UGG of Australia in Sevenoaks

Now here at Hoads we have always been huge fans of UGG but felt that we needed to wait for the right time to add them to our collection and we are VERY excited to announce that time is now.

A few months ago we headed to UGG of Australia’s beautiful, minimalistic and modern show room in London to view their Autumn Winter 2013 and (whisper it) Spring Summer 2014 collections. For those of you who might not know UGG of Australia (UGG) started as in Australia as a way for surfers to keep their feet warm in between sessions, they turned to hand-made basic sheepskin "footies" for natural warmth, comfort and to wick away moisture. In 1978 Brain Smith fell in love with the idea of these boots and founded the brand “UGG” which became a symbol of relaxed southern California culture, gaining momentum through surf shops and other shops up and down the coast of California, from San Diego to Santa Cruz. Not long after that UGG boots were seen in the bigger cities and when winter came along, UGG boots were in ski shops and were seen in lodges from Mammoth to Aspen. The UGG brand began to symbolize those who embraced sport and a relaxed, active lifestyle.

By the end of the 90’s, celebrities and those in the fashion world took notice of the UGG brand which brought about the evolution of UGG from a brand making sheepskin boots, slippers, clogs and sandals for an active, outdoor lifestyle to a brand that was now seen as a symbol of a stylish, casual and luxurious lifestyle. Before long the UGG collection branched out into everything from knit boots to sneakers to wedges, all the while sticking to their roots of the luxurious and comforting feel of sheepskin lined footwear.

UGG Australia is now an international brand that is loved by many due to their “magical combination of the amazing functional benefits of sheepskin and the heightened emotional feeling you get when you slip them on your feet” (http://www.uggaustralia.co.uk/the-story-of-ugg/story-ugg,en_GB,pg.html).

What immediately struck us as we entered the UGG show room was the array of styles and colours they have used for their new collection. Unfortunately we are unable to show you any photos of the new 2014 styles but as soon as we can they will be posted here! However we can confirm that we will be stocking the Classic Boot in three colours – Chestnut, Black and Chocolate and we can also confirm that the retail price has been reduced to £150!!

We only bought a small selection of UGG as we are new to the brand and wanted to see what reaction it would invoke from you all so please feel free to let us know your opinions.

We will have our first drop of UGG boots in October (they are in now!) and a new boot style coming in in January (a waterproof UGG sssh!). The Spring Summer collection will not be with us until March time but it is definitely worth the wait.

The Colour Palette for Autumn Winter 2013-2014

Every season Pantone are one of the first to produce their colour report after analysing numerous fashion shows and researching particular designers. Below is their colour palette for autumn winter 2013 -

(image sourced from http://www.slideshare.net/jberry2/fall-winter-2013-color-report)

We think this colour palette is fantastic – all of the colours are very wearable for any skin tone and age – the brighter colours can be used as accents in outfits of army inspired tones or greys while the more adventurous of us can use it to stand out from the crowd and make a statement with their outfits.

“Just as the leaves change in autumn, the consumer will enjoy the ability to change their ‘look’ and try a new approach to their wardrobe for brisk days ahead,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute®. “The fall 2013 palette allows for that versatility and experimentation.” (www.pantone.com)

Here is a rundown of how Pantone see this seasons colours being worn – “with the changing season, the greens from spring evolve and develop. Multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate, bringing luxury and elegance to the palette, while yellow-toned Linden Green brings a lightness and brightness to the deeper shades of fall. Try pairing both with Mykonos Blue, a bold, meditative blue, for a classic and relaxed fall look. Exotic Acai adds mystery and richness to the palette, and can be incorporated with the other colours to create a number of powerful fall combinations. Pair the elegant shade of purple with Emerald for a regal disposition, or spirited Samba red for an expressive and dramatic look. Koi, a decorative orange with dazzling and shimmering qualities, is a statement colour that serves as a pick-me-up for your wardrobe. Vivacious, an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia, adds an ebullient sensuality to the palette - pair Vivacious with anchoring Deep Lichen Green, a naturally lush shade of green, for a dynamic juxtaposition that captures both ends of the seasonal spectrum. Rounding out this season’s cornerstone colours, Turbulence, a dark mercurial grey, and Carafe, a rich, glamorous brown, provide more interesting and sophisticated alternatives to the black basics usually worn in colder months. Both staple neutrals pair gracefully with more expressive colours within the palette, such as Samba, Koi and Vivacious.” (www.pantone.com)

What you can expect from Hoads to complement your wardrobe this season

- Blue tonal paneling on ankle and knee boots surrounded by butter soft leathers in deep rich browns and tans;
- Shades of burgundy and wine with gold accents and stud detailing;
- Tonal leopard prints mixed with androgynous styling ;
- Quilted panels in contrasting colours;
And as always comfort, style and quality.

Pure: WGSN Trend Predictions A/W13

(An introduction to Pure London – this trade show has a mixture of new and established brands showcasing their following season’s collections of footwear, clothing and accessories. A vast amount of catwalk shows and seminars take place throughout the three days with different key speakers and topics each season. Every season we feel it is paramount to visit this show to get a feel for the upcoming season.)

Twice a year we head over to London Olympia to source new brands, view our current brands following season collection and watch the WGSN trend forecast for the following season. Visiting Pure before doing the bulk of the buying for the shop always inspires and prepares us for what is to come next season and gives us time to consider how those trends will fit into our store.

Here are the three Macro trends that WGSN predict for Autumn Winter 2013.

Hack-tivate

Here unexpected styling and layering opposite colour blocking and inventive cutting are all key aspects of this trend. Earthy army inspired tones of mushroom, slate grey, stone and port paired with metallic shades of antique gold and enhanced by undertones of bright white and midnight blue.

Formal wear key items are the tailored biker jacket, the military coat, spliced pencil skirts with sequin accents and the utility shirt. By adding leather into the mix the tough urban edge of this trend really comes through. Occasion wear in contrast has a minimalistic feel with simple sporty shapes being used in luxe fabrics with wet look coatings and metallic finishes creating a casual yet luxurious feel. Accessorise this look with colour blocking hi-tops, thick crepe soled shoes and boots and futuristic finishes to bags and materials.

Casual wear has a modern and clean feel mixing sequins with metallic surfaces to update classic pieces from previous seasons such as the bomber jacket and cropped hoodie. Skater skirts in metallic and leather finishes and all over sequins will be embraced by the braver, more fashion forward individuals. Accessorise here with chunky jewellery, cat eye glasses, simple cuffs and thick heeled shoes and boots.

21^st Century Romance

21^st Century Romance focuses on craftsmanship, luxury and beau

Casual wear contrast the soft romance with grunge styling and street influences such as lace, embellishments and painterly prints with vintage references. Staple wardrobe items such as the luxe

skinny jean are reworked with brocade prints and metallic foils making the trend wearable for all ages.  Accessories in this look are the slipper shoe, slim extended toes, embellished collars, pouch bags and gothic inspired jewellery.ty with a contemporary sharpness using delicate colo

urs of nude, ivory, putty, lilac grey and soft sage offset with a variation of blues, black, golds and silvers that adds that feeling of opulence and glamour.

Occasion wear creates a dark and opulent feel using heavy weight velvets and high sh

ine leathers contrasted with delicate sheers and tone on tone prints. The baroque dress and clerical work shirt take on new gothic prints and religious inspired motifs. Decorative techniques update the peplum top, leather skirt and bodycon dress. Tailoring takes on a more minimal architectural look with domed shoulders and sharp pleating; hoods, high and decorated neck lines and cinched in waists are all popular elements of this look.

Living Design  

The final macro trend merges the animal and technological to create an urban palette of navy, metallic grey, mushroom and bluey green punctuated with burnt sienna, black, copper and bronze. The focus here is on heavy wool and flannel worked into bulky oversize silhouettes. In casual wear the collarless jacket and duffel coat are update with fur accents while the puffa jacket with continue to work through this season. Items such as tabards, polo neck sweaters and the full gathered skirt along with quilting and brushed textures will use smooth, rounded lines to create voluminous shapes. Accessories here include the beany hat, fur lined boots with knitted cuffs and structural wedges.

Occasion wear combines delicate fabrics such as chiffon and viscose with metallic leathers and silk jersey items in garments such as the fluted skirt and layered dress. Prints and colour here take their inspiration from oil slicks and rippling water reflections; while detachable feather collars bring an animalistic feel to an outfit while retaining the ethereal prettiness that inspires this trend. Accessories are very traditional in this look with simplistic shoes, sheer overlays and cut out backs with faux fur and metallic leather trims adding a tough urban vibe.

Tonally these trends are something we all have a bit of in our wardrobe from previous seasons – rework these with key accessories from the trends you feel most comfortable with and you are bound to shine this season.