dots. And if you need a change of scene, simply swap the skin on your tables 

KITSCH 'N CAKE.... Whether you're queen of the home bake tea party, or just love a shop bought cupcake and cuppa, kitsch crockery is key to the shabby chic look. Collect old and new single colour pieces for a clean look - you can't go wrong with country-cottage white - or go eclectic with mix and match vintage style patterns and prints. Cake stands make the perfect showpiece in your kitchen, and when you're not entertaining can be used to hold sweets, keys or anything else lying around! They also make great jewellery stands.

GROW YOUR OWN.... Even the smallest flat can accommodate a herb box, and the introduction of live greenery in your kitchen will instantly soften a modern-day interior. As a general rule with shabby chic style, think vintage or re-worked rather than new, so dig out distressed plant pots with chipped paint, up-cycle pots with pastel paint testers or drill holes in old tins. You can also use taller retro receptacles as flower vases.

SCREW-ON STYLE.... Add fun shabby chic touches to tired chest of drawers, kitchen units or any old furniture with screw-on door handles. At only a few pounds each, you can try out different designs to help decide which one shall work for you.

 PAINT-BOX PRETTY.... Take a leaf out of Cath Kidston's book and update beaten-up chairs with paint tester pots. Sand down, paint the wood or metal supports in bright colour paints or pretty pastels and use these to inform the colour scheme of your room.            


Thanks Jo-ann for these useful tips and shall look forward to your second post highlighting shabby chic tricks for in the bedroom and living room.


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Disclosure: In return for publishing Jo-ann's  guest posts, I received a shopping voucher for John Lewis.

Biggin' Up John Lewis, And Rightly So....

Hi my name is Mary and I am a shopaholic....

Yes this statement is true, I cannot go anywhere without popping into a department store. My dear faithful husband is forever hearing the words " I shan't be long" when I pop into a shop. Two hours later I skulk out with hidden bags in bags in bags ;0)  I am a retail PR dream and I think the lovely peeps at John Lewis had an idea too, as a couple or so weeks ago I received an invitation from them to go to a special Christmas Press launch preview event to view their new, exciting and upcoming Fashion  Homeware  Toys Gifts  and Children's Clothes ranges. Well as you can imagine, like the man from Del Monte, I said yes. How lovely too, that children were invited, so thought as Miss. Poppins would be at school I would take my Master P with me as my date and we got busy choosing what to wear. Yes a gal and a three year old fashion savvy boy needs to plan ;0) 

So yesterday, we made our way to London, and was looking forward to a very enjoyable afternoon. A short walk with Master P from Euston and a little before we got to our lovely venue here I could see that snow was ahead, surely not. It was infact the technical crew at the event who had a 'to get you in the Christmas mood' snow machine greeting us as we walked up the pretty steps into the beautiful grade 1 listed venue. I was feeling the Christmas spirit as I made my way through the grand entrance. I met some very lovely PR ladies and gentleman, and in my opinion John Lewis are certainly on the ball when it comes to choosing PR agencies, thought a very slick crew,  and who I have to say were thoroughly gorgeous, professional and a pleasure to chat with. I was asked who I was, which, as my name being Mary and my badge having Mary Poppins on it, had one two peeps wondering whether I would indeed be holding that infamous carpet bag ;0)

I was then handed something very gadgety looking, and it was explained that I was free to video anything from the day, and yes also to take said  Flip Mimo Camcorder  home as a gift. It really is one of the coolest gadgets, and I know shall be a family favourite, you can record up to 2 hours and the family and I have had fun recording each other since it came home with me. Thank you sincerely from John Lewis, I like to think I am a giver in life, not so much of a taker, but I have to say, I happily took that little number off your hands ;0)

Master P was happy to be taken upstairs by one of the gorgeous PR ladies, for some supervised play with some other lovely children, and I was then given a guided tour by a charming, chatty lady, round a lovely array of magical, beautiful John Lewis sets, all their own little stage. A wondrous mix of all that John Lewis has to bring to our homes and wardrobes this coming season. I fell in love with John Lewis's Mr. Bright chair who took centre stage in one of the set displays.

It was obvious the set designers and display team had gone to alot of time and effort putting these wonderful themed rooms together, I especially likes the wallpapered walls in this retro styled living room, all accessorised with John Lewis delights.  
 
 

 
And an on trend working area.
 

 
 
Seemed to be forever falling in love with chairs, and Princess Alice was a beauty.
 
 

It was then onto the Christmas rooms, which were amazing. We had a bevy of Frosty Morns and diamonds, Nordic with a splash of vintage, Geometry with 1950s glamour and as ever and popular, the Classic Christmas themes showcased for us. My photographs have not come out to my expectations, it was quite dark in the rooms but you are in for some real surprises and fun, pretty Christmas treats this Christmas.

Of course there is always someone who wants to get in on the act ;0)

Then it was fashion, one of my favourites.

I wanted to dive in and try everything on.

And then I saw THE DRESS, I even checked the size, my size ;0) I wanted to rip it off the mannequin and get it on, alas that would have not be very polite of me so I had to make do with a little feel and waved her goodbye. I want this sequined number, and shall be head footing it to JL as soon as I know they are available. If anyone can give me the heads up ;0)

Then it was upstairs to view the pretty and sweet children's range, how could one not drool over this pretty display.

And as for the children's clothes, *sigh* John Lewis really have come up trumps with their own label brands in the all clothing departements, I have to say.  

And I adored the Boys jim jams.

Master P of course was more into one of these than the jammy's.

It was then that word had got about that a crafty peep was in the building and I got whisked over to the haberdashery display, and had a lovely chat with a very pretty John Lewis lady, who I shall call Ms. Haberdashery. Do you remember when when we hankered after the John Lewis red sewing machine, and moi couldn't get her hands on one until about 4 months after their launch, well word has it it is back, albeit in a very limited edition quantity, if you see one, grab it ;0) I have now upgraded the model but these really are quite lovely machines, to play with and look at, maybe for a beginner, perhaps an older child who is a very keen crafter and can be supervised. But hey, if you can't get the red, look what you could get.

Prefer a lovely green would you.

And lots of lovely colours to wet your appetite here I think I would definately consider getting the Fushia for Miss. Poppins, well alright for me, as a little extra machine should my other one be on a little holiday ;0) Ms. Haberdashery informed me of all the new and exciting items that would be coming and there were some very pretty items on display I would have loved come home with me.

Then it was onto the Christmas gift display.

I needed a sit down by now and was served some very delicate and prettily displayed food, the children who were by now in the same room as us were having a ball and being entertained. It was also super meeting some new and lovely bloggers and we had a lovely chit chat. Soon it was time to head back home and grabbed child. I also wanted to grab some Nutella alas it was well and truly stuck down on the display, I am nutella obsessed, and as soon as I spied it there, looking at me, I had to pop over and say hello and dip my finger in ;0) Well the display nearly came tumbling over, I was a little red faced and had to explain to a charming PR lady my obsession with Nutella, who was obviously meant to find out about my obsession. So with the Nutella left on the shelf, undipped, Master P and I said our goodbyes and headed back downstairs to get our jackets.

I thanked the cheery JL and PR agency gurus for a superb afternoon and also for the flip video, where upon I was handed over a stunning and very trendy shopper that looked like it may have one or two treats in, goodness me, and I never even bought a bottle of wine ;0) Thank you very much, and even Master P was handed over an  Eric Carle bag with a special treat in it for him. 

Would like to see what was in my treat bag from JL would you, would you.

Well I was good girl and waited the journey home, to see what treats I had been so very generously and kindly given in the lovely bag 

Here they are looking pretty.

If that wasn't enough, look at the trendy cushion too.

So, both child and I had been very spoilt and I went to bed with two press packs and a wish list as long as my arm for my next visit to John Lewis, of which I have two lovely big stores me. Here are one or two pretties that took my eye.

                 

Thank you John Lewis, you have proved to me you have an eye for style, current trends, and a true retail leader, who certainly shall have me making my way to one of your department stores this coming season in search of pretties.

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