New in at Godiva: more wintry goodies!

Our winter stock is coming in thick and fast! It's always exciting to come into the shop in the morning and see what new things have arrived since I was last in. At the moment it feels as though there's a new delivery every day, so there's lots to look forward to!

Rowanjoy Jessie dress, £75; Rowanjoy Bridget cape top, £65; Rowanjoy mega pleat skirt, £65. Items available in store, alternatively shop Rowanjoy online here

Rowanjoy's new Autumn/Winter "Wallflower" collection has been a big hit on social media and in store too: we sold out of one of the dresses on the very first day! Since then she's been busy making up some more 'Jessie' dresses - which form part of her permanent collection - in some new colourful fabrics. The green and yellow one is my favourite; it reminds me of a backgammon board, but it's actually really flattering with the yellow triangles making your waist look teeny tiny! Rowan's also made up these gorgeous mega pleat skirts in a combination of wool and brightly-patterned cotton.

 

Paperthinks long tote, £60; Paperthinks shopper, £65; Paperthinks envelope bag, £50; Paperthinks purse, £35. All items available in store, alternatively shop Paperthinks online here

Last week saw a huge new delivery from Paperthinks: totes, handbags, shoulder bags and purses in so many beautiful colours! If you haven't come across them before, Paperthinks are a UK brand who recycle offcuts and scraps from the leather industry by grinding them down and shredding with rubber. This reformed and recycled leather is then coated with bright, beautiful colours and made into the bags and purses that you see here. Paperthinks reduce waste from the leather industry, save animals and use a lamination technique to get vibrant colours, instead of using harmful chemicals. That's something we can definitely get behind!

The Style London sequin dress, £40; The Style London tapestry skirt, £24; The Style London tailored coat, £49.50. All items available in store, alternatively shop The Style London online here

Just in time for the party season, we've had some lovely sparkly and shimmery pieces in from The Style London! The gold and black sequinned shift dresses have 3/4 length sleeves, perfect for keeping a little warmer during the cold winter evenings. They're also very versatile, and can be worn as a top underneath a skirt, as seen here! I've completely fallen in love with the skirt too, it has this gorgeous textured tapestry effect and a flattering A-line shape.

Jenny Deans Canty studs, £25; Jenny Deans Canty pearl studs, £37.50; Jenny Deans small Canty earrings, £50; Jenny Deans Canty spiral earrings, £87.50. All available in store, alternatively shop Jenny Deans online here

Jenny Deans' jewellery is absolutely exquisite, hand-crafted in Edinburgh from sterling silver and freshwater pearls. We stock her "Daisy" collection - a selection of bracelets, earrings and necklaces adorned with silver daisy petals that can be hand-stamped with dates or names - and we've recently had some new pieces from her "Canty" collection in. I love the earrings: gentle spiral studs, available with or without the pearl, and two styles of drop earrings. So beautiful!

Silk Purse Sow's Ear earrings, £10; SPSE lockets, £20; SPSE brooch, £9. Available in store, alternatively shop Silk Purse Sow's Ear online here

I always look forward to a delivery from Silk Purse Sow's Ear: a box full of an amazing variety of necklaces, earrings and brooches, with barely two the same! The most recent delivery was no exception, with some old favourite pieces (I immediately scooped up one of the lockets) and some new designs too. I love the gold geometric stud earrings, and the running fox brooch is adorable too.

Turtle Doves cashmere wrist warmers, £22. Available in store

Earlier today we had a special delivery from Turtle Doves - a whole bag full of these beautiful colourful wrist warmers! They're each made from a recycled 100% cashmere jumper, so they're super soft and perfect for keeping your hands warm all day long. Fingerless gloves and wrist warmers are perfect for wearing indoors during the day time as well as when you're out and about, because your fingers are still free to type away at a keyboard or pop the kettle on for a cup of tea!

And besides all this, we've uploaded a whole load of vintage goodies onto our online shop! Take a look at our 'New Arrivals' section to view all the pieces, or browse my favourites below...

1960s dress, £50 (buy here)

1970s dress, £30 (buy here)

1970s dress, £30 (buy here)

Mickey Mouse jumper, £30 (buy here)

 

1980s jumper, £20 (buy here)

Wolf jumper, £28 (buy here)

The Godiva Guide to... looking after leather

We always treat our leather products as an investment. Whether it's a pre-loved pair of vintage leather cowboy boots, a brightly-coloured recycled leather bag or a swoon-worthy leather jacket, we want you to be able to love it and wear it forever!

And the best way to ensure that your new leather purchase will last a lifetime is to spend an extra few minutes every now and then looking after it.

Leather Bags

At Godiva we stock three different kinds of leather bags: Yoshi satchels and wallets are made from leather; Paperthinks shoppers, totes and purses are made from recycled leather (leather offcuts that have been ground down and moulded into a new material); Rebecca Jane bags are handmade from reclaimed leather and vintage fabrics. These different kinds of leather all have their different merits, but their care and maintenance is essentially the same.

Care & maintenance

When you first get your leather bag, you should treat it with a beeswax cream or a spray protectant to act as a barrier against water, such as spillages or rain. These products can sometimes alter the colour of leather, so make sure you test it on a small, inconspicuous area first.

Lightly brush over the bag with a soft dry cloth (microfibre ones work great) to keep it looking bright and shiny. Every month or so you can use a leather conditioner to help prevent the leather from drying out.

Storage

Store your bag in a dustbag whenever you're not using it, and fill it with stuffing to help keep its shape. Otherwise, make sure you keep it in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight. 

We always advise rotating your bags in the same way that you should rotate your favourite shoes and coats - wearing the same one every day will wear it out much quicker!

Leather Jackets

We stock Nonchalant's beautiful leather jackets in store, in classic black and dusty pink colours. At £375 they're an investment piece, but with a little care and attention a Nonchalant jacket will last you a lifetime!

Care & Maintenance

Leather jackets are very hardwearing (that's why motorcyclists wear them!) but you should still look after them properly to make sure they keep looking their best for as long as possible. Before you wear it for the first time, treat your leather jacket with a leather guard, usually a simple spray, to help protect against spillages and dirt.

We wouldn't advise wearing a leather jacket in a torrential downpour, but you should be able to remove rain spots with a dry cloth, or a spot of leather conditioner. If your jacket does get wet, let it dry on a hanger at room temperature, away from direct heat like radiators or airing cupboards that will dry out the leather.

Storage

Whenever you're not wearing it, hang your leather jacket on a decent wooden hanger in a cool, dry place. Leather tends to stretch, so try to avoid hanging it on a hook or with clothes pegs. If you're storing away your leather jacket during the warmer months, keep it hung up in a clothes bag to protect it from dust.

Vintage Leather Boots

We always have a good selection of leather boots in our vintage room, whether that's cowboy boots, ankle boots or knee-high boots! Sometimes people can be a little turned off by the thought of wearing second-hand shoes, but remember that a good cobbler will be able to mend any heel or sole damage, and a sprinkling of baking soda inside the boots and left overnight will get rid of any nasty odours!

Cleaning & maintenance

First of all, use a clean dry cloth to remove any dust from the boots. You might always want to remove and replace the laces, if there are any. Then use a saddle soap to clean the vintage boots thoroughly and get rid of any dirt or stains. You can then condition them to get that supple leather texture back again. 

If there are any stubborn stains you could try cleaning the boots with a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and one part water, then let dry overnight at room temperature.

Storage

Always clean your leather boots thoroughly and condition them before storing them away for a long period of time, such as over the summer. Store boots upright, using either shoe trees or stuffing them with acid-free paper to help keep their shape. As with all leather products, store boots in a cool, dry place and away from direct sunlight.

Where to buy

There are a number of cobblers in Edinburgh who can clean and repair your leather products for you, as well as selling a range of leather care and maintenance products, such as H Robertson in the city centre and Gorgie Cobblers in Gorgie.