Join in the fun and design a hat and raise money for Positive Action for Cancer. I can’t wait to see all of your designs and choose the winners. Ax
(From an interview for www.theoldchurchschool.co.uk)
At The Old Church School we love a slice of quirky, so we just had to find out more about a blogging mannequin residing in the town… we’re très excited to have an interview with Truly Sopel, an independent fashion label on Frome’s famous Catherine Hill! The lady behind-the lady! We talk to her about clever marketing ideas, with the help of a truly top model Aurora St Clare. Read on for an exclusive insight into the wonderful world of Aurora St Clare!
And so our interview begins…
Truly, what would you be doing if you weren’t running your own fashion label?
I think I would suit being a full time housewife. I love cleaning, ironing, interior design, children, making and mending and most importantly baking. (I would probably have a cake decorating business on the side once the kids had grown up!).
Your shop is based in Frome, on Catherine Hill… Why did you choose Frome and what benefits does a small market town have for your business?
I didn’t plan to have a shop in Frome. I was just visiting my family and saw the premises were available. A month later I had moved in! I had been market trading in London for two years and I think the idea of having a permanent outlet that I could also create from, was very appealing. Apart from there being a great community buzz and support network here in Frome, the main advantage for me is that for an affordable price my business is located in a beautiful area, surrounded by original indie shops that collectively are attracting people from all over the country. I think it is a unique town so suits the label perfectly.
Recently you’ve started trulyknickers.com -Have you always had a passion for good pants?
I think the passion only started 4 years ago when I made my first pair. However, I have always been a fan of the more comfy fuller brief!
How did your fashion line progress into underwear?
I wanted to produce a design with a lower price point that fitted in with the gift market. Knickers were the answer!
Who is your biggest market for Truly Knickers?
Confident women who dare to be different!
Tell us about Aurora…
Aurora St Clare is my top model and blogger! She sports dramatic and eye catching poses, as she shows off our wares beautifully. She loves hair, fashion and makeup, and is all the way from Chamonix, Mont Blanc. She is also made of plastic and not the more commonly used fibreglass!
How did Aurora come to life?
Well, after two years of searching for the perfect mannequin, it only felt right to name her. She suits the name Aurora, and being more beautiful than I could have dreamed, you can imagine I became very close to my new purchase, and saw modelling as just the beginning of her career with Truly Sopel. I decided to give Aurora her own facebook page and due to her popularity she became our blogger for trulyknickers.com. (I generally have a habit of humanising things).
How has Aurora helped you with online marketing?
She has helped me hugely. Promoting myself and the label has certainly become easier over the years, but writing about Truly Sopel and Truly Knickers as Aurora is a breeze in comparison. Aurora gives me the ability to step back and see what I am trying to achieve from a new angle-with a different personality and perspective. It makes blogging and self promotion(which can be hard) more fun and natural. Having Aurora has created a vibe and expanded fan base. As I still have my own twitter and facebook accounts, the addition of Aurora keeps things new and exciting from both my point of view and the customers.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
The clothes and colours of childhood. I’m inspired by the idea of mothers making for their daughters and their daughter’s dolls and the handcrafted techniques that they used, especially over the last sixty years.
How has social media changed the way you market yourself and products?
It’s allowed me to market myself and do so on a daily basis in a way that connects with consumers in a more personal style. I still send out newsletters in the post and via email, but I rely on social media to gain more customers and brand awareness. I also spend more time on marketing now because of social media.
You have a really definite style-where do you draw inspiration from for your look?
I like the sixties and eighties, so often combine the two looks; think Marianne Faithfull meets Kate Bush… thick blunt fringe, crimping, twiggy eyes and bright colour combinations. All mixed in with a bit of modern girlieness, and not over-styled.
What are your future plans for Aurora?
Aurora will remain the face of Truly Knickers and will soon have her own page of favourite Truly Sopel buys…all for sale of course! I am also planning to do some exciting photo shoots with her in London and potentially Paris too. I’m keen to get her involved in local businesses and events. Frome running club have already used Aurora to model their new running gear for girls (photos will be on the club site soon!) and she kindly modelled for the Merlin theatre charity ball at Marston House earlier this year. She’s such a professional model and strikes a fabulous pose, and as people are always quite taken by her beauty, she’s become a great representative for the brand-so I imagine networking will be high on the agenda for Aurora’s future too!
And finally the all important question, what is your guilty pleasure?
Hmmm I cat nap a lot, but don’t feel guilty enough. I eat at least 2 bars of chocolate every day, usually 3. Very naughty!
Originally from Frome, Truly moved to London when she was 19 to work for a small fashion label in Piccadilly called Favourbrook. As a young inspired fashionista Truly began to make her own clothes and in 2003 completed a tailoring diploma at the London College of Fashion. After working as a pattern cutter for a year she soon launched her own Truly Sopel fashion label-selling in a couple of London boutiques alongside Camden and Spitalfields markets, a shop of her own was the exciting next step. Catherine Hill called out!
A BIG Thank You to Paul Payne for the wonderfully pretty pair of personalised porcelain light shades he suprised Truly and I with today. He is very kind and most talented. I just love the heart shaped design with our company name which glows a soft shade of amber…perfect in our boudoir we think! Great for our late night Pyjama Parties too! We will be visiting Paul’s studio at his home on Catherine Street to see the artist at work. I’ll let you know how we get on.
Meanwhile visit Paul’s website & see more of his unique creations:
www.porcelainlights.co.uk
Ps We Paul’s ‘Sindy’ style corsage. Truly Appoved!
Hi everyone!
We celebrated our new boudoir style shop last week by hosting a Pyjama Party! Here’s what we got up to.
It was such a cute idea and so much fun too. We will be holding another one in December as it was such a success. Here are some more details below.
See you there. Aurora X
Friday, December 16, 2011
7:30pm until 10:30pm
FESTIVE PYJAMA PARTY @Truly Sopel
From 7.30pm onwards, to celebrate our new look Boudoir style shop- think Tracey Emin meets Mrs Slocombe!
Pop your fave pj’s on, sleep set, dressing gown, or like me, why not wear your onesie?! Don’t forget your slippers.
Drinks will be served of both a hot and cold nature. Tea and hot chocolate, mince pies & a sneaky port & lemon or shandy for over 18′s.
Activities will include hair crimping, bedtime stories, fashion & celeb gossip, nail painting and much much more. Guaranteed FUN!
Bring your favourite cd’s and mags girls!
Up to 30% off of clothing & accessories too, Christmas gift promotions and more….
PS We will not be able to arrange transport to and from the shop. Please do consider how you will get home…we don’t want you girls catching a chill/causing cars to collide etc.
Feel free to bring a friend. No Boys though! X
It was a bright and fresh Friday morning when no sooner had Truly put out the flower garlands that decorate the window, did a very relaxed Mary Portas walk by and into our new bedroom style shop. Maybe she was lured in by the pink lights and parma violet scents coming from our doorway…?
I must say I was very nervous but proudly & steadily held my pose. I’m so glad it was early and I was still in my black silky sleep set that Truly had designed and made the day before. I was also wearing my favourite Nana Knit in Red. The perfect outfit I thought to promote our new lingerie range to the Queen of Shops.
Mary had a good look around and admired the colours and unusual fabrics that make up our original womenswear collection. She seemed impressed talking with Truly and wished her luck in the future.
It was especially fun for our mitten maker Molly, from ‘Molly’s Mittens’. She had just popped in to deliver her latest bundle of gloves that are a hit with our customers year after year. Mary was certainly impressed with the quality and colour choices of Molly’s Mittens and chatted happily away about this season’s popular shades.
Mary also visited neighbouring Shop Assembly, Crowman, Nova and The Stardust Cafe for a nice cuppa at the bottom of the hill before heading back to Babington House.
We hope you visit us again soon Mary.
Ax
PS And good luck with your new fashion range too, it rocks!
Rainy Days and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Posted on August 18, 2011 by Annie Ridout
As a teenager, I used to wear baggy jeans that were far too long and would drag along the pavement. I listened to Green Day and Nirvana and thought I was somewhat ‘rock and roll’ in my impractical attire. I would run and jump in puddles and the rain water would slowly soak up my jeans, until they were drenched and heavy. This was my rebellious stage. As a young adult, I learnt that childish behaviour like that resulted in discomfort and, potentially, illness. And so I adjusted my wardrobe accordingly and bought sensible shoes to wear in the rain.
However, I have never quite got along with umbrellas. Or hooded coats. I will occasionally, absentmindedly, whack a brolly in my rucksack and attempt to erect it mid-rainstorm – only to discover the frame has snapped – and then I quickly remember that I don’t like holding them up anyway. And so my journeys on rainy days remain somewhat uncomfortable – dashing from one awning to the next, optimistically hovering under lamposts, believing this might prevent the heavy rain from pelting down onto my un-hooded head.
This has developed in me a (probably not uncommon) hate of rain. A real problem when residing in Britain. But I only hate it when I’m out in it. When in the safety and comfort of an un-leaking, sturdy building, I absolutely love it!
This fairly detailed anecdote was inspired simply by the fact that right now I’m sitting comfortably at my desk in the Rook Lane Chapel, warm in my nana knit mint-green cardi from Truly Sopel, relishing the heavy rain as it floods down the glass windows to my left.
Read more from Annie.. http://www.rooklanearts.org.uk/blog/2011/08/18/rainy-days-and-rock-n-roll/
My passport to style heart vintage inspired designs…….
For all you new vintage fans out there here are two scrummy unique British labels to feast on that will bring a big splash of sunshine to your wardrobes, that I’m bursting to introduce you to. But first for those of you that are a bit puzzled with the term ‘new vintage’, let me explain, new vintage is basically a new take on an original vintage design or style, that has been recreated using new fabric. Very often companies still opt for reproduced vintage prints or reclaimed vintage fabric that are still in mint condition. The benefits are pretty obvious, all the charm of vintage with none of the wear. You may also have the luxury of being able to choose one design in several prints or different colour ways, as was the rigour in days past, when styles of women’s clothing were much more restricted a unique pattern of fabric was essential to helping you stand out amongst a crowd of wasp waisted women.
Next up on my vintage hotties hit list, is the lovely Truly Sopel from Somerset, inspired by the dresses she used to create as a little girl for her dollies and a wish to recapture the pretty innocence she remembers, she launched a fun, frivolous range of underwear showcased here today at Truly Knickers off the back of her very successful vintage clothing line at Truly Sopel, I think the sunshine yellow tweed coat is adorable. I’m loving the sheer versatility of Truly’s vintage inspired knickers sets, in a range of the cutest fabric, you simply pop on a set in the morning teaming the top with a pair of your favourite jeans and if you get a little too hot and bothered just slip your jeans off and hey presto you’re a chic 50s pin up girl ready to sun bathe or cool down, equally these would make a great set of stylish PJ. Find your perfect match here.
Disappearing from the Cobbled Street of St Catherines Hill
What can I say … I Truly can’t believe a month has gone. It has been great working with Truly over the last few weeks, It was nice to get into the business atmosphere and with such lovely people!
I have learnt some interesting things about the company and about the design business as a whole and what it takes to build a successful company name and label.
The weeks stormed by and now that 4 weeks have gone by I still stand by my first blog from Frome stating that St Catherines Hill is never quiet and always full of surprises!!
This was proven when on the last day, out of the blue, I was asked to do a short radio interview on behalf of Truly Sopel, concerning her new Truly Knicker collection on BBC Somerset:
http://www.trulyknickers.com/
You can found Me at 1.44 into the 3 hours!
Have a listen to what people including myself have to say about knickers and find out what this new style of pant is ‘ A Brazilian’ and not the waxing… I’m still not sure so please inform. Also feel free to agree or disagree with the comments I made on knickers.
I have to say I don’t know how radio presenters do it, I honestly can’t stand listening to my own voice.
It was an interesting experience and a secret one at that as they managed to get my name wrong twice so listen out for my very own personal new radio show name ‘Natalie Evans’
Thank you Natalie, you did a fabulous job!!
Us girls are keen followers of fellow creative and good fashion friend Dickie Wilkinson. As a new student at Doug Richard’s School of Creative Startups and Blogger for Smarta we will be keeping a keen eye and open ear to his experiences as he launches his new men’s accessories label in London.
Good Luck Dickie! X
We adore his trademark bow tie and love his inspiration…
“While my inspiration comes from many sources -my debut collection was inspired by poisonous frogs and Grace Jones – my influences are surprisingly consistent: The Pet Shop Boys, Mark Farrow, Jeeves and Wooster, Tim Burton films and a love of all things sartorial. Think of me as a Willy Wonka for the 21st Century”. Says Dickie
Read more- http://www.smarta.com/blog/2011/8/guest-blog-dickie-wilkinson-steps-out
Hi there everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic summertime wherever you are.
Well, here at the shop we have been loving the sixties whilst prepping for our new A/W 2011 range. I’ve just had my fringe cut back in and have gone for a more natural look, although my long under-eye lashes are supa dupa black and are dazzling the window shoppers.
It is great news this swinging decade will dominate next season as I grew up hearing so much about it from my Maman who was living in Paris at the time. Sometimes I wish I could transport myself back in time to experience the newly found freedom of this youthful era. I definately would have been a Mary Quant girl, living in London and parading my new wares along Carnaby Street- It must have been FUN!
Here are some of my TOP Sixties inspirations for you to enjoy also….Ax
Beautiful Francoise Hardy
It’s fun to play dress up!
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