All I want for Christmas (last shout)

Whoah. It's been a hectic couple of weeks at Rok Chix mansions, with Christmas orders coming in thick and fast. I've been working my tiny fingers to the bone (okay, slight exaggeration, but I do have tiny little fingers...) and will most likely continue to do so for another week. Then it's Chriiiiiiiiiistmaaaas.
Talking of which, time is running out for the all-important Chrissie pressie shopping, so to make up for the past two blog-free weeks here are a few more gems of inspiration, should you still be looking for gift ideas. And to give credit where credit's due, some have come courtesy of Grazia (thanks ladies), which published a fab gift guide last week.
So first up, Barbie by Louboutin. I know. What a fabulous idea. Net-a-porter.com is selling the iconic dollies all togged up by Mr L, but the first one in the collection of three - the carburglar Barbie (think Emma Peel from The Avengers, all black and leather-clad) is already sold out. In other words, if this is the perfect present for someone you know, you're too late. But check in with the website for the next two Barbies (and for some new stock of the first, with any luck).
Next – and this one is in stock (well, at least it is while I write) – is something all girls need, a Womder Woman lunch box. I'd use this as a handbag, it's so cute. Buy it from amazon.co.uk for a recession-Christmas-friendly £7.79.
If it's cute you're after, you'll love the Bambi-themed hot water bottle from coxandcox.co.uk – perfect for a snuggle on a cold January night (£6 - bargain). And for the man in your life, a great, quirky stocking filler is this soldiers egg cup from pedlars.co.uk (£9.95).
Finally, what girl doesn't need a pair of cashmere slippers? After all that present hunting, you deserve a treat, and these are just perfect. Purple ballet pumps in 100 percent pure cashmere with little pink drawstrings and insoles (from oliverbonas.com, priced £59). To die for.
Of course there's still time to buy some of my own lovely baubles – last ordering day at rokchix.com is Saturday 19th. And don't worry about my fingers, they can rest up on Christmas Day.

All I want for Christmas #3

Now the temperature has dropped (well finally... I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever get a proper winter), it's time to dig out those big thick gloves and furry boots that you stashed at the back of your wardrobe last spring. And of course no Christmas would be complete without unwrapping the odd scarf or woolie hat under the tree on Christmas morning (it's what grannies are for, after all).
But this year, I'm dreaming of getting a pair of earmuffs. Yes, earmuffs. They keep your ears lovely and warm – and they don't give you nasty helmet hair (I mean, just how cold does it have to get before looking like a nit with stick-to-your-head hair is okay?).
This winter, Monsoon has a fab range of earmuffs which I'm rather loving a lot. Forget your expensive quilted sheepskin earmuffs (yes, I know Uggs are desirable, but have you seen the price of them???). These babies come in different colours and textures (including faux leopardskin) and cost just £16. I'm torn between the hearts and stripes earmuffs, the knitted Fairisle earmuffs and this rather luxurious looking lurex cross hatch tonal pair...

They're perfect for keeping your ears warm and toasty, especially during the obligatory Christmas Day post-lunch walk (and you won't look like a flat head afterwards). Check them out at http://www.monsoon.co.uk/icat/acczearmuffs Better than a boring old beanie any day.

All I want for Christmas #2

If you don't buy - or receive - bath and body products for Christmas, then you're breaking an ancient law. Well, what would Christmas be like without a basket of Body Shop smellies from your mum, or your gift of lavender lovelies that you bought for your gran? Right. It would be downright dismal.
There again, if you're fed up of the usual predictable bath salts and gimmicky soaps, there are loads of inspirational brands out there that aren't quite household names (well, not yet perhaps, and probably not in the UK). One of my favourites that falls into this category is Korres, a Greek line of natural beauty products that has its roots in Athens' first homeopathic pharmacy. But don't let that put you off.
Today, the name Korres conjures up gorgeous beauty concoctions containing ingredients such as wild rose, honey, yoghurt, pomegranate, plum and all manner of herbs. And if you're into the natural thing, Korres beauty products contain 95-100 percent naturally-sourced ingredients – which is about as natural as it gets unless you make your own.
And they've got something for everyone.
For your mum, try the Wild Rose Set, with wild rose cream, serum and rose mask. For your best mate who loves going abroad, the Holiday in Greece Kit is perfect (aloe and soapwort shampoo, basil lemon showergel, basil lemon body milk, guava showergel, guava body butter).
Your teenage niece would love the Vanilla Plum Little Pouch, with vanilla plum showergel, body butter and lip butter, and there's even something for your dad or the man in your life: the Men's Kit, which contains absinthe shave cream, marigold and ginseng aftershave balm, magnesium and wheat shampoo, juniper and rum shower gel and ruscus and chestnut eye cream (no, we don't know what ruscus is either). Well, makes a change from Old Spice.
And for yourself? With all that socialising on the cards you're almost definitely going to need the Party Survival Kit, with wild rose cream, evening primrose eye cream, guava body butter, guava showergel, milk proteins emulsion and refreshing gum.
So that's everyone smelling fabulous on Christmas Day sorted then. Result.

Jade Jagger shows her jewels

Fans of old rockers The Rolling Stones will be pleased to hear that daddy's little girl has done good. Well, with that pedigree, Jade Jagger could hardly be one of life's failures, could she? In fact, she's made a huge name for herself as a jewellery designer to the rich and famous.
And now she's opening her own shop in Notting Hill (where else?). Pop over to the opening tomorrow and you could rub shoulders with the coolest of London's cool – and you'll get a first-hand glimpse at JJ's fabulous jewels, all skulls and dazzling gems, gorgeous!
Of course if you don't live in London you can get an idea of what'll be on display in the shop by visiting JJ's website, jadejagger.co.uk. You can even get a look at Ms Jagger herself, nekkid as the day she was born, lying on a fabulous tropical beach.

Jade, honeybun, if this photo is anything to go by, you've certainly got the body to die for. Just don't start a trend with this nude business, okay? I mean, for some of us jewellery designers who don't look like you, it wouldn't do much for our sales and marketing.

What I'm trying to say is, don't expect anything similar on rokchix.com. For one thing, the pebbles on my local Brighton beachare far too uncomfortable to romp around on au naturel...

All I want for Christmas #1

With just under a calendar month left before Christmas Day (hurrah!), if you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet, you're probably thinking, what's the rush, you've got loads of time. But don't be fooled. The next few weeks will flash by and before you know oit there'll be just a couple of shopping days before the big event, and there you'll be, stressed out and panicking like mad over what to buy your nearest and dearest. Trust me, I've been there.
If it's inspiration you're after, I'm going to aim to put some your way over the next few weeks. And I won't just be suggesting my own gorgeous gifts (though if you want to impress someone with a gift of fabulous jewellery, you know where to come... oh okay then, rokchix.com). For starters, here's something I'm crazy in love with - it's a new website I've just found that's aimed squarely at pooch lovers. It's an American store, but it looks like they have a UK base because you can buy direct from the website - prices are displayed in pounds (they also have some UK stores that stock their products too).
Called Fuzzy Nation, the website has all manner of fab pooch-inspired gifts, including cuddly dog toys (but not like anything you've seen before, honest), bags, jewellery and other accessories.

Here's a taster, it's a purse in the shape of a pug (they call them wristlets), made in a floral material and an absolute bargain at £11.99. Totally bonkers and totally gorgeous. If you know someone who's mad about mutts, this is the place to shop. In fact, I feel a credit card moment coming on right now...

Got a suggestion for shopping inspiration? Email me at christine@rokchix.com and if I like it, I'll write about it...

And now Alicia Keys...

Flipping heck, I can't keep up with these celebrities turning their hands to jewellery design. Now it's Alicia Keys' turn to launch a jewellery collection in the US.
Working with jewellery designer Gisele Theriault, Alicia has come up with a collection of silver and gemstone pieces – and here's the interesting bit, they all feature inscriptions of poetry by the Japanese author Masaru Emoto (yes, I had to look him up).
Now Emoto is best known for his idea that, if you direct words or thoughts at water droplets as they turn to ice, the ice crystals will be either beautiful or ugly (depending on what you said or thought). Hmmm.
Who knows, perhaps if you write something beautiful on a piece of jewellery, the person who wears it will be (or feel) beautiful too? I think that's what Alicia's trying to get at, since she's reported to have said about her collection that their purpose is "to give people beautiful, unique pieces with messages that ignite them to find the best within".

You'll be able to see for yourself when the website selling Alicia's pieces – which will cost between $85 and $2,500 – goes live (for future reference, it's thebarbersdaughters.com).
I'm fascinated with the idea of putting words on jewellery myself – see my silver, gem and natural silk Positive Affirmations necklaces and bracelets on notonthehighstreet.com (bracelet pictured below).

And in 2010 there'll be more (including some particularly funky Valentine's Day jewels)  – news coming soon.

Brad and Ange get creative

Seems like only yesterday when I was talking about celebrities designing jewellery, specifically Courtney Cox and her husband David Arquette (who have designed a gorgeous butterfly range for Satya Jewelry in aid of a children's charity). And now, guess who's joined the party? Only Brad and Angelina, that's who.
It's not enough for the gorgeous twosome to have full-time acting careers and six kids (which itself must be challenging, even with the help of nannies-R-us). No, our Brangelina are strutting their stuff in Courtney and David's footsteps – then hiking it up a notch or two. Never a couple to be outdone by anyone, I imagine, Brad and Ange are working with world-famous posh jeweller Asprey to produce a collection of gold jewellery and silver accessories. And true to sometimes scary Ange style, the motif of the range is rumoured to be a snake (ha, take that butterfly-girl Courtney). Look out for the Pitt-Jolie pieces in your local Asprey store (London, New York, Beverley Hills, Tokyo and Dubai.... what, no Merthyr Tydfil?) this week.
You'll have to save your pennies if you want to buy into the Brangelina jewellery dream though. The cheapest piece in the range, so rumours have it, will be a $525 silver baby spoon. There again, it does have a snake-wrapped handle (hmm, way to prepare a baby for a world of weirdness, eh?).
But I'm being churlish. What I've seen of the range, I rather like - it's a bit quirky and a bit mad, just my type of thing. And net proceeds from the sales of the Brangelina range will go to a charity co-founded by Ange, called the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which raises funds to help children who have been the victims of war and natural disasters.
Fair enough then.

Hello Flash Trash

NEWS UPDATE: Rok Chix features on fab jewellery website myflashtrash.com, which is also home to cool designers such as Patricia Nicolas, Naomi Sheppard, vivi+vivi and Silver Service.
Run by model and actress Amber Atherton – whose motto is Let Jewellery Be Your Statement (amen to that, we say) – Flash Trash was set up in October 2008 to give unique jewellery designers a platform to display their creativity and sell their pieces online to savvy, fashion-forward consumers. All the jewellery on the website – just like on rokchix.com – is hand made, which is a conscious attempt to offer something more than the generic, mass-produced accessories found all over the high street.
As Amber says, 'After all, just because you want to be fashionable, doesn't mean you need to follow the herd.' 
Way to go, Amber. I coudn't have put it better myself.
Check out the Rok Chix range on myflashtrash.com.

Favourite jewellery designers... #4

Daphne Krinos may not be a name that trips off the tongue – well, in terms of jewellery designers, at least not as much as my previously featured fave designers (Shaun Leane, Stephen Webster and Solange Azagury-Partridge – all of whom are mentioned in the fashion mags on a regular basis). But Daphne is an outstanding jewellery designer who produces amazing, unique pieces of jewellery (check out her website, you'll see what I mean).
So what do I like about Daphne so much? For one, her style is instantly recognisable. I mean, nobody does it like Daphne. The way she works metal, sets gemstones and uses colour – well, it's an inspiration. And I love the type of gemstones she uses. One look at her work and you can see that she, like me, loves gemstones in their natural state, and often sets them in unconventional ways. Check out these amazing rings, made from oxidised silver (the oxidation process turns the metal black) and aquamarine crystals (one of my favourite types of gems, which I use a lot myself - for example, in this simple silver bangle with raw aquamarine crystal).

I don't know much about Daphne, other than what's written about her on her website. She was born in Athens but did her jewellery-making training here in the UK at Middlesex University. These days she works out of her studio in East London. Not very rock and roll, like the others I've written about, but fabulous nonetheless. A real gem.

November: month of the golden gems

I'm not sure I'm a fan of birthstones – you know, the concept that certain gemstones are lucky for you depending on which month you were born. But it's a nice idea.
November's birthstone is either golden topaz or citrine – don't ask me why there are two, but there are often different stones cited for different months by different sources. And the two gemstones for November are very similar in terms of colour and clarity. Put side by side, it might be quite tricky to tell them apart.
First, topaz. Here's what you need to know about this stone.
Topaz is found in a range of natural colours, from yellow to brown and even red, blue and colourless. It's mined in places like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Australia and California, with pink topaz found in Brazil, Pakistan and Russia, and light blue topaz in parts of the UK (yes, really!).
For those who are into the spiritual properties of gemstones (for want of a better phrase), topaz brings joy, abundance, good health and good fortune. Wearing topaz is said to make you feel confident. Meanwhile golden topaz (also called imperial topaz) is believed to help those who want to be famous (X Factor contestants, take note), as it adds charisma on top of an air of confidence.
Next up, citrine. This, essentially, is yellow quartz (and often mistaken for yellow topaz and vice versa).But 'citrine' sounds so much nicer, don't you think?
Citrine comes in a range of shades, from the most delicate, pale gold (my favourite) to deep, reddy brown (the most valuable), and is found in countries such as Africa, Brazil and Burma.
In terms of crystal therapy, citrine is incredibly popular as it's the stone of abundance, and is said to attract wealth and success (and don't we all want some of that?). Good for self-esteem and confidence, when worn it also makes you more creative. Not only that, but it promotes joy and positivity too (apparently, you can't feel depressed when wearing a piece of citrine, but don't quote me on that).
Not a bad month then, November.
Coming up some time next month: turquoise, the birthstone for December.

New Rok Chix website live at last!

Finally. The new Rok Chix website is live. It's been a long time in the making, but, as they say, the best things are worth waiting for.
So what's new then? Well, a sleek new look for one. Easier navigation, with a 'search by type' facility that lets you see all the necklaces/rings/bracelets/earrings on a single page (so you don't have to search through all the collections) – which is quite handy if you already know what particular type of jewellery you're looking for.
The collections are still there too, but with lots of fabulous new designs (and plenty of old favourites too). All completely handmade, all unique and all made in sterling silver with semi-precious gemstones and freshwater pearls.
The Dare collection features funky, chunky designs, while Glow is the place for pearl fans. Then there's Pure, chock full of designs inspired by the colour of the ocean (think aquamarine, turquoise...), and Sparkle, which is bursting with colour and dazzle. The Smitten collection – as its name implies – features seriously romantic pieces for brides and lovers, while Wild is more playful and funky. And last, but definitely not least, the Lush collection is just as its name suggests – full of gorgeous colour and texture.
But don't just take my word for it...

She's still got it!

Wow! With so many designer collections on the high street, a girl just doesn't know which way to turn. There's Kate Moss at Top Shop (her new range has just gone on sale), Stella McCartney's incredibly cute Gap Kids togs (and no, I'm not small enough to fit into any of them, more's the pity), more Giles Deacon at New Look, the one and only Jimmy Choo soon to launch at H&M... and more to come, by the looks of things
But the latest designer to launch a high-street collection who's really caught my eye is Zandra Rhodes – yes, she of the mad, bad pink hair and questionable make-up style. Zandra's collection for Marks & Spencer is gorge – all floaty and dead boho, featuring amazing prints (Zandra's speciality) and lovely loose, flowing lines (great for disguising lumps, bumps and too many big dinners). The two jumpsuits in her M&S collection could well see me revise my policy on wearing such things (I previously deemed them as utterly ridiculous, but now even I'm not so sure...). I am totally and completely in love with her halterneck jumpsuit. Makes me think of Bianca Jagger on a yacht, somewhere off the coast of the south of France. Utterly fabulous, in other words.
Well done M&S for bagging Zandra. Now when is someone going to persuade that other great English eccentric, Vivienne Westwood, to do a high-street collection?

Celebrity pooches (and Buddy Love)

If you've got those rapidly-descending-into-winter, middle-of-the-week blues, here's something to cheer you up. Check out the slideshow of celebrity pooches on the Glamour website.
Take pity on poor Tinkerbell, Paris Hilton's male chihuahua (that woman has done more to sully the reputation of chihuahuas than anyone else on the planet), swoon over Orlando Bloom and his rescued black labrador (awwww), squeal at the dinkiness of Kate Beckinsdale's puppy and gasp at the similarity between Mickey Rourke's new pooch and my own little Buddy Love – who, by the way, thinks he's the celebrity around here (well, er, I guess he is - he's got more friends than the rest of us put together).

Here he is, posing as usual, and looking rather cute. Looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, huh?
See, now doesn't that make you feel better?

Let's be friends

I'm not that keen on celebrities designing jewellery – well they already have a job, why be greedy? But even I couldn't scowl at this one.
Courtney Cox – the most famous Monica in the universe – and husband David Arquette have joined up with Satya Jewelry (yes, a US designer, hence the spelling) to produce a butterfly-inspired collection. I'm a huge fan of Satya Jewelry, I love their charming, simple designs with all their yoga and Eastern symbols and gorgeous gemstones. And this new collection is called the EB Collection (EB stands for epidermolysis bullosa, a serious but thankfully rare genetic condition that affects children's skin). 
The lovely, generous people at Satya donate 100 percent of the proceeds from their EB collection to the EB Medical Research Foundation, which is working to develop a cure for the condition. So why Courtney and David? Well, one of their friends has a little boy with EB, so they decided they had to help. And, with the help of the Satya designers, they designed the Butterfly motif, which, they say, is a symbol for the fragility of EB children's skin.
"I think becoming a parent redefines your understanding of love and compassion," says David (reported on Vogue.com). "Beyond spirituality, it is about being a good person and doing what you can to make a difference and make this world a better place.  It is important to do positive things in your life."
Yes, indeed. And as an added plus, the jewellery is beautiful. I particularly like the EB Cutout Silver Butterfly and Silver Topaz Necklace, which, at $38, is a steal. Buy the collection from the website (if you can bear to wait for overseas deliveries). Or, if you live in or near London, Satya has just opened a Covent Garden store in Henrietta Street. 
 
 

Viva El Dia de los Muertos

If you're suffering from Hallowe'en withdrawal – and facing the proposition of another 12 spook-free months before the next time you can freely wear your witch's hat without appearing like a mad old bat – there's still time to celebrate All Souls' Day. Yes, it's Mexico's Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos, incase you were wondering), celebrated on the first two days in November each year. The event – a public holiday in Mexico, lucky things – is traditionally one where families and friends get together to remember loved ones who have died. But to most people outside Latin America (and countries where lots of Latin Americans live, such as North America and Canada) it's probably best-known as the festival with the skulls. And yes, there are skulls aplenty, from edible, chocolate skulls to skull masks (worn during the celebrations) and spooky-looking skeleton dolls that adorn colourful altars to the dead.
No surprises for figuring out that the Day of the Dead hasn't caught on over here. Well, not yet, at least (judging by the increasing popularity of the American interpretation of Hallowe'en, it's probably only a matter of time). But it's a good excuse to wear some fab skull jewellery – like my Silver Skull Stud Earrings (see below) – and indulge in a drop or two of tequila this evening...

Here's a recipe for a classic margarita, courtesy of Thomasina Miers and Saturday's Times Food + Drink section. Thomasina recommends using the real deal, 100 per cent blue agave tequila (which she says won't leave you with a hangover... though surely it depends how much of the bottle you drink, right?) and, instead of using sugar syrup she suggests agave syrup as a sweetener. So here goes - it's really easy to make, and after one you'll probably feel a lot more, er, Mexican...

To make one margherita:
37.5ml tequila
12.5nk triple sec
20ml fresh lime juice
10ml agave syrup
Shake all the ingredients in a shaker containing plenty of ice, then pour over more ice in a fat tumbler (salted rim optional).
Salud, as they say south of the border.

Spooky jewels

The fast-approaching trick-or-treat-fest that is Hallowe'en has inspired me to think about designing some spooky jewels, but designers Zoe & Morgan - "luxury jewellery with a rock and roll edge" - have already beaten me to it... Check out their creepy crawly Love Bite ring (seen here on Vogue's website) and earrings, which are in the form of scary spiders... Eeeek.
And there are other gorgeous frights too, such as snakes, black hearts and of course the obligatory skulls. Fabulous.
Visit the Zoe & Morgan website and you can download their look book. Scary sights aside, I am in lust with their Foxy Diamond Eyes ring (hint hint...). No online catalogue or shopping available there yet, but apparently their e-shop is coming soon. Can't wait.

The cat in the (witch's) hat

Hallowe'en is just a few days away – not that anyone needs reminding, everyone's gone ghosties-and-ghoulies crazy this year, it seems – so to celebrate the oncoming date here are some photos of pets dressed up as witches, courtesy of some of the lovely (and possibly slightly crazy) members of the US website peoplepets.com.

First up is Finnegan, snapped last Hallowe'en and looking resplendant in her pointy hat and cape. And then there's Petey the little Yorkie, who's doing a rather wonderful impersonation of the Wicked Witch of the West, green face and all (I hope they only used food dye to turn his fur green...). Ah, only in America eh?
And before you ask, my own furry twosome, Buddy Love, the pooch, and Precious Jade, the kitty, have refused point blank to don any kind of outfit this Saturday.
Looks like it'll be up to me again then.
Check out the PeoplePets website for more spooky cat and dog dressing-up madness....

Calling all Mrs Robinsons

The must-have accessory du jour isn't, as you might think, an 'it' bag or strappy skyscraper heels. Oh no. The thing women want right now is a toyboy. Well, allegedly, that is.
Blame Courtney Cox, whose hit US TV show Cougar Town is all about older women getting it on with younger men, or Cathering Zeta-Jones, whose new movie, The Rebound, tells the tale of a 40-year-old woman falling in love with her babysitter (blimey - that's a real stretch for Catherine, being married to someone so much older than her in real life).
But age-gap relationships – where the woman is the sugar mom – are apparently all the rage, so much so that a new internet dating agency called Toy Boy Connection has just been launched here in the UK.
Says the website's founder Nick Burnham: "Nobody can deny there's been a real dating revolution over the last few years. Many of our female members are youthful, attractive, independent and single well into their 40s, 50s and even 60s. They certainly know what they want from life – and often this isn't a guy of similar age with a thinning hairline and thickening waistline."
But what of the guys who sign up to Nick's agency? "Our male members are expressly looking to date older women precisely because they seem as more self-assured, free-spirited and appealing than women their own age." Okay, I can buy it.
Being married to a younger man myself, I can see the attraction (okay, he's only three years younger but it's nice to daydream...).
Of course, toyboys are nothing new. Kate Moss has had a few – Pete Doherty was five years younger than her, plus her affair with former public schoolboy Jamie Burke saw her date someone 20 years her junior. Other so-called cougars include Helena Christensen (she dated Jack Huston, who was 14 years younger than her), Cameron Diaz (Justin Timerlake was eight years younger), Madonna (nine years older than Guy), Susan Sarandon (11 years older than husband Tim Robbins), Joan Collins (more than 30 years older than husband Percy Gibson – go Joan!) and Elizabeth Taylor (20 years older than one of her husbands, Larry Fortensky). Then of course there's Courtney Cox herself, who's seven years older than husband David Arquette (some people will go to any lengths to research a TV role, huh?) and probably the most envied cougar in current times, Demi Moore, whose married to 15-years-younger Ashton Kutcher.
As you'll notice, some of the above relationships are standing the test of time  – while others have already hit the rocks hard. Dr Lisa Matthewman, a chartered psychologist at the University of Westminster, says age-difference relationships can be successful, but it's rare. For older women especially, she says, it doesn't look good. "On the whole, the long-term future may not be that attractive for the younger man because his biological tendencies will inevitably take over and he'll want to find a partner of a similar age with whom he can have a family," Dr Matthewman explains.
But hey - so what if it doesn't last forever? At least you'll have had a whole lot of fun.

Diamonds by any other name

Okay so I know there's a recession going on (only too well, unfortunately) and that we're all cutting down on life's luxuries. But surely sometimes it's better to go without than to make do with cheap alternatives, especially when it comes to diamonds?
Honestly, I can do without designer clothes and shoes – especially when so many massive fashion names are designing high-street ranges for knock-down prices anyway. But when it comes to the ultimate gemstone – and let's face it, they really are a girl's best friend – I'm not so sure.
The reason I've brought this up is because I've just come across Brilliant Inc, which has two stores in London – one in Canary Wharf and the other just off Sloane Square (well, where else?). They sell a very specific type of jewellery – that is, jewellery made from 'simulated' (a posh word for fake) diamonds. These 'diamonds' are very precisely 'grown' in labs, and according to the company's website, gemmologists have declared them 'the finest diamond simulants ever'. Praise indeed.
These 'diamonds' are expertly cut and set in sterling silver, plus 9k, 14k and 18k gold. And yes, they look amazing, all glittery and glistening, just like the real thing. According to Vogue, it's 'nigh impossible' to tell them from real diamonds with the naked eye. They can even cut through glass, just like real diamonds, and, because they're not mined, they can be termed 'ethical'.
Oooh, perfect for the credit crunch, I thought initially. Their prices are hardly Primark-bargain level though, but for that level of craftsmanship they are still jaw-droppingly less expensive than real diamonds (£185 for a 1ct emerald-cut solitaire set in white gold – bargain!).
Then I thought, but why would you? I love diamonds as much as the next person – probably a lot more, actually. But I don't think I'd be tempted to buy a fake, not even an incredibly good one. And it got me thinking about why I like real gemstones so much. It's something about the fact that they came out of the earth. I mean, such beauty, such dazzling colours and textures, and all completely natural (well, in truth many natural gemstones are heat treated and even dyed to enhance their colours, but we all need a little bit of cosmetic enhancement from time to time, and at least they weren't grown in a lab).
In fact, raw diamonds are my real passion. Diamonds that haven't been cut or polished to within an inch of their lives. That's real beauty, if you ask me.
Someone did once tell me that I loved gemstones because I had a need to feel connected to the earth, and – despite the New Age blitheringness of that remark, I think he was dead right. Rok Chix jewellery only uses real gemstones – no glass, fakes or man-made crystals – many of which are raw and uncut. And, for me at least, there's obviously a deep-rooted reason why.
So as far as amazingly good 'simulants' go, credit crunch or no credit crunch, I think on this occasion I'll pass.

Nightie night

Seen the new Kate Moss pieces for TopShop yet? Well they're previewing on the TopShop website now, an on sale next Thursday. According to the blurb, the KM Christmas 09 collection brings 'an oriental opulence'. And for the first time, silk nightwear a la Mossy will be up for grabs. Picture the scene: a nation of Kate Moss fans getting up on a dull Monday morning wrapped in silk kimonos instead of tatty old, oversized t-shirts. Not bad, old girl.
There's even an interview with Kate on the website, where she spouts: "I love beautiful nightwear, it makes you feel great. Over the years I've collected millions of vintage slips, nighties, camis and bed jackets. Who doesn't want fab nightwear for Christmas?"
Who, indeed, Kate? I suspect 'millions' may be a slight exaggeration though (who knew our Kate had leanings towards hyperbole, huh?).
But hang on, she's probably right. Thinking of my own collection of frilly nighties, comfy t-shirts, sports bras and boxer shorts and all manner of other, occasionally bizarre, nightwear I've worn over the years, yes there have been many. So I thought I'd share some of my current faves...

1. First up, three sets of black v-neck, long-sleeved tops with matching long pants - all from Next, of course, with the most recent bought by my lovely mum-in-law last Christmas (plus points: the bottoms double as jogging bottoms, you can even go to PIlates in them, while the tops will do as daytime tops if you're a bit behind with your laundry...).
2. Then there are my all-time favourite cotton pyjamas, which are black with little pale pink polka dots. I have to admit I've worn these to death. And they were a bargain too, from Florence & Fred at Tesco (minus points: the pink dots have worn off in areas like the arse, knees and elbows... well, you get what you pay for huh?).
3. A giant black cotton kaftan, not sure where I got it, some hippy shop probably (plus points: it really is huge, so you can bloat out as much as you like in it, plus it can be worn on its own in summer or with a pair of those Next black pyjama bottoms – see point 1 – when it's colder).
4. Novelty red and white snowmen t-shirt-style pyjamas complete with fluffy snowman on the front of the top half, a present from my mum and only ever worn when I'm on my own (when Nick, my better half as they say, is away) or when I want to regress into my childhood (minus points: despite big points for comfort, these PJs look particularly revolting).
5. Bright red kimono dressing gown, complete with massive square sleeves and lots of embroidery on the back – hah, so I do have something in common with Kate after all (plus points: easy to throw on when the postman rings the doorbell before I've woken up properly).
   
6. Special mention goes to my bedsocks, probably the most luxurious item of nightwear I own. Two pairs, specifically – both cashmere, one baby pink and one raspberry pink. Amazing. Like having your feet gently caressed with baby duck feathers (not that I'd know, honest).

Favourite jewellery designers... #3

Third in my series of inspirational bauble-makers – in no particular order, you understand, I mean how on earth could I rank such an illustrious bunch – is the fabulous Solange Azagury-Partridge. Why do I adore her? Well take this for starters... "There comes a day in every woman's life when she wakes up wanting diamonds," says the Azagury-Patridge herself on her website. I couldn't have put it better myself.
Better still, Solange A-P has no formal jewellery training – hurrah! - which makes her see things in a very different light to others who have been through the degree-in-silversmithing mill. Her designs are delightfully quirky and sumptuous, they break all the rules and are all the more fabulous for it. I absolutely love her sense of humour too - one of my favourite SA-P pieces is her Heart of Gold and Bleeding Heart pendants, which are modelled on real hearts, complete with pumping veins and arteries.
Grazia is writing about her today, specifically her Hotlips ring – an enamelled silver ring in the shape of a puckered mouth. Lovely! Sienna Miller, Daisy Lowe, Elle MacPherson and Erin O'Connor are all fans of the Hotlips ring, which you can buy in a special RED edition that donates 50 percent of profits to an AIDS charity called Global Fund, for the princely sum of £980.
It reminds me of a charm I made for a necklace that used to be in the Rok Chix collection – I discontinued it last year to make room for new designs – that also was in the shape of lips and enamelled red on silver. Here's the photo...

If anyone wants one (the charm or the entire necklace) I can make to order – and for much less than £980 (sorry Solange).

India calling

I've never been to India. There, I've said it. Of course I'd love to see the country with all its amazing sights, sounds and smells, that goes without saying. But the real reason I'd go to India is to see the gemstones – the gem markets in Mumbai and Jaipur, the stone-studded jewellery in Hyderabad and Nellore, the diamond cutting in Trichur... I could go on.
The real reason I haven't gone – apart from my famous dislike of air travel – is because I know very well that I'd be bankrupt within minutes of arriving. So until I've enticed a rich banker to finance such a project (or, perhaps more realistically, made some spare cash of my own), I'll have to make do with the new exhibition at the V&A, Maharaja: The Splendour of the Royal Courts (on now until January 17).
Actually the phrase 'make do' is a huge understatement. Truth is, I can't wait to see this exhibition, with its promise of rich, exotic jewels not to mention elaborate saris, ceremonial swords and all sorts of lavish items that would have graced the royal courts in India between the 18th century and the middle of the 20th century. Huge rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds spring to mind.... (drool).
But what I've found surprising is that, given the amazing craftsmanship found in Indian jewellery, both past and present, some of that worn by Indian royalty at that time was commissioned by European jewellers such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. One that's showing in the exhibition and definitely not to be missed is the Patiala necklace (see it on Vogue's website), which apparently is one of the items in Cartier's largest single commission ever with its 2,930 diamonds, no less. Now that's what I call opulent.
If you spy me there, stuck tight to the glass of the display case and babbling, do me a favour and put me out of my misery!

What's the hold up?

What is it about a recession that makes everyone think more about sex? Perhaps because it's free (well, for a lot of people anyway)? Well Marie Claire is today reporting on a growing sexy trend for wearing – steel yourself, girls – stockings and hold-ups. We're told the folks at figleaves.com claim sales of stockings are up by 35 percent and suspender belts up by 40 percent. Hmmm. And, as usual, it's all down to those pesky celebrities, says Marie Claire. The likes of Lily Allen, Katie Perry and Rihanna have all been sporting risque underwear lately, and now we're all doing our best to emulate them. Well that's the theory anyway.
But stockings aren't for the faint-hearted. Number one - it's almost winter, and stockings aren't going to keep you warm in places you'd rather not get a blast of icy-cold wind. And number two – they can be a bit pricey. I found a lovely pair of silk stockings – black, seam-free, totally indulgent – on the Agent Provocateur website that retail for no less than £35! Lordy.
The good news is you can cheat. Chanel has a pair of tights that look like stockings, apparently (Lily A wore them during the famous Chanel farmyard fashion show recently). Time to start saving...

By Royal Appointment

I'm excited to announce that Rok Chix jewellery will soon be available at Daniel Stores in Windsor, a family-run department store that bears the 'By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen' seal, no less!
A charming, old-fashioned department store, Daniel is located right in the centre of Windsor, near the central rail station and the castle. And from mid-November it's launching a new jewellery department that will feature a range of pieces from the Rok Chix collections.
If you're in the area (or even on your way to Legoland...), drop in for a spot of retail therapy.
The internet is, of course, our main retail outlet, with the collections available on rokchix.com and notonthehighstreet.com, with a few items also available on jewellerytolove.com. But we also have a few bricks-and-mortar boutiques stocking Rok Chix jewellery, including:
Katherine Jayne in Newbury (21 Market Place, 01635 44000)
Eden Boutique in Bingley (150b Main Street, 01274 564850)
Polomo in Chiswick (5 Chiswick Common Road, 020 8995 1717)

Where Rok Chix leads, Grazia follows (at least, just this once...)

Hah! Just two weeks after I write about how Shaun Leane (aka Shauny) is one of my fave jewellery designers - see post dated Sep 29 – here he is being interviewed on today's Grazia Daily website. Check out the photo of him with statuesque supermod Erin O'Connor... Poor Shauny looks positively diddy next to her (but then she is about 10ft tall).
In the interview, Shauny waxes lyrical about his new Cherry Blossom collection for Astley Clarke (which, ahem, I also wrote about last month). 'It is,' he says, 'a beautiful collection inspired by one of Japan's oldest tales. It is believed that the flower is named after a beautiful goddess who sprinkle [sic] seeds from the clouds and [sic] would flourish into dazzling white and crimson flowers. The beauty of this story is captured in the collection.'
Whoah there, Shauny. Enouogh with the flower descriptions (no pun intended). But I must admit, the Cherry Blossom pieces are gorge!
'What type of woman will be wearing this Cherry Blossom line,' asks Grazia? 'Confident, graceful and chic,' replies Shauny.
Describes me perfectly, I thought.
Oh alright then, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Time to do our bit

Breast cancer awareness month is in full swing now, and there can't be many of us who haven't been affected by this disease in one way or another, whether that's personally or through a friend or family member. And today there are a couple of news stories in the papers about things you can buy to help raise cash for the breast cancer charities.
So to get you in the mood for spending, here's a quick selection of the offerings that promise to donate some of what you spend to a breast cancer charity, starting with the most luxurious (and, therefore, expensive) and ending with the little tokens almost all of us can afford:
GHD Limited Editing Pink hair straighteners set, £135 (feelunique.com)
Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne, £64 (jomalone.co.uk)
Bobbi Brown Glitter Lip Balm, £28 (bobbibrown.co.uk)
The White Company pale pink cashmere socks £25 (thewhitecompany.com)
Tweezerman Pink Ribbon slant tweezer, £20 (feelunique.com)
Warehouse big bow pink t-shirt, £20 (warehouse.co.uk)
Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection lipsticks, £20 (esteelauder.co.uk)
Jessica 'Pink Power' nail colours, £16.75 (feelunique.com)
Clinique Long-Last Glosswear PInk Ribbon charm, £15 (from Boots etc)
Wear It Pink Red Herring t-shirt, £10 (debenhams.com)
Marks & Spencer Breast Cancer Awareness Month knickers, £6 (marksandspencer.com)
Marks & Spencer BCAM cupcakes, £2.99 for four (marksandspencer.com)
And finally...
Breast Cancer Campaign Jigsaw bracelet, £2 (wearitpink.co.uk). Bargain.

Live to tweet or tweet to live?

I've just come across the most bonkers diet. Well, not a diet as such, but an online food diary kind of thing. You sign up to a website called tweetwhatyoueat.com, and every time you eat or drink something, you log it via your twitter account, either via your computer or mobile – and it all ends up on the TWYE website. Even better, you can enter the calories of what you eat (if you know what they are), or else the website's calorie database will fill in the calorie value for you.
And while your eat tweets don't actually appear on your twitter page (come on, nobody's that boring!), you can still snoop around lots of other people's food diaries on the TWYE website. Stephen Fry has apparently lost six stone in six months, and he's tweeting what he eats. And they say he's not the only celeb who's using the TWYE service (though I haven't come across any obvious celeb food diaries just yet).
Call me old-fashioned, but I can't say I'd want to share every morsel that passed my lips with the rest of the online community. But do check out the TWYE website because it makes for positively hilarious reading. When I took a look just now, a tweeter called Penny Buckwell had partaken of the following in the space of just nine minutes (or at least, that's what it looked like):
Salad, ham, cheese, two pieces of toast with choc spread, a packet of crisps, two slices of pizza and a glug of Udo's Oil (an omega fatty acid nutritional supplement – hah, now she's showing off). Total calories 1149.
Way to go, Penny.
Makes my day's scoffing so far seem positively saintly.

Favourite jewellery designers... #2

What can I say about Stephen Webster? The guy's an inspiration, a prince among jewellery designers. So you guessed it, I adore his work. It's his gothic-meets-rock-and-roll attitude that singles him out – think skulls, cobwebs, daggers, spikes and gemstones by the bucketload.
Celebs are constantly snapped wearing his jewels – Christina Aguilera, Johnny Depp, Madonna, J-Lo, Sharon Stone, Charlize Theron to name but a few (Christina is the face of his 2009 collection, lucky girl). And of course his designs are almost tailor-made for real-life rockers such as Axl Rose and Ozzy Osbourne (both of whom are fans, apparently).
Visit his website (currently still being redesigned) and drool over the gorgeous jewels that, if you're anything like me, you couldn't even get a mortgage for.
Meanwhile, Mr Webster had a lot of press this summer for designing a one-off ring that was in the shape of a mosquito – yes, you heard right – made from rhodium-plated white gold and glistening with white and black diamonds, with a ruby as the mosquito's body. The ring was famously donated for auction to benefit the charity Malaria No More, an organisation set up to reduce the number of malaria deaths (see, he's a nice guy too).
There were 300 limited-edition replica mosquito rings up for grabs on asos.com this month. Priced at just £50 each, there wasn't a diamond or smidge of white gold in sight, but nevertheless a chance to grab a piece of the glorious Stephen Webster legend. Sadly, it looks like they've sold out already (yeah, I missed out too). Doh.

There was a young lady from Kidderminster...

Today is National Poetry Day, as organised by The Poetry Society. So expect lots of people spouting rhyming couplets (though perhaps not limericks...) and the like on TV and radio during the course of the next 12 hours or so.
I've never written a poem myself, it's enough for me to string a coherent sentence together, let alone make it sensitive or funny or poignant or any of those things poetry encompasses. My best friend Julie writes some amazing poetry though – check out her poems online (she's also a photographer, incase you were wondering when you visit her website). Julie's poems really are sensitive, funny, poignant and all those things great poetry should be. Many of them have made me laugh out loud – and brought tears to my eyes.
But perhaps my favourite poem is one that I learned at school. It's very short (a plus!) and is by the American poet Ezra Pound, and it goes like this...
And the days are not long enough
And the nights are not long enough
And time slips by like a field mouse
Not shaking the grass
Kinda describes modern life (at least it does mine), despite having being written, oh I don't know, at least 50 years ago? I really like the idea of the field mouse, this tiny little thing, scurrying through all this long grass and nobody even noticing it.
Maybe it's time I had another go at coming over all poetic. Now what rhymes with 'Kidderminster'...?

Love at first bite

Well Hallowe'en may be weeks away, but Channel 4 has a treat for all you vampire addicts out there. Tonight sees the first episode of the US smash hit series True Blood – about vampires, of course, but these are particularly sexy blood-suckers by all accounts. If you haven't already caught the series on cable, I recommend you tune in tonight at 10pm.
To get you in the mood, here's my top 10 list of my favourite hunk vampires (wouldn't mind letting any of them have a bit of a nibble, would you?)...
1. Johnny Depp (Okay, he hasn't played a vampire yet, but he's rumoured to be doing just that in an upcoming adaptation of Dark Shadows. Bring it on!)
2. Stephen Moyer (True Blood – all brooding and smouldering)
3. Robert Pattinson (Twilight – oh If only I were 10 years younger)
4. Gary Oldman (Dracula - Coppola's 1992 version - be still my beating heart)
5. Brad Pitt (Interview with the Vampire - though Tom Cruise was much scarier)
6. David Boreanaz (Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer - who doesn't love Angel?)
7. Wesley Snipes (Blade/Blade II/Blade Triology - seriously fit, but technically only half vamp)
8. Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000 - rubbish movie, nice eye candy though)
9. Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys - the only blonde vampire you wouldn't mind taking a bite)
10. Leslie Nielsen (Dracula: Dead and Loving It - well, you've got to have a laugh too, haven't you?)

Puppy love

Well then, animal prints are set to be huge (again!) this winter. Tell me something I don't know. I mean, when was the last time leopardskin or zebraskin wasn't in every fashion shop in existence? Personally I don't like it, makes you look like you've got a horrible rash or skin disease (at least, in the case of some leopardskin-print items I've seen – I mean, leopardskin-print leggings, it's just not right).
But no, this year we're not just going to be treated to the usual animal skin prints (and without getting my animal-rights head on here, I truly believe they look better on their original owners...). This year, we're also going to be buying clothes with prints of whole animals on them. Leopards, tigers, bears, squirrels, whales or whatever. Take a look at this eagle-print jumper from Dotty P, yours for a mere £35.
Doesn't matter how cheap it is, you won't catch me in one. The whole thing smacks of snowmen and cartoon character jumpers, if you ask me.

But it got me thinking. So here for your delectation is a little gem – not an animal on a jumper but an animal in a jumper. On the left here is my own little rascal, Buddy Love, posing his heart out in a neighbour's doggy-coat design.
Let me tell you a bit about Buddy Love. He's just over two years old, and a cross between a chihuahua and a teacup pomeranian (they call the cross breed a 'pomchi'... no, seriously, Sandra Bullock has one!). He's teeny, as you can probably tell. But from the day we brought him home (he was eight weeks old, and half the size of our cat then), he immediately took over and confirmed his status as boss of all of us.
On the day this photo was taken, he was quite obliging, because he really doesn't like wearing doggy clothes (no, he's not one of those simpering Paris Hilton-type pooches, he's a real rough-and-tumble dog, despite his size).
So there you have it. One of many tales of Buddy Love that I'll be boring you stiff with (especially when I can't be bothered to find anything more interesting to blather on about...).

The return of the corset

When Madonna first wore that pointy-boobed corset during her 1993 Blond Ambition tour, little did she probably realise that she cemented the image in most of our minds (yes, girls too!) forever. The conical-bra corset was, of course, designed by France's own national treasure, Jean-Paul Gaultier, whose name – thanks, largely, to Madonna – will go down in history linked to, er, pointy boobs.
And now the 'rocket-cone bra' corset is back. JPG himself has put them back on the catwalk during his Paris Fashion Week show, where he revealed his spring/summer 2010 collection. Here's a snap of said corset, as featured in today's Telegraph (it also features a reminder of what Madonna looked like in hers back in the day). Hmm, the last thing that model needs is a corset, mind you (sorry chuck, nothing personal you understand). For a more detailed look at what JPG's show revealed, check out the Grazia Daily website.
The return of the corset just confirms that the fashion industry's affair with the bondage/fetish look is still going strong (gladiator sandals – oh puurlease, all those leather straps and buckles, more like dominatrix than gladiator... and as for 'bandage' dresses, well I rest my case).
But will we be back in corsets – pointy boobed or not – by next spring? Ah, only time (and ongoing waist expansion) will tell.

A little bit of a legend

Ah, to have the dosh to buy designer labels... Well actually more of us can afford them these days, with a growing list of fashion heavyweights producing high-street-priced ranges for high-street stores (Jil Sander for Uniqlo and Christopher Kane for Top Shop being two of the most recent). And not bad they are too, if you feel the need to buy into all that designer label stuff.
Me, I'm still waiting for Vivienne Westwood to hook up with a shopping-centre big name. But then she is busy trying to save the environment at the moment (well, somebody's got to do it). So until we get a VW range at New Look or H&M (or, knowing Vivienne, she'll probably go for an outlet like George at Asda or Tesco... she's still a punkette at heart after all), we'll all have to satisfy ourselves with her rather fabulous jewellery which, if you go for the silver range, is surprisingly affordable. Check out her lovely shiny things on my-wardrobe.com.
Alternatively, you can get some delicious Vivienne Westwood shoes for less than £100 (okay, they are the rubber ones - but nonetheless still worth lusting after). Here they are on asos.com. The peep-toe sling-backs with the big hearts are particularly fabulous, in my opinion (though I also have a hankering for the three-strap flats).
Nice to know you don't always have to be filthy rich to own a little bit of a living legend, eh?

To tan or not to tan?

That indeed is the question. The issue of skin colouring has been on my mind this last day or two, since I read that the Welsh Assembly has proposed a ban on sunbeds for the under 18s (wait a minute, why just the young 'uns, boyos?). And now that the real sun's rays are getting weaker (though you wouldn't believe it here in Brighton, I saw a sunbather on the beach in a bikini just TWO days ago...), many people will be reaching for the bottle. The fake tan bottle, that is.
Now I gave up hope of ever having even the most delicately sun-kissed skin some years ago (I'm an SPF45 girl, even on a cloudy day in summer and fake tan just doesn't work on me... it just looks so, well, fake). But admittedly, bottle tanning is big business. So before you take the plunge and go hog wild with the St Tropez, check out this link to the worst celebrity fake tans on the Entertainment Wise website.
There are some real shockers there, with Jordan (is she Jordan again now, or still Katie Price, I can't keep up?), Lindsay Lohan, Christine Aguilera and Jessica Simpson competing for the Most Highly Tango'd crown. Some, on the other hand, don't look too bad. You be the judge.
All I'm saying here is perhaps it's time we all accepted our pastiness (well, the naturally pasty among us, that is). Embrace that deathly-white glow. And if you are lucky enough to have olive, brown or black skin, just think – the old 'to tan or not tan' issue is one less thing you have to worry about.

Drew Barrymore Appreciation Society

What is it about Drew Barrymore? I just love the girl, can't get enough of her (not in a lady-love kind of way, don't be silly). Some of my favourite films are Drew Barrymore movies. Let's see...

My top 10 Drew movies (partly compiled in relation to number of viewings)

1. The Wedding Singer

2. Never Been Kissed

3. 50 First Dates

4. ET

5. Donnie Darko

6. Ever After

7. Scream (the first one)

8. He's Just Not That Into You

9. Charlie's Angels (original and sequel get equal ranking)

10. Home Fries (did anyone else ever see that one?)

There's just something about Drew – she's got that girl-next-door ease with a dollop of quirkiness and just the right amount of glamour. She always looks fabulous (despite what the fashion mags sometimes rather unkindly say). And I love the way she has never got too skinny – she totally owns her curves and hasn't ever given them up for some dozy film role.
I dunno, but she seems lovely and straightforward, not at all snooty or unavailable, which is amazing really, considering the way she grew up.
Drew, if you ever fancy a Rok Chix bauble or two, just give me a shout.
(Meanwhile, here she is looking amazing in a tight leather dress on the Grazia website...)

Favourite jewellery designers... #1

How many jewellery designers does it take to influence another jewellery designer? Well in my case, quite a lot actually. First there were my teachers at Central St Martin's (the lovely Linda Robertson and Liz Olver among them). Then there are those who I learned from (and continue to do so) just by looking - and of these I admit there are many.
First up on my list (but not necessarily number one in terms of preference) is Mr Shaun Leane, Shauny I like to call him (no, I've never met him or even had any connection with him, incase you were wondering...).
Why Shauny first? Well because he has a new collection out, available from his own website and for the first time via the Astley Clarke website (both drool-making experiences, to be sure). Best known for his spiky, punctured hearts (to die for) and horn-like bangles (ditto), Shauny is this year's UK Jewellery Designer of the Year. Ta ra.
The new collection is called Cherry Blossom and just as delicious as his previous work. There are blossom rings, pendants and earrings, all of which are much more delicate than the spiky hearts – but still with an edge. Yum. Love you Shauny.
Of course, he's not the first (nor will he be the last) to use flowers as inspiration for fine jewellery. My own Flower Power pieces for notonthehighstreet.com (with some soon to be launched on rokchix.com) are equally blossom-influenced. And quite cute too, even if I do say so myself!

Wherefore art thou Siouxie?

A story from the Grazia Daily website caught my eye today... Punk is back, apparently. At fashion designer John Richmond's show at Milan Fashion Week, the inspiration for the models' look was – in the words of MAC make-up artist Sharon Dowsett – 'Suzy Sue [sic] but expensive, Park Avenue, posh punk.'
Has it been that long since punk was kicked off the main stage that nobody remembers the magnificent Siouxie Sioux any more? Suzy Sue, indeed.
For those of you who don't remember her (or how to spell her name even), here's a YouTube reminder of what Siouxie and the Banshees looked and sounded like.
Considered to be one of the most influential British female singers in pop history, Siouxie has been praised the likes of PJ Harvey, Beth Ditto (of Gossip fame) and Garbage. The Banshees have been sampled and covered by many, including Tricky, Massive Attack, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and LCD Soundsystem.
Siouxie certainly inspired a generation of punkettes in the hair and make-up department too (I was one of them and often told I looked like her – there again, anyone with the right hair and make-up looked like her: raven black, backcombed-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life hair, geisha-white skin and lashings of thick, black eyeliner that went right into the inner corners of the eye and swept out to the outer corners in big, pointy wings. Amy Winehouse, eat your heart out). Ah, the nostalgia.
So back to today's take on Siouxie's look. 'She's grown up now, she dated the boys in the band but now she owns the record company,' spouts Sharon Dowsett. So a watered-down version then, in other words. As for the hair at the John Richmond show: 'tight on the sides with the top middle section elongated with a Mohawk nod' says Grazia.
Call me an old punk fogey if you like, but give me the real thing any day.

How green is my nail polish?

Apparently we'll all be doing it this winter – going green, that is. Well, our nails will be at least. Celebs are already reportedly fighting each other for a position near the top of the waiting list for Chanel's limited-edition Jade nail varnish (which means it's highly unlikely any of the rest of us will get even a daub of it).
Lily Allen, for one, has been snapped wearing it. And I must say, though the idea of green nail varnish doesn't exactly get my juices flowing, it did look rather good. Perhaps that's because I have a huge passion for green jade (jade, incase you didn't know, comes in lots of different colours, the most precious of which is a gorgeous green variety called Imperial jade - very rare now, hard to get hold of, and even if you did manage to track some down you'd have to mortgage your house to pay for it).
Anyway, back to nail polish. It may well be satisfying to wear the Chanel shade, but for a paltry £2.95 you can get your hands on Barry M's rather lovely Mint Green nail polish. Not that I can wear nail polish mind you, making jewellery – with all the sanding and filing that entails – is death for well-groomed nails.
So instead I'll be wearing my Silver Beaten Hoops with Uncut Apatite Nugget earrings (okay, okay, they're not jade, but they're a to-die-for shade of electric blue-green...). I'm not sure Coco would have approved, with them not being pearls and all that, but what the hell...

Ice cream, you scream

Sick to death of fashion week already? Me too. If I read another show report by some gushing celebrity or have to look at any more pictures of who's got seats in the front row, I'll go insane. And it's only day four.
So naturally my thoughts have turned to food (preferably the most fattening type of food, sort of anti-fashion food). And I know it's not quite the right time of year for it, but I have a hankering for an ice cream. Not just any old ice cream, mind you, but an ice cream made by a renegade bunch called The Icecreamists. If you can get down to Selfridges in London before November 1st, you can sample their subversive chilled desserts and bonkers cocktails yourself.
The Chocolate Volcano sounds right up my street: '... our eye-wateringly calorific 'Diet Destroyer'. This promiscuous little number has led to one-night stands, life-long romances, affairs and even marriage proposals. So breathtakingly outrageous and immoral, it could be banned by the Obscenity Laws. Submit to X-rated molten Belgian chocolate sauce poured onto a mountain of Ecuadorean Dark Chocolate Ice Cream and served with fresh seasonal fruit.' Heaven. Or how about a Champagne Ice Lolly, 'the most decadent ice lolly on earth'?
Beats a bunch of lanky models wearing clothes no one I know can afford anyway any day.

Shoulder to shoulder

Eeek, I think I'm having an 80s flashback. Now that leggings are not just a fashion throwback but a staple part of our wardrobes (again), another mad, bad 80s trend has been chucked at the great shopping British public. Dig out your leisure pass, because you're going to need Olympic pool-sized shoulders to look the part this autumn/winter. Or you could cheat by going somewhere you once said you'd rather die than revisit (well, I did, anyway) and splurge on an item of clothing with massive shoulder pads, like this barmy tuxedo jacket from Balmain, as seen on the Elle magazine website.
According to MC, shoulder padded jackets/tops/dresses/coats will ensure that your 'fashion credentials shine'. Apparently, the I've-been-working-on-a-building-site-all-summer look is the silhouette to be seen in right now. Hmm, I remember it the first time around and while it looked rather fabulous to me back then, especially when sported by the cast of Dynasty (Joan Collins always had a nifty line in shoulder-padded sparkly frocks, if I remember rightly), I'm not so sure this is a trend I'm going to jump into quite so willingly again. I mean, it's okay if you're pushing six foot tall with legs up to your armpits, but if you're just nudging 5ft 3in, it can look slightly comical. Okay, scratch 'slightly'.
So while I'm loving the sounds of the Human League and Depeche Mode floating through the airwaves once again, this is one 80s child who's going to stay firmly in the noughties. Ripped jeans being the exception, of course.

Studs a go-go

It's all eyes on TopShop today, as the fash mag girls get in a right old lather over the store's new designer collection from Christopher Kane (though hang on, there is something else happening... oh yes, it's the start of London Fashion Week!).
The new emperor of British design talent, Christopher has come up with a pretty nifty collection with lots of black, lots of metal studs (punctures, I think they call them these days) and even some gem-type studs too. We like.
Reminds me of the days when I used to add my own studs to shoes, boots, leather and denim jackets. I would buy the metal studs from a shop in Camden Market (don't know if it's still there any more, it was just by the bridge at Camden Lock). Anyway, you bought the individual studs (they came in various sizes, mostly round spiky and square spiky), then you'd have to make holes in whatever you were adding them to, so you could poke the back part of the stud through. Of course, the bit that went through always rubbed on your skin/clothes underneath. But what's a bit of chafing in the name of fashion, eh? Actually it wasn't really fashion back then. It was subversion.
I still regret giving my self-cutomised studded leather jacket (real biker style) to an American friend, who thought it was pretty cool. Well it was. A mass of studs on the collar and all down the back. Fab.
Christopher Kane, eat your heart out.

Culture vulture

Now that the nights are drawing in and there's a distinct 'bite' in the air, spending hours at the beach (sorry, don't want to make you jealous or anything) is becoming increasingly less attractive. Time to look for more indoor pursuits, preferably those that aren't going to cost a fortune (and, er, for all you singles out there, those that don't have to involve a partner...).
If you're a slave to fashion and jewellery, you could do worse than indulging your passion at the same time as gaining a few culture credits. Thanks to an article in The Times on legendary fashion photographer Nick Knight, I was reminded that there are some amazing museums around the country that house fashion-inspired exhibits (scroll down to the end of the article for Ten Fashion Collections to Die For). One is even in my home town of Brighton. Hurrah!
It also reminded me there's another great reason to visit Bath – check out this enlightening exhibition at the Fashion Museum featuring the designs of legendary 70s fashion meister, Bill Gibb. Out of this world just doesn't come close.
Other museums to glean some inspiration from include the totally amazing V&A, home to a truly fantastic jewellery collection (one that has bedazzled yours truly over the years), the Museum of London, and, for all of you north of Watford, Hat Works (a hat museum, duh) in Stockport and the National Museum of Costume in Dumfries.
Now that should keep you busy.

Swap shop

Move over Noel Edmonds, there's a new kind of swap shop in town. Well it's not that new – clothes swapping parties (or 'swishing' parties, as the fashion mags like to call them) have been around since everyone started having less cash (well, this recession around, at least). There are clothes swapping websites, where you can get rid of your old tat and pick up someone else's, and some enterprising nightclub promoters have even held swishing clubs.
But now, the swish has gone national, or rather gone on the road.
The Big Swish is billed as the UK's first clothes swapping roadshow. They're promising designers, stylists, models, make-overs, skin analysis... even burlesque performances (if that's your kind of thing). 

One thing puts me off though, and that's one of the raffle prizes (each £5 entry ticket is automatically entered): a signed pair of skinny jeans worn by Russell Brand. Euuuwwww!
Still, it might satisfying your cravings for 'new' clothes, shoes and accessories until your next paycheck – and it could give you that smug, I'm-helping-the-environment glow.
The roadshow goes around the UK – tomorrow the first swish is in Leeds (they're not coming to my home town, Brighton, though.... grrrr!).

In praise of ugly shoes...

Like most women I'm addicted to shoes (but not quite as much as I'm addicted to jewellery). But I'm not really your Jimmy Choo, Gina or Manolo kind of girl. I'm an ugly shoe addict. The clumpier the better. Well I can't do heels – having such teeny feet makes me fall over when I wear them (have you seen the size of most models' feet? I rest my case).
I've even read Camilla Morton's book 'How to Walk in High Heels' but still can't manage anything higher than ballet flats.
Then I saw something that threw my mind into total confusion. A pair of shoes so ugly, even I couldn't wear them. They're called studded fan shoes. And they're by Prada. Here they are on a Times Picture Gallery of grungy accessories.
The more I look at them, the more I can't decide whether I love or loathe them. But then the £1,020 price tag (not to mention the mega tall heels) means I won't be splashing out on a pair, at least not during this lifetime.
It's back to the Birkenstocks then, I'm afraid...

Diamonds (or the next best thing)

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, so the song says. Well, especially when they're the Hope diamond... Feast your eyes on this baby, via Vogue's website.
The Hope diamond is a mammoth 45.52 carat blue diamond that was donated to America's famous Smithsonian museum by posh jeweller Harry Winston. Why's it in the news now? Well it's coming up to 50 years since Harry gave it away and to celebrate he's apparently going to re-set it into a new design. Hmm, I don't think I'd like that job, imagine what would happen if you dropped it?
Much more accessible – and, if you ask me, equally stunning – is my Rok Chix Giant clear quartz crystal nugget and silver ring (or, if you like the look of the blue diamond, my Rok Chix Aqua chalcedony ring). And you won't have to break into the Smithsonian to get your hands on them, either...

Hell for leather

Celebrities, they're all at it, apparently. Wearing leather jackets, that is (a sign the season has changed, for sure). Let's face it, biker chic just never goes out of style and is de rigeur for rock chicks everywhere.
Check out the snaps of celebs wearing their leathers on the Marie Claire website...
I particularly like Pixie Geldof's grungy style (there again, like her mum, she looks fabulous in just about anything). There are some pretty awful looks in there too, if you can be bothered to scroll through the 25 or so celebrity pics (Victoria Beckham, I'm talking about you, what were you thinking?).
Of course there are two ways you can go with leather jackets in terms of jewellery accessorising. A rough, battered, biker-style jacket looks equally good with heavy silver chains or dainty little jewels. But one thing you really must have to complete the look is a chunky ring – preferably silver with a black-as-night gemstone. Like my faceted black agate and silver ring (below), for example.

All hail the master of Russian bling

September 9th 2009 (09.09.09 no less) was a big day for fans of sparkly things.
It was the day when the fabulous Fabergé was relaunched. Carl Fabergé was the legendary Russian jeweller who was goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court, and is best remembered for his magnificent, bejewelled, precious eggs (no relation to the Cadbury's Creme variety, sorry).
Two days ago, the Fabergé brand was relaunched, and the mother of all sparkly things website went live. Double hurrah.
If you like ornate jewellery with lots of sparkles and twinkly little gems, feast your eyes – though the website itself may irritate the hell out of you as you have to sit through endless animations (very pretty but annoyingly slow) before you get to the good stuff. The jewellery. Fabulous is too weak a word to describe it. I almost ruined my keyboard by drooling all over it...
If you don't have time to wait around for lots of lovely line drawings and paper peeling, there are a couple of examples on this Grazia Daily page for you to gaze lovingly upon (but if you're anything like me, you'll want to see the whole collection).

The workmanship that goes into these amazing creation is breathtaking – take it from me. For my own gem-laden creations, however, I prefer a simpler, dare I say more wearable approach (and one that won't set you back £26,000 either, which is the least you can expect to spend on a Fabergé piece...). Probably one of my most bejewelled designs is the Rok Chix Starburst necklace (below).

     

Can't wait for SATC Movie 2

Well if the photos from the set of the second Sex And The City movie are anything to go by, it'll be a lot more fun than the first big-screen outing for our girls (too much weeping and wailing for my liking). Apparently the movie has flashbacks to the 80s, when the fabulous foursome first met – cue Charlotte with a fringe (yes, really, and not a good one at that), Miranda with a Purdey pudding-bowl haircut (hilarious, truly) and Samantha... well Samantha is a glorious rock chick. I approve (naturally).
Carrie, on the other hand, is doing her best Madonna 'Like A Virgin' impression, complete with ra-ra skirt, corset, lacy leggings and heaps of jewellery. Could this signal a comeback for the crucifix as fashion statement (hands up if you remember them)?
Check out photos of the girls in full 80s fashion faux pas on the Marie Claire website.
Meanwhile, here are a couple of Rok Chix baubles that you might like to match your fingerless lacy gloves and leg warmers...

Amethyst and large silver cross necklace










 Large silver cross on long haematite bead necklace

When winter looks this good, I say bring it on...

We may be having a mini September heatwave (at least we are here in Brighton), but personally I can't wait to ditch my flimsy summer wardrobe – especially after having seen some of the fabulous winter fashions on offer.
Check out this gorge Deep Purple Neck Tie Coat from none other than Miss Selfridge. Yum.
And you know what's going to look amazing with it? My Rok Chix Amethyst Stud Earrings (below), which are part of my collection for notonthehighstreet.com (if you haven't discovered this cool shopping site yet, take a long look...).

Welcome back, Glam Rock – we never stopped loving you!

According to the fashion mags, Glam Rock is set to be a major trend this autumn. Hurrah.
So dig out your oversized t-shirts, complete with sequinned logos, and layer over last year's leggings (well, there is a recession out there you know). Add killer heels for that extra glam touch
Skulls will be back in force, I hear, so expect lots of gothic-inspired jewellery (again, hurrah).
My Silver Skull Stud earrings (below) are just perfect if you want to buy into this trend – but don't want to look like a complete fashion victim (it's a fine line, eh?). 

Rok on, as they say...