How to look like Kate Middleton for less

Royal bride Kate Middleton may not be a  fashion victim but many of her sartorial choices are definitely out of the average woman’s price range. However, with just two key pieces you too can channel the Kate Middleton look.

1. The leather hat

Kate’s leather cowboy hat has become an iconic look even inspiring Ralph Lauren for spring/summer 2011. While there are numerous leather bush hats out there on the market, the most affordable ones that are still made from quality hide leather are those by new accessories brand Wombat Leather. All Wombat Leather hats are available for under £30.

2. Italian Leather handbag

Kate’s new favourite handbag is the Tod’s D-bag, named after the late Princess Diana. While the D-bag would set you back between $1,665 and £28,000 this lookalike by Kenneth Brownne comes in at only £95.

With these classy accessories, all you need now is a bouncy blow-dry, slick of black eyeliner and mascara and a casual jeans and blazer combo to look like Kate Middleton!

Source: http://www.justloveleather.com/?p=2282

Get the Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2011 look for less

This season at Ralph Lauren it’s all about leather. In the latest collection crisp white pieces, some with lace or frills, are combined with fringed suede leather shorts, trousers, dresses, waistcoats and jackets to create a sophisticated, feminine take on the Wild West. The looks are accessorised with dark leather belts with chunky silver buckles, distressed leather cross-body bags and leather cowboy hats. You can get the look for less by styling your own white shirt, dress or pair of trousers with one of these key accessories.

1. A leather cowboy hat

A firm favourite with princess-to-be Kate Middleton, leather hats have seen a surge in popularity with young fashionable women but as expected, they don’t come cheap. However, Wombat Leather, a relatively new brand, offer a range of stylish leather hats in both smooth, suede and distressed leather at reasonable prices. All their pieces are priced under £30.

2. A chunky distressed leather belt

Choose a wide belt made from dark brown distressed leather with a large metal buckle such as this one from Kenneth Brownne (£28.84). The dark colour and chunky, masculine style will strike a real contrast with a white, tailored or feminine outfit.

3. A distressed leather cross-body bag

Go for any tan-coloured cross-body bag that has a worn, vintage look. This one from the Rowallan Wyoming collection, made from thick, oil tanned buffalo leather has a great Wild West feel to it. Where as the Ralph Lauren embellished leather shoulder bag will set you back £855, this one is priced at only £64.99. What a bargain!

Source: http://www.justloveleather.com/?p=2255

Which Bobtails boots suit you?

These days it seems like we’re being tested for everything. Psychometric tests for job applications, situational judgement tests at work, tax return assessments, BMI indexing. So to go with the times, here’s something a little more light hearted and just for fun: what boots suit you?

Are you the sort of girl who likes to wrap up warm and snuggly in classic boots that will last you winter after winter, or are you more of a trendsetter in the latest fashion? We’ve got boots to suit every personality – find out which are for you in this virtual flowchart!

1.When you go out shopping, is your primary concern comfort and warmth?
Yes – go to question 2
No – go to question 3

2.Are you very active and tend to get things done quickly?
Yes – go to question 4
No – go to question 5

3.Do you fancy your style as a bit alternative?
Yes – Agyness Biker
No – go to question 2

4.Are you quite a perfectionist and take pride in small details?
Yes – Wombat Matilda
No – Ewe boots

5.If you were an animal would you be a swan or a tiger?
Swan – Mandy
Tiger – Alice

Answers

Agyness Biker boots
You like to be at the frontier of fashion and don’t mind a bit of work to look good. Celebrities are already espousing the biker style boots and these Agyness biker boots in black and brown are perfect if you want to stand out and look good.

Wombat Matilda
You’re a practical person who suits warm, comfortable boots which you can move around in easily, but are also stylish. These Wombat Matilda boots have hard wearing soles and are made of cosy sheepskin wool and feature an intricate stitching design on the back.

Ewe
You like to get things done in a hurry and don’t have time to hang about, so you need something both practical, stylish and low-maintenance to keep up with your busy lifestyle! These Ewe boots by Gumbies are made of strong high grade cow suede, dark in colour and are easy to get on and off with pull tabs. What’s more, they look great too!

Mandy
You take pride in elegance and style and like to pay attention to your appearance. These gorgeous microfibre Mandy boots fit your personality perfectly and are warm, soft and comfortable too.

Wombat Alice
You prefer variety in life and would love the combination of fashion and function in these Alice boots. You can wear them rolled up or rolled down to go with different outfits and they are made of soft-faux fur with a practical hard sole – perfect for looking stylish on the weekends while ensuring that your feet are kept warm and comfy on the trek round the sales!

Source: http://www.justloveleather.com/?p=1065

Ugg or ugly? - The Ugg Boot Road Test

We compare Australian-style boots from UGG Australia, Wombat Leather, J.U.S.T. Sheepskin, Bearpaw and Emu.
First sported by Aussie surfers in the 70s, then LA celebrities in the 00s, ugg boots have now become a wardrobe staple for many British women. But choosing which boots to buy can be a difficult task. There are so many different ones available on the high street and on the internet. In the quest to find the perfect pair of ugg boots, we put 5 different classic pairs from different brands all available in the UK to the test. Which Aussie-style boots came out on top?
UGG Australia                                               
Women’s Classic Short     £150.00

UGG Australia is generally held to be the go-to brand for ugg boots so much so that the name ‘ugg boots’ has even become synonymous with the UGG Australia brand. And it’s no surprise. UGG Australia boots are well made from quality materials and the extensive marketing and high price have established them as an exclusive luxury item. But I can’t help but wonder how much of their retail price is for the quality materials and workmanship and how much is for the status that wearing a pair of ‘UGGs’ brings. To wear a pair of UGG Australia boots is to buy into the LA celebrity culture and lifestyle. UGG Australia is after all part of a large US corporation and the boots are made in China! All in all, these Women’s Classic Short boots are warm, comfortable, very good quality and available in a range of different colours. Apart from the price, the only negative point is the sole, which although better than many other brands, still does not have a particularly good grip and I imagine would wear down relatively quickly.
Wombat Leather                                        
Wombat Classic      £85.00

 
Wombat Leather is a relatively new brand of sheepskin boots that are made in Australia from luxury Australian merino wool. Although the range is very small with only a few styles and colours, their core classic boots are really special. These genuine Australian sheepskin boots are excellent quality as well as excellent value for money. Out of the 5 pairs of boots tested, the sheepskin was the softest and finest and they had the sturdiest heel and sole. The heel had the strongest reinforcement to prevent the collapse often seen in poorer quality boots and the sole was the thickest and had the most grip. This makes them perfect for cold and icy weather.
J.U.S.T. Sheepskin                                      
Women’s Short Classic Sheepskin Boot …..£95.00


Although not quite as soft as the Wombat Classic boots, these short classic boots from J.U.S.T. Sheepskin were also good quality and good value for money. They kept my feet very warm and were very comfortable to walk in. However, I had the same problems with them as I did with the UGG Australia boots. During the test there were patches of ice on the pavement and I felt that these boots didn’t offer much grip. Also despite the heel being reinforced I still felt my feet slip around a bit. Overall these are a lovely pair of boots and I would definitely recommend them, although they are probably best kept for weather when you can be sure of your footing!

Bearpaw                                                      
Emma 8”Sheepskin      £69.99


Out of the 5 pairs of boots tested the Bearpaw Emma 8” were by far my least favourite. Although described as sheepskin boots, on closer inspection only the insole of the boots was actually made from sheepskin. The outer is made from suede leather and the lining is just wool that isn’t even particularly soft. The Emma boots look nice from a distance but up close you can tell that they are not particularly good quality. The sole also has the poorest grip out of all the boots tested. Admittedly they were reasonably warm and quite comfortable but I would not recommend them as I really don’t think they are worth the money. 

Emu Australia                                                                     
Stinger Lo      £125.00
 
Like the Wombat Classic, the Stinger Lo from Emu Australia is a very sturdy boot that is made to last! Although the grip is not particularly impressive the sole is dense, the heel is well reinforced and the insole has an arch support. These boots are very comfortable and would be fantastic for walking long distances. During the test my feet stayed well supported and did not move around at all like they did when wearing the boots from UGG Australia, J.U.S.T Sheepskin and Bearpaw. Like the Wombat Classic the Stinger Lo boots are also made in Australia from luxurious merino sheepskin, however this high quality comes at a cost. They are an excellent boot  but unfortunately not as good value for money as the Wombat Classic or the J.U.S.T. Sheepskin Women’s Short Classic.

Source: http://www.justloveleather.com/?p=804

Barmah Hats Review | Just Love Leather

Barmah Just Love Leather: "Anyone who enjoys hiking holidays will tell you that you can never guarantee good conditions. I have been to Scotland, Wales, Germany and Switzerland and the weather in the mountains is always the same. One day it can be blazing hot and the next it can be pouring with rain, or perhaps snowing, even in the middle of August! Because of this it can be difficult to know what to wear on your head. About seven or eight years ago, a friend introduced me to leather bush hats by Barmah. At first I was a little sceptical as I thought a traditional Australian hat would look out of place in the Swiss Alps, or rather I didn’t want people to point and say ‘Look! It’s Crocodile Dundee!’ However, an Aussie bush hat really is the most practical kind of hat for wearing in the mountains. The wide brim keeps the sun off your face and the back of your neck, protecting you from sunburn on good days and in the rain, it keeps water off your face and from running down the back of your neck too. Barmah hats sit closely against your head and will not move even in strong winds. What makes Barmah hats particularly good not just for hiking holidays but for any holiday is that they are lightweight and foldable. You can fold a Barmah hat flat and then keep it in the accompanying canvas bag. As you don’t have to worry about it being squashed and pushed out of shape you can simply put it in your suitcase or rucksack without it taking up too much space. ."

Stotfold Mill Steam Fair and Country Show 7th/8th May 2011