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I S S U E N O . 1

WA K E L Eom an

Dur ing Lockdown I used the opportun i t y to s ta r t wr i t ing our b i -week ly news let te rs… I wanted to ta l k d i rect ly to our customers and share my insp i ra t ion fo r the co l lect ion , the fabr ic deve lopments , the pr in ts and the cuts… my thoughts on l i fe and s t y l ing… my ins ights on we l lbe ing and (my favour i te sub ject)… choco la te… Suf f i ce to say I have a new found respect

fo r wr i te rs , but I have loved the process too and am grate fu l fo r theopportun i t y, in my 30th year, to use the wr i t ten word a longs ide the

sar tor ia l med ium that I know and love so pass ionate ly.

As the weeks have passed i t s t ruck me that a compi la t ion o f thesemus ings g ive qu i te an ins ight in to the brand… we lcome to our f i r s t ed i t ion… I hope you en joy the journey w i th me and i f you have any

feedback I wou ld love to hear f rom you atAmanda@amandawake ley.com

Stay sa fe and s tay we l l .

A Word From The Editor. . .

C O N T E N T S

D R E S S E S T H A T S P A R K J O Y

T H E M O T H

C A S H M E R E

I C O N I C S A T I N

T H E M A G I C O F T H E P E R F E C T J A C K E T

D O B A G S H A V E F E E L I N G S ?

M Y L O V E A F F A I R W I T H T H E T R E N C H

C U S T O M I S E D P A R K A S

A M A N D A’ S M E D I T A T I O N T I P S

M Y S L I G H T L Y U N O R T H O D O X S T E P B Y S T E P H O M E M A N I G U I D E

H U G H ’ S C H O C O L A T E M O U S S E

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Send ing l o v e ,Amanda x

DRESSESSPARK JOY

that

T U L L E & C R E P ED E C H I N E D R E S S

E C R U £ 9 9 5 . 0 0R I B B O N J U D O B E LT

E C R U / B L A C K £ 1 3 5 . 0 0

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A ccording to Marie Kondo (she of the de-cluttering-your-life fame) the term to “Spark Joy” is a loose

translation of the Japanese word

ときめく (tokimeku), l iterally “to flutter,” “to throb,” “to palpitate,” or “to beat fast,” as your heart would when it feels excited… now girls… honestly, who can admit that they have never had this reaction to a dress at some point?. . My first ever sartorial Spark Joy moment was as a 5 year old, a confirmed tom-boy (2 older brothers and a deep felt commitment to toy cars rather than dolls)… being persuaded by my mother to put on my bridesmaid’s dress for my Uncle’s wedding… I will never forget it… rich blue velvet

IT IS TIMELESSGODDESSDRESSING…

trimmed with white swans down (yes it was the late 60’s and the height of chic I promise)… anyway, I felt l ike a complete princess… fil led with Joy… I loved every moment of that day and the experience of wearing that Spark Joy dress…

Having spent the last 5 weeks in the country cocooned in cashmere I am now dreaming of wearing dresses again… in fact to get me in the mood for writing I put a dress on this morning…. albeit under said cashmere and with my trusty sheepskin Birkenstocks (slightly obsessed… will need another

pair at this rate)… but I want to feel pretty again… a bit floaty and feminine… I may even need thick tights and chunky boots too if the truth be told… but, in the spirit of over-sharing (which we all seem to be doing a lot of right now) I am wearing a midnight silk tulle midi dress (the one with the silk crepe de chine sleeves and the tie cuffs) layered under my midnight customised BRIT rollneck Kloss cashmere… sleeves slightly pushed up to show the pretty tie cuffs… I have to admit that a silk tulle midi dress is one of my wardrobe staples…there is nothing more ethereal, fluid and flattering than pure silk tulle…

and as importantly for me, rolls up with its l ightweight jersey slip into a tiny ball and squeezes into any weekend bag… and almost as importantly, it ’s gently shirred waist and stretchy slip… Well lets just say it “moves” with me… what I mean is that it never feels tight so I never feel l ike I may have over-indulged…

This very same dress was featured a few weeks ago on the cover of →

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M I D N I G H T S I L K T U L L E D R E S S £ 9 9 5 . 0 0

T R I P L E L I N K C H U N K Y N E C K L A C E

£ 3 6 5 . 0 0

K L O S S C A S H M E R E R O L L N E C K£ 5 9 5 . 0 0

R O W L A N D S G O L D S T A M P E D W E A V E

L E A T H E R H O B O £ 3 5 0 . 0 0

LU X E Ylayering...You Magazine worn by Kate Ferdinand in a beautiful shot with her husband Rio Ferdinand.The photographer caught a gorgeous, intimate moment… the kind that made me think of a reportage wedding shot… I am digressing… my point is that the colour of an item can totally transform its end use… here in ecru you really do have the perfect alternative wedding dress… one that will undoubtedly get to be worn again… or the slightly boho summer dress to dress down with a contrasting leather belt, flat Grecian sandals and an oversize hobo bag…

Talking bags… I worked hard with one of our tanneries to create a leather that had all the joy and appeal of a basket weave (it has a real 3D aspect created through texture, matt and shine and two tones of colour…so super clever) but it has none of the downside of the very on-trend, but horribly snaggy, basket bags… check

out our gorgeous Rowlands Hobo in either Gold or Silver stamped weave leather… they just scream summer to me…. and it wouldn’t be summer without a Hobo somehow…

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TH

The

M O T H P R I N T M A X I D R E S SP A P A Y A / A M B E R £ 1 1 9 5 . 0 0

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W ho isn’t dreaming of escaping to some far flung corner of the earth where we

can truly be on holiday… who knows whether that will be a possibility or not this summer or even this year…but dream with me for a moment…this image takes me back to when we started to build the moodboard for the collection… what would the Wakeley Woman need?.. . where

would she be wearing it?. . . how would she be wearing it?. . .

In the current climate the concept of need has been rightly turned upside down… so now, more than ever, our clothing choices have to perhaps have more justification in terms of how they will work a little harder… In design terms I often think about how a garment could start out life as one thing and then gets

gradually re-purposed along the way… for me this is absolutely one of those pieces…

This moth printed silk maxi is a wonderfully special piece…

the placement of the print was carefully positioned to give the most interesting visual effect… the fringed ribbon trims were specially commissioned in France… choosing to print on silk crepe de chine meant that we could add volume to the style whilst retaining a fluidity and an ease of movement… drawing in the top of the sleeve to create definition to the shoulder whilst remaining slightly boho in silhouette…

I see this piece being worn for summer lunches and dinners al fresco… either belted with a signature judo or with an old boho hipster belt (we all have one of those tucked away in our wardrobe and now is the time to be a little more eclectic)… until it gets hotter, I will definitely

pair mine with a suede cowboy ankle boot, vintage Wakeley belt and a leather jacket around my shoulders… and then, God will ing, on those super hot days I will throw it on, kaftan-style, over a bikini for lunch in the shade or for sun-downer cocktails… just a dream right now… but I am dreaming… I hope you are too…

we designed the print using macro photographic images of moth wings to create a “NEW” ANIMAL PRINT…

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Micro Moth no.2

Micro Moth no.1

C I T Y S A N D Y

M O T H P R I N TM I D I D R E S S£ 9 9 5 . 0 0

shores...for days or

M O T H P R I N T M A X I D R E S S£ 1 1 9 5 . 0 0

P A P A Y A B A G U E T T E C O S T N E R£ 3 2 5 . 0 0

C H U N K Y C H A I N N E C K L A C E

£ 3 2 5 . 0 0

P A P A Y A W E S T W I C K T O T E B A G£ 4 9 5 . 0 0

B L A C K L E A T H E R B I K E R J A C K E T£ 1 3 9 5 . 0 0

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S O H O R O S E G O L D A V I A T O R S

£ 9 5 . 0 0

ASHMERECC R E W N E C K C A S H M E R E J U M P E R

A M B E R £ 6 9 5 . 0 0S A T I N M I D I D R E S S

A M B E R £ 1 2 9 5 . 0 0

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I always find Spring a wonderfully optimistic time of year… despite the sadness and complexity of Lockdown… the excess of colour

that greets us as spring unveils itself on a daily basis is truly a treat to the senses (I snapped this beautiful rhododendron on my morning walk with Lola and it perfectly references my Spring/ Summer collection colour palette… nature is a constant of source inspiration for me…) Is it my imagination or is everything just a bit more lush… a bit more vibrant this year? Are our senses becoming a little more heightened

to beauty and colour?… As I write this the wind is whirling through the trees outside my window and I am happily layered up in cashmere… my daily, reassuringly cozy, WFH staple.

I know I talk a lot about Cashmere but this weekend I started to ruminate on the longevity of cashmere… I was doing a bit of a wardrobe tidy… really very akin to visual merchandising (I am missing not being able to do this for real) and I realised that I was holding a pebble grey cashmere hoodie I designed at least 25 years ago… it had my first label in, and yes, the satin cuffs (although I wear the sleeves down so I am the only one who knows about the satin)… fortunately the moths had not had a picnic on this one.. . so before they decided to descend on it I treated it to a spin in the machine (best defence against moth attacks is spring-fresh clean cashmere… they love to lay their eggs in a pesky bit of protein… euch… seriously, this may even be a minuscule splattering of food undetectable to our eyes… and then when the eggs

hatch the larvae feast on that creating the holes that we know and dread discovering… apologies for the detail but good to understand… I hope). Anyway… the moral of the story is that

for many years to come.. . as I have just reminded myself… said Hoodie is nestled between me and an oversize cashmere keeping me cozy as I write this… I love the look of a layered Hoodie… wearing the pebble grey under my Amber cashmere crewneck makes it feel more sporty plus it serves as a great anchor for the necessary “hair tuck” on less than perfect hair…

Question – does the size label in your garment bother you? What I mean is…

we perceive ourselves to be a certain size (for example I am a 10… in Wakeley… although probably something much larger in Zara…) but if we want to wear something in a very oversize way does it bother you that your size label may say a much larger size than you actually are? Although I know better… it’s only a label after all… it stil l bothers me (and a lot of other women I know, if the truth be told)… so with this in mind and to stop the process of pigeon-holing by size of pigeon-holing by size I decided to name the sizes instead so you are how you FEEL when you choose to wear a particular size… for example, sometimes I want to wear something in a more shrunken way… a little → IF YOU BUY BEAUTIFUL

CASHMERE, LOOK AFTER IT AND IT WILL LOOK AFTER YOU

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My Rhododendron Shot

Fabu Luxe

skinnier (hence the name SKINNY MINNIE)… other times I want to wear something in a super oversized way… in a FABU-LUXE way… size really doesn’t matter… its all about how something makes us feel and these labels always make me smile when I reach for a cashmere to put on… clothing should be uplifting in every which way… especially right now.. . surely?

I often get asked what shoes I am loving and right now (and I never thought I would find myself saying this)… I am loving the Birkenstock Arizona shearling sandal… sooo comfortable and look great with everything from jeans, to joggers or a slip dress… and give a discreet peek of my at-home pedi… but gently disguise the fact it’s not salon flawless… heavenly…

Finally I was thril led to discover thatthe current issue of Vogue had given us a shout out for our chunky jewellery… in their piece Looking to Update Last Season’s Dress?… “Go For Gold…. Chunky metal jewellery has become as synonymous with everyday dressing as the trench coat, meaning that a new gold chain choker equals a guilt-free buy that will endure”… well I couldn’t have put it better myself… from their l ips to your neck.

Birkenstock

Featured in VogueC R E W N E C K C A S H M E R E J U M P E RR O S E £ 6 9 5 . 0 0S C U L P T E D T A I L O R I N G P E G P A N TR O S E £ 3 9 5 . 0 0

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E C R U C A S H M E R E & S A T I N H O O D I E

£ 6 5 0 . 0 0

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C H U N K Y S I L V E R B R A C E L E T

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C H U N K Y C H A I N B R A C E L E T

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G A R T E R S L E E V E C A S H M E R E J U M P E R

£ 4 7 5 . 0 0

E C R U V I K A N D E R C A S H M E R E & S A T I N

J U M P E R£ 4 5 0 . 0 0

A M B E R C R E W N E C K C A S H M E R E J U M P E R

£ 6 9 5 . 0 0

C A M E L C R E W N E C K C A S H M E R E J U M P E R£ 6 9 5 . 0 0

K A T E L A N P E L L , F A S H I O N B L O G G E R .

@ K A T E L A N P E L L

C U S T O M I S E D C A S H E M R E

@ A M A N D A W A K E L E Y

K A T I E I M P E Y, C R E A T I V E D I R E C T O R

@ T H E M U M L I F E _ S T Y L E D

T H E C A S H M E R E E D I T

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N A T U R A L P Y T H O N L O P E Z B E LT B A G

£ 2 9 5 . 0 0

T R I P L E L I N K C H U N K Y

N E C K L A C E£ 3 6 5 . 0 0

Snug as a Bug in a Rug...

C R E P E B A C K S A T I N & L A C E G O W N E C R U / B L A C K £ 1 , 4 9 5 . 0 0

OS A T I NIC NIC

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S crolling through my press archive I came across this image from Instyle Magazine in September 1998… the glorious J Lo (or Jennifer Lopez as she was then known) wearing one of my all time favourite slip dresses (I have always loved a slip dress… particularly one that is

cut on the bias)… I remember it well… we devoréd this exquisite French-woven white silk velvet to look like icicles and snowflakes… I love how Hal Rubenstein describes it in his column The Look (remember we are talking 1998 here)… “Best Dress The British are known for those stiff upper lips, but it looks as if they’ve softened up things from the neck down by quite a bit. So when Jennifer Lopez – she of the figure they invented the word “hourglass” for – wanted a red-carpet-stopping dress for the L.A. opening of her hit fi lm, Out Of Sight, she slinked into Amanda Wakeley’s silk devoré stunner. On this night, you should have seen all the lips that were parched.”

I have been repurposing some of my favourite Wakeley slip dresses by lobbing a few inches off the bottom (a little secret… you can just use a very sharp pair of scissors and do this yourself… you do not need to hem it)… I love the way true bias cutting frays… you have none of the horrible long yarns hanging off just a delicate diagonal soft slightly vintage looking fray. In this Lockdown time there is nothing that makes me feel prettier than to slide into a slip dress and throw a chunky cashmere cardigan on (my all time favourite is our satin - back Larson) and cinch the waist with one of our signature judo belts… its fine that I am wearing sneakers… I feel pulled together but in a very “at home” way… Upcycling at its best in my opinion… Also if WFH has over-run (which it generally does…) I can literally throw on some chunky jewellery and I am “dressed” for din-ner… AKA collapsing on the sofa with a vodka… mmm guilty (sometimes…)

So why do I love cutting on the bias so much you may ask?.. . because done well (something that takes incredible skil l both in the cutting and the construction) it is the most feminine, sensual, effortless and beautiful way to embrace a woman’s body… it is done by cutting the fabric

diagonally across the grain so using the natural stretch of the cloth… first invented by the bril l iant and revolutionary designer Madeleine Vionnet in the 1920’s. On the hanger the dress can look intimidatingly narrow (don’t be put off )… the bias allows it a fabulous natural gentle elasticity that slips effortlessly (not to mention incredibly comfortably) over your body… it moves with you… it is so unrestrictive yet flattering… it is the height of sensuality but incredibly subtly so.. .

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C A S H M E R E & S AT I N

C H U N K Y C H A I N R I B B O N B R A C E L E T

£ 2 4 5 . 0 0

B L A C K L A R S O N C A S H M E R E & S A T I N

C A R D I G A N£ 4 9 5 . 0 0

S T R I P E D R I B B O N J U D O B E LT

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C H U N K Y C H A I NB R A C E L E T£ 2 4 5 . 0 0

B L A C K N E C K T I E B I A S S A T I N D R E S S

£ 1 , 1 9 5 . 0 0

an iconic pairing...

E C R U L A R S O N C A S H M E R E & S A T I N

C A R D I G A N£ 4 9 5 . 0 0

E C R U N E C K T I E B I A S S A T I N D R E S S£ 1 , 1 9 5 . 0 0

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P A T E N T C H E C K J A C K E T £ 1 , 4 9 5 . 0 0W I D E L E G P A N T £ 6 9 5 . 0 0S I G N A T U R E T U X S H I R T £ 1 9 5 . 0 0T H E W A T C H C H A I N B R A C E L E T £ 2 4 5 . 0 0

MAGICThe

of the perfect

JACKET

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If I am wearing a great jacket I feel DRESSED… I feel in control… and I hate to use the word but

I feel… Empowered… There is something about putting on a beautifully tailored jacket that just gives you that l ift… whether its an oversized Boyfriend worn with the insouciance that you could have pinched it from him… but you haven’t, because we cut ours in sumptuous Crepe Back Satin or the softest Italian wools and trim the revers in silk fail le… or that neat blazer… immaculately tailored which instantly improves your posture, slims your waist…

what’s not to love about that?? My go-to for most evenings out in London (yes, when we did that… but we will be doing it again) is always a tux suit. . .

Depending on my mood it will either be a trim sculpted blazer with chain detail worn with a leg-lengthening flare, and a white Tshirt (I particularly love the ones by James Perse) I may even brave the head to toe one colour look in rose… here’s hoping I get the chance… If I want to be a little more glam, I will wear the tux jacket with the statement cuff, the skinny cigarette zip front pant and a lace trimmed cami… or for a softer take on the tux suit I love wearing head to toe satin… particularly in the champagne channelling my inner Bianca Jagger with a soft tie neck shirt… artfully unbuttoned (a little… with a pretty bra) and worn with the ties left flowing like a man’s dinner scarf… Remember in terms of →

MAKES YOUR PROPORTIONSJUST, WELL, THE BEST VERSION THEY CAN BE…

T A P E S T R Y J A Q U A R D C O A T P A P A Y A / B L A C K £ 1 , 9 9 5 . 0 0

T H E W A T C H C H A I N B R A C E L E TG O L D £ 2 4 5 . 0 0

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versatil ity, a good tux jacket makes the perfect shoulder robe over an evening dress… far chicer than any wrap and with the added advantage of gently covering the tops of our arms until we are in the “safety” of more flattering dinner lighting.

As we have become more casual in our day to day lives the power of the jacket has not diminished, in fact, you could argue it’s become even more important… whether you are wearing a printed maxi dress and sneakers or a pair of jeans, the perfect jacket completes the look and tells the world (and more importantly you) that despite being dressed-down, you are stil l in control just in a more relaxed way… as a designer this is

where I turn to working with an incredible French fabric mill on our exclusive jacquard weaves… this season these almost feel l ike vintage tapestries… either cut as a shrunken collarless jacket with gorgeous trim details… think about how you would have thrown on a denim jacket previously… this jacket retains a boho vibe in a more sophisticated way… however, I have also used this beautiful cloth in an easy, throw-on-over-anything ankle skimming coat… I think of this coat as a jacket… the midnight version will be my work-horse this summer with its breezy long side slits and signature ties… I will pair it with literally everything…and for years to come… £’s per wear… no issue… my Grandmother would be proud… she always said the most important investment in your wardrobe should be the perfect jacket…

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S C U L P T E D T A I L O R I N G J A C K E T R O S E / B L A C K £ 6 5 0 . 0 0S C U L P T E D T A I L O R I N G F L A R ER O S E / B L A C K £ 4 5 0 . 0 0

F R I N G E D F I L C O U P E D R E S SR A V E N £ 1 , 9 9 5 . 0 0

Do

have feelings?

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T H E L O P E Z B E LT B A G | R A V E N M E T A L L I C C R O C £ 2 9 5 . 0 0V I S C O S E T A I L O R I N G T O P | R A V E N £ 3 5 0 . 0 0V I S C O S E T A I L O R I N G P E G P A N T | R A V E N £ 4 9 5 . 0 0T H E W A T C H C H A I N B R A C E L E T | G O L D £ 2 4 5 . 0 0

T his week I found myself pondering on the transformative power of accessories… I have talked about statement necklaces (which, by now, you probably know how much I love…)

but in this moment of Pause, when we have a chance to reflect and get ourselves organised (more of that later) I was sorting through some handbags and remembered the very first designer bag that I bought. I had saved and saved from numerous days working in a very chic menswear store during the school holidays… and in the →

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T H E J A C K M A N S H O P P E RN A T U R A L P Y T H O N £ 6 5 0 . 0 0V I S C O S E T A I L O R I N G S L E E V E L E S S J A C K E TS O F T W H I E £ 9 9 5 . 0 0V I S C O S E T A I L O R I N G W I D E L E G P A N TS O F T W H I T E £ 6 9 5 . 0 0C R E P E D E C H I N E T O PS O F T W H I T E £ 6 9 5 . 0 0T H E W A T C H C H A I N B R A C E L E TG O L D £ 2 4 5 . 0 0

pre-internet world (meaning masses of pages torn out of Vogue and Harpers for inspiration) I had decided THE bag for me was going to be a Dior signature canvas clutch trimmed with navy leather… more than half of my wardrobe at that time was navy (before I discovered black) not to mention this was probably the most accessibly priced designer handbag available… anyway I will never forget how good it felt to go into the beautiful dove grey Dior store on Conduit St, browse through the exquisite bags before settling on my longed for clutch which became my Transformative Accessory… elevating my teenage wardrobe, and me in the process, to a far more sophisticated place.. . the early part of the journey to understanding the transformative power of feeling like you are wearing the right thing and the power that gives…

it’s something I feel really passionate about… When I set out on my bag journey I wanted to create pieces that would have longevity, be friends for l ife but also that would be respectfully priced… I believe that with clever design and beautiful craftsmanship, this is possible. We collaborate with the tanneries to create beautiful exclusive leathers… every piece of hardware is custom designed by us and work closely with our factories on every tiny detail of the design and construction… so that we end up with luxurious pieces that don’t cost the earth… I do sometimes find myself questioning the ridiculous price →

Bronze Croc Leather

Natural Python

Summer L ea th er s ...

AcidPython

Rose Croc

A M A N D A L O V E S

I still feel that a bag has the power to transform what you are wearing and how you are feeling...

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1 . P A P A Y A B A G U E T T E C O S T N E R £ 3 2 5 . 0 0 2 . G U N M E T A L L O P E Z B E LT B A G £ 2 9 5 . 0 0 3 . O V E R S I Z E D J A C K M A N S H O P P E R £ 6 5 0 . 0 0 4 . R O W L A N D S G O L D S T A M P E D W E A V E L E A T H E R H O B O £ 3 5 0 . 0 0 5 . R O S E D R O P S T R A P H O W A R D B A G £ 3 5 0 . 0 0

6 . B E A T T Y E M E R A L D P Y T H O N B O X C L U T C H £ 1 , 4 9 5 . 0 0

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S H OU L D E R B AG sophisticated/grown up/timeless… a good shoulder bag really is your “starter” bag.

T OT E / S H O P P E R in control/can do/conquer the world... travel the world (how much are we looking forward to doing that again)… its an ultra chic beach bag/indulgent gym bag.

OV E R S I Z E D H O B O bohemian cool… a little more relaxed… a slouchy pant or an over - sized coat to balance the look… with the added bonus that you can be discreetly disorganised.

C ROS S B O DYa bit Boho... a bit Rock chick...

C LU T C HCool used during the day with the bare essentials in… graceful and refined in the evening.

B E LT B AG sporty, retro-chic... urban cool.

tags attached to some of the It Bags. How much of what we are paying for is brand perception and advertising? Above all , design and craftsmanship have to come first… I have had the privilege to witness manufacturing in the best ateliers in Italy (our Legend Bags are all made in Italy) and I love the passion and the artisanal skil ls… the family knowledge that is passed down… it is a beautiful sight to see 3 generations of one family working together in a factory…

I often talk about how clothes make us feel… but in reality we “wear” a bag as much as we wear, let’s say, a jacket or a sweater, so I think about it as an extension of our look and, as such, equal, if not more important… and on those days when our clothes aren’t fitting us quite the way we want them to…

we all have those days… and on those days beautiful accessories always “fit” us perfectly and should always be uplifting… so I thought it would be funny to talk about how those different bag shapes in our Bag Wardrobe make us feel?

yes, I don’t care how disciplined you are, it’s how you FEEL…

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A M A N DA’S B A G E D I TTransformative Lifestyle Essentials...

v

TRENCHaffair with the

LOVEMy

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The Classic Trench has been lauded by the great and the good in the press as THE coat of the season…

for me a beautifully cut, butter-soft, sand leather trench truly is a FOREVER piece… for me its also Lauren Hutton looking effortlessly chic and grinning from ear to ear… who doesn’t want to look like that? (I have to confess she has appeared on numerous of my mood boards over the years…)

I love a coat that can feel both nonchalant draped over your shoulders or empoweringly purposeful cinched at the waist… now, hands up, I love this season’s leather version so much that I have both colours… one in sand that I will wear with everything, but specifically our sand util ity twill pants (a lovely slouchy combat feel without all the unflattering pockets…. these look great rolled up too)… and until its warmer a camel cashmere

sweater… so a really tonal feel… but equally chic over a high waisted jean and crisp white shirt. My midnight one will take me from day through to evening with midnight flares (if you haven’t tried our flares you really should… they are super leg lengthening which always gets a thumbs up from me however long your legs are) and a white T-shirt or this season’s colour block boyfriend shirt… and on those chill ier evenings it will also act as a gorgeous shoulder-robe over my signature tux suit…

I have a passion for reinventing classics and never more so than a Trench… this season we commissioned

L A U R E N H U T T O N I N A T R E N C H 1 9 7 0 s

two scales of black and ecru wool check… created a custom ribbon trim and added some of the hardware that we develop for our handbags to add a sporty functionality to the sleeves and collar…

It’s funny to ponder on what has become your WFH sartorial essential… I never thought that our l ittle Lopez belt bag would be an everyday staple but it has proven to be just that… it doesn’t matter whether I am wearing a maxi skirt, oversized cashmere sweater and chunky boots or cashmere joggers and hoodie (no - one can see the joggers on Zoom)… every morning I have been slinging my Lopez around my hips and slipping in my iPhone, l ip balm and chewing gum (yes bad habit that needs to be on the Lockdown Resolution To Do list…)…BUT the upside is that I always have these “essentials” with me… my phone doesn’t end up in the loo (which has been the case previously when I forgot it was in my jeans pocket… sadly more than once)… and I have the added benefit of something to secure the nonchalant “half tuck” of cashmere…

Dreaming ahead to when we aren’t in full Lockdown mode I am looking

L E A T H E R T R E N C H C O A T S A N D £ 1 , 9 9 5 . 0 0

forward to the days when we can travel again… my passport will slip into my trusty Lopez as we whizz through the airport (how quickly has that concept become such a strange phenomenon??)… and on arrival may become a little clutch and separate belt to hold up my beach wrap or cinch in my kaftan… dreaming on…

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C H E C K T A I L O R I N G T R E N C HE C R U / B L A C K £ 1 , 4 9 5 . 0 0

Navy Leather Trench

B O Y F R I E N D S H I R T£ 4 9 5 . 0 0

C H E C K T A I L O R I N G

T R E N C H £ 1 , 4 9 5 . 0 0

M E T A L L I C C R A F T E DP A R K E R B A G £ 3 6 5 . 0 0

C H E C K T A I L O R I N G P E G P A N T £ 5 5 0 . 0 0

C A M E L L E A T H E R T R E N C H £ 1 , 9 9 5 . 0 0

N A T U R A L P Y T H O N L O P E Z B E LT B A G

£ 2 9 5 . 0 0

C A S H M E R E S L A S H N E C K

J U M P E R£ 4 9 5 . 0 0

V I S C O S E T W I L L U T I L I T Y

P A N T£ 4 9 5 . 0 0T R E N C H

for life...a

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Customisedparkasarmy

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P reviously I talked about my Lockdown Resolution… during this time of Lockdown there is a lot to be said for “getting

back to basics”… using our hands… a bit of DIY maybe? Or how about some good old fashioned Crafting…?

A while ago I was upset to discover that moths had made a 3 course meal out of one of my favourite cashmere sweaters… in fact, so annoyed that I felt that the ultimate revenge on said moth would

be to Elevate the piece rather than Relegate it to the bin (yes, it was that bad…)… What if I commissioned some beautifully crafted and embroidered moth appliques to apply over the offending holes… wouldn’t I then have the last laugh… not to mention my favourite sweater back… and not only back, but totally unique and “Wakeleyfy’d” (new word… meaning to customise with the help of Wakeley).

This thought process then evolved beyond Wakeleyfying moth holes in cashmere… why not apply these beautiful hand crafted appliques onto a white T-shirt? I applied mine to the back of my shoulder… as though the moth had fleetingly landed there as a butterfly sometimes may…

As a child I started my fashion journey customising pieces that I had bought in charity shops (before people even used the word Vintage)… but I always had a passion for ex-military pieces… I guess I loved the util itarian functionality (all those brilliant pockets)… the fact that the fabrics had got better with age but were fundamentally amazing quality… the fact that each piece probably had a fascinating story embedded in it’s fibres… On research sorties recently, I have started to buy individual pieces that I have fallen in love with and… yes,

then Wakeleyfy them… each piece is a one-off… a piece of wearable art… something to cherish or perhaps evolve and customise further yourself over the years (my own 1950’s US Army parka is on its fourth incarnation and just gets better and better… how I would love to hear its l ife’s story…).

CUSTOMISED VINTAGE ARMY PARKASa piece of wearable art...

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HOMEComforts

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D id you make any Lockdown Resolutions?.. . I made one… that I would make the time to meditate every morning

(something I have been meaning to do for years but never prioritised)… and now that I have been doing it for the last 10 days of course I am wondering why I never did it before, especially as I was taught a really easy method (by a Wakeley Wellbeing guest Terrence the Teacher) which has been so helpful for the visual person I am…. It means I start my day with a clear head and a spring in my step… so useful with the way we are all having to work right now…

So this is what I have been doing… super easy… No mantras, no gongs or sitting in the Lotus position… which, for the avoidance of doubt, I absolutely cannot do… my secret is that I actually meditate in bed before I get up… perhaps not exactly what you are meant to, but the one thing that Terrence teaches is that you should do whatever works for

MEDITATION TIPS

you… I l ike that, so you make it your own… I start with the

When you are comfortable and in a safe space, close your eyes and start noticing your breath.

Then, as you breathe in, count up to 7… I visualise the minute hand on a clock face moving from 1 all the way through to 7 and as you breathe out, count up to 11… again I visualise that minute hand on the clock face (it helps keep me focussed on my breath somehow).

Do for a few breaths, or for a minute or 2 (For those short of breath, you can breathe in for 5, out for 9).

This breathing exercise is very powerful and known to almost immediately relax the parasympathetic nervous system ie a calmer, more relaxed you. It helps for panic attacks, anxiety and even sleepI then go on to The Body Scan… →

BREATHING MEDITATION:7/11

Amandas,

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I love to exercise in the morning and somehow this helps switch your brain into a state of total body awareness and I find it really wakes the body up physically… no caffeine needed.

Make sure you are very comfortable, either lying down or sitting. Start by noticing your breath.

Placing your attention on different parts of your body acts as a focus to anchor your attention in the present moment.

Start at your feet… your toes to your heels… your ankles, calves, shins, knees…all the way up until you reach your face… just be very aware of every part that you are “scanning”… take as much time as you want and simply be curious and open to the experience…

Accept things as they are, in the moment… if your mind wanders, that’s OK… notice the thought and then get back to where you left off on your body scan.

This is a perfect exercise to train your brain to become more Mindful…hopefully you will find that the more

times you practice this the longer you “scan” for… (which is great)… I now end my Body Scan with a moment of gratitude for my healthy, functioning body (I know that may sound a little New Age… but it feels right, and I am old enough to know that if something feels right we should be listening to our instincts and just do it)… then I bounce out of bed into the day!

BTW I sometimes do the 7/11 in the evening after a stressful day and there are times I realise I have been breathing so shallowly that to start with I can only get to 4/8 and then slowly build it up to deeper breaths…

if you have never meditated but, l ike me, always thought it would be a good idea I urge you to give it a go and see how good it makes you feel… check out Terrence on Instagram for lovely guided meditations @TERRENCETHETEACHER ,

thank you for sharing your knowledge Terrence… I have finally discovered the benefits of Meditation.

IT’S GENIUS WAY OF SWITCHING OFF AND SLOWING YOUR BREATHING…

My slightly unorthodox

A fresh manicure has always sparked joy for me… I am a gir l who would honestly rather go out without makeup than without immaculately polished nails… its just my thing… so Lockdown meant it was either a case of get over myself and go bare nail OR learn how to do my own nails… Now, I could always paint pictures relatively well (at school at least)… albeit that was quite a while ago… but I think I have nailed (couldn’t resist that one) the Slightly Cheaty Home Mani… admittedly a professinal manicurist would do things differently… but for now, this works, I promise, as I have been doing this once every 6 days for the last 5 weeks (yup my manicure doesn’t last the extra day a professional one does… but not bad nevertheless). The right kit is really helpful and everything in the picture is easily available on Amazon. →

HOME MANI GUIDESTEP by STEP

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Now follow my slightly unorthodox step by step guide:

Shape your nails BEFORE you take your polish off… this way you will see that you have the shape correct and even… trust me its much harder with bare nails.

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Soak your hands in soapy warm water gently pushing your cuticles back… just for a minute.

Dry off and apply a generous layer of cuticle remover gel. Gently push back your cuticles with a

double ended metal cuticle pusher as well as cleaning up around the whole nail.

Rinse off, dry your hands while pushing the cuticles back again and then clip any remaining bits of dead skin with a cuticle clipper (if you have done Step 4 right there should be very little left).

Remove your polish… I have discovered this genius Nails Inc Nail Polish Remover Pot… totally bril l iant… you just put one finger in at a time… move it around and bam your polish is off… no faffing around with nail polish remover, cotton wool and if, l ike me, you like a dark nail , A LOT of mess and smudged colour on the skin around the nail… I am totally converted… I only wish they did one for toes…

Wash your hands and towel dry again while giving your cuticles one final push back.

Gently buff the nail with a soft buffing block… just a l ittle as this can weaken the nail if done too regularly and too much.

Clean your nails with a final sweep of nail polish remover on a cotton pad to remove any last traces of polish or dust… but make sure there are no pesky bits of fibre from the cotton wool pad left on the nail .

P.S. I am not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned… I am sharing them as they work for me…

Using the Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish (this is NOT Gel but has a wonderful gel effect as well as being hard wearing) gently apply your two coats of polish… at the moment I am loving the colour Model Clicks… it’s a deep dark berry colour . This is the best polish I have found for home manicures as it has a wide brush making it so much easier to apply… be careful not to flood your cuticles as, especially with dark colours its really hard to clean up… however, should your hand be not quite as steady as you would like (better not to paint after an Expresso or a late night… but who is doing either at the moment… and anyway, you don’t need one without the other surely?)… help is at hand in the form of an OPI corrector pen (its l ike a highlighter pen with nail polish remover… genius invention)… take your time and gently remove the messy bits around the nail .

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Apply Seche Vite Professional Dry Fast Top Coat…

Give yourself 15 minutes grace to let everything dry…and 45 minutes before trying to pull a pair of boots on…

Apply a couple of drops per nail of OPI Drip Dry Laquer Drying Drops… drop on the nail including the cuticle.

Ahem… if you have managed to smudge a nail you can generally dab it with a l ittle more colour and apply another layer of Seche Vite… then…W.A.I.T. for your nails to dry… why not try some mindful breathing even.. .?

Final top tip is, if you find your nails “wearing” at the tips just touch them up with your colour and apply a full coat of Seche Vite and you will honestly feel l ike you have a fresh manicure all over again… oops and apply a really good hand cream every night and leave a generous amount in your cuticles and you will find you have far less cuticle to deal with…

There… my Slightly Cheaty (but very effective) Home Mani… mine has been drying while I have been (very carefully) typing this…

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CHOCOLATE MOUSSE Hughs‘,

8 eggs (freshly laid if poss)

250 grms of dark cooking chocolate…

I am particularly partial to the Valrhona 70%

Knob of salted butter

Double cream…if you are going

to splurge then do it in style…

Separate the whites from the yolks making sure there is not a scrap of yolk with the whites (any sign of grease in your bowl, on your whisk or even a spec of yolk will stop

your whites whisking into lovely stiff peaks).

Create a Bain Marie – place a clean, dry bowl over a pan of hot water (the bowl shouldn’t be touching the water), break the chocolate into small chunks and allow to melt with the butter very slowly… stir occasionally

and don’t overheat.

While the chocolate is melting whisk your egg whites into stiff peaks.

Add the egg yolks to the molten chocolate, stir in gently until all the ingredients have blended.

Now this is where the magic is done… carefully FOLD the molten chocolate into the egg whites (if you haven’t done this before I suggest you take 5 minutes and just Google the technique as this is make or break time).

Once completely blended, having been careful not to let all the “air” out of the egg whites, pour into your choice of dishes… I love using a selection of vintage cut glasses in a variety of sizes… Fill full to allow room for

lashings of double cream when served.

Place carefully on a tray and in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours.

Enjoy every spoonful of indulgence…

A & H

Ingredients

Method

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D I S C O V E R U S O N I N S T A G R A M :

I don’t know about you, but for me when I am ordering Online the most important thing to know is how I can actually return an item that isn’t suitable… I know, that sounds really negative but if it falls into the “too hard basket” then I move on to something more user-friendly, with this in mind we try to take all the hassle out of that for you… you literally call up our customer care line (which I am pleased to say has extended hours) and they will organise a collection from you… no fil l ing out reams of paperwork, taking a package to the post-office… our little customer care team all have experience on our shop floor… so they understand the fit and sizing of the collection too… even better… they are happy to process

the sale for you while you are on the phone… job done!

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Enjoy!

Sending love,Ax

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S I G N A T U R E A I R S H I R T C O R A L £ 4 9 5 . 0 0

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