For many weeks (actually, make that 2 months!), I've been wanting to blog about a shop in St. Albans. This shop has been open for, if I remember the conversation correctly, about 4 years. So, that means I have walked past this little shop in the city I live in, time and time again, without so much as poking my nose around the door. Criminal.
Back in October, in the build up and amidst all the St. Albans Fashion Week jollity, camaraderie, Tweeting and Facebooking etc., Chloe James and I had just become 'friends' on Twitter and so I thought it would be nice to pop in and say hello in 'real life'. Who says social media is stopping us all having 'real' conversations? Quite the opposite in my opinion.
I met the very welcoming Donna - who owns and runs Chloe James with business partner Maria. We had a lovely chat and I had a good look around the shop. I realised, of course, that I should have done this a long time ago. I think the reason I hadn't gone in before was that it appears to be a small shop (it isn't!), and I felt intimidated. I thought I would somehow feel pressured to make all the right 'ooh, aah, that's lovely' type of comments and feel the pressure to buy. How wrong I was. Well, to a point I was right because I did make those noises, not because I thought I should, but because I couldn't help myself! This shop, which consists of 2 floors, a set of steep stairs (but don't worry, there's a handrail), 4 gorgeous rooms and homely, rickety landings, is packed full of all things bright, beautiful and downright irresistible!
There's designer clothes, jewellery, cushions, bed linen, candles, handbags, pictures... too much to list in fact. And please don't let that stream of items conjure up an image of a mish-mashy jumble - this shop is beautifully laid out and thought through. In the words of my son, who was with me at the time, "I want to live here Mummy!" - and that's the truth, you really do.
As I said, I visited in early October and had every intention of blogging about this little gem back then - but, as I'm sure you can all appreciate and relate to, life got kinda busy and I didn't get round to it!
Last week, I went back because I wanted to see all their Christmassy stuff, their window design (which I had only seen on Facebook), and take some more pictures with the aim of sharing them with you before Christmas was all over! And, yay - I've achieved it and in serendipitous fashion too as this post is just in time for Small Business Saturday - which is today, Dec 6th!
This time I had the chance to have a good long chat with the lovely Maria whilst my friend was oohing and aahing over the clothes and trying them on. She bought a beautiful 'giraffe' print blouse, which, as I mentioned at the time, suited her very much as she is really tall (like a giraffe) and beautiful.
Anyway, without further ado, I will cut the jib and share with you the pictures I took in October and last week. Enjoy your virtual browse around Chloe James Lifetsyle - but please pop by in real life soon!
Back in October, in the build up and amidst all the St. Albans Fashion Week jollity, camaraderie, Tweeting and Facebooking etc., Chloe James and I had just become 'friends' on Twitter and so I thought it would be nice to pop in and say hello in 'real life'. Who says social media is stopping us all having 'real' conversations? Quite the opposite in my opinion.
I met the very welcoming Donna - who owns and runs Chloe James with business partner Maria. We had a lovely chat and I had a good look around the shop. I realised, of course, that I should have done this a long time ago. I think the reason I hadn't gone in before was that it appears to be a small shop (it isn't!), and I felt intimidated. I thought I would somehow feel pressured to make all the right 'ooh, aah, that's lovely' type of comments and feel the pressure to buy. How wrong I was. Well, to a point I was right because I did make those noises, not because I thought I should, but because I couldn't help myself! This shop, which consists of 2 floors, a set of steep stairs (but don't worry, there's a handrail), 4 gorgeous rooms and homely, rickety landings, is packed full of all things bright, beautiful and downright irresistible!
There's designer clothes, jewellery, cushions, bed linen, candles, handbags, pictures... too much to list in fact. And please don't let that stream of items conjure up an image of a mish-mashy jumble - this shop is beautifully laid out and thought through. In the words of my son, who was with me at the time, "I want to live here Mummy!" - and that's the truth, you really do.
As I said, I visited in early October and had every intention of blogging about this little gem back then - but, as I'm sure you can all appreciate and relate to, life got kinda busy and I didn't get round to it!
Last week, I went back because I wanted to see all their Christmassy stuff, their window design (which I had only seen on Facebook), and take some more pictures with the aim of sharing them with you before Christmas was all over! And, yay - I've achieved it and in serendipitous fashion too as this post is just in time for Small Business Saturday - which is today, Dec 6th!
This time I had the chance to have a good long chat with the lovely Maria whilst my friend was oohing and aahing over the clothes and trying them on. She bought a beautiful 'giraffe' print blouse, which, as I mentioned at the time, suited her very much as she is really tall (like a giraffe) and beautiful.
Anyway, without further ado, I will cut the jib and share with you the pictures I took in October and last week. Enjoy your virtual browse around Chloe James Lifetsyle - but please pop by in real life soon!
October's Window
The shop smells amazing!
Mirror Mirror on the Wall (or rather Miss Wall in the Mirror Mirror!).
Beautiful display
Ta Dah!
There are four rails of clothes in this room and a great selection of bags too
One of the pretty dressing rooms
The Christmas Window! So pretty.
Monty the penguin has a lot to answer for!
Take me home - I'm fully house trained!
Evening bag magic and sparkle
Duvet covers by Snurk. They have boy designs too. Brilliant idea.
Grown up bedding.
Hello dear.
Merry Christmas!
If you're local, take the time to go and look for yourselves. If you're not local, pack a flask, some mince pies and get in the car! You won't be disappointed.
Take a look at Chloe James Lifestyle web page here
I'll be back with another Christmassy blog very soon but I must dash - the sequin jacket that I ordered has just arrived. Whoop whoop! xx
Take a look at Chloe James Lifestyle web page here
I'll be back with another Christmassy blog very soon but I must dash - the sequin jacket that I ordered has just arrived. Whoop whoop! xx
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