Recently I have styled lots of clients for their summer holidays and honeymoons and the look they have wanted to re-create is less Boho and more sophistication. Swimwear is feminine and luxurious featuring soft ruffles or bold patterns. Think Grace Kelly's beach look in 'To Catch A Thief'.

If you want to extend the elegance from the red carpet and soak up the sun in style, I have selected my favourite CARAT* London pieces.

Imagine walking along the beach, in the surf, wearing light-reflecting jewels, set in precious metals, shimmering in the sunlight. For pool-side glamour opt for statement rings and bracelets, perfect when reading a book as your jewels will delightfully glisten when you turn the page.

I have spent the last month attending event after event and turned to my favourite luxury fashion jeweller CARAT* London to accessorize my look.  From Ascot and my first Summer Wedding to launch parties and client meetings. Carat* London has allowed me to shine and also provided a talking point.


Not only have I received compliments at these events but also in ordinary everyday situations, whether in Starbucks paying for my drink, using my phone while in a meeting, reading a book on the tube and when out for dinner my waitress asked me to write out the details of what I was wearing for her upcoming birthday present!

What I Wore...
GARUDA RING
CATHEDRAL COCKTAIL RING
CAMDEN KNUCKLE RING
JERSEY BRACELET
MAYA RING
MELISSA IN SAPPHIRE RING

Once again, one of my favourite luxury fashion jewellers, Carat* London, invited me to experience the BAFTA TV Awards from their styling suite, at the beautiful Corinthia Hotel, and also the red carpet.

After sipping Champagne and trying on every piece of jewellery in sight, I took my position in the fashion pen ready to spot the celebrities shining in Carat*.  It was a beautiful sunshine filled day and I sparkled in my own Carat* London Millennium Bracelet and Willa Ring.

This year House of Fraser was named title sponsor of the awards ceremony and many celebrities wore the brand.  My favourite dress by the High Street retailer was worn by Donna Air, who took a risk wearing a full-skirted cream tulle gown with illuminated panels.  There wasn't a defining moment of the red carpet, or anyone who stood apart, overall the stars dressed well in colours from red, pink, white and black.


CARAT* Shines On The Red Carpet....
My role on the red carpet was to take note of who wore Carat* and what pieces they chose to accessorize their glamorous looks.

There were many celebrities dazzling in Carat*, my favourite look of the evening was Lucy Mecklenburgh, a cast member of the "The Only Way is Essex", who wore the Zuni Canary Drops and a selection of Fancy Yellow Rings. I loved the pop of yellow against her red dress.

Lilah Parsons, model and MTV presenter, wore one of my favourite Carat* pieces the Cross Vine Necklace and the new Heroines rings.

Rosie Fortescue also from "Made in Chelsea", wore the delicate Ceylon Earrings.

Actress Talulah Riley wore the Hanging Pear in Emerald Green and Pear Duo Drops.

TV presenter Alex Jones wowed in Red and complimented the look with the Godiva Earrings.

Actress, Sunetra Sarker, wore the beautiful Magnificent Cluster Ring in Emerald.

Eleanor Matsuura wearing the Lynx Ring

Lydia Bright, cast member from "The only way is Essex", wearing the Livia Pearl Drops.

Make-up Artist, Sam Chapman from pixiwoo.com, wearing the Pavé Hoops. 

Take a look on my Facebook to see all of my photos from the awards ceremony and don't forget to enter CARAT* Instagram Competition for your chance to win a Millennium Bracelet.

Regular readers will be aware of my love for luxury fashion jewellery brand CARAT* London and remember my CARAT* BAFTA posts from last year.

Nestled within the Covent Garden Piazza, you cannot miss the CARAT* Covent Garden store which dazzles from the outside including the inside.  Glass cases surround the space displaying radiant jewels with a timeless glamour from a bygone era combined with a modern day wearability.  

Don’t miss your chance to win a stunning “Millennium” bracelet with this exciting CARAT* competition which closes on Sunday 31st May 2015.

How to play? It's not only easy but a great opportunity to try on your jewellery fantasy. Be creative, have fun and shine for all the world to see.

1. Find your nearest CARAT* London boutiques or worldwide stockist by clicking 'here' go inside and choose a piece of jewellery that you like and take a picture of it. Alternatively, if you are like me and already own a piece of CARAT* take a picture of your CARAT* collection. 
2. If you have not yet done so, follow @caratlondon on Instagram
3. Post your photo on your instagram with the hashtag #caratlondonmoment and include @caratlondon in your photo.
(Please note that you will need to set your Instagram account to public in order to participate and please click 'here' for the terms and conditions)

Your creativity will be highly rewarded! Each week, CARAT* London will select the top 5 participants with the best picture to win a CARAT* London “Millennium” bracelet.  I shall be following all of your entries on Instagram and commenting on my favourite photos too.  

Wishing you all the best of luck.

This month's jewellery notes feature the collections by design duo Smith/Grey.  Birgit Marie Schmidt and Sofus Graae create pieces as a creative expression of their European and Scandinavian roots combined with their British education and London lifestyle.  Impeccably crafted, I instantly fell for their contemporary collections. 

I first saw 'Marina's Roses' a beautiful asymmetric pair of earrings, featuring one rose stem and one rose stud, worn by a friend of mine. The designers name wasn't known by her as the item was bought for her as a present, after a little research I thankfully found Smith/Grey and discovered more of the 'Bulls & Roses' collection, from which the earrings belong. 

Smith/Grey offer a diverse selection of jewellery for women and the brand also caters for men. My favourite item for men is the signet ring because of its unique quality. Each ring is textured individually, making each piece one of a kind. 

With a variety of stockists from Wolf & Badger and Boticca to Harrods and Avenue 32, Smith/Grey are destined for greater success. 

I have a very special personal post for you today and it is particularly apt for Mother's Day. 

In a few months it will be my birthday, turning another year older makes you re-access various aspects of life, although most importantly it allows you to compute the value of everyone and everything. 

The two women who I credit (to their peril) my character and perspective of life is my Grandmother Audrey and my mother, her daughter, Marjorie. Through them I learnt a true understanding of independence, persistence and enduring love.

It is 18 years, this year, since my grandmother died and despite feeling her presence every day, her absence in my adult life seems more painful now, than when I was in my teens. 

Photographs, old possessions and home video footage capture the moments, the looks, the laughter and smiles forever but I felt the need to have something to keep her memory alive on me, everyday. Thankfully I knew the perfect person to turn to, my friend and, accomplished jeweller, Jessica de Lotz.

The greatest value of a piece by Jessica de Lotz Jewellery lies not within its price but within its emotional and sentimental quality.

Regular readers and jewellery lovers will not need an introduction to Jessica and her collection of treasures, although for those who are not aware of these impeccable pieces of delight, Jessica creates narrative based collections encapsulating personal stories into intricate pieces of jewellery.

Most recently Jessica collaborated with astrologer and life-coach, Louise Androlia, on a collection which I think is one of her best. 'As Above, So Below' uses astrology as the focus to create pieces which bring power and understanding to the wearer. Zodiac symbols are re imagined through unique illustrations which are hand stamped onto Jessica's signature wax seals and specially set to fulfill and empower.  My favourite piece is the zodiac necklace, which features two hands holding the hand-stamped seal. 



I tasked Jessica to create a bracelet which I can wear everyday to preserve my grandmother's memory and always feel close to my Mum.  As an obsessive devotee to Jessica's wax seals - since meeting Jessica I now wax seal stationery! - I desired the first initials of these special women, with me, their creation, in the middle. The result is undoubtedly exceptional.

Everyday I can now take the two most important women in my life with me to create new memories which I aspire to bequeath to any children I have. 

Happy Mothering Sunday to all Mum's and special lady's in your life.

It seems fitting to write about Mother's Day Gift Inspiration on International Women's Day.  I feel very privileged to come from a long line of strong-willed, independent, ambitious and caring women. I am unable to show my Great Grandmother and Grandmother how amazing I think they are, as they are both brightly shining stars, although I am able to honour my wonderful Mother and thank her for enduring love and support.

Whether the special lady in your life would prefer chocolates, flowers or jewellery you will find the perfect present within my gift list above.

I truly believe in fate and it was a serendipitous moment when Inesiene jewellery crossed my path back in November.

After my annual months leave, back home in the Cotswolds, working for charity, I was on the train en-route to London when a friend spontaneously invited me to the Hervé Léger London Boutique for an evening after-hours. 

On display in the boutique was a selection of jewellery by Inesiene, designed by Ines Nieto.  Ines's collections are entirely unique, inspired by ancient Greek mythology and created in the prestigious Hatton Garden, using the most skilled craftsmanship.

My favourite piece is the 18 Carat rose gold snake ring with ruby cabochon and sapphires. The snake is a key motif in Inesiene's Danae collection.

When I visited The Victoria & Albert Museum for the Savage Beauty press launch I spent a few hours looking through their extensive jewellery exhibits. Classical Greek culture had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire, which spread to parts of the Mediterranean and Europe. Spiralling snakes and serpents featured prominently within roman jewellery because snakes symbolised healing, including the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Greek god of medicine Asclepoios. Their spiralling form translated easily into rings and necklaces, which would be worn as a charm, to protect its wearer. The Inesiene snake spirals elegantly, with a contemporary quality and the pear shaped ruby cabochon adds a subtle hint of colour. 

What I admire most about the Inesiene is that nothing is excessive or overdone.  Each piece has a pleasing grace, perpetually tasteful.

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It's the time of year to sparkle and shine.  I am lucky that sequins and shiny things are on my daily dress code, however if you prefer to go all out for New Year's Eve and want to dress to impress, take a look at a few of my favourite dresses, perfect for partying in at home or out on the town!

With the pre and post Christmas sales, you might even find a few bargains along the way!

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As a devotee of sparkles and anything that shimmers, the festive season is my favourite time of year, thanks to Carat* London, one of the world's leading luxury fashion jewellers, I have the party season covered!

Whether you are looking for jewellery to accessorise your outfit or perhaps require a little gift direction, browse my festive favourites and add a touch of glamour to your Christmas 2014. 

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Whoever you are looking to gift this Christmas, I have found the best selection of perfect presents available from fabulous independent British brands in my ultimate Christmas List, also-known-as my Christmas wishlist! 

I have also included my favourite items available from my go-to luxury e-tailer's, The Gift Library, Selfridges and Liberty. Peruse my selection above and shop the page instantly from the links below. Don't forget with Black Friday sales, you might also have a nice surprise at checkout...Happy Christmas Shopping!

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Now the Spring Summer show season has come to an end. My focus returns on the current AW14 season. 

Last week, on Buy British Day, I spent a few hours at Best of Britannia. It's an exciting trade show - if you can call it that - as the brands which pop-up are incredibly cool, sophisticated and also happen to be made in Britain. 

It's unlike any trade show you have experienced, there's music, lots of fresh, tasty food, alcohol and good coffee, but the reason Best of Britannia stands out is because this event places the brands in the spotlight and allows us the opportunity to celebrate them.

I could spend ages explaining who I saw and what I loved, as there really was so much to see, however instead, over the next few weeks, I am using my wishlist as a visual introduction to these exciting brands, here at home. 

My #shwishlist features fundamentally British owned brands and as much as possible I try to find labels who manufacture in Britain too.  However, despite being passionate about promoting made in Britain brands, the reality is we have a depleted skill set within the British manufacturing industries.  Unfortunately not all brands are able to encompass this into their brand at present.  I think it is vital to support brands who are not (yet) made in Britain, but owned and based here, for the future of their brand, their employees and for our countries economics.  We hope that with this support and when the time is right for them these brands will develop a viable made in Britain approach.   In the meanwhile shift your attention to the brands who painstakingly produce their products in Britain and let's celebrate their efforts on Friday.

I am so pleased to have found my latest selection of covetable brands.  Holland-Street create beautiful printed silk loungerie  - and yes I did mean 'loungerie', I haven't spelt 'lingerie' wrong - Pieces include kimono-style gowns, robes, kaftan-style nightgowns, scarves and eyemasks. The brand was named after the street where founder and designer, Lauren Barfoot, grew up.  A thoroughly made in Britain brand, at Holland Street even the fabric is sourced and made in the UK.

I must admit with my textile fashion degree I often focus on surface pattern design. I am thrilled that prints, pattern and embellishment are now a foundation of our style. At Holland Street the brands ethos is based on textiles which undeniably shows within the pieces.  I love the innovative floral prints, designed in house.  It is clear that Lauren knows exactly how to use print in fashion especially considering her impressive history.  Not only did Lauren train at the RCA but also after graduation was print designer for Zandra Rhodes. To see Holland Street's 'Poppy Red Scarf' featured above click the link at the bottom of the page.

Susan Caplan Vintage is a special brand because it allows beautiful jewellery a new home and cherished owner.  I have always loved vintage jewellery, regularly wearing my Grandma's pearls and scouring antiques fairs for jewellery which came with an untold history from another era.  My first vintage Chanel bracelet was first discovered by Susan Caplan and team, bought by my best friend in 2008. Since then the brand has developed and is now stocked in some of the UK's most loved luxury department stores.  If you're looking to add a hint of old-Hollywood to your evening attire, look no further than this trusted vintage label. 

For some of you, Shrimps, the fashion faux-fur brand will need no introduction. London based Hannah Weiland launched the playful label for the Fall 2014 season. At fashion week EVERYONE was wearing something from the collection. Featuring bright colours and a contrasting Breton stripe, the fluffy sixties looking coat is unmistakable. Another fabulous feature is that the brand only uses faux-fur, allowing everyone an opportunity to enjoy it. My first foray into the sweet world of Shrimps is through their 'Pablo Clutch Bag' which I happily carried this fashion week. If you are looking for something to stand out in this season, Shrimps is the label for you!

Another brand which is one to remember for the season ahead is Lilah. Inspired by classic designs, Daisy Fellowes creates timeless coats and jackets that are perfect for so many occasions.  I found the label when I was researching for outfits for a client of mine attending Ascot.  A year previously I attended the brands launch and took photos of the clothes on mannequins surrounding the space of the Dean Street venue.  When I began to trawl through look books, business cards, emails and some four thousand photos I suddenly found my photo of a beautiful jacket by Lilah.  If you have an upcoming Wedding or beginning to plan your wardrobe for next year, Lilah is your go-to brand for pure and simple elegance.

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Yesterday I went on my yearly visit to International Jewellery London to support my clients and also in the search of new jewellery talent. Within ten minutes of arriving I found Cara Tonkin's collection and was pleased to have successfully completed my task. Cara's jewellery is beautiful. With elegant designs and a unique bold aesthetic, which travels through the five collections, Cara's collection is a perfect fit for the stylish, contemporary and independent women. 

Cara blends modern shapes with a nod to the Art Deco and Art Nouveau period and fuses these inspirations to create unique, timeless pieces with a streamlined yet sculptural quality. 
Cara graduated with a First Class degree in Jewellery Design from Central St Martins and set up her namesake brand in Brighton.

I have found my favourite pieces within the five collections Siren, Vesper, Volute, Plume and Laelia. I love the tactile quality of Cara's jewellery which works wonderfully with the current Autumn Winter 2014 'tactile texture' trend. 

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Textural and tonal, Grey featured in abundance on the catwalks with Giorgio Armani basing his entire collection on the colour, adding a little lightness with lime embroidery. In London emerging designer, Barbara Casasola, focused on grey daywear with woollen jumpsuits and polished suits. 

To update your wardrobe for Autumn Winter 2014 team the pale shades of dove, silver and taupe with your darker tones of slate, charcoal and gunmetal. For detail add colour either subtly in the form of metallics or boldly with cobalt or acid tones.

I have found some of the best grey pieces online and in-stores, take a look at my style inspiration above.

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Looking for a new timepiece? I have found eight perfect watches which combine style and elegance with practicality. My favourite is Olivia Burton's 'Big Dial Chromo Watch'.  The brand was created by two friends Lesa Bennet and Jemma Fennings, who met on their first day at, my old college, LCF. The entire collection is affordable, wearable and distinctive.  The vintage inspired designs paired with a fashion-forward branding wonderfully balances our need for contemporary styles with a nostalgic twist.  

If you dream about sparkles, you need Carat* London's 'Victoria Watch' shimmering on your wrist.  The creamy leather strap boasts a rose gold tone metal bezel, adorned with Carat* lab created stones. 

New Look's 'Mink Tonal Dial Watch' at ASOS.com is one of the best bargains I have seen. Featuring a three hand movement, gold-tone bezel and leather look strap, I defy anyone to believe this design is yours for under £15!!