Bejeweled
April 18, 2012 § Leave a comment
Out of all the jewellery out there, my biggest obsession is by far bracelets. And once again I found myself lusting after new addition to Anthropologie.eu – bejeweled leather Fori bracelets by Italian designer brand Rada. Crystals, stones and beads are glamorous by nature but here are juxtaposed with simple clasp and utilitarian leather base. And I think that is exactly what makes me love them – simplicity and extravagance side by side never looked so tempting! It is definitely hard to make decision on what version I prefer: multi-coloured is the most versatile yet yellow and orange add the ultimate colour burst to any outfit. Due to multipurposeness (I am not sure that is even a word but adding -ness at the end makes sense, right?) of multi-colour creation it gets my top pick! Make your choice and head to Anthropologie website to purchase yours for £118.
Taste the Sunshine
April 12, 2012 § Leave a comment
I don’t know if that’s just me, but I get terribly affected by weather. Hence as much as I love London, I am hardly ever satisfied with weather conditions. Right now it is April and it feels like we already had our summer, a glorious week of sun and warmth at the end of March when I managed to get a tan by sitting out on the terrace, and now we are back in miserable grey autumn. So right now, Londoners more than anyone need a reminder that we are indeed in Spring Summer season. And I found the way to do so with help from Lanvin Jewellery: Palm Earrings (£300) are ideal way to feel all summery! There will be a few of you who would not like those earrings just because they are not symmetrical, but I believe that is what makes them fun: break the rules and feel free! Isn’t it exactly what summer is about?
(Well, OK, maybe I am reading way too much into Palm and Pearl combination but forgive me for trying to brighten the mood under the grey skies. Someone is in need of urgent holiday…)
Cocktail Rings
March 26, 2012 § 1 Comment
Since Yves Saint Laurent released the Arty cocktail rings range they have become instantly recognisable and truly covetable pieces of jewellery. There has hardly been one celebrity which wasn’t at some point seen wearing one. Indeed the cult following included: Kylie Minogue who was wearing it on her Aphrodite tour, Kim Kardashian sporting it at the make up launch and Alexa Chung demonstrating it at a photoshoot (with matching nail polish – fab!).
This season YSL extended the range of enamel and gold plated rings further with new colours and materials. I love both the depth of some enamels – looking like they might be some precious stones sent to us interterrestrially – and the monocolour shine of others. My favourite picks below range from £135 to £165. The thing is, whichever colour you pick, the arty ring is a real investment: it has been popular season after season and has moved from ‘trend’ to ‘classic’ category making it the most desirable cocktail ring out there. 
Based on the success of YSL arty rings, this season has a whole range of oversized cocktail rings from other brands waiting to steal some fans from the established favourite. Many undercut arty ring in price but some aim higher with beautiful designer creations. See my selection below – are you ready to swap a YSL classic with new season favourite?
- House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst Ring, £51
- House of Harlow 1960 Stone & Crystal Ring, was £83 now £58 (asos)
- House of Harlow 1960 Sun Ring, was £84 now £41 (asos)
- Erickson Beamon Safari Ring, £195
- Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal Ring, £55
- Monica Vinader Set of Three Stacking Rings, £280
- Kenneth Jay Lane Resin Ring, £65
Pre-Loved
March 22, 2012 § Leave a comment
Are you looking for more affordable designer items? Or are you reshuffling your designer wardrobe and want to earn on no longer needed pieces? If so your answer is not the untrustworthy Ebay but a new London based store Chic&Seek where previously unwanted designer goodies are handpicked to ensure quality and resold. An environmentally and purse-friendly idea allows you to find treasures among a second-hand items that are yet in very good conditions (many are brand new!). Where can you sign up, you may ask. First step is to visit the online store http://www.chicandseek.com, and if you are certain about an item just buy it there and then, and if not, make a virtual rail of goodies you would like to see in person and book a time to come down to a very chic mews house in Notting Hill to try them on. Isn’t this the most personalised service for finding pre-loved items ever? 
And you know, I just could not avoid picking a few pieces that are going straight to my wish list: great condition, amazing discount and no authenticity worries!
- Isabel Marant Floral Dress, £175
- Christian Louboutin Mary Jane Shoes, £225
- Tods Patent Clutch, £300
- Chanel 2.55 Handbag, £1750
- Marni Necklace, £120
- Bottega Veneta Boots, £200
- Matthew Williamson Strapless Sequined Dress, £250
- Hermes Scarf, £175
Statement Necklace For Less
March 16, 2012 § Leave a comment
I am sure if I told someone this necklace was by Tom Binns or Erickson Beamon (my two favourite jewellery designers at the moment) no one would bat an eye lid. Indeed this necklace can easily pass for £500-900 piece of jewellery, but the truth is it’s only £69.99! It is Mango Touch Beetle Necklace, an online exclusive which unlike most other items in the category does feel special (most of the time ‘online exclusives’ aren’t great – they are given the label due to shortage of stock).
Statement necklaces like this are considered great fashion investments – you would wear them all the time since they go with almost anything. This one is no exception: it is bold yet feminine so would suit different clothing styles plus its colour palette opens up many coordination possibilities. Altogether probably the best £69.99 you would ever spend on a piece of jewellery!
Dressing Up Denim Shorts
March 15, 2012 § Leave a comment
I wish it was warmer outside. I am already feeling the spring vibe and can’t wait to wear my favourite warm season piece of clothing – denim shorts. Last summer when I was exploring West Coast of US denim shorts in all shapes and colours were the only ‘bottoms’ option in my suitcase, the fact I did not once regret. And now even thinking of wearing all those garments mentally transports me back to my American adventure. So for emotional boost of getting through the not-so-warm-or-sunny London days I compiled a few outfits with my beloved denim short. 
The one above is urban spring chic with metallic accessories (courtesy of Topshop). It is essentially summery but the colour palette suggest I remember it is still London in mid-March:
Oversized Lightweight Parka, £68
Metallic Vintage Rucksack, £38
Pilot Sporty Curved Wedges, £85
Spike Stretch Hair Band, £10
All Over Skull Bralet, £12
Moto High Wasted Kristen Hotpants, £32
Total: £ 245 of Topshop goodies
This second outfit on the other hand shows that denim shorts don’t have to be just for casual weather – with right accessories they become very lady-like! Vertical stripes are slimming, shirts with collar tips are currently very trendy and these pointy studded courts are to die for. All items are from one of my high street favourites River Island:
White Diamante Trimmed Shirt, £28
Silver Tone Twisted Diamante Hairband, £8
Light Pink Bow Hinge Skinny Belt, £15
Blue Striped High Waster Shorts, £25
Pink Colourblock Bowler Bag, £40
Light Pink Stud and Spike Point Court, £55
Total: £171 for this feminine denim ensemble
So if you are not feeling the weather and need something to lift you up, why not compile an outfit for yourself? Fashion satisfaction is guaranteed and you won’t spend a penny!
Most Versatile Necklace
March 14, 2012 § 5 Comments
You know what will look epic with high top wedge gangsta trainers about which I recently blogged (have a look here)? Extra-large gold chain necklace that is definitely inspired by 90’s rap stars. On a more serious note – this type of bling is my favourite fashion accessory of the moment: it can add instant glamour to any outfit. And when I say any I mean it – it looks just as good with white starched shirt on the way to work, LBD for cocktail hour and even with T-shirt and denim shorts combo a la Lana del Rey (proof below – she looks fab). And the good thing – big designers and more affordable brands both picked up the trend so you have a great range of gold gorgeousness to choose from. Here is my selection:
- Lanvin Swarovski and Cord Necklace, £730 available on farfetch.com
- Vintage Givenchy Gold Plated Necklace, £315 available on asos.com
- Yves Saint Laurent Gold Plated Stingray-Effect Necklace, £920 available at net-a-porter.com
- ID Plaque Necklace, £12 available at asos.com
- Mimco Imperial Bow Chain Necklace, £89 available at House of Fraser
- Michael Kors Logo Necklace, £49 available at nordstrom.com
I Wear My Sunglasses At Night
March 13, 2012 § 4 Comments
Actually I don’t. But as time progresses towards summer London is getting more and more sunny days, hence it is time to have a look what sunglasses designers created for us to choose from. D frames are once again trending, but there are lots of other shapes to choose from, if you are not a fan. Below are my top 9 sunglasses from this season – from D frames to round, this range has all those classic must haves by top eyewear brands.
- Cutler and Gross D Frame Acetate, £280 – leave you wishing for x-ray vision.
- Victoria Beckham Aviators, £275 – a very hot fashionable version of our favourite Aviator shape.
- Alexander Wang Zip Detailed Square Frames, £240 – for those who are bored of animal print plastic, this one has an extra zip or two.
- Prada Round Frame, £215 – traditional and big, this is a statement piece.
- Ray-Ban Club Master Half Frames, £120 – no eyewear selection can avoid mentioning Ray-Ban.
- Miu Miu D Frames, £190 – when you want to see your world in pink colours.
- Oliver Peoples Kosslyn Cat Eye, £225 – classic cat eye shape to lift the mood.
- Prada D Frame, £185 – add a little colour.
- The Row Square Frames, £270 – two tonal frame goes with any skin tone.
But if you are tired of conventional sunglasses and want to have fun with the vital accessory of the summer, I have to introduce you to A-morir, a very cool sunglasses brand loved by celebrities like Rihanna, Nikki Minaj and Lady Gaga that you can find at Box Boutique (online and in store on Maddox Street, London). Here are my favourite statement pieces.
- Love-Hate Dookie Tinted Green, £255
- D’Arcy, £245
- Ellington Red, £245
- Sylvia, £275
- Amadeus Turquoise, £195
Altogether there are 14 hot sunnies for you to choose from, but you might ask which are my favourite? Well, I saved the best for last. Here are Lenox D Frame 2-in-1 glasses by Illesteva (£180) that I absolutely love due to their versatility: removable sun panel transforms your frames from geek chic to perfect D frames with a twist. My inner hipster adores them..
And if all those are out of price range, there is still some use of this article – there are so many affordable sunnies on the high street that by taking those designer glasses as inspiration of main trends, you will easily find a pair that suits you and your wallet.
My Perfect Watch
March 12, 2012 § 1 Comment
I am really not a watch person. I have a few, and they are beautiful and I love wearing them. Like once a month. But wearing watches on daily basis just isn’t my thing. Yet this time I am trying to change – watches are useful, especially when your phone runs out of battery and you are not in a good enough mood to engage random passer by in time related conversation.
So I was thinking what characteristics should a watch have to convert me. I had to start by considering what watch do I like the most out of the once I have? And no it is not the most expensive one. It’s actually a very old watch my grandpa used to wear all the time and then gave it to me because I loved it so much. It is retro through and through and it was manufactured in USSR way before I was born – metal strap, digital display, little battery which is being hold in place by a piece of sellotape. I love it. Hence I just have to go for a retro looking watch. Also it has to be fashionable and comfortable on the wrist.
And then I found it. My prefect Timex. First of all it is super retro. It is also very comfortable: it has a soft strap and is very light. And then it’s cool pastel colour makes it a perfect fashion accessory for this season. So here it is, yours for only £39. Who said perfection has to be expensive?
Lock Me, Louis Vuitton
February 26, 2012 § Leave a comment
You can’t buy love. Yet some symbols of love can indeed be purchased. And throughout history jewellery was top pick on the list as a present that symbolises deep feelings (or in modern day symbolises something more along the lines of ‘I’m sorry I had an affair’). Ever since the release of Cartier Love collection, it has been the go to range for those kind of presents but now Louis Vuitton Lock Me collection has entered the game at a lower price range. Romantic symbolism of locks, keys and hearts plus the design of the buckle that is LV through and through – what more could you possibly want!
Available in up to 4 colours (Amarante, Ecaille, Black and Pomme d’Amor) the prices are as follows: pendant £340, bracelet £340, ring £180 and earrings £270.
MY FASHION WISH LIST 