The Best Royal Wedding Dress – Ever!

I don’t know about you but royal wedding dresses are usually a disappointment for me. They are either remarkably plain (apologies to the Duchess of Cambridge but hers was boring) or they compete in fluffiness with the wedding cake (the eighties was a bad time for this – Princess Diana’s and The Duchess of York’s are good examples). But there was a royal wedding in 2011 when the dress was simply perfect. In...

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Jackie Kennedy: The Pink Suit

Jackie Kennedy: The pink suit. In early November, 1963, John and Jackie Kennedy were at the White House enjoying a private dinner with newspaper columnist Joe Alsop and his wife, Susan. After dinner, John Kennedy asked his wife to show their guests the pink suit that she intended to wear during their forthcoming trip to Texas. Jackie was reluctant at first but went to her room and fetched the plain, pink suit. Yes, that one. Looking...

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Wallis Simpson’s Wedding Dress

Wallis Simpson’s wedding dress. Not a fashion success. In the nineteen thirties, when King Edward VIII gave up the throne of England for Mrs Wallis Simpson, many people just couldn’t understand what this highly eligible bachelor saw in her. Many  still don’t understand the attraction. In those days, and ever since, she has been described as a ‘fashion icon’. There is little photographic evidence to...

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Mosaic earrings

Mosaic earrings: Sophisticated but inexpensive accessories. Make use of  simple but effective fashion trick that can make your outfits effortlessly coordinated. You’ll achieve a subtle coordination without appearing to be deliberately mixy-matchy. Professional designers will often use the colour palette from a single item when they are creating a look. Next time you’re looking at a quality fashion magazine layout take...

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The Jewellery of Wallis Simpson

The Duchess of Windsor’s jewellery When the Duke of Windsor died in 1972, he had specified that his wife’s jewellery -most of which he had lavished upon her – should be dismantled and broken down after her own death. He did not get his way. For on April 2nd, 1987,  less than a year after the duchess’ death, her collection went to auction in Geneva. Even though the gems were fabulous, a major part of the...

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Gifts for Animal Lovers: Dragonflies

It is said that dragonflies bring success, victory, happiness, strength, courage, and adaptability. They have two set of wings but can fly with one if need be. They zip and zoom around flowers, ponds and ever around the world. They are fast. They are known for their ability to hover in one spot for a very long time as well there darting from place to place. They are amazing insects. They have a wonderful ability to adapt to their...

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Gifts for Animal Lovers: Dolphins

Love dolphins? Gift ideas. Dolphins are so popular. Is it because they always seem to be smiling? If you have someone on your gift list who loves dolphins as much as I do, then here you’ll find the perfect gifts for them to add to their collection of dolphin themed jewellery, décor items and more. I love the pendant that you see in this photograph, for example. The two dolphins are hand carved by a jewellery sculptor in Bali and...

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Jacquard Sweaters & Jackets: So Stylish

Jacquard sweaters – so fashionable We’re often told that the basics of a good wardrobe is classic clothes. And it’s true. Classically styled garments are timeless and remain fashionable for ever. They are never out of date. But this doesn’t mean that classics should be dull – so many people buy them in just black, grey or other neutrals – they can also be fun. Take this jacquard sweater you see on...

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Mexican Jewellery from Guillermo Arregui

Stylish,original jewellery from Mexico. Guillermo Arregui creates the most wonderful jewellery in his Mexican silversmith workshop. The necklace you see on the right is a lovely example. There are more further down the page and you’ll see that  Guillermo combines traditional method sand design but brings them completely up to date. He takes much of his inspiration from nature, from the natural stones that are available in Mexico...

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Fashion Revolution Day

What is Fashion Revolution Day? On April 24th, 2013, a garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed. Over 1100 people were killed and many more injured. Bangladesh is one of the countries that produces the most garments and many of the clothes that were being manufactured in the ill-fated factory were destined to be sent to the western world. In other words, they were making the clothes that you and I buyin our local stores. To mark the...

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The Lewis N. Clark Mini Cross-Body Bag

Lewis N. Clark Does It Again When my mini cross-body purse arrived today, I couldn’t wait to unpack it. I’d been looking for a smaller sized purse that would hold all I need, yet would be easy and light to carry. As you can see in the video below, the Lewis N. Clark mini cross-body bag is nylon, ideal for travel because it is lightweight. Perhaps as important these days, it offers RFID protection for your credit cards. Of course that...

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Gifts for Animal Lovers: Elephants

Love elephants? Great gift ideas. Are you looking for gift ideas for someone who just loves elephants? I have found an online collection that features almost one thousand items – all of which feature elephants. There are some incredible pieces of jewellery – both modern and traditional. The photograph on the right shows a lovely example. There are other items to wear too,including some gorgeous elephant print scarves. But...

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Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich: Style I have a now out-of-print book that studies the lives and style of five famous women. It could be called a history lesson through the eyes of a fashion designer. One of the five is the fabulous Marlene Dietrich. She was known for her special style and her fashion innovations – when in Germany in the early years of her career, she once attended an audition wearing a Napoleon hat with a huge feather, a...

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Gift Ideas for Turquoise Lovers

The gentle color of turquoise has attracted fans for thousands of years.  In varying shades of blue and blue green, it is popular smoothed or rough, pure or with the intricate lines that often trace through the gem. Sometimes carried in amulets or as adornment, cultures from the ancient Egyptians, Persians, Chinese, and in the Americas, the Atzecs, the Incas, and the native North Americans have all prized the gem.  it is considered a...

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Dress Up Your Pet Day

Proper Attire for your Pet On January 14th we celebrate National dress up your pet day. If you have a small dog, or one with little or very short hair, you probably dress your dog often, but today is still cause for celebration. It is estimated that in the United States alone we will have spent over $58 billion in 2014. The year before the figure was nearly $56 billion. While the majority was spent on food and veterinary care, $13...

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Gift Ideas: Birthstones

A Treasured Gift Birthstones today have become a very special way to honor the recipient’s birth month.  With so many types of jewelry available, it is a sweet gift that can be given more than once. For many it is an annual tradition.  Rings, necklaces, cuff links, earrings, all are lovely gifts that will last for many years, if not lifetimes. The unique designs below are only a few of the selections available.  Every birthstone has a...

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Bug Jewellery

Bug Jewellery has been fashionable for many years. Everything from bees to dragonflies, cicadas, grasshoppers and bugs of every kind. I personally love butterflies, lady bugs and bees. Bug Jewellery is not for everyone, but I happen to really like it. Red bug bejewelled jewelry box In ancient times, Bug Jewellery was worn not just by women but by the men also. In Egypt, the Scarab Beetle was worn by the army as a talisman of...

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Stylish Eco-Friendly Jewellery

It is a must one should only wear the best designer brand earrings and neckpieces while attending a formal event. But what about when it comes to completing a sundress or vacation look? Not to worry as the following fabulous jewellery pieces come from various countries throughout the world and are guaranteed to be planet-friendly and are guaranteed to complete every vacation look you are thinking. Made by local artisans, many of these...

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Fashion & Style from Luisa Villavicencio

Designer fashion from Guatemala. Luisa Villavicencio creates the most stylish cotton goods. You can see a lovely example on the right. This gorgeous cardigan is made using raw cotton and blends three natural shades – ivory, jade and brown. All the products she produces are natural – no dyes are used at all – and make the most of cotton’s qualities. Luisa explains that she comes from a Guatemalan family and they...

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Stylish Shawls

Stylish shawls from around the world: Essential wardrobe items. I honestly don’t know how I would manage without my selection of shawls, scarves and sarongs. They are so useful and versatile and can instantly transform outfits, from casual wear to formal dress. They come in such a huge variety of colour, styles and weights too. Heavier scarves can warm you on cooler days or  evenings yet lightweight versions are ideal for...

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Unbiological Sister Necklace from So Simply Quaint Review

Sisterhood is an amazing blessing which I’m lucky enough to share with three amazing women. My sisters are there for me in the worst of times and the best of times. While not everyone is as blessed as I am to have sisters, almost every woman is graced with an Unbiological Sister. These sisterly women aren’t related to you by blood, but are there for you nonetheless. To honor the friend in my life who is my “fourth sister,” I sought...

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Gifts for Fashion Lovers:  Handwoven Handbags

International Artisans The small town of Assam located in the Northeast of India is well known for the craft of weaving. The art has been passed from mother to child for generations.  While embroidery is uncommon there, the beautiful patterns they design are often referred to as embroidery on loom. Manjuri Hazarika is one of the artists who hand weaves the cotton fabrics then creates lovely handbags.  After graduating from a design...

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Prince George: Get the Look

Prince George of Cambridge: Get the Look. When his new sister Princess Charlotte was christened in July 2015, the media unanimously agreed that young Prince George – who was just a few weeks shy of two years old – stole the show. View image | gettyimages.com William and Catherine each have their own distinctive style and it seems that young George is already a trendsetter. Clothing manufacturers rushed to recreate the...

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Duchess of Cambridge: Get the look

Duchess of Cambridge: Style.   In June 2015 Catherine,  the Duchess of Cambridge, showed classic yet modern style when she was photographed wearing an outfit that comprised a stylish blue and white striped top, skinny blue jeans and casual yet classic boat shoes. She looked elegant, relaxed and ready for fun. (Many women noted with more than a touch of envy that her figure looks amazing just a few weeks after the birth of her...

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Tattoos: Yes or no?

Tattoos: Yes or no? Are tattoos a good idea? I’m inclined to say no – probably about eighty percent no. I have several reasons for this but I wonder what you think? When I was a kid, few people had tattoos. They were mostly men who had been in the armed forces. In England, men were obliged to enter the army and do national service and this wasn’t abandoned until the end of 1960. It was 1963 before the last of the...

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The season’s best jackets & vests

You probably know ArtHome as a retailer of wonderful artisan art objects and decor items for the home but did you know that they also have a fabulous range of fashion goods? In addition to accessories and jewellery, you’ll find an excellent range of fashionable, wearable art. Above, I’m featuring a small selection of their jackets and vests – new for this season. Aren’t they fabulous?I love the loose fit, the...

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