One week to go!!!

Just one more week until we can move into The Dress Boutique new premises!

The office is being fitted out this week with rails to hang the dresses, with carpet going in on wednesday, we should be moving dresses on saturday!

To say I am excited is an understatement.

Breathtakers Charity Ball

Breathtakers would like to invite you to a fund raising evening, supporting Children with Rare Lung Disease

In association with The Mayor of Test Valley Appeal 2010/2011

Andover Keystone Masonic Hall
East Street, Andover, SP10 1EP
Saturday 18th September 2010 6.45pm – midnight
(dinner served at 7.30pm)
Tickets £37.50 each

Founded by Lynne Thompson, Breathtakers was set up to raise awareness of the lung condition Obliterative Bronchiolitis.

As the mother of a young child with this condition, Lynne set up the charity to offer vital support to families affected by Obliterative Bronchiolitis

The charity is going from strength to strength and is currently lobbying for change which will improve resources/knowledge of orphan lung disease.

Please join The Dress Boutique to raise funds for this worthy cause!

Tickets include a pre-dinner drink, three course meal and entertainment by a table magician.

There will also be a raffle and a charity auction.

For more information, please contact Lynne Thompson on 0773306 3737 or lynne@breathtakers.co.uk

Visit the charitys website: www.breathtakers.co.uk

Charity Registration 1125330

A busy week - treading the boards!

So this week I have been on stage in an amateur production of Calamity Jane!
I have been a member of Andover Musical & Operatic Society for four years now, and this is my third lead role with them, playing the part of Katie Brown.
It has been a bit hectic juggling work and play, but it was so worthwhile as I have had so much fun. Here is a little picture of me in my showgirl costume! I got to wear some lovely dress, and in particular a canary yellow Southern Belle ballgown, which everyone said made me look like Belle from Beauty and the Beast!
The next AMOS production is The Likes of Us - the story of Dr Barnado - the first ever collaboration written by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice.


See the AMOS website for more info: www.amos-info.co.uk

Royal Ascot - Dresses

This year was no different as the gates opened for Ladies Day today, women were out in full force in some delightfully colourful outfits!


There is never such a fantastic opportunity to have fun with colours, patterns and textures as Royal Ascot!
As this lovely group of ladies proves - anything goes on ladies day, so long as you have a stunning hat, beautifully coordinated with your dress, shoes and accessories for maximum impact!

It look slike these ladies have had some fun with their outfits, choosing bright colours, but carefully selecting styles that suit their body shape and personality.

The matching shoes and bags enhance their colourful ensembles.

I really do hope that I get to go to Ascot next year!

The TONY Awards - Red Carpet Fashion!

Being a MASSIVE fan of musicals, I bring you my favourite picks from the TONY Awards Red Carpet Dresses...

The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards® were established in 1947 when the Wing launched an awards program to celebrate excellence in the theatre.

Named for Antoinette Perry, an actress, director, producer, and the dynamic wartime leader of the American Theatre Wing who had recently passed away, the Tony Awards made their official debut at a dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947. Vera Allen, Perry's successor as chairwoman of the Wing, presided over an evening that included dining, dancing, and a program of entertainment. The dress code was black tie optional, and the performers who took to the stage included Mickey Rooney, Herb Shriner, Ethel Waters, and David Wayne. Eleven Tonys were presented in seven categories, and there were eight special awards, including one for Vincent Sardi, proprietor of the eponymous eatery on West 44th Street. Big winners that night included José Ferrer, Arthur Miller, Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Patricia Neal, Elia Kazan and Agnes de Mille.

Catherine Zeta Jones won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role in A Little Night Music, and her dress was certainly a winner for me. Aside from her heavy make-up and embarrassing tribute to her husband (I can't really say much more than that as I blubbed my way through my own acceptance speech at my Am Dram awards last year!) I thought her dress was beautiful. Her light blue strapless Atelier Versace gown had an amazing ruched bodice which was decorated with shimmering beads with the chiffon floaty train providing a soft contrast to the structured bodice.

Idina Menzel, one of my all-time favourite musical idols, choose an interesting look with a Carolina Herrera navy and white strapless dress. This dress wasn't such a hit with the fashion critics, but I for one like it. It has a hint of vintage about it but without looking old-fashioned.



Katie Holmes kept it simple in a Giorgio Armani Privé smoke grey strapless silk chiffon evening gown, with her touselled hair I thought she had an understated elegance about her! I love the colour and will be looking for something similar to this for The Dress Boutique.


My absolute favourite dress of the evening was Lucy Liu's gorgeous Marchesa Fall 2010 blush strapless tulle gown with sculpted hand embroidered bodice. Following the 'Nude' trend we saw at the Oscars earlier in the year, this palest pink colour looked just stunning with her porcelain skin tone and from the smile on her face she looks comfortable and confident.

Katie Piper - An Inspiration!

After everything she has been through over the last couple of years, I was inspired by this picture of Katie Piper at the BAFTA Television Awards last night.

Katie Piper, from Andover, Hampshire, was a model and budding TV presenter with a hectic social life and a glowing future in the public eye until March 2008, In March 2008, Katie was raped, beaten and held hostage by her jealous ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch, who then hired Stefan Sylvestre to disfigure her face by throwing sulfuric acid over her. The acid attack, which blinded Katie in one eye, caused horrific burns to her face and neck so bad that doctors claimed it was theworst case of acid burns they had seen. Both Sylvestre and Lynch were arrested and are serving jail time for their crimes.

Since then, Katie has undergone more than 40 operations including pioneering surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where the surgeons removed all the skin from her face, before rebuilding it with a skin substitute and then a skin graft. The procedure was the first of its kind to be completed in a single operation. She then went on to have five intensive three-week blocks of treatment at the Centre Ster in Lamalou, France.

In 2009, Piper chose to give up her anonymity to try and increase awareness about burn victims. The Channel 4 documentary, "Katie: My Beautiful Face", was aired on 29 October 2009 as part of the Cutting Edge series, I was moved to tears as Katie talked of learning to cope with her disfigurement as well as her courageous battle to recover. Wearing a mask to protect much of her face, she vowed to get through the attack and help other victims come to terms with their injuries. She credited the daily routine of treatments, including deep tissue massage, physiotherapy, skin-softening endomology machines, hydrotherapy, silicone and pressure garments, as a key part of her recovery.

More than two years on with over 40 operations and countless treatments and therapies, Katie faces personal challenges daily but she is back in control, living her life.

Last month Katie accompanied 'Katie: My Beautiful Face' Director Jessie Versluys to the 2010BAFTA Craft Awards where she won the Breakthrough Talent prize and yesterday Katie attended the 2010 BAFTA Television Awards as the documentary was nominated again for Best Single Documentary.

I'm sure you will agree that Katie looks fantastic!
What an inspiration.

BAFTA TV Awards 2010

The 2010 Philips British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Television Awards ceremony took place last night at the London Palladium.

Television Celebrities were out in force on the red carpet, showing off some gorgeous dresses.

Following the theme from previous awards ceremonies this year, neutrals and classic black were as popular as ever.

Amanda Holden stood out from the crowd in a grecian themed gown from Quintana Couture, the floating white chiffon skirt was teamed with a ribbon corset in a contrasting silver satin, with an bold statement ruffle on one shouldered design. The "Britain's Got Talent" star turned heads with a new hairstyle - a neat flicky bob. While Eastenders stars Lacy Turner and Kara Tointon followed suit both in elegant grecian themed dresses - Lacy in a strapless beaded column dress by Cream, and Kara in a sweeping one shouldered toga-style creation by Donna Karen. Both the girl had their hair swept up into a loose 'do'.



In classic black dresses, Ashley Jenson, Joanna Page and Katie Piper all looked beautiful. "Ugly Betty" star Ashley wore an simple one shouldered column dress by Moschino teamed with sleek hair with a side parting. "Gavin and Stacey" actress Joanna opted for a draped empire line frock from Armani. While Katie, subject of Single Documentary nominee "Katie: My Beautiful Face" wore a stunning strapless fishtail gown by Jasper Garvida - winner of Sky One's Project Catwalk.

Barn Renovations... update!

For those of you following our progress, here are a few pictures of the barn renovations.
It has taken us about 10 weeks to get all the work done in between full time jobs, working abroad, holidays and rehearsals, but we are almost there!
Big thanks must go to my Dad who has worked really hard as site manager, supervising all of our volunteer labourers and doing a lot of the work himself. He has done a brilliant job. I will put some pictures of the finished shop on the website as soon as it is done!