The Marni brooch, £165 we're soooo putting this one straight on our Christmas list….
We met up with Adorn London's lovely founder Juliet Hutton Squire recently and were bowled over by her enthusiasm and knowledge for all things jewellery orientated. Being a trained goldsmith and an ex jewellery buyer (she still consults for some top retailers) she knows her stuff. We love an expert at TWR and so we press ganged her into answering some jewellery questions we've been fretting about.
TWR We've got jewellery boxes full of stuff we've both acquired over time, but no longer like very much, what can we do to revive our look?
JHS One of my passions is to show the versatility of jewellery. Stacking and layering underpins most of the jewellery trends we are seeing this season and is a strong contender going forward. There is also a move to wear jewellery that has meaning and evokes sentiment – so, no better time to relook at your jewellery box, there will no doubt be pieces there that inspire memories of a past rendezvous or special event.
There are two ways of looking at this, Resourceful Revival- breathing new life into old, dated pieces, Investment Revival- reviving through the purchase of a few key pieces that would complement what you already have.
Resourceful Revival:
Cluster single pendants onto one necklace to make a cluster charm necklace.
Create a charm bracelet out of old pendants, rings and sentimental finds.
Stack your bangles and bracelets.
Have an old piece remodelled into something new – we all have those pieces in our jewellery wardrobe that we just would never wear – your metal can be recycled and your stones reset into something you could wear every day.
Don't be afraid of mixing precious metals.
Mix costume and real.
Restring your pearls. Pearl strands often date – make a single strand necklace into a triple strand bracelet or make a triple strand pearl necklace into a long necklace that you can wind around your neck or knot.
Investment Revival: Investing in a few key pieces could breathe new life into your jewellery wardrobe. This season, I would consider the following:
Stack rings.They add a colour injection and can also introduce a new metal (Annoushka Ducas, Astley Clarke)
A charm bracelet or grown-up friendship bracelet could add the modern edge to your own bracelet collection and provide a platform for you to add charms and trinkets over time (Links of London, Pandora, Monica Vinader, Amanda Vogel).
A statement cocktail ring in a neutral palette that could be worn with a number of different outfits (Pippa Small, Monica Vinader, Annoushka Ducas, Pomellato, Natalie Dissel, Selim Mouzannar, Erika Pena).
A long, chunky, chain necklace that can be worn long or doubled up (Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lee Angel, Leblas, Laura Bailey for Made UK).
Buy one new statement piece each season – having something new and fashionable helps us feel that we are on trend and up-to-date.
Cath Kidston's scotty brooch £22
TWR What can we do with those old brooches we've inherited from aunts/grannies/other ancients… is there a way to wear them and be modern?
JHS Pin to a fabric belt on a nipped-in-at-the-waist dress.
Pin to the bow of a pussy bow blouse.
Cluster on a clutch.
Pin to a neck scarf.
Pin to a winter cloche or beanie.
You can watch my You Tube clip to see practical ways to update your look with a brooch. We have regular features on Adorn London suggesting ways to wear a key item such as a brooch.
The Elie Top ring for Baccarat
TWR What one item should I buy for this season/year?
JHS For the 'wow' factor, Marni brooch, incidentally this brooch would be perfect in Spring/Summer 2011 too – the Prada catwalk says it all
The Bouchons de Carafe ring by Ellie Top (Lanvin designer) for Baccarat.
An everyday piece to update bangle stacks, the Links of London ‘Sweetie’ bracelet.
TWR Thanks Juliet!
Juliet's trend pages are worth checking out if you need inspiration for what to buy and how to wear jewellery, and there's a great interview with Carol Woolton, Vogue UK's jewellery editor on the home page.
