The weather lately in Britain has been all over the place which is not very helpful for us women when it comes to planning day or evening outfits.  Will it rain, snow or be sunny?  Who knows! 

For some of you lucky people out there though you may have already booked your summer holiday and are blissfully dreaming about sitting on the beach or by the pool sipping a cocktail and soaking up the rays…  Sigh… 

It is now just a case of deciding what essential beach accessories and clothing you will need to accompany you on your sunshine filled escape!

The Bentall Centre in Kingston is packed full of fabulous stores which have a gorgeous range of pieces for Spring/Summer 2012. 

New to H&M is the beautiful Marni Collection which evokes the season and the designer brand perfectly.  Included in the range are must-have accessories which will have you looking utterly fashion fabulous on your beach holiday, whether you are looking for a hat, bag or a pair of shades. 

H&M also do an amazing variety of swimwear too – all at affordable prices.  You could stock up on a few bikini sets to see you through the season!

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It’s Half Term already which means once again The Bentall Centre has put together an amazing fun packed week of children’s activities.  You mums and dads out there can relax as all the hard work has been taken care of!

This is a fantastic opportunity for your little ones to be creative and try some new activities so you won’t have to struggle to think of ideas to keep them entertained and busy.  You’ll be able to do a bit of shopping whilst your children take part in different Valentine’s inspired activities!

There will be a different event each day throughout Half Term so your little ones can take part in all of them if they want.  They’ll have so much fun plus you’ll have loads of time to do what you want – perhaps a spot of lunch with fellow parents and friends?

Remember all these great activities are free so make this Half Term one to remember!

Monday 13^th February – Fairytale Prince and Princess Storytelling

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If you’re looking for some fun and exciting activities to do this October with your family then head to Kingston.  There is so much happening in the area you won’t want to miss out! 

Here's two really great activities in Kingston October & November 2011. You could even plan a sneaky day out to The Bentall Centre to do some shopping…

RHS Garden Wisley is hosting tree themed activities this October half term which takes place from the 24^th to the 30^th. 

It is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your family and keep the kids entertained.  There is a range of different classes, workshops, tree climbing and displays taking place – it’s guaranteed to be an amazing week! 

Your little ones can take part in natural art classes allowing them to unleash their creativity using natural materials to create beautiful sculptures in the Arboretum or plant an acorn that you can watch grow in your own garden. 

The ‘Waking the Forest’ musical workshops will be great fun and is an exciting rhythm based activity that helps recreate the atmosphere of the forest.  As Halloween is fast approaching why not make a spooky spider finger puppet which you can show to your family and friends afterwards. 

For the more adventurous then there are plenty of activities to do as well!  If you’re aged 7 to 12 years old then you can climb a special tree using harnesses and pulleys.  Be brave and rise to the challenge – it will be great fun! 

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Stylish summer footwear from Superdry and CULT is available at The Bentall Centre in Kingston and are perfect for summer.  From flip flops to espadrilles both for men and women these shoes will be your go to items for the hot sunny weather!

The range of colourful stylish flip flops are ideal for the beach and will look great worn with your summer outfits.  Classic thong styles are adorned with contrasting heel areas and embossed with the logo on the upper strap. 

Another style flip flop sees the Superdry logo on the sole and heritage logo tab on the upper strap which make them super casual.

If flip flops aren’t the summer shoes for you then why not go for summer 2011’s other hot style – the espadrille!  The classic, versatile design is made of a canvas material and can be worn with a variety of different looks from shorts, skirts and jeans.  Take them on holiday, or wear them to the shops.  For women the pink and red designs are cute and girly and for men the grey colour is subtle and chic.

Espadrilles £14.99 Men’s & Women’s

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I find beach holidays are more fun to pack for!  The combination of sun, sea and sandy beaches makes planning outfits for the trip more exciting. 

It is the perfect chance to incorporate the latest season trends into your looks as well as adding your own little twist to them.

My top 5 items to take with me on beach holidays are -

* a pair of oversized sunglasses

* a stylish new bikini

* a gorgeous cover up for when I’ve had enough of sunbathing

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All of you lovely people out there must be planning and booking your holidays for this year! 

Lazy days of sunbathing, shopping and exploring are something to definitely look forward to.  The hard part to any holiday really is the whole packing bit and deciding what to take! 

I always have to make a list a few weeks before hand so I know exactly what I need.  If you’re completely stuck on where to start though then keep on reading! 

The Bentall Centre in Kingston has everything you need for a holiday whether it’s a new bikini or a stylish suitcase, so make a list and plan a shopping day!

Here are some handy tips to get you started:

* Put together outfits before you start packing your clothes and shoes into the suitcase.  You don’t want to get to your destination to find out nothing goes together!  Something I have definitely learned from…

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It seems us Brits are finally getting a proper summer!  Blue skies, warm weather and sun filled days.  This means we can all start planning BBQs and garden parties for our family and friends and enjoy our weekends.

Preparation is key to hosting a garden party.  You can either go all out on the decorations and theme or keep things simple – it’s all up to you which I think is the fun part!  The Bentall Centre in Kingston has such an amazing array of shops filled with everything you need so what are you waiting for?  Make a list and get shopping!

If you’re after some Garden Party Inspiration check out our 5 Hot Picks!

Paperchase is known for its funky prints and patterns so add some colour to your garden spread with these cute napkins!

Patisserie Pals Napkins – Pack of 20, £2.50 from Paperchase

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So it’s August and you probably want to make the most of the last month of summer by going on holiday. Since summer began I bet you’ve seen every holiday capsule wardrobe you could imagine. By now you know what’s hot and what’s not when out on the beach or seeing sights but what most people struggle with is what to wear in the evening. After all, you are on holiday and the same way you don’t want to wear the same clothes you wear at home in the daytime, you don’t want to wear the same evening wear either, especially when you want to embrace the new weather and environment. Here are some things to consider when picking out holiday evening outfits.

TIP 1 - Look for pieces that have great drapery. You will get that feeling of freedom in the outfit rather than wearing something that will stick to your skin or irritate you. Not to mention, It looks great when a calm breeze blows on a piece that is well draped.

TIP 2 - Get a scarf/shawl to wrap around you when it gets a bit chilly. Pick one that will complement what you’re already wearing. After all, when you put it on, it will become part of your outfit as a whole.

TIP 3 - Accessorise well. There are many stores and brands to look at in the centre that will provide you with the pieces to your perfect holiday outfits. It all depends on your budget of course. Bentalls caters to everyone. If your aiming high, try DKNY, Coast or ted baker or if you love all things high street try H&M, Newlook or Miss selfridge for example. Claire’s Accessories, Toko and SWAG are great for accessorising.

Here are some examples for some holiday evening wear.

Black one shoulder maxi dress, £45, Miss Selfridge

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We spend months looking forward to our summer holiday, so why do we always get stressed at the last minute?! I do enjoy packing, but I always find myself squeezing too many clothes into the small suitcase I chose as an incentive to travel light!

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The school holidays are almost upon us and that means finding things to do for the kids locally and keeps them entertained for as long as humanly possible whilst you get round the shops!

Well, we're one step ahead here at The Bentall Centre and have designed a program of events that are set to engage, educate and entertain. So, even if our summer sunshine decides to give up on us early you can rest assured that we've got it covered. Here's our official schedule of events to look forward to (and add to your diary):

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