TV’S FASHION EXPERT MARK HEYES, TEACHES US OUR TRUE COLOURS FOR THE GARDEN
PlantforLife launches the Colour Me, Colour My Garden campaign for summer

When it comes to fashion, clashing colours and clever colour combinations can say a lot about people and their personality, but does the same apply when we choose our plants? PlantforLife has teamed up with TV’s fashion expert and celebrity stylist, Mark Heyes plus gardening’s hottest designer Chris Collins to advise on how to choose the right colours to suit you and your garden. The ‘Colour Me Colour My Garden’ campaign demonstrates how you can apply classic colour fashion rules to an outdoor space and garden.

New research from PlantforLife recently released shows that 80% of people admit their moods are affected by colour in their garden, yet more than a fifth wished they could be braver and have the confidence to experiment with colour. When it comes to fashion, 41% of women agree that wearing the right colour can make or break an outfit. We’d all like to know a bit more about which colours to wear, with 31% of women admitting they play it safe when it comes to colour.

Celebrity stylist and TV fashion expert Mark Heyes comments “Colour plays a big role in people’s lives especially when thinking about the clothes they wear. It is often used to lift or reflect a person’s mood and personality but how can people get this right unless they know the colours that truly suit them? Most people fall in to one of four colour personalities each with its own distinct palette. Once you’ve got your colour palette cracked you can start projecting your true personality and colours!” Colour Me Colour My Garden helps people to identify which colour personality they are, which colours work for them and how they can plant their true colours.

 

People are more colour savvy and confident when it comes to fashion compared to planting. More than a quarter (27%) admit that choosing the right colours is key and nearly a quarter (24%) experiment with new styles and colours in their wardrobe. Yet when it comes to their garden, it’s a different story:
• 92% agree colour is important
• Yet, 76% admit they don’t think about the colour combinations
• 22% wish they could be braver and experiment with different colours
• A fifth (20%) admit to playing it safe with colour
• More than a quarter (28%) are envious of other people’s colourful gardens

Celebrity plantsman Chris Collins comments, “Knowing how to combine your best colours can really give a personal touch to your garden and make your hard work say a lot more about who you are! Colour in the garden can also create drama and effect whilst benefiting the environment too. A border of colourful plants is perfect for attracting birdlife and insects and plays a vital role encouraging key pollinators such as bees which can help with the reproduction of flowers.”

To discover your gardens true colours visit www.plantforlife.info/colour and download the Colour Me Colour My Garden guide for free.

(Market research conducted in May 2009 by One Poll. 2,000 people were interviewed.)

DESIGNED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Jeans for Genes teams up with London College of Fashion to launch limited edition t-shirt
Children's charity Jeans for Genes has teamed-up with London College of Fashion to launch a limited edition t-shirt to raise money for children with genetic disorders.

· The t-shirt is modelled by supermodel and style icon Jaime Winstone and radio presenter Zoe Ball.
· The design was created by up and coming British talent Asha Joneja, a student at the London College of Fashion and winner of the design competition organised by Jeans for Genes.
· Asha's gold foil chain design represents the blueprint of our genetic code- the double helix.
· The intricate and striking gold foil design echoes this season’s metallic trend.
· The t-shirt is priced at £11.99, is available in sizes 8-20 and can be bought online at www.jeansforgenes.com
· The design is also available as a black shopping bag and handbag-sized umbrella.
· All profits from the sale of the t-shirt will go to the children’s charity Jeans for Genes.

Jeans for Genes is asking everyone who buys the t-shirt to send in a photo of themselves wearing it to email a photo to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The photos will be hosted in a special Flickr gallery, with a prize going to the most exciting location and/or creative styling.

GOSSARD SUPPORTS MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE
Gossard launches their Daffodil Lingerie set, a summery ensemble featuring 100% silk designed to flatter every figure. Bright and feminine, the range will brighten up your day, making you look and feel fantastic!

Gossard has teamed up with Marie Curie Cancer Care and will donate 25% of every set sold on www.gossard.com to this very worthwhile charity, so not only will you look good, you will also be doing good at the same time.

The Daffodil Lingerie set, which normally retails at £48.00 will now be available exclusively on www.gossard.com from 1st August for only £40.00. From the sale of each set, £10.00 will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care, one of the UK’s largest charities, providing free nursing care to terminally ill patients in their own homes.

Gossard hopes to raise in excess of £15,000 from this initiative, which will help fund 750 hours of free nursing care. The Daffodil set goes on sale from 1st August and is available exclusively from www.gossard.com

LAUNCH OF ELLA GEORGIA SHOP
First there was the website, now there is the shop. On 25th July 2009, something innovative and unusual is coming to The Stoneyard, in Boroughbridge.

That something is the ella georgia shop. This Saturday, ella georgia are launching their first ever shop and are holding a special day with all the other shops in The Stoneyard. The court yard also contains other shops; The Wardrobe, Branches - Aveda hair and spa treatment studio and a Swiss coffee shop.

Actor Hugo Speer is opening the shop. However, there are also plenty of other activities going on during the day. There will be:

. A bran tub
. A Stoneyard goody bag
. A glass of champagne and Swiss canapés
. Wine tasting
. A raffle
. A free Indian head massage
. Nail painting
. A fashion stylist
. Jazz Band

But what is ella georgia?
Sian Foster, the owner of www.ellageorgiajewellery.co.uk and now the shop ella georgia, which will be stocking jewellery, gifts and lovingly picked accessories, left her high flying job in sales and marketing for Taylors of Harrogate to launch the business last year. She said the reason she changed career was: 'I've been designing and making jewellery as a sideline since I was a child. It has always been a dream to run my own jewellery business. More importantly, I couldn't bring up my daughter, Ella, in the corporate world.'

Ella plays a key part in the jewellery collection, as the brand is named after her; Ella Georgia. She says that the idea behind the brand is simple, ella georgia want to make a difference to people's lives. She believes that trade can make the biggest difference in alleviating poverty and so everything from the cashmere socks, to the stunning jewellery has been ethically and sustainably sourced.

Sian says of her jewellery: ' I want people to look good wearing my jewellery, but also to feel good buying it, safe in the knowledge that no people or places have suffered in any way through its creation. Our jewellery will help you develop a signature style that's all your own, with pieces that reflect your personality. As the late Yves St Laurent once said: 'Fashions fade, style is eternal'.'

The open day will start at 10am and last till 6pm. The shop is based at 10 Fishergate, Boroughbridge, YO51 9NU. Sian and her team look forward to meeting you on the day. LATEST NEWS: The day was a fantastic success, see the happy picture of Sian, her daughter Ella and Hugo at the opening.

GET FIT, RAISE FUNDS, SAVE LIVES. JOIN THE UK’S LARGEST WOMEN-ONLY FUN RUN AND UNITE TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER
Entries are now open for the UK’s biggest women-only 5K fun run.

 

So round up your family and friends and sign up to the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge - in London’s Hyde Park on Sunday 6th September. For the second year running adidas is the title sponsor of this fantastic run and Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the preferred charity, so you can join thousands of women and run, walk or jog through Hyde Park to raise money for Breakthrough’s life-saving work.

The 5K fun run is open to women of all ages and abilities. So whether you want a goal to work towards, to beat a previous time, or simply the perfect excuse to raise money for charity –the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge is the run for you.

Presenter and winner of Celebrity Masterchef 2009 Jayne Middlemiss, and actress and presenter Donna Air will be taking part in the adidas Women’s Challenge in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, alongside thousands of mothers, sisters and daughters all running for a cause close to their hearts.

adidas has updated the Pink Ribbon Running Collection, which is perfect to train in and to wear on the day of the run. 10% from all items in the range is donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, so you can run in style and unite to fight breast cancer. The range will be available from July in selected retailers* nationwide.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, with one in nine women diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lifetime. Supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer, by running the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge or purchasing the Pink Ribbon Running Range, you can help the charity continue to fund work dedicated to the prevention, treatment and ultimate eradication of breast cancer.

Encourage the women in your life to join you and sign up to the adidas Women’s 5K Challenge. Remember to select Breakthrough as your chosen charity and £5 will automatically be donated - you can also fundraise by asking friends and family for sponsorship. Everyone on the Breakthrough team will receive a bright pink t-shirt and lots of support on the day. It will not only be a day to remember, but one that will raise funds and save lives.

Sign up at : www.womenschallenge.co.uk or to run for the Breakthrough team call: 020 7025 2422.
(*Retailers include: adidas Sport Performance Stores; She-Active; Sweatshop; JJB Sports; Littlewoods.com and London Marathon Stores).

ACCESS DEBRETT’S UNIQUE CONTENT ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME
This week Debrett’s re-launched its website Debretts.com, showcasing a complete re-design and brand new content providing information and advice on all aspects of life.

Find out about the people making the news, the Social Season's events, correct form for every occasion, and how to plan a wedding. A wealth of expertise, information, advice and experience is for the first time available at the click of a button.

Debrett’s people
Find out about the most well-known, successful and influential figures from British life as Debrett’s People of Today becomes available online at Debretts.com. People of Today is an invaluable reference source, cataloguing the lives of around 25,000 of the UK’s most influential and successful people. Entrants are drawn from a wide range of industries and professions, from the arts, media and film to sport, business and politics. All the biographical information is provided by the entrants themselves, making ’Debretts.com People of Today an unrivalled source of authorised information.

The unusual and unexpected adds to the intrigue. Within each biography, entrants are invited to share their education, charitable support and recreations.

The Social Season
Debretts.com now features a hand-picked selection of events from the UK and around the world, from sports and arts to music and festivals. Find out all the information you need about events as diverse as Glorious Goodwood, The Ashes, the Big Chill, Frieze Art Fair and Alnwick Food Festival.

This is the ultimate resource, including up-to-the-minute programme details about each event, with dates, location maps and links, insiders’ tips and essential information.

Weddings
Debretts.com provides guidance on everything you need to plan the perfect wedding day. Whether you are the bride or the groom, a member of the wedding party or simply a guest, Debretts.com allows you to learn about the traditions and modern etiquette of a wedding day - including addressing invitations, being the best man and making that all-important speech.

Allow Debretts.com to help you navigate the minefield of planning a wedding, from choosing the best man and bridesmaids, to the flowers and the cars.

Joie De Vivre & Everyday Etiquette
Two new sections are currently under development, and will add to the rich content available on the site. Joie de Vivre, offering advice and inspiration for making the most of life and doing the right thing on every occasion, will be expanded over the coming months, while Everyday Etiquette, a brand new section launching at the end of the summer, will provide essential information on modern manners and etiquette.

Debretts.comis the essential reference tool for everyone who is interested in power, wealth, achievement and celebrity in modern Britain. Debrett's is the modern authority on all matters of etiquette, social occasions, people of distinction and fine style - the who's who and what's what in today's Britain.

To celebrate the re-launch, Debrett’s is offering one lucky site visitor the chance to win two cases of Laurent Perrier - simply log on, register your details and you will be entered into the prize draw.

QUILTED VELVET BRINGS A PICTURE OF LUXURY TO THE 2009 TATTON PARK FLOWER SHOW
Quilted Velvet will be completing its hat-trick of spectacular summer show gardens by unveiling a breathtaking new design at the prestigious RHS Tatton Park Flower Show in July, created by medal-winning garden designer, Tony Smith.

Following his silver medal success at the Chelsea Flower Show, and gold medal at Hampton Court, Tony’s Tatton Park garden brings to life Quilted Velvet toilet tissue’s message of a little bit of luxury you can feel good about, achieved through its grand scale, dazzling colours and range of textures.

The larger-than-life horticultural canvas is set within a gold frame of marigolds and invites the eye to pass over undulating levels of lush grass which curve up to meet the emerald slate stem of a beautiful flower. Using 5,000 soft bedding plants, Tony has created a delicate flower head with a circular slate seating area and delightful hidden water feature at the heart. The leaves of the flower add a captivating aspect to the garden, comprising 1,000 individual lettuces.

Every element of this stunning garden is sourced from the UK and will be recycled after the show, reflecting Quilted Velvet toilet tissue’s commitment to the environment and to ensuring that three trees are replanted for every one it uses.

Tony Smith, the Quilted Velvet Garden designer, comments: “It has been fantastic to create this show garden using the little bit of luxury message because it has given me a lot of scope to explore that theme using colour, texture and scale. Every visitor will be able to appreciate a different aspect and hopefully take away some hints and tips to replicate in their own garden at home.”

The Quilted Velvet Garden will be situated at site number C60 at the Tatton Park Flower Show from 22nd – 26th July 2009

LATEST NEWS:Tony Smith’s Quilted Velvet Show Garden wins gold at the 2009 Tatton Park flower show. This completes a hat-trick of show gardens this year after winning a Silver at Chelsea and a gold at Hampton Court Palace

MAGNUM TEAMS UP WITH BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ADELE PARKS TO OFFER SOME ‘MINI’ TREATS THIS SUMMER
Magnum ice cream and Penguin, the publisher of romantic fiction queen Adele Parks, are joining forces to bring together two of your favourite summer pastimes - eating ice cream and reading a great book!

Our sexy street team of gorgeous semi-clad guys are hot enough to have stepped straight out of the pages of one of Adele’s sizzling novels. They’ll be handing out the ‘Perfect Pleasure Partners’ - a FREE mouthwatering Magnum Mini and a tasty sample extract from Adele Parks’ new novel Love Lies – just enough to whet your appetite!

Look out for them in London on the 28-30th July* – they could be coming to your office! Eating your lunch in Soho or Golden Square or one of London’s other green spaces? Then check out the Penguin twitter feed at twitter.com/threemarketeers to find out how to get your hands on one of the irresistible treats.

Love Lies promises to be the steamiest, sassiest read of the summer, so a Magnum Mini is the perfect accompaniement to cool you down when you get hot under the collar! Together they make the ideal ingredients for an indulgent ‘me-time’ break.

If you are not lucky enough to get your hands on the mini treats being offered by Penguin and Magnum this week, don’t worry you can still enjoy this year’s most anticipated read with a Magnum Mini for less. With every purchase of Love Lies you will receive £1 off a pack of Magnum Minis in participating stores.**

The Magnum Mini range – available in crunchy Almond and smooth White Chocolate and Chocolate & Strawberry - brings everything you love about your favourite Magnum ice cream - thick cracking chocolate, delicious, velvety ice cream – but in a mini size, allowing you to enjoy the Magnum experience whenever you feel the need for a little luxury.

Love Lies, published by Penguin on 30th July 2009, is the ultimate modern-day fairytale, the story of Fern, a florist from Clapham, who’s literally swept off her feet by the UK’s sexiest popstar when he proposes infront of a sell-out crowd at Wembley. Fern is sure that a celebrity wedding and a Hollywood lifestyle is what every girl wants, but then she starts to wonder if love is telling her the truth. Can she truly find her happily ever after with the world’s ultimate performer?

* 28-30 July 2009, subject to weather conditions - it will be postponed to the following week if torrential rain

**£1 off coupon is valid until 31.05.10 available in participating stores

PREPARE FOR YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY THE HEALTHY WAY

The summer holiday season is well and truly upon us but before you even reach the airport there are some preparations you can take to ensure your holiday health is as good as possible. Healthspan (www.healthspan.co.uk <http://www.healthspan.co.uk/> ) the UK’s leading direct supplier of nutritional supplements offers a comprehensive range of natural remedies that will help you prepare; including protecting your skin against the damaging effects of the sun, combating jet lag and guarding against the infamous traveller’s tummy.

Senior nutritionist Henrietta Norton, who works with Healthspan said: "Preparation and caution are essential for a trouble-free trip. There's a lot of easy and practical preparation you can do before you go."

Everyone looks forward to a well-deserved holiday and to ensure it goes smoothly from a health perspective; preparation and caution are the essential ingredients for a trouble-free holiday!

For more information, visit www.healthspan.co.uk

DRAGONS DEN SUCCESS STORY - TRUECALL INVENTION
Steve Smith’s trueCall nuisance phone call blocking device was the star of Dragons’ Den last week. All five Dragons wanted to invest in it – a very rare event – and Peter Jones eventually won by taking out his lowest-every equity stake in a Dragons’ Den business.

The product, which costs £97.50 (inc VAT and delivery), is available from www.truecall.co.uk, John Lewis stores, the BT Online Shop and QVC shopping channel. It has been flying off the shelves and Steve has just had to request another 10,000 from his Chinese manufacturers.

How it works:

trueCall intercepts all calls to home landlines. If it recognises them as a friend or a member of the user's family - numbers on a “star list” created by the user - it lets them through as normal.

If the caller's number is on a “zap list” - numbers of telemarketers or other nuisance callers - the device answers it, and all future calls from that number, with an automated message which means the phone does not ring at all.

If the system doesn't recognise the caller's number, or the caller withholds their number, it asks them who they are, puts them on hold and then rings the user's phone.

www.truecall.co.uk

PIONEER LAUNCH SUPER AUDIO CD PLAYER with stereo receiver, ready for iPod, internet radio and DLNA certified
All your music played. Perfectly. Internet Radio, your CD (and SACD) collection, your iPod, even music stored on your home PC, the PDX-Z9 will receive and digitally amplify your entire music collection; how and wherever it’s stored. The PDX-Z9 is DLNA certified, which means that it can also be integrated into your home network. Music files from your home PC can be digitally amplified and mastered. The receiver is equipped with our unique Advanced Sound Retriever function, which digitally restores compressed music formats to their original brilliance. With a full dot white OEL display and aluminium top panel, the PDX-Z9 represents the best in both form and function, complementing any interior. As part of our Pure Audio Component Series, the PDX-Z9 shares high-fidelity construction, working to give you a pure, smooth and fine-tuned sound – no matter what you are listening to.

SUPER AUDIO CD PLAYER with stereo receiver, ready for iPod, internet radio and DLNA certified
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/42/98/405/PDX-Z9/index.html

HELP US CHOOSE OUR SHOEPERSTAR!
In April 2009 Hush Puppies launched a nationwide Shoe Design Competition to find a Shoeperstar! Over 700 entries were received, some from as far as Australia and New York! Hush Puppies have whittled the entries down to 20 talented semi finalists and now needs your help to decide who will be entered into the final…

There will be five finalists chosen to go through to the final stage of the competition. Four will be chosen by our judging panel and one will be chosen by the public. Go to www.shoeperstar.co.uk to vote for your favourite design!

The five finalists will have exclusive access to a mentoring process with Hush Puppies’ expert designers to refine their shoe creations, ready to present their final designs to the judging panel in October. The over all winner will then have their shoe made and sold exclusively in top high street retailer Schuh.

SOFRA RESTAURANTS: AN AUTHENTIC AND AFFORDABLE TASTE OF TURKEY IN LONDON
Sofra Turkish restaurants, now a small group of five, have quietly gone from strength to strength since the first one opened. Headed up by the charismatic Huseyin Ozer, Sofra restaurants take a fresh approach to modern Turkish cooking. On the extensive menu you will find all the classics grills and oven baked dishes, but also a number of game and seafood dishes and even a healthy set menu of 11 specially selected dishes including tabbouleh, falafel, chicken skewers and broad bean salad.

Sofra have plenty to offer for the credit crunch, including a 2-4-1 deal on their recently launched breakfast menu at Ozer, which even includes a complimentary fresh orange juice. A £2.50 portion of toast comes with rose petal jam, three kinds of Belgian chocolate spread and Turkish honey. A crunch menu is available at both lunch and dinner across all sites: for just £12.95 (lunch) and £14.95 (dinner), customers can enjoy bread, hummus and olives, a main course and a beer, glass of wine or soft drink. With tempting dishes such as Lamb tagine, Spicy sautéed venison or vegetarian options such as Baby Broadbeans, Halloumi Cheese and Tabbouleh to choose from, this menu is proving a huge hit with diners.

The restaurants themselves are light yet luxurious, with rich red colours, marble floors and masses of cushions and they all have alfresco dining. Covent Garden is particularly spectacular, with the top floor restaurant having a retractable roof. Sofra also organise outside catering for parties and functions.

Sofra Restaurant Group:

Ozer Oxford Circus – 5 Langham Place, London, W1B 3DG

Sofra Covent Garden – 36 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PB

Sofra Mayfair – 18 Shepherd Street, London, W1J 7JG

Sofra St Christopher’s Place – 1 St Christopher’s Place, W1U 1LT

Sofra St John’s Wood – 11 Circus Road, London, NW8 6NX

http://www.sofra.co.uk/index.html

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