SALE, SALE, SALE.........

Yes it's here ladies........THERAPY 'END OF SEASON SALE'

And that's what it is this year, an 'end of season sale'. We decided this year not to be dictated to by the High Street and go on sale when they did. I mean they all seemed to go on sale at the end of June!!!! And that just seemed a little ridiculous to us as our Summers never really seem to start until the middle of July, and then when you're looking for summer clothes it's all Autumn stuff and what summer clothes there are are just one mass of chaos hanging on a sale rail, and who wants to trawl through that!! We have usually had our sale in mid July but took the decision this year to have a proper 'end of season sale', like they always used to be!!!!!

How did it come to be that Summer Sales were held before the summer started and Winter Sales were held before the coldest part of the year. Who decided it should be like that, what were they thinking!!! I really don't know. Who knows soon we'll be selling Summer clothes in December and Winter clothes in June!!!! Laura and I keep saying our buying seasons have got earlier and earlier, instead of being 6 months in advance we now seem to be buying a whole year in advance!!! And we've noticed that the delivery times are getting earlier and earlier, some of the labels we carry do want to deliver the start of Spring/Summer in December!!! We ask to have them delivered later. But I suppose if you can't put your delivery dates back then you are going to want your Sale earlier to free up room for your new stock!!! God what a nightmare.

Anyway what is nice about being an Independent shop is that we can have our Sale when we want. And we can react to what the weather's doing. All our stock is in one place and we know what stock we've got. We decided on 17th August as a good date, but if we had seen from the long range forecast that last week the weather was going to be dreadful from then until mid September we could have pulled the Sale forward by a week.

Well ladies just to let you know our doors open at 10.00am on SATURDAY 17th AUGUST for our END OF SEASON SALE!!!

Come and grab yourself a bargain

Take care

Louise

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HOT,HOT,HOT........

Well ladies at long last the hot sunny weather is here.........Yippee!!!!!

Or are you one of those people who loves to see the sun but hates the heat and humidity??? Yep,that's me, so you're not alone, or strange!!!!

So how do we go about keeping cool in these extreme temperatures??? Wearing the right clothing and fabric is the answer.

High temperatures combined with high humidity can make life really uncomfortable, especially if you're not used to it, like us in dear old blighty!!! We keep cool mainly by sweating; the evaporation of the liquid takes heat away from the body. Sweat evaporates less quickly when the humidity is high, and so has less of a cooling effect. For this reason, fabrics for hot humid weather should help maximise the flow of air through the clothing, allowing heat and moist air to escape. It also helps if the clothing is loose fitting.

FABRIC

Some fabrics tend to trap heat by providing an insulating layer over the skin. Others tend to reflect heat back to the body and inhibit the outward flow of warm, moist air, this is often true of synthetic fibres, such as Polyester. Another important factor is the ability of a material to absorb water. Synthetic fibres tend to be water-repellent; they allow sweat to build up, reducing evaporation and causing discomfort and irritation. Natural fibres are generally better at soaking up moisture from the skin and allowing it to evaporate from the outer surface.

As a general rule, the best fabrics for hot humid weather are the ones made from natural materials, such as Cotton, Linen and Viscose. Strictly speaking, Viscose is a semi-synthetic fibre, but it is made from natural raw materials and resembles natural fibres in its properties. These materials tend to "breathe" more than synthetics such as Polyester. Wool and Silk are not good choices, as they tend to retain heat, and Silk lose some of its strength through exposure to strong sunlight and perspiration.

COTTON

Cotton is an excellent material for hot humid weather because it permits movement of air from the skin through the fabric, allowing heat to dissipate reducing humidity. It also absorbs moisture well, keeping the skin dry and increasing evaporation.

LINEN

Linen like Cotton is cool and absorbant, and very comfortable to wear. It loses water quickly when it gets wet or damp, which is a useful feature in hot humid conditions. The material is relatively stain resistant and can be machine washed; however it tends to become very wrinkled and creased easily. It is also susceptible to mildew.

VISCOSE

Viscose is made from natural cellulose(wood pulp) which is subjected to various chemical treatments to create a fibrous material suitable for clothing. Like Cotton and Linen, it is cool and comfortable to wear; it does not trap body heat, absorbs water easily, making it ideal for hot humid conditions.

Other things we ought to consider are the colour of our clothes. Generally, light coloured clothes are better for hot humid weather as they reflect light and heat. Clothing should also be loose and comfortable, for maximum air flow. And another we mustn't forget it to drink plenty of water. Try not to drink too many drinks with caffeine in as caffeine is very dehydrating. The weather is set for another week of high temperatures so enjoy, but don't forget your sun cream!!!!!

And why not pop along and see us for one of our gorgeous cotton tops to go with those linen trousers you are going to wear this week.

THE SUN IS SHINING, THE SKY IS BLUE. SO COME AND SEE US FOR SOMETHING NEW !!!!!!!

Take care Ladies

Louise

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A WAY WITH COLOUR

Hello Ladies

Hope you are all keeping well and our typical English weather isn't getting you down too much!!!!!!

Last week Laura and I re-merchandised ( moved all the clothes about ), oh we have great fun we when we do that!!! Should we put white and blue together, orange and yellow or stone and green, the options are endless!!!

So it got me thinking, do we ever take any notice of what colour we are wearing and how it makes feel? Are there some days when you feel really down so you put on a bright colour to cheer yourself up or are you having a stressful time so you wear a calming soft colour??

So I thought I would do a little research........

Warm colours often evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and energy. But some can slightly irritate the eyes and increase appetite.

Cool colours are usually calming and soothing but can also express sadness.

RED is the warmest and most dynamic of the colours - it triggers opposing emotions. It is often associated with passion and love as well as anger and danger. Red is a very complicated colour, unlike say yellow, which is sunny whether its a pale or bright yellow. But red is a whole different story. If you lighten red it becomes sweet and innocent pink! And if you darken red it becomes sophisticated burgundy!! Red also stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing, not good if you're a woman of a certain age who gets hot flushes( like me!! ) Also red can make you look heavier, so try not to wear it all over! A fab pair of red jeans with an understated top speaks volumes!! Or try a red bag, red nails or red lipstick!!! As the saying goes " less is more!"

ORANGE enhances a feeling of vitality and happiness. Orange marries the sunniness of yellow with red's depth. It's a perfect substitute if you're not happy wearing red. Orange is more casual than red and is your best bet when you want to perk yourself up or channel creativity. Orange is considered edgy without being too ' in your face' and it's fun and different without being too different.

YELLOW is perhaps the most energetic of the warm colours. It is associated with laughter, hope and sunshine.Wearing the the bright fun colour helps you stand out and puts people at ease. It creates a very open atmosphere. But be careful that you don't go overboard on the whole yellow thing, you don't want to look like a banana walking down the road!!! Check out which shade of yellow suits your skin tone because if you get it wrong it's going to make you look decidedly ill. Yellow can sometimes be difficult for the eye to take in.

GREEN from grass to leaves to verdant vegetation, the colour green is closely linked to the environment, which can put you in a relaxed or refreshed mood. Green looks good on every skin type and has a wide range of shades that allow you to modify your mood from serious and sophisticated to fresh and bright. Think of the dark green of old stately home libraries, where you can sit down and relax and concentrate and read to a springlike yellow based green, which symbolises new birth or new growth, the beginning of something new.

BLUE the colour of the sky and the sea, blue is one of the most popular colours. It causes the opposite reaction to red. Peaceful, tranquil blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, which lower blood pressure. Red picks you up and blue brings you down, but not down to depression level. So if you need to de-stress after a particularly stressful day, put on something blue!!! As blue conveys tranquility you also project when you wear it. Blue is also associated with trust, worthiness, strength and dependability. So it's a good colour to wear if you're going for an interview or meeting someone important.

BLACK is the colour of authority and power. It always popular to wear as it makes you look thinner!!! And it also goes without saying that it is stylish and timeless!!! But beware wearing black can also affect you in two distinctive ways. It can be a downer, think funerals or make you feel chic, think Audrey Hepburn in ' Breakfast at Tiffany's!' Black is defiantly the colour to go for if you want to look chic and elegant, it plays everything down so you stand out and shine.

WHITE is the colour of Summer. It is always popular to wear as it's light, neutral and goes with everything. Need I say more.....

At Therapy we love colours, as you all know!!! We have a feast for your eyes at the moment with all the lovely summer colours. Come and have a play with trying on different colours and see how they make you feel.....

Take care
Louise

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hello Ladies

Hope you are all keeping well and not feeling too down in the mouth about our lovely English weather!!!! Well we wouldn't be English if we didn't moan about the weather!!!!!

Did you know that Therapy is just about to celebrate its 9th Birthday!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US !!!!

But oh my goodness where did that time go!!!

Laura came upon Petworth by chance, she got lost, stopped and had a look round and fell in love with the place. She went back home to London and told Chris all about Petworth and said that they just had to move here and open a shop!! They found our lovely little shop, though it wasn't a lovely little shop at the time, it was a butchers!!!! And after months of sweat and tears Therapy emerged from the rubble!! It was Laura's vision that Therapy should be everything that the High Street wasn't. And I think she has achieved this through hard work and determination!!

We like to think that Therapy is a place that ladies feel relaxed enough just to come in for a mooch and a chat if they want to. We are not about the hard sell, we do not tell you you look great in something if it you do not, we have time to spend as long as you want us to spend with you, we are here for you. We always remember a face, if not always your name, and if you've been away on holiday, or had a special party or even if you've just got a new dog!! We love dogs coming into the shop, we even have treats out the back for them!!! I've even had ladies tell me their woes and troubles, and I feel so honoured that they feel comfortable enough with me to do that, and they have told me they feel so much better when they are ready to leave Therapy. There's always a hug available if you need it!! No seriously, I've given hugs to many a customer!!!

So when you visit Therapy it's not just for Retail Therapy!!!!

Times are challenging for everyone at the moment and we are doing our best to find you lovely ladies good quality, different, scrummy, fab clothes and shoes at a good price!! Laura and I do the buying together, glamourous you think!!! No it's hard work. We take photos of everything we have chosen and then sit down together and group things together ie trousers, knits, tops etc. We then look at the colours from each collection and see what will work with what. Then the really hard work starts, what sizes to chose!!! You can guarantee that if we go larger everyone wants it smaller and vice versa!!!! And then we have to take account of the weather, Winter is by far the easier to buy for but Summer, what a nightmare!!!!! Oh and yes the big thing is we have to order in advance!!! So in Feb/Mar we are looking and ordering for the coming Winter! And then in Aug/Sept we are looking and ordering for the following Summer. It's not the easiest job in the world, but it is fun!!!!

So ladies I hope that gives you a little insight into what Therapy is all about!

At the moment we do have some gorgeous collections in, even if we don't have the weather!!! As we're always saying "layers"!!!

We also have a reduction on end of line La Badia pumps!!! Now there's an offer to tempt you!!! Usually £99 now £79, come and grab them while you can as only limited sizes!!

Take care

Louise

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POST SCRIPT.....

Hello again Ladies

Just a little footnote to my blog, the silly computer published it before I had finsished !!!!!!!

UVC = ULTRAVIOLET C RADIATION
             These short wavelength rays are absorbed by the earth's ozone layer, so we don't need any
             protection from them.

Hope this doesn't put you off enjoying the summer , when it finally arrives. And don't forget all the fab clothes and shoes we've got in store now. Just right for all the lovely warm spring/summer days and evenings. If you haven't been in for a while pop in for a look, things are selling fast !!

And I must thank InStyle magazine for the info about SPF, UVA etc.

Go Well

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SUNSHINE........

Hello Ladies

I hope you have all been enjoying these past few days of sunshine and warmth ,  a hint of things to come , fingers crossed. So what is the first thing most of us are going to do when it gets really warm??  Yes , try and get a tan !!!!

So here are some facts that might make you think twice about what you do with your body in the sun...

1. MYTH: Having a tan is fine, as long as I don't overdo the sunbathing and burn.
    FACT: After skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces more melanin in order to help absorb further
                 UV radiation, and skin becomes darker as a result. So a tan is actually a sign that the skin
                 has been damaged and is trying to protect itself.
                 The safest way to get a summer glow is to fake it!!!!

2. MYTH: Wearing a low SPF on my body and a high SPF on my face is ok.
    FACT:   Skin is skin, and you should take care of the skin on your body just as much as your face.
                   You should be using a minimum of SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen on your body and
                   to guard against burning and reduce the risk of premature ageing. If you have fair skin
                   use an SPF 50.

3. MYTH: Wearing an SPF 15 will keep me protected from the sun 15 times longer than using
                   nothing on my skin.
    FACT:   Technically , this is true. However , as there are so many variables - from the differing
                   strength of the sun , to the amount of sunscreen you apply and the various skin types of
                   different users , it is better to get into the habit of reapplying every 90 minutes to two
                   to guarantee you stay safe in the sun throughout the day.

4. MYTH: The SPF in my make-up will be protection enough for my face.
    FACT:   It won't. Research has shown that we only apply about a sixth of the foundation we would
                  need to give us the level of protection promised by its sun-protection rating. After all, we
                  apply foundation and powder for aesthetic reasons , not to provide protection! So , unless
                  you're happy to apply 6 teaspoons of foundation and reapply it during the day, the only
                  to stay protected is to wear a layer of sunscreen under your make-up.

5. MYTH: The sun damages your hair just as much as it does your skin.
    FACT:   Sun dries hair out , making it brittle , but ultimately we replace our hair with new growth ,
                  so it doesn't have quite the same damaging effects as it does on our skin. To limit the sun's
                  drying effect on the hair , apply a mask through the ends and pull into a bun before hitting
                  the beach.

So what does all this UV, UVA and UVB etc mean ??????

UV = ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
           This invisible radiation produced by the sun is made up of three wavelengths: UVA, UVB and
            UVC.

UVA = ULTRAVIOLET A RADIATION
             UVA rays have a longer wavelength and penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB rays. They
             are responsible for premature ageing of the skin.

UVB = ULTRAVIOLET  B RADIATION
             These medium wavelength rays are responsible for sunburn. They damage DNA and are
              considered to be the main cause of melanoma.

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FED UP.......

Hello Ladies

Is Spring finally here? I hope so! We're all just so fed up now with the grey and the cold.

AND OUR WINTER WARDROBE !!!!

We want to wear something different, something new, something colourful!!!!

Well a good place to start is with a fab new pair of jeans. The ' big thing' for Spring/Summer is going to be the higher waisted jean!! And as all you lovely ladies know we have been selling these for years!! We've always known that they fit better, look better and feel better than the low waisters!!! FINALLY THE HIGH STREET HAS CAUGHT ONTO THIS IDEA!!!!

There are two more key items to this years Spring/Summer look, no not the 'cut out dress' or the 'short suit' !!

The first one is the statement top! This is the top that you know when you put it on you look a million dollars. It hangs beautifully, feels sensational and makes you feel good. You might have to pay a bit more for it, but one fab top is worth ten mediocre ones any day!! Go for one that you know will smarten up a pair of jeans and works for day and evening. And yes ladies here at Therapy we're right on the button with our fantastic tops from Oui, Noa Noa, Part Two and Jackpot !!

The second item is the humble scarf !! But no not the humble scarf, it can change a whole outfit and make a dreary top and trousers look sensational ! It can pull everything together. And we have a fabulous range here at Therapy from Jo Edwards, who is know for her intricate embroidery and wonderful colours, Fraas, Part Two and Jackpot.

So pop in and see us and have a chat about putting a outfit together and get a lesson on how to tie your scarf in several different ways!!!

We're always happy to help in any way we can.

Go well

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