Simple Strategies For Expressing Your Personal Style

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There is no one else in the world quite like you & one of the best ways to express your unique personality is through the way that you dress. In fact, you can have a whole lot of fun when it comes to showing off your own personal style. I love over-accessorising my outfits to really make them stand out even if I'm just wearing something basic like jeans & a nice top. The process of customising your look is super simple & I thought I would quickly share some tips to help you express yourself through your accessories.



Jewellery can provide a little edge
When it comes to jewellery, our minds often go to delicate necklaces or Tiffany diamond rings. However it's crucial to remember that just like the rest of your outfit it can be used to reflect your own personal style especially if it is a bit edgy or left of the mainstream. After all, you can look equally as gorgeous as those with more traditional taste & feel more yourself by wearing jewellery in the form of piercings in the nose, lip or the top of the ear. You can even choose two or three items from the same helix piercing range & then layer them together for a truly customised look. Some pieces will also have a dual purpose so you can wear them in your ear one day & your nose the next, ensuring that you will never run out of options to express your own personal style. I used to have loads of different piercings including snakebites, an industrial & stretched ear lobes. I loved how they looked & really wish I hadn't taken them out, especially as I've now been left with random holes in my face!



Jazz up plain clothing with carefully placed accessories
Even the most boring of outfits can be lifted & personalised with some smart & funky accessories. I'm still obsessed with my gold name necklace, as there's nothing more personal than your own name. Jackets are a fab place for accessories, especially enamel pins or brooches. We're not talking your grandma's brooch here either, but chunky graphic designs made from plastic like these. Something that you can get customised with your own message or with a bold, kitsch design will make them particularly striking. You've probably seen my beloved Primark jacket (which I recently wore to death, literally!) about a million times in my outfit posts & most recently in this post here. I accessorised it with two eye-catching brooches & they're a great example of how easy it is to spice up a plain leather jacket. When I do eventually pick up a new leather jacket, you'd better believe I'll be accessorising it with these brooches again. They're also a great conversation starter. I mean, who doesn't love gin?!



Pick colours that you love & make you smile
Some folks only wear colours that they know will go well with their hair & skin tone. However if you really want to embrace the art of expressing yourself, it's best to pick colours, patterns & designs that make your heart sing! Who cares if you're just doing the weekly food shop? There's nothing wrong with a bit of glitter fabric if you're feeling the vibe! I'm talking bright bolds & neons, chunky rainbow embroidery à la Frida Kahlo & anything else that just makes you smile. After all, putting on an outfit that you love & that makes you feel confident each morning is one of the most positive ways to start the day.



Add a headscarf for an instantly retro look
Lastly, a quick & easy way to customise any outfit is to add a headscarf. It is also something that can help you to achieve a nice retro vibe as well. In fact, you may wish to head over to auction sites to find genuine retro scarves for this purpose. Although shops like Zara & Lush are doing some pretty good reproductions at the moment too. I picked up this spooky neon headscarf from Lush at Halloween & it's one of my favourite hair accessories right now. It definitely brightens up my day & has a bit of retro cool about it.



Oh & don't let not knowing how to tie them properly put you off, as I've got you covered with the video above. When I first got my headscarf I had no idea how to put it on either but it really is incredibly easy to figure out. So all you need to worry about is just being you!

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Happiness Boutique

Happiness Boutique Glamorous Over The Top Statement Necklace* - £24.50

For someone who used to relish over-accessorising every single day, recently I've found myself wearing & buying less pieces of jewellery. More often than not I simply throw on my name necklace with my Michael Kors watch and head out the door. When I do wear something different it's because I want it to stand out as an important part of my outfit & statement pieces are my favourite way to upgrade what could otherwise be quite a plain ensemble. I especially like to bring out my statement jewellery collection during the Summer when it's often far too hot to throw on more than shorts & a t-shirt. When Happiness Boutique, an online jewellery store based in Berlin, asked me to feature one of their pieces on my blog I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of gorgeous statement necklaces available on their website. I've been looking for something ultra glam to take on holiday with me & I'm incredibly pleased with the necklace I picked out.

This stunning statement necklace is fully decked out with rhinestones & intricate details that really catch your eye. It certainly stood out to me when I was browsing their website. All of their product photos are really clear so you know exactly what your item will look like when it arrives. Most products are also accompanied by many customer pictures so you can get some ideas of how to style each piece. This particular necklace can be styled in so many ways & would work well in many situations. You could wear it to work, out clubbing or on the beach - it really is that versatile. I adore all of the wonderful embellishments on this necklace. With all of the different layers & shapes it almost looks like you're wearing several different pieces at once. Each individual section is beautifully designed & they fit together seamlessly as a whole. It definitely lives up to it's name of being OTT & has the ability to instantly dress up any outfit. Despite being quite large, it's not too heavy & won't weigh you down during the day. It feels very sturdy and has an adjustable chain to suit loads of different styles of tops & dresses.

Happiness Boutique offer free delivery worldwide on all orders & my necklace arrived promptly despite coming all the way from Germany. It was packaged very securely so I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again. I think the price is quite reasonable compared to similar pieces I've seen on the high street & the quality is definitely more impressive. I absolutely love this statement necklace & I look forward to wearing it in Spain this Summer. I would highly recommend checking out Happiness Boutique's gorgeous fashion accessories. Alongside their fabulous range of necklaces they have some beautiful bracelets, earrings & rings too so you're bound to find something you love!

How do you like to style statement necklaces?

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Mhoho Jewellery

Whenever I'm feeling a bit bored I love having a look through Etsy for cool new things to buy. There's an endless supply of handmade goods & vintage treasures to be found on there & I can spend hours adding things to my favourites list. I think it's important to support small independent shops plus you can buy stuff that nobody else owns. I often use Etsy for things like stationery, homeware & accessories but the main thing I search for is jewellery. One of my most recent Etsy discoveries is Mhoho Jewellery which is a UK based shop owned by the lovely Jenny. Mhoho means 'by me' so the name acknowledges all the hard work that Jenny puts into her jewellery as she designs & handcrafts everything herself. Her shop is home to a unique collection of quirky & playful jewellery. Many of the pieces are personalised, engraved or hand-stamped. The designs are eclectic & the materials used are all high quality. There are so many stunning pieces to choose from & almost everything fits in with my own personal style. I chose a couple of pieces which came packaged in this adorable little gift box. She even threw in a bag of sweets which is always appreciated! The attention to detail & personal touches like these really make you feel valued as a customer. Whether you're buying a treat for yourself or a present for a someone else, you're bound to fall in love with Mhoho Jewellery.




When I first checked out the shop I immediately found myself drawn to the gold name necklace*. I love anything personalised, especially jewellery. It's such a cute way of making sure that no one will ever forget your name. I used to have a name necklace from Argos that I wore to death & it completely fell to pieces. The chain snapped so I bought a new one & a couple of months later that one broke too! After spending £100 on subpar necklaces I kinda gave up as I couldn't find another gold name necklace in a style I liked. So I was overjoyed when Jenny kindly offered to make me a new one! It's made from 9ct gold & I went for the 16" chain. The actual name part is quite thick & very sturdy so it won't get bent out of shape like my old necklaces. I think it looks utterly beautiful & I love the italic script font. The style is exactly what I was after. It's such a classic piece & goes with absolutely everything. I've been wearing this necklace constantly & have had so many compliments on it. Obviously as this is a custom made piece it'll take a little bit longer to be delivered but it's well worth waiting for!







Mhoho Jewellery also have so many gorgeous looking rings! There's loads of different styles available including some lovely engraved brass rings as well as druzy & large gemstone rings. I currently have a huge obsession with plain midi rings as I love their simple & minimalistic aesthetic. I got both the set of gold midi rings* & the set of silver midi rings*. Whenever I really like a piece of jewellery I often buy it in both gold & silver to match whatever I'm wearing. The thin bands can be easily stacked together or layered with other rings. They can be worn pushed against one another or spaced out like I'm wearing them here. I think that the three gold rings stacked together look totally chic. These are the kind of rings that I like to wear on an everyday basis as they're so comfortable on my fingers & don't get in the way but still add a little something extra to any outfit. I'm so pleased with all the pieces I received from Mhoho Jewellery & Jenny is such a sweetheart. Her shop is must-have on your Etsy favourites list!

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Birthday Haul

ZOEVA Rose Golden Complete Eye Set Vol. 2
It seems like everyone in the beauty blogosphere owns the ZOEVA Rose Golden brushes & it's with good reason. The quality is exceptional & they're well worth the investment. I already have the original brush set but I needed some new eye brushes so it was a no-brainer to ask for this set. You get loads of blending brushes in different sizes so you never have to worry about having a clean one to spare. The crease brushes are my favourite as they fit my eye socket perfectly. They come in this pretty rose gold pouch so they're great for travelling with too. I think that the ZOEVA Rose Golden brush sets are excellent value for money & they look gorgeous to boot!



Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red
I have a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Charlotte Tilbury's makeup range! Her Matte Revolution lipsticks are a more modern take on the matte lip. The formula doesn't feel drying or look flat & the all of the colours available are totally stunning. My mum kindly bought me the shade Red Carpet Red. It's a true ruby red colour brimming with Hollywood glamour. I really love the packaging too. This kind of colour will suit everyone & no girl should be without a classic red lippie in their collection.



Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
As someone who loves her retinoids I was absolutely desperate to try this stuff out! I'd never really felt compelled to try any Sunday Riley products before because they are ridiculously expensive & I'm pretty happy with my skincare routine as it is. Luna really intrigued me though because the idea of an oil-based retinol treatment is pure genius. I use retinol to help clear blemishes but it can be quite harsh on the skin, leading to dryness & irritation. In theory a facial oil should negate all the bad side effects of retinol so I cannot wait to see what Luna can do for my skin!




Daisy London Heart Chakra Chain Bracelet
Daisy London make some truly beautiful pieces of jewellery & this heart chakra bracelet has been on my wishlist for so long. I used to be really into crystals & chakras so when I discovered their chakra collection it was love at first sight. Wearing chakra jewellery is supposed to help balance your energy flow. The heart chakra is associated with love, self-control, forgiveness & the colour green. The bracelet even has a little green gemstone on the chain. I've been struggling to accept myself & others recently so this bracelet really means a lot to me. Much love to Andy for buying me the most perfect birthday present!

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Lyla Loves Jewellery

Pink Cord & Chain Bracelet* / Pink Enamel Elephant Pendant*

I'm forever on the lookout for cute new accessories & I recently got sent a couple of pieces from Lyla Loves' latest collection. Lyla Loves has an amazing range of jewellery and fashion accessories including bags, phone cases & scarves. It's a great site to check out if you're looking for something a bit quirky & unique as they're constantly adding new stock to the shop. I love dainty jewellery & I fell in love straight away with so many different pieces! There are also plenty of statement accessories available if that's what you're into. Pink & gold are my two favourite colours so I picked out this really sweet bracelet & this adorable pink elephant necklace.

I prefer pieces of jewellery that feel light & comfortable to wear. Otherwise I just get irritated by them & end up taking them off after a couple of hours. I'm not a huge fan of bangles because I feel like they always get in the way. This lovely bracelet is exactly the kind of thing I like as you can't really tell it's there but it looks so pretty when you glance down. I adore the little gem on it as it ties the two strands together nicely. It would look fab layered with lots of other arm candy. The elephant pendant has an origami style to it which I think makes it look even cuter! The pink enamel detail really makes it stand out. I've had loads of compliments on this necklace so I'll definitely be ordering a few more things. What really took me by surprise about Lyla Loves was just how affordable all the items were. Both the necklace & the bracelet cost just £3 each! If you're in need of a little pick-me-up treat but are a bit low on funds then Lyla Loves would be a fantastic place to shop.

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Pretty In Pink

Top - Topshop / Skirt - Fashion Union* / Shoes - Garage Shoes
Bag - Whistles / Necklace - Mikey* / Watch - Shore Projects*

Being somewhat challenged in the neck department I used to always avoid buying high-neck tops. I'm really struggling to find clothes that I like at the minute because everything seems to have a turtleneck. Even worse, most of these high-neck tops are cropped as well. Whilst I do like 90s fashion some of it is just so ugly & unflattering. These ribbed funnel neck tops from Topshop are my current fave as they're still on trend but they aren't cropped & the neckline is just right for me. I have them in a few colours but I wear the black one the most. I'm kinda tired of wearing dull Wintery colours so today I paired it with lots of pink things. I adore this bubblegum pink skirt from Fashion Union. It's a bit of a nightmare to iron & creases up again as soon as I sit down but it's such a pretty colour! I really like how the high shine material looks too. Not totally sure if A-line skirts suit my figure but I'm stuck in a bit of a fashion rut & fancied trying something new.

I'm also loving this gorgeous pink necklace from Mikey at House Of Fraser. Although House Of Fraser are generally considered to be a high-end department store they also sell a wide range of more affordable brands. They have so many beautiful pieces of jewellery available. I chose this one because I really liked the combo of pink & clear gems with a gold rope chain. It's so lovely & goes with loads of outfits. I've gone a bit shoe crazy lately & seem to have bought rather a lot of new ones! I'm so glad that chunky heels are everywhere right now because they're so comfy to wear but still give me some much needed height. I've always wanted a pair of tassel loafers but I'd never been able to find any that I liked until now. These ones are from Garage Shoes & they are perfection!

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JewelCandle Sweet Cupcake + Giveaway

JewelCandle Sweet Cupcake Classic Edition Candle - £24.95

Candles & jewellery are two of my very favourite things. Imagine my delight when I discovered that JewelCandle combine both of them together to create a range of luxury handmade candles with a jewellery surprise hidden inside. It's such a fun concept! They're kinda like a Kinder egg for adults, only instead of a toy you get a beautiful piece of jewellery. Here I have the Sweet Cupcake classic edition candle which comes in this large glass jar with a cute ribbon on top. This candle has a burn time of up to 120 hours although the fragrance is so sweet that it takes no time at all to fill a room. Honestly it smells incredible! The scent is exactly like freshly baked vanilla cupcakes. It's a mouthwatering creamy vanilla with notes of yummy caramel. This fantastic candle brings a very warm & welcoming ambience to my home which I love. It really does smell good enough to eat!

Every JewelCandle comes with the choice of a ring or a pair of earrings in sterling silver. As I have stretched earlobes I decided to go for the ring. The interesting part here is that you have no idea what kind of design you're going to get & your new piece of jewellery could be worth anything from £10 up to a whopping £250! You can see a bit of foil inserted into the back of the candle. It is placed quite far up the candle so that you don't have to wait long to get your surprise, I'd say about 15 hours maximum. This special foil contains your jewellery & is heat-resistant so it won't get damaged at all by the flame. Inside the foil there is also a plastic zip locked bag to further protect your jewellery from coming into direct contact with the liquid wax.





When the candle has burned down a bit you can start to see the foil peaking out from the top of the wax. After a few nights of burning the candle I could finally reach my piece of jewellery. While the wax was still warm I scooped out the package with a spoon and eagerly unwrapped my surprise. Inside was a gorgeous blue heart shaped gemstone ring. The ring is made from 925 sterling silver and features a double row of white gemstones along the top of the band. I have no idea how much it is actually worth but it looks absolutely stunning nonetheless. I love the sapphire blue shade & it sparkles wonderfully. You don't get to choose the ring size but it fits my middle finger exactly which is about a UK size M. It is a bit of a gamble as to whether you'll like the ring or not but I couldn't be more pleased with the one that I received.

JewelCandle have kindly given me a 10% discount code for their website so this is the perfect opportunity to try out some of their candles. Simply enter sparklyvodka10 at the checkout. These candles would make superb Christmas gifts and I'll definitely be buying a few more for my friends. As well as their usual lineup, they currently have some lovely seasonal scents available such as Gingerbread, Santa Claus & Merry Christmas which will fit in nicely with the rest of your Christmas decorations.

Alternatively if you fancy winning one of these amazing treats then you should enter my giveaway! I've teamed up with JewelCandle to offer one lucky reader a Sweet Cupcake ring candle of their very own. To enter just use the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will run for two weeks from November 24th to December 8th & is open to UK readers only. The prize is being provided by JewelCandle & will be sent to the winner by them. I will announce the winner via my Twitter so keep an eye out for that. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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It's About Time

Shore Projects Portland Watch* - £115

I've always loved wearing statement watches as they add something extra to an outfit & are probably the only truly practical piece of jewellery. It kinda makes me sad that nowadays people tend to rely on their phone to check the time rather than a beautiful timepiece. Especially when brands such as Shore Projects are bringing out such classic & versatile watches. As much as I love my Michael Kors 5055, sometimes I want something a little simpler in style & not quite so flashy. This watch certainly ticks all the right boxes. If you've never heard of them before, Shore Projects are a new British watch brand whose designs take inspiration from the great British seaside. They have created four classic watches, all named after seaside resorts. Each watch has been waterproofed to 100m & features scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass so as well as being a gorgeous wrist adornment, they are extremely well made & hard-wearing. You can choose from a brushed silver or gold rim with a charcoal or white face. I chose the Portland - a gold rimmed, white faced minimalistic watch with a mint green canvas strap and I couldn't be more pleased with it!

When choosing accessories I always like to go for items that match my outfit. I own far too many pieces of jewellery in both silver & gold for that exact reason! What I like most about these Shore Projects watches is that the straps are actually interchangeable! They're a total dream for anyone who likes their outfits to be matchy-matchy or if you just want something different to wear each day. Not only do they have these casual canvas straps (£20), you can also go for a colourful polka dot leather strap (£25) or a plain Italian leather strap (£30). Each strap also comes with a choice of silver or gold hardware to match the watch rim. For my secondary colour I plumped for the classic pink canvas strap. I love pastel colours so both the mint green & pink fit in nicely with my everyday wardrobe. I really want to get the sunshine yellow polka dot strap next, it's so fun & cheery looking! Each watch is completely customisable making them unisex & perfect for any occasion. Changing the straps can be a bit fiddly at first but it still only takes a few seconds. With these interchangeable straps you can practically have a different watch for every day of the week at a fraction of the price. It's such a brilliant concept & with their classic minimalist aesthetic Shore Projects' watches are timepieces well worth investing in.

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