Z for Accesorize: Review Part 2 Suri necklace and Bracelet

The pendant is cut in a teardrop shape as is the rest of the Suri collection and set in gold plated metal. The pendant looks classic and elegant and is small but eye catching. It is semi transparent so can take on colours which are behind the stone. It has a built in extender and a little z charm to show it is part of the Z for Accessorize range. 

The bracelet, again, is cut into the shape of a teardrop and is the smallest stone of the collection. As with the other items it is set on gold plated metal. The bracelet has an extender built in so larger wrists can also wear this bracelet. 

I bough these items myself and they are currently £7.50 each in the Accessorize sale. 

http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2.2/1842867000


http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2.3/1825177000

Z by Accesorize Suri Rose Quartz Jewellery Collection: Review Part 1

The Pantone colour for 2016 was rose quartz so rose quartz would be a natural choice for the Z for Accessorize range to use as one of the stones for their a/w collection. Zara Simmons included it in her Z for Accessorize range combining it with gold plate. This brings out the pink of the rose Quartz and in my opinion is a more complimentary pairing than silver and rose quartz. 

The band of the ring is very thin so is comfortable to wear. The stone roses just above the setting and is faceted so can look almost frosted in some lights. 

The stone is 1/2 cm in length so even though it is eye catching it is not a knuckle grazer and looks very elegant, costing much more than £15. 

The earrings are based around fish hook wires, so just slide in to place. From the tip of the hook to base of the stone is 2cm so they are quite small and discrete, a miniature version of the other pieces in the Suri collection. The stones can look quite frosted in some lights due to the face ting and cut of the stones. All pieces of the Z for Accessorize jewellery come on hang tags and can be found at selected Accessorize and Accessorize.com.

I purchased these items myself and they can be found here: they are now £7.50 each in the sale section 

http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.5/1943087050

http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.4/1815097000   

#October Birthstones: #Tourmaline & #Opal

October birthdays have a choice of two gemstones: tourmaline and opal.  Tourmaline is a bi or tri colour gemstone as they display several colours - watermelon tourmaline for example has bands of green, pink and white. Tourmaline is found in Brazil, Afghanistan, East Africa and the USA.  Tourmaline helps to maintain calm, negate jealousy and anger whilst promoting peace and tranquillity for the wearer.  

                                                            

Opal is taken from the Greek Opallos - to see a change of colours.  Opals range from milky white to black with flashes of colour - orange, green red and blue. Opal is supposed to have healing properties, will calm the wearer's nerves and improve their memory.

The Bicycle Bell Derby Cane

The bicycle bell Derby cane made me laugh after a particularly trying day of having people expect me to speed up, get out of their way, be in my way or play dodge on the pavement. The bicycle bell cane has a little bell that you ring to alert other people to your presence! The blurb states "The Bicycle Bell Derby Walking Cane allows the user to make their presence known when walking in crowded areas. Many walking stick users worry about being accidentally bumped into or knocked over in busy situations. By sounding the bicycle bell, users can make other people aware of their presence quickly"

The cane itself is made from beech wood so could be cut to size - it is 92 cm in length and non adjustable. It has a black ferrule and the bell is chrome plated. I just wish they would make a bell (or horn) that could be attached to all sticks!

The bicycle bell cane can be found here and is £20.99: http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/derby-canes/bicycle-bell-derby-walking-cane.html

The Bicycle Bell Derby Cane

The bicycle bell Derby cane made me laugh after a particularly trying day of having people expect me to speed up, get out of their way, be in my way or play dodge on the pavement. The bicycle bell cane has a little bell that you ring to alert other people to your presence! The blurb states "The Bicycle Bell Derby Walking Cane allows the user to make their presence known when walking in crowded areas. Many walking stick users worry about being accidentally bumped into or knocked over in busy situations. By sounding the bicycle bell, users can make other people aware of their presence quickly"

The cane itself is made from beech wood so could be cut to size - it is 92 cm in length and non adjustable. It has a black ferrule and the bell is chrome plated. I just wish they would make a bell (or horn) that could be attached to all sticks!

The bicycle bell cane can be found here and is £20.99: http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/derby-canes/bicycle-bell-derby-walking-cane.html

Sticks and Stones:Evening Glam

In all the introductions to the online evening walking cane/ stick shops there is a general consensus that the cane should be the focal point of the outfit.  This is true for the ones I selected as I thought thought they were the nicest with the most detail. As the McQueen one cost £295 it would certainly be the focal point of my outfit!! If my stick has silver accents I would stay with silver themed accessories if it had gold I would have a matching bag, earrings etc. All the ones apart from the McQueen one are from walking stick specialists so I would not have any safety concerns about it taking my weight. I did find a dupe for the McQueen one for £44 if skulls are your thing from a walking stick specialist. 

I especially like the Swarovski topped walking cane but I feel canes are not as useful for people like me who use my stick for support and need to grip the handle. Canes have less to hold on to and although they look dramatic give less support to the user even if they are pretty to look at. I also like the combination of a silver handle and matte stick as this looks elegant and could be used as a evening/ occasional stick and pared with work wear. 

In terms of accessorises/ jewellery I feel they should be muted and match the stick.

                                                           
I found the largest and most stylish selection of evening sticks at http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/dress-canes-formal-walking-sticks/evening-cane-with-swarovski-crystals.html?gclid=CKb_zJH5r88CFVEz0wodHEEOSA - healthandcare.co.uk and they were all reasonably priced .

The Alexander McQueen one can be found here: http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/gb/alexandermcqueen/formal-accessory_cod46350284jp.html

Sticks and Stones: Metallic Meyhem

The colours for winter are burgundy, forest green and dark muted Jewel colours. Summerish pastel walking sticks don't necessarily go with Autumyn/ winter clothes. I like using metallic sticks. What sun there is glints off it, brightening it up and they add a pop of colour to muted winter palettes. 

The sticks I have selected range between £20 and £179 for the teal metallic Derby stick (Amazon). The burgundy one is usefully as it collapses in to 5 sections so will be more compact when folded up. I also think it is a beautiful Autumn / winter colour and would look great against black boots or black winter coat. The metallic blue stick with a black handle is unusual as it has a soft handle which is easier to hold if you have neuropathic or arthritic pain in your hands. 

Jewellery or clothes wise all these sticks look great with dark jewelled colours or black. Quartz necklaces in the same shade would bring out the colour of the stick and bring the whole outfit together. 

                                                              

Stick pictures are my own or stock pictures taken from Amazon.co.uk and healthandcare.co.uk

Pea coat
£125 - etsy.com

Alex and Ani pendant necklace
£60 - nordstrom.com

Eclectic Eccentricity quartz necklace
notonthehighstreet.com

Chain necklace
silkfred.com

Z for Accessorize: Aura, aventurine, semi precious pendant #win

Designed by Zara Simon for her Z for Accessorize range, this pendant is gold plated and has a semi precious stone, aventurine as its pendant.  The stone is a deep forest green, one of 2016 A/W colours.  The stone measures 1cm and can look quite dull and uninspiring until the light hits it then the light bounces off showing different green hues,   The stone's cut is almost like a checkerboard giving lots of opportunity for the stone to be brigthened up when the light hits it.

The necklace is extendable from 20cm to 23.5 cm including the stone and bale. The setting is very sturdy and simple and it has a little "z" tag to show it belongs to the Z for Accessorize range.  The necklace, like all Accessorize jewellery comes on a little swing tag and can be found in selected stores and online.

To win this necklace please follow my IG page and comment under the post and / or reframe https://instagram.com/p/BKWfLB1gWbf/  for extra entries please follow my blog either via email or bloglovin.



I purchased this item and the one I am using as a prize myself and all views are my own. The item can be found here: http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.3/1825343000
The matching earrings: http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2,acc_2.4/1815213000

Sticks & Stones: #owl be yours!

Sticks can sometimes look very similar despite being made by different manufacturers. The floral stick, for example , can be seen in all mobility catelogues. There are some fun looking sticks around but you must always consider the safety and comfort aspect when selecting a stick like those I've put below. Some of the owl heads are more fun than comfort- I certainly wouldn't want to grip an owl's head for more than a few hours and I am not sure if the etsy and the umbrella sticks would be any good safety wise for me as I put my full weight on my sticks, as I use it both for support and balance. They are fun though and would be great for anyone who likes owls!

Jewellery wise there is lots of choice. The owl jewellery I chose off Pinterest ranged from £15 to £2000 for the diamond and carved owl ring. None of these look particularly twee or childish but would complement any outfit perfectly. 

All views expressed in the blog post are my own. 

The owl sticks can be found at:

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/walking-sticks/dress-walking-sticks/corinium-walking-stick-owl-view-large?gclid=CIKD9PmZ6M4CFRATGwodPjYHeg

http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/novelty-canes/imitation-ivory-barn-owl-hardwood-cane.html?gclid=CNTJxJya6M4CFawp0wodJcYKJw

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/220244312/hand-carved-walking-stick?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-home_and_living-other&utm_custom1=04b48d49-bdac-488d-9da9-e8cc3fb19ef3&gclid=CNemt7Ka6M4CFcgp0wod0KcBZw

http://www.wilsonwalkingsticks.com/na-wildlife.htm

https://www.soake.co.uk/collections/coynes-collection/coynes-owl-stick-umbrella.html

The jewellery can be found at: 

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/?gclid=CKKcr5yc6M4CFcsp0wody0YFMQ&dclid=COnn1Zyc6M4CFfAD0wod4QkHQQ
http://www.alexmonroe.com/?gclid=COu8j_mb6M4CFYgYGwodydMEEA
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/en-gb/AMEDEO-Diamond-Trim-Hand-Carved-Owl-Cameo-Ring/prod164050164/p.prod?ecid=NMAF__Hy3bqNL2jtQ&CS_003=5630585
http://www.bluefly.com/

Fair trade Azuni Mandala Dreamcatcher Pouch duped by Topshop

Azuni are a ethical fair trade jewellery firm whose Dreamcatcher range is part of a fair trade initiative to support the local indigenous populations in South America through the payment of a fair wage for their craft.  Topshop are selling a copy of the Dreamcatcher Mandala pouch necklace for £6, showing not only a lack of imagination when coming to designing their own jewellery ranging but also potentially undermining this fair trade initiative in order to make a profit!  The only differences between the two items are that the Azuni one has stones dangling down whilst Topshop  has feathers and the placement of the sun is slightly different.  Intellectual copyright issues aside it seems unfair that a huge international fashion chain would copy a fair trade item and put the pursuit of profit over ethics.

The Azuni Dresmcatcher Pouch Necklace can be found here: http://azuni.co.uk/mandala-amulet-pouch-cream-bronze

#sapphire, #September's #Birthstone

Sapphire is the birthstone for September.  The word sapphire comes from the Latin saphirus and Greek sapherius meaning "blue".  It is one of the oldest gemstones, seen as a valuable stone since 800BC.  Sapphire is the stone of calm, wisdom, prophecy and royalty.  Sapphire is purported to bring protection to the wearer, good fortune, spiritual insight and blue sapphire is the stone of love and commitment.

The only difference between a ruby and a sapphire is the colour.  It is almost as hard as a diamond (9 v 10) so is very easy to clean and take care of without fear of chipping!

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