It's Christmas! Win your Nica Wishlist!

Ho ho ho, we're full of Christmas cheer here at Nica HQ!

With Christmas just around the corner we thought it was time to treat one of our lovely Nica fans with some festive goodies!

This Christmas we are making one lucky Nica customer’s wishes come true by giving you the chance to win your wishlist!

Simply enter up to £150 of your favourite Nica products into your wishlist, and tell us why you think you are worth the prize and we will choose one lucky customer to win their goodies!

Your reasons for wanting to win can be absolutely anything. From a funny story to a sad story, we will read them all and choose the one that we feel is the most deserving!

So, go on, treat yourself this Christmas! Start shopping!

Love and Christmas wishes,

Nica x

*The winner will be chosen at random on the 23^rd Decemeber 2011, and your products will be sent out on the 28^th December 2011 (subject to availability).

Elettra's got the Xfactor!

Xfactor judge Tulisa has been spotted wearing our Elettra tote in navy! Flying back into London, Tulisa was snapped wearing a lovely summery outfit at the airport.

Mentoring the groups in this year’s xfactor, she’s got a tough job on her hands! Do you think she’s got what it takes to lead the first group to victory? Wearing our Elettra tote we think she can conquer the world!

We have unfortunately sold out of Elettra tote in navy, however we have it in a lovely taupe colour that is perfect for this autumn’s colour palette!

Elettra tote in taupe £69

If it’s the navy colour you are after though, we have the Elettra shoulder bag available!

Elettra shoulder in navy £59

Happy shopping!

Love Nica x

A big thank you from Nica HQ

Behind the VIP scenes at Party in the Park!

Just a few of the lovely celebs that came to visit the Nica girls!

Nica was a complete hit at this year’s Party in the Park in Leeds, with celebs making a bee line for our stand in the V.I.P area!

Our wonderful stand full of goodies!

New Girl band Parade were really excited about our collection of bags and purses! As avid Topshop fans they loved that Nica is stocked in their favourite store and chose the ‘Elettra’ & ‘Lenton’ satchels and cross bodies.

The girls from Parade showing off their choices!

Kimberley Wyatt adored our bags so much that she wanted the tan ‘Bunty’ purse from our leather range Nica London to go with the bag she chose, saying "I'm flying back to LA later, but I wish I could stay! I love British style so much".

Before jetting back off to LA Kimberly Wyatt found the time to pose with us!

Pixie Lott made a beeline for our stand over others saying she has “far too many" bags and that she “loves the vintage style” of ‘Elettra’ & ‘Sinead’” - So much so she couldn't decide between the two! We gave Pixie’s mum the ‘Sinead’ and suggested they swap!

After finally choosing her bag Pixie poses with the Nica girls!

The totally gorgeous boys from The Wanted chose bags for their mums with the exception of Max who chose his bag for new fiancée Michelle Keegan….Aww!

The Nica girls just about manage to control themselves surrounded by The Wanted boys!

Just your style boys!

The girls of Six D loved the Nica Play rucksacks saying "this bright colour is perfect", "such a cute size for a rucksack".

The day was so fun, luckily the weather stayed sunny for most of the day, and even a few rain showers couldn’t dampen the mood (sorry…)

80,000 people attended the party and with fairground rides, special mcflurry vans and face painting to keep everyone entertained, along with some brilliant music it was a day to remember!

The Nica team were loved so much we got invited backstage to watch a few acts!! Olly Murs, JLS, and Example were huge hits with the crowd.

Watching Olly Murs from backstage!

We had a quick natter with JLS about their hopes for a number 1 spot with their latest single ‘She makes me wanna’ and two hours later there they were at the top of the chart!

The gorgeous JLS boys went on to perform their string of hits after our little chat!

We ended the day at 6pm and returned weary eyed back to London without a goody bag in sight!

Check out Nica’s pics and see what Nica bags your favourite celebs went home with!

Gems in my Mama's closet - Guest writer Chaka, Ecommerce Userbility and Production

Our guest writer Chaka - Online Userbility and Production.

During one of my seasonal rummages through my mum's 'old clothes closet' I came across this amazing vintage pink twin set from Topshop! Complete with the old style TS label from the late 80's i was in LOVE! 

My mama's vintage Topshop jacket from the 80s

Topshop's vintage label!

Thinking that it may be a bit of an overkill to rock into work wearing the WHOLE outfit, I teamed the jacket (minus the massive shoulder pads!) with a black vest top, black skinnys and plaited wedged sandles, as i was going out that eveining it was PERFECT!

I love this jacket because it is so typically 80's, yet lends itself completely to the trends of today. I also love the fact that it is totally unique.

I highly recommend taking the time to look for gems in your Mama's closet, you can find some fantastic items that just keep coming back into fashion. Some other great finds I have salvaged include this cute white summer dress, and this colour crazy scarf.

I can't wait to wear this cute little number on holiday!

Mum's amazing floral scarf - bang on trend this season!

No doubt I'll be back there for Autumn!

Nica HQ goes Vintage crazy!

Vintage 2011 at London’s Southbank is finally here! This amazing vintage festival kicks off in style today and here at Nica HQ we couldn’t be more excited! We love taking style tips from the past, whether it’s tea in pretty crockery, classic red lippy, classic fashion or stylish accessories! Southbank will visit various eras from the 20s to the 80s for their celebration of all things vintage, and with fashion shows, dancing, clubs and food there’s something for everyone! In light of our excitement, here at Nica HQ us girls have decided to raid our wardrobes and dig out our finest vintage pieces to show you. Be sure to come back daily to see each of our best vintage finds!

Share your vintage stories with us! Post pictures of your favourite vintage items on our Facebook page. If you’re going to Vintage 2011 at Southbank, be sure to tell us your favourite bits of the festival!

The Secret Garden - Behind the scenes of the Nica AW11 photoshoot



Transport yourself away to a vintage inspired secret garden....



Way back in chilly January the Nica team wrapped up and packed up our favourite bags from our brand new Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, and jumped in a cab from Nica HQ across town to trendy Shoreditch for our AW11 photo shoot. The shoot was held at MC Motors, an amazing warehouse that oozes character and natural charm – the perfect backdrop for our new collection! Wonderful textured walls, different types of flooring and loads of beautiful rustic and retro pieces gives the location a real ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ feeling, which was just perfect for our story.



Unpacking our favourites from AW11 - including the Sinead satchel, the Katya bowling bag, the Nele acrossbody and the Celia portfolio.



The Nele shoulder bag in Taupe sits perfectly with the vintage props of our location



Meeting us on location was our wonderful team of makeup artists, hair stylists, stylists, prop managers, stunning model Denise and of course our fabulous photographer, Mr Theo Cohen. Buzzing with excitement, we got down to business and started preparing the location ready for shooting to begin.

The theme for the shoot was 40’s classic with a strong romantic feel. We wanted to bring the outside in to create an ‘oldie worldie’ feel and, as usual, eccentricity and quirkiness was a key look for us. We challenged our prop managers to create an indoor ‘Nica Secret Garden’ where we had a backdrop of stunning greenery and beautiful, vibrant roses. Unphased, the team set to work to create our garden, and the finished product was spectacular. We had successfully turned an East London warehouse into a magical secret garden that oozed charm and character! Denise was styled in a selection of amazing vintage clothes from the 1940s that perfectly complimented the structured, vintage feel of the bags. With hair and makeup completed, and Denise looking like a true 1940s siren, the shoot began.



Our photographer, Theo and Nica's brand manager, Sinead create the perfect indoor secret garden

 

Spot the sofa!



Our beautiful model Denise perfectly captured the vintage 40s siren look



The amazing vintage inspired wardrobe - the stylists had it under lock and key unfortunately!



We've got the shot!



Imagine if we could use this to transport ourselves back to the 40s...





Unlike most Nica shoots, the day went without a single hiccup – there were no prop disasters (we managed to avoid lugging a giant canoe around this time...) and every shot came out perfectly. As you can see, it was an amazing shoot that perfectly captures the charm and essence of our latest collection. We couldn’t be happier – the pictures perfectly tell our story for this season’s collection.



Nica takes in the surroundings



So, get carried away in a world of 1940s glamour, romance and eccentricity and let us know your favourite shot!

The Elettra Large Crossbody in Red



The Nele Small Shoulder in Blush



The Celia Portfolio in Dark Taupe



The Katya Tote in Burgundy

The Sinead Satchel in Camel

The Celia Crossbody in Navy

Introducing the AW11 Collection...

Be inspired by the upcoming trends for Autumn/Winter 11...

Although the sun seems to be shining, it’s that time of year again when the fashion world goes crazy for the launch of the latest autumn/winter collections. With the launch of the Nica AW11 collection just around the corner, we thought we would treat you to some exclusive insider knowledge about the inspiration behind the collection, and all the key trends you can rock by wearing it!

Doing what she does best, Nica has created a collection that is full of charm and vintage romance with unique shapes, the reintroduction of Nica charms and quirky flourishes. Nostalgia for bygone eras was a big theme for Nica, particularly the 1940s teamed with a subtle 1970s influence, shown through strong, structured vintage shapes such as the saddlebag, the bowler bag, the briefcase and a retro flight bag.

A rustic autumnal colour palette of deep reds, burgundy, amber and jade sit perfectly next to pale neutrals and vintage beige and navy, to create a real sense of bohemian eccentricity and romantic beauty. Fun new patterns and graphics highlight a strong art deco influence, drawing on Nica’s love for graphic design.

This new A/W collection sees the Nica range transcend towards a more sophisticated feel, with an air of vintage elegance. Engross yourself in the grace of past years, yet flourish in the modern world thanks to the playful Nica details that encompass the brand so well.

Trust in Fashion

This year’s Trust in Fashion event is raising money for the Rainbow Trust. Nica is proud to be donating the ‘Bunty’ satchel from Nica London, Nica’s leather collection. This gorgeous taupe croc satchel can be yours if you place the highest bid at the auction! The Rainbow Trust charity cares for the families of children with life threatening or terminal illnesses. So it is a fantastic opportunity to get this season’s latest looks and help a very worth while children’s charity.

To buy tickets for the event held on 29^th and 30^th June go to www.trustinfashion.org/tickets

Floral Trend

This summer is all about prints and colours and what better way to combine this trend than with Nica new floral collection. 

Our Jasmine tote is the perfect example with delicate detailing and pretty pastels. This bag will look stunning for a shopping trip or a walk in the park. 

If you’re after a small shoulder bag then the Isley will carry all your essentials throughout the day. 

Take advantage of our floral bags at £10 off for a limited time only! 

Fashion Unites for Japan

Some of the most coveted celebrities in the world have joined forces with the editors of Japan Vogue and GQ magazine to create a charity T-shirt project in aid of the survivors of the Japanese earthquake. Celebrities including Karl Lagerfield, Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, Blake Lively and Orlando Bloom have all created unique t-shirts adorned with messages of support for the survivors of the earth-shattering quake that rocked the world in March 2011.

The project aims to raise 100 million yen (£757,000) which will be donated through the Japanese Red Cross. T-shirts go on sale at Uniqlo stores from June 25^th, priced at £12.99 each.

Here at Nica HQ we were all devastated by the news of the earthquake and we have fundraising in the office, as well as offering you the chance to add an additional donation with your purchases. You have been overwhelmingly generous since we launched the donation option, we have already raised over £500. We ask you though to continue to dig deep to help support the survivors in getting their life back on track. Please spread the word about the relief efforts, every penny really counts in this case.

With love,

Nica HQ x

Summer of Love!

“Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They’re shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity” (The Notebook, 2004).

We all love a good summer romance, and whether we like to admit it or not, we all love The Notebook! Nica’s high summer collection sees a range inspired by the charm and magic of a head-over-heels summer romance. Featuring stunning feminine floral patterns, soft blush pastels and vibrant pops of colour, along with relaxed casual shapes, the high summer collection perfectly encompasses all the excitement and charisma of a hot summer romance, whilst being perfectly practical for all your everyday requirements when you are busy being romanced!

So get carried away this summer and click here to view the full high summer collection!

A Royal Affair at Nica HQ!

Here at Nica HQ we went stir crazy for the Royal Wedding! With half the office taking advantage of the 11 day break for 3 days holiday, it was unusually quite at Nica HQ, so we thought we should organize a little party to celebrate the forthcoming nuptials of our favourite future King and Queen.



The Nica showroom at HQ is transformed into a fabulous vintage-themed British tea party!



We think our bags sit rather well with the Union Jack!



Adding a sprinkling of Nica magic to the Union Jack



We really got into the spirit of things, all contributing something different to the party, from flags to champagne to union jack fairy cakes! We decorated our showroom with all things British and sat down to enjoy a feast of tea-party delights, including sausage rolls, scotch eggs, trifle, cheesecake, muffins and Royal Wedding themed jazzies to name but a few!



Where to start?!

Royal Wedding themed cupcakes! How posh!

After nibbling away on all our delicious treats we played a game of pin the tail on the corgi, and after close analysis our Graphics assistant, Komal, was announced as the winner - by a few millimeters! We all made our guess at who would design ‘the dress’, with a handful of us successfully guessing Sarah Burton for McQueen! Big pat on the back for us!

We're sure the Queen played this at the reception...

Nica gets patriotic!

It was the perfect way to get us in the mood for the Royal Wedding and using our Royal Wedding Oyster cards we headed home to prepare for the wedding of the decade!

Our Royal Wedding Oyster card - we love it so much we have bought a spare just in case we lose it!

It was a momentous day, with both Kate and Pippa Middleton looking absolutely stunning – we all have new girl crushes!

Some of the girls went down to the Mall to watch the procession and two were right at the front for the Royal Kiss! Were you there? Do you have an amazing Royal Wedding story to share?

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