Butler & wilson

[Vienna]

I think many BW items look cheap, the gold tone is often too yellow, the stones don`t always look to have enough cuts in them making them look flat instead of sparkly, particularly the bigger stones and the settings don`t always look well finished or secure enough for some of the stones. Many of the designs are ugly, just plain ugly.
I think Debenhams sell much nicer costume jewellery and there are many statement pieces on their website and can often been seen in store too. Some BW prices are nothing but daylight robbery, for glass, crystal and plated metal. The words chic or classy, simply don`t come to mind when I think of BW.

 

[shopperholic]

I had a quick look this afternoon, one minute Ali the model had an extremely low cut dress on, but must've got told to cover up because after the adverts she appears with a top on underneath the dress, I agree with the comments above, this range of jewellery is just QVC doing what QVC does best, ripping their customers off. B&W is like jut Bibi Bijoux, extremely expensive costume jewellery with a high mark up leading, to massive profit.

 

[CallMeQ]

Being bombarded by the endless promo for the 20th Anniv on Q, I see there is no sign of the coloured scharofsky (in Biba Bijoux talk) chick key ring, or the rabbit ring, or the other tinksy winksy 'its so booooodiful' stuff that we get thrown at us. No, its very much the glitzy glamour 'pieces' that are modelled, so why don't we get those on Q ??? Every so often we might get the premier collection, but they are still nothing like those on the promo.

l've never been to either of Simon's shops, and would like to know, by those who've been, whether what we see on the shows can be seen on display in the shops. I tend to think that the designs we see on the tv wouldn't be upmarket enough for his clientele. Yes, he provides Strictly with their jewellery, but I've yet to see a Panda on a chain being worn !

his shop has all the things he sells on QVC on display, was there in June and was actually very surprised by just how many of the QVC pieces he had... i felt like i had already seen everything. it was nice to see them in person though rather than through the TV.

I purchased a few items over the past two days, i really like some of his designs... some of the more "weird" things like the pearl people and snakes i wont wear... but some items are very, very nice... each to their own.

 

[Brissles]

I was just about to post about the dresses. They really have provided the WOW! factor for the shows, both on the tailors dummies and on Ali and Charlotte - the dresses were the real showstoppers - a feast for the eyes. For once, I get a sense of B&W as a force in fashion.

I think Julia was wearing a lovely top (don't know whether it was on a dress or a top) at lunchtime. Yes it showcased her assets, but it looked very flattering and dramatic. I can't imagine what QVC designer range she picked it from :mysmilie_50:


I think Julia has been particularly affected during the shows, Simon has actually been on good form - a lot pleasanter and less rude (although I must mention his masterly put down of Julia when she interrupted him - during today's earlier show).

Can I just say - don't know if Simon has indicated which designers have done all the dresses both Ali and Charlotte have been wearing, but the floral strapless one with the 50's look to it is apparently vintage Nina Ricci - I'd love to know who did the other dresses. Sometimes it's nice to admire and be amazed rather than everything in site be on sale :mysmilie_59:

Wonder if those creations were the Premier Range by Anttony, or Attitudes by Rene !!!! If they come in 2XL I'm in with a chance and they can forget the matching shrug !

 

[Toril]

I quite liked the Open Wings Crystal Owl Brooch in black and clear, but at £48 could not justify buying it. Most of his things are not to my taste because I prefer 'less obvious' jewellery but I could have happily worn the owl.

 

[thatu]

I had a quick look this afternoon, one minute Ali the model had an extremely low cut dress on, but must've got told to cover up because after the adverts she appears with a top on underneath the dress.

I'm mildly surprised. Did they not notice Queen Julia's low-slung dress and not-so-young decollete and her efforts to draw attention to it, sorry, I meant cover up, with a huge dragonfly brooch in the 8-9pm hour?*

*edit. Oops. Doing a Julia here.

 

[Brissles]

Yes, Julia needs to start covering her upper arms - they are getting a bit Joan 'crepey' Collins - like most of us at a certain age. I'm surprised her devotion to Pilates hasn't sorted it out.

 

[shopperholic]

I'm mildly surprised. Did they not notice Queen Julia's low-slung dress and not-so-young decollete and her efforts to draw attention to it, sorry, I meant cover up, with a huge dragonfly brooch in the 8-9pm hour?*

*edit. Oops. Doing a Julia here.

When you're Queen you can flash your chesticles............Queen Julia probably didn't want any attention taken away from her by the younger model after all, the chesticle flashing is hers, and hers alone.

 

[ERICS MUM]

Am choking with laughter at the memory of the one eyed croc!

In the land of the blind alley (gator), the one-eyed croc is king !

 

[Bettyboo]

I think this range looks garish and cheap and is not for me at all and it is totally overpriced. I can't stand Simon or Julia's fawning all over him. I agree what's been said about Julia covering her arms and other exposed areas of her body as it is not a good look and oh, I wish she would do something stylish with her hair it looks dreadful.

 

[Kathy]

I seldom watch B&W, and never when JR is the presenter, I find herself and Simon so cringe worthy. I did hear Simon say that the SCD ladies wear a lot of his jewellery...I can never understand why people pay ott prices for garish glass baubles.. I have never been tempted.

 

[maymorganlondon]

I seldom watch B&W, and never when JR is the presenter, I find herself and Simon so cringe worthy. I did hear Simon say that the SCD ladies wear a lot of his jewellery...I can never understand why people pay ott prices for garish glass baubles.. I have never been tempted.

They need something sparkly to compete with the glitterball! Professional dancing is not really about subtlety, even ballroom dancing. B&W is perfect for that...

 

[historymystery]

I'm not keen on Simon, find him a bit strange at times and he's made some sarky and really dismissive comments IMO when he's been on before, not always appropriate, either. But I'd loved to have heard his put-down of Julia! I don't think he takes prisoners, I've heard him make several really cutting comments to the presenter he's with, as though he thinks they are a bimbo. It seemed to me that his relationship with Julia was a bit on the fraught side, but I could be wrong, as I've not seen all of his shows.

I was just about to post about the dresses. They really have provided the WOW! factor for the shows, both on the tailors dummies and on Ali and Charlotte - the dresses were the real showstoppers - a feast for the eyes. For once, I get a sense of B&W as a force in fashion.

I think Julia was wearing a lovely top (don't know whether it was on a dress or a top) at lunchtime. Yes it showcased her assets, but it looked very flattering and dramatic. I can't imagine what QVC designer range she picked it from :mysmilie_50:

I think Julia has been particularly affected during the shows, Simon has actually been on good form - a lot pleasanter and less rude (although I must mention his masterly put down of Julia when she interrupted him - during today's earlier show).

Can I just say - don't know if Simon has indicated which designers have done all the dresses both Ali and Charlotte have been wearing, but the floral strapless one with the 50's look to it is apparently vintage Nina Ricci - I'd love to know who did the other dresses. Sometimes it's nice to admire and be amazed rather than everything in site be on sale :mysmilie_59:

 

[maymorganlondon]

I'm not keen on Simon, find him a bit strange at times and he's made some sarky and really dismissive comments IMO when he's been on before, not always appropriate, either. But I'd loved to have heard his put-down of Julia! I don't think he takes prisoners, I've heard him make several really cutting comments to the presenter he's with, as though he thinks they are a bimbo. It seemed to me that his relationship with Julia was a bit on the fraught side, but I could be wrong, as I've not seen all of his shows.

I think it's a bit like a brother-sister relationship. Let's face it, your most frictional relationships are normally with those closest to you.

 

[historymystery]

Though with their colossal egos, I can't imagine the Q presenters being very sisterly or brotherly towards anyone who makes caustic comments - I could well imagine them seeking out the first opportunity to get their own back big-style:mysmilie_486:.

I think it's a bit like a brother-sister relationship. Let's face it, your most frictional relationships are normally with those closest to you.

 

[Silver Fox]

I dipped in & out of the shows but although I have a few B&W pieces I couldn't find anything which tempted me.I feel he is turning items out under the name which are not up to the original quality ( I remember buying an Lizard pin back in the 70's) I really hated those 'Crocodile' pieces.Simon is a great designer of costume jewellery but some of these offerings fall very short of what I would expect of him.

 

[Brissles]

I would imagine he doesn't do any designing himself now, but more like a team in place who churn out the designs for his approval.

 

[historymystery]

Am I imagining things, or was it said that Princess Diana was a fan of B & W pieces back in the 1980's?

I dipped in & out of the shows but although I have a few B&W pieces I couldn't find anything which tempted me.I feel he is turning items out under the name which are not up to the original quality ( I remember buying an Lizard pin back in the 70's) I really hated those 'Crocodile' pieces.Simon is a great designer of costume jewellery but some of these offerings fall very short of what I would expect of him.

 

[Brissles]

Quite likely, Simon would only be in his early 40's then, so would still be designing his more 'decent' pieces, not the chickens and pandas we see now. I've seen a lot of Simon's earlier work at antique fairs, and they do fetch quite high prices.

 

[Akimbo]

I don't think Simon ever designed the early jewellery, Nicky Butler was the designer. Since they split I think Simon just sourced jewellery and had it made with the B&W branding.