Trend post: Clutch Bags

There are way too many times when my bag doubles up as Mary Poppins' holdall. Whatever you ask me for, the likelihood is that you find it in my bag. But both for reasons of health (I can't possibly keep carrying such weight on my shoulder / elbow on a daily basis) and to satisfy my voracious appetite to be on trend, I want to convert to clutch bags.

I don't think I'll go as far as opting for the micro clutches where I wouldn't even be able to fit my keys and mobiles (I hate the fact I have 2 but that's life at the moment!). Luckily there are some gorgeous oversized clutch bags which I believe can satisfy my fashion obsession and carry all my daily 'necessities' around, whether I'm heading to the office, market or to my favourite watering hole.

Clutch bags seem to have, for a time until recently, existed only in the realm of occasion-wear, to be taken out only for a wedding or a smart occasion when, really and truly, one wouldn't need to carry much stuff around with them in any case.  But nowadays, wearing a clutch with a pair of converse trainers for the morning errands is very much the thing to do, and I for one, am pretty keen on giving such look a go. Actually, and as is probably evident from these pins and my Pinterest board here, I quite love how such formerly more formal bags are paired with more laid back outfits.

Shop the trend with Shopcade: 

I feel I'm already on the right track on this: the last two purchases in this department, both courtesy of gift vouchers from people close to my heart, were in fact clutch bags.  It's a matter of actually using them now.  Maybe I'll give the smaller one from Parfois (similar to this, but plain) a test run this beautiful Sunday morning ... and try the other, larger one from Asos (which is this) for the office one of these days.  Have you ever worn a clutch bag to work? Let me know how practical or otherwise that was in the comments section below xx

Trend Watch: Moody Blooms

If there's one pattern you should be investing in at the moment - be it from the sales or from the new collections already making their way into our favourite stores - it is definitely moody blooms.  Look out for dark floral patterns, preferably botanical with bugs and butterflies included, or digitally manipulated florals abstracting the essence of the the nature-inspired motif.  Palettes are dark and moody, in rich jewel tones contrasted with saturated yellows, rose and green.  Go for head-to-toe if you dare or sport a patterned bag or jewelled statement necklace for a more subtle look.  For more inspirational images, view my dark floral trend Pinterest board here.

Trend Watch: Bug Jewellery

I don't know about you, but I tend to freak out whenever I see any sort of bug.  Anything that has 6 or more legs, crawls around in the most unexpected of places or takes flight in your direction when you're trying to avoid it just creeps me out.

Except, that is, when they are set in gold or silver and covered in Swarovski crystals - not the real things of course! Much as I don't like roaches, moths etc etc, I still wouldn't want to see any harm done to them!

Enter the mini trend of the season: bug jewellery! Flowers have always been a main motif depicted in women's jewellery, and lately, forest critters like owls, rabbits, squirrels and deer have also found their glitzy spotlight.  It was high time for the creepy crawlies to make an entrance into the world of haute couture jewellery and high street spin offs.  So as you're writing down your Christmas wish-lists, here's a few picks for all pockets, whether as gifts to self, stocking fillers or gifts from that someone special!

So do thank your lucky stars there are these options which are nowhere as creepy as those used by Jared Gold during his America's Next Top Model Cycle 6 challenge! Refresh your memory here: