An early Christmas gift from Equa to you - free postage on all orders

Are you bored by the postal strike? Us too. Waiting for goodies to arrive in the post is like waiting for Christmas to happen as a child; agonisingly painful, though worth the wait of course when those gorgeous parcels arrive.

To take a little pain out of shopping online we're offering free delivery worldwide on all items until the end of October. Now at least you're not footing the postage bill for those new on-season purple Monkey Genes sateen skinny trousers, best-selling Veja volley trainers or delectable Made Hayley Mardon Rhombus necklace. Or on any items that you just have to have right now, for that matter!

We know you love to save the pennies too, where you can, without skimping on the quality of what goes in your wardrobe or course. Free delivery on all orders is one perfect way to help you do that. Consider it an early Christmas gift from Equa to you!

In store right now, our stylists are going ga-ga for winter warmers. It must be the nip in the air this week. The conversation has turned to coats and knitwear (check out People Tree's snuggly cable cowl jumper), especially with the arrival this week of this glorious Mandarin coat in a striking red from young designer Cecilia Hammarborg's capsule Black River Falls collection, launched at London Fashion Week. Against a grey autumn day, it can't help to lift the spirits.

Made in London using Italian wool, this swing coat has a high collar and puff shoulders and is fully lined. With front seam pockets the coat fastens at the front with four covered buttons. But here's the most gorgeous touch; the tailored front is offset with wide pleats at the back, so beautifully made that we just had to show you in the picture here. The whole coat has a Sixties feel to it, don't you think? It's a great quality investment piece, at £245, that will last for many winter seasons to come.

Cecilia Hammarborg is a new talent to watch. Her signature style is the combination of sharp tailoring and immaculate cutting with slightly unexpected feminine fluidity, such as sharply waisted coats with full skirts for example. It's a blend of sharp and soft. Hammarborg's 'birdgun' logo is a case in point - cute little birdie with a revolver head. Need we say more!

Fashion Focus: Outsider launches at Equa

A key fashion story for Autumn / Winter 2009 is flexible dressing, or in other words, items that are as lovely to wear both day and night, styled modestly or glammed to the max.

At Equa, we like to think that this trend is a response to smart, style-savvy women no longer wanting to build a clothes mountain at home, much of which will rarely get worn. Instead, seriously stylish women would rather invest in fewer pieces that are more versatile and better quality.

It's no longer stylish to splash the cash on disposable fast fashion. Buying something so high fashion it's out of fashion before its out of the bag, and poorly made in an exploitative way, is not something to brag about amongst friends!

More and more of our customers have been coming to us looking for simple, chic separates that they can wear to the office or to an evening event and that will transcend the seasons. We think we've found the perfect wardrobe solution in Outsider, a brand new collection just arrived at our Islington boutique and online this month.

The designer behind Outsider is Noorin Khamisani. Noorin has worked for big fashion brands and has seen first-hand what happens to quality and ethics when ranges are mass-produced and slavish to fashion fads.

For Autumn / Winter 09, her first season, Noorin has created pieces which are elegant and timelessly stylish, from the divinely sculpted pencil skirt with drape pockets (pictured) to the delicate circle pleat neck dress.

Fabrics are environmentally-friendly, mainly organic cotton, linen and hemp/silk, where possible sourced locally to the factory in which the garments are made. The largely monochrome colour palette makes mix-and-matching a doddle, and keeps the pieces relevant into the evening.

Noorin says: “For AW09 we have been studying icy landscapes, the simplicity of line and colour. We have created a collection of new classics. Pleated detailing and shiny hemp/silk fabrics come together to make a range of versatile feminine apparel. Focusing on using sustainable fabrics with great drape and hand-feel – we know you will feel even better wearing our garments safe in the knowledge that these are fashion, people and planet conscious.

"Our designs are inspired by clothes that have been in our wardrobes for years - because true style is timeless, not transient and throwaway. We design versatile day-to-evening pieces that are made to the highest quality and designed to last and be loved. They are simple pieces that fit in easily, but they can also be styled to look individual."

Outsider manufactures its collection in India at a factory which the team has visited on several occasions and they have a trusted and open relationship with the factory owner. Working conditions are very important and they ensure the working hours and conditions are of a fair and high standard. There is no child or slave labour.

We can see from the interest in the Outsider range in its first days with us that it's hitting the spot for you. Our advice, if you see a piece you love, snap it up quickly!

Shop the current Outsider collection at Equa now