I'm completely useless at accessorizing with jewellery, help! I'm tired of wearing the same boring gold/silver uniform of jewellery from the office at the weekend. I need to inject some youth and fun back into my outfits, but really have little knowledge of how to go about it, and always end up looking messy and unorganized. I desperately need some advice and direction!
Ok. First things first. There should be at least two types of jewellery. Work. Play. The problem many people have with accessorizing is they use the same pieces for both, or worse, buy pieces with joint use in mind. Work jewellery can be refrained and smart. What you wear at the weekend may look ungroomed or even unprofessional, for work. (Unless your work is casual.) Work accessories should be brought with a particular outfit or item of clothing in mind, co-ordination is the key. I have a friend who always matches accessories to the outfit colour with military style precision. The result? She always looks together, groomed and the outfit thought out. A simple blue bangle, with small matching earrings would look appropriate, but still bright and stylish. Weekend accessories can be a lot more fun, with brighter colours, bolder styles and shapes and more cutesy elements that can inject humour into an outfit. Tatty Devine (www.tattydevine.com) has some really fun, unique pieces, such as bracelets with guitar plectrums attached. Or depending on your budget, Victoire de Castellane is the hottest jewellery designer of the moment, with her wonderful kitsch and extravagant pieces for Dior (www.dior.com). Huge rings incorporate tiny, intriguing garden scenes featuring ruby ladybirds and opal octopus. Jewellery like this needs no excuse. This is jewellery at its most divine.
Ok. First things first. There should be at least two types of jewellery. Work. Play. The problem many people have with accessorizing is they use the same pieces for both, or worse, buy pieces with joint use in mind. Work jewellery can be refrained and smart. What you wear at the weekend may look ungroomed or even unprofessional, for work. (Unless your work is casual.) Work accessories should be brought with a particular outfit or item of clothing in mind, co-ordination is the key. I have a friend who always matches accessories to the outfit colour with military style precision. The result? She always looks together, groomed and the outfit thought out. A simple blue bangle, with small matching earrings would look appropriate, but still bright and stylish. Weekend accessories can be a lot more fun, with brighter colours, bolder styles and shapes and more cutesy elements that can inject humour into an outfit. Tatty Devine (www.tattydevine.com) has some really fun, unique pieces, such as bracelets with guitar plectrums attached. Or depending on your budget, Victoire de Castellane is the hottest jewellery designer of the moment, with her wonderful kitsch and extravagant pieces for Dior (www.dior.com). Huge rings incorporate tiny, intriguing garden scenes featuring ruby ladybirds and opal octopus. Jewellery like this needs no excuse. This is jewellery at its most divine.
I really want to try to incorporate some beige into my wardrobe, but friends have commented that it's a dull, frumpy colour. There must be some way to wear it well?
Beige is indeed a difficult colour to wear, or unfortunately, more often than not, we see it done badly, giving the impression it's tired, frumpy and ageing. But it doesn't need to be. Executed well, beige can be smart and elegant. Stella McCartney has a great crochet sweater (available at Harvey Nichols) which would dare I say it, look sexy, teamed with tailored chocolate slacks and killer heels. Shades of beige stretch from the extremes of nudes (which can look fantastic in dress form) all the way to tans (which look fantastic as accessories); it's simply a matter of finding the right shade to suit your complexion. This seasons designer offerings give you a great opportunity to experiment. Taupe draped jersey numbers from Calvin Klein, delicate chiffon from Chloe and stylish subtle pleated silk jackets and button down blouses from Dries Van Noten. Miu Miu also has cute woven bags in beige with tan leather straps. Take a trusted, or more precisely, blunt, friend shopping with you. Beige tends to drain some complexions, so unfortunately if yours is one of them, experiment instead with beige accessories. Fabulous bags, gorgeous leather sandals, cosy winter gloves, all go to prove that beige is no longer a colour just reserved for your grandma.
Beige is indeed a difficult colour to wear, or unfortunately, more often than not, we see it done badly, giving the impression it's tired, frumpy and ageing. But it doesn't need to be. Executed well, beige can be smart and elegant. Stella McCartney has a great crochet sweater (available at Harvey Nichols) which would dare I say it, look sexy, teamed with tailored chocolate slacks and killer heels. Shades of beige stretch from the extremes of nudes (which can look fantastic in dress form) all the way to tans (which look fantastic as accessories); it's simply a matter of finding the right shade to suit your complexion. This seasons designer offerings give you a great opportunity to experiment. Taupe draped jersey numbers from Calvin Klein, delicate chiffon from Chloe and stylish subtle pleated silk jackets and button down blouses from Dries Van Noten. Miu Miu also has cute woven bags in beige with tan leather straps. Take a trusted, or more precisely, blunt, friend shopping with you. Beige tends to drain some complexions, so unfortunately if yours is one of them, experiment instead with beige accessories. Fabulous bags, gorgeous leather sandals, cosy winter gloves, all go to prove that beige is no longer a colour just reserved for your grandma.
I'm going on holiday to Australia at the end of October, but I fear I've left it too late in the season to buy a stylish pair of swimming trunks, I have a busy job so don't have much time (or desire) to shop, but don't want to end up on the beach in some awful "last pair left" trunks. Help!
Finding stylish swimwear can be a pursuit that defies many a man, let alone one with a time frame and the wrong retail season. Your most promising, and stylish option, is online shopping. This late in the day it can spare you the irritation of summer shopping in the winter and provides you with more choice than you'll find in the shops. Try in particular, www.underu.com for some excellent examples from Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, D Squared and Speedo. Alternatively, specialist beach wear or sports stores offer swimwear all year round, Quiksilver, Free Spirit and Fat Face are all worth trying, their styles being much more surfer orientated, but hey, when in Rome. The larger department stores also now carry a limited selection through Winter too.
Finding stylish swimwear can be a pursuit that defies many a man, let alone one with a time frame and the wrong retail season. Your most promising, and stylish option, is online shopping. This late in the day it can spare you the irritation of summer shopping in the winter and provides you with more choice than you'll find in the shops. Try in particular, www.underu.com for some excellent examples from Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, D Squared and Speedo. Alternatively, specialist beach wear or sports stores offer swimwear all year round, Quiksilver, Free Spirit and Fat Face are all worth trying, their styles being much more surfer orientated, but hey, when in Rome. The larger department stores also now carry a limited selection through Winter too.
Edited by Charlotte Wood; page art work by Lucy Sidebottom.
