Style Steal: Pandora Birthstone Rings

Finding high street alternatives to the brands we know and want to own is almost becoming a game to me. If I spot something that looks identical to an item advertised in one of the countless glossies I read, I either buy it (rarely) or take a picture of it for this blog (most likely). Why? Because it's a style steal - the same style for a fraction of the price. Although, given the choice, I would of course love to buy the designer item itself.

I recently found some rings in a high street store that look exactly the same to the more up-market option - the birthstone rings by Pandora. They come in a different colour for each month and the metal has a nice ropey look to it.

The Matalan rings (£6 for a pack of 3): 

Pandora Birthstone Ring (£40):

The Matalan alternative may not be sterling silver but I've had a lot of wear out of the rings already, and there has been no off-colouring of the metal which makes the rings a definite style steal.

If you're interested in my other Style Steals, click here. More coming soon!

- A.T.

Trend To Try: Mid-Finger Rings

I'm completely in love with the mid-finger ring - aka "midi ring" - trend. I've noticed that more shops have started selling them throughout the year which is great for us! As with bangles and bracelets, midi rings are perfectly stackable and are a stylish addition to any outfit, transcending day into night. I love the way they look so delicate yet add an edgy finishing touch.

Here are some pretty (and affordable) midi rings I found online:

Forget having a statement ring - midi rings are all about the plentiful, so stack them up to your heart's desire. Try this trend now - there's a new definition of finger swag, and we all should want in.

- A.T.

Style Spotlight: Bib Necklace

One trend that has successfully transitioned into Autumn/Winter this year is the bib necklace, otherwise known as a 'choker' or 'collar' necklace. Browse any online retailer right now, from Forever 21 to Chanel, and you will find an assortment of necklaces in this style. In summer it was all about the bold African-stylee or floral bib necklaces, but as we head into the darker months it is clear to see how the trend has evolved to fit the season. Cue dozens of choker necklaces hitting stores recently, with thicker features and more metallic colours to match our wardrobes.

A bib/ choker necklace is one thing I felt I needed to enhance my wardrobe this winter. I'm all for the oversized plain jumpers and comfy leggings, but after stumbling upon this piece of jewellery I felt it would add a splash of colour to my outfits. The mix of colours on the necklace and gold exterior make it perfect for this seasons style, and the shapes on the necklace adhere to another trend this season: geometric shapes. Dark silvery greys and golds are in perfect fitting with the metallic revival of this season; 

My necklace:

(Primark, £4)

Designer options:
(from left to right: Lanvin, Chanel, Kenneth Jay Lane, Glossy Queen)

There are a handful of ways to wear the bib necklace, and I'm thankful that it's use isn't constrained to being worn on a night out. To go to class one day this week, I found myself wearing the necklace with a white oversized tee, turned up jeans, loafers and my black duffle. The outfit was warm enough for the weather right now and the necklace added just the right amount of colour that our otherwise dark outfits this time of year need. 

1. Black duffle coat, barbour.co.uk
2. Dark skinny roll-up jeans, hm.com
3. Brown loafers, aldo.com
4. White burnout tee, topshop.co.uk
5. Choker necklace, in Primark stores only

Below are some other outfit suggestions for the bib necklace. Here we have a chameleon trend that I'm confident will continue into next Spring. If you decide to buy one, remember that oversized, statement necklaces work perfectly with plain outfits - sometimes the necklace is all you need to set off the outfit.

           Try teaming a necklace with a knitted jumper

Matching the necklace to the tone of
your top works perfectly, as seen here
at Donna Karan

For a more glamorous look, try a gold bib and
use bronze tones with your makeup

Wearing a white top makes the necklace
more of a statement feature. Think contrast.

Heading out in the cold? Wear the necklace under
a coat, leaving the top buttons undone so it
still shows.

Bib necklaces transition perfectly
into nighttime, too. Try tied back
hair to accentuate the necklace.

There are a handful of trends to be fond of this season - and to thank designers for - from leather, to metallic,  to psychedelic patterns and oversized clothes. Whatever the trend, one characteristic sticks out: boldness. Embrace this whilst you can, and look fit for the season with a statement bib necklace. On a final note,  remember that you don't have to break the bank to get one - I found mine in Primark! 

- A.T.

Style Steal: Belt-Style Bangle by Cartier

One noticeable element of all the high street shops is how they try to re-produce designer styles. I have walked into Topshop many times and seen some form of footwear or handbag that looks exactly like a designer brand I had come across in my ELLE magazine earlier that month. Walk into another clothing store, and you'll probably find the same items that Topshop tried to copy. It's satisfying to find these items of clothing in the style of designer brands. They are not replicas as such, but more copies in that they are similar in shape, colour and minor details, but with the clothing stores' own spin on the designer make. Being a student, I naturally love this, and will root through clothing stores to find these gems. There is a limit though: if something is a bad copy, or looks cheap, it's not worth buying just for the sake of it.

Whilst shopping the other day, I was looking in H&M and came across a bangle which my sister had been wearing at the weekend. She was so excited to tell me that it was exactly like the belt-bangle that has recently become available at Cartier. I googled this and the bangle did in fact look just like the Cartier version. I love Cartier's range of jewellery, and this bangle is another popular item by the eminent French watchmaker-jeweler. I don't have anything like it in my closet, so I'm looking forward to wearing it because it's different. My sister wore a gold one, but I'm more of a silver person so I went for the silver bangle.

The H&M bangle (£3.99):

The real deal (from Cartier, £2,200):

It's such a steal at £3.99, and brand new to H&M, so definitely worth getting before they go out of stock! I'll be on the look-out for more style steals like this and will report back on here soon.

- A.T.