MV’s Design Director, and all round music muse, Jane, tells us what she’s listening to this month.

June is the start of the carefree summer days; with the days getting longer, and festival season beginning, there’s a distinct party vibe in the air.

Daft Punk – Get Lucky. It’s the return to the disco floor we’ve all been waiting for.

Stereophonics – The Graffiti on the Train. I can’t get enough of Kelly Jones’ voice.

Vampire Weekend – Diane Young. This is from their new album which is just great.

Justin Timberlake – Suit and Tie. It’s Justin – say no more.

And, if like me, you don’t have tickets to Glastonbury, turn your speakers up and picnic in your garden…with two Glastonbury headliners

The Rolling Stones – Paint it Black.

The Artic Monkeys – When the Sun goes down

Quadron – Hey Love. My one to watch.

Vampire Weekend – Holiday. Well, it’s not long now.

And, a sneaky preview from my ‘easy listening afternoon’ wedding playlist…

Dean Martin – Volare

Each month, our Editor picks her favourite piece, just in time for Pay Day!

Summer’s continuing to be a bit of a wash out, so I find the best remedy is some clean cut whites to brighten up the wardrobe. White can be a bit of scary colour (see our how to guide here), but when paired with black it makes for a striking look. Plus, with monochrome set to be a strong trend next season too, some statement white and black pieces are a great investment. I love the sharpness of this top; it looks great paired with a relaxed denim skinnies or tailored capris – ideal for a sassy weekend or a cool office look. The crispness of the white is softened by the gentle 60s bell sleeve detailing, and will look gorgeous with sun kissed skin. I would accessorise this with some simple courts and a slick of 60s style “cat-eye” eyeliner (click here for our how to guide).

The Fashion Pack are always a season ahead; summer’s not even started, and they’re already onto Autumn. So, last week, we packed up our new collection and headed to The Sanderson in London to showcase our favourite pieces to the fashion press. It’s not often that we host an Autumn Winter preview when it’s so cold outside; normally, we’re in the heady heat of May, and showcasing chunky knits and fur seems somewhat bizarre. But, with the rather unseasonal weather upon us, the press couldn’t keep their hands off our knits and coats.

With Punk set to be a huge trend for Autumn, it was little wonder that our checked kilt, knit, and leather sleeved coat were firm favourites on the day. The press also loved our other leather pieces; the zipped leather pencil skirt was roaring success, as were our boxy chunky knits. But, it was unanimous; the coats were the clear winners, with our grey oversized boyfriend style stealing the hearts of all.

Here are some of our favourite quotes from the day:

“Love the oversize coats and chunky knits”, Holly, Fashion Editor, Marie Claire
“LOVE the leopard coat and two-piece suit oufit”, Catherine, Senior Fashion Editor, Grazia
“Great kilt type skirt and gorgeous knits!”, Kitty, Fashion Editor, Stylist

So, after many (MANY!) chocolate coated strawberries, a few G&Ts, and lots of talk of the new season, we packed up and headed back to MV HQ full of excitement for the launch of our AW13 collection, after summer (finally) arrives.

The summer months are beckoning and it’s almost time to start packing for our holidays. And, whilst a week or two of pure unadulterated relaxation is just what the doctor ordered, the thought of baring all on the beach in a swimsuit or bikini can fill us with dread. So, I have devised this nifty little workout for you to do 3 times a week to get your body beach ready. This will tone every part of you, and make you feel amazing in the process.

Using the photos below I would like you to do a Tabatta style workout twice a week. Do each exercise for 20 seconds, with a 10 second rest in between, and repeat the 8 exercises 4 times. This will take roughly 20 minutes, and remember to also warm up, cool down and stretch.

The third time you do the Tabatta exercises (week 2), do each exercise for 20 reps and 2 sets. Again, warm up, cool down and stretch.

Aim to do 2 cardio sessions a week of about 30 minutes. This can be cycling, swimming, running, cross training, rowing…anything that can get your heart rate up and at a steady rate; you need to be breathing faster, but still able to talk.

Weekly Workout Summary
Tabatta 2 times a week
Resistance 1 time a week
Cardio 2 times a week

1) Running on Spot 20 secs- 10 sec rest
2) Press up 20 secs- 10 sec rest
3) Curtsy Lunge 20 secs- 10 sec rest
4) Tricep Dip 20 secs- 10 sec rest
5) Prisoner squat 20 secs- 10 sec rest
6) Shuttle runs 20 secs- 10 sec rest
7) Lunge Kick (a), Lunge Kick (b) 20 secs- 10 sec rest
8) Burpee (a), Burpee (b), Burpee (c), Burpee (d) 20 secs- 10 sec rest

Christianne Wolff is a celebrity personal trainer, fitness writer and fitness Tv presenter. She owns 2 fitness and wellbeing centres and runs Luxury fitness holidays, she also runs a fitness PR service.
www.bodyrescue.net

Email Christianne at: info@bodyrescue.net

Introducing the Violet print; as the name suggests, this print has a soft floral feel to it in purple tones. The design was created by hand painting the flowers, giving it a soft smudgy feel. I love the spontaneous and free feel that this gives the print.

The Spring Summer catwalks were awash with oriental inspired pieces and this dress gives a subtle wearable nod to the trend. I really love the colour contrasts in this print, and the ombre hem frames the delicate flowers making them look cool and statement!

The black structured bodice and asymmetric hem line give this dress a touch of rock chic. I’d style it with a coloured heel or bangle to pick up on the pretty colours, or go for all out rock chick with some summer boots and a leather jacket! And, the great thing about this dress is that you can take all the way through winter just by adding some tights and layering jersey tops underneath.

MV’s Design Director, and all round music muse, Jane, tells us what she’s listening to this month.

May is the time when I start to think about the oncoming festival season, so this month’s music selection is a warm up for the summer fun to come.

Richie Havens – Dolphins. This one’s in honour of the ORIGINAL festival headliner – Richie Havens who died recently.
Kasabian – ID. Kasabian are the modern day crowd raisers.
Radiohead – Reckoner. This one is just amazing.
Eddie Vedder – Guaranteed. This track features on the Into the Wild Soundtrack, which is in my list of top ten films directed by Sean Penn. I love the man vs nature vibe of this film.
Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful. Another soundtrack tune; this one’s from the soon to premier Great Gatsby. I simply cannot wait for this film to launch!
The Charlatans – The Only One I Know. Because fashion is having a 90s moment!
Rumer – Slow. If you love Karen Carpenter, Rumer is the next best thing
I am Arrows – Nice Try. My Andy Burrows obsession continues – he has a lovely voice.
Paul Weller – One Bright Star. I love the Samba groove for a change of pace from the original mod man.

It’s the time of the year when despite our ability to dress ourselves competently every single day, we fall in the holiday packing trap of only taking garments that will suit our newly acquired tans, things that will be useful in the heat, or items “just in case” of various freak weather conditions. So, we arrive at our destination with a bag full of clothes that we only ever wear on holiday (and probably haven’t been tried on for a year), far too many shoes, and nothing that matches.

A good holiday begins with a well packed suitcase, so here are our top tips to packing only what you need this holiday season.

1. Work in outfits. There’s nothing worse than getting ready for a night on the tiles to discover you’ve not brought the right shoes for that dress. Think about the sorts of things you’ll be doing on your holiday and pull out outfits that work for each activity. Working in tonal colours means you can cross match items to create more looks with fewer items.
2. Edit. Lay everything out, and then edit down; you can probably eliminate half of what you’ve pulled out. Double duty items, like a utility dress which can be worn over a bikini on the beach, with sandals for wandering around the sites, and dressed up for a night out, are a great way of keeping your overall number of choices down.
3. Bring your nicest things. We’re all guilty of saving things “for best”, but when do we wear them? Instead of packing the fail safe vests and shorts (that may have seen better days), bring some of those special items you’ve been saving. You can still do casual (the relaxed glamour way), just without the scruffy.
4. 2 pairs of shoes. Shoes – why do we always pack so many? A casual day shoe and a smarter pair, which can be dressed up or down (wedges are great for this), should see you through. By wearing your heaviest pair on the plane, you’ll save on that precious weight allowance too. Wrap shoes in plastic so that any dirty soles don’t ruin clean clothes.
5. And, 2 cover ups. If you’re heading somewhere warm, then 2 light-ish layers should suffice. A tonal jacket and knit means you can wear them together should the weather take an unexpected turn.
6. Stack and roll. Before putting things into the case, neatly stack everything together. Small wrinkle resistant items can be rolled and lined along the base of the bag. Stiffer or wrinkle prone garments can be folded over rolled clothes. Keeping them on hangers in plastic can further reduce the chances of them creasing, and means you can hang them straight up on arrival.
7. All the small things. Save space and pop all the small items, like bras and socks, into little nooks or inside shoes and bags. Belts can be wrapped around the edge of the case, and jewellery can be placed in pill boxes, or worn on the plane. Keep any fragile items in the centre where they are protected by the rolls of garments.
8. Wear your jeans on the plane. With the airlines clamping down on weight allowances, jeans are just too heavy to pack in the case. So, providing your flight isn’t too long, try to wear these on route. The chances are you won’t get around to wearing them when you’re away.
9. Bring a pretty dress. Unlike your jeans, you are more than likely going to need this when you’re away. Just make sure you’ve brought the right underwear to go with it.
10. Keep it fresh. Pack toiletries in a thick plastic case so there’s no chance of an explosion over your clean clothes. Placing a lavender bag in your case can also keep everything smelling fresh and clean.

Now, relaxed and enjoy those 7 days of well and truly earned bliss.

The bun is making a major comeback, sweeping the catwalks in a number of guises; from large 60s styles to neat knots. Without a doubt, the messy bun is the favourite. The relaxed bohemian style makes it easy to DIY (it doesn’t matter if bits are hanging out the sides – that’s the point) and it looks gorgeous paired with a biker jacket or summer dresses.
Here are 3 quick ways to master the messy bun.

Lightly comb your hair ensuring you don’t flatten it completely; this style works best with a bit of movement in the hair. Using your fingers pull your hair back to a low pony tail and fix in place at your neck using a tonal elastic (you can buy bands that match your hair colour and add to the overall effect of the finished bun). Fold the ponytail in half putting the tips towards the bottom of the tied ponytail and secure in a half knot, with the tip sticking out. Then wrap the remainder of the hair around the base of the knot, securing the ends under the knot. Pull free loose strands and spray in place.

Brush your hair gently back into a pony, positioning the pony roughly where you want the bun to sit. It doesn’t matter if it’s not completely smooth, this adds to the relaxed look. If you have fine or short hair (or, you just fancy a bit more volume) you can use a hair doughnut here; just slide it over your ponytail into place. Twist the pony tail and wrap into a bun shape, or wrap around the doughnut. Fix in place with an elastic, and pin with curby grips if necessary. Pull odd strands out from the sides and back and then fix in place with hairspray.

Begin by brushing your hair to remove any tangles, then back comb gently at the root, running a comb from midway to the root all over; this will give you more volume. Smooth the hair lightly using fingertips, taking care not to flatten the volume you have just brushed in place. Fix a pony to the top of the middle of your hair. Hold hand in crab position over your pony and gather hair into the centre in a scrunching fashion. Fix in place with an elastic and lots of curby grips. Spray all over with hair spray. Add floral or feather headbands to give it an extra boho touch.

Check out our Pinterest Page for more hair and beauty inspiration.

The motorcycle shoulder stitching and cute cropped detailing give this tan leather a modern feel and will work with every colour in your wardrobe. I can’t wait to team mine with boho summer dresses when I hit the festivals later this year.

Our girls at MV Beaconsfield tell us their favourite places to go in town.

Here at MV we like to make your shopping experience extra special, so we’ve uncovered all of the must-see places when you come to visit one of our boutiques. This week, our girls at MV Beaconsfield tell us their favourite places to go in town.

You can find MV Beaconsfield on The Highway in new Beaconsfield (only a 10 minute hop, skip and jump from the station). Boutique Manager, Sim, and the rest of the MV team favourite pieces from our Spring Summer collection…

“I love the Amalfi collection! With it being so cold outside it reminds me that summer is just around the corner. The navy stripe layered tee is very versatile – I often wear the chiffon over other pieces to give it an easy, relaxed glamour look”. (Charlotte, Deputy Manager)

“I first saw the Zoe print as a sample & fell in love with it straight away. My Zoe print tee gives a girlie twist to my storm grey cargo`s. Botanica is such an easy collection to wear for Spring with the sunny corals and earthy khaki tones, I`m set for what Mother Nature has to throw at me!!” (Marianne, Style Advisor)

The Cape is a great place to recharge the batteries after a day’s shopping (it can be tiring work). Who can resist their amazing selection of cakes?! The only way to choose between them is to try them all!

http://thecapeonline.com/

Fact: The exterior of the Royal Saracens Head Inn can be seen in the James Bond film Thunderball. (We wouldn’t say no to a Martini with Sean Connery!)

We love our neighbours! Pop next door to Space NK and indulge in some of their gorgeous hair and beauty products. We particularly like their Stila Multi Use Moisturiser – apply it to lips, face, neck and eyes for an instant moisture boost.

http://uk.spacenk.com
















If you’d rather be pampered than do the pampering, you can rejuvenate at the luxurious Mulberry’s. Drop in for a relaxing massage, or spoil yourself with a day of indulgent treatments.

Stix is a great spot to have a natter and a glass of wine. Or, go for the all-out glamour of The Crazy Bear. We especially love their half price Champagne Wednesdays. Could there be a better way to finish off an afternoon’s shopping?

Be a giant for the afternoon and visit Bekonscot, the oldest original model village in the world, spanning over 2 acres of land.

www.bekonscot.co.uk

Fact: Beaconsfield is home to the National Film and Television School, where many film directors and technicians have learned their craft, including David Yates (Director of the Harry Potter films) and Beeban Kidron (Director of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason).

Beaconsfield is also home to lots of celebs!


Tess Daly lives nearby, as does Pauline Quirke, Noel Gallagher and Bee gees singer Barry Gibb. There are plenty more so if you come down for a visit, be sure to keep your eyes peeled…











Visit Mint Velvet’s Beaconsfield boutique at 3 The Highway, Beaconsfield, HP9 1QD.


Tel: 01494 257206