Inspired by nature: Part One

Flowers curtesy of Kenwood House, Hampstead.

Shaded Lemon to Candy Pink Silk Chiffon Shawl from Pashmina Land.

http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=56

Adding elegance to an English summer

I'm thinking linens, chiffon frocks, strawberries at wimbledon. A glorious Saturday afternoon at Lords with the Aussies following on... Brideshead Revisited; a perfect wedding day in mid-summer; lying back and letting the world pass by as some delightful chap in a boater punts along the Cam... I'm thinking floaty summer scarves...

And these are lightweight pashmina and silk scarves at their very best. Light as a whisper and dyed through several shades to produce a simply stunning effect. This is melon through pale pink though silver ice but we have a huge range of others. We only have a few of each so you won't meet someone else wearing the same scarf...unless you're both punting down the river at the same time. And what are the chances of that happening?

http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/

Kathmandu Pictures straight from The Boss - Pashminas in production

Our pashmina shawls being made. Each one is unique!

And here's the heart of Kathmandu. Although it's hot at this time of the year, The Boss tells me that they've had persistent fine rain and so have been forced to stay inside for more pampering! Or wrap a pashmina round your head - they don't mind getting wet you know!

This pashmina needs you!

I'm having a bit of a Paul O'Grady moment. So here goes.

In Pashmina Land there's always the odd pashmina that particularly needs a home because they're a one-off in our stock.

This is a lovely reversible geranium jacquard weave - size 70 x 180cms and deserves to be worn!

Especially because he's currently lumped together with his plain jacquard cousins...

We only have ONE available (Black and Silver) at £26.55, so whoever gets him will be lucky. Make a pashmina happy today!

http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=17

UPDATE AUGUST: Helen is the lucky new owner of this lovely one-off shawl and someone who can really spot a bargain. I hope that she really enjoys wearing it!

Orange pashminas squashed in summer 2009

Orange seems to be asserting itself as a colour of the summer. For those of you who want to get on board early but want to see the shades available and not pay a lot... I've been checking out our clearance Pashmina & Silk scarves at £11.75.
Great for a hint of summer when the weather's miserable (Wimbledon IS on the horizon!)
From the top in Orange Juice, Terracotta, Gold, Mango and Bright Orange. These are only available in ones and twos so get them while you can...
http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=65

Tiger print pashminas - they're greattt!

Limited editions in our animal scarf range are a spectacular tiger and some rather funky leopards. Meowww!!!

http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=129

The fine line between warm and cool

It never ceases to amaze me as I'm trekking around town in the day, how many people are taking full advantage of half an hour of sun and have no visible coat, scarf , anything...

When I leave for work in the morning it's by and large freezing, and with the unpredictable May weather, how can you punt on no sleeves etc that early on?

Although I'm a wuss who would prefer a huge pashmina at all times, I have to bow to the seasonal changes eventually. This is the season when the mini scarf comes into its own. You can tuck it into a jacket in the morning for snuggly pashmina warmth, and fold it to the size of a cigarette packet to stow in your bag later in the day. My current favourite is the Burgundy to Browns 4 colour shaded scarf on our Men's page (yes I know, but they are pretty unisex). http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=106

and for variation and to go with the check trend, the occasional foray into houndstooth.

http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=39

So I can heartily recommend the smallest size of scarf for the cold blooded out there.

And at least you don't look like a freak amongst all the early season flip-flop and sun dress brigade.

A visit to Pashmina Land

Pashminas at the ready! All action stations today, as the Boss leaves for Nepal on Monday morning. So we're currently trying to remember all those ideas for new designs that have come to us in the last couple of months, and are hoping to seeing some of them realised. On a personal front, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a new Raspberry sample. (As you know, finding the ideal raspberry is becoming a personal quest.)

The Boss is always keen to go and visit our suppliers, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the pashmina talk might not be the only incentive. Could it be lovely Kathmandu, Everest or the delights of the hotel massage/facial/pedicure services... that keeps drawing her back?

Whatever, pictures are coming of our Nepalese friends!

Back to square pashmina scarf one

We're very excited to be in at the launch of the new internet retail experience, My Fave Shop http://www.myfaveshop.com/site/home.html

Although it's very tempting to spend all day creating our own department stores rather than working!!!

Some of our pashminas are available on MFS rather than our regular website - so check it out...

A new arrival to the PashminasDirect shop at MFS is my beloved square scarf, in a summer-friendly lightweight weave and a totally insane price of £23! Limited stock. Get them while you can (before me). http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/mayfair+valley+pashmina+cashmere+silk+lightweight+square+scarf/pid/10178619

Grrr - Wild about animal print pashminas

I've been noticing how animal prints are prowling round this season; not fully in the spot light but giving a touch of interest in accessories and shorty cardigans.
Prints are hot news in their forms, whether in delicate florals, bold and brights or more earthy tones and we've suddenly found that our camouflage shawls have been flying off the shelves.
http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=102
The animal print is more of a perennial favourite and a great investment especially in a classic cheetah, leopard or zebra. A hint on a bag or a small scarf can carry you through so many trends. http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/Details.asp?ProductID=129
If you're very daring you can go for a coloured animal print - fantastic in the sunshine - but maybe not for all seasons (or years).

How to wear a large silk chiffon shawl

One of our best summer sellers is the super large shaded silk chiffon shawl. Of course this can be worn in all the regular shawl ways and crunches down small to become a long floaty scarf, (beware in open top cars!) but I've recently been asked by several customers how to wear it as a dress/ sarong.

How to wear... as a skirt

1. It's certainly light enough to knot at the side of the hip - single layer for a long skirt or folded in half for the more daring.

Hold the long length round your hips and then...

Either a. Tie the full length of material to make the knot. This tends to make a snug fit round the hips that can be quite restrictive.

Or b. At the point where the chiffon meets over one hip, grab a handful from each side and make the knot with this. The excess from the ends falls in a pretty waterfall way.

How to wear as a dress (for over a bikini or swimsuit)

Here are a couple of ideas.

1. The long length should be round your ribcage with the two sides under either arm. Twist the chiffon at the top two corners, cross the fabric over your chest and knot the two ends behind your neck for a halterneck.

2. Or go asymmetrical and let the material pass under only one arm and knot over the opposite shoulder.

Go on experiment - it's a really versatile shawl/skirt/dress! http://www.pashminasdirect.co.uk/cat02.asp