Melynda Jayne Boutique - Now Looking For 2019 Prom Ambassadors!
For many girls in their last year of secondary school, the prom is the most important night of their teenage years, and the defining moment of any school career. Most of year 11 will be spent preparing for the big day, and especially finding the dress of your dreams!
Here at Melynda Jayne Boutique in Balsall Common, we recognise just how important the prom (and preparation for it), can be for you girls, which is why we have decided to recruit one year 11 and one year 13 girl from each school in The Midlands to act as our prom ambassadors for 2019!
The Role
The RoleOur prom ambassadors will be expected to promote the Melynda Jayne Boutique brand on their social media channels, as well as undertaking professional modelling duties, including photoshoots and appearances in our modelling materials. For any girl hoping to launch a career in modelling, or related career paths such as marketing, photography, fashion, hair, and beauty, the ambassador position provides invaluable experience for any CV and exclusive opportunities to take with you into all your future endeavors.
Acting as our brand ambassadors is a huge privilege that will set you up for future success, but in addition, all of our winners will receive a professional photoshoot with hair and makeup styling, and can be eligible for up to 50% off their own prom dress at Melynda Jayne - “You shall go to The Ball!”
Casting
Our gorgeous finalists will all be invited to a casting session, where they will be interviewed for their suitability for the role. As well as us getting to know you, our casting gives you and your parent or guardian the opportunity to meet us to clarify what is expected of you in the role and for you to ask any questions you need.
We understand this can be a nerve-wracking process, so we want to make this experience as memorable and special as possible. As well as an interview, a test photoshoot will be carried out to assess your comfortability on camera. Representatives from our competition partners will be on hand to discuss the looks we plan to create on the day, and your social media capabilities will also be explored with our marketing team to ensure you are capable of fulfilling the responsibility the role entails. All finalists will need to have parental consent to progress further in our competition.
Winning Finalists
Successful finalists will be notified within a few days of the casting session. Winners will then be asked to attend our professional photoshoot.
Please don’t worry if you’re a modelling beginner, as you will receive coaching on the day from our official Melynda Jayne photographer, as well as being taught how to ‘walk the catwalk like a pro’ by our Choreographer and Model Coach, and seasoned Melynda Jayne models. The images will be free for you to use in your modelling portfolios going forward, should you look to gain further work in the industry. For those prom ambassadors that are aspiring models, the images and experience modelling dresses designed by globally recognised designers such as Terani Couture, Saborama, Tarik Ediz and Gino Cerruti will be invaluable assets within their portfolio and for future prospects.
Some of the dresses that we stock at Melynda Jayne can be seen on the red carpet, worn by celebrities; we are a very specialist boutique and are privileged to stock these world renowned designers.
Apply Now!
To apply to be Melynda Jayne Boutique’s prom ambassador for your school in The Midlands, you must be a girl in year 11 or 13 with an active presence on social media. Make sure to get your parent or guardian’s permission, and then apply here!
How to Pick the Perfect Outfit for a Wedding Guest
It’s officially “wedding season”, and although we all love a good wedding, figuring out what on Earth to wear can sometimes be a bit of a nause. Things can sometimes be made even more awkward when dress codes or themes are stipulated on your invite, and the rules can often fluctuate depending on the type of day, time of year, and the formality of the event.
At Melynda Jayne Boutique in Balsall Common, Solihull, we are here to ease your wedding guest stress, and short of booking an appointment with our Head Stylist, Kelly Simpkin and her team, we thought we could still give you some much needed advice in what can be a pressured time if you can’t find what you want!
Ask if there is a dress code
If there’s no dress code on the invitation, you can still ask the question. This could possibly help you with your outfit decision, and the fact that you are interested in making the effort and looking perfect for their big day will definitely be appreciated by the Bride and Groom.
NEVER wear white
NEVER wear whiteUnless specifically asked to do so by the Bride herself, no wedding guest should ever wear white; this is a big “NO, NO”. White is always reserved for the Bride, and should be totally avoided by any guest that doesn’t want to be considered as rude.
You shouldn’t have to ask if your dress is too short
If you’re worrying that your dress is too short, then it probably is. Save yourself any stress and go for something a bit longer so that you feel 100% comfortable. The “arm test” can be a good way to help you with your decision; if you extend your right arm down your leg to reach your knee, then the dress hem should at least reach your fingertips to ensure the outfit is “wedding appropriate”.
Match with your partner
Discuss and compare outfits with your ‘plus one’; it’s always nice to match, even subtly, and it is also a great way to ensure that your partner is intending to wear suitable attire, too.
Elegant dresses win!
In our opinion, if you’re in an elegant dress that is suitable for a day event and an evening of drinks and dancing, then you just can’t go wrong. If you’re going to a wedding abroad or on a Summer’s day, even a nice floaty maxi dress can be appropriate.
Visit an exclusive boutique
To make extra sure that you find the perfect outfit, it’s always worth visiting an exclusive and professional boutique, such as Solihull dress boutique in Balsall Common. We have clients from Kenilworth, Solihull, Leamington Spa, and all over the Midlands come to see us for wedding outfits - some even travel down from London for our high end and unrivalled service! Book your appointment today.
Meet our Newest Ambassador: Miss Coventry and Warwickshire 2018
Melynda Jayne teams up with Miss Coventry and Warwickshire 2018
Here at Melynda Jayne Boutique we're all about teaming up with influential people, both from our local area of Solihull and further afield. Whether it's a celebrity, public figure, or just a very confident and passionate prom girl - we're excited to build a network of inspiring people who represent us, our incredible collection of dresses, and our passion for luxury wherever they go.
Our newest ambassador is the reigning Miss Coventry and Warwickshire 2018, Sarah-Jane Hulyer. Not only is she a successful beauty queen, but also a passionate mental health campaigner and volunteer. But we'll let her introduce herself...
Hi, hello, welcome - let me introduce myself; my name is Sarah-Jane and I am here to announce my arrival on the Melynda Jayne Boutique team. You can't see, but I’m totally waving!
As the reigning Miss Coventry and Warwickshire 2018, and a seasoned beauty queen who has held several titles and competed for over three years now, I’m here to provide the pageant brains for all of the Melynda Jayne beauties.
Why I decided to join Melynda Jayne
The Melynda Jayne experience is truly unique, the stunning boutique stands head and shoulders above the ‘normal’ formal wear shopping options as the boutique is appointment only, so you know you will have the teams full attention and come out with the dress of your dreams. Trust me, I've experienced first hand how much of a difference it makes to have a stylist's full attention! They stock beautiful and world class designers, with a collection so impressive I fell in love - and knew I couldn't have anyone else dress me for my year as Miss Coventry and Warwickshire 2018.
What I will be getting up to
I will be selecting my top pageant evening gown picks for a section on the website, writing blogs about styling, gown choice, general evening wear tips, confidence and more. Most excitingly, I’ll be taking Melynda Jayne nationwide, as the incredible team will be dressing me in the run up to the Miss England 2018 competition, in which 50 girls from across the country will be vying for the big crown.
In case you didn’t know, the current Miss England Stephanie Hill came third at Miss World 2017 ,which was watched by over 2 billion people worldwide. So there are some big and incredibly stylish shoes to fill!
I’m also incredibly excited to join the judging panel for Melynda Jayne’s fun prom ambassador scheme, which picks one lucky girl from all of the local schools and gives them the opportunity to take part in a professional photo shoot with hair and make up and have the photos to keep and use in their portfolio. They also receive 50% off of an incredible prom dress of their choice and learn all kinds of skills from the incredible team at Melynda Jayne Boutique, and myself.
I’ve modelled professionally, placed top 25 in Miss England 2017 and have spoken at schools across the country about mental health and self confidence - so I like to think I’ll have some wisdom to impart!
Enough about me, let’s talk about you. Thinking about popping in to Melynda Jayne for your next beautiful dress? Do it! The team will have you looking like you should be wearing my crown and sash before you know it.
Love,
Sarah-Jane
Did you know that Kelly Simpkin, the founder of Melynda Jayne, was the area director of a large national estate agency prior to pursuing her passion for couture fashions? A few years ago, Kelly worked with Clint Nykamp, who has now also moved on and is a partner at Fine and Country luxury estate agents. We are delighted to announce that Kelly and Clint’s paths have crossed once more, when Kelly purchased the new Melynda Jayne Boutique property in Balsall Common through Fine and Country! The pair are now teaming up to bring you something very special.
It was during a catch-up that Kelly and Clint realised that the clients that Clint works with to purchase and sell real estate in the Coventry and Solihull area are the very same people who visit us at Melynda Jayne, taking advantage of our appointment-only experience and utilising the help of our stylists when their busy calendars allow.
A Special Offer
With Fine and Country’s Big Weekend coming up, a 3-day event that sees inspiring speeches, business networking and recreational activities take place, Kelly and Clint saw an opportunity to treat their most loyal customers to a gift they won’t be able to resist. Simply by getting hold of a ticket to the Big Weekend - complimentary tickets can be requested on Fine and Country’s website - our shared clients will be gifted with a £50 Melynda Jayne voucher to spend on their outfit for the weekend, whether that be an elegant dress for a glamorous evening dinner or daytime occasion wear to enjoy watching the polo in.
If you already have an outfit planned for the Big Weekend, fear not! Your voucher is redeemable on any dress or outfit at our boutique*, and we have outfits suitable for: prom, weddings, ladies day, balls, etc.
A Shared Connection
Both Melynda Jayne and Fine and Country are connected not only by the enduring friendship between Kelly and Clint, but through a shared passion for hard work, and a superior customer experience that is totally tailored to each individual client.
“I am delighted to work with Clint again,” says Kelly. “It’s uncanny the amount of joint clients we realise we have. It seemed a perfect way for Clint to thank his customers with a voucher whilst introducing more ladies to our new Balsall Common location and supporting this brilliant social event.”
The Big Weekend is just one of the many fantastic things Fine and Country do, and at Melynda Jayne Boutique, we are proud to have been a previous sponsor of the charity work that Clint and his team do for the homeless - something we hope will continue with future fundraising efforts!
Clint states: “Kelly is a perfectionist, offers amazing customer service, understands her clientele perfectly. Working together again for the mutual benefit of our businesses is a great idea. We both have an intense work ethic, both having young families and living and working in the same communities. It is awesome to be able to support each other once more.”
For more information, contact us at Melynda Jayne Boutique, or visit Fine and Country’s website.
*Unfortunately, the voucher is not redeemable on millinery or accessories
Ready for the Races
Melynda Jayne’s Guide to Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is coming up soon, with races taking places from the 19th-23rd of June. A day at the races can be a fantastic day out for everyone, but with so many rules and regulations on what to wear, finding an outfit can be ridiculously tricky. Luckily, our stylists at Melynda Jayne are here to help!
What to Wear
The rules when it comes to dressing for Ascot can be lengthy, and many of our clients come to us worrying about falling under these strict stipulations. It can be incredibly tricky to contend with skirt lengths, strap widths, jackets and pashminas, hat sizes, and other formal daywear. It can be even more challenging when you consider that different enclosures have different rules about what is acceptable to wear, and figuring out the difference can cause a large amount of stress when it comes to picking your outfit.
What is an even bigger worry for many Ascot attendees is spending money on what you think is the perfect outfit, only to arrive and find others dressed the same as you, which is always likely when shopping on the high street. For what is supposed to be an exciting and enjoyable event, the preparation can certainly cause a few headaches!
The Melynda Jayne Experience
At Melynda Jayne, our stylists are seasoned pros. Not only are they clued in on the specific style requirements for each enclosure, but we possess a large fountain of knowledge when it comes to finding that outfit with the “wow-factor”, that makes you look and feel fabulous. Join us for an exclusive appointment that will put you at ease and take the worry out of Ascot, making your race day dress shopping a breeze. Peruse our lookbooks and high-end designer collection with one on one guidance from our stylists, who you can trust to help you find something gorgeous.
We can even pair you with a stunning couture millinery piece to set your entire look off to perfection! On your day, you can relax and enjoy yourself in the knowledge that Melynda Jayne practices a strict exclusivity promise, and only sells each style code to an event once, ensuring your look is totally unique to you.
For more information, or to book your appointment today, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Mothers of the Bride and Groom at Melynda Jayne
As a bride, much of your wedding preparation will be spent ensuring everything fits perfectly with the themes you’ve chosen, as well as your carefully selected colour scheme! Where this can get tricky, however, is trying to incorporate the outfits of the mothers of the bride and groom.
It is traditional for both to choose their own outfit, but on your special day, with photographs you’ll be looking at for a lifetime, you may be considering coordinating in order to have them blend in with the bridal party and make the wedding album look incredible.
Coordinating, Not Matching
With the excess pressure of adhering to the bride’s guidelines, mothers may feel additional pressure when selecting their outfit, particularly if they’re buying from the high street and run the risk of falling in love with the same outfit. What is more important is that both the bride’s mother and the grooms look and feel fantastic in what they wear, regardless of the colours they need to be working with.
Neither mother should blend in with the colour scheme so much that they look like bridesmaids, but just enough that they don’t look odd in group photographs and encourage harmony on the day. A crucial factor is that both outfits should complement each other, flattering each mother’s individual figures and skin tones, but never match totally.
An Appointment at Melynda Jayne
At Melynda Jayne, we offer so much more than just a shopping experience. With exclusive access to our boutique, and one-on-one attention with our stylists, you can have a relaxed chat about colours, styles, and cuts to flatter both women, keeping true to the theme of wedding, whilst putting their own unique spin on their own outfits.
Utilising the expert know-how of our stylists, or perusing our lookbook for inspiration can help you decide what to wear, and more than that, the experience of shopping together can be a wonderful way for both mothers, and the bride herself, to build a fantastic relationship prior to joining their families as one. Why not make a day of it, enjoying afternoon tea (or even a glass of prosecco!) as you take advantage of our stress-free services? Shopping together has the added advantage of ensuring both mothers look fantastic together, putting everyone at ease and allowing the bride to keep control over her big day.
For more help coordinating outfits for the big day, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to book your appointment. We also offer a party package for mothers of the bride and bridegroom.
Melynda Jayne Boutique - Clients Become Clients For Life!
With the launch of our new website finally happening this week, we thought it was the perfect time to blog about the client experience here at Melynda Jayne Boutique, and give examples of how our clients come for their first appointment and choose to return again and again, for dresses and outfits for any special occasion in their lives. A perfect case study to showcase this service and client relationship is with one of our favourite clients: Karin Henson.
All About Karin
Karin is just fabulous, and is a lady that shares many of our values here at Melynda Jayne. As a former corporate employment lawyer, wife and working mother-of-two, Karin took ‘the big leap’ just over four years ago and left her job at a big corporate firm to set up solo and start her own employment law practice from home. We just love to see another “Career Mum” breaking free to choose a better work-life balance, and set their own pace of work; striving to still keep a successful career, but without having to “dance to an employer’s tune” every day!
Karin’s “Melynda Jayne Boutique Experience”
Karin was first introduced to our Founder, Kelly Simpkin, when her daughter was recommended to our warwickshire boutique through one of our 2018 Prom Ambassadors. Karin and her husband had held a ‘Glastonbury style’ prom after-party for their eldest daughter’s school year a couple of years before, and are doing it all again this year for daughter number 2 (and also again for her eldest daughter’s Year 13 after prom!)
Karin came with her youngest daughter to our Leamington Boutique, and her daughter chose the most gorgeous prom two-piece dress from Terani Couture.
Following such a successful appointment, Karin decided to bring her eldest daughter Tammy for another appointment at MJ in search of her daughter’s 6th form prom dress. She chose the most beautiful, classic black dress from Saborama.
Karin’s most recent appointment was at our beautiful new premises in Balsall Common, Solihull. After visiting us to buy dresses for her daughters, Karin then returned to look for wedding-guest outfits for herself from our exclusive Occasion Wear Range. Karin chose two outfits: an elegant, lightweight and floaty Maxi dress, and another perfect wedding guest outfit.
What does Karin think of our client experience?
Here’s what Karin says about her experience at Melynda Jayne Boutique:
“Having experienced a more ‘mainstream’ prom dress experience for my eldest daughter (it was rushed and crowded), to find Melynda Jayne was such a breath of fresh air. Wonderful personal service, attention to detail and great ideas. The proof was in the pudding when I received so many compliments on the dress I wore to my friend’s wedding and there was no other dress like it. I felt a million dollars! I cannot recommend Melynda Jayne highly enough.”
Clients for Life
We absolutely love that clients like Karin are so happy with their exclusive, “personal shopper” experience, that they choose to come back to our boutique again and again - for every new special occasion! If you have a special occasion coming up, - be it a wedding, ball, prom, day at the races, or just a posh night out - don’t hesitate to get in touch too book your exclusive appointment at Melynda Jayne today.
Why You Shouldn’t Shop On The High Street
At Melynda Jayne Boutique, our collection of designer items, sourced from boutiques across the World, is second to none. However, many shoppers still turn to the high street when it comes time to choose outfits for all-important special occasions. Whilst there are many great choices to be found in high street shops, none of them can compare with what you get when you make the choice to search for your perfect outfit in local boutique stores, just like Melynda Jayne. At our boutique, we are a family run business offering not only the most beautiful and exclusive dresses, but also couture millinery.
Style Exclusivity
When it comes to finding a dress that tailors perfectly not just to your proportions, but to your unique personality, there’s no better bet than Melynda Jayne Boutique.
Our stylists are well seasoned in helping women from all walks of life dress for a variety of events, and know exactly how to help you look and feel fabulous. What’s more, when shopping with Melynda Jayne, you have the security of knowing your style will be exclusive to you. High street clothing is mass-produced, and as well as not being specifically chosen and altered to suit you, resulting in a garment far more ill-fitting than anything you’ll ever purchase in a boutique, it is also highly likely that you won’t be the only one wearing the outfit you’ve worked so hard to find.
Nothing strips away the impression of an individual personality, expressed by your unique style, than sharing your look with somebody else, and by taking advantage of the exclusivity offered by Melynda Jayne, you never have to worry about this. Not to mention, the quality of the garments you can expect from us is far higher than what you will find at a chain store, meaning you can enjoy any piece bought from us for years to come.
A Superior Experience
Shopping at boutique stores is nothing like shopping on the high street. At Melynda Jayne, access to our boutique is by appointment only. You will be offered exclusive access to our boutique for your party, allowing you to bring your friends and family to share the moment with you, and complimentary prosecco to relax with while you peruse our lookbooks. Our stylists offer you their undivided attention, giving advice and helping you feel special. You’d struggle to find such a VIP experience on the high street!
Supporting Local Businesses
High street chain clothing stores appear all over the country, if not the globe, and when purchasing an outfit from there, your money is only lining the pockets of multi-billionaire CEOs. However, many boutiques, like Melynda Jayne, operate as small, local businesses and have not survived the cost of high street or corporate competition. At Melynda Jayne, we do what we do out of a passion for style, and offer ladies in the Midlands a “Mayfair boutique experience” without the London price tag!
To make an appointment for your boutique experience, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Melynda Jayne Boutique - The Best Christmas Gift For A Special Lady
What do you buy for the person that has everything? Every year at Christmas time, we're faced with the task of finding that perfect gift for our special ones, which isn't always as easy as it might seem. Some of us are notoriously difficult to buy for, especially when we have luxury taste and there is so much to choose from!
Luckily, Melynda Jayne is here to make your Christmas that little bit easier and stress-free with our boutique gift vouchers. Instead of having to make such a difficult decision for someone, opting for a thoughtful gift voucher gives the gift of choice to your loved one so that you can be sure they'll get something they absolutely LOVE this festive season!
Melynda Jayne Boutique - Gift Vouchers
There are lots of reasons why our vouchers are so popular and make the perfect gift. We’ve listed just some of them for you below:
- Your loved one may have had their eye on a particular dress, or perhaps they've been on the lookout for the perfect party frock for some time now. A voucher shows that you’ve put the thought into what kind of gift they would like, but appreciate that they would prefer to choose and get fitted properly for their special garment themselves.
- Even the more high-end dresses are within reach this way, as you can club together with friends or family to give more of a substantial gift, especially if it’s intended for a special occasion in particular, such as a prom. The lucky recipient can leave our boutique after an exclusive, bespoke appointment, feeling glam and luxurious in their chic, dream dress!
- Every client is guaranteed special treatment and exclusivity of our boutique for the duration of their appointment. You can rest-assured in the knowledge that the lucky lady will receive a luxury and attentive service, including complimentary refreshments and an experienced stylist to help pick their perfect gown. She will leave Melynda Jayne Boutique feeling elegant and spectacular - on the inside and out!
- Someone may have already bought a dress for an occasion, or have one in mind, that needs the perfect hat to match! At Melynda Jayne, we have a millinery collection made up of the most beautifully made hats that can’t be found on the high street or online.
- If you are buying a gift for a bride that hasn’t yet found her perfect wedding dress, our bridal collection offers an exclusive, hand-picked range of the most gorgeous dresses from some of the World’s most recognised and adored designers. Although our collection is elite and selective, we have beautiful bridal gowns to suit every taste and style. A Melynda Jayne gift voucher can contribute towards the wedding dress that they will have and cherish forever, which is a very special gift indeed for someone special to you.
Exclusive Designer Dresses
For more information on our gift vouchers and Christmas at Melynda Jayne, visit our website, where you can also browse our incredible range of beautiful, hand-selected and exclusive designer dresses.
If you'd prefer, you can also get in touch or book an appointment via email: mj@melyndajayne.co.uk.
We'd love to hear from you! And don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels for the latest updates; links below:
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