It’s a fabulous, eye catching trend, and here at Accessoryo we have just what you fashionistas need this spring/summer...

Have a night out? Add a glamorous touch to your outfit with this sssssssssstylish and ssssssssublime clutch (see what we did there? Ah, yes.) . Made of gorgeous faux snake skin and multiple storage compartments inside, it’s perfect for keeping on trend, and there’s plenty of room for your lippy! Comes in this gorgeous white tone or you can find it in a lovely apricot colour.

Perhaps you would prefer something slightly more demure for everyday use or even for keeping stylish at work. With a touch of snake skin on the flap, this hand bag will keep you on trend this season, without being too flamboyant. A nice spacious bag with an adjustable strap, making it ideal for everyday use!

Fancy something small and sophisticated? This lovely little clutch would be perfect for cocktails with the girls! A softer look, with a gorgeous pebble texture, giving you a slight alternative to snake skin print (would look fantastic with that little black dress). It even comes with a detachable metal shoulder strap too, how handy!

So, this season embrace your adventurous, exotic side if you dare. If you don’t however, don’t fret - Accessoryo have a lavish collection of bags to suit your every desire J

What a year it’s been for Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge who not only found her Prince but has become one of the most talked about fashion icons too!

As their official engagement pictures hit the press the high street was hit with replicas of her designer wardrobe at a snippet of the price enabling us all to be Princesses. Whereas before the Royals were considered (some still believe they are) ‘stuffy’, Will and Kate have been a breath of fresh air and brought the Royals into the 21st Century.

Now it’s not just an honour to be a Royal but ‘cool’ too and hopefully young people may find that they can relate to Will and particularly Kate whose humble background will be reflected in this.

This is very much reflected in Kate’s fashion style. She has brought back elegance and class back into fashion with a modern trendy touch. Take her beautiful Navy Blue Issa dress she wore for her official engagement announcement, although very modest (with its full sleeves and knee length) it was at this point modest became sexy and so fashionable.

It was reported that this Issa dress sold out within minutes of it being seen on Kate and the High street, Tesco in particular had an Issa inspired version sell out faster then they were probably produced!

Now that she is officially Royalty (and not just in fashion circles) her style is in demand more then ever. Not only has she brought a new fashion style that has rocked our fashion world but she has shown us that being Royal doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave your fashion sense outside the Palace gates (ahem! Princess Eugenie!)

But you can compromise with fashion by looking elegant, classy and fashionable without dressing too ‘old’ for your age (which is what some critics said about Kate in the beginning - shame on them!).

Kate’s style is one which is mature, sophisticated but still on trend which is why she has been crowned a fashion icon. Whereas fashion normally dictates that we should ‘flash the flesh’ to be sexy and some fashion trends and styles advocate this in their clothes. Take the body con dress designed to be figure hugging and quite short in length, while it can be sexy to show off those curves, Kate has shown us that the ‘modest’ look can be just as sexy leaving a little something to the imagination (lucky Wills!).

So let’s give a toast to fashions newest iconic recruit that is Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and Queen of Fashion.

Fashion has always dictated what styles suit us in terms of body shapes, heights, skin tones. For example according to the patron saint of women that is Gok Wan if your body shape is an hour glass figure then a pencil skirt will accentuate those curves and emphasise your figure shape.

However it has been noted in the media that a certain Mrs Beckham has been spotted wearing a pencil skirt many times. You do not have to be a fashion expert to see that her figure is in no way an hour glass but still the pencil skirt is her best friend.

“Why is the case?” I hear you cry. Stylistically this is not possible as Victoria Beckham has a slim figure and according to other stylists this kind of skirt would not suit her as it makes her look even slimmer then she is and does not create curves on her body as it would on someone who has an hour glass shape.

However it can be said that maybe we do not need these fashion style ‘rules’ and we should have the confidence to wear what we like without feeling this style does not suit us. One thing we can all observe is how Victoria Beckham has always exuded confidence in all she does including the clothes she wears. So is confidence the best kept secret that stylists do not want us to know as it will enable us to wear any kind of clothes we want whatever our shape, size, skin tone?

If it works for Mrs B can it work for us too? Wouldn’t it be great not to have that dilemma of ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ but instead to have the ‘Yes I can because I can pull off any style I like’.

Of course there maybe a danger of people losing their fashion sense as they will wear clothes that are unsuitable without any general fashion guides. However some may say this is how fashion styles and trends are born.

For example in the past over the knee boots were associated with ‘ladies of the night’ and no one would touch them with a barge pole. Enter Ms Kate Moss with her Stella McCartney pair and then suddenly everyone was queuing outside Faith to snap up a pair.

This trend has been going strong for a few winters now and looks to now become part of the staple fashion diet as some can be folded down so they are just regular knee high boots, making them a ‘functional’ pair of boots to own.

Now it can be suggested as this has become a trend people will have the confidence to wear them without thinking they are in the film Pretty Woman. Can we apply this theory to our clothing too? What maybe not trendy now or is frowned upon in fashion circles may just become trendy and ‘in’ when the ‘Fashion Gods’ deem it worthy.

So perhaps we should forget what these Fashion Gods are dictating to us and wear what we want to, as ultimately it’s us buying the clothes, shoes and handbags that make us feel good and fulfil their purpose be it for a wedding, party, interview etc.

We need to teach ourselves that we are stylish and do not need to follow ‘guidelines’ when it comes to buying clothes and if we like something then we should have the confidence to buy and wear it without thinking how its not meant for our body shape etc.

As we have seen from the style evidence Mrs B can wear what she likes and looks good because she exudes confidence when wearing it, hence it seems that clothes do not maketh the Woman but Woman maketh the clothes. We need this to be reflected in our attitudes when shopping next time. If you like it buy it!

“She’s too old/young to dress like that”, “Who does she think she is? Mutton dressed as lamb”. How many times have we heard this about being said about someone, particularly a Woman?

Whether its Women in the public eye or that Aunty who wants to share your clothes, there has always been a fashion debate on whether we should dress our age or stop dressing a certain way once we reach a ‘certain age’. But when is that ‘certain age? Is it the big age of 30, 40 or 50?

If Celebrities are anything to go by these days it seems the ‘certain age’ has become blurred. Take Sarah Jessica Parker and in particular her character ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ from Sex and the City. Not only is the characters lifestyle one that many would associate with a typical young, successful twenty something single female but her dress sense also reflects this too.

It was the ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ character that elevated Ms Parker as one of the most iconic fashion characters (and SJP didn’t do too badly from this either) so far. Looking at the characters dress sense many would agree that it is not the one of someone who is in her thirties (in reality it is believed that that SJP was older then her character) but this character enabled Women of any age to abandon ‘age dressing’ and dress (in what is normally considered) ‘younger’.

Since then it is believed that the phrase “mutton dressed as lamb” has turned into “She is just on trend”, “She is just has the confidence/figure to wear it” etc.

The rise of Celebrity has certainly helped with this phenomenon too. If we look at examples of Women in their forties: Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox and Gwen Stefani. Aside from their healthy diets and workouts which make them look at least ten years younger, the clothes they wear (like the example of SJP’s character, Carrie Bradshaw) typically would be of a younger Woman.

It could be said the ever rising obsession that Celebrities play in our lives has given Women confidence to dress the way they want without having to think about whether they can ‘pull’ a certain look off because of their age.

Having these examples of Celebrity role models can be beneficial in inspiring Women not to feel they have to put away their fashion sense away after a certain age. It can also be said that because of the aspiring role models (in particular Celebrities), Women feel more confident in dressing without having to think of the ‘age barrier’ of fashion.

It can also be said that clothes these days are designed to be more dimensional in the sense that they are more ‘flexible’ for all shapes, sizes and ages to wear. Therefore there are many factors that maybe responsible for the blurring of the age barrier in fashion.

Here’s hoping that this age barrier comes down or is flexible so we can all live happy, fruitful fashion lives without having to think about what to wear all the time. The mornings and evenings may just get a little easier to dress after this!

Can you remember when you first started to become fashion conscious? Was it when your Mum put you in that awful itchy polyester sweater and you thought that was one sweater too many? Let’s not forget the dreaded socks and sandals combo!

Now ask yourself how old were you? Maybe you can’t remember but we have the memories of our fashion mishaps made by our parents when we were younger and too young to make our dress sense choices.

Let’s look at children these days and what is available for them in terms of clothes and accessories. It can be said that some of the clothes and accessories available, are smaller versions of adult clothing and accessories.

For example flat caps, tuxedos or handbags. It seems that our children want to emulate us (the adults) by wearing the same things. Are our children becoming a generation of “mini-me’s”?

Take the example of handbags for young girls being available. It could be said that accessories like this are in preparation for a young girls ‘role’ as a lady. It could be suggested that having accessories such as a handbag conditions girls into learning that this is a symbol of becoming a lady, as their mothers and other women in their lives will also have one. They will see this and may naturally want to emulate this.

However is this natural instinct or does fashion play a big part in our children’s lives now more then ever? In the past there have always been discussions of children being bombarded with advertisements aimed specifically at them for toys and computer games.

Looking at fashion now it is safe to say that children are now being bombarded with fashion images of the latest trends. Many more retailers who traditionally catered for a specific audience have now started to cater for Children too. I.e. New Look and River Island.

This could be a contributing factor that influences the parents who shop at these shops to buy their essentials here too, hence creating their own mini-me’s, by dressing and accessorising them in a similar way. This could be the main factor in influencing our children to be more fashion aware then compared to the children twenty years ago.

For example think back to when you were younger, can you remember the shops you used to go to or all your polyester sweater needs? You will probably find it was the obligatory Marks & Spencer, Clarks or C&A. Compare it to what choices kids have now you will find there is a vast difference as there is so much more and hence why the children of today demand so much more.

However some would argue that all this choice for children may be too much, as we make our children grow up ‘too fast’ and in some instances we maybe endangering them by sexualising them too early with certain types of clothes. For example some retailers have come under fire for creating clothing deemed inappropriate for young girls such as padded bra’s, padded bikini’s, hot pants and even thongs.

Its items of clothing like the above examples that should make us stop and think of the other side of influence that fashion has on young people. Some may argue that children like adults need to move on with the times and trends of fashion if they want to keep up with the ever changing times, hence why clothes and accessories are mini versions of what their parents will buy.

Peer pressure from other children may be an influence on children wanting to be more fashion aware and in the latest trends. The playground may not be a ground for disputes over the swings any more but over who is wearing what.

There are definitely reasons to suggest that children are now more influenced by fashion then the pervious generation of children. Let us hope the mini-me generation does not fall under the same fashion trap their parents may sometimes fall into: The pressure of feeling they need to wear certain clothes or look a certain way. They say that children are our future; lets help them by letting them stay children for as long as possible before we let them grow up too fast. Here’s to the mini-me’s being fashion confident as well as fashion conscious.

Designer brands and in particular high end labels are very good at marketing themselves to make us believe that not only are they the label to buy from but that the buyer is the member of an elite group of individuals that these items are made for.

However it seems that the designer label may be an endangered specie soon as the high street always seems to cater for the mere mortals who cannot afford the handbags or shoes that cost a whole month’s mortgage payment. Their solution: by taking inspiration from these high end labels by designing something similar and selling it at a fraction of the price so we can all feel like we are part of the fashion elite.

A great example of this is the Issa dress Kate Middleton wore for her engagement photographs. Soon after these photographs were released there was a great demand for them. Our designer loving divas were in luck as they snapped one up instantly causing a sell out, but for us high street fashionista’s it was just a case of dreaming of owning such a dress.

Until it was retailer Tesco that designed us a similar one at a snippet of the price so it was a win-win situation for all: the designer divas got their Issa dress and the high street fashionista’s also got theirs too.

More recently the Duchess’s Reis dress caused a meltdown on their website; yet again it was Tesco to the rescue who has designed a similar one (yes you guessed it) at a snippet of the Reis price.

While it is great to have retailers like Tesco who make designer inspired dresses without the designer costs, it begs the question: what does this mean for the designer labels (where these creations are inspired from) in terms of people buying from them?

As the high street is so quick to design cheaper versions is this the end of the designer label? With so many ‘inspired’ or copied versions of accessories and clothing going around are we just waiting for the high street to copy them so we don’t burn a hole in our purses? Will our designer label loving counterparts join us on the dark side knowing this?

However our designer label loving counterparts will tell us that buying something what most people pay in renting a home or car should be treated as an ‘investment’ as it will be long lasting and being a classic style it will be a continuous line throughout the fashion seasons, hence no need to keep on buying ‘fast’ fashion that will be abandoned by you in your wardrobe once the season or trend is over.

There is also the feeling of being part of an elite group that are able to not only afford this but want to live the luxurious lifestyle these brands are also selling.

However one can argue the high street retailers have cottoned onto this ‘subliminal’ advertising that the designer labels do and also implement this in their marketing campaigns but with the promise of saving us money whilst being able to keep up with the latest trends.

One thing is for sure looking at the fashion trends there is a certain bit of competition between the highstreet and high fashion labels. The labels now are aware just how strong the high street is and will have to up the stakes to keep well ahead.

Let the battle begin!

The answer to this: The giant clutch and the large shopper bag which are still going strong as trends and accessories. The powers that be have realised that women not only want something fashionable but practical too, to suit their lifestyle which is now much faster paced then it was in the 1950’s.

We have extended this ‘big’ philosophy to our jewellery too. It seems today it’s not only about the clothes standing out but we want our bling to complement or outshine our outfit too. It’s not enough to have a cocktail ring anymore we need them to be show stopping gobstoppers that are big enough to be worn as a lone accessory, thus eliminating the need for a bracelet/bangle. Similarly if it’s a bracelet/bangle you want to wear make sure it’s bold and chunky and you will not need to wear a ring as the bracelet/bangle will be enough to compliment your outfit.

To really dazzle people and your outfit an oversized pendant or chunky necklace is the way to go if you want to move away from conventional necklace designs. It seems no one wants dainty any more and we want to rival the bling seen on most rappers too.

Could this ‘big’ need we have be an indication or representation of Fashion now evolving for ‘real people’? For example Milan has now banned models from the catwalk who have a BMI of less then 18 to advocate a healthier body image. Louis Vuitton started to use curvier models for their Autumn/Winter collection last year and also more recently fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier used singer Beth Ditto who is famed for her large frame (and outspoken views on size) for his 2011 Spring show in Paris.

Obviously Mr Gaultier earned major brownie points with the media and cynics may say this is why he put her in his show, but just maybe it’s because fashion has started to realise that ‘big’ is ‘normal’ too and we should accept all styles and styles that the General public can relate too- after all its these people who are ultimately buying the clothes or accessories.

Its about time fashion was accessible to all rather then one type of person or people with one type of bank balance, i.e. unlimited! With the evolution of fashion so far let’s hope we see more ‘normal’ things in fashion from big models to big accessories.

It does appear that size is everything and big is back and so much better then before.

Move out the way girls- there’s a new group in town… yes the boys are here to show us a thing or two about fashion. Fashion is not just a woman’s world any more as the Men want a piece of the action too.

In recent years there has been a rise in Men’s fashion and men now want to be in the latest trends and want to take care of their appearance more then ever before. Where as a quality like this was once considered effeminate it has now become a norm for men and a new term of ‘Metrosexual’ has been coined.

A Metrosexual is used to describe a heterosexual man who likes to take care of his appearance and indulge in shopping. This term was first coined in the Independent News Paper by Journalist Mark Simpson in 1994: “Metrosexual man, the single young man with a high disposable income, living or working in the city (because that’s where all the best shops are), is perhaps the most promising consumer market of the decade. In the Eighties he was only to be found inside fashion magazines such as GQ, in television advertisements for Levi's jeans or in gay bars. In the Nineties, he’s everywhere and he’s going shopping.” (See Wikipedia for more)

This term really kicked off in the early 2000’s when an article by the same journalist in Salon.com named David Beckham as the Metrosexual ‘poster boy’ of this generation.

Its safe to assume that this term set off a new generation of men who were still masculine but liked to indulge in fashion and their appearance- hence a rise of male beauty products, L’Oreal couldn’t have put it better: Your worth it - yes Guys you are especially as this is becoming one of the most lucrative markets too.

Metrosexuals can actually be traced back to the 1800’s where it was coined as “Dandyism”. Dandyism was used to describe the “phenomenon of men taking great pains with their clothes and appearances”. This first appeared in the literary works of ‘High Society: A Social History of the Regency Period, 1788- 1830” written by Venetia Murray.

A man who engaged in Dandyism was known as a ‘Dandy’. A dandy of the time explains how dandyism is “primarily a specialisation in the art of dressing one self with daring and elegance. It is that but much else as well. It is a state of mind made up of many shades, a state of mind produced in old and civilised societies where gaiety has become infrequent.”

It seems that our Forefathers did pass on fashion style through the generations and Metrosexuality was just under another name.

This begs the question: Where along the way did fashion become associated with being an area that women would be experts in? Why did it take so long for Metrosexuality to be coined again- or has it always been there (as per examples) but under another term?

Whatever the reason the Metrosexuals are here and proud. Whereas in the 1800’s the Dandies had high collared shirts and pantaloons, the Metrosexuals/Men have the crew neck sweaters and double breasted coats. The Metrosexuals also know important it is to take care of their skin and will indulge in facials and pedicures.

Some believe that men may have become concerned about their appearance because of ‘recent upheaval in modern society’ an example of this upheaval is the global financial crisis that has lead them to become aware of their appearance and how it may affect them in getting ahead in the tough job market and general dog-eat-dog environment.

With role models such as David Beckham and hip hop artist Kanye West it’s not hard for men to want to aspire to successful men such as these two, as they not only look immaculate all the time but have achieved great success in their fields.

This could be one of the factors that contribute to the rise of men’s fashion and an indication of men being keen to express an interest in the clothes they wear and how they look.

The fashion revolution has begun and it’s safe to say it’s a man’s world too.

Style. It’s a word that is thrown around a lot naturally in the fashion circles. But what is the definition of style? Is it something we learn or are some of us lucky enough to be born with it?

As consumers and human beings we naturally emulate others particularly people we admire and in the case of fashion it maybe a celebrity or person in the public eye that has adopted a style which we may take inspiration from or copy.

When we think of style icons many names pop into our heads such as Audrey Hepburn, Marylin Monroe or more recently Victoria Beckham and Michelle Obama. However did these ladies acquire their style naturally or was it learned?

Gary Jordan, P.H.D and Linda Ross Vega seem to think that style is innate. They base their theory on something they have called Perceptual Style Theory (PST) which is “based on the belief that the unique way an individual perceives the world forms his or her basis for natural potential, strengths, and the way they interact with others.”

The theory is built on seven key principles:

1. People perceive the world differently.
2. Differences in perception result in psychological diversity, and psychological diversity is the most profound diversity there is.
3. Perceptual differences can be grouped into 6 perceptual styles.
4. Everyone believes that their way of experiencing the world is the right way and (until they learn differently) the only way!
5. A person's perceptual style is innate.
6. People are happiest and most satisfied in life when they are engaged in actions and activities that draw upon their natural capacities, skills, and abilities.
7. Most people do not use their natural capacities, skills, and abilities consciously, regularly, or to their advantage.

According to this principle particularly number five, we are born with style which determines the natural capabilities, skills and abilities we have. “When something comes naturally to you, it means it is supported by your Perceptual Style and you were born with the potential to excel at it. In order for it to develop into a full fledged skill, you just need a circumstance that creates the opportunity for you to use it on a consistent basis.”

Thus we can see according to this principle an individual can naturally have the ability to gain any skill they like, i.e. in this instance fashion style. The saying born with style just may have meaning to it!

On the other hand if we look at our style icons i.e. Mrs Beckham who has always been described as having great style. Her style not only is on trend (let’s face it with her bank account and being friends with Donatella and the likes she can afford to) but she also exudes confidence too. Can confidence be part of what we perceive as style? There seems to be a fine line between the two and it seems they overlap a lot. It can be said that style is about confidence rather then knowing how to dress. If you have the confidence to wear any fashion style or trend then style will become your friend.

Fashion is always dictating what styles we should go for that will suit us, be it for our body shapes or height, however this can also make us apprehensive about trying new styles that do no fit our fashion ‘norms. This can be a disadvantage as we may miss out on styles that are good for us but thought would not suit us.

This is where confidence can play a big part in the fashion game alongside style. If you’re confident with fashion then style is born from within you. Let us all take have No. 5 in our lives (and I’m not just talking about the perfume either).

As we enter 2011 with our purses now full again (hopefully!) the question of fashion investments has arisen. Whether your budget is Prada or Primark there is something for everyone.

It’s no surprise that stripes and bold prints are still going strong but this spring we will see them going softer and warmer on flowing maxi’s and A lines. Add a splash of bright colours and stand out this spring instead of hiding behind repetitive pastels which is usually how Spring goes but fashion has taken a bold and brighter step this season.

Not only are we going bright but we are rebelling against conformist fashion where we have to match and co-ordinate everything- it’s all about clashing bold colours and still standing out.

Sportswear gets smart and not so Vicki Pollard simplicity sometimes really is the best thing especially with this trend. It’s all about the small details like zips, trims and mesh inserts.

Feeling crafty? You’re in luck as handicraft tassels and feathers will be making their way into your wardrobe. The shift dress will be given a very modern twist with crochet appliqué for that rustic charm. This is one trend that will be sure to fly well throughout this fashion season.

Banish those January blues and invest in beautiful blues instead. Drench yourself in lots of deep sea blue, teals and clear turquoise and as mentioned before clash rather then match.

Get ready to gather round pleats and delicate draping adding texture and movement to your clothes so they fall nicely with your movement rather then falling away from you. It’s not Grecian any more but more uptown chic.

Keep the arm candy plain and simple this season- finally fashion is becoming practical as the newbies come into force. Leave the bag lady look as you only need one bag this season: The Shopper. Designed for the modern day woman and all their needs (laptop, mobile phones, make up, keys, gym kit etc) it is lightweight, roomy, practically and most importantly so in.

Lastly but not least a girls BFF the shoes. This season it’s a combination of fashion and comfort. The heels are still high but more comfortable with the wedge firmly wedged in this season. An alternative is the block heel for that 90’s platform heel look if you’re not into the wedge. The stiletto has taken a more comfortable stance with platform base- so no more squashed pointy toes.

So there we have it- fashion, practicality and comfort for all this season.

Some may say that its other trends that have also helped ethnic fashion trends penetrate the Western fashion such as the glamour of Bollywood films, the Middle East as brought us Belly dancing and South America brought us Salsa dancing. The migration of these and many more ethnic minorities have played also played a part influencing the fashion too- it goes to show opposites do attract sometimes.

Take for example the tunic top. In India and some middle eastern countries this is worn by women who want to dress in a modest manner and originally the tunic is designed to be loose fitted and long ( up to the knees or longer). Now add with a modern twist of making it slightly shorter (so it can be worn with trousers or without) and more fitted to suit the needs of Western fashion where something fitted is the desired look as it is deemed attractive.

The hip scarf (with coin like attachments) that is often worn by belly dancers has now entered the fashion world as a great alternative for a belt and one that stands out and you can be sure to make an entrance with one these as not only do they look unique but you will also be heard too!

So its no surprise that this has been embedded into our fashion trends. This truly represents what the world is about and what it is becoming: One. With modern technology the world has grown so fast and has become smaller thus the awareness of other cultures is not as hard as it used to be.

Fashion is embracing a lot of things and these fusions are definitely here to stay as our worlds come together. After all its true what they say- it really is a small world and an even smaller catwalk.

With the correct outfit or accessory piece capable of generating a huge amount of buzz in the media it’s no surprise that you’ll rarely see the biggest celebrities wearing the same outfit twice. Becoming influential in the fashion world is all about being a trend setter and some classic examples of celebrities who have pulled this off successfully are below.

Victoria Beckham

She’s always immaculately dressed and styled to within an inch of her life. If this diva so much as changes her hairstyle then the whole world sees it as breaking news. Always a fan of designer fashion and accessories its no wonder she was dubbed ‘posh’ spice!

Vanessa Hudgens

This high school musical star is influential in teen fashion and wears edgy, cool and chic clothes and accessories.

Lady Gaga

This high profile singer is one of the most well known stars for making her own fashion statements and designing her own weird and wacky outfits.

Of course there are many more influential female fashionistas out there, so keep your eye on them to see just how much they affect the world in which we live, and shop!

Just like the weather our fashion choices change all the time. What was considered unfashionable ten or twenty years ago we now can’t live without. Take the white stiletto heel shoe often associated with the ‘Essex’ girl look we never would have touched with a barge pole.

Enter Sarah Jessica Parker a.k.a Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City who wore them in one episode of the iconic series and we were all clamouring all over each other for a pair.

The string vest that you’re Granddad wears under his shirt and Scottish Comedian Rab C Nesbitt’s alter ego was impossible to believe could have been considered high fashion- until Gwen Stefani decided it was.

So who decides what’s fashionable? Is it celebrities? Or indeed the Fashion Gods out there? One thing is definitely by passed when it comes to fashion is indeed confidence. Sure we have confidence in wearing certain items of clothing but is that because its dictated to us by certain people that we are allowed to wear it because its fashionable? It can’t be denied that to some degree we are influenced by others (be it celebrities or not) about what we should do and in this case wear.

However how about we just stop listening to others and do what we want? Want to wear that dress you don’t think you can pull off? Sure you do- just release that inner sexy fashionista that’s just waiting to be coaxed out!

Go out and get that bag that you think is ‘not your usual style, get those shoes look slightly different to ‘normal’ shoes. You can pull that style off and it will suit you just believe in your inner fashionista because everyone has one.

Don’t wait for some one to tell you that something is in fashion or that you can’t pull it off- you can all you need is the confidence. Don’t follow the trend, set the trends and be the trend.

Big ones, small ones, going out ones, work ones, practical ones whatever the occasion we all need the bag for it and probably have it too. Research shows that handbags are the second most owned and wanted accessory a woman has after shoes.

So why are we so in love with bags and why do we need them?

According to Caroline Cox1, the bag has “become a unique statement of a woman’s status, fashion savvy and earning power.” The popularity of the bag has risen over the past hundred years due to the changing role of the women.

As women have become more independent the bag started to develop and was eventually made to carry their belongings. The bag today has evolved and keeps on evolving for the every day needs of the modern woman. We now need a bag not only to hold our wallets, keys and phones but also laptops, IPod/MP3 players and for the Mummies out their the bag needs to be big enough to hold things their children will need.

There also is a (believe it or not) a psychological element as to why women love their bags and what men find fascinating about them (again believe it or not they do!). The bag was originally developed as a silk purse/pocket that would be worn under a skirt thus almost being classed as an undergarment and one of a sexual nature.

So why do Men find a Woman’s handbag fascinating? It stems from the old days of when bags were seen as sexual items so the idea of looking into a Woman’s handbag is something that Men have always found exciting but would never dare look into one because of the sexual connotation.

Now we know that the bag isn’t seen as a sexual item, one thing does remain: bags still have a sex appeal and Women want everyone to know it- it has to be instantly recognisable take the Louis Vuitton logo bag or the Paul’s Boutique ‘I love PB’ logo bag.

So next time when your outfit just isn’t enough- make sure you bag is. Next time your man moans about all the bags you have and asks why you need them, you now know the reason behind it!

Matching fashion accessories sometimes feels a bit daunting when you don’t know what you should wear with a specific look or outfit. To help you get started Accessoryo have put together a few simple bullet points for matching fashion accessories successfully!

1. For winter, choose darker coloured clothing and accessories with a ‘pop’ of colour. Purple, reds and blacks all work well against darker colours and match nicely.
2. Pick one tone of jewellery (silver or gold) and run with it as a theme. You will find your outfit matches better if you have the same colour theme running throughout and don’t over do it with accessories.
3. Match a killer pair of shoes with the same coloured handbag or clutch to tie in a specific colour scheme. Red shoes and clutch would work perfectly for brightening up a party outfit with a classic little black dress.
4. Think about buying items that work well together when shopping. A great way to do this is pick out key items that you are looking to match up and take a snap of them on you iPhone. Store the pictures in an album and when out shopping you can refer to this if you spot something on sale that you think might work well alongside it!
5. You don’t have to pick colours that match completely when accessorising. If you have an item of clothing with various colours, pick out the most prominent one and choose accessories in this colour to give a subtle, matching look.

Hopefully these top tips will prove useful to all you fashionistas out there, don’t forget to get in touch if you have your own top tips as we’re always keen to read them!

]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:19:24 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/jewellery-gift-ideas-for-teens/ Teenagers change their minds A LOT. With it often being the case that one month something is ‘cool’ and the next month it’s completely out of fashion we’ve come up with some jewellery gift ideas for teens this year that we think will remain fun and fashionable through winter and beyond to help you with your Christmas gift buying this year.

First of all we have the handmade and vintage trend that is definitely not going anywhere at the moment. This will always be in fashion in some way or another due to its ability to change, personalise and grow with individuals. Fun, quirky and unique looking items are highly desirable, with celebrities like Fearne Cotton fuelling the obsession and favouring vintage and the more unique jewellery over designer trends.

I love this cute Victorian looking mirror necklace for its olde worlde looking charm and fun appeal.

For sassy and cute items that teenage girls will love wearing as an everyday jewellery piece then take a look at the Punk Pussycat and Little Black Dress Pussycat necklaces which are cartoonish, kitsch and cool right now.

For the skaters out there who prefer edgy and urban jewellery items then trouser chains like this one or colourful chessboard design cuff bracelets are always a winner due to their simple designs and durability.

If you want to play it safe with some more traditional teenagers jewellery gift ideas then why not try Baby G watches, the classic ‘Boyfriend’ watches which are in fashion right now or something simple and elegant which will never lose its charm.

For the designer jewellery fans then a great gift would be a classic Juicy Couture charm bracelet with interchangeable charms, something that you can keep adding to on a regular basis.

A top tip that we can offer you when buying for teenagers is to try and think about what your son or daughter is into before you rush out and buy them a jewellery gift. Remember one item definitely doesn’t suit all in the jewellery world and tastes vary based on interests and individuality of each child. Try and do your research before you buy, talk to your child often and find out what they like and dislike to easily avoid disappointment on Christmas morning.

Have fun and happy Christmas gift shopping everyone!

]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:18:42 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/gothic-fashion-is-back-for-winter/

As someone who just loves to wear black on a daily basis I was thrilled to learn that gothic fashion is actually going to be huge this winter!

With everything from gothic skulls, black flowered headbands and spooky themed jewellery items being spotted on celebs and fashion savvy guys and girls it is a sure sign that this look is something we should all be wearing this season.

Companies like Silver Service Jewellery are proving to be popular with celebs like Fearne Cotton due to their range of silver and pearl jewellery featuring horns, keys, crosses and of course, spooky skulls. They have all been transformed into wearable and fashionable jewellery pieces and something that you can use for accessorising both a daytime look and evening wear. The trend has also filtered through into the high street and with Halloween on the way, stores are full to the brim with stunning, darkly themed gothic accessories, ripe for the picking!

Following on from the theme, whimsical, fairytale dresses and waterfall cardigans are also very much in fashion right now. Wear both of these fashions with some gorgeous black bots and you’ll have a look that features 3 major winter trends all in one go! What more could any fashion savvy individual ask for?!

]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:17:49 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/womens-winter-wardrobe-essentials/ Winter is most definitely here. The nights are getting colder and I’m already poised ready to switch on my heating at any given minute! One thing I do love about winter, despite the need for about five layers of clothing is that you get to wear some of my all time favourite fashion and accessories. Here’s a rundown of some top products that we think are essential women’s winter wardrobe items. Don’t forget to leave us a comment if you can think of something we’ve missed!

Hats

A good hat is an important winter wardrobe essential! Choose your favourite styles and keep warm and stay fashionable at the same time. With everything from cosy knitted bobble hats to the classic trilby being in fashion this season you can be creative in choosing a style that works for you.

Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans are a winter wardrobe essential this season. They are the height of fashion, especially when teamed with a pair of killer heels or boots. Choose from a wide range of colours; my own personal favourite being black skinny jeans as they are so much more flattering on the hips and bum. Always a good thing!

Boots

Winter just wouldn’t be bearable for me if it weren’t for a great pair of boots. Kitten heels, killer heels or the awesome comfort factor of a good pair of UGGS will keep your feet and ankles warm as you keep up with the winter trends.

Belts

Oversized jumpers and tops can be accessorised with a nice, chunky belt around your waist. Great for adding definition to your shape and brightening up an outfit! Choose a belt buckle with a bit of bling if you’re going out or something chunky and modern if you’re keeping it casual.

Coats

This season it is ALL about the military jackets. This is one trend that is still going strong and winter fashion is embracing it with almost every store (high-street and online) bringing out their own version of the military coats and jackets with detailed brass buttons and something to suit every budget.

Gloves and Scarves

Essential for really cold days! Choose from fingerless gloves to mittens and leather gloves depending on your personal preference. There will be a wide range of styles just starting to hit the stores about now so start checking out your favourites and stay ahead of the trends!

Jumpers and Cardigans

The waterfall cardigan and jumper is hot this season. Long, flowing designs are my absolute favourite to wear and I’m pleased to see that these are still in fashion. These look great in purples, browns and blacks when paired with a simple top and jeans. Great daytime wear!

Little Black Dress

The LBD is a classic winter wardrobe (and year round, let’s face it!) must have. Perfect for stepping out in style to the Christmas parties and great for dressing up or playing down depending on the occasion.

Jewellery

Jewellery is getting its sparkle back for the festive season. We’re seeing chunky cocktail rings adorned with jewels make an appearance and you can totally get away with this over the top style during the winter months. Oversized bangles and bracelets with cute delicate earrings are also a must have.

Bags

You will need an elegant clutch bag for the party season, choose something simple, vintage looking with elegant sparkles or sequin detailing. Large, oversized shoulder bags and across body bags remain on trend and practical for when you just want to keep your hands warm at all costs!

So there you have it, those are the Accesoryo basics for ensuring women’s winter wardrobe success. Now go out there and get styling it up!

]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:17:05 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/how-to-wear-winter-sunglasses/

Despite the fact that it is now winter and not all stores are stocking such an abundance of sunglasses, we here at Accessoryo know that sometimes you can still have a need for sunglasses, even in winter.

Just because the sun isn’t as hot anymore, it doesn’t mean that it has disappeared completely (even if this is rainy England!) so your eyes can actually still suffer and benefit from some extra protection.

You can get away with wearing sunglasses during the day, most days even in winter and they are especially useful when driving as the sun can be very dangerous even when it is not as bright as during the summer months and can cause dangerous accidents if sunglasses are not easily to hand.

Choose simple, classic frames with lighter lenses than those you would wear in the summer and you’ll find that it makes life much easier, especially if your eyes are sensitive to the light. Avoid the large, bug eyed sunglasses that were so popular in the summer and instead choose a flattering, delicate design.

There are a wide variety of cheap sunglasses and designer sunglasses out there with a style to suit everyone so find a pair you like and don’t be afraid to wear them in winter!

]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:16:19 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/headbands-and-hairstyles-for-winter/ Winter accessories are often thought to be hard to get right, but when you know the basics it is actually very simple to create a winter look that will keep you looking stylish and feeling snug through the colder months.

The winter headwear trends that are in fashion right now are headbands (yes, believe it or not, these are back with a vengeance and are cooler than ever!) corsages and hats in all shapes and sizes.

The kind of headbands that you will see appearing in high street stores this season are both the stretchy version; usually adorned with plenty of sequins, ruffles and feathers (which are all very much en vogue this winter!) and the more conventional ‘alice band’ with a cute corsage fitted at the side or centre. These add a touch of girlie glamour to a winter outfit and are also perfect for creating a wedding guest hair style or adding a feminine touch to any party outfit.

Vintage, hand made looking hats are very much in fashion right now so if you’re feeling creative you could always try making your own. If that all seems like a little too much hard work there are always plenty of high street and online store versions which will do the job nicely. The handmade look works well in winter as it conjures up vibes of homely, warm winter evenings by the fireside and has a rustic charm that you can be totally versatile with in a knitted hat or bobble hat style in warm autumnal colours.

The possibilities are endless and there are a great variety of headwear and hats available to choose from right now so why not start looking, experimenting and seeing which works best for you!

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:42:04 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/current-uk-high-street-trends/ It can be difficult keeping up with the current UK high street trends but here at Accesoryo we’re always here to help! Below you’ll find a list of the top clothing and accessory trends to hit the high street this season!

Bib Necklaces

These are all the rage right now and even Olivia from ‘The City’ has designed her own range. We all know how picky she is about fashion, so these must be hot! They are basically an oversized necklace combining fabric, jewels and semi precious stones in a bib like design. It’s trendier than it sounds, trust us!

Waterfall Cardigans

Waterfall cardigans, jumpers and hanky hem tops are all wearable fashion items right now that will suit just about any size and shape. They are great for winter wear and perfect for pairing with skinny jeans and boots to help create your key winter look!

Military

The military style is back with a bang! Celebrities are wearing it, we’re all wearing it and it is set to be THE look of the season. With everything from military jackets, to boots and shoes you can mix and match to create a look that you love.

Headbands

Handbands are in this season (think Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl and you can’t go wrong) great for glamming up a dull outfit and creating an easy, no fuss hairstyle.

That’s just a few of the key accessory trends to keep you going this winter, of course we encourage you as always to create and experiment with your own trends and your own individual sense of style!

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:40:57 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/3-essential-accessorising-tips-for-girls/ Some people seem to have that certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ when it comes to choosing the perfect accessories to match a chosen outfit. These lucky souls seem to breeze effortlessly past us in the street and as we catch sight of them, we notice that everything about their outfit just seems to work. Well if this has ever happened to you, then fear not! We at Accessoryo have some top accessorising tips that will help you to feel confident and cool about accessories and how to rock each and every look with ease.

Tip One: Fashion can be bought, style one must possess. (Edna Woolman Chase)

To quote a one time vogue editor, this is a key point in working any style. Remember, you can buy fashionable clothes and accessories but you need to be confident and comfortable with your own inner sense of style to truly rock any outfit. Think about the style that feels ‘right’ to you and your personality and be true to yourself. If you’re outgoing and quirky with a bubbly personality then maybe bold accessories, cocktail rings and statement jewellery pieces are for you. If you’re calm, serene and down to earth then try pastel colours and classic elegant styles with a vintage edge.

Tip 2: Dare to be different!

Just because you’ve been told that certain accessories are in fashion or the latest ‘must have’ it doesn’t always mean that you need to wear them exactly as the catwalk models do. Draw your inspiration from these sources but don’t forget that it’s OK to play around with accessories and create your own style. Try searching various online boutiques and second hand stores to find unique items that you love at budget friendly prices.

Tip 3: Pulling the outfit together

Once you’ve found your killer accessories it is time to start to assemble your desired look. Go with what feels right instinctively to you, look for colours and patters that compliment each other and pair them accordingly. Often a simple, one colour outfit can be completely brought to life by the perfect belt, shoes or jewellery piece, you don’t have to go overboard to be stylish!

Hopefully we’ve helped give you some accessorising tips. It’s not rocket science, just work with what you have and make sure you totally own that style! The rest will follow.

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:39:34 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/perfect-winter-boots-for-every-outfit/ Winter weather means that it is time to dig out the warm footwear and a selection of boots to keep your feet cozy and snug in the cold months ahead.

It can often be hard deciding which boots to buy though, so we have put together a handy guide to help make things a little easier for you!

Boots With Skinny Jeans

The best boots to wear with skinny jeans are longer boots, ankle boots can obviously also be worn but long boots or UGGS tend to work really well with skinny jeans and leggings as you can tuck them down inside the boot without them looking silly.

Boots with Short Skirts

Wear ankle boots or peep toe boots with a short skirt. If the weather gets really cold and you still want to wear a shorter length skirt then you could try wearing a pair of knee length boots.

Boots with Long Skirts

A good selection of long skirts are going to be a god send in winter, you can pair them with some lovely leather boots with a kitten heel to add just the right amount of height making a long skirt look fashionable and not drab.

It is always good to invest in a pair of boots in various styles. A good selection of boots for winter will see you through whatever the weather throws at you, from rain to snow and everything in-between! Have fun accessorising and working your own style!

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:38:29 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/accessorise-halloween-costume/ Halloween is just around the corner, so we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about how to accessorise your Halloween costume!

Halloween is one of those holidays that you really love and dress up, go to parties and have fun with the kids OR you really hate and spend the evening indoors, desperately trying to ignore the trick or treaters! Personally we love Halloween here at Accessoryo and we hope we can inspire you all with some simple Halloween accessorising tips.

Once you’ve chosen your outfit, think about finding accessories to match. Here’s a few of our ideas for a couple of the most popular Halloween costumes.

Witch

If you’re dressing up as a witch this Halloween then think about how you can give your costume an edge. Both kids and adults can team their costume with some stripy tights (which will look great and also help to keep your legs snug and warm) and a pair of black ankle boots. Adults can give the costume a sexy edge by wearing heels and kids can wear some cosy black boots or even a pair of black wellies if the weather is really wet!

Of course, you’ll also need a broomstick (these are cheap to buy from any good Halloween store) and you could consider painting your nails green or some other gruesome colour. Red, black, green or purple lipstick would also work well with this outfit.

Vampire

If you’re going as a Vampire this year then grab yourself a killer outfit, a cape and some fangs and accessorise up with blood red lipstick, red nail varnish and a waist cinching belt or corset for the adults. Boots or peep toed heels with sheer black tights for the adults would crank up the sex factor a bit and for the kiddies, warm black tights or black leggings would be perfect to keep those little legs snug.

Jewellery wise you can really go over the top with gothic accessories here. Think oversized cocktail rings with sparkling red or jet black stones and gothic necklaces with a vintage look and feel.

Devil

This is a great look for both sexes. Find your perfect Devil outfit and accessorise with a horned red headband, red body glitter, red or black lips and some dark eye shadow with plenty of eyeliner.

Ladies, you could even take a sassy red handbag or red clutch bag out with you to keep hold of all those essentials. Red or black gothic jewellery will also work well and help make the look truly devilish!

Of course there are many other Halloween costume ideas so pick your favourite, get creative, and have a very happy Halloween, from the Accessoryo team!
]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:37:36 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/3-accessorising-tips-for-guys/

Guys can be just as bothered about their appearance as girls, and it seems that there’s more and more pressure on men in the fashion world to keep up with the latest trends and style tips. Here at Accessoryo, we’ve put together a few accessorising tips for men that are simple and easy to follow to help keep you looking your best!

Comfort is Key

Whilst we aren’t necessarily suggesting that you all slob around in your joggers or PJ’s all day (however heavenly that may sound to some of you!) what we are saying is that you should always feel comfortable in what you are wearing. Look for accessories that give you the best of both worlds; comfort and style and go for what makes you feel good about yourself.

Key Pieces

All you really need for a great wardrobe are a few key style pieces that you can mix and match with various outfits to help brighten them up or keep them casual depending on the look you’re going for. A few stylish belts, a good jacket and a great pair of shoes are all a perfect place to start when you are thinking about updating your wardrobe. Look for accessories that are going to make a style statement that you can team with everyday clothes to turn a casual outfit into the perfect look for a night out.

Rock the Confidence!

Confidence is one of a guy’s biggest charms. Girls love guys who are comfortable in their own skin and not overly arrogant. Put together an outfit that makes you feel cool, confident and stylish and then rock the attitude to match! You will be surprised at just how much a couple of great men’s jewellery pieces and an on trend t-shirt or pair of designer jeans can affect the way you feel about your look. You don’t have to go overboard just keep it simple and work with what you’ve got!

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:36:06 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/top-5-travel-accessory-must-haves/ For those planning a getaway this season then Accessoryo has put together a handy guide for our top five products that we think everyone should have with them when they travel. Whether you’re planning to go abroad or holiday in the UK then take a look at some handy hints below!

Jewellery Roll for Safe Storage

A must have to keep all of your jewellery items safely tucked up in one place. They come in a wide variety of styles and are reasonably priced. Perfect for glam trips!

Stylish Suitcase

Forget boring suitcases! There are a great range of colourful, stylish and practical suitcases on the market right now so you have no excuse for not looking fabulously stylish as you travel.

Hand Luggage

Choose a stylish, oversized handbag, holdall, messenger bag or ‘man bag’ for your hand luggage so that you can fit in all those must have essentials. Especially useful for those travelling with kids in tow!

Makeup Bag

Take a large, quality makeup bag with you and fill with your favourite products. Ideal for keeping you looking your best whilst you are away! For the guys, take a trendy wash bag stocked with your toiletries and essentials.

Sunglasses

If you’re going abroad then these are a must have, even if it’s only to hide the enormously tired eyes as you get off the plane!

Hopefully you’ve found this helpful. Enjoy your holiday wherever the destination.

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:35:16 +0000 http://www.accessoryo.com/blog/clean-undies-for-dirty-girls/ These ever so cheeky and eternally quirky pants have come all the way from NYC. Mixing some New York street humour with bright, bold colours, these knickers are not for the shy and retiring. Turn a cheeky cheek to bland and boring undies and slip on a pair of ‘Boomin’ boy shorts. For lovers of witty underwear check out the cotton beaver briefs or if you’re feeling sweet why not try the delectable cupcake knickers. Originally created as an art project these mischievous pants are the perfect sassy accessory to keep you looking pert, pretty and playful. Head over to our underwear section now to have a gander and a giggle at our brand new range of Girly Pants.
]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:37:15 +0000