Today, Sudeley Castle is privately owned by Lady Ashcombe and her son and daughter Henry and Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst.  Steeped in over 1000 years of history, Sudeley Castle is home to tales of royal associations, wars and restoration and is the final resting place of Queen Katherine Parr.

Sudeley Castle by Clive Burling

Part of our work will involve publicising the Sudeley calendar of events to help Brits considering a “staycation” or a day trip to choose Sudeley.   The Queen Katherine Parr Quincentenary Festival 2012, anchored at Sudeley Castle, will be an historical, literary and musical event marking 500 years since the birth of Henry VIII’s sixth wife. Festival dates will be released in the next few weeks.

Lady Ashcombe told Rain “Sudeley Castle has an enchanting history and is perfectly poised to reveal the remarkable life of Katherine Parr, with many tales from our archives to be told for the first time this season. We are delighted that Sudeley has its moment to shine this year and that visitors of all ages will be intrigued to come and explore  the castle and discover Tudor tales from Sudeley’s past.”

The account will be headed up by Agency MD Delia Hyde and Rain’s travel and tourism PR experts, Alison Wood and Katie Blake, who will be drawing on Rain’s national, international and broadcast media relationships, as well as tourism partners such as Visit Britain, Visit England & Foreign Press Association.

Alison Wood, Rain UK commented “Sudeley Castle is a remarkable tourist and heritage destination and has a unique story to tell of the lasting legacy of the Tudor dynasty through the life of Queen Katherine Parr. She is famous for ‘surviving’ the curse of Henry VIII’s wives but is less known for her instrumental role in reuniting the monarch with all his children before his death. We are really excited to share her story and celebrate her life through the festival.”

The castle is set amongst award-winning gardens billowing with hundreds of varieties of roses, and reopens to the public on 1st April. For more information see: http://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/

Whether fashion reflects an economic climate is questionable. During the Swinging
Sixties the economy saw a growth in prosperity and
so hemlines shrunk and people opted for more experimental fashion. With the
dawn of Thatcher’s government in 1979, the nation turned to tough fashion for
tough times with punk trends dominating the early Eighties. In line with this,
during the city bankers’ boom of the late 1990s and 2000s, trends veered
towards cropped tops and an eclectic ‘anything goes’ attitude to fashion,
inspired by the likes of Kate Moss and today considered the quintessential look
of British fashion.

So, does this prove that changing hemlines
reflect changing economies? In times of austerity do we change the way we
dress?

So far, during a period of financial instability, the 2010s have traded minis for maxis (and midis), in a similar
way to the long flowing styles of the New Romantics in the 1980s. However,
ironically, our current decade seems to have also traded the simplicity of the
90s for extravagance (it is only a matter of time before lash extensions become
the norm) and, with that, we have turned from the high street to luxe.

Mulberry and Burberry represent iconic British brands that have seen the country                                                                                                                                                                                        through the recession – both report storming sales figures. The return of Burberry to London Fashion Week in 2009
has brought significant business back to the capital. Indeed luxury brands
appear to have suffered least in the recession, with high street brands taking
the biggest hit on the whole. The UK has seen an increase in both domestic and
international shoppers buying into iconic, luxury brands like Mulberry, viewing
this as a worthwhile investment.

The recent display at London Fashion Week
represents fashion breaking through hard times: as global markets went into
meltdown, the fashion industry turned, quite literally, to gold. Gold is the
colour of decadent luxury; the epitome of Parisian Right Bank chic and
excess.

Once described by Helmut Newton as ‘a
fashion maniac’, Anna Dello Russo, fashion blogger, style icon and Editor at
Large and Creative Consultant for Vogue Japan, is undoubtedly the fashion
trailblazer of this trend for lavishness and experimentation. Her prolific
fashion creations, often generously adorned with gold gilding, arguably provide
the fashion blueprint for contemporary design, ironically, in times of
desperate measures.

So should we be opting for Middleton-style
restraint in times like these or having fun with fashion like Anna Dello Russo
and her second in command, Lady Gaga?

If the show put on at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer
2012 is to forecast the economic future for 2012, then we should be smiling. In
London, Topshop Unique’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection displayed elfin girls
with slicked back hair covered in gold leaf, while their nails were dripping in
metal.

On the continent, Fendi’s Spring Summer
2012 collection in Italy showcased extravagant fashion prints and eyes laced in
gold foil, begging the question, why use gold powder when you can use the real
deal?

Critics on The Economist website have
scorned fashion designers for their emphasis on artistic value, and suggest
that their focus should lie more in the business value of fashion design.

But the truth is, (merits and limitations
of artistic experimentation aside), London Fashion Week is increasingly good
business for Britain, bringing ‘millions to the economy’ according to Colin
Stanbridge, Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

With fashion trending in such a manner,
what should we expect to see on the catwalks in 2012 in light of the Olympics
in Britain? Should we expect to see fashion adopting the primary colours of the
Olympic emblem or take on the tricolor colours of the Union Jack? It remains to
be seen, but this will be a spectacle worth waiting for.

For the Rain girls High Street Fashion Week began with
a coffee fuelled 4am start at the crack of dawn to roll out the biggest stunt
High Street Fashion week has ever displayed in its three year history. An array
of talented stylists were quick off the mark to transform jugglers, hoola-hoopers
and stuntmen with big hair and bold make-up into circus performers for a
traffic stopping start to London’s precursor to Fashion Week.

There was little time for to get comfy in their costumes
before the sun came up and the cameras began to roll for vox popping on Oxford
Circus and the infamous tube sign and interviews with members of the public and
the New West End Company’s Director Jace Tyrrell. September importantly marks the start of
one the most important months in the retail calendar outside of the Christmas
Period, and the West End is anticipating a boost of £200m of sales per week until
the close of 2011.

Shortly before 7.20am, as sleepy London commuters started to pile out of London’s busiest tube station rapturous circus music
began to blare from the Nike building and stewards stepped in to stop the traffic. The circus performers descended upon Oxford Circus in ball of energy and colour to beeping horns from passing traffic as passersby began to marvel at their unexpected start to the working week as the ringmaster quipped her whip
and drove growing crowds into a frenzy of excitement and all captured in spontaneous vox popping activity.

This stunning large-scale fashion inspired circus kicked off a jam-packed week which saw 33 high street retailers including Selfridges, Topshop, M&S,
River Island, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser hosting a calendar of fashion-filled events and promotions. Shoppers will
continue to be treated to exclusive celebrity parties, must have promotions, style tutorials and exclusive offers on new season collections. This week has
been a truly accessible fashion calendar, the people’s prelude to industry led London Fashion Week. For a full itinerary of the week visit www.oxfordstreet.co.uk

Ever got excited about an influential blogger who seems perfect for a client campaign only to discover during the course of your content profile research that their Twitter page is littered with expletives and their blog remit isn’t quite what it seems?

We’ve uncovered a few surprises. I feel really disappointed when I discover that a key blogger who has a great following, really knows their stuff and wants to work with the media – I’m only referring to those bloggers here – also uses their site for random rants or F-bombs with gleeful abandon on their blog posts and Twitter.
Influence scores are only the starting point – you’ve got to take a close look at a blogger’s entire digital profile to ensure they mind their language as well offer expert views before engaging with them for a client campaign.

It’s hard to believe that even some high profile bloggers still fail to realise that social networks are broadcast mediums and that their digital footprint will follow them – and can haunt them forever.

Leaving a trail of rants and raves (which more often than not can come across as ‘unhinged’ rather than big and clever when not backed up by at least an attempt at intelligent comment or analysis) can seriously compromise the credibility of a blogger who seeks to be taken seriously and work with the media.

At Rain, we take bloggers very seriously and have established great relationships with top bloggers who work in all of our client sectors.  In addition to adding influential bloggers to our database for news releases (and carefully checking that they actually want to receive them in the first place!), we also work with a select group of brilliant bloggers for outreach campaigns and content creation.

We assess blog sites, reading content to understand their remit and what would work for them in the exactly the same we approach media relations.
For each new campaign, we seek to connect with the very best in the given client’s sector to ensure the perfect fit – and establish a mutually helpful and beneficial relationship.

“Don’t post anything if you wouldn’t want your Mum to read it” is a golden rule for social media.
It’s just a shame that some people still don’t get it. That’s why ‘sanity’ checking is a vital part of the blogger content research process.

In June 2011 the New West End Company reported a robust start to the summer trading as shoppers made the most of warm temperatures following one of the driest springs on record. Soaring temperatures in London across the Bank Holiday weekends prompted a spike in shopper numbers throughout the month, with both domestic and international shoppers buying summer accessories and holiday gear in preparation for the summer season. Conversely, some retailers report that warm weather can actually hinder trading as customers ditch the High Street in favour of firing up the Barbie at home, and that wet weather can actually help drive customers in store and encourage them to spend more. Stores are also quick to maximise sales during a rain-shower by positioning their range of umbrellas at entrances and till points.

And weather proof clothing is far from dull. Iconic brands like Burberry are renowned for their classic all-weather macs and trench coats, whereas practical and rather ordinary products not usually associated with fashion have been propelled to cult status in recent years. Take the example of the humble wellington boot. The rise of festival chic has spurred a boom in sales for the Hunter brand, which is integral to the recognisable ‘festival uniform’ look of leggings, a loose fitting top, a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses, tousled hair topped off with a trilby hat. Such demand has also prompted a growing range of designs, colours and patterns to suit different styles and looks at festivals and migrated onto the High Street. Barbour, the quintessentially British brand, has also benefited from the rise of festival chic and shrugged off its former ‘Horse and Hound’ image. Increased demand for its classic jacket and interest in the brand has prompted a wider selection of designs and ranges and to appeal to its notably younger new market.

Here’s our top tips for how to stay fashionable, even in the rain!
•    Invest in a ‘cag in a bag’  – the perfect size cagoule for most handbags and a quick source of cover!
•    Rainhats are making a come back – Cath Kidston is just one name to turn something that granny used to wear into something desirable
•    Prepare your hair with a good hair serum to prevent the inevitable frizz following drizzle
•    Adorn your hair with a headscarf, which will also prevent an untamed mane situation
•    Most makeup essentials now come in a waterproof formula which are handy for variable weather but also for sun and seashine holidays

Planking rules
• To plank, lay horizontally in a strange or unusual place
• You must lay horizontally, straighten your body and point your fingers and toes down

Need a visual aid? We challenged Rain to post their best planking photos from their travels, including public places, scenic views and beauty spots – and the innovative use of props! What’s your favourite?

Emma says ‘don’t plank and drive’!

Fiona takes a rest and inhales the salty sea breezes of the Isle of Wight

Imogen demonstrates the suitcase as the perfect planking prop

Kate admires the harbour in Mousehole, Cornwall.

Oonagh does it Stateside – Times Square, New York