Merry Christmas from the team at Vortex!

We are nearly at the end of another year and we are sure that you
 are all ready for the Christmas break!
We have really enjoyed meeting some of our customers 
this year and will hopefully get to meet more of you in 2015.
We have new product and website developments to be launched 
in 2015 and we will be attending the MIP Shows again this year -
including Manchester so hopefully we will see you there.

Meanwhile we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year for you and your families.

Very best wishes

The Vortex Team

Makeover Winners!

 

Hello and Welcome to the Vortex Blog for November. This month we are featuring the winners of our 'Win a Makeover Competition'. 

Elaine Egerton, Practice Manager at The Richmond Surgery in Whitchurch and her team won a mini Vortex makeover and a new set of uniform blouses, take a look at our fabulous winning ladies in their new Vortex Uniform below!

The competition was a great success, so please look out for more competitions in the New Year!

Thanks again to all of you who entered, we hope you will try again next time!

The Richmond Surgery Makeover Day!

You may remember our competition earlier this year to win your team a  new uniform and makeover day, well, last week we met up with our lucky  winners and gave Elaine Egerton and her team a whole new look! Hannah and Alison of Vortex Designs and our Makeover Team descended  on the The Richmond Surgery in Whitchurch, Shropshire to meet with Practice Manager Elaine and her wonderful team. Hair was coiffed, and  make up was applied to all and then it was time for the photo shoot! The Team opted for the Eloise blouse in navy from the Vortex Designs  range http://www.blousesandknitwearforwork.co.uk. The Eloise, is an easy, comfortable design in a soft touch crepe, offering both durability and style to any uniform. It was a great day and am sure you will agree, the team look fantastic in their new selection!

Elaine and her team from The Richmond Surgery, Whitchurch

The ladies had a wonderful time getting ready and pampered for photos! "We all enjoyed the experience immensely and everyone  has been non stop talking about it since." Elaine Egerton, Practice Manager

The Richmond Surgery Team loved their new uniform choice, they  opted for a Vortex

A Big Thank You!

Welcome to our October newsletter and Thank You to all of you who came to see us at the Management in Practice events in Birmingham and London. Both shows were a great success and we hope you find the uniform options you are looking for in the Vortex range.

Many of you have already had samples and placed orders, which is fantastic, if you need any help in deciding, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01582 467690 or email sales@vortexdesigns.co.uk.

Have you met Daisy?

If you are not already aware, Vortex Designs offer a great range of undersuit tops. The Daisy is our best seller, made in soft touch stretch jersey, it is the ultimate choice for comfort! The Daisy is available in 5 colours, choose from White, Sky Blue, Lilac, Berry and Black, all available from stock in sizes 6 to 26.

Order your sample today!

Welcome to our September Blog and thank you for all of your comments and feedback last month!  We had a great response to our Makeover Competition and will be announcing the winners in next months edition.

There is a lot happening over the coming weeks! As we head into Autumn it brings events, more news and a good reason to look at our knitwear collection!

Warm up for Autumn!

Take a look our our Knitwear range and add it to your uniform, our cardigans and tank tops are available from stock in sizes 6 to 26 in a choice of colours. 

A MUST HAVE FOR AUTUMN / WINTER!

Request samples on 01582 467690 or email sales@vortexdesigns.co.uk for next 

day delivery!

Come & Visit Us at MiP 

We would love to meet you and show you the range!

7 Oct - Birmingham Hilton Metropole - STAND 31C 

16 Oct - London Business Design Centre - STAND 8

Vortex Customer Corner

See What our Customers Say....

"Team work is very important to the Althams Travel Agency business. We have thirty one retail branches and as our customers are often spending a lot on a holiday they expect good service and professionalism.

The team look that we achieve dressed in the Vortex blouses ensure we are customer focused. The quality and service from Vortex is excellent and they supply all of our thirty one travel agencies."


Carole Hallows, Office Manager, Althams Travel.

If you would like to share your experience or feedback just email us with your comments for our Customer Corner.

August Blog - Win a Makeover for your Business Team!

Hello and Welcome to our August News Blog!

Hopefully many of you have already received our News@Vortex newsletter launched this month to keep all of our customers updated with news, product information and special offers. If you are not on our mailing list - sign up today using the easy form on our home page! 

At Vortex we are always keen to gain customer feedback and to see you in our Vortex blouses and tops, so please keep in touch with any comments you would like to share  with our Team on sales@vortexdesigns.co.uk. 

MIDSUMMER MAKEOVER  - in the Lancashire Hills!

When one of our customers, The Todmorden Group Practice, contacted us looking for a new look for the Reception Team, we were only too happy to help them make a new selection from the Vortex range.  We took the opportunity to give Andrea and her Team a free Vortex makeover and on a rather warm July morning we took our makeover crew;  professional hairdresser Maria, make up artist Mandy and Ian our photographer, to the Todmorden Practice in the centre of town.

Like a lot of our Vortex customers, the staff at Todmorden are extremely busy and professional, so time was of the essence and we had ONE hour to makeover the ladies and photograph them in their lunch hour. Although it was a challenge, we achieved our "60 Minute Makeover" and I'm sure you will agree that the ladies look fabulous in their Amelie blouses and matching knitwear and have a beautifully co-ordinated look! 

Take a look at the ladies getting ready and in their new Vortex Amelie Berry Blouses and complementary knitwear; Talia V Neck Tank Top & Kristin Cardigans (both in Berry).

Nicola getting crimped and curled!  

Deborah in Make Up!

Final touches for Catherine!

Yvette, Amber & Andrea - Ready for the Camera!

The Todmorden Team

Andrea and her Team ready for action and back to work in their new uniform!

"It was a great team building event and improved staff morale no end – we now have the pictures up on the wall to remind us of the great time we had!"                                      Andrea Garvey, Practice Manager



WIN A MAKEOVER FOR YOUR BUSINESS TEAM!

If you would like to experience a Vortex Makeover and receive a uniform blouse and item of knitwear from Vortex Designs latest brochure, here’s how:

How to Enter

Simply tell us the answer to the following question:

Our Talia V Neck Sleeveless Top is available in 5 colours, can you name them?

Email us on sales@vortexdesigns.co.uk by 16th September 2014 with your answer. The first correct entry to be drawn will win the makeover for you and your team. Sorry, the makeover is limited to a maximum of 10 ladies only! See Rules of Entry below.

The Prize

Vortex Designs will come to your place of work with their mini makeover team, Hair Stylist, Make Up Artist and professional Photographer.  Each member of the team will be given a hair style (dry hair only), make up application and supplied with one free blouse and one free piece of knitwear from the Vortex Designs current range, as agreed prior to the visit.  

Rules of Entry

Entries to be received by email only as stated before 16th September 2014 midnight. Makeover limited to 10 ladies or less. All ladies will receive one blouse and one piece of knitwear for the photoshoot courtesy of Vortex Designs Ltd from the current range. Makeover limited to one day as agreed with vendor and winner. No correspondence will be entered into. No cash alternative. By agreeing to the prize the winning team agrees to have the images featured on the Vortex promotions and website. No purchase necessary. Entrants must be 18 or over.

Click here: http://www.blousesandknitwearforwork.co.uk/page.php?xPage=makeover.html

Sneak Peek!

Happy New Year to all.  To start off the new year we have some fabulous new additions to the range.

A Blouse For All

Here at Vortex we are very proud of our range, the diversity, the colours, the styles, the shapes. Our beautiful blouses are aimed at women of all shapes, sizes and ages with the intention that we have something for everyone.

In our range, we wanted to create one blouse that is a “Simple Essential”. The brief: A practical, simple work blouse that actually feels like a blouse, rather than a masculine shirt. A uniform shirt that is feminine, flattering and comfortable to wear. Practical to look after and care for, but also that doesn't break the bank. 

The Lillie blouse is the lowest priced blouse in our range and aims to offer all the above. It is a good solid work blouse, which is practical and durable enough for a variety of industries. This blouse still manages to retain a corporate edge as it looks smart and feminine however comfortable and easy to slip on.

The fabric of the Lillie is easy care but not basic. Made from a soft drape polyester with the added benefit of a slight elastane stretch. The blouse has shape to it, rather that it being fitted. The body of the blouse is long, with deep side vents to allow easy movement. Finished with a simple notch detail on the sleeve and a soft collar for that formal edge.

We love the Lillie blouse mainly due to its simplicity, why over complicate things?

Feeling HOT HOT HOT

Currently in Britain we are experiencing something of a rare occurrence, a heat wave, which is beautiful and everyone is in their short sleeved blouses however it is unusually hot for us. We haven't had heat like this since 2006! However typical of Britain, we spin out of control not knowing how to deal with such mercury levels. 

As the majority of the country sit in their un-airconditioned offices, staring longingly at the rippling heat outside, we felt it wise and appropriate to write about how do you survive in a heatwave at work?

1. Don't work outside! We know many of you would love to be sunbathing whilst working - updating your twitter status to "Woo! Working outside whilst sunbathing!" but actually you could be doing more harm than good. Sunburn is uncomfortable and itchy as well as sometimes fatally damaging to your skin. You find yourself squinting at everything...Just think about the glare on your laptop screen...no matter how much you turn down the brightness, that sun just isn't going to go away! If you do have to go outside, remember to stay hydrated, spread on plenty of sunscreen of a decent level (30spf is a firm favourite in this office) and where possible, keep in the shade.
2. Open those windows! The best solution to working a hot day we found is to turn down the blinds so no direct sunlight beams in as this creates more heat and to open the windows as much as we can. This allows the breeze (if any) to circulate the office but also stops your head from becoming clouded by the beaming sun and no air. If you live somewhere where the air is quite still, hopefully you'll be working in air-conditioning  if not, fans may be a good option.
3. Wear comfortable clothing! The worst feeling in this weather is being uncomfortable in what you are wearing - chaffing thighs, sweaty fabric. Rest assured that our blouses are designed to allow comfort no matter what the weather. If it is cold, we have designed a beautiful range of knitwear to stop the chill, and in the heat our blouses are styled in a way to look beautiful yet be comfortable as stand alone pieces. Make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing, as it is unlikely you will be able to change for a few hours!
4. AGUA WASSER EAU WATER! It is imperative that you stay hydrated in weather like this. The last thing you want is heat stroke from being dehydrated, the migraines, dizziness and nausea are not worth it! One of the great urban myths of Summer is that drinking a hot drink such as tea will kick start our sweat glands and in theory cool you down more than a cold drink would. We however think there is nothing better than a good, cool glass of water. According to sources we should be looking to drink between 2.5 - 3 litres a day however each person is different. So we think the best advice is keep your fluids up, don't over drink but stay aware that you will probably need more water than usual in this heat as you will be perspiring more. 

We hope our heat advice is useful to you. Make sure you stay safe in the heat but also make sure you enjoy it as much as you can as it may be another 7 years before we get it again!

W H I T E

"The white blouse can be light and floating, impeccable and austere, sumptuous and all-enveloping...Imputed with glamour and poetry, freedom and impetuousness, the prim white shirt turns out to have a thousand identities..."

Gianfranco Ferre

All to often, white blouses get worn once - maybe twice and then end up lingering at the bottom of the ever growing ironing pile. So here at Vortex, we decided to create blouses that are easy to wear, easy to wash and easy to love enough to wear again and again.

So why are white blouses so fabulous? Firstly, white is flawless. White is pure. And it's sheer simplicity merits a spot in your working wardrobe. Besides, there's no better way to welcome Summer than to wear a smart and chic white blouse over your skirt or trousers. The virtues of the white blouse and it's "I have to get one of those"  quality have been celebrated by the corporate fashion world, however finding the perfect white blouse for work isn't as easy as it sounds...until now.

If you are aiming for a chic and classic look or something smart yet understated, it is important to chose business wear that is comfortable yet still has the ability to communicate a professional attitude. Our white blouses keep you comfortable and elegant whilst also stating you mean business!

Freya Blouse LS/SS

Lillie Blouse SS

The Freya blouse is our best selling white blouse. Available in both long and short sleeve, this is a classic. Detailed with the feminine V-Neck and finished with a double button opening, this blouse has been designed to compliment women of all ages, shapes and sizes. The fabric is made up of a Cotton Touch with Stretch which is both comfortable and easy to care for. The Freya is available in sizes 6-26.

Our Lillie blouse like the Freya also has V-neck detailing but is also complimented by the notch detailing on the sleeve. For an easy wear, the Lillie has deep side vents for added comfort. A classic cut with a bit of stretch in the fabric. The Lillie is available in sizes 6-26.

Hanna LS

Hanna SS

Our Hanna blouse is slightly different from the plain fabric of the Freya and Lillie as it has a unique textured stripe detailing. This adds a little something extra to the classic. The detail is simple, therefore is still suitable for all women. Due to the textured stripe being placed on a diagonal, it also allows for a very flattering image. The Hanna is available in sizes 6-26

Mia Blouse

Joanna Blouse

Our Mia blouse adds a touch of the Oriental to the classic white blouse. The Mandarin collar is usually quite a casual look although always has an element of sophistication about it. The style is suitable for a variety of scenarios and certainly adds a touch of creativity to your daily style. The material is a cotton touch stretch fabric which is soft and comfortable to wear. The Mia is available in sizes 6-26.

Our Joanna blouse has beautiful front panel detailing, and is finished with a soft V-Neck. This blouse is opened with a side zip fastening which adds to the chic flawlessness of the design. This blouse, like the others is crafted with durable and comfortable cotton touch stretch fabric, that is sure to stand up to whatever the day has to offer. The Joanna is available in sizes 6-26. 

Flo Blouse LS/SS

Zoe Blouse LS/SS

The Flo is a shirt styled blouse in our cotton stretch fabric. Available in both short and long sleeve, this blouse adds an element of professionalism and sharpness to any woman's  wardrobe. As Tom Ford once said "When I put on a white shirt, it's the same feeling as getting in to crisp, fresh sheets at night. It just feels good." The Flo certainly offers this quality with it's distinct and professional design, however is comfortable at the same time with the 3% Elastane in the fabric. The Flo is available in sizes 6-26.

Our Zoe blouse like the Flo is in a shirted style in our cotton stretch fabric. Unlike the Flo, this blouse has a concealed front which adds a clean line to the overall look of the blouse. This blouse can be dressed up or down, personalised or diversified, either way results in the continuity of the freshness in the crisp white blouse. The Zoe is available in sizes 6-26.

There is no denying that the clean cut of a white blouse has the ability to make you feel good and look great, no matter who you are or what you look like. Some people are scared of the simplicity of a white shirt, worrying they should "dare to be different" - but why? Enjoy it! Enjoy the crispness, enjoy the relaxed femininity, enjoy the brightness of the white. Classic is cool.