FOSCAR's cont. Necklaces and Bangles

I hope I have left you hankering for more FOSCAR action? I know I have been hankering to write more since the last time :) We last left off at the Rings category and now I present to you the category of Necklaces and Bangles.

I own many necklaces and chains but my most unique and unusual one I have is this red little number I brought while on a trip to Madrid last month. As I mentioned in my previous blog you don’t have to find great pieces in shops or big chains. Sometimes the best pieces are from small shops or even market stalls. Additionally some of the most unique stuff can be found abroad too.

Modelled here by the wonderful banister at home, the necklace to the untrained fashion eye looks like it could be a belt (I did try to see if it could be two accessories in one but it only opened as far as my shoulders- Please do NOT try this at home) but once you know its necklace its not hard to see why I fell in love/lust with it.

As the pictures show you can wear it at any length and looks great with a plain outfit or top, to accentuate the necklace. As well as accentuating something this necklace in my humble opinion would be great for un- accentuating something such as unsightly bulges or flat chests because of its length which comes up to the waist when worn. The beauty of it being of course the option to wear it at any length.

Its made out of real leather and steel and was quite a bargain at €18 (roughly £20 at the time of writing) whereas an upmarket boutique would have priced this slightly higher. Good news for all high street honeys who like a bargain as well as a great fashion find.



After a long time of no drum rolling here’s goes: This Necklace will receive the FOSCAR for Most Unique Necklace.

Bangles

For this category I have picked out four key pieces from my jewellery box. I will start the first one off. Although quite common in India and with its ‘eastern exotic’ look I felt that this snake arm bangle is unique as the arm bangle still has not crept into the western jewellery box just yet as its cousin the regular bangle has.

Brought in Spain (a sign that its probably slithering its way in a jewellery box near you some time) I snapped it up to replace my silver one I had originally brought India. This was is slightly different to that one as its more defined and the colour is different too.

I love the green gem for its eyes which really makes it stand out. It’s definitely a winner if worn with a plain coloured top or outfit as it adds to it like our leather necklaced friend.

Like its partner the snake cocktail ring from the previous blog its definitely a conversation starter and also deserves the Best Statement Piece FOSCAR. At this point in time you’re probably thinking why I seem to have an obsession with snake’s however I would like to point out the irony that if faced with a real life snake I would not be so keen for it to wrap itself around my arm or my finger!



Coming in second in the bangles category is this multi-coloured marvel again from what seems like the new fashion capital of England, Ilford in Essex. I love the versatility of this cuff as the many colours means it will go with most things and when wearing saris or salwaar kameez it’s really useful to have as an accessory as a lot of Indian clothing is bright and vibrantly coloured.

It’s a versatile little number and good for girls who don’t really like wearing bangles or who just want to wear that one piece without having to wear any other accompanying accessories.

Thus I feel it fit to deem this baby the Most Versatile Accessory FOSCAR.



The next two items are just ordinary bangles but with a difference. The first set is from Pakistan and the other set from India. As I mentioned before bangles and jewellery from India is bright and vibrant to complement the clothing. The Pakistani’s also share this belief when it comes to clothing and accessories.



I love the colour of these bangles but what makes them so special and unique is the end bangles are joined by a chain of leafs, giving the illusion of a cuff. I have not seen anything like this here yet but I am sure that it will be coming to every fashionista’s jewellery box soon.

So this definitely deserves the FOSCAR for the Most Unique set of Bangles.

Now we come to our Indian arm bling and I given these the Most Stylish FOSCAR. Although just an ordinary set of bangles I like the two end bangles which have the ‘pendants’ on the end of them. Like the bangles above it they give the illusion of wearing just a cuff rather then a set of bangles. Unlike the set above I have started to see other bangles creep like these into our high street shops. Just for the record I had mine way before Miss Selfridges started stocking them ;)



Please do tune in next week where the FOSCAR’s will finish off with the categories of Clothing and of course every girl’s best friends (after diamonds that is!) Shoes! 

Fashion Oscars (FOSCAR's) Rings

As mentioned in my first blog I like anything that is unique and weird looking (well weird looking to others but ‘fun’ or ‘wacky’ for me :). Some of the things I am going to be writing about maybe from the high street but it’s the uniqueness has made it stand out and thus made my Fashion Oscars Hall of Fame. This particular blog will focus on rings I have and over the coming weeks I will focus on other fashion items I have that are unique to me.

The first item I am going to start the Fashion Oscars (FOSCAR’s) with is the oversized snake cocktail ring from Miss Selfridges. This ring has been nominated for Best Lone Accessory and Best Statement Piece.



This little number makes a big statement and in my opinion should only be worn as a lone accessory because of its size. If worn with anything else the ring would drown all the other accessories i.e. bracelet or bangles.

It has a great vintage feel to it but with a modern twist with the bling and being the size it is. Definitely a conversation starter and so far I have received observations such as “God that’s a small ring, can hardly see it” (!) or “OMG your ring is huuuuge”, which is why it’s been nominated in its categories.

And now (drum roll) this ‘little’ number has won the FOSCAR for… Best Statement Piece.

Coming in fast behind my reptile friend is what I can only describe a ‘totem pole’ look ring from the Limited Edition range from New Look:



This ring has been nominated for the Most Unique Looking category. The wonderful thing about this ring is that it is disguised as something that would found in an upmarket boutique or niche market stall but in actual fact it’s from a humble high street chain.

This has delighted many an audience when I have told them where it is from and kudos to New Look for pushing their brand ahead of their competitors by reaching out to a new market but not alienating their existing one.

Thus I think it’s only fair to give a special award to New Look for New Audience Recognition and Best Updated Brand. Although the next piece is not in the running for an FOSCAR I just love the look of it and again it’s from our purse friendly high street chain. Again it looks like it should belong to a little boutique.



Not forgetting our Totem Pole friend who definitely deserves the Most Unique Looking FOSCAR.

Next high street beauty I brought with the matching necklace as one has to co-ordinate you know ;) but mainly because it had to go with a sari I have too. It’s got more then one colour which includes my favourite colour jade green in it.

Not only a beautiful set but a multi-talented piece as the colours means it goes with many an outfit! Accessories like this are great for going with certain outfits or to brighten or update a plain outfit. FOSCAR awarded to this TopShop piece for All Rounder Statement Piece.



Moving away from the high street chains whilst on my travels I have found the best things can come from shops that are not are not particularly big or have other chains. Just before I got married last year I was in Ilford, Essex when my Aunty and I were in a fabric shop where she decided to occupy her time and mine looking at the same fabrics in ten shades.

I left her to barter with the sales assistant while I stumbled upon a basement full of delight. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and handbags adorned this tiny space. It was here I saw this ring and knew that not many people would have seen it and it was not mass produced by some huge chain.



This ring deserves the One off Piece FOSCAR as I have not seen anything else like this anywhere yet or in a high street shop either.

Staying within the small shops category I found this quirky little number in my own home town and first thought it was a brooch or something that a tie is held with. To my delight I found it was a ring and have had many complements for it. This little number gets the Most Quirky FOSCAR.



The next two pieces I found in the British Heart Foundation charity shop and as every good fashionista knows (or should know) the best bargains could be found in your local charity shop. Although not second hand items these rings were designed by the BHF to sell in their shops. They are sweet and pretty numbers and as well as feeding my desire for cool accessories I also contributed to a charitable cause which I recommend every one should do.



These beaded beauties get the Best Bargain from a Charitable Organisation FOSCAR.

Last but certainly not least we have the ‘Liquid’ ring from what I can describe as the happiest shop in the world called Octopus. If you have not been to one of these shops its something you should definitely do, even if you do not end up buying anything. They have a few stores scattered round mainly in London but there is one in Reading, Coventry and Bath. (If there is any more please do feel free to comment and let me know).

Going to this shop is an experience in itself as the stuff in there is the wackiest, and most original I have seen so far in any shop. The things in this shop you would never ever think people make or wear but people definitely do the latter.

So back to my liquid ring purchase, I fell in love with the colour as it’s a bright vibrant green and size wise it’s a bit smaller then the other rings featured on here but the fact it’s not got the normal stone or gem inside it, is what makes this a great purchase.

I discovered this shop believe it or not watching Coronation Street. The character Fiz Brown had a handbag in the shape of a watering can (yes you read it right, a watering can) and over the next few episodes she was carrying various odd shaped bags such as a bag shaped like a car and a tea pot!

I fell into lust with the watering can handbag instantly so hunted high and low for it and eventually came to the Octopus shop. So one thing leads to another and I ended up buying the watering can shaped handbag. People think I am crazy and I do get looked at when out but so far have only heard positive comments about it. I think people appreciate that people like me have the confidence to buy things like this and be proud to wear them at the same time, even if they do not have the confidence to do so themselves.

So we have a couple of FOSCAR’s here. The first one goes to the Liquid ring below for being Most Wacky but Cool along with the watering can handbag. I’d also like to award a FOSCAR to Octopus for being the Most Innovative Shop out there so far.



The next blog continues on with the Neckaces and Bangles FOSCAR's.

Virgin Blogger

As the blog suggests it is my first time and I have finally after a lot of inspiration have got the courage to write about what I love most- Fashion :) I like to think of myself as a fashion enthusiast, I love most fashion but my forte is anything weird or unique. This is stuff that is usually pushing fashion boundaries and that people would not normally wear or like.

Examples of these brands are:

- Irregular choice. As the name suggests this shoe brand is not your Clarks regular type shoes. The brand has wonderful quirky designs that are not really for the faint hearted or someone who follows the mainstream fashion trends. Shoes include designs of wacky and unusual prints. My favourites include the court shoe with the tape measure as a bow. See link:

http://www.schuh.co.uk/womens-black-and-white-irregular-choice-court-tape-measure/1106337270/

My favourite at the moment from Irregular Choice and which I am in Lust with are the boots with an image of a ladies face on them. The price I am not so in lust with as I am not working but I hope Santa (i.e. my husband) knows how good I have been this year and fills my stocking with them :D.

http://www.schuh.co.uk/irregular-choice/womens-black-irregular-choice-possibly-maybe-lady-calf-boot/1555007050/

- Punky fish. This brand is inspired from the Punk era, so loads of slashes etc in the clothing. Remember to explain to your Mum if she still does your laundry that its supposed to be like that and the washing machine has not chewed it up, as my Mother thought when she first washed my punky fish slash vest. Mum's God bless them :).

Although recently I have to say I am a bit disappointed with Punky Fish as they have taken a bit more of a 'mainstream' edge, which I can understand, as they want a more mainstream audience but I still feel they should still give their old Punky Fish enthusiasts such as myself what we love about them: Out of this world, edgy and unique fashion so not to alienate their existing audience.

As mentioned before I like to call myself the Fashion Enthusiast so as well as liking weird and wonderful fashion, I am also a high street honey (No not the FHM type that likes to strut around in her birthday suit) but one that is a fan of brands such as New Look and Warehouse.

I have to admit despite all the negative media attention I am partial to a bit of Primarni (Primark), let’s face it in this economic downturn we have to rely on cheap chic. Who says recession can’t be chic ;)