I took it as a compliment last year when people wondered why Stacey Solomon and I were never in the same room. Her spine-tingling voice, bubbly personality and curvy-yet-birdlike frame are features we should all aspire to. Her rendition of the Theme from Highlander in last year’s X Factor sent shivers down all our spines, let’s not deny it, and more than one tear was shed when Michael “The Boob” Buble emerged to duet with her in the 2009 Final.
So it was a Friday morning thrill for both of us to finally be united in each others arms today. She promptly re-named me “My Twin”, and she has invited me as a VIP guest to her new shop in Dagenham. I have to work on the hair and nails until then.
Fashionista Fintern Sophie continues her How to Wear It project with the Fin’s signature brights:
Get ready to hit the beaches of St Tropez and take Mustique by storm.
For the ultimate in summer style, try Ralph Lauren’s timeless and classic polo t-shirt, they add an instant burst of colour and sophistication, you can never go wrong with one of these.
Team with a fabulous pair of Fin’s Original George Loafers, whichever colour takes your fancy. If you can’t decide, buy them all for that final show stopping flash of colour.
We here at Fin’s also simply adore these Hentschman elegant cords, a must-have for every man with a refined aesthetic sense. Possibly roll them up, show off a hint of ankle for the quintessential summer look and of course to draw even more attention to the fintastic Fin’s you’re sporting.
If these brights are all a bit too much for you, over at Tommy Hilfiger we found some divine pastel coloured shirts, with candy pink lighter tones that are slightly more easy on the eye.
For your staple block colour tees try Topman. Super cheap and chic, they are essentials in any summer wardrobe. With a deep V-neck to reveal a little chest, all the girls will be flocking to your side.
Staring at my designs day after day, it is easy to stop seeing the woods for the trees. A fresh perspective is often desperately required. Which is why we have enlisted the help of our fabulous Fintern, Sophie Devlin, who is a budding fashionista. She has put together some extremely Finspirational mood boards, with tips on how to wear the tip top summer looks, of course incorporating a pair of Fin’s into every look. Today, we are working the sexy sailor look.
Tan-dependant they may be (with a lovely pair of ankles if we’re being picky) but a great pair of simple not-too-short shorts, nice and tailored in a muted colour – try and be more adventurous than khaki. J Crew has some lovely pale blue numbers, which will go with multiple shades of Fin’s.
To compliment the look and keep in the theme of nautical, try thisTopman striped tee in order to obtain that ultimate chic yacht master look. To top off this fabulous summer ensemble pop on a pair of the Fin’s exclusive Amalfi’s in Sorrento.
And for those moments when the yacht master has to leap off the port bow, a cult-classic pair of Orlebar Brown swimming shorts never goes amiss…
Fin's can be found in the world's most desirable shopping destinations
Over at Fin’s HQ, we understand that not all our customers have the guts to buy a pair of shoes or two online, sight unseen. Whilst applauding the faith our online customers have in the online shoe-shopping process, we also understand the need to try before buying.
Now, our most loyal fans will know that there is a little bolthole in the heart of London’s Chelsea where appointments can be made to come in and slip a pair of shoes or two on, have a cup of tea and a wee flirt with Sally. Maybe, if they are really lucky, they will happen upon the legendary Fin herself, although this can be seen as a double-edged sword: she has never been known to let a man out of the showroom without spending their life savings on colourful loafers.
We have also been hard at work building up our stockists across the UK, and are immensely proud to be stocked this season in some of the most stylish concessions and boutiques in the country, although we have not been lucky enough to make it through the hallowed doors of Shoe Zone (yet – a girl can dream). The full list of stockists, including Harrod’s and Selfridges in London, can be found on our Stockist Page, and we hope to be adding to the list every season.
BTW, if you are a potential stockist, or if you are BFFs with the buyer of a really exclusive and trendy menswear boutique, it would defo be a wise idea to forward this onto them, or get directly in touch with us.
We were racked with worry that we hadn’t heard from our absolute favourite conjuring Fin’s ambassador for a couple of months. Our visits from Drummond Money-Coutts are our favourite special treats, as he swoops into Fin’s HQ and performs magic shows just for us. Well, it turns out he has been taking his wizardry further afield than the King’s Road, and was to be found in India, producing the latest “DMC televisual project”, which, thrillingly, is now available for viewing.
Darling Drummond, please don’t forget us when you reach David Copperfield status.
It’s not every day one slips on a bejewelled Oscar de la Renta number, but today wasn’t just any day. Boutique 1, my aforementioned stockist extraordinaire, hosted a party to celebrate the Fin’s launch in the UAE in their totally lavish JBR shop. The full Fin’s range was gloriously displayed in the centre of the menswear department, with their proud designer sitting amongst them having her photo taken. There were so many members of press and even a few new Fin’s fans, scooping up the first of the B1 Fin’s stock. I can’t wait to see all the press that this has generated, and hope the photos aren’t too morbs.
There is nothing more wonderful than spending an afternoon looking great and talking about yourself while everyone tells you how wonderful your shoes are. What an amazing final day before I jet off back to the gloom of London town. Not only has Fin’s really struck a chord with the peeps in Dubai, the shoes positively glimmer in the Arabian sunshine, and the reaction I have had over here is a reminder that all this hard work is totes worth it. Thank you so much to everyone for having me, particularly Sophie and Polly, and the team at the Residence at the Royal Mirage; I can’t wait to come back. xx
So today was the Princes’ Cup Polo. Fin’s was one of the many esteemed sponsors of the event, which feels incredibly grown-up. With our name in lights (see yesterday) and our ad firmly printed in the brochure, we set off to the Habtoor Polo Grounds armed with a mountain of shoes and set up our display – right in the middle of the whole event, ready to distract all comers from the polo.
There must be something in the sand here, as the boys seemed to gravitate as if spellbound towards the Fin’s tables. Unable to control themselves, they ordered 10 pairs at a time: fraught with indecision, they simply bought them all. All my UK customers should take note: henceforth I would prefer all orders to be frenzied and hysterical, not placed with your customary English reserve.
As well as picking up a gaggle of giggling new Fin’s fans, there were some loyal feet there, sporting pairs old and new, worn and pristine. Here’s me with uber-dish Ed Harris sporting his Reggie Leather Loafers in Torquay Tan
And both Masters of Ceremonies of the whole day were sporting Fin’s to match their Polo shirts, Tom in his Portofino Yellow George’s and Ed in his Rio Reds.
What a cracking day out had by all. Fin’s will definitely be flying the flag at next year’s event. Thanks so much to everyone for wearing your Fin’s with pride, buying your Fin’s with excitement, and fanning Fin through the heat of the day!
Last night I joined a gang of expats for dinner at a Thai restaurant called Mango Tree. I have seen the one in London and never really even thought of dining there, but the one over here seems to be something of a hotspot. And talk about a vista: a really cracking fountain extravaganza exploded from the man-made lake below accompanied by some belly-dancing beats. Leaping up with my Blackberry to capture the magic on camera while everyone else sat non-plussed, the display was then followed by a soothing spray of cooling fountain-fresh water brought by the breeze. Sadly the taste and aroma of the spritz was more Chessington World of Adventures than Club 55. The boys around the table not already wearing their Fin’s were thrilled with the revelations of the new Fin’s Middle East website.
It doesn’t get much more exciting than seeing your own name up in lights. Well, this is the closest I’ve come yet. As we went to the Dubai Polo Club to do a recce for tomorrow’s Fin’s event at the Princes’ Cup, they were testing out the big screen, and what should pop up but the Middle East’s new favourite shoe brand. Major.
Hopefully tomorrow will see the pillars of Emirate society squabbling over the Rio Reds and Mustique Greens, backs turned from the chukkas, mallets, ponies, etc. Until then, a nap before dinner at Zuma tonight beckons.
The Fin’s launch in the Middle East has been something of a planetary alignment. The cosmos started moving when I received the call from litch the coolest shop in the Emirates, Boutique 1, wanting to place an order for Spring Summer 2010. An introduction to Sophie, the sensational creature who would become my Fin’s Girl on the Ground, and an invitation to co-host the Prince’s Cup Polo sealed the deal that a Middle East Finvasion was meant to be.
And so it is that I am sitting in the wonderment that is my suite in the Residence at the One&Only Royal Mirage keeping a diary of my first official business trip to Dubai.
DAY ONE:
Poolside acclimatisation in the morning complete, it’s off to an afternoon of meetings at Boutique 1. Having heard that it’s the only place to be stocked, I thought it prudent to check it out, and it didn’t disappoint. Wowee, what a concept store – a huge, multi-layered bonanza of treats from all the best designers and creators ever. Fin’s will be in very fine company.
A meeting with Louise, the fabulous head honcho of press etc. there, to discuss the official Fin’s press launch in-store on Sunday. See above photo of me, a good point well made I hope you’ll agree. Really excited about that, apparently all the best press from the best publications will be there with bells on.
Then a meeting with the big cheese of the Boutique 1 website, a statuesque German beauty called Julia. Newly launched this week, it is setting the standard for online shopping, and I’m so excited that Fin’s is going to be a big part of the project, as well, of course, as having our own Fin’s Middle East site.
