Sequins: What’s hot in the district’s fashion boutiques as party season kicks off

With Christmas just one month away, many of us are starting to think about our looks for the party season, as well as special gifts to buy or our loved ones.

Fortunately in the Harrogate district we are blessed with some fabulous independent fashion boutiques.

We asked four business owners what was currently flying off the shelves as we approach the big day.

Infinity & Co boutique, Harrogate

Sam Gallagher, owner of Infinity & Co boutique, which has just launched its newly-refurbished store at the Victoria Shopping Centre, said the key word for Christmas was “sequins – and lots of them!”

She said:

“We have trousers, tops, blouses, dresses and jackets in and they are so popular. They can be worn dressed up but it’s also fun to wear them casually too. We have them in lots of metallic shades of gold, champagne, copper black and rose gold, along with some brights too.

“We have also been selling chunky oversized cardigans to wear with boots and PU (synthetic leather) joggers, ideal for walking around a Christmas market.

“Colours this season are lots of neutrals of camel, winter white and black and for the bright colours we have had a strong reaction to raspberry, teal, emerald and cobalt.”

Porters, Harrogate

Andy Shuttleworth, manager of Porters, on James Street, said shirts and dresses were selling fast ahead of the party season.

He said:

“We have got a great selection of occasion shirts and party dresses. They are always very popular this time of year.

“Accessories, which can be bought for gifts and stocking fillers, like socks and underwear, are popular too.

“Brands people particularly like at the moment are Traffic People, which does wonderful party dresses, and shirts from Guide London and Claudio Lugli.

“The trend is currently ‘glitz’ and the shirts are bright and bold – ready for the party season.”

Fennec & Darwin, Harrogate

Aideen Fox, owner of Fennec & Darwin, on Montpellier Mews, said accessories to help you keep warm were currently proving the most popular.

She said:

“I’m finding gift items, such as my slippers and scarves which retail for £19.99, have been my top-sellers on the run-up to Christmas.

“Especially with energy prices going up so much, it’s important to keep warm.”

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Wild Thing boutique, Knaresborough

Dianne Houghton, owner of Wild Thing boutique on Knaresborough’s High Street, said it was currently all about the sparkle.

She said:

“Sparkling dresses are popular at the moment, but they are not just for Christmas. You can make outfits sparkle by accessorising jewellery and layering-up, but still being comfortable.”

Refresh your summer wardrobe with these stylish picks from three Harrogate boutiques

This weekend is my favourite time of year – the clocks are going forward! Finally!

And after a glorious week of weather, I think most of us are getting in the mood for summer.

We are finally able to turn our attention to the spring-summer 2022 fashion trends. While we might still need to have a chunky knit on standby, rest assured, balmy eves are just around the corner.

So with that in mind, it’s time to clue up on all the biggest styles, colours, prints and It-pieces set to dominate the season ahead.

And fortunately Harrogate has some incredible clothes shops – both independents and chains – so you don’t even need to travel to get kitted out.

Here are some top picks from three fashion boutiques in Harrogate:

Infinity & Co, Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza

Infinity & Co owner Sam Gallagher models her first spring summer outfit choice.

Sheer pink top with tassels: £99

White trousers: £45

Straw bag with statement tassel, sparkly trim and leather strap: £92

Shoes: Model’s own

Sam Gallagher, owner of Infinity & Co boutique, which moved from a pop-up unit to a bigger space at the Victoria Shopping Centre seven weeks ago, said:

“Across the whole of this season we are seeing lots of bright colours coming through and I think we are all ready for that after the last two years.

“What we are seeing as we are coming into summer is the brights are becoming more neon and we have seen a lot of Aztec influence – in bag straps, in embroidery, so this top is a typical example of what we are seeing coming through. We are also seeing the bohemian trend going bigger this year. So this top is a combo of both the Aztec and bohemian trends.

“The white trousers are a “magic pant”, which is a new technology of fabric, which doesn’t go see-through when it stretches, so you can buy a size 10-16. For an independent this is great as it means we can stock a lot more styles. They also have an elasticated waist, which I call ‘lockdown clothing’, so when you are feeling a bit bloated it’s comfortable.

“Then you have this gorgeous straw bag with a statement tassel.”

Joined by Bailey the dog, Sam models her second spring summer outfit choice.

Dress with gold embroidery: £99

Bohemian-style tassel pendant: £28

Shoes: Model’s own

Sam said:

“This is from a new collection that we have got in, which has really pretty gold embroidery and, again, lots of beading.

“I’ve teamed this with one of the bohemian-style pendants, which we have got in loads of different colours. It’s just great for layering.

“It’s so pretty and would be great for going beach to bar or a garden party, or for a drink on West Park.”

Mint Velvet, James Street

Tan casual leather jacket: £299

Bronze sequin ruffle top: £69

Hazelnut Monroe crop wide trousers: £79

Anges white leather saddle bag: £119

Fern gold metallic wedges: £169

Manager Suzie Poole said:

“This year there is lots of tonal dressing with neutrals, such as whites, creams and golds. There is usually some sparkle added to this with sequins. It’s kind of a reaction to the pandemic – casual but with a bit of extra sparkle. It’s about making you feel a bit more special about the outfit you’re wearing.”

Ivory gathered back shirt: £79

Zest chunky v-neck tabard: £79

Utility slim jeans: £89

Camille tone leather loafers: £99

Gold ball pendant: £29

Supervisor Terina Daly said:

“Lime green is really on-trend at the moment and bright colours in general. It just looks really fresh. The lime seems to be a colour that suits everyone, even though people can be scared of brighter colours.

“We have noticed more people coming in since the pandemic saying they need some more colour in their wardrobes.

“Animal print is also huge and it’s coming through a lot in accessories. So if you don’t feel confident enough, you can just wear a headband and have a little pop of print.

“The military trend is still big and these khaki trousers are really popular. We also do them in other colours.”

Read more:

Porters, James Street

Universal Works navy bakers jacket: £249

Oliver Spencer navy and cream conduit stripe T-shirt: £85

Universal Works light olive fatigue trousers: £135

Hoffs Bangkok City beige and orange trainer: £99

Carhartt Nomad script bucket hat: £45

Carhartt WIP Vista tie dye socks: £20

Website manager Charlotte Woodhead said:

“This outfit is smart/casual with some nice layering. With the warmer weather coming, it’s nice to have a bucket hat for summer vibes, which you can use to dress down an outfit.”

Traffic People ITJ Cleo animal print jumpsuit: £120

Matt & Nat chili vie vintage bag belt: £70

Rebecca Jones, website assistant, said:

“The jumpsuit is made with a really lightweight fabric, it’s really floaty with three-quarter length sleeves and a wide leg, which is great because if it’s too long it’s really easy to hem up. It has a really flattering waistband.

“Jumpsuits are here to stay as it’s an outfit in one, you don’t have to worry about what you have got on top and bottom.

“They are really smart and easy to wear. You could dress this up with a pair of heels and a nice blazer, or down with a pair of trainers and a leather jacket. We do this jumpsuit in different colourways.

“The bag is made from a sustainable vegan leather. It’s what you would call a ‘bumbag’ and it’s really on-trend to wear them across the shoulder as it’s a more stylish way to wear them. We do them in black as well.”

Hair, lashes and nails: How to glam-up for Harrogate’s party season

After last year’s Christmas’s party season (if you can call it that) turned out to be a huge disappointment, this year we’re going all out.

And we are all definitely going out, out.

That means sequins, glitter, dressing up, standing out and generally getting into party spirit like never before – Harrogate is ready!

With everything from Christmas parties to festive dinners, and of course the big day itself to prepare for, we’ve spoken to three women from the town’s beauty industry to give you a helping hand with your festive beauty prep.

Hair

‘Caramel brownie’ beach waves at Meraki Harrogate

Wella master colour expert Sarah Townend, owns Meraki Harrogate Salon and Luxury Blow-Dry Bar, in the Westminster Arcade. 

What are your top tips for getting ready for a Christmas party?

  1. PLANNING. Make sure you have planned your outfit, how your makeup is going to look and obviously what you want your hair to look like.
  2. Book yourself in for a blow-dry. It creates one less job for you to do whilst getting ready and you know it is going to last you all night from dinner and drinks, to dancing the night away!
  3. Find a great playlist to have on in the background whilst you get ready. Whether it’s upbeat Christmas songs or the charts, it’ll definitely get you in the dancing, merry mood.

What are this year’s hair trends? Have you noticed a particular style that is being requested more than others?

The classic beach waves is a go-to with stylists and clients. It is one of those fantastic hairstyles that you can dress up or dress down and looks amazing on everybody.

Have you noticed that you are more busy than usual this year? If so, do you think this is because people are desperate to get glammed up?

Absolutely! Our blow-dry bar has been busier than ever, with everyone wanting the luxury of getting pampered before their big night out.

Are you going to a Christmas party this year? What are you most looking forward to? 

We’ve opted for a low-key Christmas party this year due to the busyness of the salon and the blow-dry bar. A few drinks and fantastic company is all we need.

Brows and lashes

This year’s lash trends include hybrid, volume and classic lashes

Nikolett Taba, is a lash and brow stylist and owns The Lash Room at The Coach House, Victoria Avenue, which she opened in August.

What are your top tips for getting ready for a Christmas party?

  1. Treat yourself to semi-permanent eyelashes. Luscious lashes will add the perfect finishing touch to your Christmas party looks.
  2. Get your brows done by a professional stylist. This would be a perfect combination with your lashes and save you time while you getting ready for the party.
  3. If you would like to spice it up, you never can go wrong with a red lipstick to finish the party look.

What are this year’s brow and lash trends? Have you noticed a particular style that is being requested more than others?

This year definitely brow lamination is the hottest trend for brows. Brow lamination, also referred to as a ‘brow lift’, is a service that creates the look of full, fluffy brows by realigning the directional hair growth and enhancing the brow shape.

This year’s lash trends include hybrid, volume and classic lashes. For those who like the natural look, it’s the lash lift with a tint.

Read more:

Have you noticed that you are more busy than usual this year? If so, do you think this is because people are desperate to get glammed up?

For a year, most of us had the same hobbies. Watching Netflix, baking banana bread or walking to the park. Most of the time we have worn loungewear with a mask covering our face.

So I think we are all more than ready and excited than ever for this year’s Christmas season, having people around us and spending quality time with friends and family.

Are you going to a Christmas party this year? What are you most looking forward to? 

I am going out for a work Christmas do at the beginning of December to Lucia.

At the end of December I have hired a room with my friend to celebrate New Year and spend some much needed time together! I can’t wait to dance, eat and enjoy each other’s company!

Nails

Gold-tipped nails add some festive glamour

Helen Wren is a nail artist, who launched a salon at her home on Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, 12 months ago.

What are your top tips for getting ready for a Christmas party?

  1. Try your best to plan your outfit and stick to it. Try it on before so you know you’re 100 per cent comfortable and know you’re feeling your best.
  2. Prep anything you can a day or even two days before if possible! I like to false tan a couple of nights before just so it settles a little and looks natural.
  3. If you’re having a cheeky alcoholic beverage or two, then be sure to hydrate lots before you even start. Hydration is key to everything beauty in my opinion. Nails, hair, skin. Especially during party season!

What are this year’s nail trends? Have you noticed a particular style that is being requested more than others?

Some of the trends in nail art right now are fantastic. Some crazy, graphic bright colours and even textures. Then some beautifully understated nude or simple colours and designs. It’s such a fun creative industry to be in.

One thing is for sure you cannot escape the glitter at Christmas. Be it very minimal and soft over a nude colour, or deep disco party vibes. It’s a win!

Greens are having a massive moment right now and I think this will carry through the festive season, plus a simple gold foil tip. Minimal but super glamorous.

Lastly for me, you cannot beat a classic short, clean Christmas candy red!

Have you noticed that you are more busy than usual this year? If so, do you think this is because people are desperate to get glammed up?

So I can’t actually compare to this time last year, as I was literally about to launch my new business. I started trading on December 1, 2020, so I’m coming up to my first birthday.

I feel very lucky to have the support and lovely clients I do, but I can tell you December is nearly fully-booked so Harrogate is DEFINITELY getting party ready!

Are you going to a Christmas party this year? What are you most looking forward to? 

I will of course be going Christmas partying this year. In fact, last weekend was my first! Being self-employed and working alone there’ll be no works do for me, but getting out with the girls, be it dinner, drinks and dancing – all three I hope – I absolutely can’t wait.

Merry Christmas Harrogate!