Make A Statement

We'll admit that perhaps we are a bit late on this one, but statement necklaces are still big news! They can make an outfit. Whether you go for a flash of neon, big chandelier droplets or a loud perspex design, there is a statement necklace for every one of us on every budget. Hell, Elizabeth Taylor knew how to bling it up, in role or not! I love her as Cleopatra.

Taylor in Cleopatra

So, let's bring things into the present day and look at the Queens of the statement necklace. We've decided to put these huge accessories into four different trends: Bejewelled, Flash Of Colour, Geometric and Novelty.

         Olivia Palermo            Sass and Bide SS/13              Nicole Richie                 Lauren Laverne

Bejewelled

New Look £19.99

ASOS £40

Acessorize £22.00

Flash Of Colour

New Look £14.99

Tatty Devine £135

Miss Selfridge £30

Geometric

Wolf & Moon £25

Topshop £15

Urban Outfitters £18

Novelty

Tatty Devine £114

 Sour Cherry £40

eBay £85

Love

Gina

x

The Swinging Sixties Are Back: Monochrome

Didn't I say there were but TWO huge 60s inspired trends hitting our high streets this Spring/Summer? Well! Hitchcock Heroine you may well be, but if you want to be a little groovier this season then monochrome is for you.

Moschino, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton Escalator Catwalk

Monochrome. A recurring trend, it comes back every few years but this time it's different. It's pure retro cool with bold graphic prints and classic 60s shapes. It first emerged with the rise of Mary Quant and her daring mini skirts, freeing women from the full skirts and tight wiggle shapes of the 50s. Below are two amazing examples of Quant's designs, there's no mistaking where Marc Jacobs got his inspiration for the latest Louis Vuitton collection. 

So let's go shopping! The high street is positively riddled with monochrome beauties...

Breton striped dress H&M
Monochrome loafers Office

Monochrome coat Zara
Geomettric spot top New Look

60s vintage dress Rokit

Tights Henry Holland
White Satchel, The Cambridge Satchel Company

If you're after the real deal, you'll be hard pressed to find a real Quant shift dress (well I found it tricky!) but I did find this Quant-esque shift on Etsy for a cool 30 Euros. You've just got to do some virtual rummaging.

love

Gina x

The Russian Cossack Hat

We're lucky to do quite a lot of people watching at The Vintage Fair, cooing over all of your fabulous outfits and being nosey, wanting to know what you've snapped up! Call me a vintage magpie. One accessory that just kept coming to fair after fair was the big Russian inspired furry hat. The first thing I think of when I think of the Cossack hat is Julie Christie in Doctor Zhivago, ultimate winter elegance and glamour.

With Keira Knightley making waves in the film Anna Karenina in the Autumn of 2012, cossack hat sales shot up on the British High Street according to this little Guardian article. And looking at the screen shot below, it's easy to see why. The Russian influence can be felt elsewhere in the fashion world this Winter, but this hat is simply everywhere.

Emma Elwick-Bates, market editor at Vogue, said Elizabeth Taylor and 60s model Penelope Tree also favoured the look. "It might not be the kind of thing you will buy and wear a lot but when the temperature plummets, it adds immediate glamour to your winter wardrobe,"

This style of hat certainly didn't escape the AW/12 catwalks and Alice Temperley really stood out for me, well, it is absolutely huge! And of course, the FROW wouldn't dare be seen wearing anything but the absolute height of fashion (darling). The fashion week regulars Poppy Delevingne and stylist Caroline Sieber are seen at Chanel's show looking very stylish and incredible warm!

But its' you guys who influenced this blog post, not the aforementioned FROW! Let's have a look at my gorgeous vintage fair punters who are rocking this look and keeping their ears toasty.

So where can you find your next favourite accessory? Well our fairs are a good start! I picked up a sheepskin beauty from one of our traders and I absolutely adore it, it is the warmest thing ever too! But if you don't get quite as lucky as me, then the high street is a great place to start...

Cream Fluffy Cossack ASOS

Brown Cossack ASOS

Black Earmuffs Topshop

Leopard Print Raven Vintage

Burgundy Cossack Miss Selfridge

Wolf Faux Fur River Island