Onesie is the item predicted by supermarkets and high street stores alike to be the number one Christmas gift for 2012.
Celebrities were early adopters of the trend, with the likes of Rihanna, Robbie Williams, Tulisa, One Direction and Tom Daley all stepping out in their own versions of the adult romper suits.
Holly Willoughby appeared on This Morning wearing one, Keith Lemon stepped out in Asda’s Incredible Hulk onesie and Amy Childs vajazzled a £60 ($90) velour all-in-one, 2,000 of which sold out on her website in two days.
And now, as Christmas approaches, it is clear that the people of Britain have embraced the all-in-one too.
Evidently millions have already bought one for themselves. George at Asda, who are predicting that onesies will be the number one Christmas gift this year – say that sales of onesies have soared by a staggering 606% on year, and the word “onesie” now the most searched-for term on their website.
Marks & Spencer and Debenhams have reported staggering sales results too, with M&S saying last month they would be producing an additional 10 styles of the onesie in time for Christmas, and Debenhams reporting a 155% rise in sales in October than the previous month.
A spokesman said at the time they’d sold 2,075 units in just one week – and that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Onesie is the item predicted by supermarkets and high street stores alike to be the number one Christmas gift for 2012
With Christmas now fast approaching, many more are expected to jump on the onesie bandwagon.
A poll on the George at Asda Facebook page revealed that 42% of customers are planning to buy a onesie as a gift this year, and a third admitting the ultra-forgiving onesie will be their outfit for Christmas day.
As a result, Asda say they have stockpiled one million onesies to meet demand, and have launched an online Onesie Shop for customers. There, shoppers can buy Sponge Bob Square pants onesies, onesies in tiger print and dalmation, a Fair Isle onesie inspired by the Burberry catwalk show – and thatIncredible Hulk onesie as worn by Keith Lemon, which sales analysts at the store predict will sell out in 24 hours (no fighting in the aisles over the last one now please).
Fiona Lambert, George Brand Director said she predicted sales of onesies will go on soaring right up until the big day.
“Onesies are the must-have item for Christmas 2012,” she said.
“Each week at George we see sales soar higher than the week before which we are attributing to celebrity influence.
“Due to such high customer demand we have ordered in thousands of extra onesies and launched our dedicated online <<Onesie Stop Shop>> to ensure our shoppers don’t miss out on the perfect outfit for a cozy Christmas morning, day and night for the whole family.”
How a girl can quickly (as well as effortlessly and economically) freshen up her work look after a long day in the office, readying herself for a night on the town?
Debenhams may, after all these years, finally have the answer: the 2-in-1 boot.
The unique leather boot – the brainchild of London-based designer Betty Jackson – begins life as the casual Chelsea ankle-high.
In a matter of seconds – and with a little help from a long leather cuff which fastens beneath the foot – it can become a completely different, smarter evening knee-high with buckle detail.
Debenhams 2in1 boots
Available in black and brown, the innovative product costs £120 ($188) and was developed after customer research showed that women wanted a quick and simple solution to shaking up their work look.
Natelle Baddeley, Head of Accessories Design at Debenhams: “This boot is the ultimate choice in footwear for fashion-savvy recessionistas.
“Women are being more and more careful with their cash than before, but still want to invest in great quality and design.
“We wanted to offer our customers that little bit extra, so thought what better than two on-trend, stylish boots for the price of one!”
[googlead tip=”vertical_mic”]London riots spread last nights, with looting and violence escalating across Hackney, Ealing, Croydon, Clapham and Notting Hill and erupting in cities outside London, such as Liverpool, Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham.
The London riots began in Tottenham on Saturday night following the deadly shooting by police of Mark Duggan, 29. Sunday night street violence spread to Brixton and to the following areas:
England riots mapping.
Hackney, East London
Rioting reigned for more than 3 hours on the Pembury Estate in Hackney as 300 masked people burned cars, looted shops and threw petrol bombs at riot police.
Burning debris – including motorbikes, bins and sticks – was piled around the estate.
On Mare Street, shops were looted.[googlead tip=”vertical_mic”]
A police officer in a solitary parked car was attacked shortly before 9 p.m., local time. His car windscreen was smashed with bricks and the car was pelted with sticks and bottles as a man shouted: “kill the police”.
Today a clean-up is being arranged in the borough.
England riots map.
[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”stanga”]Croydon, South London
Residents were forced to jump from burning buildings as masked gangs set fire to shops, businesses, cars and homes. Plumes of smoke could be seen for miles.
Woman jumping from a burning building in Surrey Street
Family business Reeves, a furniture shop that has stood in the area for more than 100 years, was burned down.
Store’s owner, Trevor Reeves said:
“It’s just completely destroyed. Words fail me. It’s just gone, it’s five generations. My father is distraught. It’s just mindless thuggery.”
A woman was filmed jumping from a burning building which had been set on fire by rioters.
A 26-year-old man was injured in a non-fatal shooting.
Clapham, south London
A groups of 1,000 rioters – many of them wearing masks – raided a Debenhams store and a number shops in Lavender Hill. A jewellery shop was also looted.
Clapham police officers cluster near a burned out shop
Residents were told to stay indoors and the youths ran riot.
“We don’t want people getting hurt by their bombs and missiles,” an officer said.
Peckham, South-East London
500 rioters vandalized shops, lit fires and attacked police on Peckham High Street. A fire was started in a Greggs’ bakery.
Looters jump out from smashed up store in Peckham
A nearby bus was also set on fire and bins and an abandoned vehicle were set ablaze in Lewisham.
Ealing, West London
Gangs of rioters gathered opposite Ealing Broadway Tube, throwing bricks at local shops, starting fires in the street and setting cars ablaze.
Car fire extingushed on a street in Ealing
Bethnal Green, East London
A Tesco’s garage was looted and 2 officers were injured.
A shop on Roman Road was also broken into and robbed. Police said there had also been looting in Newham.
Fulham, West London
Rioters looted electrical store Curry’s.
Hammersmith, West London
Stores looted. Shopkeepers in Shepherd’s Bush barricaded their businesses to try to keep out troublemakers.
Woolwich, South London
PC World was looted and rioters made off with large flat screen TVs and other electronic goods.
Firefighters extinguishing the flames of a torched store in Woolwich
Camden and Chalk Farm, North London
Gangs of youths roamed, buildings were vandalized.
Enfield, North London
40 firefighters were called to fight a huge blaze at a Sony warehouse in Solar Way.
Gangs looting a convenience store
