Jewellery & Fashion

Author: Drew

  • Ethical sourcing of clothing

    As a nation we are becoming more and more aware of the impact we are having not only on each other and animals by our actions but also on the planet. There are a number of ways in which we can all do a bit to help and one of these is to ensure that we only buy clothing from companies that ensure ethical manufacturing and ethical sourcing. This refers to the process of making sure that the fashion products and services are sourced through sustainable and socially responsible processes. For example, it may be that they are made in a factory where the workers are treated kindly, paid a fair wage and given regular breaks. It may also look at how the materials are sourced for the clothing and what is done to give back to the environment. For example, some factories will work out what their carbon footprint is and then ensure that they give more than that back possibly by planting trees or by helping to fund projects that will allow for more use of renewable energy.

    Most clothing manufactures will have an ethical policy on their website but if they don’t then you can always email or call them to find out what they are doing to ensure they are acting responsibly.

  • Where can you pick up quality clothing without the hefty price tag?

    Good quality clothing, although beautiful, can be quite pricey and so for some of us it feels like its just not a viable option. However, there are ways of being able to have these items without breaking the bank.

    One great option is to search through your local charity shops for well-known high-quality brands. You’d be surprised what you can find for a very low cost! Often charity shops near very affluent areas get lots of good quality clothes that are simply from the season before or people have bought and never worn. You may even find some that have their original price tags on them.

    Another way to find a clothing bargain is to search on auction sites such as eBay or Vinted where people sell items they no longer want. You can even search for BNWT which means brand new with tags that way you know the item hasn’t been worn.

    Most high-end stores have regular ‘end of season’ sales and so these can be a great place to grab a bargain. If hunting through rails doesn’t put you off then you may get a real steal in the sale.

    For high-end items such as designer handbags you can actually rent these! Yes – that’s right you can rent a handbag. You may have a special event coming up or you may just fancy a bit of a treat but there are companies out there that will loan you your favourite bag for a daily fee.

  • Diamonds really are forever

    If you have ever been lucky enough to own a piece of jewellery adorned with diamonds you will know that there is nothing quite like it. There are a whole variety of cuts, colours and styles available, meaning there is a diamond for everyone.

    The first known use of a diamond in an engagement ring dates back to the fifteenth century and since then diamonds have been used in all types of jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings of all types.

    Diamond mining in Africa became big business after the second world war and made diamond jewellery available to more people. De Beers is known around the world for creating diamond engagement rings and other diamond jewellery. In 1947, they launched the now world renowned slogan ‘A Diamond is Forever’. This statement refers to a diamond’s durability as a diamond will retain its value for many years.

    As buyers become aware of the implications through history of the mistreatment of workers in diamond mines there has been a surge in purchases of manufactured diamonds. Lab grown diamonds also known as cultured diamonds are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop. Since they are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties making them a cheaper alternative.

  • Choosing the right earrings for newly pierced ears

    So many children now want their ears pierced at a younger age. Some parents are keen to make their children wait until they are a little old whereas others prefer to get it out the way when they are young. Although it can be something a child looks forward to, often the reality is not quite as great. The piercing alone can hurt and then it often takes a good few months at least for them to heal and even after that they can still experience issues.

    You first need to choose the right place to have them done. Some people prefer o go to a piercing parlour rather than a high street store or jewellers. Piecing parlours tend to use a needle as opposed to a special gun. This is supposed to be better for your ears.

    When the time comes that you can change your piercing, you need to ensure that you use good quality earrings. You may be able to get away wearing cheaper ones for a few hours when going out, but you should either continue to wear the ones you had originally or buy high quality metal ones to replace them with. Any good jeweller will be able to recommend which ones are best suited.

  • Fed up with the little black dress?

    At this time of year when we have workplace parties and family get togethers we may look in the wardrobe, pull out the little black dress that we have had for years and wish we had gone out and bought a new outfit. Although the staple of many women’s party wardrobe perhaps now is the time to ditch that old number and go for something different.

    In the shops at the moment there are lots of floral patterned dresses in a slightly longer length. They do not look particularly good on the hanger but once worn they often look attractive and are certainly more comfortable to wear.

    Separates can be a good choice for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party as they have the versatility to be worn with a different top or bottom for a different occasion. A black figure-hugging skirt with a sparkly top can be worn for a party but then the skirt can be teamed with a festive jumper for a family meal.

    As an alternative to a dress a jumpsuit could be worn for an evening out. There are many different styles to choose from ranging from sleeveless options to long sleeved and many colours so look online now any throw out that little black dress for good.