11 May 2015

The good life collection

Here is the first available selection from The good life collection which you can pre-order in our online shop today. All will be lovingly handmade in our countryside studio and posted out in June.

Photography by Amira Izruna
Model Chelsea Killarney (Alan Sharman)
Styling & Creative Nadia Izruna

The good life

I have to admit I was a little nervous about moving to the countryside, even though it felt like the perfect lifestyle choice for us, I was hesitant it would get a bit dull after a while. It's strange how different phases in your life attract you to different places, I would have never imagined myself in a remote village like this with only a shop, pub and a cafe to keep me going. But as it turns out I have never felt more at home than when I'm when I'm walking down Main street past the stone cottages knowing the open fields are just around the corner. I can't stop myself taking a deep breath every time I see the countryside rolled out in front of me and feel so grateful that life has brought me here. With a mind that is always busy churning away the simplicity of village life is keeping me surprisingly calm. It has helped me gather my thoughts and regain the focus of my little brand to offer you something that I feel truly represents where I'm at right now. It's easy to see how this place has influenced the style, colours and prints of this new collection and I hope you are as charmed as I am by all it represents. I can't wait to share more of this collection with you next month, but I thought you might like to see one more look that I just had to take for an morning stroll..

Photography amiramade

Change in direction

I'm not sure of the exact point where fashion left me behind.. perhaps it decide to move on when I was exploring life in South Africa or while I was busy raising my little girl. But I no longer walk into stores and feel that excitement about clothing that I once felt. I'm certain they did not have me in mind when choosing their design direction for the seasons. Either way I'm happy fashion chose not to include me in it's plans as I now feel a greater need to find that spark that got me excited about clothing in the very beginning. I don't think I have ever struggled for inspiration in the past, normally I'd have an over spill of ideas that left me eager to get designing the next collection, but I feel like I've been dragging my heals somewhat with this one. And I know you have taken note..

The truth is I can't design something that I would not wear today and as my day to day needs for clothing have changed, so have my ideas of what makes a great design. Clothing now needs to fit in with my everyday life as a working mother and all the glamorous demands that brings.. Although comfort, smart and simple are high on my wish list I'm certainly not ready to slip away from the fun side of fashion all together. I still lust after bold prints, vibrant colours, quality fabrications and originality in design and see no reason why all these can not come together to create an exciting alternative to what is available. So with all this in mind I have found some fresh enthusiasm and a new design direction for Nadinoo that I hope you will love.

INTRODUCING THE DESIGNERS SMOCK

This style was one of the first pieces I designed for the new Nadinoo 2015 offering and ticks all the boxes for me in terms of function, style and comfort. I feel I could wear this design in almost any print and fabrication everyday of the week. I can see other creatives throwing on this loose number before heading out to their design studios ready to roll up their sleeves and get thoroughly inspired for the day ahead.

Photography by amira made

Let's have a party!

Happy Birthday Lula

One thing I knew would impress my little Lula for her 2nd Birthday was a tea party, since the day she received her first tea set from Nana she has been busy entertaining, poring tea and serving cake. She even went through a phase of demanding we go out for tea and cake each day, settling only when her toasted tea cake was served and mum was sipping on her cup of tea.. Thankfully she is just as happy these days with a little role play, especially as her tea set has grown into a full on Lula cafe!

I have to admit I'm not really that into party planning, I generally get a little flustered and stressed out with it all, but I thought my little girl had been through such a tough year that she deserved a special day to celebrate all she has achieved. So I sat down a week before the big day and scribbled down some rough ideas of what to do and began working my way through it. Keeping it small and simple was key for me and Pinterest was also a huge help, giving me some lovely handmade ideas that were achievable. I found grouping ideas together on a board the easiest way to visualise what I was after. The week of organising everything was going really well, I had made the party hats and mini bunting for the cake using Liberty prints and purchased other little things that would add to the tea party spirit. Then I fell ill with only a few days to go and a long list of things that had to be baked, I managed to pull myself together to make most things and let myself off the hook with a few and ordered from our favourite local bakery instead. Of course everything worked out nicely on the day, even the sun came along and gave everything a sunny glow. Lula loved her spread and enjoyed making sure everyone was wearing a party hat once through the door. I'm feeling encouraged by this this celebration and already thinking ahead to what I can do for her next birthday, the joy on her little face was totally worth it.