Metallics and colour are big as is chunky.  Chunky jewellery is the way to go this Autumn/Winter and a great way to update different looks in your wardrobe without over spending.  Accessorize is a great place to pick up a couple of bits and bobs that can change a whole look from bib necklaces to cuff bracelets which we will bring you more of over the coming weeks.  For now we thought we’d focus on their ring collection which is quite extensive!  Mix matte and shiny finishes for a more luxurious look.

Black is in so if you are wearing block dark colours add a sneaky pop of colour wearing a chunky bright ring or two and don’t worry if they don’t exactly match, remember, the peasant look is in!  Don’t be afraid to ring stack, the more you can fit on those fingers the better, more is more this A/W for rings.  Good bye skull rings and hello 70′s.  Lovers of vintage will have fun indulging this trend.

Prices listed below along with expected arrival dates…

Image 1

This collection is due in store next month, September.

(Pyramid from top to bottom from left to right)

Deepi Deco Statement ring €18.90

Crystal Kitty Cat ring €18.90

Boudoir Eclectic Cluster Ring €18.90

Bali Flower ring €14.90

Antique Treasure Ring €18.90

Filigree Claw Set Cocktail Ring €21.50

Vintage Heart Ring Watch €18.90

Metal Pansy ring €7.90

Gypset Ethnic Statement Ring €18.90

Twighlight Perspex Flower ring €18.90

Image 2

We’ll have to wait until November to get our paws on this range.

(From Flower ring on spread out hand)

Parisien Glamour Flower ring €18.90

Pearly Portofino Ring €18.90

Metal Pansy ring €7.90

Mini Flower Stacking Ring €12.50

Curly Crystal Bow ring €12.50

Vintage Heart Ring Watch €18.90

Carved Flower Ring €12.50

Venetian Glamour Pearl Ring €18.90

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The latest campaign news is in from Accessorize and as always we like to share the goss…

Accessorize is excited to announce two new faces for its stunning new Autumn Winter 2010 campaign. Dazzling American beauty, Lily Aldridge and the striking Josefin Hedstrom from Sweden, pose together in the latest trend-driven collections from the London-born brand.

Aldridge, the daughter of British fashion photographer Miles Aldridge and niece of model Saffron Aldridge, is also the long-term girlfriend of Kings of Leon frontman, Caleb Followill.

Paying homage to its British roots, the shoot took place in a North London studio, with Sebastian Kim behind the lens shooting his debut Accessorize campaign. Back at the styling helm for his sixth season with the brand was Vogue Russia’s Simon Robbins; creating a slick cutting-edge story with the inspiring new Accessorize looks.

The Autumn Winter 10 Campaign launches in September with striking shots of Aldridge and Hedstrom taking on the ‘Gypset’ persona with layers of shiny gold ethnic jewellery and rich sumptuous coloured bags.

As winter unfolds, scenes of catwalk-inspired knits are unveiled. Multiple scarves are draped around bare shoulders with important chullo hats and cheeky earmuffs contrasting with big curly locks.

In the run-up to Christmas, the campaign’s iconic ‘Marie Antoinette’ shot is released, emphasising an essential look for the season; lace, pearls and statement corsages. For the festive season, the girls go vamp with smoky temptress eyes and side slicked hair. With their figures hugged by animal printed stoles posing as dresses, bold metallic party bags are clutched with delicate hands decorated in knock-out cocktail rings.

There is so much more to see from this collection which we’ll feed you over the coming weeks.  Working from the first image down here’s a list of arrival times and prices for those shown here:

Image 1

Arriving in November

From top bracelet down to finger tips!

Oriental Resin Bangles set of 2 €12.50

Luxury Boudoir Multi Bangles set of 7 €24.90

Crystal Sparkle Gem Ring €12.50

Boudoir Eclectic Cluster ring €18.90

Rosey Posey Embroidered Bag €43

Image 2

Arriving in September

Girl on the left wears:

Swirl print scarf (on head) €14.90

Plain Stole in Fuschia (on head) €27.90

Mini Casablanca Enamel Crest Earring €8.90

Belly Dancer Metal Necklace €23.50

Skinny Extra long Rope Necklace €12.50

Gypset Bead Long Rope €12.50

Gypsey Mix Multi Bangles set of 6 (blue) €14.90

Denim Zip Jeggings €43

Faux Suede Cross Body Bag €39

Folk Floral Embroidered Tote €62

Plain Gold Bangle €7.90

Heritage Mixed multi bangles set of 7 (gold) €18.90

Embossed Gold Bangle €7.90

Vintage Heart Ring Watch €18.90

Filigree Claw Set Cocktail Ring €21.50

Girl to the right wears:

Paisley Kashmiri Jaquard Stole (on head) €34

Textured Scales Chandelier Earring €12.50

Gypset Eclectic Floral Square Scarf (at neck) €27.90

Antique Treasure Ring €18.90

Dehli Mix Eclectic Bangle set of 7 (arm on bag side) €14.90

Heritage Mixed Multi Bangles Set of 7 (arm on bag side) €18.90

Zip Front Slouchy Hobo Bag €43

Vintage Buckle Belt €23.50

Crystal Kitty Car Ring €18.90

Indian Bangles set of 12 €5.90

Ethnic Bone Bangle €9.90

Image 3

In stores this October

Girl to the left wears:

Chunky Lurex Cable Chullo Hat €27.90

Heart & Check Scarf €29.90

Wide Cable & Honeycomb Scarf €27.90

Reverse Knit & Cable Long Cut off Glove €21.50

Pretty Snowflake Opaque tights €14.90

Joss Suedette Cross Body Bag €49

Boudoir Heart Fairisle Scarf €29.90

… and the girl on the right:

Snowflake Stripe Earmuff €24.90

Monochrome Heart Fairisle Scarf €29.90

Reverse Knit & Cable Scarf €27.90

Spot & Stripe Fairisle tights €18.90

Faux Fur Trim Fairisle Slipper Boot €29.90

Faux Fur Flapover Cross Body Bag €54

Monochrome Heart Fairisle Long Cut off Glove €21.50

Image 4

Arriving in November, bring it on!

Called the Pink Story, from top left – clockwise

Pearl & Bow Elegant Alice €8.90

Organza pretty flower clip €9.90

Glitter Rose Salon Clip €8.90

New Silky Jasmine Flower Clip €9.90

Ballerina Corsage Bando €12.50

20’s Glitzy Flower Bando €9.90

Paisley Diamante Feather Clip €26.50

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Do you want to dress to impress at the Galway Races?  If you aren’t already aware Ladies Day at The Galway Races, is on Thursday 29th July, and will no doubt be a great session not to mention a gambling and fashion frenzy!  We’ve had a quick rummage at our ‘never let you down’ stores Monsoon and Accessorize to kit you out head to toe and leave enough change for a little flutter on the GGs.

The favourite here at wow hands down was the fourth option – yes, it’s black, but it is also on trend encorporating sheer while still being a classic that won’t date, a great and rare combination!

1. Lilly Maxi Dress – Monsoon – €339

2. Cadby Trapeeze Dress – Monsoon – €250

3. Ella Dress – Monsoon – €115

4. Kipp Tunic Dress – Monsoon – €186

5. Koko tunic – Monsoon – €115

6. Obelia Dress – Monsoon – €199

7. Cut Feather Pill Box Fascinator – Accessorize – €34

8. Peacock Pill Box Fascinator – Accessorize – €37

9. Swan Lake Alice Band – Accessorize – €23.50

10. Lace Mini Top Hat Fascinator – Accessorize – €40

11. Glitterati Dress – Monsoon Fusion €95

12. Pippa Dress – Monsoon Fusion €99

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I am SO excited by stores like Accessorize going organic and doing their bit to benefit poorer communities and the planet at the same time!  (yes… easily excited!)  This is just great news and hopefully more will follow suit and people will ditch the ‘it’s all hippy dippy non-sense’ attitude.  Organic cotton is starting to filter it’s way to the high street with more stores bringing in small ranges bit by bit meaning you can support this without compromising on style and your bank account.  It’s very easy to put your blinkers on and ignore the consequences of cotton production but if you take five minutes to read up on the effects this industry has on the planet and those involved in farming it you’d have to be made of stone not to feel something.

O.k… enough of the heavy stuff and back to slapping Accessorize on the back.

So they’ve gone Organic claiming it’s a ‘Beach Thing… Summer 2010′!

They have collaborated with Oxfam this season to develop some accessories that are ethically sourced and have 100% ‘green’ credentials. Oxfam has been working on it’s Organic Cotton initiative for the past five years, working with major High Street retailers to produce accessible organic fashion pieces that you would actually wear as opposed to ‘sack like fashion’. Go Organic! from Accessorize launched last month (June) with two beach pieces that have been designed and produced with farmers from Southern India, as part of an ongoing Oxfam initiative.

The perfect bandeau dress and beach bag, with embellished Indian embroidery, are just the start of a longer-term collaboration, using organic cotton farmed under Oxfam’s long-term policy of supporting poor farming communities. The overall policy offers cotton producers greater security and access to new markets.

Go Organic! products will also benefit Accessorize’s own charity efforts, with 10% of all profit made going back to the farmers to ensure the organic cotton growing cycle continues, benefiting all those involved. www.monsoontrust.org

Accessorize’s in-house design team have worked closely with Oxfam to ensure that every product produced becomes a wardrobe staple so the customer is happy as well as the farmers! Both of these items are available in-store and online at accessorize.com, the beach dress is €59 and the co-ordinating bag is €51 and are in the season hottest colour.

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Picture it. You’re browsing the ‘net, checking out different stores- and you pick out a few things and click to checkout. And the lovely internet tells you that this site only delivers within the United States. No purchasing, then. No matter how good the deal was.

This entire scenario bugs the pants off of me. I mean, there are times when I really, really (I mean more than I usually do) want to buy clothes in the US just to make life easier.

Which is where Bundle Box comes in. It’s a godsend, and the premise is a really simple one. Sign up, get your own registered PO Box in the US, and order whatever you like to be delivered to that box. For a small fee, Bundle Box will deliver those goods right to your door.

It’s a dream scenario. Most of the goods you can buy from the US can be gotten at cut prices to what you would regularly pay in Ireland (if whatever it is is even available in Ireland); hence the Bundle Box delivery fee is usually worth considering.

One caveat is here necessary though- The Revenue in Ireland can be a bitch, and anything over €22 in value will be slapped with a €14 customs and excise charge. This is the absolute pits, and trust me, I’ve moaned a lot about it. So my best advice is to buy a lot, and let the €14 get sort of forgotten about!

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Finding the perfect swimwear to flatter your figure can be challenging to say the least.  Littlewoods Ireland offer up their advice and options to help you on your way to looking beach-tastic.  Here are their tips to make the most of what you have and help you to show off your best assets!

“Tankinis”

Tankinis are bang on trend this Summer. This will allow you the freedom of a bikini while looking super stylish hiding any stretch marks or bulges you may be conscious of. We love this Resort Magic Tankini set €39 to flatter your figure, gently flatten your tummy (yay!) and enhance your curves giving you an enviable silhouette. The Resort Magic range is available in sizes up to 26 and in various colours.

Petite Lady

Look for tops with some padding or an underwire to make the most of a petite bust. Choose tops with adjustable straps to allow you to precisely fit your shape. Check out this Freya Enchanted Bikini Top €49 and enchanted shorts €32. Bright colours, metallics and ruffle tops look great on a small bust too. We love this French Connection Metal Feathers Bikini Set €59.

Support

If you have a larger bust, halter-top bikinis are a great choice, offering support while looking sexy. Choose swimwear with some structure in the bust with molded-cups or underwire for extra support. We love this Resort Mix & Match Underwired Halter Top €14 with sizes up to 38G and a choice of colours and styles to mix & match to flatter your shape… something I know we ladies of the larger boobied variety find difficult to find!

Curvalicious

Create your own curves with a belted waistline. This Resort Magic swimsuit with gold buckle €37 which features a deep v-neck design for maximum flattery. This option enhances your best assets while covering areas you may not want to show off!

Tailored for You

Draw people’s eyes up by wearing a pretty, eye-catching detailed top. Go for a solid coloured bikini bottom and highly decorated top. The mini-skirted bikinis are perfect for this shape. The Resort Mix and Match have a great range you can mix around with to get exactly what suits your shape, this is relatively unusual to be free to do this without having to hide the size tags at the till!  Who wouldn’t love their swimskirt €14, it’s definitely a cute winner for the suitcase ensuring you’ll get noticed on the beach. Match with this Resort Mix & Match halter top already pictured.

Plus size figure

One-piece swimsuits in matte or dark colours and deep V necklines will flatter your shape and accentuate your cleavage. Again the option shown for curvalicious will work and a sheer sarong can add a touch of glamour.  You will find all options shown on littlewoodsireland.ie.

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It’s Derby week in Kildare. With the Dubai International Derby on this Sunday, Kildare’s boutiques are clamouring with woman looking for accessories to finish off their outfit. I came across Heavenly Shoes in Clane, Co. Kildare as they stock Rockin’ Reptile shoes as seen on Xpose, but when I arrived I was surprised that Rockin’ Reptile is not the only reason to pay them a visit. The store has an amazing selection of shoes, bags, parasols and other accessories. The store stocks some exquisite brands; Mary Frances Bags from San Francisco (below) and Belen Donate Shoes from Spain (below) are highly detailed and ornate pieces, priced at the high end for the special occasion or red carpet shopper. For the mother of the bride, Lisa Kay shoes and bags are a popular brand at the boutique, often featuring a lower heel; more comfortable shoes that are great wardrobe staples and can be worn again and again. To my delight the much loved Fiorelli bags ( mentioned here before at wow.ie) are also in stock at Heavenly Shoes.

Staying in Kildare, I can’t leave the topic of race day accessories without mentioning Aristo-Hats hat rental in Newbridge. Aristo-Hats has a spectacular range of hats for rental at very reasonable prices – I just rented a hat there for €35. Hats for rental include those by Philip Treacy and other great milliners, and have topped off best dressed ladies at recent ladies days including Punchestown. For more information, see www.aristo-hats.com

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It is hard to find the perfect hat to wear during Summer time, especially while holidaying. The two basic options of peaked cap or wide brimmed hat don’t give us much opportunity to stand out from the crowd or accessorise in the best way possible. There is, however, another option that will leave your head sheltered from the sun while making you the most fashionable diva at the pool! I’m talking about Head Scarves. These cheap and space saving accessories are available in so many colours and styles that you won’t have any trouble finding one to go with whatever outfit you choose.

Now of course I have been inspired in my discovery by the latest Sex and the City Movie. In one scene SJP wears a beautiful turban with her peach Halston Kaftan Dress. Now I’m not brave enough to wear a turban but I found that the right headscarf, tied the right way, can be just as effective and less likely to get you asked if you’ve just flown in from Abu Dhabi!

So where to start, well first you need to locate a nice scarf. The problem is that many scarfs that are widely available are long rectangular scarfs (like the one seen below from Monsoon), but in order to achieve the right affect you really need a square scarf that is folded diagonally to produce a triangle. Not to worry, if you buy a long rectangular scarf, you can double it over and then fold over a piece at the end to produce a square, then fold diagonally to make a triangle from this. Then simply wrap the longest part of the triangle around your forehead, bring the edges of the triangle around to the back tightly and tie.

You can leave your hair flowing down underneath and add a few soft curls with a curling tongs for a nice affect ala SJP or you can tie the scarf under a pony tail and then wrap what is left of the scarf around the hair.

To finish off the look you can add a nice brooch to the scarf close to one of your ears. But if you wear one of these don’t expect to get much relaxation by the pool. You will be constantly bothered by admiring girlies asking where you got yours.

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Make a Statement…

The Statement Necklace continues to be a big hit this season following last years popularity. These dramatic necklaces featured on the runway this year with Lanvin displaying some beautiful pieces. Recently, celebs such as Ashley Olsen, Mischa Barton and Olivia Palermo have been spotted with these oversized accessories dangling around their necks.

Roberta Freymann by Olivia Palermo.

Olivia Palermo is rarely seen without her signature bib necklace. While not everyone is drawn to her character in The City, fashion followers certainly admire her style. She is now designing a range of her own statement pieces for New York designer Roberta Freymann. The line is called Roberta Freymann by Olivia Palermo with prices ranging from €150 to €250.

The Statement necklace is an easy to wear trend for any occasion. It is a great way to liven up your everyday outfit and add a bit of fun to your look! Above -  all Topshop L-R, €27, €36, €60, below, €24, €20.

Using the necklace as the key accessory of your ensemble, styling requires very little effort. The best outfit to wear is something simple, neutral in colour with unfussy patterns. The bib necklace looks best with an understated one toned top, dress, or t-shirt. It is important not too overdo other accessories as they may distract the attention from the main piece.

If you’re strapped for cash, improvise the look yourself by layering a few smaller necklaces together to make an impact – just make sure they work well together!  Above Lipsy, €12, €18, €20.

Alternatively, check out some of the more affordable bib necklaces from Topshop, Lipsy and Asos.  Below Asos, €15, €23, €38.

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Summer is fast approaching, before we know it the sun will actually be shining (fingers… toes… legs and arms crossed) and you need the perfect accessory to go with that perfect Summer outfit.  But, what is out there this season and where can you get it?  Well, I’ll tell you, to me the perfect accessory is a beautiful handbag and this can make any outfit look like a winner.  So I went searching around and found one that will make your friend’s completely jealous, that’s how fabulous it is.  The first one I found is by DKNY; it’s the Patent Leather Shopper, in red.  This handbag features dual carrying handles, with gold tone hardware and silk signature logo scarf, which accents the front.  The handbag also has lined interior with back wall pockets. This hot looking bag will definitely get you noticed, you can use for a day or night out with friends.  No matter where you go, you will always look stylish with this handbag on your shoulder.  It’s also large enough to fit EVERYTHING and will add an instant pop of colour to your look while the scarf adds a touch of sophistication.

The next one I came across, which is also by DKNY, would be perfect to take on a picnic or a day at the beach (weather permitting!).  Now this one isn’t a handbag, but a leather backpack that comes in two colours, pink and yellow.  Both colours are good for the upcoming Summer season.  This leather backpack features a buckle closure at the front, flap pockets, and detachable shoulder strap, plus it’s totally girly and cute.  This also has lined interior with back wall pockets.  This backpack is a great accessory for any day outfit, because it can carry whatever you need and do it in style.

How to choose:

If you don’t like these bags, you can always find one that fits your taste.  Bigger bags can drown out smaller frames so think ‘size appropriate’ – big totes are in but if you are small you can end up looking like you are carrying your sleeping bag en route to a slumber party!  They will also make you look even smaller and drowned out.  Likewise, if you are taller a small bag may emphasize your larger frame, you don’t want to look like you’ve borrowed Cindy’s handbag!

If wearing bandeau dresses or tops it’s best to use clutch bags to avoid bag straps on bare shoulders.  Bigger bags are best left to day wear and root out smaller bags for a more elegant evening look.  Accessorize always have a cheap and cheerful collection of bags that can disposed of after a couple of ‘wears’, likewise with Penneys.

Just try to go for something a little different to what you would normally go for, it’s an easy way to look stylish no matter what clothes you are wearing.  If you typically wear plain block colour outfits then go for bags with colour or embellishments.  If you are embracing this seasons denim trend try tassles or studs to liven up your look.  Summer is a time when you can get away with quirky prints and loud colours so go for it!

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