UK Xmas retail sales grew 2.2 percent helped by clothing and food online

As online retail within the UK is predicted to continue to grow albeit faced with the challenges on retail logistics, spending on clothing and food online helped to boost UK retail sales growth of 2.2 percent over the December festive period, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

Among the big winners were clothing sales which increased by 13.7 percent year-on-year, however, luxury goods and jewellery were down by 3.4 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively on 2016.

Mastercard also revealed Christmas trading was tough with weaker footfall in the Boxing Day sales, largely due to holiday discounting that started earlier around Black Friday, which impacted the year-on-year results.

According to Scott Abrahams, senior vice president of business development at Mastercard UK and Ireland, there was a mixed performance among retailers although those British retailers with a strong online presence showed optimistic results.

“When looking at the year as a whole, 2017 saw retail sales increase 4 percent. Although Christmas trading was tough and showed a mixed performance among retailers, these results do show that there some areas of optimism for British retailers, particularly those with a strong online presence.”

Meanwhile Westfield, owned by Europe’s largest shopping mall operators, has revealed an increase of visitors over the Christmas period in 2017, registering 14.1 million shoppers at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, with an overall year-on-year 1% increase.

Westfield 's shopping malls experienced three peak trading periods in November and December, notably the Black Friday weekend that saw 850,000 visitors, the ‘Super Weekend’ (the last weekend before Christmas) with more than 800,000 visitors bringing the pre-Christmas week trade to 1.85m and the Boxing Day sales period with more than 320,000 visitors.

Myf Ryan, Chief Marketing Officer, Westfield UK and Europe, said by offering a mix of retail, dining, events, leisure and entertainment, Westfield had lured visitors away from the comfort of their home to their shopping malls.  

Over the Christmas period, we offered many unique and immersive experiences to our customers. With over 70 million visitors coming to the centres each year, we are looking forward to creating even more exciting experiences and activities for our customers to enjoy in 2018,” says Ryan.

Festive events created and hosted by Westfield included having pop star Gwen Stefani to switch on the Westfield London Christmas lights with a special festive performance and a “first to the UK ground-breaking technology” Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire hyper reality experience.

Brendan Freeman capturing 50 faces of London Style at Westfield Pop-up Portrait Studio Saturday 12th September

Portrait studio: 12th September, 2015 (12pm - 6:30pm) – Westfield London

Exhibition: 2 – 4 October, 2015 (8am - 6:30pm) – Soho Square

Calling all fashionistas, style mavens and trend eccentrics! On this Saturday 12th September, Westfield (one of London's favourite shopping destinations) will be teaming-up with London fashion photographer, Brendan Freeman, to host a one-day portraiture photographic studio to capture the individual style of Londoners, which will later appear in a pop-up exhibition.

To celebrate the launch of autumn/winter fashion, Westfield will be giving members of the public the unique opportunity to drop-in and be photographed by renowned photographer Brendan Freeman and receive a printed professional portrait.

Westfield will then bring all the portraits to life in a vibrant public exhibition celebrating individual style at Soho Square (2nd - 4th October). All those who took part will be invited to come along and see their photo beautifully exhibited.  

The exhibition will be called "50 faces of individual style."

At the pop-up studio, each sitter will chose a word or words that sum up their individual style which will feature in the shot. After being snapped by Brendan, participants will be given an ‘Individual Style’ goody bag, filled with fashion and beauty giveaways.  Pictures shown here are from Westfield's AW15 Campaign by Brendan Freeman.

For model hopefuls, they will have the chance to be scouted by established casting agency, Models1 whose representatives will be onsite reviewing each portrait to sign any potential new talent to their books!  Exciting!

Myf Ryan, Westfield’s Marketing Director - UK & Europe, comments: “London is the epicentre of individual style. Walking through Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, individuality is apparent through the vast fashion retail mix available and the varied style of our customers. With this in mind, we wanted to create a multi-dimensional campaign that our consumers could relate to by celebrating unique and distinctive style. ”

Clarks and Orla Kiely collaboration takes on 60s and 70s spin

Model wears Orla Dotty.

After a successful collaboration for Spring/Summer 2014, British shoemakers since 1825 Clarks is once again collaborating with designer Orla Kiely for Autumn/Winter 2014 now available in store and on-line.  

With a contemporary spin on 60s and 70s design, the capsule collection spans six styles.

Love the rich autumnal shades, brogue detailing, soft leathers, and pony hair.  Part retro, part timeless.  

Orla Daphne boots.

Orla Dixie boots.

Orla Dora

Note the chunky block heels and use of square buckles and bold round buttons.

Meanwhile Westfield UK Launches Latest Fashion Project - ‘AW14: The Talking Points’ is all about shoes.

Above, winning styles from smart to casual broques - from Clarks's AW2014 collection. Note the combination of leather with tweedy fabrics.  Iconic classics refreshed into contemporary styles.
Product Photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.

Heels vs. Flats - flat shoes have long felt like the poor relative to leg-lengthening, party-going high heels.  

But the tides have turned. With the catwalk awashed with trainers, brogues, loafers and slippers.

Westfield UK - Europe's largest urban shopping centre in London’s White City/Shepherd Bush – has launched a new fashion project: an energetic, feel-good film on Heels vs Flat Shoes, created by Sean Frank.

Team ‘flat’s’ take on team ‘heels’ in a dance competition, which shows the extensive range of shoes at Westfield, referencing 70’s dance shows Soul Train, ads of the 90’s and RnB videos.  

WATCH the video by clicking here.