We make real clothes for real people!

We are really pleased to see some of the big fashion brands and high street stores embracing models of real sizes on the catwalks and in-store mannequins instead of the waif/twig variety held in such high esteem for so many years. This means there’s been a shift in their approach to better reflect our ‘diverse society’ of consumers. This was highlighted in comments made by Jo Swinson last autumn, who was at the time Under Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (http://www.libdemvoice.org/jo-swinson-launches-size-16-mannequins-37093.html).

Some men and women feel pressured into having to conform to model sizes shown in glossy fashion and lifestyle magazines, and wrongly believe life will be a bed of roses if they do. Sadly we know that for some, this can lead to eating disorders, psychological issues and worse.

Sizes also vary, as we all know only too well, from store to store and brand to brand. Where we are, say, a size 16 with one retailer, we could be an 18 or 20 elsewhere. Before the invention of clothing sizes in the early 1800s, all garments were made to fit individuals by either tailors or makers of clothing in homes. The standard clothing templates are not adhered to and of course vary with the drape of the cloth as well as by manufacturer. Sometimes this can even differ within the same size at the same store!

We say ‘hats off’ to Debenhams for using ‘plus size’ models in their stores, but even using the term ‘plus size’ has its own connotation that being larger than, say, a size 14-16 means you need to be in a special category. Retailers like Mango, H&M, ASOS, Net-a-Porter and many more now have plus size ranges, but Mango defined ‘plus’ as over a size 12. How does that make the average British size 16 woman feel?!

Why not ditch the vaguely insulting terminology and celebrate our bodies for what they are – individual and just as lovely?

Here at the Get Waisted boutique in Steyning, that’s exactly what we do. We make quality bespoke made to measure pieces that enhance your shape, no matter what it is, give you confidence and make you feel special. We’ll give you advice on shape, fabric, texture, drape, length and fit, as well as accessories. And this applies to men as well as women.

We’re not all made the same shape or size so why should we be expected to conform? After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 94 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

Glorious events need glorious outfits!

Get Waisted is now well established in our new Steyning boutique and atelier. It feels like home already! 

We had a special soiree last week, which was well attended by clients and friends, and our new vintage clothing range is growing by the day. Toni has a special den in which to design and create her specially commissioned pieces, and we have a comfy new consultation room where clients can relax and discuss styles, textures and fabrics.

We’re all delighted to see the Spring daffodils, lambs looking cute and the tasty appearance of hot cross buns in the shops, but how about thinking ahead and being organised and stress-free, as well as turning more than a few heads this coming event ‘season’?

The south-east has a wealth of high profile diary dates each summer and there’s nothing worse than turning up at a prestige event only to find you are but one of several ladies wearing the same outfit. The answer – a sumptuous, made to measure outfit or, for the gentlemen, suit.

Made to measure is not just for ball gowns – how about a day dress for Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, Henley, the Epsom Derby, Wimbledon, the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup, the Glyndebourne Festival or Goodwood Revival/Vintage (for the full diary, see http://www.classicalbritain.com/the-english-season/english-season-calendar)? You’ll then be subject of many admiring glances and know you’re the only one with a hand-made bespoke look created in a colour palette and fabric texture suited especially for you, your skin tone and designed to make the most of your shape.

Get ready for the great British summer! Events start in May with various local Ladies Days at the races (Lingfield, Plumpton) then June (Epsom Derby, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Wimbledon), July (Henley Royal Regatta, final of the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup), August (Brighton Races Ladies Day, Fontwell Park Ladies Day) and September (Hickstead).

There’s also the cruise season where we can again help by putting together a collection of bespoke clothing for you to take away, knowing you’ll be able to sit at the Captain’s Table wearing something so special and unique, you only have to focus on the task ahead: enjoying yourself!

Call us to book a consultation now for your Get Waisted experience.

Love them or hate them, proms are here to stay!

No sooner will the delights of the various Fashion Weeks have come and gone, than they are swiftly followed by the consternation and preparation of parents up and down the UK about how to dress their youngsters for the summer proms.

Our students have taken the American custom to their heart; you can see the origins of the proms here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prom.

After all, which young person doesn’t love a good reason to dress up and set off to a celebration with their dream date on their arms?! And even if they don’t have their ideal partner readily to hand, a stunning prom dress or sharp suit can only enhance their chances of meeting them there.

Prom dresses in the UK tend to be slightly less risqué than in the USA as our students have their proms earlier, but that doesn’t mean we can’t create spectacular, sparkly, superb outfits to make Junior Miss feel like a Princess for a Night. Or Young Sir feel like style icons James Bond, Justin Timberlake or Labrinth (http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2013-02/22/labrinth-interview-music-and-style-london-fashion-weekend).

But the key, as ever, is in preparing early. Get Waisted’s Toni Pickles can make bespoke prom dresses at our Steyning boutique in whatever colour scheme or style you’d like – short prom dresses or long prom dresses - as well as tailored suits, and will offer you practical and sound advice about the most flattering shades and shapes, highlighting best features and skin tones.

Prom dresses by Toni Pickles, Get Waisted

Contact Toni for a chat about what will make your young person feel wonderful on their special night, followed by a series of fittings as the garments are made. You can follow the project from start to finish, and then watch your youngster’s face as they finally wear their extra-special prom dress or suit, brimming with expectation for a fun night ahead. Of course, you’ll also have to hide the tears of pride and joy as you wave them off in their limousine (or dad’s car!).

We also have a wide range of jewellery and accessories to match any outfit, so get in touch to book your appointment now.

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 94 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

Get Waisted hosts a Fashion Show for Brighton College

Toni Pickles firmly believes in supporting local charities as well as education, so it’s no surprise that for the third year running, Get Waisted helped the girls of Fenwick House, one of the houses at leading independent school, Brighton College, put on a fashion show (www.brightoncollege.org.uk).

Last year the theme was ‘James Bond’, the year before ‘Moulin Rouge’ – so there’s never a shortage of glamour. This year the theme was 1940’s and ‘50’s ‘Hollywood Glamour’ so of course it was just the ticket for Get Waisted.

After music and dance from some extremely talented students, brave members of staff strutted their stuff in front of the student body wearing pieces from a number of local shops including Passport, Lucia’s Workshop and Foxed Up Vintage, for the ‘Teachers Runway’.

This was followed by collections from Get Waisted, Dig for Victory and Pretty Eccentric, varying from fun outfits through to vintage-inspired day and cocktail dresses, and evening glamour.

With financial contributions from a raffle as well ticket sales for the event, catering and a fun photo booth with accessories for a record of the event from Emmest Photography (www.emmestphotography.co.uk/), the final amount raised for Chestnut Tree House is still being calculated - but with around 200 people there on the night (a full house), the evening was a great success and much enjoyed by everyone.

To see more about Chestnut Tree House, see www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

You can see more about Get Waisted, see www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 94 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD (from 4^th March)

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

Moving on out, moving on up

Never ones to let the grass grow under our feet, Get Waisted fashion boutique is moving to bigger premises on Tuesday 4^th March. But we’re not going far, just three doors up in fact, above Vintage and Home at 94 High Street, Steyning. It’s bigger, with a separate studio, ‘consulting room’ and retail areas.

Preparations for the move are going well, as you can see here:

We know where everything is - really!

 Although no-one likes the packing and unpacking associated with moving, it’s highlighted the variety of items of clothing, jewellery, handbags, accessories, shoes and boots we have for sale – something for everyone.

We’ll be focusing more on made-to-measure for women and men, as well as alterations, and we’ll still be selling our usual ranges from our new boutique in Steyning.

Toni can ensure you get more wear from your favourite clothes by letting them out (if possible) or taking them in, or in the case of trousers or skirt hems, taking them up. Toni can also let you know if she is able to restyle an item of clothing if it needs updating and you just can’t bear to part with it!

In our new Steyning fashion emporium, we’ll also be featuring vintage and vintage-style items, like this:

Fashionable vintage

And for those of you who find this time of year difficult to dress for (and who doesn’t, is it still winter or is it spring yet?!), come in and see us so we can recommend the best styles and designs for you.

Get Waisted at this fashion show!

Coming up soon – our fashion show for Fenwick House girls’ boarding at Brighton College. This will be the third year we’ve been involved and you can see last year’s Bond-themed show, complete with Aston Martin here: http://vimeo.com/65000079. Watch this space for more details soon.

Whatever the occasion, Toni Pickles at Get Waisted (www.getwaisted.co.uk) is able to make a bespoke item of clothing for you. Toni’s background is in tailoring and she will advise on tone, fabric, design and cut. Whether it’s a made-to-measure suit, a sparkling prom dress or an outfit or two for a cruise, you can rest assured it won’t be seen anywhere on the high street as it’s been made especially for you!

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 94 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD (from 4^th March)

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

It's not just about the ladies this Valentine's Day!

We’ve had so many men coming into our Steyning boutique to buy Valentine’s gifts for their ladies over the last week or two, but how about you stylish and fashion focused ladies getting your special man something that’ll warm the cockles of his heart?

There are some interesting general suggestions in this article from Harper’s Bazaar: http://www.harpersbazaar.co.uk/fashion/inside/valentines-day-gift-guide-for-him#slide-1 and a photo of Matthew McConaughey in Esquire sporting a chic charcoal grey suit.

One of the most versatile items in a gentleman’s wardrobe is the grey suit and for Autumn/Winter 2014, it’s making a big return to tailoring in a range of shades – in fact probably more than 50 shades of grey! The colour palette goes from graphite to silver and tone on tone is also so wearable, which you can use through fabrics, textures and cuts.

Tweed is also making a comeback as well as the sophisticated grey suit – check out great British brand Bladen (http://www.bladentailoring.co.uk/home.aspx), Skopes (http://www.skopes.com/retail/) and Purple Label by Benvenuto (http://benvenuto.de/en/anzuege/purple-label/).

A sumptuous grey suit can make a man look stunning for events like a wedding, a day at the races or a night on the red carpet. It can also ooze confidence and elegance if you need to look your best as a professional, but grey suits are nothing if not useful and so are ideal for office wear, with or without a tie (as long as the tone of grey and the shirt colour go well with your skin and eyes), Valentine’s dinners or dressed down with a designer black t-shirt, scarf and cashmere coat.

Our gift to you this Valentine’s – a photo of Brad Pitt in tone on tone grey

Photo: celebritysuits.com

Whatever your style, Toni Pickles at Get Waisted (www.getwaisted.co.uk) is able to make a bespoke tailored suit for every discerning gentleman about town. Toni’s background is in tailoring and she will advise on tone, fabric, design and cut. If you’d like a suit that is made-to-measure and won’t be seen anywhere on the high street, just get in touch with Toni.

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us on:

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Steyning boutique, 98 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Tel: 01903 812992

Mobile: 07947 497342

Spread the love with fashion, jewellery or lingerie this Valentine's Day

Whether it's a divine piece of bespoke corsetry, some fabulous jewellery or a fashion piece to make every heart melt, we have it here at the Get Waisted boutique in Steyning. And our sale is on till the end of the month, with up to 50% off selected items.

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love, but its origins were actually rather dark. It's believed to have started in ancient Rome with the feast of Lupercalia where drunken men would hit willing women with the hides of slain animals, believing it would make them more fertile.

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men called Valentine on February 14th (different years) in the 3rd century AD. Their martyrdom was honoured by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St Valentine's Day, although there appears to be some confusion with other festivals and rituals in later centuries.

As the years went on, the holiday grew somewhat more enchanting. Chaucer and Shakespeare romanticised Valentine's, which gained popularity throughout Britain and the rest of Europe. Handmade paper cards became the thing to give in the Middle Ages.

Eventually the tradition made its way to America. The industrial revolution lead to factory-made cards in the 19th century and in 1913, Hallmark Cards began mass producing Valentines.

Woe betide any partner who forgets Valentine's Day! But here's the good news ... you can shop early with our 'up to 50% off' sale going on till the end of January. Take your pick from our superb range of high fashion affordable clothing, jewellery, beautiful corsets, handbags and other accessories. There's even something for the man in your life too!

Some, though, will celebrate Valentine's in a SAD (that's Single Awareness Day) way but that's even more reason to come along to Get Waisted and choose something really great to make you feel special.

Will it be some knitwear to snuggle up to, a coat to take you out on Friday night, a bangle to dangle, or some stiletto shoes or boots to make your point?!




Don't forget - come and see us soon in Steyning. Those sale pieces won't hang around for long, and if you need something tailor made bespoke for you, we can't wait to get cracking.

You can see more about us on www.getwaisted.co.uk or contact us at:

Steyning boutique, 98 High Street, Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3RD

Open 9.30am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Mondays

Email: toni@getwaisted.co.uk

Tel: 01903 812992
Mobile: 07947 497342