How to Choose Your Jewellery

Two days ago, I was supposed to get married! For obvious reasons, this has been postponed, so I wanted to celebrate our original wedding date in a small but significant way by wearing my bridal jewellery: a beautiful Tiffany & Co necklace and a pair of gorgeous diamond earrings from Monica Vinader. (There is of course one more piece of jewellery that I'll wear on my wedding day but I obviously am saving that until I'm actually married!)

Photos taken from Tiffany & Co and Monica Vinader websites

Here's some tips on how to choose your wedding jewellery - or jewellery for any special occasion.

Compile a list of pieces you really want to buy. It's important to do everything you can to avoid impulse purchases because when I declutter, these are inevitably the ones that get taken to a charity shop. When I find something I love, like my Tiffany necklace, I never ‘add to basket’ right away - I always take a step back and wait to see if I keep thinking about it. It's always such a lovely feeling when you finally treat yourself to that item you've been thinking about for so long and you will definitely treasure more than any impulse buys.

Once you’ve found something you think you’ll eventually buy, you can use the Shoptagr app to keep an eye on it. This is a really useful tool for building your jewellery collection as it will alert you when something you love goes into the sale. Also, when Black Friday rolls around, consult your list before shopping - I bought my Monica Vinader earrings on Black Friday and got a good 20% off.

Hopefully you found those tips on how to save money on jewellery and build a capsule jewellery collection useful. Let's look more specifically at how to actually choose your jewellery.

I never pick jewellery before my outfit - jewellery is always my final finishing touch, the icing on the cake. Try your outfit on with no jewellery at all and have a good think about what styles would compliment it. The neckline is important - my wedding dress is a sweetheart neckline so I knew a necklace would compliment it well. I had already seen the Tiffany & Co necklace online and immediately thought of it because it mirrored the style of my dress (and is of course very apt for a wedding).

If I were to wear a higher neckline, I would likely forego the necklace and opt for drop earrings instead as this makes that area look less busy. It’s also a good idea to think about how you’ll have your hair. If I’m wearing dangly earrings I usually wear my hair up to show them off. For my wedding day, I chose diamond studs for an understated look as I knew I'd be wearing my hair down. I had also been looking at the waterfall studs from Monica Vinader's Riva collection for a while so decided to buy those once they went into the sale. (You see? No impulse purchases!) They are a unique design yet still classic enough that they should stand the test of time.

Think about the materials you like best and which colours you like to wear them with. On nights out, I usually go for a little black dress and I LOVE how silver/white gold jewellery looks with black. However I also adore rose gold with my white and blush pink outfits. Try your outfit on with your jewellery so you can see how well the colours compliment each other.

As you can see, I didn't choose traditional bridal jewellery for my wedding day. With any fashion purchase, I always aim for a capsule collection and so I never buy anything I'll wear just once (wedding dress notwithstanding). I chose these pieces of jewellery because i knew that I would be able to wear the earrings on other special occasions and the necklace would be perfect for everyday once the wedding was over.

Whether it's jewellery, clothes or shoes, if you can only think of one time you might wear it, don’t buy it. It’s bad for the environment and for your bank account.

Jewellery trends are a lot of fun and you should absolutely play with them! However, when choosing jewellery for a special event like a wedding, it’s advisable to go for something classic. If you really want to incorporate a trend, make it something that will stand the test of time - perhaps a particular material, like yellow gold, which has come back into fashion and will continue to do so time and time again. Some trends, like the current chain jewellery trend, can work if done properly. Just remember, the aim is for it to still look good in the photos 20 years later!

10 Items You Should Definitely Have in Your SS20 Wardrobe

We are stuck in a perpetual winter here in England but I’m being optimistic and still thinking about Spring/Summer fashion. Here’s 10 things I think make the perfect capsule wardrobe this season.

1) Lightweight Outerwear

Brits never put their coats into storage because one minute we could be in a slip dress and strappy sandals and the next we’ll need a padded down jacket and wellington boots! It’s therefore important to have a strong collection of coats and jackets in your wardrobe.

 The trench coat is a staple for most women, camel being my colour of choice, and denim and leather jackets are timeless trends that are both having fashion ‘moments’ right now. Wear a leather or denim jacket over a printed profile dress to add edge to a romantic, feminine look.

2) The Crossbody That’s Also a Clutch

Huge handbags are inching their way back into fashion but in my wardrobe, a smaller crossbody is always my go-to. They are harder to fill with rubbish I don’t need and don’t cause any strain on my back or shoulders. If you’re a lover of huge handbags or you need one for the office, pop a smaller crossbody in your big bag so you don’t have to take all your belongings with you when you nip out for lunch.

 Clutches are hugely in style right now. Thanks to designers like Bottega Veneta, they’ve made the leap from evening to everyday accessory. Make your money go further by buying a crossbody with a detachable chain so you can switch up your look whenever you feel like it. Lighter handbags in neutral tones are perfect for Spring/Summer.

3) A (Groundbreaking) Floral Dress

H&M x Johanna Ortiz

I’ve worn nothing but floral dresses this season. Not only are they eye-catching when you do venture outside but they are relaxed and comfortable enough to work from home in all day. H&M have some wonderful affordable designs and, of the more premium brands, Ted Baker always deliver when it comes to floral dresses.

 If you’re a lover of neutrals, dresses are the pieces you can afford to be more playful with, as you don’t have to worry as much about how to style them. And floral dresses are so easy to dress up or down - add heels and a clutch for date night or slides and a bucket bag for your daily walk. (Visit my Instagram to watch my IGTV where I style the same floral dress from Joules for every single season!)

4) A Camisole in a Neutral Colour

I don’t think I could live without my camis in Summer. Because I only buy them in neutral tones, they go with all my other pieces and they keep me cool when it’s hot (and can also be easily covered with a jumper if it suddenly gets cold again!).

 Pair a skintight cami with a paperbag a-line skirt or a floaty cami with a pair of high-waisted jeans to balance out your look. The high street is a great resource for camis - H&M and River Island provide good quality for a low price.

5) A Pleated Midi Skirt

Thankfully this trend isn’t going anywhere. At 5 feet tall, I used to turn my nose up at midi lengths because I thought they would cut me in half (whatever that means) but it’s actually a very flattering, elegant length. The pleated midi works for any occasion: add a crop top and flip-flops for holidays; a slogan tee and bright white trainers for a trip to the shops; or a silk cami and heeled 90s sandals for a wedding.

 Midi skirts are also a great transitional piece as they are surprisingly warm and look great with opaque tights and boots.

Reiss

6) Neutral Knitwear

Knitwear isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of SS20 fashion but I bet you wear it more often than you realise in these warmer months. It is especially useful for the unpredictable British Springtime.

 Lightweight jumpers and cardigans are fantastic assets at this time of year. I like to go for neutral colours like cream or oatmeal as these can be thrown over any outfit (as you skip merrily out the door in your summery clothes then realise, to your dismay, that it’s p*ing it down).

7) Slidin’ into Summer

Those flip-flops that give you blisters between your toes? Chuck them away and get yourself a pair of slides. I adore my white Birkenstocks (uncomfortable when you first try them on but with wear they mould to your foot shape and begin to feel like a second skin) and my Hermes dupes from Dune, which are so comfortable that I’ve taken to wearing those around the house instead of slippers.

 There are plenty of choices for SS20 footwear, the most obvious being the 90s-inspired barely-there sandal, but you can’t go wrong with a comfy pair of slides.

8) You Can Leave Your Hat On

Apart from little old ladies doing their gardening, most British women wear their floppy sunhats on holiday and then shove them to the back of cobwebby cupboards for the rest of the year. It’s such a shame because sunhats add instant glamour to an outfit and they also protect your skin from the sun so why wouldn’t you want to wear them?

 The slogan hat was a trend I loved and will probably never move on from - see my ‘Do Not Disturb’ hat which is all over my Instagram. You can also use big floppy hats to spy on good-looking surfers, a la Samantha from Sex and the City.

9) ‘Hiding from the Paparazzi’ Sunglasses

These are in every fashionista’s collection and are one of the few accessories that the majority of shoppers are happy to splash out on. Bigger has been better for a long time when it comes to sunnies - there was a brief spell where skinny sunglasses tried to take the limelight but we still all crave the Audrey Hepburn look. Tiffany & Co are of course the perfect place to buy a glam pair of sunglasses.

 Like floppy hats, a huge pair of dark sunglasses instantly elevate your outfit and add some Hollywood glamour.

10) A Pair of Culottes

Like floral dresses, culottes are amazing to work from home in because they are just SO comfortable. It feels just like wearing pyjamas!

 Culottes always garner compliments and can easily be smartened up for the office. Pair with a floral crop top and wedges to tick off the retro flower-power trend this season.