SIGN TALK

Some thoughts on why #Covetique has #closed I couldn’t believe it today when I heard from my best friend that Covetique had closed. I actually told her that she was wrong - until I went to the site and saw for myself. I know that officially they would be considered a competitor of mine but to be honest I understand the blood, sweat and tears that it takes to make a business work and I just feel really sad for them. The reasons behind their closure have yet to be announced but having my own re-sale boutique TIMPANYS and also recently opening up online I would hazard a guess at some of them…..The margins on resale are a lot lower than they are on new goods, you’re looking at about 30 - 40% for an online seller. Out of this you have to pay rent, rates, wages, photography, postage, packaging and returns. You might say that every online clothes company experiences the same costs but in actual fact a site like netaporter sells say 50 of the same dresses by  victoriabeckham  whereas a re-sale site is selling lots of individual items. You still need a model and a photographer whether you are selling one or fifty dresses. It is therefore a greater cost in percentage terms per item. Returns are also a huge cost to companies. Last year for example ASOS had an approximate returns rate of 40% on clothes (it is for this reason that whilst I sell clothes in my bricks and mortar boutique I decided to only sell accessories online - it is harder for a bag not to ‘fit’ than a dress). They mentioned on their message that they were ‘unable to meet the quality level of service that customers rightly demanded’. I can understand this. They were re-selling top quality brands for very wealthy clients. Clients such as these are by their nature more demanding. They receive the highest quality of service in every aspect of their life. For example I have collected Chanel bags from a customer’s house at 10pm at night - despite living 2 hours away from her and woken up at 5am to discuss matters with a foreign client. It is my business and I do not resent this, but finding staff to deal with this without paying an extortionate wage is very very difficult…..At the end of the day you have to weigh up the long hours you are putting in with the money and job satisfaction you are getting out. If it is not a balanced equation then you need to close the door. I admire them for doing this. When you love something and have poured your time and effort into it sometimes it is tempting to keep on trying until it dwindles and dies. Covetique went out with a bang, they were a wonderful whirl-wind and I will miss browsing their rails.  www.signofthetimeslondon.com What are your thoughts?

I’ve bought seven pairs of shoes in seven days though, actually thats a lie…nine! - Customer flustering over another pair of Jimmy Choo heels!

Most trends seep down from celebrity to mortal, however it seems shopping pre-owned has worked in the opposite direction.

Are you caught in Charlotte’s Web? The designer of shoes so sexy that they even seduced Agent Provocateur! 

Watch our most recent blog - on how to re-style one dress in three different ways. Helping you stay stylish for less!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to see our new posts!

The film follows Raf Simons creating his first collection for Dior in eight weeks! Eight weeks - a job that normally takes six months.

Q: Antonia What size are the Jimmys you have in stock? Karenhey? We have size 7/8 and 4/5 in gold x

Vlog on how to print clash and wear your brights this spring using clothes Timpanys preowned luxury designer store!

A life sized cardboard Peter Andre - was my favourite reply to “What did you get for Mothers Day?” yesterday! 

TIMPANYS VLOG - one dress styled 7 ways! Got a great dress in your wardrobe but just rather bored of it? Here we save it from the sale rail by giving you some different styling ideas.Do you have any you can share with us?

Mothers Day Tales! Lets be honest when you take the mother out of the equation very little happens. A tale from one of my customers on Tuesday made me laugh. She woke up on Mothers Day and it was business as usual, no presents, no cards, not even an acknowledgement of the day. Not losing hope as after all she had spent the last few days sending flowers and organising presents for her Mother in Law she waited for her “surprise”. It got to 5pm and when one of the kids asked for a hot chocolate with whipped cream and all the trimmings it was the straw that broke the camels back! “GO AND ASK YOUR FATHER” (father was cleaning the car) “GO AND ASK YOUR MOTHER WHATS WRONG WITH HER” (mother storms out of the house) “I"M ON STRIKE ITS MOTHERS DAY” (look of horror crosses Fathers face) “can I finish washing the car?” No words are needed - the look says it all. Coworth Park is rung - Champagne all round and this year she is getting a beautiful designer handbag in compensation! If you remembered Mothers Day last year - chances are you don’t need to buy your mummy a handbag! In that case how about a lovely scarf. Guaranteed to fit and gorgeous to wear in the spring. Featured here is one by louisvuittonluxury and one by Celine  Available for purchase on www.signofthetimeslondon.com

Timpanys Vlog on buying a preowned designer dress.

What a woman! Only anyahindmarch could make the M25 glamorous! i use that motorway almost everyday driving too and from Timpanys and yet have never been inspired by it. How wonderful it would be to be able to look at the world through a designers eyes.  shop anya on www.signofthetimeslondon.com 

MULBERRY - founded by a Roger Saul in on his 21st birthday with £500 he was given! What an inspiring story for a small business to read about. What will you do with your next £500?  This Mulberry Del Rey is available from www.signofthetimeslondon.com preowned but as new for £795

Q: Hi Antonia, I came into the shop before Christmas and we chatted about you started a blog - i am so glad that you decided to do it - and combining the Fashion advice with Marketing the pieces in the shop is such a great idea! well done you.Awww thank you xx

Try xyze on for size! This clever measuring tape pronounced “size” picks up on the fact that many different online retailers come up at different sizes. A small in one place is a size medium elsewhere…case in point marksandspencerThis little gadget accurately measures your body, transmits the data via bluetooth to your smart phone and matches it up to the correct size in the particular store you...

Why Hermes is the ultimate investment piece.

Timpanys Fashion Vlog

tinder STYLE SHOPPING APP HAS LANDED! From selfridges to topshop you can find your fashion match on grabble! It’s so easy to use. You set your discovery such as brand, price and colour - and get swiping. Every time you swipe right for an item it will be saved to your ‘Grabs on the Go’ collection. The 'sale alert’ function allows us to be first in line when our favourite 'Grabs’ go down in price....

When I was  young I worked on Chelsea Green and every day at lunch I would walk the long way round just to look into collettedinnigan’s beautiful windows. Collette was born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand. She started out designing dry clean only lingerie and her background in this is evident in the delicate sexiness of her dress designs. Her first store was opened in Sydney in 1992 and...

“Some things never go out of fashion in the world of fashion: jeans, the white shirt, and the Chanel jacket.” says a famous quote from Karl Lagerfeld.

Q: I love your articles. They certainly get me inspired to want to shop for lots of clothes and handbags!!!!Thank you so much! You’re very kind! What are you shopping for at the moment?

WARNING you might just be about to regret your starbucks habit! This spring they’ll be no more trying to look skinnier than you are by hiding behind your big bag! Because the miniatures are here! I for one am seriously excited. Firstly for my posture, I just hope one day my spine will recover and my left shoulder will match the strength of my right. Secondly it will curb my enthusiasm to take half my make up bag with me on a night out when really all I need is my lippy and concealer. Thirdly and most importantly they are not as eye wateringly expensive, which means more people get to join in the fun of dangling a bit of designer over their shoulder and lets face it the more people at the party the more fun it is! So downsize on your starbucks and your handbag this spring! Buy from www.signofthetimeslondon.com

Seen walking down the catwalk at gucci, chloeruby, jasonwustudioand more - suede. Not your usual floaty number for spring - but the perfect accompaniment to it. The downside to this trend is the cost both the initial eye watering price tag and the on going high maintenance of dry cleaning. Why not save yourself a fortune and let us per-suede you to buy it from us instead. Preowned but perfect...