Tips on staying warm and stylish this winter...

So it's winter and you want to keep warm but also look stylish at the same time?! Our store has the perfect key items to add to your winter wardrobe, easy to style and can be worn/ dressed up or down. Also you want to be comfortable but also trendy here are a few tips on the right colours, accessories and on trend clothing items that are a must have for this winter...

Boyfriend Blazer

Our new Boyfriend blazer are out, fresh out of production as I write this post, they come in a lovely ivory, Burgandy and navy colours. Their length is long enough to be worn with a loose top and legging or with a shift dress and stockings or just with a plain tshirt and denim jeans.

Snoody / scarfs

A perfect accessory for your winters outfit. Soft, comfortable Snoody in shades of Burgandy and grey. Long enough to be worn in various styling ways. You can wrap it twice around your neck or make a cute not on the front for a more cunky look.

Popcorn polornecks

Bianca's fashionable winter item, the popcorn polornecks. This is a must have! Trendy, stylish but yet    Warm and comfy. Made from a Chanel popcorn fabric in shades of ivory and navy. Best worn with jeans or leggings and boots.

Winter leggings

 We made our leggings for this winter in an extra thick fabric which  is extra warm and thick. Perfect with loose jerseys, jackets and boots. They come in beautiful Burgandy , grey, black and tie dye.

We try bring out at least two new items a week so that there is always something new in store he next time you pop new... 

Meet Our New Fashion Intern...

Life as a Fashion intern....

First time We meet our lovely  intern Alka was about a month ago when she pop in at our signature store to drop off her creative portfolio. We were super busy so we didn't really chat much but I'm glad we kept her portfolio. I've watch the movie "Devil wears Prada" so many times and I've read alot of stories about fashion internships turning into nightmares but I'm happy Alka found a warm home with us for the next 5 weeks, looking forward to her learning and growing creatively in the fashion industry... Here's how her 1st week went...

Tell us about you in short...
I'm  a 21 year old girl from Durban currently studying for my degree in fashion design. I love ice skating, drawing, the beach and have a passion for fashion.

Bianca and Alka at the KZN Fashion council fashion show

How was your 1st day at BWD?

I was nervous at first but Bianca and her team made me feel so welcomed and apart of their wonderful family. They gave me a run down on how things work and operate at Bianca's boutique. On my first night I attended the KZN Fashion Council Fashion Show. OMG...it was amazing! Just from one night I learn't so much. That was one night I will never forget.:)
( photo about )


Describe your personal style, designing style and what inspires you?
My personal style mmmm........I have a feminine ladylike style.lol I love dresses and denim jeans:).
My design style, I love designing evening wear! I get my inspiration from everything around me. The beach and nature influences me the most.

Alka working on our invited designer show stopper for the Vodacom Durban July

What are your favourite items in store?
1. White chiffon drape top
2. long low back fishtale evening dress in a midnight sequins fabric

What's on your wish list
One day to have my very own boutique.:)

Well we trust you will have an fabulous time with us :)

Alka and Apiwe

Love the team at BWD.

Winter Essential

Boyfriend Denim Shirt...

One key clothing item every closet needs this winter is a trendy denim shirt with chiffon sleeves. Denim has always been on trend and will never go out of fashion and its up to us fashion lovers to try jazz it up every fashion season and the soft chiffon sleeves are a perfect and unexpected add on.

The denim shirt can be worn with plain black jeans or with leggings, skirts, even with leather shorts and stockings. You can also tie a not just to rouge it up.

you can get all the items  pictured at my signature store. 250 The Square, Umhlanga Rocks Drive, La Lacia Ridge.

Denim shirt: R370

Burgandy Leggings : R 220

Burgandy Snoody: R120

STREET STYLE!

#WinterEssential

Counting Down To SA Fashion Week

9 more sleeps until my show at SA Fashion Week....

This week has been such a hectic but at the same time such an amazing week. After getting a mail from SAFW saying my show is a sell out, i felt a bit better and gained a little bit more confidence... this hasnt stopped the butterflies. My biggest worry was being an "out of towner" and having an empty show.

We have been doing the finishing touches to my SA Fashion Week. Seeing the finished collection last night makes every extra 5 hours we added to our working week days and every Sunday working and every public holiday I've mussed to work on this collection with it!

We have finished styling all 15 "looks" with the perfect shoes and accessories and they look divine! I would like to thank 'baa baa  handmade accessories for the gorgeous neck pieces she designed and handmade specially for my SAFW collection and  'Mandara  Genuine Leather Handbags' for the beautiful bags.

 you can have a sneak pick below.

www.facebook.com/mandarabags

www.facebook.com/Baa-Baa-handmade-Accessories

xx

Open Your Hearts South Africans Its Time To Shine!

Durban Designers Give Back...

Today I had a photo shoot at the Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve in Glenwood for The Sunflower Fund "Dare  to dream" charity Ball. This is my fourth year in a row taking part in this great initiative.When they started the organisation their aim was to secure financial support in order to increase the number of bone marrow stem cell donors in South Africa. With the odds of finding a donor being 1:100 000, the idea is to expand the registry to at least 100 000. You can help by joining the SABMR. All you have to do to be registered on the SABMR is to give two tubes of your blood. We need your fast response and long-term commitment.

The Sunflower Fund aims to educate and recruit a viable source of well-informed potential bone marrow stem cell donors who are ethnically diverse, in an effort to save the lives of those needing a transplant when suffering from life-threatening blood disorders. It strives to maintain the associated donor records of the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

You can also visit the Sunflower Fund website www.sunflowerfund.org.za for more information and how to you can get involved.

 We had so much and Good luck to my fellow Durban designer kathrin Kidger (sitting next to me on the photo below) who is due to give birth tomorrow!

xx

Behind the scenes: SAFW Castings Joburg!

Had such a wonderful experience at Head office SA Fashion Week yesterday for the choosing of our models, hair and make up, with Lucilla Booyzen (Board Member: World Fashion Council; Founder / Director:) and the producers of our show.

Early morning start, arrived in Johannesburg, there was NO humidity, nothing like Durban, felt a crisp in the air. I had a scarf and long sleeve on the only clown in my winter woolies...

Gautrain - O.R Thambo to Rosebank

In Johannesburg I caught public transport the entire day, so easy!

When entering the office there was a lovely aura and friendly atmosphere. I had arrived early 'cause of the flight and sat with the ever so bubbly Mathapelo who has done so much for me with regards to SAFW.

The wall is covered in all articles and newspaper clippings of all our achievements.

Business park where SAFW head offices are.

Chosen models after the casting where each model had to say their name and walk for us.

3 of my chosen models are Durban girls! very excited.

An entire wall of all our creations from Autumn/Winter SAFW.

Very excited to show case at SAFW this year, thank you to a very professional team at SAFW and for everything you have all done to make my dream a reality. For more information visit www.safashionweek.co.za and get your tickets for my show at www.computicket.co.za 13 April 2013, 6pm.

Apiwe's First Week.

Interview after interview I just was not able to find anyone i was gelling with... after almost giving up hope I had a meeting with a young blogger who used to work in a well known proudly local designer store. From the second i saw her i knew she suited the whole vibe and image of my brand. She arrived with a LIV bangle on and that was even more of a reason to take her on,  LIV is a very special part of my brand and me, and we do what we can to contribute to the amazing village.

Liv Bands

Its been a week now since Apiwe has joined our family...

Bianca and Apiwe

Tell us about you in a short...

I'm just a girl from a small town called Queenstown in the Eastern Cape who's chasing her fashion dream. I love blogging, magazines, Rihanna, chocolate, and the beach.


How was your first week at Bianca Warren?

Beyond awesome! I was so nervous and excited on my first day but it didn't take me long to warm up to the family and the rest of my week was great, I've learned so much in such a short period of time.


You also manage Bianca Warren's social media..

Yep! I'm responsible for the brand's online image and its not a really hard tasks because a lot of people love Bianca's work already and interact with her on a daily basis via twitter and facebook and now with the new fashion blog people will get to see the behind-the-scenes of everything project Bianca is working on.

Highlight of the week?

Has to be helping with the preparations for SA Fashion Week! I love every minute and I can not wait for the range to be available in store so I can purchase my fovourite items.... which is the entire collection lol.

Whats on your fashion wish list

 Tickets to see Rihanna live on her on her current Diamonds World Tour, that's it :)

Describe your style?

A mix of vintage, boho chic with comfort  and simplicity.

What are your 3 favourite items on our Signature store rails?

- My black maxi grecian dress
- Sequins/ cream colour block jersey
- Burgundy snoody scarf.... I think I will get them in all the colours for winter.

Black Grecian Maxi Dress R490.00

Colour Block Sequins top R320.00

Burgundy Wooly Snoody R120.00

Current Obsession?

Company.co.uk its a British glossy/fashion magazine I recently discovered at Exclusive Books, its been around for a while though. The magazine is perfect for me!

By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM EVERYONE @ BWD

oh yea thank you so much, I'm now 23 I feel so old lol

Any famous last words?

I'm very grateful for this amazing opportunity and I plan to learn as much as I can and also grow with Bianca Warren :)