This is Millie from Millies Musts website. We sell fashion accessories, hair accessories and fashion jewellery .Me, my Mum and Dad , my brother Josh and little sister Jasmine live in a house which is full of ornaments and old things. My mum has got really good taste and all the ornaments she buys are individually really cool. She also has inherited a lot of stuff from her grandparents. .They are not quite antiques (I don’t mean the grandparents) but things like nice wooden boxes and some very old lamps, lots and lots of pottery, so many clocks and books and old pictures,some vases and tea sets .The house isn’t small but the trouble is we don’t have enough room to display them properly so they look their best. She keeps moving them around and dusting them but they just look like a pile of junk. It would be better if there were about half as many things then we could display them properly and our house would look a lot better. The problem is that each ornament is so nice in itself that she can’t bear to be parted from it and the things inherited have too many memories.
Because my head and thoughts are full of fashion accessories; I was thinking that it’s really the same with accessories and jewellery. If you wear too much of it or don’t display it properly, you can look like a right old mess or an over decorated Christmas tree.
Now as I mentioned before I have this website and I would love it if you bought as many accessories as possible but they need to be worn in the best way to get the maximum effect. I know it may sound very obvious and basic but I think that sometimes we forget that when we are wearing accessories they are accessories to go with our clothes and they need to be worn with our clothes in mind. Bearing this in mind.
Here are some basic guidelines to present the jewelleryand fashion accessories so they look their best and compliment your outfit. If your outfit is complicated with lots of colours and patterns it’s best to keep the accessories to a minimum and pick out one colour in the outfit and make all the accessories the same colour. Conversely if your outfit is in white, black or cream then you can be more extravagant with your accessories using various colours which compliment each other or use just one colour. If your clothes are in primary bold colours like red, green, orange, yellow or blue, make sure your accessories are in primary or strong colours, preferably matching one of the colours in your outfit. Similarly if your clothes are in pastel shades then your accessories should be in pastel shades. It’s always good to reflect your fashion accessories with one of the colours in your outfit. Don’t overdo it. Don’t clutter yourself with miss matched fashion accessories or you will look like our house .You can get tied up in the lovely detail of each accessory but be careful how the whole thing looks. That is important. Having said this some people can break all the rules and still look great but it helps to look like a supermodel or have a very good eye for fashion but most of us are somewhere in between. . It is important to be happy with what you are wearing and that it suits your personality and then you can wear it with confidence. One rule that I always stick to is when I have thought out an outfit I step back from the mirror and look at the whole outfit, how it goes together. If it doesn’t look right I alter it .You don’t always get it right but it comes with practice. Anyway, once you have decided, that’s it. Go out, forget about your clothes, how you look, be confident . It’s your personality that really matters and how you treat others. If you get it wrong you can always try again next time.
When thinking of classic iconic design the architectural world and engineering gives us many examples as does the world of Auto mobiles. When it comes to footwear the candidates are much fewer. Think of the empire state building in New York with is beautiful Art Deco styling, think of the golden gate bridge in San Francisco a fine example of cable extension bridge design. Think of the E type Jaguar, the Volkswagen beetle and most people can draw rudimentary outlines or see a silhouette in their mind.
The footwear industry has much fewer examples but three immediately spring to mind.
In common with a lot of classic design “form follows function” The Dr martens boot was originally designed by a real doctor who had a skiing accident and wanted a soft soled shoe to aid his rehabilitation. The Kick Hi kickers boot came about when its creator ” Daniel Raufast” came across a poster advertising the musical Hair. Interested by all the barefooted youngsters wearing jeans, he developed a new shoe concept which he believed to be more compatible with the blue-jean generation. The Converse all star boots were made first in 1917 to capture the baseball market, Chuck Taylor, a basketball player and shoe salesman for Converse, improved the shoe’s design and became the product’s spokesperson in 1921.
So all of these now Iconic styles had very humble and functional beginnings. What then can project a seemingly mundane functional design into something that is a true iconic design classic recognised the world over? Well each brand has its own individual story however one common thread connects them all and that is youth culture and pop culture. All three of these styles have been worn by the coolest of the cool. Here is are some examples:-
Dr. Martens have been worn by The Clash, Jamie Winstone, Avril Lavigne, Agyness Deyn , Pixie Geldof, The sex pistols and most famously the late Pope John Paul II (he ordered customized white ones!!)
Famous followers of Kickers boots are Ms Dynamite, So Solid Crew, Jarvis Cocker, Noel Gallagher, Mike Skinner, Arctic Monkeys, The Who’s Roger Daltry and Pete Townsend, Elton John and David Bowie
Converse all stars have been spotted on Jessica Alba, Whoopi Goldberg, Whitney Port, Pete Wentz, Renee Zellweger, Reese Witherspoon, Norah Jones, Miley Cyrus, Elijah Wood, Chord Overstreet, Heidi Montag
Some designs reach greatness for a short time and then disappear into oblivion but the true test of a great design- an iconic design is its ability to be reinvented by the next generation. Chuck Taylor Converse All stars started in 1917 !! Dr martens first appeared in 1960 and the “baby” of the pack the kickers kick hi boot appeared in 1974 an astonishing 36 years ago. And yet each style can be seen worn by the next generation. From the first Rock n Roll in the late 50′s, to Punk in the 70′s, Two Tone and Ska in the 80′s and Grunge and Goths in the 90′s each sub culture brought along its own unique style Yet throughout the end of the 20th century and now the beginning of the 21st we still see the same 3 styles appear in popular culture. This then is their legacy, their endless ability to be fresh and new – to be at the leading edge of the latest pop and youth culture and yet to be endlessly classic, timeless iconic designs.
Author
Declan Hughes works in the Retail sector in Northern Ireland.
As I was clicking around the web the other day, I came across a blog that made me stop and have a look, (I usually flick through pretty fast thinking ‘same generic site’…’same generic site’. But Duckalicious made my finger pause over the mouse button. There is something about this fashion blog which makes it a little different from the others. It is stylish and simple, without being pretentious. The text is bold and clear, not so tiny you have to be about two centimetres away from the screen to read it. The photos are interesting and original, and don’t take about ten minutes to load up, which is a godsend!
One of my favourite posts is ‘Urban Ethnic’. You really see Duckalicious’ chic style coming through and the outfit really does look so effortlessly cool. I also like how the clothes are not designer but refreshingly from market stalls from around the world. Therefore, the pages are immediately filled with colour and beautiful patterns, mixed with chunky jewellery and delicate sandals. She gives you so many brilliant ideas for all occasions: weekends, evenings and work wear, but all still with a colourful edge.
Besides from including her own photos and articles, Duckalicious also posts a ‘Miss’ monthly which introduces you to other blogs. This adds variation to the posts and is just generally a nice thing to do for other people. With 192 followers and a cute world map to see where they all come from, the blog really does stand out among many. Her mantra is ‘high heels, free spirit, fun clothes, no bullshit!’ And this really rings true if you are looking for a blog that is accessible, unpretentious and unique.
Do you want to dress your baby well? I know the answer is most probably yes as our babies have every right to dress as well as we do. In our market baby and children’s outfits are widely available, as well as new designs for toddlers and new borns. As parents, our children are a reflection on us and therefore it is vital that they should look smart. If you are brand conscious and looking for designer clothes, then these are all on offer online for your baby, including Dior, Chanel, Diesel and Armani. So all you have to do is choose your favourite and dress your baby in the same way.
If you have a limited budget and are not willing to stretch it then you can select less expensive brand names that are also widely available. That means you can have fashionable brand names for half the cost of the original designer price! The brand I would always recommend is Baby Gap as there clothes are a good option and a popular choice as they have a strong presence in the baby fashion market. They have a wide range for toddlers aged around 1-5 and have good quality clothing. Most of the time parents buy baby clothes that fit 0-2 year olds but the sizes vary between brands so it’s better to look at a size chart. You will soon get used to the sizes the brands offer. Generally boys and girls of the same age have different sizes, in fact most children vary depending on their age so the nest thing to do is to check the clothes size in centimetres first then filter the age.
Don’t spoil all the fun by buying the wrong size for your baby and then later having to exchange it. Enjoy shopping to make your baby smarter! Enjoy baby shopping and have more fun at letbabyplay.com.
For the S/S 11 catwalk our fashion designers went back to the 70s and brought us 70s inspired designs, think boho fashion with big floppy hats, high-waisted flared trousers, pussy bow blouses, denim cut off shorts ,hippy maxi dresses and that glamorous eye catching jumpsuit with wedge heels. Not only is the 70s back but also the 80s were the use of neon and bright colours have been used to brighten up our summer.
View Dresses Here
It looks like vintage inspired pieces are here to stay with us through the A/W 11 also as fashion designers looked at Twiggy for inspiration from the 60s as they have brought us wool coats with sloping shoulders, polo necks, mini skirts, knee high boots and dainty heels. Beehive hair and made up eyes that flick at the sides will also help you bag the 60s style look. The designers didn’t stop there as Gucci among others popped back to the 40s and have brought back pretty tea dresses, pussy bow blouses, pencil skirts with thigh high slits, on the knee length skirts/dresses and elbow length gloves to cover us up for the cold winter we will be facing.
As much as I love the high streets inspired vintage collections you can’t get as good as the real thing! Which is why I love searching my local and online vintage stores instead of wearing contemporary clothing. Not only because I want to be wearing an original vintage item but it’s also a great way of doing your bit towards the environment by reusing. More and more people are going green by recycling, yes you may recycle your paper or bottles but have you ever thought of helping by making different choices when it comes to your clothing. You can find vintage stores everywhere online and on the high street and it is so easy to repair and alter them for example if it’s a midi you can easily turn it into a mini. All the celebrity style icons are wearing vintage too such as Fearne Cotton, Alexa Chung, Daisy Lowe and Jameela Jamil.
Kate Middleton our very own princess is a perfect example of this she has been scene recycling her dresses loads of times to special occasions everywhere, so if our future Queen doesn’t mind wearing her stunning dresses more than once then why should we? As it looks like vintage inspired clothing is going to be walking down the catwalks for plenty of years to come why not look to Kate for inspiration and re-use clothing and also wear real vintage not a modern copy cat version.
Next time you pass your local vintage store look out forspots, pleats, lace, monochrome and crochet detail on dresses and fur, leather, tweed or wool coats to fill up your A/W11 wardrobe.
So you have got your dress, shoes and hair sorted, but what can give your outfit that little bit extra? Statement jewellery once again has been spotted on the summer catwalks at shows such as Lanvin and Moschino. Whereas in the past rings and earrings have taken centre stage, pieces such as bright necklaces and over sized bangles are becoming more popular. Materials include metal, feathers, faux jewels and bright plastics!
How to wear
Although the idea of wearing such big, dramatic jewellery can be intimidating it can be worn well with any outfit.As well as brightening up a plain maxi dress or t-shirt, striking necklaces can draw attention away from the lower body, so if it is just one of those days then all you need to give you confidence is a statement necklace! You can choose from elegant glamorous (perfect with your LBD) or heavily embellished, (changing your jeans and t-shirt into the perfect party outfit). The best thing is that they won’t steal all the attention from your outfit, just accentuate it. Motifs on jewellery are also popular right now. Animal, floral, and even religious designs are being mixed to create an entirely modern and individual look. The best way to wear these pieces is to simply mix two or three together at once.
Easy Spending
Statement Jewellery can be found easily on the high street. However if you want a more unique and one of a kind look,then vintage shops offer great selections and prices. Anyone who loves the chunky ring trend will find plenty in retro online shops and these can helpfully replace the need for wearing a large, heavy bangle.
In short, there is very little you can do wrong with statement jewellery. It can be worn with any outfit and can also be mixed and matched to create your own very unique look which is sure to take you right into next season.
Vintage inspired and a central piece of the main street labels summer collection this year are peg leg chinos. They are a classy, smarter and alternative choice for the guy who is getting tired of the usual brightly coloured board shorts or ancient tattered cut jeans. The pants come in full length with the end turned up or there are also short versions. The variety of colours means that any guy should be able to find a pair to fit into his usual clothing rotation.
I would recommend to wear them with striped t shirts to fulfill the vintage look. A pair of plimsoll shoes would complete a nice casual look for lounging on a summers day. If you need a smarter look switch to a shirt and blazer for evening wear with a smart pair of shoes. Do not forget to colour code what you are wearing. You can always complete the look by accessorising with vintage sun glasses.
The look may be vintage but it will make a guy stand out amongst the guys in faded logo t shirts, flashy boardwalk shorts and tattered sneakers. Girls like a guy with a bit of class and chino style pants or shorts are a perfect combination of summer lounging and vintage cool.
I know you don’t want to think about it right now due to the sun and the lovely summery dress hardly having had their use. But fashionistas must know the coming trend onslaught and it is my duty to tell you all about the wonderful things coming to you next season. Here is a run down of the top trends that you’ll need to keep an eye out for.
Autumn Winter 2011 is a big mix this year so whilst stocking up on your winter warms consider the following:
Colour is Key
Colour is a big player on the pitch AW11. Bold and vibrant more voluptuous and tonally sublime jewel colours, is definitely the message for this one.
The Colour Keys:
Warm Reds add a contemporary edge to classic styles. We have seen a great deal of red in play so keep an eye out for something in a beautiful shade of red.
Vivid pops of colour can break up the black or brighten up some of those autumnal shades
Complimentary colours blended together. See the run way for tips here, but basically pick your colours with care.
Victoria Beckham AW11
Monochrome
These bold booms of colour to much for you, no worries. Its time to get dark with the classic monochrome.
My top tips for dealing with the dark:
Gothic is a key look here, don’t be scared to go a bit spooky.
As above a bit of daring has come to light in the dark, bondage-styles have creep their way on to the runway, yet again.
Take a walk on the dark-side, think vampy, sexy, but a bit dangerous.
Julien Macdonald AW11
From another time: 60s 40s evenVictoriana
Seventies was all over spring, but Autumn Winter 2011 sees more eras showing prevalence. Nostalgia is one of next seasons top tips, though the older roots have taken a definite contemporary step forward.
For Victoriana go sombre with prim and proper pinafore dresses and blouses
40s sees suits, fur, boots and deep rich jewel colours
The 60s has even more of a contemporary edge then ever with varying colour pallets and classic shapes seeing great reworks.
Gucci AW11
Texture
If you like things that dangle, tangle, hang, feel like should be stroked at all times, come out, go in, well autumn is the season for you. Texture is all over and I mean all over AW11. Combine pretty much everything at once seems to be the deal here so on the table you have, silks, fur, lace, leather, feather, tweed, knits, sequins, pom poms and plastic.
Although this is a throw it all on kind of look, this is probably the hardest on to achieve and to make this look good, with out looking like you’ve fallen over in a second hand shop, this will take care and effective combination.
So hints on combos that could be a knock out: Feather and fur?, Leather an lace?, Fur and Tweed?, Velvet and Feather?, Sequins and Knit?, just some things to consider in you texture ventures.
If you wear it with pride and confidence this will work, NOT for the timid.
Marni AW11
Spots
Circles, sports, dots, have us spinning round AW11. It seems Cruella de Vil was actually let loose in the fashion world.
My top 3 tips for spots Autumn Winter 2011:
Think about spots as part of or an all over pattern. We have seen spots as an all over pattern coming down runways this season, so don’t be sacred to go for it.
More contemporary, NOT twee. The infamous polka dot that will be lurking in your wardrobe somewhere is a good starting point. Though I see a contemporary vibe rather than a tea drinking, cupcake, antiquing affair. 60s undercurrents are there but a definite move towards the modern metropolitan look.
Personally I can see this being a more monochrome fashion trend. This is not to say colour has been spotless. I suggest a black and white base and to accessories well.
Marc Jacobs AW11
Photographic prints
An acid trip of digital images. The photographic is continuing with this seasons main theme, all over, all at once. Prints include Baroque pattern, bird cages, flowers, feathers, skylines and much much more. AW11 sees a boom in the use of technological advancement, the way technology can print fabric has been steadily improving for a while now and here we can see it in full swing.
Prints are bold and bright and as previously mentioned, in keeping with the main tend, head to toe, all over all or nothing!
This is one of the most adventurous styles and as with texture should be considered with a cautionary approach.
This is bold, modern and could be a feet to get the right style garment to go this the pattern. So again a word of caution choose your cut as carefully as the pattern combos otherwise this could be a disaster.
Jonathan Saunders AW11
Handicraft
Not satisfied with geek chic, your still asking for more texture? This one could be for you then. A definite alternative to crazy all at once texture, is the heritage fabrics and handicrafts mixture.
Wise Old Words:
For the aforementioned timid, this one could actually help you out, its not to bold it has edges of chic cool but is more understated. I would recommend playing around here, this style could bring out your more confidant side but with a more subtle approach.
Squares, patches, tassel and tweed. All strong contenders for this style.
Knitting, patchwork, not reserved for the older women’s past-time, this has been coming along with a revival in younger designers and has finally made its way in to the big leagues. My hint here. One to watch!!
Christopher Kane AW11
Androgyny
Some designers choosing men to wear there style, though as you’d expect from Androgynous styles the guy didn’t look like guys. For Androgyny girls who want a bit of masculinity and that strangely indeterminable gender specific style, look no further.
Harsh but good tailoring, things must fit (to certain extent) but disguise those feminine areas with easy.
Suits, boots and oversized additions. Tailoring is qood quality as before mentioned though over-sizing garments is not a no no, its just those important factors such as sleeve length have to be considered aswell.
Remember androgyny isn’t about cross dressing its about make the line between sexes a bit harder to define. My advice is it still has to be chic and beautiful, if you loose that then it will become more casual, and will seem like the age old boyfriend stolen garment is back in play.
Dolce and Gabbana AW11
Watch this space for updates on AW11 fashion trends!!
Hey, make sure you check out my guest post at the lovely Imagining Roses blog! I wanted to write a piece on the media circus that surrounded the Royal Wedding and ‘that dress’. Make sure you check out the other articles too!
Every family has something that’s been passed down from generation to generation. It may have been Grandma’s fine bone China, or that old Dresden vase that gathered dust in Auntie Betty’s front parlour. The memory being passed down the family tree.
Memories of childhood, the beautiful things that we admired as we grew into adults, to the sparkling trinkets locked away out of sight from baby fingers, one day these treasures will be left to someone to look after and to cherish, until the time comes for it to change hands once again. Have you ever thought what heirlooms you may have that you would want to pass on to your loved ones? That special quality piece that you know will last a lifetime, a name, a phrase captured in a precious metal that will evoke memories and be the spark that stories are made of.
It is worth considering a personalised piece of jewellery, there is no better present to give a mother or grandmother, imagine the tear in her eye as she unwraps her present. Sentiment will never have a price on it’s head.
Jupiter Rocks helps you show the one you love how much you care with quality, handmade personalised jewellery.
