Category: London
New Year, New Jewels!
Wolf & Moon Festive Jewels!
With only a few hours to go until we welcome in 2014 (seriously, where has the time gone?!), I thought I’d share with you the amazing jewels I’ve been rocking over the festive season from a brand who are I predict are going to do big things in the year to come!
Double Triangle Earrings – £24 – Wolf & Moon
Wolf & Moon is the Hackney based jewellery brand of Goldsmiths alumni Hannah Davis and specialises in ridiculously beautiful pieces in perspex and wood. I first became aware of the brand after a tip off from the ever wonderful Fashion For Lunch and I’ve been obsessed ever since. I would genuinely love to own every piece from the collection (and I’m gutted quite a few of the smaller pieces are sold out online) but for moment I’ve had to make do with the double triangle earrings in black glitter and the cluster collar necklace in purple and green.
Cluster Collar Necklace – £48 – Wolf & Moon
I love the way the deco feel of some pieces is mixed with more contemporary materials creating jewellery that not only looks amazing when worn now but will also still look fabulous in years to come. I’ve been looking for some ‘investment’ pieces after receiving money from my parents for my 30th and I think this crest necklace fits the bill perfectly. Now all I need to decide is whether to get the gold or tortoiseshell version!
Many Happy Returns!
December seems to have flown by and I can’t quite believe we’re only five days away from Christmas! I’ve barely had time to catch my breath over the last few weeks and as well as a fantastic trip to London to see the Meadham Kirchhoff V&A Fashion In Motion show, most of my time has revolved around hitting the big 3-0. Now that I’ve almost recovered from an epic birthday weekend which included a go on a helter skelter (because that’s what grown ups do isn’t it?!), I thought I’d share some of the gorgeous presents I was given.
Rose Necklace by a-england, Leather Purse by Biba at House of Fraser
After blogging about it way back in June, I finally got my hands on an a-england ‘Rose With Thorn’ necklace in rose gold. It’s so beautiful and delicate in real life and definitely a piece I will treasure forever. A grown up birthday also demands a slightly more grown up wallet than my current Liberty Print Hello Kitty one so this Biba leather wallet is perfect!
Babycham gift set and amazing homemade compilation CD!
Once a Manic Street Preachers fan, always a Manic Street Preachers fan so this Babycham gift set from one of my oldest friends (who’s also in the ultracool band Pris) really reminds me of my misspent youth. Coupled with an amazing mix CD (including a cover sleeve feature some of my more dubious outfit choices), this was the perfect nostalgia present.
Scarf – Karen Mabon, Lipsticks in Lady Danger and Ruby Woo – MAC, Perfume – Jo Malone, Owl Necklace – Manchester Art Gallery
It’s always lovely receiving presents on my ‘a bit too indulgent to justify treating myself to’ wish list so I felt like a very lucky girl this year. I’m a sucker for a good red lippy with MAC’s ‘Lady Danger’ being my go to shade (nothing like a strong lip to distract from you looking like death, a trick I employed over the days spent recovering from my birthday!) so I was glad to receive a new one to replace the rapidly running out tube in my handbag. I was also given the slightly darker matte red shade ‘Ruby Woo’ which I always debate buying when the weather turns autumnal but can never decide between it and ‘Russian Red’. I’m glad my sister took the dithering out of my hands and picked this shade on my behalf as it makes me feel very glamorous which is just how you should feel on your birthday!
Another brand I have trouble with is Jo Malone – there’s just too much choice! My friend who really knows her way around the range got me a bottle of the gorgeous smelling ‘Earl Grey & Cucumber’ cologne and my heart leapt at the sight of the little black and white box tied with their distinctive ribbon.
I’m not sure when owls became my thing (although I possibly kicked it off after buying a fantastic Lea Stein Buba Owl Brooch on eBay) but now most birthdays seem to feature them. For my 30th I was given this cute silver owl necklace from the shop at Manchester Art Gallery which matches a ring I have. I love a good art gallery or museum gift shop and my new necklace proves what amazing treasures you can find!
Completing the glam theme is this stunning Karen Mabon silk scarf. Again this is a brand I’ve previously blogged about and I utterly love Karen’s quirky designs. I’ve now got my fingers crossed that the Midnight Feast scarf from her winter collection is waiting for me under the Christmas tree…
The Picture Of Dorian Gray – Pulp The Classics
I think it’s fitting that my final gift combines both my love of literature and, er, hot men… Pulp! The Classics is a new imprint which gives classic novels retro looking pulp fiction covers with a twist. Whether you like your Pride And Prejudice with a side order of Colin Firth’s ‘Darcy’ or, like me, the eternal youth of Gosling as Dorian Gray, the eight novels in the collection will not only brighten up any bookshelf but are also guaranteed to raise a smile from fellow commuters during the rush hour slog!
Charmed I’m Sure!
Katie Mullally Sterling Silver Peg Charm – £72
One day I will show restraint when it comes to jewellery (especially with a significant birthday AND Christmas coming up) but when I set eyes on this fantastic Katie Mullally Peg Charm necklace I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection! I’ve actually been lusting over it for the best part of a year since seeing it on Fashion For Lunch’s ever stylish blog so I’m thrilled it’s finally mine.
Although the size of my collection may suggest otherwise, I’m actually very picky when it comes to jewellery and if I’m going to spend money on a piece, I want something that not only looks amazing but is also going to last. Whilst it was the quirkiness of the designs which first attracted me to Katie’s work (the Peg Charm has ‘cult status’ written all over it, move over Alex Monroe’s Bumblebee!) there’s also a clear commitment for British made quality and craftsmanship.
Katie Mullally Sterling Silver Peg Charm Necklace – £72
Katie started out working in her grandmother’s antiques business and it was there that she found her passion for silver and hallmarking. Thanks to being from Sheffield (which is one of the four remaining Assay Offices in the UK) and having watched countless episodes of ‘Antiques Roadshow’ on Sunday afternoons at my granny’s, I’ve always been aware of the importance of hallmarking precious metals as it not only helps to tell the history of a piece but it also gives an assurance as to the quality of the item. Even though legally silver only needs hallmarking if it weighs over 7.78g, all of Katie’s quirky sterling silver charms are fully hallmarked (complete with her own individual ‘KMM’ Sponsor’s Mark) which I think makes the pieces that little bit extra special.
Katie Mullally Hallmarks. From left to right – The Sponsor’s Mark, The Traditional Fineness Mark, The Fineness Mark, The Assay Office Mark and The Date Letter.
All of Katie’s charms come in sterling silver or 22.5 carat gold-plate and can be worn individually or with several at once depending on your mood. Although my silver peg is flying solo at the moment, I’ve got my eye on these Ammonite and Whistle charms so hopefully it won’t be that way for long! I’m also tempted to get in the festive mood with this limited edition Christmas Wreath but I’d should probably save my pennies and start my Christmas shopping for other people…
Deco Delights!
I do love a good statement necklace so when Sarah Angold’s collection for Freedom at Topshop launched a few weeks ago, I knew I had to add one of her Perspex lovelies to my wardrobe!
Sarah Angold for Freedom at Topshop Layered Shape Necklace – £60
Whilst pieces from her mainline start at around £300, prices for the Topshop limited edition seven piece necklace and earrings collection are £30 – £60! Considering that all of the Freedom at Topshop pieces are still handmade by Sarah and her team in her workshop and come with their own identity number, I think paying a little bit more than perhaps you normally would for Topshop jewellery is justified as these have ‘investment pieces’ written all over them!
Sarah Angold for Freedom at Topshop
I love the nod to art deco which the collection has (and reminds me of the much lusted after Charlotte Olympia Pre Fall 13) and the way the iridescent perspex parts catch the light. The collection is exclusively available at Topshop’s Oxford Circus store as well as through their website and I’m currently online stalking the Line Necklace in the hope that it’ll one day end up in the sale as I’d really love to add another piece to my wardrobe!
Without A Hitch…
It’s that time of year again when Elle, Vogue, et al weigh about the same as a average house brick – yes folks, the September Issues are upon us! Now as well as being full of page upon page of lust worthy objects I can never afford (basically the whole of Charlotte Olympia, Miu Miu and Orla Kiely A/W 13), they also offer a heads up of the trends which, if we’re good little fashion bunnies, we’ll be following for A/W 2013. Now it’s true that very little is ever completely ‘new’ in fashion (as demonstrated by most of my ’90s teenage wardrobe being back in fashion…) but for the last few years all of the A/W trend reports seem to have banged on about the Hitchcock Heroine being the look of ‘de saison’ (ooh la la!).
Tippi Hedren in ‘The Birds’. A perennial style icon.
As much as I’m a fan of Hitchcock’s stylish leading ladies, the ‘Hitchcock Heroine’ when it comes to A/W trends seems to be lazy fashion journalism for ‘there’s pencil skirts, knitwear and TWEED!’. I have absolutely no issues at all with pencil skirts, knitwear, tweed or any combination thereof (as my wardrobe will attest) but rather than channelling their essence, by reducing Grace Kelly, Tippi Hedren, Kim Novak et al to the status of a capsule wardrobe it only serves to dilute the complex performances that these actresses give.
Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take style cues from fictional heroines (I’m guilty of it myself – *cough* Suzy Bishop in Moonrise Kingdom) but if you do want to add a bit of Hitchcockian glamour to your look without straying into the realms of fancy dress then this silk scarf from Red Brick is just the ticket.
Red Brick – Tippi Hedren Silk Scarf – £35
I’ve only recently stumbled across Red Brick’s amazing range of scarves and jewellery, all of which are designed and hand-drawn by Royal College of Art graduate Karen Mabon, and at prices starting at only £10, I’m trying my hardest to resist buying everything on the site!
Chelsea Girl
Spring seems to be very behind this year but as the last (brief) spell of sunny weather saw the daffodils on my balcony *finally* decide to bloom I thought I’d use them as the perfect backdrop to show off my new satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company. I know this isn’t the first appearance of the satchel on this blog but it’s such a beautiful bag that I felt it deserved its own post!
The Cambridge Satchel Company Satchel in Lavender
As blogger-lore will tell you, The Cambridge Satchel Company was founded in 2008 by Julie Deane as a way to pay for her children’s school fees. From her kitchen table and a budget of £600, the company has grown into an award winning fashion force whilst at the same time still managing to keep the quirky, friendly and charming approach you don’t normally associate with the makers of ‘It-bags’. Their S/S13 ‘Chelsea’ collection which features the ‘Lavender’ colour celebrates the 100th Anniversary of The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and takes inspiration from some classic blooms to also offer satchels in ‘Cream Crocus’, ‘Honeysuckle’ and ‘Sweet Pea’. The company have a range of different sizes and I find the 11″ perfect for use as a day to day handbag – it’s tough enough to use as an everyday bag whilst still being compact and cute enough for evening use as well.
Lavender Satchel With Gold Embossing
I’m not usually one to spend a lot on accessories as I tend to be a bit clumsy with them and although the satchels are a bit more than I’d normally pay, they’re an awful lot cheaper than a Mulberry and have much more personality too (especially if you get yours embossed as I did)! I’d previously treated myself to an 11″ limited edition ‘Downing’ satchel last autumn in patent oxblood and navy and I can honestly say I’ve worn it to death which made justifying buying the Lavender an awful lot easier. If summer never arrives at least I can rely on my satchel to bring a pop of colour into my life!
High Heels And Record Deals 