Westpac’s Post

Retail therapy for election anxiety. How to dress for work and show your style with The Second Shift based on this article in The Wall Street Journal https://lnkd.in/eJTM3-wT Click here to shop looks and more: https://lnkd.in/e_QAJRJG #dressforwork #womeninbusiness #midlifewomen

Yep I think it's fair to say this weekend the seasons changed! As I packed away the summer clothes, it got me thinking about this 👇 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫: 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐭: Just like your favourite custom outfit, a financial adviser provides strategies designed for you, making sure your plan fits your unique goals and needs. 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: Think of advisers as your ‘financial fashionistas’—they keep you up-to-date with the latest trends and can help you make smart investment choices. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Just like a great jacket protects you from the rain, a financial adviser helps you manage risks, keeping you safe from unexpected financial surprises. 𝐓𝐚𝐱 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: Expert advice is like having a wardrobe that fits perfectly—optimised to make your tax situation smooth and save you money. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: Navigating complex financial plans is like finding that perfect outfit for a big event—advisers make it easy and manageable. 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: They give you honest feedback, just like a friend who tells you if that outfit really works, helping you make clear and unbiased decisions. 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: Advisers help keep your financial plan timeless, evolving smoothly with your goals, like classic wardrobe pieces that never go out of style. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞: As fashion trends change, so do financial rules. Advisers stay updated so your plans stay stylish and compliant. 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞-𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: They handle the details, just like a personal stylist, freeing up your time to focus on what really matters. 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝: Having an expert manage your financial affairs is like having a well-organised closet—providing you with the confidence and reassurance that your financial wardrobe is in impeccable order. #FinancialWardrobe #ExpertAdvice #FinancialStyle #SmartPlanning #PeaceOfMind #yourbusinessmatters

In their heyday, department stores loomed large in daily life, especially for women. For many men, the stores were a place to pick up a tie or a pair of shoes. Menswear was often on the entry floor, near the door, for this reason: There was no expectation for a male shopper to linger. For women, however, the stores were often social destinations but also, at a time when retail was among the few options available to women entering the workforce, places of opportunity. In the recently published book, “When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion,” author Julie Satow recounts: “In the early twentieth century, department stores were a land of glamour and possibility. In a single afternoon, you could have the details of a wedding (or funeral) planned; find out the dates for the civil service examinations; send a telegram at a Western Union outpost; drop your baby at the nursery to have a leisurely lunch at the tearoom, followed by an appointment at the hair salon; arrange for the express delivery of an ermine fur wrap to your home; buy refrigerated steaks; or order a pair of rare green parakeets from the Seychelles Islands.” Given how much department stores focus on female consumers, it is perhaps surprising that more women have not been in charge of such businesses. In her book, Ms. Satow, a journalist and the author of “The Plaza” (2019), recounts the careers of three who were: Hortense Odlum, who took charge of Bonwit Teller & Co. in the 1930s after her financier husband purchased the store as a distressed asset; Dorothy Shaver, who was president of Lord + Taylor in the ’40s and ’50s; and Geraldine Stutz, a generation younger, who took the helm of Henri Bendel in 1957 and ran it for three decades. Each woman turned a struggling store into a success. Ms. Satow details precisely how they made it work. The book is a good read. #departmentstores #stores #retailing #brands #books Katrina Gulliver The Wall Street Journal

We may not be fashionistas, but we do know how to spot a trend when it hits our data dashboards 👀 The UGG craze is back in full force but this year, it’s all about the evolving styles. Check out what’s heating up in search trends: 🥿 Ugg Slippers Women – 1,184,125 searches this month, up 105% in just 30 days ✨ Ugg Tasman Slippers Women – 281,193 searches this month, up 41% 👠 Platform Uggs – 71,080 searches this month, up 71% 🌟 Ugg Goldenstar – 24,264 searches this month, up 84% Oh, and for those looking to save a buck, there’s also a growing trend in searches for “Ugg Dupes,” “Off Brand Uggs,” and even “Fake Uggs.” Trends may come and go, but it looks like cozy is here to stay!

The UK is on the cusp of what’s expected to be a pivotal general election — not just for the country, but for the fashion industry, too. Under the current Conservative government, the fashion and luxury industries have been squeezed by Brexit and the removal of VAT-free shopping. There have been growing fears over creative subjects being deprioritised in the Tory push for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. Emerging designers are struggling to survive amid the cost of living crisis, and many say they’d like to see greater investment from the government to help the UK’s fashion industry compete with the likes of France and Italy. So who should fashion vote for? On Vogue Business today, Lucy Maguire, Maliha Shoaib and I break down the manifestos of five leading UK political parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and Reform UK), with a focus on key issues for fashion. Plus, additional insights from British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush on the five issues fashion would like to see the new government prioritise.

Three Key Aspects to Elevate Your Identity #brandidentity #brandguidelines

We’ve just wrapped up our latest poll on the upcoming UK general election and its anticipated impact on the fashion and retail industry. At Fella and Jones, we are deeply invested in the industry, and these insights are invaluable for us and our clients. One of the standout issues identified is the significance of tax-free shopping, which is crucial for attracting international consumers and boosting retail sales in the UK. Additionally, there is a strong focus on the drive for sustainability, reflecting growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly practices. With polling day just around the corner, it will be fascinating to observe how the election results influence the implementation of key issues. #UKFashion #GeneralElection #FashionIndustry #BFC #EconomicGrowth #News #FellaAndJones

In recent weeks, I did a LOT of thinking about the balance between professionalism and authenticity. Especially when it came to clothing choices and what to wear to present at a Scottish Parliamentary Reception filled with key business stake holders, MSPs and other government officials from both Turkey and Scotland last week. I've had various words of 'advice' given to me on the topic over the years, some questionable with regards to what women in particular should or shouldn't wear to work and to be successful. But I believe how we feel in our clothes is just as important as how we look. Authenticity can shine through when we feel comfortable and confident in what we wear. So I did it, I wore the tartan trousers and the big black boots. And not only did I feel comfortable and confident - I received SO many compliments!? I'd love to get your input in the comments - but I'd also (note my un-subtle segue) love less than 2 minutes of your time to complete our current Research Chamber survey into perceptions of market research... pretty please?! 👉 https://lnkd.in/ezsjC3Y8 Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts! Away to make a coffee....(couldn't have a post and not mention it, you'd be disappointed!) #authenticity #presentationstyle #professionalism #confidence #survey #coffee #ResearchChamber #marketresearch

New Post: Why Tod’s, Superdry and Others Are Deserting the Stock Market and Returning to Private Ownership - https://lnkd.in/grP9g5Kf - With valuations low and the pressure to perform high, fashion, luxury and lifestyle companies are rushing to leave the public markets behind and seek backers to take their companies private. But the clock is ticking, and there's not much time left to act. - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp

My fiancé frequently asks me for fashion advice. "How does my outfit look, babe?" I usually give bad advice. Not intentionally, I try to give good advice. I just don't know anything about women's fashion. After multiple failed outfits, she now smartly ignores my advice and seeks outside counsel from her friends instead. So how does this relate to real estate? The best investors I know rarely rely on the opinions of those closest to them to make investment decisions. They're always seeking outside counsel from other parties (other investors, brokers, lenders, etc.) It's easy to ask for advice from those closest to you, but as my fiancé found out that doesn't always lead to the best outcome. The real estate market is constantly evolving (just like fashion trends do). Always make sure your decision making is evolving with it!