BrandAlley

Good luck from all of us at BrandAlley HQ to the thousands of runners pounding the pavements today over 26.2 miles in the Virgin London Marathon. My neighbour is running, so I’ll be glued to the BBC giving him moral support from afar and trying to spot him in the sea of faces. If, like me, you know people running and want to track their progress in real time, check out the Virgin London Marathon website to keep up to speed. Of course, if you’re in London, you could always choose a spot along the route and cheer everyone on.

You also find plenty of action in our BrandAlley sales today. If you sprint over to our Designer Luxe Clearance Womenswear, you can snap up fabulous bargains from McQ by Alexander McQueen, See by Chloé, Love by Moschino and Sergio Rossi. Everything from this sale is available now so can be dispatched to you within 2-4 working days.

There’s lots more happening today, so If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these savvy ideas…

Image from the Southbank Centre website

Alchemy Festival

Why not head over to the Southbank Centre Square in central London, where food, fashion, jewellery and crafts are on sale in the bustling Taste of India Market from 12 noon to 6pm? The Market ties up with Southbank’s annual Alchemy Festival of music, performance, literature, debate, fashion and design, exploring the richness, contrasts and connections between the UK, India and South Asian culture. It ends today, so it’s your last chance to enjoy brilliant performances, music, exhibitions and many free events.

Image from the Horniman Museum website

The Body Adorned Exhibition

Also worth catching is the fascinating free exhibition called The Body Adorned at the Horniman Museum & Gardens in Forest Hill, London SE23. It’s all about why people in London wear what they wear, including a look at historical dress and how body adornment has become part of contemporary London life across different cultures. Expect to see early tattooing instruments, headdresses, several wardrobes of London residents, a film installation and urban street portraits taken by young people. Go to the Horniman Museum & Gardens website for more details and to watch a trailer for the exhibition.

Grow your own

Image from Jekka's Herb Farm website

Today is also the last day of the Royal Horticultural Society’s National Gardening Week, designed to get us all growing and celebrating gardening. Whether you’ve got green fingers or not, how about growing your own culinary herbs for easy picking throughout the summer? Sprinkle a few basil seeds in a container full of compost on a sunny windowsill to perk up your tomato dishes or make pesto sauce. And how about putting peppermint plug plants in a container on a shady window ledge? It’s the perfect way to enjoy fresh peppermint tea or mint lemonade. Delish! To see a short video showing you how to plant your own miniature herb garden, visit the National Gardening Week website.

Happy Sunday!

Jo x