Super Summer Sale!

It's our end of season already (even though the sun only just seems to have made an appearance here!) so we're celebrating summer with some HUGE discounts! We have some really great offers on furniture and lighting, men's and women's accessories and lots of lovely gifty bits too. Take a look at our top picks for today and let us know what bits you can't wait to get your hands on....

Kartell Bourgie lamp designed by  Ferruccio Laviani is a classic and can be spotted in some pretty exclusive interiors! Was £196 Now £137.20 - that's a  HUGE 30% off!

Ally Capellino Dean Rucksack - shown here in mustard and black (also available in khaki and olive) Was £215 Now £172

Paul Smith ladies Westbourne hobo bag in mustard - from the exclusive luxury range of handbags that Paul created especially for SS13 - read more here - Was £830 Now £664

We have an even bigger range of sale items in store, so if you can make it to Bloomsbury Store New Bond Street or Quiet Street in Bath you won't be disappointed - and it's gone, it's gone!

As seen in....

We're thrilled to see the new Wild & Wolf Thourghtful Gardener Watering Can in the June issue of Marie Claire, and selected by local girl Pearl Lowe too! Moving to the West Country has provided a sanctuary away from the busyness of the city for Pearl. Turning her hand to fashion design and crafting Pearl gives us a few tips on how to create an effortless vintage look in our own homes. Creating a 'Summer Bazzar' in your own garden is simple with the sublime turquoise colour of the Thourghtful Gardener watering can. The rest of the Thourghtful Gardener range compliment each other beautifully - like the bold seed markers.

 Pick up some more tips from Pearl in her new book 'Pearl Lowe's Vintage Craft' now at +Bloomsbury Store!

Father's day is nearly here

Don't forget dad this weekend!
We've made a little wishlist over on our Bloomsbury Store Pinterest page of all our favourite Father's Day gifts - see it here!

But here are a few more picks - remember UK orders can upgrade to Next day delivery for free using the code QUICKDAD. Just select the Next day shipping method and enter the code, make sure you place your order before 1pm on Thursday 13th June to ensure you get your present's in time!

From the top left -
Gentleman's Hardware Multi tool - beacuse dad's can fix everything.
Hornby enamel mug - great for a nostalgic dad for tea in the shed.
Beano gift wrap - a beautiful reproduction of you dad's favourite comic - maybe too good to use as wrap?
Happy Jackson Tache Tools and Beardy bits - or a washbag to regular folk.
Stirling Moss thermos flask - every number tells a story - and number 7 was Stirling Moss's.
The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes - we don't want to encourage him - but some are funny...some.

Back to Basics with Lomography

Lomography has hit Bloomsbury and we're so excited! How can you not resist the elegant looks of these fantastic cameras, and within the digital age of camera phones, actually getting your film processed and not quite knowing how they will turn out is great! We've selected some of the most beautiful cameras to stock in-store and online the La Sardina being our favourite. Take a look at this beauty the La Sardina Grand Cru!

Simply load with 35mm film and away you go. The La Sardina also comes fitted with a 89degree wide angle lense to capture all the action. You'll also find a range of fantastic Lomography films at Bloomsbury too.

Each film has been created by Lomography to give the best results wherever you're shooting. Their specialty films, such as the Redscale Lobster 110 films, create an exciting escape from reality with their super saturated colours.

We'd love to see how you use the Lomo cameras - send any photos to hello@bloomsburystore.com

Happy Birthday Mr Hornby

We would like to wish Mr Hornby a very Happy 150th Birthday!

The inventor of the Hornby trains and also Meccano is hailed as a great toy constructor and has changed the way we play forever. He first started by creating toys for his own children in 1899, he soon realised by creating interchangable pieces for tracks a whole new world was created each time you played with them. Based on real engineering principles the Hornby toys soon become a firm favourite with everyone!

We have a great range of Hornby products for the grown up collector! Just click here!

Seasonal tips with Paul Smith

We recently had our seasonal visit from Kim and Noel from Paul Smith Accessories, and as always they were full of interesting facts about this seasons collection. We were reminded of the Paul Smith stripe being the 'DNA' of the brand and told this season onwards they are looking to use it in more select and subtle ways. After all they are a fashion house and need to evolve! You will notice this season we have the stripe on only a few wallets and phone cases, these are still of course top sellers but we're seeing the stripe used in more ways - such as on the multi-check scarf and multi-check swim shorts - so expect more like this next season. Autumn Winter will also see a much darker stripe so if you are keen on the bright stripe now maybe your best chance to indulge yourself!

Multi-check swim shorts - £89.95

We're really excited to have some beautiful exclusive handbags from Paul Smith this season. The gorgeous Albermarle and Westbourne bags are really luxury soaked handbags made in Italy in classic designs with fashion forward colours. These bags are very striking in both colour and design and so to give them gravity Paul has named them after two of his London stores.

Recognising that people no longer buy bags for different occasions Paul Smith have made their designs as versatile as possible, including zipped pockets and pouches, different length straps and from next season all handbags will have a pouch for your Ipad. Things to go next season will be the ladies attached keyfob and the the hardware on the Swirl bags will say goodbye also. Looking forward to next season the swirl is going all 60's with a super Maxi swirl design.We're also happy to be stocking more items made in the UK such as the scarves and gloves, these are all denoted by the special 'Made in the UK' swing tickets. Look out for the swing tickets with Paul's camera on also, these items feature photo's taken by Sir Paul himself!

Seaside scarf with photo's taken by Paul Smith - £95

Happy Jackson!

We're very excited to start stocking the new Happy Jackson range from Wild and Wolf on our online store!

                                  
The Happy Jackson label came into being after a doodle was made of a little grumpy Pug dog - and look how it's grown! The range is so bright and colouful you can't miss it. With everything from washbags, notebooks, pencil cases and doormats you can't avoid smiling at the little quips and bold colours. From duo Giles Andreae and Heather Flynn the strong Happy Jackson visual style has now been adorned onto vinyl pencil cases and shoppers, make-up bags and compact mirrors.

 We're sure you'll fall in love with it all
- just as we have!

Seen Above: Hello Doormat made in India from woven coco materials £24.95, Set of 3 Nesting Tins for tea, coffee and sugar (the essentials!) £14,95, Smile bright red vinyl compact mirror £7.95, Pen Orgy yellow pencil case (pencils welcome!) £6.95, Random Crap large shopper £4.95, Gems of Insight and Inspriation notebook £7.95, Kiss and Make up cosmetics bag £9.95, Today Is Going To Be A Good Day! mug in box £7.95

(Click pink text to go through to product info!)

P.S - The range of notebooks from Happy Jackson are worth a look for a cheeky pressie and the boxed mugs are just genius - particular favourite being the Red 'Coffee Makes My Day More Beautiful!' something we live by!

Bath In Fashion 2013

Bath in Fashion is one the most anticipated fashion events outside of London and this years showcase looks to be better than ever! Taking place between the 13th-21st April there is an exciting line-up of fashion shows, illustration workshops and fashion talks.

Bloomsbury will be showcasing our Paul Smith, Ally Capellino and Beck SonderGaard Spring Summer '13 ranges in the Designer Fashion Show on Friday 19th April held at the Assembly Rooms. Book your tickets here!

We're also hosting a late night shopping event on Thursday 18th April in our Quiet Street store with 15% off all full price items! We hope to see you there.

Another highlight of the week will be on Sunday 21st April at The Little Theatre where the Oscar winning hair and make-up team behind the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit will introduce a special showing of The Hobbit, talking about how they created all those amazing characters.

Don't miss out!

 

Groomed to perfection

Those of you who live in the West country may have seen this bizarre article (click here to see all!) on the local BBC news. The annual meeting of the Handlebar Club was held in Bath just last week. There were some very impressive 'taches being showcased! The club was founded in 1947 and has over 100 members with strict admittance rules - and certainly no beards!

Here are some of our own favourite moustachio grooming products to help you on your way to being an esteemed member of the Handlebar Club yourself!

Captain Fawcett's Moustache Wax!

   Above: Captain Fawcett's Moustache Wax available in Lavender, Sandlewood and Ylang Ylang - made with natural products to help you keep that stiff upper lip! £9.95

Left: Moustache Cushion from La Cerise Sur Le Gateau - Gorgeously embroided taches adorn this pillow 30x50 cm. £45





Right: Tache Tools Washbag from the new Happy Jackson range - A great sized washbag for all you essentials. £14.95

















And for those who may need a little fakery - The Man Sized Moustache £3.95

Coming to a screen near you

Those of you who have visited our store in Bath will probably not have failed to notice our glamorous Sales Assistant Jean. She's a one of a kind lady and we love working with her - guessing at what carefully put together outfit she'll be wearing with her Dr.Martins. She never fails to put a smile on our face!

In recognition of fashionable ladies over 70 Jean is being featured in a new BBC documentary which will be on screens later this year. Jean was filmed going about her daily routine so the film crew came by the store, they also filmed her out and about and running - she says they made her run up a hill 6 times!

Here are a few behind the scene's pics from their shoot in the shop. Keep an eye out for the documentary for more!

Mum's the word!

Mothers Day is soon approaching (heads up - this Sunday!) so here are a few of our favourite treats for Mum's everywhere.

1. Orla Kiely Towels - from £4.95

2. Miller Harris Noix De Tubereuse Eau de Parfum - 50ml - £62

3. Nixon Timeteller P Watch - anodaze red - £69.95

4. Burts Bees Travel Basic's kit - £17.95

5. Paul Smith Leather Heart keyfob - £35

6. Beck sondergaard Sailor Tote bag - navy - £49.95

And don't forget Mums to be! 

This Burts Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter is a gorgeous treat for growing bumps - £13.99

Follow this link for some more great Mothers Day gifts.

New Paul Smith for Maharam Collection

We're very excited to this season be stocking some of the gorgeous Paul Smith for Maharam collection. Paul Smith has collaborated with this American company to create exclusive textiles that have been applied to business folios, wash bags and holdalls. 

"We work with a company in America called Maharam, who make upholstery fabric. This design is based on the pattern of a Fair Isle sweater. Every time I use mine people comment on how nice it is, it's great!" - Paul

We love the unusual use of the upholstery fabric on the bags as it makes them seem more special and reminscent of old travelling bags. The use of the Fair Ilse patterns also goes to make the bag seem very British.

Maharam have a very beautiful website with examples of all their custom made fabrics and design studio - Maharam - definitley worth a look.

Take a look our collection here - Paul Smith for Maharam bags!

                                               

credit to Maharam for last image and paulsmith.co.uk for Paul's quote

All about Matt and Nat

With our new season Matt and Nat now up for grabs, we thought you might like to know a bit more about this company who think about the planet first.

Matt & Nat Schlepp Shopper Bag | Cork

 

The idea behind the company was originally conceived in 1995 in Montreal, Canada. With Matt and Nat standing for MAT(T)erial and NATure their core values are love authenticity and responsibility. They are inspired by the textures and hues of nature; which they do their best to protect at the same time with a mandate to use eco/recycled/upcycled materials wherever they can. 

Matt & Nat Riley Bag | Cognac

Inspired by Eastern philosophies, creative director and founder Inder Bedi felt compelled early on to create a brand that is completely cruelty-free. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and with no formal fashion training, Bedi set about making bags with local craftsmen, learning early on about the importance of quality workmanship. Inspired by everyday life, architecture and graphics, Inder gradually developed the vision behind MATT & NAT. Following her philosophy of, creating beautiful things that have a positive impact the company still has a strong emphasis on environmental awareness 17 years later. The linings inside MATT & NAT products are always made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles. Introduced in 2011, the use of cork, a renewable resource, is used for the labels inside each bag and is another great sustainable feature of MATT & NAT designs.

Matt & Nat Motiv Small Purse | Tangerine Orange

Live beautifully is the mantra at the core of MATT & NAT. Living beautifully means appreciating beauty, humanity, creativity and positivity. We are proud to bring you this latest season and hope you love it as much as we do. 

All featured bags are available online here - http://bit.ly/YvS9FS

BeckSondergaard's 2013 Spring Summer collection is here!

Lis Beck and Anna Sondergaard sharing a strong passion for fashion and a love of Scandinavian simplicity founded Becksondergaard in 2003.

Combining handmade elements, unique and playful prints these scarves are a must for this season. Made in a range of the finest materials such as cashmere, silk and wool mixes each scarf is super soft.

As the 2013 Spring Summer scarves this year we are stocking the Becksondergaard Tote Bags, these bags echo the scarf’s in their material and patterns. These durable 100% cotton tote bags are perfect for holding all your daily essentials wherever you may be.  

Check our full collection here,  http://www.bloomsburystore.com/womens/womens_brands/becksondergaard

Pantone's colour of 2013

Pantone have given their annual trend forecast for the colour that will dominate our year as....drum roll please.....Emerald 17-5641. This beautiful fresh colour brings to mind luscious plants, sparkling jewellery and energetic interiors.

Describing the colour of the year Pantone's Colour Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman says that it is "The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other colour in the spectrum... Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors."

No other colour has such a rejuvenating power as green hues do so we can't wait to get our wardrobes and homes dazzling in Emerald tones.

Here are a few of our current favourite jewel toned products to get you a head start - 

Alex Monroe Peacock earrings 

Catherine Weitzman emerald rondelle necklace 

The adventures of Tintin - The Castafiore Emerald book

Nixon Time Teller watch in Glo Green 

Head Gardener badge from Wild & Wolf

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Literary Transport mug from Wild & Wolf

Series 746 1960's design telephone in green and cream

Type 1228 Anglepoise lamp

Lego storage brick in dark green

Ted Baker boxed tweed print roller-ball pen

credit to Pantone press release for quotes

Final sale markdowns!

Our final markdowns on the sale have now gone live and there are so many amazing deals to have! There are some really great products that are not only now a bargin but will serve you well for years to come. Take a look at some of our favourites...

Ally Capellino Dean rucksack was £220 now £132. Save 40%
This beautiful sturdy Raucksack will handle whatever you throw at it - or in it. Made with heavy waxed canvas and leather trims it's a versatile bag that you will love forever.

Paul Smith Mini puddle reflection business folio was £240 now £144. Save 40%
As with all Paul Smith bags you can rely on top quality trimings and finishes. This quirky print plays on the synonymous Paul Smith striped Mini. Finished with hard wearing saffiano leather and brass fittings it's a bag that means business.

Paul Smith Bowly bag in teal was £370 now £222. Save 40%.
A very on trend bowling bag in a gorgeous deep teal colour - Pantone have announced their colour of 2013 as Emerald. So get ahead of the trend with a bargin!

Paul Smith Carousel tote bag was £225 now £88. Save 60%.
A livley tote bag from Paul Smith with a silky red hankie print all over. Comes with a great bright purse to keep essentials from floating around.

Pantone chair was £55 now £38.50. Save 30%.
All colours in the chair range have been discounted so make your kitchen, balcony or patio a bold spectrum.

Canteen chair was £199 now £99.50. Save 50%.
Inspired by the stackable chairs in school canteens these powder coated steel framed chairs come in five beautiful colours. An instant classic.