“Accessories are the exclamation point of a woman” Michael Kors

In the world of fashion and styling it is not all about the clothes, actually for me its more about how you accessorise a look that actually makes it stylish. It allows you to enhance, elevate and individualise your look. It also allows you the freedom to transition a outfit from day to night, perhaps swapping those boots for heels, stud earrings to statement pieces and adding a fabulous belt to show off or create your curves.

Personality

Equally it allows you to express who you are, bringing perhaps a main stream look and turning it into your own, this could be through a pop of colour or adding a well tied scarf, the possibilities are endless.

Flexibility

It allows you to repeat the same outfit time and again but dressing it differently gives you the flexibility of a whole new style. Just be sure to pick out different accessories that accentuate the ensemble.

Add colour

Use your accessories to embrace colour, small accents here and there. For example adding coloured earrings can transform a basic white tee into instant glamour.

What about Make up as an Accessory

I use lipstick as one of my accessories, I love using bright vibrant lipsticks within my personal styling, for me they uplift my mood and tie a whole look together.

Check out my Accessories Edit – Shoe & Bag Combinations to help you get started.

Ultimately fashion accessories allow you to individualise a outfit and can also really help hone your style. 

 

 

“Jewellery is the most transformative thing you can wear” Iris Apfel

And I couldn’t agree more!

If you want to read more on how your jewellery can change your outfit then please have a look at my blog “The Importance of Accessories“. Now, on to my favourite independents, I find that whilst they will be more expensive than high street fast fashion jewellery the cost per wear works out so much better. You can’t beat in investing in pieces you can restyle over and over again, and that are made with quality, bespoke design and love at their heart. Here are my top three favourites Soru Jewellery, The Jewel Jar and Heavenly Necklaces, I own pieces from all three so I first hand know their quality and beauty. Scroll down to see my favourite items from each independent store.

Soru Jewellery

Soru Jewellery is founded by two half English-Sicilian sisters Francesca Kelly and Marianna Doyle in Solihull, “Fuelled by their love of jewellery and desire to create luxe stand out pieces with high quality materials at attainable prices”.

There pieces are stunning, statement, investment items of amazing quality.

Earrings

Pink Eternal Heart Earrings

Silver Double Heart Earrings

Necklaces

Treasures Laran Pendant Necklace, Gold

Ionian Necklace

Rings

Coral Ring

Twilight Ring

The Jewel Jar

“Where style meets affordable luxury, a platform inspired by and created for the multifaceted woman of today”. I have chatted with Parneet, the brand founder through Instagram many times, she is such a wonderful and inspiring lady, who chooses exquisite designers and pieces to showcase through her store.

Earrings

Pastel Drop Earrings

Interlink Mirror Dangle Earrings

Necklaces

Dual Chain Coin Necklace

Half Moon Pendant with Swarovski Crystals

Rings

Green Amethyst Mesh Ring

Rose Gold Shell Ring

Heavenly Necklaces

Heavenly Necklaces “sells the world’s finest collection of imitation diamond jewellery, as well as fabulous real gems” and it really does, the pieces are beautiful, individual and of high quality. I have many, many items from here which you will regularly see featured in the “My Style” section.

Earrings

The Bedouin Earrings

The New Romantics Gold Pearl Earrings

Necklaces

Never Break The Chain Necklace

The Pink Mon Cœur Necklace

Rings

The New Romantics Leo Ring

The Fabulous Red Garnet Guinevere Ring

 

 

 

“People will stare, make it worth their while” Tom Ford

Here are my top current pieces for adding that splash of colour to your wardrobe. Not sure where to start please read my blog post “Afraid of wearing colour – Don’t be”

*All prices correct at time of producing, always worth clicking through on the things you like in case they have been reduced!

Jewellery

Now I couldn’t start coloured jewellery without putting in the gorgeous Blue Angelite & Rose Gold Bracelet from Clockface Beauty £32 – here

Marble Effect Resin Statement Earrings, Monsoon £9 – here

V by Laura Vann Audrey Cubic Zirconia Geometric Ring, John Lewis £85 – here

Jewel Drop Statement Earrings, Marks & Spencer £12.50 – here

Mulberry Bayswater Leather Bracelet, Icy Pink/Gold, John Lewis £125 –here

Hoop Earrings with coloured stones, Zara £11.99 – here

Pack of colourful bracelets, Zara £14.99 – here

Belts

Cotton crochet belt, Mango £17.99 –here

 

Leopard print belt, Whistles £55 – here

Wavy Edge Belt – Camel Multi, Boden £29.40 – here

Shoes

Lauretta – Green, Dune £64 –here

 

Marsa – Pink, Dune – £75 – here

Flora Flats – Chartreuse Lizard, Boden £98 – here

 

The joy of personalised jewellery

It’s lovely to have bold statement jewellery, in fact I have written a whole blog on it! But for me the items in my jewellery box that are the most precious and that I wear the most often are those with little monetary value but maximum sentimental. I wanted to talk specifically about an item you will often see within “My Style”, my gorgeous necklace from Phillipa Herbert, it is Rose Gold (anyone that knows Clockface and has seen it’s branding will know how much I love Rose Gold!), and has two small disc charms on the bottom, one with an imprint of Alfie’s fingerprint and one of Henry’s.

Nick organised the original necklace for my first Mother’s day present after Alfie was born, I don’t think I took it off at all for about 3 years! Then he had Henry’s charm made up for the Mother’s Day after he came along. It is beyond precious and I am pretty sure gives me super powers, I wear it to all the important things in my life or whenever I need a little courage, I know the boys are right there with me, cheering me on.

Aside from my engagement and wedding rings, which always mean I have my husband close, I have a gorgeous ring from my Mum, her Nanna gave it to her for her 18th, again, it has zero monetary value, but I never take it off. It has her maiden name initials barely still inscribed on the surface, it’s discreet, understated but extremely beautiful, it reminds me of someone I never even got to meet (my Great Nanna), and again brings me a sense of strength just by wearing it.

Why am I telling you all this? Firstly, wear the pieces that make you feel loved, beautiful or just that little bit more courageous, but also never underestimate the power of sentiment. I cannot recommend enough my beautiful finger print necklace, I will carry and wear these precious memories around with me forever, if you have children or just someone you really care about I would urge you to consider a personalised piece.

 

 

“Beauty the way nature intended” Clockface Beauty

You will see within “My Style” that I hardly ever don’t have accompanied with my outfit the beautiful bracelets we designed and have handmade for Clockface Beauty.

For me they have almost become a comfort blanket as well as a fashion accessory, yes they are beautiful, the stones each carefully chosen, but not just on their appearance. Each has its own property, the Blue Angelite is a powerful stone that was discovered in Peru in the 1980s. Associated with the wind, it has a beautiful milky blue appearance that is believed to have a calming effect on your mind and the Peruvian Pink Opal is still worshipped today as a healing and protective stone. It is considered one of the most important healing stones that can have a profound effect on a person’s mood. It’s often referred to as the “stone of spiritual awakening” due to the powerful vibrations that it holds. I really feel that when I wear them.

I cannot recommend enough for both this reason and their versatility when styling with your outfit, head on over and take a look. They can be worn individually or stacked as pairs or a trio, my favourite combination is the Peruvian Pink Opal paired with the Swarovski pearl.

Peruvian Pink Opal & Rose Gold 

Swarovski Pearl & Rose Gold 

Angelite & Rose Gold

 

I’d love to hear what which is your favourite.