Poppy Wears...

Stormy Skies

Summer is definitely over, it's all clouds and rain here so it's time to pull out those cosy winter knits and start planning our autumn wardrobes. With this in mind we have put together our Poppy Wears blogpost inspired by the stormy grey skies we've experienced lately.

All of the items featured are classic and practical, guaranteed to be worn all winter long. Our Charlotte cardigan in grey marl chunky knit is prefect to wear as a jacket in autumn and layer up as the days get colder. The Greta skirt in Marine Blue or Winter Grey cord is another easy to wear piece and both co-ordinate with the all printed tops in our collection.

Our peter pan blouses, Coco neckerchief scarf and alice band in dusty blue complete the look. Check out our Facebook page for a chance to win one of our Mathilde shirts early next week...

The shoes were featured in our photoshoot and we wear these all year round, you can find similar at Bensimon, the colours are beautiful and updated each season.

www.poppyandhester.co.uk

Autumn Pop-Up Shop in Tunbridge Wells

We are really excited to share the details of our first pop-up shop in Tunbridge Wells. It's happening on Friday October 9th, upstairs in the lovely Juliet's cafe in the High Street. We've teamed up with some fantastic people to bring you what we hope will be a great day of shopping, cakes and fun for you and the kids!

So what's happening?

Poppy & Hester will present the new Autumn/Winter collection. It's a great chance to see the range in the flesh so you can really appreciate the quality and style. There will also be some exclusive offers on the day.

We have also been busy curating a fantastic range of toys, gifts, homewares and dare we say stocking fillers. So you will find something for the boys and even the adults in your life!

Any excuse for a beautiful bunch of flowers!
The Florist Tunbridge Wells are selling their beautiful autumnal arrangements and offering an exclusive preview of their Christmas range and info about ordering wreathes and gifts for later in the year.

 

Freckles & Fire are on hand with some FREE craft activities for the kids, both during the day and after school, and will have details of their autumn/winter timetable so you can sign up for more crafting fun.

My Tunbridge Wells have organised a fantastic raffle with lots of prizes from local businesses, all selected with children in mind. They are also giving away goodie bags, filled with treats, to the first 50 people to sign up to their new newsletter.
Plus you can find out all about their blog, partners and very exciting plans for the future.






We have created a Facebook event page for the pop-up shop, you can join and let us know you are coming and invite your friends! Plus we're updating the page all the time with exciting news about what will be on offer on the day. 

http://www.thefloristtunbridgewells.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/Frecklesandfire?fref=ts
http://poppyandhester.co.uk/
http://www.mytunbridgewells.com/

Poppy Wears...

Pink preppy style

We have our first fair of the autumn tomorrow at a local school and it has inspired our first Poppy Wears post of the season... Our collection has a sweet preppy feel to it this season with our button A-line skirts and peter pan blouses in pretty Poppy & Hester prints.

Our cherry pink Charlotte cardigan and grosgrain bow alice band in snow pink complete the look and are sure to be worn all winter long!

www.poppyandhester.co.uk

Hester Loves...

The Black Rabbit

We are always looking out for unusual toys and gifts and we were delighted when we discovered The Black Rabbit knitted toys a few years ago. We have just used the elephants that we already owned in our AW photoshoot and we are pleased to say that we are now stocking a range of The Black Rabbit knitted toys. They are all handmade in Margate, Kent, and the new colours are gorgeous.

Initially we will sell them exclusively at our fairs and pop-up shop, click here for details about our upcoming event in Tunbridge Wells, but they will also be available online soon after that, in time for Christmas.

We hope you like them too! 
http://theblackrabbit.co.uk/
 

 

Hester's Little Sister

Our Poppy Wears... series will be back in the next couple of weeks with styling ideas and our favourite picks from the new collection. In the meantime we have put together our first selection for babies, it's not all about pink for little girls!

Our reversible trousers and Charlotte merino knitted jacket are wardrobe staples this season and are guaranteed to get lots of wear. The trousers are made in the softest brushed cotton in denim blue so they are really comfortable for babies and will match with everything, roll up the hems for a pop of our new heart print.

We have styled the outfit here with a simple organic striped vest from H&M (they have a great range of organic basics) and cute heart print pumps from Baby Gap. Don't be without our striped wool baby blanket, it's the perfect size for taking out and about with the pushchair and in the car, just in case things turn colder.

http://poppyandhester.co.uk/collections/shop/baby

Hester Loves...

Izzi Rainey

With September here and all the children going back to school it feels like time to get organised in the Poppy & Hester studio. This time of year makes us want to spring-clean more than we than the spring when our first thoughts are to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. It's time for new pencil cases, notebooks and lots of lists... That's why we were so pleased to meet Izzi Rainey!

Over the summer we spent quite a lot of time in Norfolk, selling at summer fairs, and had the pleasure of being alongside Izzi Rainey more than once. They have been touring around with their amazing turquoise caravan & prints!

Izzi Rainey was founded in 2014 in Norfolk by Izzi & Lara and they have a fantastic range of original, printed home-wares, purses and stationery to brighten up our lives as the days get shorter. Izzi studied at Glasgow School of Art but has returned to her childhood home on a farm in Norfolk, and as Izzi says, her designs work just as well in a cool country house as they do in contemporary urban setting.

We have selected a fantastic range of Izzi Rainey products to sell at our Autumn Pop-Up Shop in Tunbridge Wells in October and they are also exhibiting at the Wealden Times Midwinter fair, perfect timing for Christmas presents! Frind out more on their website:
www.izzirainey.com

Meet Our Photographer - Jade Tinkler

 
For our Autumn/Winter photoshoot we had the pleasure of working with Jade Tinkler. The shoot was a great success, Jade captured the essence of our brand and the personalities of the models perfectly. We wanted to share a bit more about her photography here on the blog so we asked Jade a few questions about her work and inspirations at this time of year.






When did you start and what inspired you to become a photographer?

I first opened my photography business in 2008, photographing weddings and portraits.  After taking a few years off for ‘life commitments’, I relaunched my business in 2013, specialising in beautiful portraits of bumps, babies and children, as well as glamorous and elegant women’s portraits.  I’ve always had a passion for photography, and get a real buzz from being able to capture special moments that mean the world to the client.  I love looking back on photographs of my family, past and present, and absolutely treasure them.  Life is so quick to pass us by, and I feel it’s so important to take time out to record ourselves and our memories for future generations to look back on. 

What do you enjoy most about working with babies & children?

I love the spontaneity of it all!  No matter how much preparation I do, I never really know how a photo shoot will turn out, and that’s the fun of it!  It all depends on what mood the baby or child is in and what their personality is like, and I find it a fantastic challenge to work with this to draw out the best from every person and every session.  

What are your favourite pieces from the new Poppy & Hester collection?

Oh, there are so many to choose from!  I love the baby blankets – so cosy, and in soft delicate colours.  I think the cherry pink colour of the Charlotte Knit Jacket is beautiful and really looked fabulous on the models.  I must also mention the Freya Dress in Winter Cherry, which I think is gorgeous! 

What are you favourite winter activities and photoshoot locations?

I really enjoy winter, mostly for it’s proximity to Christmas!  Ice skating, taking my son to visit Santa, decorating the house, snuggling in front of a fire, staying warm and cosy when it’s cold, wet and wild outside!  That said, I love heading out and about for seasonal photo shoots – for autumnal sessions, it’s making the most of fallen leaves and the great seasonal light.  Outdoor winter sessions are a little more tricky, but the low sun is delicate and beautiful (when it’s shining!) and a shoot in the snow is always magical!

Tell us about Christmas in your household, and any special traditions?

For the past few years, my husband and I have been establishing our own traditions – a good mix of those that we both grew up with. Our son will be 2 and a half this Christmas, so a great age to enjoy it all, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll be like this year!  Opening stockings under the tree by candlelight, followed by a delicious cooked breakfast.  Opening some presents, before meeting up with family to share the festivities.  We always have a walk after Christmas lunch, to stretch the legs (and tummies!) and blow the cobwebs away – it always seems to be beautiful, crisp and sunny weather for it, and everyone you meet is happy and joyful.

This year we will all have an extra special Christmas present to look forward to, as I’m due on 22^nd December with another baby boy!

Check out Jade's website @
http://www.jadetinklerphotography.co.uk/
Styling by Poppy & Hester, see more from the AW photoshoot @
www.poppyandhester.co.uk