All that glitters
7:00am Saturday 23rd August 2008
We may be clinging on to our summer wardrobe for dear life but there's one easy way to step into autumn and instantly fast forward your look. All you have to do is update your jewellery box.
By Lisa Haynes Buying costume jewellery will instantly give you A/W brownie points on the fashion front.
But banish notions of trinkets being small and perfectly formed. Next season's fashion jewellery is bold and brash - the bigger the statement, the better.
"Jewellery for A/W is going through a statement and oversized phase," Accessorize spokeswoman Kelle Crisp says.
"Trend-led styles are outsized and bold, with embellishment also key."
Whether you're an aficionado of rings, necklaces, bracelets or earrings - or all four - we've got the latest jewellery trends covered for fashion magpies.
Winter bling is where it's at. So invest in a brand new treasure chest - with these oversized charms, your old jewellery box is sure to be bursting at the seams.
:: NECK STATEMENT Forget toning up your arms at the gym, limber up your neck for some heavyweight action. A/W necklaces are super-sized and super-statement.
Models at Dries Van Noten and Lanvin strutted down the catwalks swinging giant statement necklaces round their necks, and Givenchy draped countless long gold chains around necks to brighten up black ensembles.
"The accessory of the moment has to be the statement necklace. A big trend with necklaces are 'bib' or 'collar' designs, or heavy embellished numbers with beading and gems," says Kelle.
JEWELLERY BOX BUYS: EB by Erickson Beamon embellished necklace, £25 (39 Euros) at Debenhams; Warehouse black jewel embellished necklace, £16 (25 Euros); Hobbs oversized tortoiseshell chain necklace, £79; Freedom at Topshop jewel encrusted bib necklace, £28.
:: ARM CANDY Stow away the charm bracelets and dainty bangles and let your wrist do all the style talking with a giant statement cuff.
It's your must-have costume jewellery buy for A/W. Marni made an A/W catwalk must-have with giant wrist candy cuffs, while Hermes layered up oversized bangles to weight down models wrists.
"Oversized and chunky, cuffs look on-trend studded with gemstones and worn either as a single style or in accompaniment with smaller stacked bangles," Kelle advises.
JEWELLERY BOX BUYS: Linea black jewelled cuff, £30 (45 Euros) at House of Fraser; Primark oversized stone cuff, £2.50; Oasis chunky sparkle stretch bracelet, £14; or Next Signature jewelled cuff, £18 (28 Euros).
:: FINGER BLING Keep typing to a minimum to avoid repetitive strain injuries this autumn. Just like all the jewellery trends, costume rings are also big, big, or ultra-big.
"Cocktail rings for A/W are chunky and bold, with giant gemstones, crystal clustering or interesting shapes," Kelle says.
"Keep oversized cocktail rings on a different hand if wearing a striking cuff to avoid jewellery overload."
JEWELLERY BOX BUYS: Dorothy Perkins rose embellished stone ring £7 (11 Euros); Primark oversized purple stone ring, £1.50; Oasis black stone statement ring, £10; Accessorize Hollywood Bling ring, £12 (19 Euros).
:: EAR ADORNMENT Don't leave your ears out of the big-and-bold jewellery equation this A/W - but give chunky earrings a wide berth if you're working the statement necklace.
Studs just aren't going to cut it on the fashion front. The styles to look out for are anything but subtle, according to Kelle.
"Earrings are making a statement comeback this season in the form of elaborate chandelier styles," she says.
"Designs are show-stopping and sophisticated with key shapes using multiple teardrop silhouettes."
JEWELLERY BOX BUYS: Earring Boutique statement crystal chandelier earrings, £65; EB by Erickson Beamon crystal drop earrings, £10 (15.50 Euros) at Debenhams; Freedom at Topshop black and white cameo drop earrings, £15; Accessorize filigree chandelier earrings, £6 (10 Euros).
:: STOCKISTS Accessorize: 0870 412 9000 Debenhams: 08445 616 161/www.debenhams.com Dorothy Perkins: 0870 122 8801/www.dorothyperkins.co.uk Earring Boutique: www.theearringboutique.com Freedom at Topshop: 01277 844476 Hobbs: www.hobbs.co.uk House of Fraser: www.houseoffraser.co.uk Next: 0845 600 7000/www.next.co.uk Oasis: www.oasis-stores.com Primark: www.primark.co.uk Warehouse: 0870 122 8813/www.warehouse.co.uk :: GET THE LOOK Celebrity stylist Hannah Sandling knows that floral prints in the right colours are still bang on trend for next season. Flaunt your A/W florals in Monsoon's new Eleanor dress, £75.
:: BUY IT NOW Two-in-one dresses are seriously hot on the style barometer. This black and cream ruffle front dress from Wallis, £55 (90 Euros) ticks all the boxes for a must-have transition fashion buy.
FASHION FLASH :: TOW THE TIE LINE Thanks to celeb tie-wearers like David Beckham and Mark Ronson, men are smartening up their style acts. The tie is more popular than ever, according to a recent survey by suit specialists, Moss. Black skinny fashion ties have swelled in sales by 200% in the last six months. Colour-savvy guys are plumping for red ties, the fastest growing shade with a whopping 1000% increase in Moss stores. Incidentally, red is this upcoming A/W season's hottest shade. Who knew men had such strong 'ties' to catwalk trends?
:: BANKING ON FASHION Who says banking has to be boring? TV stylist Gok Wan is the first celeb name to sign up to Alliance & Leicester's new Premier 21 Masterclass programme. The initiative is geared towards 16-21 year-olds who have left education to kick start their careers. Gok will be hosting a Premier 21 Celebrity Masterclass in September for young fashionistas who want to break into the style world. For more information visit www.prem21.co.uk.
UPCOMING :: Aug 21: FASHION Transition: Ease yourself into next season's collections. With pictures.
:: Aug 28: FASHION Organic: Go eco chic to celebrate Organic Fortnight (September 6-21). With pictures.
:: Sep 4: FASHION High Heels: Fashion's experts reveal their style advice for strutting with confidence. With pictures.