Will the late-comers to e-tail grab our attention?

So, Zara is set to launch its UK e-tail site tomorrow (Sept 2nd, 2010), and Gap and Banana Republic threw their virtual doors open last week. H&M is set to follow later this month.

It’s all very exciting, but it remains to be seen whether they can get their distribution right, and make their sites into lovey places that we want to visit for more than just shopping. They’re at the disadvantage of having to make their sites really good really quickly – other brands have had time to grow with the consumer, adjusting their e-tail sites over time. As we reach the autumn of 2010 the online consumer is already pretty sophisticated, so she expects everything to be perfect.

Anyway, take a look for yourselves and see if you think they make the grade…

You’ll find Gap here: www.gap.eu and there’s currently free delivery on orders over £50 with the code UKFREE50

Sister site Banana Republic is here bananarepublic.gap.eu and again there’s free delivery on orders over £50 with the code UKFREE50

Zara, not quite launched at the time of writing, will be here: www.zara.com

I’ll keep you posted about H&M.

Tags: anana Rebulic online shopping UK, e-commerce, e-tail, Gap online shopping UK, H&M online shopping UK, high street online shopping sites, new online retaiers, online shopping UK, Zara online shopping UK

The art of commuting

If you’re one of the unfortunates who has to work  – and I mean actually go out to work, not stay at home writing in ‘leisurewear’ like I do half the time – then you’ll know it’s not just a case of getting on a train or jumping in the car in the morning. You need to prepare beforehand if you want your commute to be tolerable.

In the past few weeks I’ve been working in an office that takes me two hours to get to, door to door. I’ve slowly realised how to make it all go smoothly, and here are a few of my pearls of wisdom:

1. ALWAYS put your clothes ready the night before. Morning decisions are usually terrible and you’ll probably end up being late because you can’t find any shoes that even vaguely match the outfit you’ve pulled out.

2. ALWAYS take an umbrella. The day that looks promising at 7am usually turns to worryingly grey by 8.30am and torrential rain by 8.45am.

3. ALWAYS take make-up with you. By the time you arrive in work after a long commute you’ll probably have to retouch.

4. DON’T forget your money and cards. Funnily enough ticket collectors and car parking meters don’t accept smiles and promises of payment ‘tomorrow’.

5. MAKE SURE your phone is charged. If you’re delayed you’ll really regret it if you can’t phone in.

6. ALWAYS have emergency chocolate about your person.

Blog post: the wrong shoes

I expect that one day, after many years of marriage, somebody will ask my husband to look back on our lives together and tell them what it has been like. What I’m like. What kind of person I really am.

I’ll probably be famous in the future, so it’ll probably be someone from a glossy magazine, and they’ll probably ask him to sum me up in five words, or something equally inane.

He won’t have to think about his answer. He’ll say: “She wore the wrong shoes.”

You come across some people in life who never wear the wrong shoes and some people who always wear the wrong shoes. I’m on the far right of the wrong-shoe-wearing spectrum.

My problem usually creeps up on me quite unexpectedly. I start the day wearing perfectly suitable shoes, like flip flops for a stroll to the shops or suede boots for a visit to some relatives or high heels for an interview. Those all sound like perfectly reasonable shoe choices don’t they? The kind of choices a fully functioning adult would make. The trouble is that events render my choices those of a complete idiot: it starts to rain like it’s the beginning of a biblical flood while I’m on that stroll to the shops, the relatives decide to take us on a walk to the local pond through a muddy field, I am running 10 minutes late for the interview and I have to run.

Other people don’t seem to find themselves in such bother. Those people look at me hobbling around, wet-footed and covered in mud and wonder how I ever let it get to this.

Not wanting to seem like I’m putting a positive spin on this character flaw of mine, but I think I’m just too ambitious. I push the limits and, most of the time, I come unstuck.

If I’m honest, then I could avoid these issues by not wearing flip flops on a walk when there are threatening looking grey clouds in the sky, not wearing suede boots all the time even when it’s the thick of winter and we’re going to the countryside, and carrying fold-up pumps in my bag in case of run-or-die emergencies.

Those would all be sensible things to do.

But then again I’ve just spotted these suede peep toes on Miss Selfridge, and I have to have them. Do you think they’ll be good for the festivals? Apparently it’s going to be sunny this summer.

Tags: buying shoes, Charlotte Laing, flip flops in the rain, Miss Selfridge shoes, new shoes, suede shoes, wearing the wrong shoes

Dress Me Daisy: your personal shopper for £2.99

We’ve all had the moment. That moment of head-onto-keyboard frustration that you can’t find what you’re looking for online. It usually comes after about half an hour of searching in vain for that particular shade of green shoe that will perfectly complement your dress, or that red top that’s suitable for your curvy figure.

Well now there’s a site that can take away the stress and make the hunt for great fashion that will suit your shape and taste into something fun.

Dressmedaisy allows you to input your body shape details and fashion likes and dislikes (which it will store for you, so you only need to do it once) and then the site’s super fashion-savvy stylists will go hunting for whatever you tell them to. If you’re short on inspiration then there are lots of celeb fashion and trend articles on the site so you can steal some style.

Mrs Magpie was given a credit to try out the personal shopping service, and the results were ace. We’d been searching for days for a spring skirt – something a bit flippy and fun, that would go with black, and maybe look good with grey, cherry and lemon too, as those are the colours dominating the wardrobe chez Mrs Magpie right now. We’d totally failed to find something perfect though.

Within 24 hours of telling dressmedaisy what we wanted, there were 7 skirts suggested for us from major high street shops – each one of them pretty darn spot on. There’s no obligation to buy a thing, but if you want to then you can just click on the items selected for you and purchase them.

It sounds kind of cheesy, but it was nice having somebody listen to what you wanted and then actually help you out – it felt like quite an honour. And the lovely stylists even write you a note telling you why they think their choices are good for you, and how they fit in with the season’s trends.

For just £2.99 for a personalised shopping credit, we’d definitely recommend that you give it a go. Just be prepared – you will fall in love with the items dressmedaisy chooses for you and you’ll really want to buy them all!

VISIT www.dressmedaisy.com

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PICTURED: A few of the great skirts dressmedaisy chose for us.

Tags: Dress Me Daisy, dressmedaisy, online personal shopper, online shopping advice, online stylists, personal shopping service

We’re Twittering, are you?

If you’re interested in getting the very latest news and the ocassional shout out for website recommendations, then follow us on Twitter.

We’re not one of those boring Twitterers who tells you about the contents of their sandwiches, or what their cat just did, honest.

FOLLOW US NOW

Tags: fashion sites on twitter, Mrs Magpie on twitter, Twitter

Ooh, that’s nice, did you make it yourself?

We’ve noticed that the UK craft industry is experiencing something of a golden era.

Perhaps it’s because people are trying to earn a bit of extra cash in the recession, or perhaps the nation’s just feeling a bit nostalgic for simpler times at the moment. Whatever the reason, every weekend some gallery or cafe seems to be holding a craft market, and there are hundreds of new websites springing up selling home-made furnishings.

There’s no doubt that the odd piece of personalised art work, hand-sewn cushion or quirky lampshade, can add personality to a home. If you take your time looking around, you can fill your home with some beautiful one-off pieces that you’ll treasure for years to come.

These are a few of our favourite home made homewares sites:

www.angel-lifestyle.com (pictured above right)

Gorgeous cushions and scented hearts made from vintage French linen and other reclaimed and new fabrics.

www.deborahsparks.co.uk (pictured right)

Lovely shabby chic items for the home from bunting to knitted cakes!

www.loveitwantitbuyit.co.uk

Handmade children’s toys and Wonki ware pottery (every piece is a one-off)

www.wintersmoon.co.uk

Vintage and handmade homeware, not a huge choice, but some lovely pieces

www.delightfulliving.co.uk (pictured below)

Hand made weathered signs, great for using indoors and outdoors for a beachy effect.

Tags: craft market, craft trend, deborahsparks, hand made fashion, hand made homewares, loveitwantitbuyit, wintersmoon

Sign up for Magpie Mail and you’ll never miss a trick

If you like what you see on Mrs Magpie, then sign up for our Magpie Mail newsletters. Each Monday we’ll send you an email telling you about the best bits from the site: the latest features, the hottest discount codes and anything else we think you wouldn’t want to miss. The site is changing every day, so Magpie Mail is the best way to stay up to date. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW

Tags: Magpie Mail, Mrs Magpie, Newsletter, online offers

Snow: the perfect excuse for online shopping

So, you can’t leave the house to go to work, or even to buy a pint of milk for your tea. Only one thing for it, drink wine and buy pretty things online.

In this week’s Magpie Mail, our pick of the best dresses in the sales that you’ll still be able to wear come spring, news of the big Space NK sale, plus a voucher for 2 for 1 at ASK (just in case you do decide to venture out).

Have a great weekend

Mrs Magpie x

READ THE NEWSLETTER HERE: Magpie Mail

Tags: Magpie Mail, snowed in

Sale shopping’s hell in the real world

Yesterday Mrs Magpie broke her own golden rule and braved the sales in London.

The day wasn’t ideal from the outset. Torrential rain lashed down and it was chill-your-bones cold. The bus smelled of soggy people and was packed. I hurled myself off somewhere near Leicester Square and was met with a sea of tourists and crazy-eyed shoppers all holding enormous umbrellas and blocking the roads. The worst bit was the realisation that I was one of them. It was still tipping down.

I pushed my way through to Piccadilly Circus and headed for Fortnum & Mason to cheer myself up with a spot of luxury and maybe a hot chocolate in the cafe. Predictably it was full of tourists, just like the streets had been, there was a 20-deep queue for the cafe and the only things on sale were tired-looking Christmas gifts. No, I didn’t want a broken chocolate Santa for £7, even if it was previously £10.

I escaped to some real shops on Regent Street and Oxford Street but somehow I’d lost the will to look for anything. It was all so jumbled and chaotic seeming. And I point blank refuse to fight over the last pair of size 7 grey suede boots in Oasis. When the sales assistant in Muji told me to put my umbrella in a plastic bag before coming in, I lost it and just walked back out into the rain.

The bus journey back was worse than the one there because everybody apart from me had about 10 carrier bags. One woman had a microwave and a mirror with her, which I presume she’d just bought, unless she was even crazier than she looked and had actually brought them with her from her home. It was possible.

Back in the house, boots leaking and socks cold, I warmed myself by the fire and promised never to do the sales in the real world again.

So today I’m back at my trusty laptop, hot chocolate next to me and nice dry UGG boots on, quietly looking for the best buys online, where all the stock is laid out nicely and can be organised by price or colour. And it’s actually quite pleasant hearing the sound of the rain on the other side of the window.

Tags: Charlotte Laing, Mrs Magpie, online shopping, sale shopping, uk shopping online

A little inspiration for you – great online gift stores

THE MRS MAGPIE GOOD GIFT GUIDE

If you’re finding yourself Googling ‘Christmas present ideas’ then the chances are you’re stuck for inspiration. Avoid handing over your credit card details to purchase a disgusting jumper that will never be worn or an overpriced gadget that will never be used, and take a browse on these sites. They’re our favourites for presents that people will actually enjoy receiving

1. Strawberry Fool

One word sums up this site: cute. With an array of lovely homewares including bunting, china cupcakes, unusual door mats, pretty coasters and lovely bathing product this site is a dream if you’re looking for pressies for your girlfriends. There are also sections with gifts and goodies for children, babies, men and the home.

We’ve got a special discount code for you at the moment: enter the code FREEFORTY at the checkout to get free standard delivery when you spend over £40, or enter code FIVE25 to get a 5% discount when you spend over £25. Both codes expire 24th December. 

 
2. Feel Unique

This vast site is perfect for picking up a few discounted top brand beauty items. There are so many labels on the site from Decleor to Estee Lauder, Neal’s Yard to YSL, Dior to Clinique and many more. Thousands of products in total and all at really low prices. Plus delivery is free. 

3. Gizoo

From fun kitchen gadgets to cool electronic games, this site’s got gifts for most people you know. Browse through the hundreds of items on the site and you’ll discover lots of things you never even knew existed. The following discount codes are valid until Christmas: AWXMAS will give you £5 off a £30 spend, AWXMAS10 will give you £10 off a £40 spend.

You can order from Gizoo up until 23rd December and get your goods by Christmas if you use the express delivery service.

4. Not on the High Street

We love Not on the High Street. It’s not just one shop, but more a collective of lots of wonderful online shops. To make life easier for you, there’s a dedicated Christmas department the site right now, where you’ll find everything from table decorations to gifts for little ones.

5. Getting Personal

As you might guess, Getting Personal sells a lot of personalised gifts – everything from calendars and cards to bottles of Champagne can be emblazoned with a name of your choice.  There’s more than this on the site though, including lots of good gadget gifts.

Mrs Magpie has a special code for free Standard Delivery: GPFREE, and this runs until 21st December. Other codes are FIVE, which gives you £5 off when you spend £40 or more, and which expires on 23rd December.

Tags: Christmas gift ideas, Christmas presents, online gift shops

Mince pies and music can help most situations

Today I’ve been looking on Twitter rather a lot. I’m curious to see what people have to say on the subject of online shopping. Most of them are saying that this is the year that they’re really planning to embrace it, avoid the shops, save themselves some money and get some great gifts. All this is being expressed in a mentally unstable and illiterate ’woooo, jus did all Crimbo shoppin online!!!!! OMG lovin it!!!’ kind of way, of course, because this is Twitter we’re talking about. Anyway, I digress. The main reason for this post is that one forlorn Twitterer said she was shopping online but hating it because it was so un-festive. She’s got a point, but it doesn’t have to be like that.

Here’s the plan. Pick an evening in the next week when you have nothing planned. Put on your favourite PJs and slippers, stick some cheesy Christmas music on, make yourself some mulled wine or hot chocolate and warm some mince pies, write yourself a list of people to buy for and click on to Mrs Magpie to have a browse. Trust us, it’s better than braving the traffic and crowds to shop in the real world. It never rains on Mrs Magpie either, as far as we know.

Tags: Christmas shopping online, Twitter

We knew it

The point of Mrs Magpie, as you’ve hopefully realised, is to guide you through the maze of online shops and discounts, pointing out the good bits along the way.

We think it’s a pretty useful site because it’s a jungle out there.

It’s just about this time of year, with it being Christmas and what not, that the site is at its most useful. According to a new survey by eDigitalResearch and IMRG , almost all of us (93%) will be shopping online for Christmas presents this year. So it’s just the poor fools without computers who’ll be fighting it out for the last pair of slippers in M&S on Christmas Eve then.

According to the same survey it says that a quarter of the people plan to do more shopping online than they did last year, with 71% saying they will buy at least half their Christmas gifts online this time around.

Let’s just hope they’re smart enough to visit Mrs Magpie first, so we can get them the very best prices (have you seen all the discount codes on the site at the moment? See them here) and tell them about the best places to shop.

Okay, lesson over, class dismissed. Now back to your shopping girls.

Tags: Christmas shopping online, online shopping guide

Party season perfume

When it comes to perfume, most of us are pretty fussy. Back when you were 15 it may have been okay to dowse yourself in Boots’ Dewberry or Charlie Girl before getting on the school bus, but now we’re all grown up, we’ve all got our signature scents (for me it’s Ralph Lauren Romance) and certain fragrances we wouldn’t go near (Body Shop White Musk, eugh).

On Saturday I was at a birthday party at Proud Galleries in Camden and kept getting offered perfume, lollies and other random cosmetics and hygiene products by the toilet attendant (if you don’t go to clubs in London you may not be familiar with this concept - a woman sits by the sinks in the ladies’ toilets and pushes products on you in return for a tip, it’s enough to make you consider not washing your hands). Anyway, I’d resisted her approaches twice, but by 1.30am I must have been feeling weak (Jägermeister shots can do that to a girl) because I gave in and had a spray of one of her perfumes in return for a pound. Oh. My. God. It was so bad. I had to go back to our booth wreaking of something approximating burning sugar mixed with sick and it wasn’t long before I decided to call it a night in shame.

There and then I resolved to always take perfume with me on nights out from now on so I’m never tempted by the ‘eau de vomit’ again. I’ll be buying a few miniatures from zoomperfume.co.uk like the SJP Lovely 5ml which is £4.95 (RRP £6.95). They’re perfect for fitting into my clutch bags. So ladies, if you’re with me on a night out, you’ll always be able to ask me for a spray of decent perfume – but I will be charging £1 for it.

Tags: perfume, Proud Camden, Sarah Jessica Parker perfume

Charlotte’s Web: editor’s blog

Welcome to the blog

I wasn’t entirely sure that I wanted to start writing a blog on Mrs Magpie. As the editor, I thought it was important for my voice to be heard, to be the face of the brand, blah, blah, but as a rational human being, there are many reasons why I think it might be a very bad idea.

Here are some of them:

1. I will inadvertently reveal I am incredibly dull. I say reveal, because it’s a major concern that perhaps I am.

2. People will feel like they really know me and may try to communicate with me. I’m not sure that I like people much. Well, someone who runs a website and rarely leaves her computer is always likely to be pretty misanthropic.

3. I’ll run out of content after one of two blogs. Right now I’m worried I may even run out of ideas for this list of reasons not to blog.

4. It takes a lot of time. I’m meant to be running this whole online magazine and it’s going to be pointless if the rest of the content suffers because I’m telling you about how I fell over or saw a nice top on ASOS.

5. The funniest stuff I can think to write is almost definitely libelous.

6. I’ll be someone who blogs. Kind of unavoidable, this one, even by the very best bloggers. It seems to be all the illiterate and boring people who decide they should tell the world how zany, fun and interesting they are. I don’t want to be one of them.

7. Maybe no one will read my blog but there will be no one to tell me to stop as I’m the editor, so I’ll just have to quietly stop and pretend it never happened.

8. I’ll end up revealing all my little secrets in a desperate attempt to make my blog more interesting. Maybe other people’s secrets too.

9. The blog will become hugely successful and I will become famous, which I don’t think I want to be. Once you are, that’s it. Has Britney taught us nothing?

10. I’ll start trying to actually be a bit stranger and do things I wouldn’t normally just so I can put them in my blog.

Given all of these concerns most of you are probably saying “it’s not worth it love, step away from the keyboard”. But I’m curiously still keen on writing this blog, if only to share with you some of my highlights from the world of online shopping and hopefully make you laugh from time to time, so I’ll be posting as often as I can.*

Hope you can join me.

* as long as 3 or 7 don’t happen, that is.

Tags: Charlotte Laing, Charlotte's web, editor's blog