FASHION TREND: FUNKY FESTIVE JUMPERS

It wasn't all that long ago that the Chirstmas jumper was nothing more than a festive joke, hastily relegated to the useless present/ hideous fashion disaster pile. Now, knitwear is back with a bang, with striking colours, uber soft cashmere and glittery sequins at the fore. Here's our pick of our favourite pieces for men and women that make a statement throughout the winter ... after all, designer knitwear is not just for Christmas!

FOR HER

  

DKNY, £165; Markus Lupfer, £275

  

Juicy Couture, £155; Stella McCartney, £330.

FOR HIM

  

Moncler, £235; D&G cable knit, £285

  

Markus Lupfer, £280; Paul Smith cardigan, £210.

FESTIVE FOOD: EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

Whether you are looking for the perfect pressie for a loved one or want to add a dash of style to your Christmas feast, we've a host of great festive ideas.

Available from our in-store Foodmarket and pop-up shops at Cribbs Causeway and Cabot Circus, our range of food and drink will leave you very satisfied indeed. From winter warming port to cute chocolate treats, here's a few of our favourite things.

Clockwise from left: Walkers Santa Claus shortbread, £9.95; Harvey Nichols port, £18.50; Custom Cookie Compang gingerbread box, £22.95; Walkers snowman shortbread, £9.95; Harvey Nichols cranberry sauce with burgandy, £3.95; Harvey Nichols brandy butter, £3.95; Harvey Nichols Champagne with two Riedel flutes, £70; and Lick The Spoon chocolate Christmas pudding with truffles, £9.95.

ONE CARDIGAN AND 12 WAYS TO WEAR IT

It’s the revolutionary winter warmer that has the fashion editors in a spin ... and it even has its own iPhone app!

Known as a “sweater with multiple personalities”, the DKNY Cozy offers a complete wardrobe in one. With 12 different ways of wearing it, you can dress it up or dress it down; knot it or tie it. By day, it’s a soft option to a jacket; at night, it keeps you stylishly warm.

Wrapped over your shoulders or worn loosely, the superluxe cardigan-cum-shawl is designed to be worn with either jeans for a relaxed look or your favourite LBD for a night on the town.

The DKNY Cozy is available in store in a variety of colours and styles. Prices start from £180 – not bad when that works out at £15 for each way you can wear it!

 

Above: Animal print, £200; silk blend stripes, £215. Below: Classic silk and cashmere, £180; checked silk, £200. All DKNY.

  



CHRISTMAS WINDOWS: FROZEN IN TIME

Where the icicles never melt and the snow never loses its crunch ... we're continuing one of retail’s longest running traditions as we recapture the magic of Christmas with our striking festive window displays.

The stylish seasonal scenes have been unveiled at our luxury Cabot Circus store after many months of planning by our talented display team. This year’s theme captures the idea of an ice workshop within which handcrafted props have been frozen in production.

One features a majestic, life-size white horse while in others mannequins dressed in the latest designer labels feature alongside giant blocks of ice. Each display has ‘discarded’ work tools, scaffolding and step ladders to create an eerie winter wonderland. Snow drifts, snowflakes and glittering icicles complete the scenes.

“The idea started following a trip to our workshop after the team there had been sculpting with polystyrene,” explains Head of Visual Display for Harvey Nichols, Janet Wardley. “It looked as if it had been magically snowing inside with the workshop frozen in time. The overall effect was a contemporary setting and it felt like a very novel approach to portraying Christmas.”

The very first Christmas windows date back to the 1870s when Macy’s New York revealed its “holiday” displays. Harvey Nichols continues this tradition for creating stylish and eye-catching windows.

THE CUPPA GETS A MODERN MAKE-OVER!

It’s caused a storm in a tea cup, turning the traditional cuppa on its head, and now the revolutionary Bubbleology Kit is available exclusively in store.

Launched in London last year, it is the first time the innovative drink has been available outside the Capital, offering tea drinkers a bubble-icious spin on their favourite tipple.

Originating in Taiwan, bubble tea has a red or green tea base and is then infused with refreshingly fruity flavours. Tasty tapioca balls can be found at the bottom of the tea – these pearls are 0% fat with a sweet caramel taste.

The Bubbleology Kit costs £24.95 and is available from our in-store Foodmarket. It comes with eight cups and over-sized straws to suck the tapioca treats up, as well as all the special ingredients you need to make two flavours of bubble tea in your own home. There is also a shaker to mix and create the small floating bubbles this type of tea is renowned for.

TAKE A PEAK IN OUR NEW POP-UP SHOP!

For the first time we've launched a festive pop-up shop at Cribbs Causeway. Our new mini Foodmarket will be open in The Mall every day in the run up to Christmas. If you've not popped in yet, here's a sneak peak of what we have on offer.

CUTE CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM BENEFIT!

For the perfect gift this Christmas, check out these cutesy beauties from Benefit. We love the set of four eau de toilette fragrances (above) - Laugh With Me LeeLee, My Place of Yours Gina, Garden of Good & Eva and Ring My Bella. A great buy at just £29.50.

Pucker up for all that mistletoe action with this mini lip gloss box (below) containing six bestsellers and priced at £19.50. You can shop the complete Benefit range in store now.

FASHION MUST-HAVES: THE CLASSIC LBD

It’s the holy grail of fashion – finding the perfect little black dress. Every woman dreams of owning a knock ‘em dead number that fits, flatters and leaves your friends green with envy at the Christmas party.

It’s the one item that no wardrobe can live without, the fall-back essential when nothing else will do. It will take you through a host of diary dates and, choose well, and you could see it lasting you a good few seasons.

We can thank Coco Chanel and her innovative design talent for creating the first LBD in 1926 as a kick-back to long layered clothes. Using a colour previously reserved for funerals and periods of mourning, she created a simple, sexy sheath style which was cut just above the knee.

Despite countless sea-changes in the world of fashion, it is the one item of clothing that has remained relatively unchanged. Perfect for taking you through a whole host of social dates this season, it remains one of our most-asked for pieces. Simple accessorize with fabulous heels (the glittery the better!), gold jewellery and clutch.

FASHION: McCARTNEY HAS THE X FACTOR

X Factor history was made this weekend ... and we're not talking about Lady Gaga's headless costume! For the first time ever, one of the female judges turned her back on a flowing gown and instead opted to wear a trouser suit. Big shock, we know.

Kelly Rowland stepped out on Saturday night looking uber stylish in Stella McCartney, joking that she's pinched her tuxedo-inspired ensemble from Gary Barlow's wardrobe. We're not surprised she turned to one of our favourite designers - the AW11 collection boasts a striking range of jackets, trousers and tops that tick this season's androgynous boxes while remaining feminine and sexy.

Here's a few of our must-have pieces from the new season Stella McCartney collection. You can shop the brand in store:

  

Classic wool jacket, £950; tweed boyfriend jacket, £995.

  

Geometric print dress, £665; T-shirt dress, £230.

  

Velvet contrast dress, £925; Cocoon dress, £330



BEAUTY: GET YOUR SKIN WINTER READY

It’s no secret that winter weather plays havoc with our skin. Add to this a endless round of Christmas parties and it’s no surprise we’re left with a tired looking complexion.

Creme de la Mer comes to the rescue with its new Hydrating Facial, created to deliver a swift replenishing treat. The 100% cotton two-zone mask – one for the upper part of your face, the other for the lower section – delivers amazing hydration via a luxurious spa-like experience. Your skin is left nourished, smooth and conditions, with a resilient healthy-looking glow.

Available in store now, the Hydrating Facial box costs £180 and contains masks for six facials.

RESTAURANT: ENJOY A TASTE OF AUTUMN

Indugle in the fabulous tastes of autumn with our new November prix fixe now available in our stylish Second Floor Restaurant.

Boasting the very best produce of the season, the new menu features such delicious dishes as parsnip soup with spiced apples; slow cooked pork roast with pumpkin polenta; and creamy rice pudding with quince and orange blossom compote.

The prix fixe is available for lunch from 12noon-3pm, Monday to Saturday, and is priced at £15 for two courses or three courses for £18. For dinner, the menu is available from Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm-10pm, with two courses for £16 or three courses for £19, including canapés on arrival.

For more information or to make reservations, please contact the Second Floor Restaurant on 0117 916 8898, email reception.bristol@harveynichols.com.

SEASONAL PRIX FIXE MENU

Parsnip soup, spiced apple

Stream Farm organic chicken liver parfait, apple chutney, toasted brioche

Inverawe smoked salmon roulade, beetroot and horseradish

~~~

Slow cooked shoulder of pork, pumpkin polenta, crisp crackling, sage jus

Beetroot and potato pomme anna, kale and lentil salsa, Harbourne blue fritters

Seared Brixham gurnard, buttered rainbow chard, confit potatoes, pickled fennel,

orange dressing

~~~

Rice pudding, roast quince and orange blossom compote

Saffron poached pear, mascarpone cream, stem ginger sable

Chocolate and pecan brownie, butternut and black pepper ice cream

WE'RE POPPING UP AT CRIBBS CAUSEWAY!

We're opening a second festive pop-up shop in Bristol, this time at Cribbs Causeway. Launching at the shopping centre for the first time, our luxury store will bring a delicious selection of own-brand food and drink, hampers and gifts to the new mini Foodmarket at The Mall.

The temporary shop opens its doors this Thursday (November 10) and will be open every day in the run up to Christmas.

TREND: THAT'S WHY THE LADY IS A VAMP!

Vamp it up this season with the chicest look ... think Miss Jean Brodie meets Joan Holloway!

LADYLIKE TREND: Sexy, chic and elegant, this is the ultra “put together” look and one of the season’s sexiest trends. Sassy tailoring and feminine silhouettes come to the fore for grown-up femininity.

THE KEY PIECES: Think seductive secretary meets prim and proper for a style that’s best summed by Christina Hendricks in Mad Men. Ensure your wardrobe is bursting with pencil skirts and knee-length tailored dresses to show off your curves, and sensual sheers shirts with pussy bow detail. Team with a sophisticated bag and pointed court shoes. The dominating palette is black and grey.

SEEN ON THE CATWALKS AT: Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Donna Karan and Yves Saint Laurent.

  

Alexander McQueen, £980; By Malene Birger, £280.

  

D&G, £525; MaxMara, £395.

  

Dolce & Gabbana, £335; DKNY, £225.