Brilliant Sparkles..

Style Theory: If you entered my Brilliant Inc Jewellery Instagram competition to win the beautiful ring below you may have had look at Brilliant Jewellery's range. Brilliant Inc are a jewellery company run by two sisters based in Duke of York Square just off Sloane Square and specialise in non mined diamonds (simulated diamonds) that look exactly like the real thing without the price tag. Heaven to all of us that yearn for that beautiful diamond ring but do not have the budget to buy, all hand set in solid gold or silver their jewellery really is quite spectacular...

Sabrina Champagne Ring £175

This was the prize from my Instagram competition (which has now closed and the winner  has been chosen by Brilliant Inc), it is my favourite piece in the collection. It is an amber stone surrounded by Brilliant non-mined fine diamonds set in gold vermeil. So sparkly and absolutely stunning, I completely adore it. 

The Brilliant diamonds look exactly like real diamonds, the ladies at Brilliant told me that only professional gemmologists with specialist equipment can tell the difference between these Brilliant stones and naturally mined diamononds.

The good news is I have a discount code for 15% off all the full priced jewellery in the range SCHOOLRUNMUM15 until 10th February  - a perfect Valentines gift or treat yourself to that piece of jewellery you have always longed for...

Tilly Ring £145

Brilliant Tilly claw set ring with emerald cut simulated diamond centre stone and simulated diamond trilliants set in Gold vermeil. Spectacular...

Halo Round Ring £185

Round brilliant cut centre stone in a halo setting with double band shoulder, 2ct centre stone set in sterling silver..this would make a beautiful engagement ring..

Tiny Brilliant Eternity Ring £125

Fine channel set band with brilliant cut stones set in sterling silver..a fabulous 'push' present?!

Trudy Ring £165

A triple layer of brilliant simulated diamonds, 1ct total diamond equivalent set in Rose Gold Vermeil - the perfect big birthday gift..

Aqua Oval and Brilliant Drops £245

Aqua Oval and Brilliant Drops Set in sterling silver with oval 2ct aqua drop and .25ct round brilliant stones, oval aqua 9x7mm and round brilliant 5mm. Glamorous and sophisticated.

Gala Lexi Pendant £125

Beautiful and chic necklace. I would wear on a fairly short chain so it sits quite high up.

Halo Hannah Pendant £145

Hannah Halo Pendant Gold Vermeil Centre stone 1.5ct 

Float Pendant £105

I have this in silver, it is beautiful and super sparkly. A classic, understated but stunning necklace.

Princess Bracelet £265

Princess cut stones in a channel setting. Set in sterling silver.

Love Bracelet £55

Because it is nearly Valentines Day..

Fabulous Bracelet £550

I am pushing the boat out for my last choice but this is truly stunning on, the cuff is set with clusters of marquise, round and pear shape non mined diamonds all set in gold vermeil, a 'wow' piece.. this was chosen by the 5 year old who is currently poorly off school and sitting next to me whilst I write this blog..it turns out he has expensive taste!

There are so many more beautiful pieces online, these photos just do not do the jewellery justice, if you ramp up the sparkle by a million percent you would be a little closer to what they look like in real life. If you are in the London, Chelsea area pop in, the girls are super friendly and would love you to have a browse. 

And don't forget the discount code SCHOOLRUNMUM15

Happy shopping, until next time Frances xx

**This is not a sponsored post I just think the jewellery is absolutely worth a mention if you are like me and have expensive taste without the bank balance to match!!

The Little Red Bag...

Style Theory: The little red bag is the perfect accessory to instantly lift an outfit or add a new twist. It is eye catching and at the same time classic, wear with camel, navy, black or pink to add a little vibrancy to your look...

Bag - Village England Mini Cranleigh £125
Coat - Maje £284.70 (in sale)
Breton - Boden £25
Jeans - Topshop (old) similar here 
Shoes - M&S (old season) similar here

This Village England Mini Cranleigh bag is beautiful, made of full grain leather (my favourite), gorgeously soft but structured. The attention to detail and design is that of a far more expensive bag, it has the feel of something really very special to be treasured. I love the subtle Village England branding, the brass medal on the side of the bag, the flap over top with magnet fastening, less fiddly than buckles, it is deceptively spacious and the cross body strap makes it perfect for running around town.....all in all a gorgeous Christmas bag....

From winter to summer the red bag will work to add a pop of colour to your wardrobe..these are the looks inspiring me....

Images via Pinterest

I can see the bag working just as well with my white and black sundresses as with faux fur and jeans now, the possibilities are endless...

Have you got a bag on your Christmas list this year, what is your wish list? The Christmas panic is starting to set in, I think I have done about half my shopping, no Christmas cards have as yet been written and the kids break up tomorrow..feeling a little behind as usual. I hope you are a little more organised than me!! As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx

*Mini Cranleigh bag was gifted but I was under no obligation to write about it, it just is gorgeous so I wanted to let you know about it..

Looking Forward...

Style Theory: M&S are really upping their game next season and I wanted to share with you a few key pieces I fell in love with at their SS16 press show. I will be looking out for them as they tick theSpring/Summer 2016 trends, are practical and affordable....

My Star Pick

The Bag of the Spring

So Chloe-esque but actually faux leather (looks pretty good) so a fraction of the price (apologies I forgot to find out the price but it will be reasonable) This will arrive in stores and online in January so a perfect post Christmas treat? Or, for me, a birthday treat as it my Birthday in Jan (far too close to Christmas!)

The Dresses..

Per una Dress £75

I bought a similar dress a few years ago from &Other Stories in black and have worn it non stop through the summer, for weddings, dinner dates and evenings on holiday. I love the colour of this one and will be looking to buy this one for my summer holidays next year.

Limited Edition Dress £45 Brooch £19.50

This is one of those dresses than can be dressed up or down. It would look fab with a pair of pale tan strappy sandals, or clash the print with leopard print shoes or wear with Stan Smith trainers for a laid back vibe. The tie at the front will conceal a small tummy and the long sleeves makes it super flattering. I love the eye brooch, it adds a modern twist to a traditional dress. I can definitely see this working in my Spring wardrobe.

The Blouses/Shirts..

Frill Blouse £29.50

A subtle take on the Miu Miu blouse of this season. This is a shape I can really get on board, with a pair of blue skinny jeans and white superga trainers for a cute, on trend look.

As you know I am fond of a victoriana blouse and this one looks beautiful, almost antique with it's soft blush colour and gold details. I am afraid I do not have the price of this one but will update this when I find out.

The Skirt...

Autograph Skirt £199

A luxe leather skirt in the most divine forest green, I would love this to wear now with a black polo neck, black opaques and heels. The wrap 'utility' look is key for next season, wear in the Spring with tan heels and a simple tee. A pricey piece but when seen in real life it looks sumptuous.

The Smart Dungarees

Limited Edition Top £29.50
Limited Edition Dungarees: £49.50

Dungarees are now the norm, this elegant pair of dungaree will look great in the spring with pointed heels and a blouse. Simple but tailored, a relaxed look that is perfectly SS16.

The Shoes..

A beautiful warm khaki tone in faux suede, these have a mid heel and the tie details brings them perfectly up to date.

The Jacket

Indigo Collection Jacket £59

A soft, feminine take on the bomber jacket, pair with a grey sweater, boyfriend distressed jeans and a pair of Stan Smiths for a cool look.

The Bucket Bag..

Cute, faux leather bucket bags that will go with every outfit. Add the stripe one to an all black summer dress for a chic look.

A little sneak peak into what M&S has in-store next season, some really stunning pieces that I am looking forward to adding to my Spring wardrobe.

Back to the present now and a couple of my outfits from this week..

MY STYLE

For running around town for a day of Press Shows and meetings..

Coat: Zara similar here
Dungarees: H&M similar here 
Blouse: Zara sold out
Trainers: Footasylum 
Bag: c/o Dune

For work at the boutique..completely adore this scarf it is oversize, the most perfect shade of grey, 100% wool and so so soft and non itchy..

Scarf: Travelling Bazaar
Sweater: Zara old season
Jeans: Topshop
 Boots: Clarks  

Back to winter inspired fashion for the next few blogs and I have a few fabulous Christmas Gift blogs started, I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet, things have been super busy so next week I am focussing and the buying will commence!!

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, what do you think of the M&S SS16 edit, any pieces catch your eyes? Until next time Frances xxx

The Perfect Black Ankle Boot

Style Theory: The criteria for the perfect black ankle boot..comfortable, flattering, buckles (very AW15) pointed toe, short ankle height and soft leather. I have found them from non-other than Clarks

Boots -  Clarks Stanhope V&A boots £125
Dress - Asos (old season)
Bag - H&M similar here

The boots are from the Clarks V&A collection, Clarks collaborated with the Victoria and Albert museum to create a cool and slightly more edgier range of shoes. They looked to different periods in history for inspiration, these boots hail from the 80s, the Goth era to be specific. Clarks have smartened the goth look to create a pair of boots that are sharp, chic and completely on trend. The buckles toughen up the look without looking too heavy.

Halloween Outfit
Jacket: H&M old season
Blouse: Zara
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: Clarks Stanhope £125

Made in soft leather these boots are the perfect height to be worn with dresses and skirts, or with skinny jeans/ leather leggings. I have chopped my black jeans up to just above my ankle so the boots sit below..fine for mild weather and the boots keep my feet warm. As I find with most of Clarks shoes, they are undeniably comfortable with a very small heel, the perfect schoolrun to evening out boots. The leather looks mottled online in real life it is far less so (actually the photo online put me off a little I am glad I ordered them anyway!) They are exactly what I was looking for and the fact that they are super comfy, complete with ' cushion plus' technology makes me even happier!

Here are a few ideas of how I will be styling them...

images via Pinterest

They will be so useful throughout the autumn/winter and spring, they look fab with bare legs so if I try not to eat too many selection boxes over Christmas I may try the bare leg look in the Spring.....

Have you found your perfect winter boots, how are you wearing yours this year? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx

*I was gifted the boots but under no obligation to blog about them - these exceeded my expectations.

Winter Sparkle

Style Theory: We all need a little sparkle in our lives right? It is never too early to add an item of sparkly clothing to your wardrobe...

It is easy to make it daytime acceptable. Just wear one glitter item, I am thinking this season a jumper or a vest top, and dress down with jeans, trainers (or wellies!) and wear a parka over the top so just a little sparkle is showing. I wore my new Primark black and silver jumper with my dungarees, completely dressed down and during the daytime I still managed to get a little sparkle in my life..

Jumper: Primark £9 (avail in store)
Dungarees: H& M similar here
Converse: House of Fraser now £35.99
Bag: &Other Stories similar here

The Primark sweater is available in store (also in a gold colour) and was £9 or £10, my local store had lots so it worth checking if you fancy a little sparkle!

There are some gorgeous sparkly tops available on the high street, here is my edit of the best:

The Dream Top...

Bella Freud in Selfridges £270

The dream sweater from Bella Freud, blue merino wool with metallic yarn, sparkly and extra special, the kind of Christmas jumper I would be more than happy to wear. Also comes in black... 

Travelling Bazaar £179

Travelling Bazaar £179

This Munthe sweater from Travelling Bazaar has a stunning, super glittery (sparklier in real life) panel of sparkle across the middle. The beige has silver, the pink has gold, it is a super soft sweater mohair and wool mix, not itchy at all. Wear with wellies or with heels this sweater would be a hard worker in your wardrobe!

&Other Stories £65

Another gorgeous sweater with a nod to metallics, merino wool, supersoft and at a more affordable price than the Bella Freud sweater, this is on my wish list. I love the skirt too which will available soon..the outfit above is a really cool Christmas look, add black opaques and little shoe boots.

&Other Stories £45

This sweater looks really luxe, I would size up to wear it slouchy. 

H&M Poloneck £29.99

Love the gold colour with blue denim, wear underneath a denim pinafore dress with opaque tights and trainers for a relaxed look. *one to try on just to check it is not itchy..

H&M £24.99

Love the shade of red of this jumper, it looks a fine knit so would not be itchy. I would size up on this sweater and wear slouchy with black ankle length jeans and a pair of heels for a night out. Or for daytime with a pair of blue boyfriend jeans and stan smith trainers.

H&M £49.99

Slightly 'out there' but I adore this jacket. Again I would size up, wear slouchy, completely dress down to make it daytime ready, wear a white/grey/black t-shirt underneath, a pair of loose boyfriend jeans and stan smith trainers. Or wear with a tee, a pair of black skinny jeans and black converse.

Topshop £20

This top speaks for itself, wear it instead of a grey Tee to add a little sparkle.

Topshop £36

Love this top, the shape is gorgeous, a real swing top, balance the volume by wearing skinny jeans and a pair of heeled ankle boots.

Zara £17.99

This has a subtle gold thread through the fabric for a gold sheen. Love the sleeves on this top, this would look great under dungarees or a pair of leather shorts, thick tights and a pair of trainers.

I am well and truly onboard with a bit of Autumn sparkle, I think I may 'need' the &otherstories sweater and the H&M zip top, love the sporty vibe.

Are you a fan of shimmer and sparkle or do indulge at Christmas or avoid completely?! As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx