Sainsburys Christmas in July

Last Thursday, on a rather hot, stuffy day in London, I was strangely transported to a different time, a time we know and love as CHRISTMAS! Yes, the Christmas in July events were in full throttle, but due to actually try to enjoy summer I hadn’t been to any of them this year. But all this changed as I got that festive feeling – starting with a stunning event organised by Sainsburys.

Held in the totally beautiful surroundings of Il Bottaccio, Grovesnor Place, Sainsburys introduced us to a real Winter Wonderland, a showcase for everything seasonal, from party wear to gifts, food to flowers, beauty products to Prosecco. There was so much to look at it was a total feast for the eyes.

I headed straight for the fashion to check out some sneaky looks at what Gok Wan has in store for us. A beautiful burgundy lace dress dominated the proceedings – it screamed Middleton and is sure to be a massive hit when it is launched. Another hit was a leather tote bag that felt so soft, and yet will retail for a bargain £30 when it hits stores. I loved the fact that this tote actually zipped, making it security conscious too.

Jewel colours are a big fashion statement at Sainsburys, with deep purples and rich teal looking great, really rich and vibrant for dark days. Purple was a big colour on the catwalk for A/W 2012 so Sainsburys have cleverly tied into the catwalk trend. A cape sleeved tunic was beautiful, really dressy for the party season. There was also a Kate Bosworth feel to a couple of pieces, with a cute owl jumper that had been styled to be worn tucked into a tweed skirt – a very designer inspired look.

There were also some fabulous coats, a Burberry inspired trenchcoat from Gok Wan, dressy brocade style coats that would compliment evening wear perfectly. And men were not forgotten either, I loved the traditional Christmas inspired cardigans – always a must in my house for both hubby and son!

More Sainsburys fashion

The press day wasn’t all about great fashion. There was also a chance to try some of the fab products from the Mandara Spa range, which is a beautifully packaged, very affordable spa type brand that comes in a range of fragrances. I just adored theAmber Heaven collection, which is presented in a gorgeous Quality Street purple style packaging, and has a deep, sensuous scent containing elements of Patchouli and Sandlewood. The prices start at just £5, so this is a great value idea for Christmas presents.