On The Blog

Although Ollie & Nic is a small business we are making a conscious effort to make sure that our working practices contribute to the care of our planet. By constantly listening to and learning from individuals through to large corporations we are taking steps to improve the way we work. As an online business we are aware of the amount of packaging we use sending orders out to our customers. We reuse packing materials whenever possible and when we do need to purchase new packaging, we try to work with suppliers who offer reusable and recyclable products. We keep our energy consumption to a minimum and have installed low energy lighting in our warehouse and distribution centre. Our clothing suppliers are aware of our preference for garments made from more sustainable raw materials such as organic cotton and wood based fibres such a viscose. We are designing & developing handbag collections manufactured from materials that are produced using recycled plastic bottles blended with organic cotton and other recyclable and sustainable materials such as water based and solvent free polyurethane. We may be small, but our aim will continue to be to reduce our impact on the environment by reducing our consumption of resources and continuing to reduce waste across all areas of our business.

Trends in fashion come and go but there’s one look that just keeps going strong and that’s animal print. Whether it’s a Zebra stripe, a classic Leopard print or an abstract version of a Cheetah pattern, wherever you look there are influences from the animal kingdom. But it doesn’t stop with prints in colourways that more or less look like the real thing. Colour combos can range from the subtle tones of grey & khaki to bold brights and even neon versions! If going full on, top to toe animal print is not your thing, there are plenty of ways to add a touch of the wild to your look. Try a leopard print scarf, perhaps with a brightly coloured border to add some zing, or a bang on trend headband in a subtly coloured Cheetah print. And finally you won’t want to miss out on this year’s fashion accessory essential, the face mask, available in a wide range of animal prints.

Trying to decide how to style your hair depends on many things. The length and type of hair you have being the main considerations. We’ve all spent time in front of a mirror pulling our hair around in the hope of finding the perfect style. A ponytail, a messy bun, perhaps a fringe? But usually, our hair has a mind of its own and whatever we think we would like to do with it and how we fantasise about it looking, the reality is its probably going to stay pretty much as it’s always been. Changing the type of hair you have isn’t really an option whether yours is straight, curly, fine or thick, but how you style it is down to you. We’ve all been missing regular visits to our favourite hairdresser for a cut, colour or both, but hopefully that’s going to change very soon. Meanwhile the trend for Hair Accessories to style and adorn your locks shows no sign of going away any time soon. Here are out Top 3 Hair Accessories to style your hair before and after that long-awaited trim! Headbands An obvious choice if you want to wear your hair down is a headband. Available in lots of colours and fabrics it’s easy to find one to compliment your hair colour and to act as a highlight to your outfit. A headband should be comfortable enough to wear all day so choose one that is wrapped in fabric, preferably with some extra padding at the ends where it sits behind your ears. Headbands work really well with long or short hair and as well as looking good they’re great for keeping your hair out of your eyes! Bandeaus These are a softer alternative to a headband. Slipping onto your hair with an elasticated section that sits securely underneath the back of your hair a bandeau can give a softer look to your hair style. Choose a style in pretty floral or a bold animal print to add some colour and pattern to your look. Scrunchies There’s more to a scrunchie than keeping your hair out of the way when you’re going for a run or getting stuck into the housework! Available in various sizes the larger styles can be twisted around several times and are good for holding thicker hair in pace. Smaller versions are perfect for thinner hair and work well as the finishing touch at the bottom of plaits. The scarf scrunchie is becoming more and more popular as it gives all the practicality of a scrunchie with the added bonus of scarf tails which look pretty trailing down beside a ponytail.

The snow has melted and Spring’s on the way, so the weather forecast says! Which means that with any luck we will soon be able to go out (or stay in) with a few less layers on. And while comfy dressing is still the order of the day it could be time to lift our spirits with a few new additions to our wardrobes. One of the best ways to make an instant impact is with an injection of colour and the hot tip from the fashion pundits for Spring 2021 is all shades of Pink from Watermelon and Fuchsia to hot pink and ice cream raspberry ripple. But if Pink isn’t your thing then shades of Blue are always a popular choice to mix and match with classic denim and a white tee shirt. Then there are some new gorgeous Greens this season that range from Cool Mint to Olive and of course all the neutrals that will slot into your wardrobe as a good base for whichever new colour zing you choose! So, in the belief that there are brighter times ahead let’s look forward to welcoming the warmer days! Shop new >

Since we launched the Ollie & Nic brand almost 20 years ago I’ve learned that however carefully you plan you can never know what’s going to crop up to throw all of your best made plans out of the window. But I never could have imagined the affect the coronavirus pandemic would have on our business. On the plus side we are a family owned and run business and as we live together as well as working together there has been no need to furlough or isolate ourselves, but on the minus side our products are sampled and manufactured in factories that we would normally visit to research new materials and ideas, develop our new collections and finalise our pricing and delivery schedules. Our starting point is always to review our previous season’s styles to make sure we are fully in touch with what styles & colours our customers are loving so that we can keep these styles, or updated versions of them, running on into the new season. Next it’s narrowing down on what we think will be the best colour palette for our designs. As a handbag & accessories brand we know that there will always be a demand for ‘the classics’ such as black, navy, tan and neutrals but colour is important to us and we can spend hours poring over colour cards to find the perfect shade of Blush Pink or Duck Egg Blue. With a colour, fabric and styling overview in place we get down to the fun bit…designing the new collection. This starts with hand drawn sketches with notes on the hardware and fabrics required. Once everything is sketched we start editing the collection to make sure we have all our key shapes and colours covered. This can take a long time as we are never short of ideas for new shapes and styles that we would like to introduce, but as we need to limit the size of our collection, we make sure we edit down to the best mix of styles and colours. Thankfully in these times of FaceTime and Zoom and 24/7 access to the internet and email we have been able to develop our new designs from a distance. It’s taken a bit longer than usual, but we’re delighted that we will have an exciting new Spring/Summer collection ready to launch next month. A little later than usual, but then there’s not much that’s usual about the way things are right now! I love our new collection and I don’t think there’s any way of telling that it was pulled together during a global pandemic. The proof will be in seeing and hearing what our customers think of it, because after all that’s who we’re doing all of this for. I received a lovely email this week from one of our valued customers which I’d like to share with you as it was very uplifting to read and I think it says it all.. I have just received my order of the Paloma Day Tote this morning. Thank you for sending it so quickly. I am really delighted with this bag, it will be excellent for use in the summer as well as the winter, and of course very well made and finished. A very satisfied customer, your service is second to none. Thank you so much.

I think that a cushion is to a sofa what a handbag or scarf is to an outfit, the extra touch that makes all the difference. - Now that we're spending more time than ever in our homes, we're looking for ways to make them look and feel cosy, welcoming and enjoyable to live, work and relax in. - Just as there are fashions in clothing and accessories, there are trends in home styling that come and go, and just as with the way you dress, there are the choices you make when you accessorise and decorate your living space.  - There are so many amazing home accessories available covering every theme and style imaginable from ethnic to oriental to Scandi inspired. My top tip is just to choose things that lift your mood when you look at them or use them in your home, such as a woven throw to snuggle under, a stoneware mug to sip coffee from or a scented candle to softly light your space. Surround yourself with some of your favourite things and enjoy the moment! - Shop the Collection here.

It’s hard enough deciding what to wear on a daily basis 7 days a week and now with Covid restrictions and a change of season it’s taking me even longer than usual to get my act together every morning. - The secret I’ve decided, is in the planning and following a few simple rules: - Wear layers. For a chilly morning start you need to layer up with a long sleeve tee, a cardi and maybe a jacket on top. - Be comfortable. There’s nothing worse than getting halfway through your day and realising something’s too tight, too warm or is poking you in the ribs. - Embrace colour. I love a pair of black jeans and 90% of my footwear collection is black, but I try to add some colour on top and there are plenty of flattering shades to wear this Autumn from ruby wines to deep teals and rust shades. - Accessorise. Add a scarf and some snazzy socks. The patterns and colours will brighten your day and keep you warm. - As for the planning bit, well I’m still working on that, but I try to find some time at the weekend to review my wardrobe and put together 3 or 4 days of possible outfit combos. At least that gets me through to Wednesday! Here's a couple of looks we've put together from our current collection. - Look 1: Match a pair of wide leg pants with a stripey long sleeve tee, add a touch of glamour with a mini star motif scarf and you'll be ready for whatever your day and evening brings. - - Look 2: Drop on this super loose cotton jersey dress and layer up with a cardi and a soft neck wrap. Add cosy socks, coffee & croissants. Perfect! - - Look 3: Have plenty of room in these loose fitting dungarees. Have a colourful scarf and your wellies ready to walk it all off afterwards! - Hopefully you'll be able to find some inspiration from these outfits and look to put together some new Autumnal Tones, and even match your socks! Shop all styles featured in our New Collection. -

10 Tips To Help You To Organise Your Handbag And Purse Whether you’re still working from home or now heading out every day to work, you’re probably still reaching into your handbag numerous times a day for something you can’t get through the day without. If you’re like me, you lug around everything you think there’s the remotest chance you might need to use while you’re out, either for the whole day or just for a quick pop to the local shops. The good thing about this bag strategy is that you’re always prepared for every eventuality. The bad news is that your shoulders ache with the heavy load and due to the amount of stuff packed into your bag it can take forever to find that oh so essential item that you just know is ‘in here somewhere’. But by taking a little time and applying some reasoning to what you’re carrying around and why you can make a big difference to your daily load. - - Here are my top tips for a tidier (and hopefully lighter) bag. 1. Start by taking everything out of your bag. Remember to check any interior or exterior pockets. Once everything is out it’s a good idea to turn your bag upside down and give it a good shake, either outside or over the rubbish bin. This should dislodge any invisible small items and dust caught in the lining. 2. Sort everything out into groups. Major items such as a purse, phone or a make-up bag can be put to one side for now. Check through what else you’ve been carrying around with you. Chances are you no longer need some seasonal items that have been in your bag from the previous season. Do you still need those gloves or is it sunglasses weather now? Needless to say, a fold-up brolly is a handbag essential all year round. 3. Throw the rubbish away. Used tissues, old receipts (worth checking these before you bin them just in case they’re for something important), sweet wrappers, broken pens. 4. Put things away. Extra pairs of socks or tights. Books and magazines you’ve either read or been meaning to read? 5. Sort out your make up! This could be another complete article as everyone has very different views on how much make-up and skincare is required on a daily basis but take the time to go through the make-up you’re carrying in your handbag. Maybe put together a basic essentials kit that can be packed into a smaller make-up bag that fits neatly in your bag and leave the rest at home. 6. Review the contents of your purse or wallet. This is often where a lot of the surplus weight can be in a handbag or backpack. We tend to stuff our purses and wallets with loyalty cards and receipts until they are bursting at the seams. Lots of purses have plenty of sections for cards, coins, notes and receipts. Try to only carry as much as your purse can comfortably hold. Keep a coin jar and a receipt box at home or maybe keep some pouches in your car so that you can empty out your purse as you go or top up with coins as you need them. 7. Consider packing a smaller pouch bag, perhaps with a detachable shoulder strap, inside your larger daily handbag or backpack. This should be large enough to take your purse, phone, keys and a fold-up shopping bag. This is the bag you can grab when you need to go on a quick trip either from your home or you can take this bag with you and leave your large bag securely locked and out of sight in your car. 8. Try using a separate card holder and purse. You may only need one or two payment cards and perhaps a driving licence or other ID for some of your trips and can leave your larger purse behind. 9. Look for purses, wallets and pouches in colours and patterns that contrast to the lining of your bag. This will make them easier to see and quicker to find. 10. Next time you need a new handbag or backpack look for one with interior and exterior pockets as these will make keeping everything in place and easy to find much easier. Happy Organising!

When we decided to launch clothing we weren’t sure what to expect, but the reaction has been better than we could have hoped for and we’re already making plans to extend the collection for next season. Our priority has always been to offer styles that are easy to wear every day. With working at home and lockdown lifestyles now the norm for so many of us, a pair of soft and loose-fitting dungarees with a colourful tee shirt underneath ticks all the boxes. So, it’s come as something of a surprise to find out that we’ve hit on (well, stumbled into) the fashion ‘must-have’ of the season. According to a buyer for one well known upmarket London boutique ‘’Women of all ages are embracing dungarees’’ and apparently ‘’The style set are wearing them with nothing underneath’’. We think we’ll be giving that look a miss, but we have just introduced dungarees shorts. So we can all show a bit of leg in the sunshine. Shop Dungarees & Clothing >

Although all our worlds have been turned upside down over the past few months we’ve been fortunate enough at Ollie & Nic to keep our online business running pretty much as normal. As a family-owned and run business we work together and live together so social distancing in the office, in the warehouse or on the packing bench hasn't been required, although I do sometimes think about implementing it at certain times... :D As with all businesses, whatever their size, we’re facing all sorts of new challenges and are having to adapt and find new ways of doing things to keep our show on the road. We design our own collections of handbags and accessories which are made for us by overseas factories that have been, and in some cases still are, in lockdown in their own countries. Luckily, we were able to finalise this year’s Autumn/Winter collection before everything shut down and as restrictions are slowly easing across the world, we’re looking to be on track to bring some great new styles through in a few months’ time. On a personal level, I’m looking forward to being able to see and spend time with our extended family and our friends and even being able to chat to the multitude of delivery drivers and couriers that are so important in keeping our business running, rather than the contactless handovers and drop-offs that are currently part of our daily lives. Best, Jane

Welcome to my Wardrobe! When I launched the Ollie & Nic brand in 2002 I drew up a list of all the different types of products I thought we could sell. With a background in fashion buying and having already established a successful business selling handbags and other fashion accessories to major High Street brands under their own labels, Handbags were the obvious product to start with. In the Spring of 2002 Ollie & Nic’s first collection of handbags and purses was launched and was snapped up (in a small, but very encouraging way) by department stores and independent boutique buyers. Fast forward 18 years (where did the time go?!) and in the midst of a pandemic I’ve finally made it to the second product category on my original list which was always clothing! We’re starting in a really small way with a capsule collection of dresses and separates made in Italy by the Sarta brand. They’re the kind of clothes I hope you’ll like to wear for a dressed down, relaxed Summer. Shop the collection here, enjoy!

Quick, Easy & Delicious Now, I've never been a super baker but I thought it's about time to give it a go! As much as I enjoy cake and would love to make a Victoria Sponge, I've had too much recently, so instead we went for flapjacks. They're super quick, easy & incredibly delicious. All you need is these 5 staple ingredients: - 120g Rolled Oats - 60g Soft Butter - 60g Brown Sugar - 2tsp of Maple Syrup - Chocolate Chips (optional) This was enough for 10 servings once cut from our tray.  - - Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 200°C Step 2: Pour the Oats, Sugar, Soft Butter, Maple Syrup & Chocolate Chips into a large mixing bowl and mix until fully combined! - - Step 3: Line a baking tray with grease proof paper, we didn't have any in the house so we used some aluminium foil which works just as well.  - - Step 4: Pour the flapjack mixture into your baking tray and push down with the back of a spoon. Pop in the oven, and cook for 10 minutes until golden brown. Step 5: Enjoy! -