Top Accessories For The Cooler Seasons

This is a Guest Post, photograph by me.

You can spend all the money you like on buying new clothes, but no outfit will ever be complete without the right accessories. From bags to shoes, makeup to jewellery, it’s easy to forget that our accessories change with the seasons as much as our clothes do. Updating your accessories is also an excellent way to freshen up your wardrobe at a far lower price than buying a new set of clothes.
With this in mind, here is a look at 5 of the best accessory ideas for the cooler months:

Scarves
A scarf can add a splash of colour and warmth to even the most basic of attire. Make the most of the beautiful autumn colours with deep reds, burnt oranges and sunset yellows. Think about varying your scarf style to suit the temperature outside and your outfit. Delicate print scarfs can add a bit of colour to any plain black office outfit, while on cooler days, opt for a chunky loose-knit scarf to keep the chill away.

Handbags
A new handbag not only brings a burst of colour to an outfit – it also adds a splash of confidence to your overall look. Bags vary in size, shape and colour to suit your planned destination. If you’re heading on a night out, opt for a chunky clutch that will add a note of colour to your Little Black Dress. If you’re really looking to shine, a clutch with gold or silver glitter will definitely help you to stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for the perfect day-to-day handbag for occasions like a casual lunch with friends or a trip to the shops, try opting for an oversized bowler bag.

Jewellery
This season’s jewellery is all about over-sized statement pieces that really bring out the most in a boring outfit. Think collar style necklaces with bright, tribal beading or delicate and feminine Peter Pan collars in shades like pink and pearl. These are great paired with the simple dress designs that are so popular at the moment, like the block colours in skater dresses or peplum tops and frocks.

Makeup
Autumn means cooler weather, which as most ladies know, also means dry skin. You need to switch your makeup styles from the sun-protection based products of summer, over to the soothing and moisturising treatments of winter. In terms of colours, strong and bold red lips are still popular, but it’s time to put away the summer bronzer and opt for products that accentuate natural shades, like blusher and gentle eye shadows.

This is a Guest Post, photograph by me.

Stylish Jewellery

No woman’s outfit would be complete without at least some pieces of accessory. A handbag, of course, is absolutely mandatory, but also other pieces are so appealing to the eye and underline one’s individual style and taste so well that one shouldn’t leave the house without them. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets are among any woman’s favourites because they come in so many shapes and sizes that it’s possible to pick a new model for each day of the week and thus to look totally different. Recently watches have peaked many people’s interest and many have developed a real passion for them. As with other pieces of jewellery and garments there are so many different specimen and manufacturers out there that everyone can find the right model for him- or herself. A favourite of many is this selection of Frederique Constant watches since they do exactly reflect the taste and style of many women: Slender and feminine, simple yet noble.

Form and function

The great thing about watches is the fact that they are not only extremely fashionable but also very functional (thinking about that, it’s a real shame that people have neglected and forgotten about these aspects for so long). If you are tired of rummaging around in your handbag just to find your mobile in order to get to know the time, wearing a watch is the perfect solution! One simple glimpse at your wrist and you know what time it is! It simply doesn’t get any easier and more comfortable. Besides this handy aspect, some modern watches offer lots of extra functions like access to the internet, a built-in step counter, GPS-routing or an integrated flashlight. Men especially are fond of these gimmicky extras, and are usually happy to have at least one piece of jewellery they can wear with pride. All in all, it’s no wonder that watches are having a huge comeback.

Ethical and Sustainable Fashion for 2012

Today I have a guest post from the wonderful Ceri for you. As well as having her own very lovely blog Ceri is passionate about ethical clothing and has recently set up a community called Ethical Fashion Bloggers. I absolutely love the piece she's written for us so here it is:


Ethical and Sustainable Fashion for 2012

During 2011, I have been noticing a growing number of ethical fashion brands and retailers emerging, even many of the mainstream online and high street retailers including ASOS and H & M are getting in on the act with eco friendly and ethical collections. The great thing about ethical fashion at the moment is that many of these brands are as stylish and affordable as they are sustainable. I have high hopes that 2012 will be the year that ethical and sustainable fashion goes main stream. If you want to become more ethical with your in 2012, there is certainly no need to to compromise on looking good, there is so much to choose from.

Annie Greenabelle

The great thing about these exciting new labels is that they are doing their own thing and the creativity comes from the very fact that they are ethical and sustainable. Recycling is big news with end of roll, surplus , second hand and vintage fabrics all providing interesting, beautiful and high quality material that is used in innovative ways. These fabrics also create more limited collections with unique often with unique one off pieces which provide a more individual look than mass produced fashion. Amongst my favourite ethical labels using recycled fabrics are Annie Greenabelle (www.anniegreenabelle.com), Junkie Styling (www.junkiestyling.com), Goodone (www.goodone.co.uk) , Antiform (www.antiformonline.co.uk), Urban Renewal (at Urban Outfitters)(http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/collections/vintage-uo-renewal/icat/wrenewal/) and Tara Starlet (www.tarastarlet.com).

Monsoon

There are also some great Fairtrade labels that are utilising the traditional handicrafts from different parts of the world to create beautiful and unique clothing whilst allowing them to benefit from the profits of the enterprise. People Tree (www.peopletree.co.uk) and Monsoon (www.monsoon.co.uk) are just a few that have beautiful and on trend styles which include hand printing, beading, hand knitting and embroidery.

Nancy Dee

Sustainable fabrics are becoming easier to find with a number of brands using organic cotton, bamboo, linen, hemp, Rayon and Tencel (made from tree cellulose!) and even soya to make comfortable, wearable clothes. These fabrics are a far cry from many of our perceptions of sustainable fabrics which in the past have been perceived as almost sack like . Bamboo jersey is a great fabric as it is extremely soft and drapes beautifully. Nancy Dee (www.nancydee.co.uk) have some fantastic dresses made from it.

Patagonia

Finally, in terms of sustainability in fashion, there has been plenty of talk recently about 'buying less'. Many people are starting to question the sense of fast fashion both environmentally and economically and looking for alternatives which include buying classic styles to last, swapping, borrowing, hiring, upcycling old clothes, vintage and charity shopping and making do and mending. Even the high end designers seem to be conforming less to trends, instead creating their own signature style which will never go out of fashion.

Patagonia, one of the ethical fashion pioneers, has also made us think and begun to change ideas on marketing and sustainable fashion with their 'don't buy this jacket' campaign. Their sustainable approach has also in the past included encouraging customers to check out ebay for preloved clothes and resoling shoes, not marketing tactics that many would associate with a successful fashion company, but if they can do it why not others?

Hopefully there will be yet more exciting developments in ethical and sustainable fashion for 2012.

What are your thoughts on ethical and sustainable fashion for 2012? Will you be making it your New Years Resolution to shop more ethically?

Happy New Year!

Ceri Heathcote writes for Ethical Fashion Blog, Ethical Fashion Forum and Oxfam Fashion. She has also recently set up the Ethical Fashion Bloggers community for like minded bloggers who love fashion but want to minimise the negative impact of their clothing.

A tale in Vivienne Westwood: Nana

The first issue of Nana by Ai Yazawa

When Florrie asked me to write a guest post, whilst she is off traveling the globe, I knew right away what topic to choose. I have been rediscovering the Nana manga books I got into a few years ago and I knew they would intrigue Florrie and her love of Japanese fashion. I first met the two Nana's on the recommendation of a friend who knew my passion for Vivienne Westwood. But what do Vivienne Westwood and manga comics have in common? Well let me explain...

Nana Komatsu

The books are about the lives of two young girls who both happen to share the name Nana. Their paths cross by fate as they both embark on new lives away from home. Though they are both very different characters their lives seem inexplicably entwined. The stories of their lives will ring true for most women through tales of love, friendship, jobs, fun and also sadness, I can easily see anyone enjoying the stories. Yet it is the graphic illustrations which first drew me in and made me fall in love with the books.

Nana Osaki

The author and artist Ai Yazawa cleverly uses the fashion the characters wear to instantly help us understand and feel at ease with the new faces being introduced. We all have inbuilt reactions to stereotypes, people often talk about how we need to break them. In some cases we do, yet they also help us understand and interact with the world around us.

The Two Nana's with their very distinct styles

Nana Osaki is the wild punk singer in a band, her look mainly consists of ripped clothes and studded jewellery, further emphasising her 'devil may care' attitude. Whilst Nana Komatsu is slightly naive and a terrible romantic at heart. Her character is shown through her very girly and lady-like attire, pretty dresses, pearl jewellery and dainty handbags. When Nana K gets a job in an office her style changes to reflect appropriate work attire - pencil skirts, neck scarves, but it also shows us that her character has changed too. She is maturing with her new responsibilities.

Nana K wearing a feminine handbag, full skirt and head scarf

Nana K in her office attire

Both girls and many of their friends wear Vivienne Westwood. There are two things about this which I find especially intriguing, firstly that the author chose to use Vivienne's designs. Choosing to illustrate a certain brand is quite different to the style process for a film or magazine shoot. Here the author could have chosen to draw her own 'fictional' clothes yet she chose to use a brand. Vivienne Westwood designs have been popular in Japan for many years. Her early designs are the essence of Punk and so very fitting to use to illustrate a punk band. Yet Yazawa very cleverly includes the other styles of Westwood's designs to illustrate other characters. She uses softer aspects such as pearls and mini crinoline skirts to show pretty and playful characters.

Nana O in her trademark Vivienne Westwood heart jacket

There are so many other aspects of Westwood's designs intermixed with Japanese culture which is something I am currently exploring for my own blog. I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to the world of Nana and how we can learn more about fashion through unexpected sources.

Pearl