Will your bank holiday be soggy or sizzle?

Where has August gone?  We can’t believe that it has whizzed by in the blink of an eye and we are rapidly approaching the end of Summer Bank Holiday already when it feels like we haven’t really had much of a Summer yet!

August is a busy time for us at Tortue as we receive our new collections from France and get them all unpacked and prepared ready to present to you at your 1:1 appointments, your get togethers with your friends, fundraisers and pop up shops too!   

This August it has definitely been busy for the team helping to raise funds for various charities across the country from Alison’s amazing Afternoon Tea fundraising with fashion themed pop ups in Scotland down to Michelle’s fundraising Fashion Shows in the South East to name just a couple of examples.    If you are keen to fundraise for a charity close to your heart, please do get in touch with us to see how we can help put the fun into your fundraising with one of our Tortue events. 

It is important to plan ahead to avoid disappointment especially if you are looking to arrange something nearer to the popular MacMillan Coffee Morning date in September or Breast Cancer Now fundraising dates in October.  We also are finding that particular garments and smaller sizes are often selling out quickly this year too therefore if you see something you like, please do order it sooner rather than later to avoid being disappointed.

The new collection has been going down a storm … quite literally!!  Our two new raincoats are our number one most popular item ordered by our customers so far!  We are not sure if we prefer the chestnut bronze or the silver and the same goes for many customers who have ordered them in both colourways as they couldn’t choose either and decided to have them both! 

These fab raincoats are great for keeping in the car in case you get caught by a shower.  They also fold/roll up nice and small to pop in a tote bag when on your travels too so ideal for taking along to your garden BBQ just in case…

Personally, I am hoping that we get an ‘Indian Summer’ and that we can just eek out a few more days with a bit of sun and warmth before the dampness and crispness of Autumn properly starts to arrive especially as I don’t think we have even used our BBQ yet this summer!

I asked the Tortue Team for their favourite BBQ recipes and as usual the ladies did not disappoint!

Alison M recommended Beer Bum Chicken – simply sit a chicken on an open can of beer and place on the BBQ until cooked.   So simple and yet so tasty!  It also works by using a can of fizzy cola as an alternative if you are feeding children as well as adults or have guests that do not drink alcohol to cater for.

Caroline recommended her favourite that she cooks a lot which is a BBC Good Food recipe for Barbecued Thai Chicken  you can find the recipe at https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lemongrass-skewered-barbecue-thai-chicken

If you are not a meat eater, then Nina’s recipe of fresh pineapple on skewers caramelised by cooking on the BBQ also sounds delish too and a really easy one to prep and take with you if you are a guest at a “bring something to share” BBQ or BBQ at the beach.  

When it comes to BBQ style suggestions we have a few for you:-

THE BOHO/ROCK CHICK LOOK

If it’s a bit of a grey overcast kind of day for your BBQ then opt for your flip flops/sliders  with our NEW Long Printed Dress in Red as the perfect outfit.  You can reveal your bohemian side with a bit of added fluidity and glamour.  The shirt collar features buttons down the front to the waist and the long sleeves have buttoned cuffs that look great folded back up to your elbows.  The dress is ankle length with a cute ruffle (handy for keeping covered up if you are a tasty person who becomes the BBQ feast rather than the guest and gets bitten by every little bug and midge around)!

The best thing about this dress is that you can wear it well into the winter with tights, biker boots and it looks fab with our Faux Leather Jacket in Black – we think it’s the ‘perfecto’ biker jacket as it is crafted from a Vegan faux leather fabric to instantly enhance your look with a touch of “rock” sophistication from the metal zips and press studs.   It also comes in a beautiful sage green colourway too which looks great with our tie dye scarf in celadon green.   

THE COLOUR BLOCK LOOK

Create an impact with our stunning Satin Shirt Dress in Orange tangerine hue.  Its an all time classic shirt dress shape with mother of pearl effect buttons and a drawstring tie waist.  The fabric is a good weight – think of the crisp structure of a quality chino style fabric but one which feels silky to the touch.  The curved hem finishes just above the knee which means it looks great worn as a longer length jacket style over jeans and a strappy vest T as an option to wearing as a true dress.   Available in sizes 6 to 18 and a favourite with many of our Tortue team too! 

THE SMART/CASUAL TAILORED LOOK

You can sizzle your style on a sunny day by opting for hot colours like orange or red.

If you find wearing these colours from head to toe is a bit too much for you then opt for a pattern featuring orange or red instead.

These Wide Leg Trousers With Belt in Paprika are made from a luxurious silk cotton material.  They are such a versatile piece for your wardrobe that will work hard for you in terms of cost per wear.   They have a structured cut to them and are fitted at the hips but loose and comfortable down the thighs and legs.  They also feature a removable belt and a cargo pocket for added style and convenience.  When the BBQ is over you can smarten them up for work in the office, casually wear them with a plain t shirt and elevate them for a multitude of events.  The burnt orange colour pairs well with navy or black to brighten up a winter look or wear with a neutral T shirt in shades of ecru or beige for a more summery look too.  The trousers also come in a neutral putty beige colourway.

You can easily elevate your style with our Printed Shirt in Paprika and ecru.  Made from a light and fluid fabric with a buttoned front, it can be worn undone ‘jacket style’ over a strappy vest top as an alternative to wearing as a blouse and looks great worn with jeans. 

THE WARM/COSY LOOK

Get ready for cosy comfort with this beautiful Long Cardigan in Hazelnut.  It’s a colour that just goes with everything (especially the Mila Sparkle Vest Top in Bronze) featuring dropped shoulders, long sleeves and ribbed cuffs and hem.  The straight cut to the cardigan finishes at the knee and has a pocket at the front and looks great worn with our NEW Charlie Patch Jeans in Blue Denim.  These straight leg “Girlfriend” cut jeans feature an asymmetric fastening to the front button and zip fly with a cute sparkly rhinestone applique patch applied to the front of the hip at one side.

You can’t go wrong by taking a nice warm scarf with you to pop on in the early evening as it can be a bit chilly as the sun sets and the nights are starting to draw in that little bit earlier now.

The lovely ‘Amour’ Scarf in Redcurrant has shades of sand beige grey and black so pairs well with so many garments.  Its super soft and snuggly and at 188cm by 69.5cm its certainly big enough for 2 people to cosy up inside!

Alternatively dive into ultimate comfort with our Tie Dye Scarf in Celadon greens with khaki and ecru tones – another super soft and snugglesome scarf with fringes at both ends a d still a generous 183cm by 67.5cm too. I like to wear this scarf jacket style.  Simply hold with the longest part from hand across the shoulder to your other hand then tie the fringe edges together in a double knot at each wrist to create instant sleeves and voila!

I’ve got my fingers crossed for a dry bank holiday, especially if you have been invited to a BBQ but really it doesn’t matter as we have got you covered whatever your style and whatever the weather!

Enjoy!

Angela x