The Big 6: Accessories. Trend's 1 and 2...

After receiving May's edition of Vogue this morning (I've just got back from Spain, so it's been sitting on my doormat for a few days), I was delighted to find out that it was accompanied by another Vogue Promotion, this time, sponsored by H&M. I flicked through the coverage of this seasons biggest trends, but wasn't grabbed by any of the accessories or driven to go out and impulse buy (however, I might add, the clothes were beautiful!). So, I thought to myself, could I do any better? Probably not, but it's worth a shot anyway!
Trend 1: 'Tribal Tech' (or Urban Safari, or whatever you refer to it as)
I did take a fancy to the Dannijo Brass and Swarovski Crystal Cuff (£283), and the Ugg Australia Silk Scarf Bag (£165) (oh, I do love a good silk scarf...), but with both of these items, I felt like I'd been lead on. The front cover of the promotional magazine clearly states (in large neon pink capitals), that I was going to be seeing cheap but chic items (because after all, everyone wants "maximum style, minimum spend", right?), but I couldn't imagine myself going out and buying both of these items at that kind of price. Yes, the bag may be silk and yes, the cuff may be made of Swarovski Crystals, and you can't put a price on quality, but surely that level of indulgence should be saved for the main magazine? In a promotional magazine that prides itself on price, I expected lower prices.
So, I've decided to recommend a few items that I think might have fitted the bill better:

Topshop's Faux Snake Frame Bag is perfect. It's edgy, textured and bang on trend, plus its looks great with or without the chain strap that it comes with. Team it with the J by Jasper Conran Cotton Mix Skirt that Vogue recommends, and you've got yourself a winning look. and the price? About 1/10 of the cost of the cuff at only £28.

Bimba and Lola (possibly my favourite accessories brand at the moment) have some of the most gorgeous and fun jewellery EVER! This Parrot Bracelet is their most expensive bracelet, but come on, at £50, it's hardly an investment, and it's almost a third of the price of the Ugg bag. And did I mention it's a parrot? On a bracelet? Genius. Check out the matching ring too, because in my experience, you can never have too many parrots...(£31)

Trend 2: 'Sharp Whites'

White is my favourite colour. Without a shadow of a doubt. It may be easy to find white clothes, but it is certainly not easy trying to find equally as charming white accessories. So yeah, this may take me a while... And just so you understand this, Vogue only put in a tote bag and a belt.

So, as I was still on Bimba and Lola's website, I decided to look on there. Then I found this gorgeous Buffalo Leather Wallet. I love wallets. And this one is so perfect for this trend, and the Bimba and Lola logo (the greyhound) looks amazing on the front in gold. But at £68, I can't help but think that I can do a little better.

I decided to move onto bags - satchels to be precise - after a fruitless search for white jewelry. Then, I found this bag from Urban Outfitters. it's a Mono Contrast Satchel (and I know it isn't all white, but I fell in love with it). Yes, I may have cheated a little bit, but when you're only paying £48, you're allowed to. What's that? It's in their sale? And how much is it now, I hear you cry. Take off £23, and you've got yourself a chic statement satchel that (kind of) fits this season's number 2 trend. (it's now £25, if you can't do the maths)  

A quick note on beauty now. White is rarely seen on the face (after all, we don't all want to look like a sheet of paper, and no, you're un-tanned 'milk bottle' skin doesn't count either). So where can you get your fix of white in the beauty world? Duh, Dolce of course! Dolce and Gabbana's Crayon Intense Eyeliner in White is perfect. They recommend you use it as an eyeliner, applying it in short dashes along the lash line, working from the outer edge of the eye to the inner, and smoothing any gaps with a cotton bud. But with a colour like white, there's only one way to apply it in (and on) my eyes. Doing the same short dashes technique as D&G suggest is great, but if you focus on the inner eye, it immediately brightens eyes and makes them seem larger. blend it slightly before applying mascara though, to avoid looking like you've painted it on (more on painting makeup in my next post.. Details below). But at £17.50, it isn't cheap for make up. Try Rimmel's Soft Kohl Eyepencil in Pure White, which does the job just as well, but at £2, it's much more affordable.

So that wraps up trends 1 and 2. Sad... But my next post will be on this season's two biggest trends: Pastels and Feminine Lace. Damn, I'm excited. I'm going to be able to bring out the little girl inside me all over again.