How to Shop for Eyewear

They are an accessory like any other but because we need rather than want glasses, we resent paying for them and treat our eyewear purchases like a chore. Usually, the only criteria we have in our heads when shopping for spectacles is the price.

Fall in love with shopping for eyewear! If you have a prescription, glasses will be your most-worn accessory so put some thought into what you want and choose a pair you really love. If it’s your first time shopping for prescription glasses, I highly recommend going into your local Optician's for help but for those more seasoned glasses-wearers, I will also talk about how to buy glasses online.

If you only have a small prescription, you will probably be able to wear any frames. However, some people’s prescriptions really impact the styles they can wear. You’ll know this if you have a very high prescription because you’ll likely have quite thick lenses, meaning you can’t wear especially thin, lightweight frames. The distance between your pupils will also affect the frames you can choose - my eyes are closer together than the average person’s so I can’t wear fashionably big styles because my prescription simply wouldn’t work the way it's supposed to. Remember when narrow, rectangular glasses were in fashion? That was my favourite time.

Not everyone can wear contact lenses but it's worth trying them if you can. I like to wear contact lenses on holiday because that means I can wear whatever sunglasses I like, whereas I’m limited to the petite range when shopping for prescription sunglasses. (If you can’t find what you want in the petite range, have a look at the teen options too!)

There are plenty of funky designs out there for both glasses and sunglasses and if that’s your style, go for it! If, like me, you wear your spectacles every single day, your best bet is a classic shape in a neutral colour like the Rayban Wayfarer. My glasses broke recently and I ordered the exact same pair from Glasses Direct because I know they work well with the rest of my wardrobe. They are minimal and stylish - perfect for everyday.

I chose Raybans because I liked the style and I knew I would get the wear out of them but budget eyewear ranges are often great quality too. If you spend more money, you’ll get extra features like spring hinges for durability but as long as you look after them, any pair of glasses should last you a long time - as long as you don’t sit on them!

Glasses Direct are a fantastic option if you are comfortable inputting your own prescription. If buying online, make sure you ask your optometrist for your 'PD' (pupillary distance, i.e. the distance between your pupils) because you’ll need this to order your frames. When ordering online, have a look at the inside arm of the frames you already own - you’ll see two 2-digit numbers and a 3-digit number. These are the measurements of your current frames. Try to stick close to these numbers when choosing your new frames.

If you don’t have a prescription, the world is your oyster when it comes to sunglasses. You can basically wear whatever you like as it won't affect your vision, but of course some styles will suit you more than others. Try as many on as possible and have a good look in the mirror to see which styles suit you best. Ask someone to help you choose - someone you trust to give an honest opinion! 

Most sunglasses have plastic frames and you may struggle to wear these if the bridge of your nose is shallow. If you love plastic frames, keep an eye out for ones with nose-pads attached, like my Gok Wan sunnies above. You can take these into your local Specsavers to be adjusted so they fit your nose perfectly, whereas the nose section of purely plastic frames can only be manipulated so much. This is especially important if you have a prescription because not only will it keep your glasses from falling down but the fit also affects your vision.

If you just started wearing glasses and you’re devastated that you can’t wear your favourite designer sunglasses anymore, you can take them into an opticians to have the lenses changed. Just bear in mind that they won’t be exactly the same colour that you’re used to and the opticians will not be liable if they break in the process, so if they’re very precious, try wearing them with contact lenses. When buying a new pair of prescription sunglasses, it's useful to know that you are not limited to the pairs of sunglasses that are out on the shelves - you can ask for a tint to be put into any frames you like, even if the display pair are not tinted.

Also, if they ask if you if you wanted polarised sunglasses? Say YES. They are expensive lenses but they are SO worth it. Your vision will be so much clearer whether you wear a prescription or not.

I hope this was helpful to you whether you have a prescription or not! I post on this blog every weekend and also post fashion content regularly on my instagram, @emma_does_fashion so if you like the photos in this post you might like to follow me on Instagram too!

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!

6 Classic Items I'm Saving Up For

My blog hasn't been going for very long (this is only my 3rd ever post!) but something you should expect to hear a lot from me is this: buy clothes you love. For me, that means buying clothes that are good quality, that look and feel divine, and that are classic and will go with everything else in my wardrobe. Unfortunately that often means I have to save up my pennies for a long time before I can buy the thing I really want!

So today, I'm sharing a list of the items that I've had on my wishlist for absolutely ages - as well as one item that I love but don't think I could ever bring myself to spend that amount of money on.

I am always on the lookout for the perfect trenchcoat. It's a timeless staple, perfect for transitional seasons, and goes with nearly all my outfits. I used to have a beautiful Tommy Hiliger trench which I wore TO DEATH and sadly had to part with. Since then, I've been hunting down a replacement. My Tommy Hilfiger coat was not only stylish but waterproof too, so very practical for rainy days and boat trips. Sadly most online retailer don't make it clear whether their coats are waterproof, but I did find this belted camel trenchcoat from Marks & Spencers. The coat pictured above is also from Tommy Hilfiger and I am absolutely lusting over this one and squirrelling away pennies for it!

Aspinal of London make beautiful bags. They are expensive but they do also go into the sale more often than you would expect. Pre-owned options are also rife. I'm in love with the black trunk bag with travel label patches, which is the sort of thing I adore - timeless with a twist. I like my pieces to have a touch of the unexpected, like the suitcase-style patches and the unique silhouette, while the colour keeps it classic. My understanding is that you can fit a fair amount in these bags too, and I also love a cross-body strap - so comfortable and practical, especially for days out.

I've been saving up for a cashmere jumper for a long time. You can get quite affordable cashmere jumpers, but I just haven't gotten around to picking one up yet! I want several cashmere jumpers in an array of neutral colours. Numpty over here actually found a baby pink one in a vintage store last year for an amazing £20 and I am still so annoyed with myself for walking out of that store empty-handed! I will definitely scour charity shops and vintage shops to see if I can score a bargain, but on the high street I've seen some lovely potentials in Marks & Spencers, Reiss and John Lewis.

When I have cash to splash, the first luxury item I'm going to buy - you heard it here first! - is a Burberry scarf. I've adored these for years. They are the perfect finishing touch to an autumnal outfit and never fail to turn my head. I of course want the cashmere version (what's the point of spending all that money on lambswool?) and this is probably the only luxury item I would ever seriously consider purchasing, because I know I would wear it pretty much every day throughout the colder months.

I did actually buy a pre-owned Burberry scarf recently but sent it back because it was darker than I expected. It was also vintage, which I don't mind, but because this is something I've wanted for so long, I think I need that just-out-of-the-box feeling when I put it on.

The most expensive item on this list is the Mulberry Bayswater handbag in black. I don't know if I could ever bring myself to spend £1000+ on an accessory, no matter how much I expect to wear it, and at £995 the Bayswater comes pretty close to that limit. However, I've been looking for the perfect work handbag. In our office, we hot-desk, so I have to carry my laptop and papers around with me all day. It's been difficult finding a bag on the high street that's strong enough to carry all my things and will also keep them safe from rainwater (why do so many handbags not do up?!). Mulberry handbags are leather so I'd expect them to look good as new for a long time and it's honestly the only bag I've found that's the right size for my purposes.

Last year, I found the most beautiful black leather jacket with rose gold hardware in Ted Baker. It was stunning. Sadly I couldn't buy it at the time and now I can't find it anywhere online. I'm therefore on the hunt for a similar leather jacket and I'm a fusspot about the style - I don't want a biker jacket because they don't suit my style or my figure. It needs to be quite a tailored leather jacket, rather than a bulky one, because I know that will look best on my hourglass shape. Wish me luck in finding one!

Finally we come to the item on my list that I would love to have in my wardrobe, but don't know if I could ever actually buy: a pair of Valentino Rockstud shoes. I've heard wonderful things about how comfortable they are and both the sandals and the stilettos are gorgeous. I just don't know if I could ever part with that amount of money, especially for a pair of shoes which I know I will wear out immediately (no shade towards the quality of Valentino shoes, I just wear out my shoes ridiculously fast!).

I currently own a dupe of the stilettos from Dorothy Perkins, which are very comfortable and I love how they look. I've also recently bought a pair of sandals heavily inspired by the Valentino version, from Daniel Footwear. I think both these pairs will satisfy me until I'm in a position to consider spending silly amounts of money on luxury footwear.

So, dear reader, please let me know in the comments which item you think I should prioritise, and which items are on your 'when I've got the money' wishlist?

A Spring/Summer ASOS Haul

If ever I'm on the hunt on for a certain style of dress or an outfit for that special event, ASOS is always my first port of call. They sell so many wonderful brands, have regular sales and have even extended their returns period to 90 days while all this craziness is going on!

This romantic River Island floral dress is just stunning. The white and mauve pattern reminds me of a Reiss shirt dress from last year, but at a fraction of the price. This is a beautiful style of dress in which to work from home - glamorous yet extremely comfortable. It is a little sheer so make sure you wear appropriate underwear - in this picture I'm wearing a pair of nude no-VPL knickers from Calvin Klein and my trusty strapless bra from Bravissimo and I don't think you can see them at all!

There is a matching fabric belt that comes with the dress but instead, I've paired it with this tan crocodile-effect belt from Accessorize. I love the Western vibe it brings to this outfit. The Western trend is alive and well and because this is an understated take on the trend, you could carry on wearing this belt long after the trend is over.

Dune always delivers on quality dupes for seasonal 'it' pieces so I snapped up these Hermes-inspired sandals in the sale. I regularly find Dune's products to be of excellent quality at a reasonable price. The sandals looked just how I wanted, when I took the dog out for our daily exercise, I did find the left shoe rubbed the side of my foot. This is perhaps a pair of sandals to wear poolside rather than on a day out. Side note - the right shoe was fine so I think my feet are completely different sizes! 

A statement pair of earrings are the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. I was concerned when I opened these Only Butika pearl earrings that they did look quite poor quality, but once I saw them against the rest of the outfit I was so pleased. They are a funky little design - I love the hammered metal and think I will get a lot of wear out of these. I got my ears pierced less than a year ago (at the grand old age of 28!) so these are the first pair of really fun earrings I've bought, since you're advised to stick to higher-quality materials for the first few months. I'm excited to buy a whole host of statement drop earrings after these!

Thank you for reading this blog post lovelies!