Dazzle this season with these ideas hot from the UK

Sparkle your way through this festive season with our hottest jewellery looks this winter. We have compiled a shortlist of the UK’s most desirable styles for an effortlessly chic look.

Shabby chic is trending big time in the UK and is all over the magazines and TV at the moment. Think rustic old keys and unusual objects on a string of pearls, vintage inspired bracelets with quirky charms and handmade earrings that all offer that something special and different from the norm. Best of all, these items are proving to be very popular shabby chic gifts amongst women of all ages. Mix the distressed look with clean lines, such as a simple tea dress, for the maximum impact.

Mixing gold and silver is the ultimate fashion no no, right? Think again! Gold and silver showcases an eclectic look and oozes glamour.  Team gold and silver rings, earrings, necklaces, bangles, whatever you can think of, don’t be scared to mix it up! With this look you need to keep the outfit simple, slip on your favourite LBD and really let the jewellery do the talking.

Shabby Chic Swirl Necklace

Forget patterns and prints, this season it’s all about the masculine look, a versatile style that will transition effortlessly between day and night. Scrape back your hair and invest in a country heritage cravat and team with your favourite brogues for the office and really work the masculine vibe. Then, simply slip into those skyscraper heels for post work drinks for a more feminine edge. Don’t forget your scarlet red lipstick…

The winner though, has to be the shabby chic look as it optimises everything that is popular in the UK right now. The distressed, worn and handmade look can be so individual and offers and timeless quality and quirky charm. Online jewelry store Rustic Disguise has found this look to be the most popular with individual pieces from designer Heather Shaw flying off the shelves.

Let us know below what your top picks are for 2012…

Fashion Accessories: More than just belts and jewellery!

People often struggle to accessorise their outfits, but they needn’t be daunted. Most opt for a belt, scarf or some jewellery to complement their ensemble, but accessorising needn’t stop there! Using accessories correctly can turn an outfit from understated, to stunning.

Although often overlooked, the correct pair of shoes can literally make or break an outfit. From striking heels with eveningwear, to the perfect trainers with streetwear, the importance of the right pair of shoes cannot be understated. A pair of jeans is incredibly versatile when accessorising with shoes. The same pair of denim could be worn in the evening with a nice pair of heels, or during the day casually with a pair of plimsolls!

A jacket can also be considered an accessory, as it can be used to compliment your overall outfit (as well as being practical!). A tailored jacket can be used to compliment or understate your figure; they’re extremely good at tapering in a larger stomach or posterior! An added bonus is that a nicely fitted jacket will never truly go out of style! If you have access to a vintage store, you can often find classic, timeless jackets at great prices.

Your hair is also an accessory to your outfit, although it isn’t often used as such. Hair can be incredibly versatile, and can be styled to suit each particular outfit. Put your hair up for work for a glamorous, yet smart look. Combs, jewels and other hair accessories are another great way to maximise the impact your hair has. In the summer, try wearing some flowers! It’s a bold statement that can make massive impact with a suitable accompanying outfit.

Shawls, a practical alternative to scarfs, can also make great accessories. In the winter months they’re a great way to wrap up in a stylish, layered fashion. Due to their recent rise in popularity, there are shawls for every occasion, for any outfit. Find a colour and material that suits the look you’re attempting; don’t feel that you are restricted to the classic cotton shawl that your grandmother may have worn!

Essentially any piece of clothing can be used as an accessory, if its primary function is to complement the rest of the outfit. Experiment with colours and fabrics to create contrast, or simply to add depth or layers to your outfit. Be brave and stand out from the crowd!

Sugar Skull is a new clothing brand from the UK, bringing contemporary, stylised streetwear to the masses!

The Royal Wedding Continues to Charm

It seems like forever ago since Kate Middleton lived out the dream of little girls everywhere by marrying her prince and stepping into her new role as future monarch of Great Britain. So familiar have images of loved-up Kate and Prince William become that a time when they weren’t blissfully wed has become a distant memory.

It’s doubtful that the Royal Wedding, which took place on April 29, will be forgotten anytime soon though. The special day will go down in history for obvious reasons but fashion fans will remember it as a catwalk spectacle on the hugest possible scale. The bride looking radiant in a dress designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, guests (including style icon Victoria Beckham and hat-happy Princess Beatrice) making an impression, and – of course – little sis Pippa Middleton scoring admirers around the world in that white dress.

The global interest in the event has manifested itself in the form of fashion items that everyone can enjoy. Summer brides-to-be are taking a lot of cues from the bride of the year, with replica dresses available at budget prices. It’s not just the wedding dress that has caught the imagination though, with Royal Wedding-themed jewellery also continuing to charm...

Following the announcement of the engagement in 2010, which saw Kate wear the 18ct blue sapphire and white diamond ring passed down to William from Princess Diana, similar rings have started to trend with blue CZ offering a cheap and cheerful alternative to the gem stone. Although the ring given to Kate on her big day is made from rare Clogau gold, wedding rings containing the Welsh gold remain available.

Meanwhile, fans of Pandora jewellery – and especially Pandora charms  – can keep a memory of the special day forever with a commemorative bead. The sterling silver heart has a sparkling blue stone at its centre and even features the happy couple’s initials ‘C & W’ engraved on the back. It’s only available until October so any collectors of limited edition Royal Wedding paraphernalia will want to get theirs quick sharp.

So, while the nuptials of the year, the decade, perhaps even the century are a thing of the past, they’ll continue to live on as a cultural event that defined 2011. Now, if only Prince Harry would hurry up and pop the question so we could enjoy the romance, the glamour and – yes – the fashion all over again.