I’m a huge fan of tartan and was expecting to see some tasty tartan designs around by now.  A couple of months ago the fashion magazines promised tartan to be the pattern of the autumn/ winter season, but I can’t find it!  I’m not sure if I missed the trend or if it even happened?!  I saw this great outfit in a magazine which I’m trying to re-create; I have the black fitted woollen skirt and a gorgeous black chunky leather belt, but I still need a red and black tartan jacket to complete it and I can’t find one!  Any suggestions?

Fashion’s move towards layering items is a great excuse to increase your wardrobe and enables you to create varied looks by mixing and matching several pieces together.  Layering doesn’t have to mean piles of bulky pieces. The key item in effective layering is a loose, drapy cardigan.  It may sound dreary, but combine it with skinny or wide-legged trousers, and an elegant blouse and you get a chic result. Layering can also mean adding accessories, so enhance the look with a chunky belt or two, and a long fine or chunky necklace.

The mannish style has been a favourite this autumn and is set to continue through the winter months.  Sophisticated slouchy grey trousers are a fantastic alternative to the skinny jeans that many women hate.  But how do we pull off the mannish look without looking like a guy?  The key is to opt for just 1 mannish item and mix it with more feminine items. With slouchy, pin stripe trousers wear high heeled shoes, corset like tops or fitted shirts.  Mix smart waistcoats with lacy blouses and baggy shirts with fitted jackets.  Accessories can also add femininity.

Already in some stores now, but set to make a huge comeback in spring 07, are the infamous print designs influenced from the 60’s. Flower power is back!  Get ready for brightly coloured over-sized floral and abstract patterns on flowing empire line dresses and skirts.  These combinations of styles and patterns will portray a cool bright summary look whilst creating a hazy 60’s feel.  To complement the style use leather slouchy bags and leather belts. Try some matching accessories.

Bring back the glo-sticks because, like it or not, the old rave-like early nineties styles are back as the ‘nu rave’ collections for the spring. Brace yourselves for acid tones, ‘in ya face’ florescent graphics and plastic sunglasses, which are already infiltrating through main stream fashion retailers.  Top Shop and Miss Selfridges are already said to have lined up a collection of designs to suit the wardrobe of a true raver.  The comeback is thought to be a reaction towards those who are against paying high prices for fancy designer items, and would rather experiment with fun and crazy styles. But can you see yourself back in the neon nineties?

18 Mar - 20 Mar      Beijing, China- International Exhibition Centre
CHIC

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Motexha

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24 Mar - 28 Mar      Arezzo, Italy
Oro Arezzo

29 Mar – 31 Mar      Madrid, Spain - Feria de Madrid
Modacalzado

30 Mar – 01 Apr      Madrid, Spain - Feria de Madrid
Iberpiel/Maroquinerie

30 Mar – 01 Apr      Miami, Florida - Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel & Convention Centre
Florida Fashion Focus

Our webshop has been updated! We have 3 new products in our catalog.

Lovestruck earrings Sterling silver circular hammered link earings with sterling silver heart dangle charm. Can be fitted with ste… $ 88.93 / €69.99 View product

Lovestruck bracelet Sterling silver circular hammered link bracelet with sterling silver heart dangle charm. Bracelet fitted with … $ 152.46 / €119.99 View product

Lovestruck heart shaped links Sterling silver heart shaped hammered link bracelet with sterling silver heart dangle charm. Bracelet fitted w… $ 184.22 / €144.99 View product

The Charm Bracelet
             We spend most of our adult lives as women accessorising. Bags and shoes, which, by the way, need not match these days, earrings and bracelets, necklaces and funny head bands, piercings and funny stockings, dogs to our car’s upholstery, men’s ties to the straps of our barely there dresses, mobile phones to the latest dental tattoo, whatever we think looks good on us, or makes us look even better.
            The charm-bracelet, now there’s an ever fashionable accessory. The charm bracelet is the reflection of your inner self. Those who wear only charm-bracelets allow other people to see right into their soul. If you ask me, it’s an act of courage. One is very careful when adding charms to their bracelets. You start with a heart. Anatomically and metaphorically, a heart is a heart is a heart. It comes with the territory. Next to the heart you place your sign – I’m a Virgo, by the way. But why give people a general idea of your character? Are you an exhibitionist, or perhaps you need to be reminded what sign you were born under? What else…? Oh, there’s always the elephant, or the four-leave clover for good luck. Some are braver than others, they will add a religious symbol so people will have no problem labelling them in terms of what God they pray to. But who cares? Nothing is personal anymore. The irony of it all is I personally stand against this particular accessory, yet I would wear it, in fact I am thinking of having one custom-made, in gold. It’s also the perfect gift on a Valentine’s Day. The perfect gift you can indulge in, provided you have the time and money to look for those charms that mirror yourself only. Why should you wait for someone to give you the perfect Valentine gift, when you are the ever independent woman who needs no flowers and chocolate to know she is worth something… and not just on Valentine’s Day, but every single day, year in, year out…
            If by any chance or strike of good luck I would be able to have tiny, miniature-like replicas of my beloved, precious family and friends, made in gold or silver, or whatever, they would be the charms on my bracelet.
            Accessorize your life with friends, especially on St.Valentine’s Day, friends are the most beautiful accessory you can ever wear with pride; they are the sum of your acts of kindness, charisma, generosity, wit, sense of humour, they wear well no matter the season, whatever the colour of your soul on any given day. And in the meantime, every day should be an exercise in patience, love, tolerance, commitment, friendship, laughter, trust, honesty, raising good children, trying to understand the people around you, respect them just because your mamma told you so/taught you that!  
            How many charms can you count on your bracelet at the end of the day?
 

                                                                                                Diana
 

Jeans are no longer worn solely for lounging around in at home or at weekends.  We now wear jeans for every occasion including cocktail parties and dinners.  So in fact denim can be seen as the new little black dress.  There are so many different styles of jeans around from skinny to baggy, that we can change them according to what we are doing.  Despite the variety in style, wearing jeans for every occasion can make you feel as though you are wearing the same thing all the time.  The key to changing your look is about choosing the right accessories, and we have some great ideas.

The number of celebrities launching their own lines of fashion, perfume, or cosmetic products, has soared!  With Christmas fast approaching celebrity branded products are fighting it out for shelf space in the shops.  As a celebrity obsessed nation these products are hugely popular. This means celebrities get to have their names kept firmly in the media; marketers have an easy tool for promoting their product, but do we, the consumers benefit? Are the products the same quality as similar products with the same prices, or are we simply paying for a name?