This season, updating your look needn’t involve maxing out the credit card or ditching last season’s best-buys. You can transform your style with the appearance of a new wardrobe simply by choosing the right mix of ultra-chic accessories. Most seasons usher in a key must-have piece but this spring summer, it’s not so much what you wear, it’s how much you wear. More is most definitely more when it comes to jewellery and accessories. From statement earrings, chunky neckpieces, and even huge headbands, all worn together in many cases, accessories have been quite literally piled on across the catwalks. To bring a touch of this year’s hottest trends to your style it’s all about introducing the right accessories.
RING STACKING
Ring stacking is one of the hot trends for 2010 with Sienna Miller, Lindsay Lohan and our very own Una Healy (of The Saturdays) already hooked. Taking the lead from the popularity of charm bracelets, ring stacking involves wearing a bunch of rings on one finger. To the fore of the stack ring concept is ‘Daisy Jewellery’ which offers a huge range of designs from delicate silver bands featuring daisies, butterflies, bees and dragonflies, to chunky gold rings with dragon and lion motifs. The idea is to mix and match every piece bringing fun and individuality to your fingers in the same way the charm bracelet do for the wrist. Individual rings begin at €30 making ring stacking an affordable fancy. Daisy Jewellery is available from Emma Boutique, Clarendon Street, Dublin and stockists nationwide.
FRINGE BENEFITS
The flapper style continues this season with fringing invading the highstreet and becoming a must-have finishing touch on everything and anything including coats, scarves, handbags, necklaces and even bikinis. Depending on the garment and fabric, fringing lends itself to a variety of looks from boho to ultra-sexy.
HEAD WEAR
If the thoughts of wearing an oversized, attention grabbing headband doesn’t quite float your boat, fear not as this season headband accessories are as much about cute quirkiness as they are about making a statement – think more Gossip Girl than Lady Gaga. From sparkly printed ones to pretty chiffon styles, hair bows of all shapes and sizes are a hot trend having featured in collections from Louis Vuitton to Marc Jacobs. The highstreet is currently awash with cute headpieces in every style imaginable for example the cute single rose glitter clip (pictured above) €5 from Topshop.
CLOGGING ABOUT
While clogs have been a (not quite sartorial) staple for centuries for factory workers and the Dutch alike, I never quite thought they would make a return to fashion with such gusto. Undoubtedly fashion darling Alexa Chung wearing a Chanel pair on the cover of Vogue UK helped add appeal and the highstreet has followed suit. These are from Topshop, priced at €145. Team with a pair of jeans and a boyfriend shirt to channel your inner Alexa!
LACE UP
Lace made a big entrance in 2009 and this spring it continues to surge. Delicate, feminine, elegant and at times risqué, it’s ideal for layering. Combine delicate lace items with tougher fabrics such as denim or leather for a right on trend look this season. This shrunken French lace jacket with three quarter length sleeve and scalloped edging, €250 by Karen Millen, is absolutely to die for. If you invest in only one piece of lace this year, make it this.
