With age comes jewellery

As a woman, I have found that two things happen as you get older. 1. You become more interested in babies (although not necessarily interested in having them) and 2. You discover that less can be more in terms of fashion and style.

And so with this second realisation, jewellery becomes increasingly important in our wardrobes. Cue Goodman Morris who produce very simple, modern and yet beautiful, unique jewellery.

The rings pictured really hold your interest when you see them in person, you can’t help but fondle them. They’re made to order, so you can choose the stone and finish and create something very personal. The result is an individual ring that is reassuringly heavy, almost like a paperweight and looks beautifully crafted.

So having read the above, picture this: Me groping one of these rings like a deranged, starved, wide-eyed pervert shrieking, “Yes, yes, yes, YES. Sold! Wrap him up, I’m taking him home!”. Delirious I was, thinking about all of the sophisticated outfits my new addition was going to compliment. Oh yeah! YEAH!

*BANG*

That was my dream exploding into a million tiny pieces on hearing the price of said ring by the way… Turns out, he’s a pricey piece at £425. Hurumphf! What to do? What to do? Fashion doesn’t pay much in a financial sense, so the ole budget doesn’t stretch much past Accessorize. As a compromise I’m going to settle for one of these torque rings. They look stunning on, subtle and elegant and they are priced at a more purse friendly £113. Actually, thinking about it, I don’t really feel like I am settling at all. YEY!

Edith

Having just won the UK Jewellery Awards’ ‘Supplier of the Year’, Goodman Morris the originally Brighton based company has now expanded its stockists to 40 independent jewellers nationwide. Prices range from £35 – £4000.

A summer wardrobe essential… beautiful jewellery

Summer is all about simple clothes, effortless style and sweating as little as possible. Less is more. You make your statements with jewellery and accessories. Which of course brings us to our first hurdle: where do you find interesting, affordable pieces that every high-street store hasn’t produced a version of?

Zoe Bassi is one solution to such a problem. A young Scottish designer based in Bristol, she produces contemporary, handcrafted jewellery with prices starting from as little as £35.

I feel a bit of a *crush* coming on. I can already envisage how these will work with my wardrobe and compliment this seasons trend for pale denim. In addition to that, I *heart* that they are made in the UK (free from unfair labour guilt which is becoming a total drag) and that you can commission special one off pieces. For me, the appeal of vintage is that I’m wearing something that theoretically, no one else owns. If I can now do that without smelling like old laydeez, I’m sold! Oh, and boys, please don’t feel left out. Zoe Bassi also has a fandabbydozer collection of cufflinks.

Edith.

How to… Shop in a charity shop (and not look like a hobo)

We’ve all been lulled into our local charity shop under the guise of eco-shopping and the promise of finding a real vintage treat. A sixties dress? A 70s jacket? An 80s jumpsuit? The excitement! It doesn’t happen. The scouts for retro shops nearly always buy them before they are even on the shop floor, fuckers.*

Fear not though, there are treats to be had that you will find in even the most dire of charity shops. You know, the ones you walk into and just think “WHY AM I HERE, SWEET JESUS?”. Seriously! Here’s a list of 6 things to look out for:

1. Mens shirts: Every second hand place has a multitude of these bad boys. Avoid anything that isn’t 100% cotton and check to make sure there are no pit stains and dirt on the collar. These look great worn belted over short skirts for that St Trinian vibe and tucked into jeans teamed with a blazer for that androgenous look. Expect to pay between £3 – £6.

2. Mens formal accessories: Don’t head out of the men’s department just yet, it’s a great place to pick up things that add an element of fun to your wardrobe. Look for ties, braces and cummerbunds. All of these, when teamed with the right thing look great. Think about a bright tie with a fitted shirt: a perfect work look. Braces with jeans and trainers: casual weekend frolicks. A clashing colour cummerbund with a t-shirt and heels: an evening out. The important thing to remember here is that these things must be in good condition. As eye-catching items, if they don’t look smart, your whole look will be perceived as scruffy. Prices range from £0.50 – £5.00

3. Womens tailored jackets: You can pick up some real gems in the jacket and coat section of a charity shop. People tend to tire of these items long before they are ready for the rag-bag. Be sure to check the linings, especially near the armholes. Make sure buttonholes and zips are secure. Classic colours like navy are always a wise purchase but when shopping second-hand you can afford to be more adventurous and go for something in hot pink. You get what you pay for here, so be prepared to part with up to £30.

4. Costume Jewellery: Most of my jewellery has been amassed from places like the Salvation Army, Cancer Research and Scope. You can find amazing statement necklaces, brooches and often vintage clip-on earrings and watches from the 50s and 60s. Clip-ons are making a come back so these are definitely worth looking out for. Usually, prices start at around £1 for earrings and go up to £10 for a watch.

5. Silk Scarves: Rummage around in the scarf bin, often you can find some pretty pieces, that if not Hermes certainly looks like it. Pounce on anything 100% silk. Square shaped scarfs are great to recreate this season’s looks. Hold them to the light to check for any flaws and to make sure they are not fraying. For a silk scarf you will be looking at paying around £4.

6. Hats: Old laydees tend to donate them (especially the pillar-box variety, which is hot hot hot right now) and they cost a fraction of the price they do new. Great for the wedding season which is almost upon us. A run of the mill pillar-box should be around the £2.50 mark but expect to pay up to £7 for something a bit jazzy.

Things to avoid, pants (euuuwwww, need I say more?), shoes (nearly always scuffed and stretched) and t-shirts (often washed out and mis-shapen).

Finally, before I send you on your way (via Oxfam of course), remember when going charity shopping, take your old bras for donation. Because one woman’s trash is another woman’s over the shoulder boulder holder.

Edith

* with the exception of traid, some of their stores specialise in vintage fashion and usually have an excellent retro stock.

Please note that prices are rough guides and will vary from area to area.