DANAQA

Bags, bags, bags, us girls can never have too many, they fill our wardrobes to the brim so much so that when we open the door we are a human block to stop them falling to the floor. But we will keep adding to the collection. I have just recently started at Amazing PR and this is a rather exciting first blog entry for me as I have to admit, I used starting here as an excuse to buy a lovely new bag. Then, during my second day I came across this fabulous and unique soft leather bag and thought hmmm..i think this would be a perfect bag to add to my wardrobe for Winter. Detailed with large tribal straps showing a distinctive design, this bag can be carried either over the shoulder or by hand (which can be easier if like me, your bag is stupidly heavy because of the amount of unnecessary items weighing you down).

This DANAQA bag is handmade in Ethiopia by people using traditional designs, skills and materials (this bag uses amazingly soft sheep skin) to give us a beautiful handmade bag that cries out for a home in that already packed wardrobe! This bag retails at £190 so I am prepared to stick a few of my old bags on Ebay and invest in one of these beauties!

Stephen Jones Design Competition

Are you a milliner in the making? Or maybe you are a creative type who would like to showcase your talents and expand your knowledge of this exciting and flamboyant art? Well top milliner Stephen Jones is inviting designers to submit a photograph or illustration of their originally designed hat for the chance to be part of Hats: An Anthology, an exhibition hosted by the Bard Graduate Center in New York City. The exhibition is a collaboration between Stephen Jones and the V&A and has already attracted thousands of visitors at its London and Brisbane showcases. The successful participant will not only have their design shown as part of the New York exhibition from September 2011 to April 2012, they will also receive:

-          A two week internship with Stephen Jones in London (accommodation and return travel are the responsibility of the winner)

-          Two tickets to the opening night part of Hats: An Anthology at the Bard Graduate Center in New York City on the 14^th of September 2011 (accommodation and return travel are the responsibility of the winner)

-       Signed copy of Stephen Jones’ book Hats: An Anthology

-       One year membership to the V&A in London

-       Global exposure by having their design featured on stephenjonesmillinery.com and Vogue.com.

This is a real money-can’t-buy-prize and it offers enthusiastic up and coming milliners the chance to really kick-start their careers with the best in the business. Stephen Jones is judging the entries alongside Dolly Jones, Editor of Vogue.com and has given a hint into what he is looking for - “Hats are the exclamation mark of an outfit, let’s hope we get some strong statements!”

Submission Deadline: August 11, 2011

Voting Starts: August 12, 2011

Voting Ends: August 18, 2011

Winner Announcement: August 26, 2011

For more info visit www.talenthouse.com

Orelia Jewellery

Here at Amazing PR we love to make new discoveries and we’re thrilled to have found the affordable, on-trend and eclectic jewellery range from Orelia. The brand has been developed by Louisa and Collette (two very savvy ex-high street jewellery buyers) who together have scoured the world, from Bangkok to St Tropez, mixing and matching semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystal and beautiful charms to create these amazing collectable pieces. * Our top tip *: Log-on now to get an astonishing 75% off their Summer collection here. Although most of the summer sales have now finished (a bit depressing at not quite the end of July...) and the high street is already ushering in their new A/W collections. We suggest that before thinking about purchasing your new midi length skirt or filling your wardrobe with varying shades of red that you check out Orelia's new A/W transitional collection. Jewellery is a much more versatile update as well as being a lot gentler on the purse.  These clever girls have secured their collections into the nationwide flagship stores for Topshop - in fact this very week they are busy putting in their fabulous A/W pieces. We particularly like this Shanade Tusk & Cabochon Charm Bangle (£45.00).

I CAN make shoes

For small feet like mine, finding a pair of adorable shoes that fit can be a long and frustrating process. For flats and trainers I often find myself resorting to the kids department, but how many pairs of killer heels am I going to find shopping there?? (sadly I don’t have Suri Cruise’s budget for customising shoes!). Even more of a pain, when I eventually get a size 2, I find that everyone on the street is usually sporting an identical pair – I am craving a bit of individuality! Well today, I found my fashion solution from I CAN make shoes. I CAN make shoes provides shoe making workshops that teach everything you need to make your own fabulous footwear. You can create your unique shoes for everyday wear as well as for weddings and parties. They also offer an up-cycling workshop for redecorating, re-soling and re-heeling old shoes/boots that you have fallen out of love with to bring them bang up to date. Definitely a fun and economic option that the Amazing PR team loves! From years of successful shoe making experience, Amanda, our shoe making mentor, has developed modern methods to make shoes of high quality without use of heavy machinery. Shoe lovers no longer need to lament their small/big feet since now you can create your own custom made designs with I CAN make shoes. Even more excitingly, special sandal making workshops are now available for Londoners over the summer.

Workshops details and booking are available on their website.

The Artful Bag

What is it that they say: “You can never be too thin or too rich…” However, for me the saying continues with “…and a girl can never have too many handbags." The Artful Bag makes some truly dazzling crystal encrusted clutch bags but all at a fraction of the price of other designer crystal bags.  They start from an affordable £59 and range up to a more pricey £599. These clutches are fun and original allowing you to add a bit of your own personality to whatever your given outfit might be. This newcomer and best kept glamour-bag secret, is the brain child of the talented designer/founder Rinku Banga . She told me “I’ve always had a passion for gorgeous handbags  and I saw a gap in the market for 'affordable' crystal clutches. After all as not everyone has lots of ££ to spend on the likes of a Judith Leiber.”

The Silver Skulls clutch featured above is priced at £199 and is one of our favourite clutches. It is a metal skull cage design with a silver leather insert and a soft satin lining. There is a good weight to this clutch and each skull has been encrusted with crystal so there is no front or back to this bag it’s just skulls all over.  We like to think that it is a bit like us  - edgy but elegant!

Something that I find very charming about The Artful Bag is that they believe in the old adage ‘If gifting a purse or wallet, put a penny in for good luck’ So every customer receives a free gift inside each of their bags (and no I’m not going to tell you what – you’ll just have to wait and see!)

The Artful Bag is offering FREE shipping for any customers who contacts them after placing an order and mentions AMAZING PR. Get your arm candy here.