Its that time of year again, where we have all got through what we thought was the longest ever month of January waiting for our first payday after Christmas, but then sometimes, the weather just kicks in and February feels even longer than January did!!!

To combat the January blues we start looking to booking a holiday so that we have something to look forward to but this year I must admit we are really struggling to find a destination that suits the various needs and wants of our rapidly growing up family and so far have not booked anything and are feeling a bit left out!!

Perhaps you have been away at February half term? Many people hit the ski slopes or went for a bit of winter sunshine for that feel good factor to combat dreary weather and dark nights at home or maybe you have booked your Easter or Summer getaway to a beautiful or tropical destination (if I close my eyes I can imagine a gently lapping sea, warm sand and total relaxation … compared to the reality of travelling with grumpy teenagers whos number one concern is whether they can connect to wifi or charge their phone, with a new take on “are we nearly there yet?” compared to their toddler days!).

Quite often, when we book our travels at the start of the year and get all excited about our upcoming holiday there is a tendency to start mentally planning out all the logistics of what we have in the wardrobe for our trip. (Did anyone else have a parent who always bought them new clothes for their annual holiday when they were little?) At this point its all planned in the mind as practically the “holiday box” of clothes is either on top of a wardrobe or buried under the bed somewhere not particularly accessible so its all a bit random whether you do remember what is in it at the moment …. or whether you remember what was in it years ago and has long parted company with your household!!

I do find it a bit strange that at this time of year, when we are looking for inspiration of clothing for the Spring and Summer ahead, longing for those longer hours of daylight, warmer temperatures, sun and blue sky, the shops tend to be full of clothes for the “nowness” of rainy winter (except for skimpy bikinis and swimwear), and the press/magazines are covering the latest rounds of Fashion Week and informing us of all the trends focusing on the next Autumn Winter to come!! So if you are wondering what happened to Summer were pleased to say its on the way!

Our new signature collection features bright colours and light fabrics which are perfect for the incoming warmer weather. They are not bulky making them ideal for packing in your suitcase!

Our gorgeous new long tie dye dress is inspired by the Northern Lights! Its a long dress for femininity and style in a dazzling print of shimmering shades created from eco friendly viscose & lyocell.

For timeless elegance our maxi dress adorned with delicate macrame at the neckline oozes sophistication and bohemian style from an eco friendly viscose & lyocell satin feel fabric.

If long dresses are not your thing, then our new draped dress could be what you are looking for! The twist front feature flatters a whole range of body shapes with a ‘v’ neck, dropped shoulders and midi length, it’s a generously wide cut and part of our Planet Tortue eco range too!

If you know Tortue then you will know that we love to bring you garments that can be worn in more than one way to give you flexibility when building your outfits and effectively two outfits for the price of one! This collection features a reversible camisole top, one side is plain and one side printed in a beautiful tropical print in shades of turquoise, green and ecru from a satin feel material with practical thin adjustable straps which will look amazing with jeans, shorts, a denim skirt, or even dressed up beneath a blazer. For a head to toe tropical spirit look pair with our matching printed watercolour straight leg trousers.

Our team have gone all gooey eyed for our new wide leg jumpsuit crafted from a jersey knit fabric that just hangs beautifully. With a deep V neckline and shoulder pleats, the twist at the front pulls the garment together skimming over all of your best bits. Think red carpet glam in terms of the shape of the jumpsuit but all the practicality for day to day wear instead. Dress up with heels and a statement necklace or dress down with trainers or flip flops for a casual look too!

I do love seeing all the snippets that come out from London Fashion Week in particular, and all the huge events at this time of year that go all out on the fashion front like the Brits Music Awards in early March (remember THAT outfit Sam Smith wore on the red carpet last year?) and the fabulous gowns on the red carpet for the Award Ceremonies like the Oscars, Emmy and BAFTA’s to name just a few. (Anyone else play the “best dressed”/”what were they thinking?” game?)!

I think that one of the best things about London Fashion Week in particular is that basically anything goes! As well as showcasing top design houses of international repute, the British Fashion Council is renowned for up and coming designers, promoting the talent of the future and seen as leading the way across the big 4 Fashion Weeks of London, Paris, New York and Milan – all of which contribute towards identifying the trends of a season and the main colour palettes. Did you know that this year, London Fashion Week celebrates its 40th Anniversary of its humble beginnings from its first show in a London Car Park!! Yes – you did read that right!

Following on from my last blog about being aware of your body shape, which colours suit you, your lifestyle and what you already have in your wardrobe that makes you feel great when you wear it you may have seen Lizzy and Sophie in our Style Online Group talking about body confidence. If not, its worth a watch on replay to pick up some practical hints and tips before our next Style Online “Live” takes place on 9th March.

Until then, I will leave you with some top designer quotes that resonate with our Tortue collection:-

“When you are a woman making clothes for women, then fashion is not just about how you look, its about how you feel and how you think.” Maria Grazia Chiuri

Our Tortue collection is designed by a primarily female team who take into account how a garment should hang, fit and flatter whilst being comfortable and practical too!

“I like to try things on … you should be able to wear everything…” Victoria Beckham

All of the proto-types for the items designed by the team are “tested” on real women who work at our Aix en Provence HQ so that tweaks can be made to designs to suit different body shapes and heights before any of the patterns are put anywhere near to a professional model photographed for our catalogues.

“I’m a woman designing for women…I think and overthink every detail…” Stella McCartney

This is also true of our design team too! Some of our favourite details that our customers love are waist adjusters inside the waistband of our jeans and trousers, strategically placed pockets for practicality and the use of subtle lurex threads to reflect light back to your face to give you a glowing complexion.

“I hate fashion…it was more about timeless things I liked and values.” Ralph Lauren

We take our values seriously especially with regards to our eco responsibilities and commitments to supporting our suppliers to provide a decent wage and working conditions for their workers. You can read more about this on our website. Our designs have longevity.

“Women should have choices and feel good in what they wear.” Phoebe Philo

This is why we have multiple style drops throughout the season. We want to give our customers choice and the ability to build a capsule collection that lasts a long time – not a fast faddy fashion but quality pieces that make you feel good when you wear them, wash well and last a long time.

“…fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Coco Chanel

We totally agree with Coco here and are conscious that we do live different lifestyles. Our collections have something in there for most lifestyles whether that be coastal chic, country chic, city chic, Mum chic, holiday chic, professional chic, leisurewear chic and more besides!

“If you love something wear it all the time … find things that suit you. That’s how you look extraordinary.” Vivienne Westwood

Our personal 1:1 styling sessions can help you find those things that fit and flatter. We work with you in a friendly informal way to help you find the styles that you love and look great too! Even better our 15 mins mini style sessions are FREE!

“…people always react well to a person they like the looks of.” Mary Quant

When you look good and feel good in the clothes that you wear it gives you the confidence to take on the world in whatever shape or form that looks like for you and this makes us very happy!

See you at our Facebook “live” Style Online on 9th March!