For the Love of Costume Jewellery

"A woman should mix fake and real. To ask a woman to wear real jewels only, is like asking her to cover herself with real flowers instead of flowery silk prints.” Coco Chanel
 

I have a very serious love affair with costume jewellery. I think it started around the time I was 4. My mother used to give me strings of beads and necklaces to dress up with. I was taken. I love it in all forms - classic imitations of pearls or iconic/designer pieces, garish gold and pieces that are oversized or make taking risks that much more fun, brighter or sparkly.

Costume jewellery is so easily accessible and can be found at markets, op shops and retail shops. My favourite pieces to collect are statement necklaces {big, textured, vibrant colours, intricate designs}, cocktail rings {usually oversized finger candy that packs a punch} and earrings {dangling ones are my favourites}. Statement necklaces are fantastic as they can be paired with pretty much everything and anything - pair with jeans and a t-shirt for understated but definitely noticed glamour or with a dress to put together the perfect event outfit.

In my opinion costume jewellery aides in not only creating a look but telling a story. It is affordable, exciting and will spark compliments or conversations. There is something for everyone - from dainty trinkets to large, oversized statement accessories. One great tip: limit the tacky... you can wear it without looking like you got dressed in the dark on the way to a fancy dress party. Some of my favourite items in my collection are tacky, but I either style it in a way that plays it up and has fun with it or tones down the glare.

My two favourite places to buy some pieces are Lovisa and Equip .. I find so many great buys and amazing accessories from these shops. I am always keeping my eyes open for statement pieces and have found them in stores like Dotti, Big W, Kmart, opshops or vintage stores and small boutiques too.

 

Here are six new finds I currently love {and where to buy them!} + all items are less than $30

The Mosaic Triangle Cobalt Bib {LOVISA}

Lovisa is one of my go to places for statement necklaces, I think this item is just gorgeous, a good size and I love that it not only looks classy but has some edge to it. Triangles are right on trend and once I saw this necklace I automatically thought of five outfits I would create. Added to my wishlist!
{In the research of this article I admit... I snuck out and purchased it! Retails at $29.99}

 Add some glistening glamour with the Graduated Tassle Drop Earring {Equip}

I think these are perfect for a night out or to wear to a formal, wedding or maybe just because! They are a steal at $12.99 {currently included in the buy 2 get 1 free deal from Equip}. I love these because they look sophisticated, and are in tone with the 1920s Glamour trend as shown in the Great Gatsby {read this article for more Gatsby style tips and tricks} - a classic pair of dangly earrings.

 

 

Lately, I have been obsessing over cuffs. Lovisa have the best range I can find - and most without the awful string/stretch style - below is the Gold Curved Edge Clamp Cuff I have had my eye on

Every time I look at it I think how amazing it would look paired with a little black dress or even skinny jeans and my red stilettos with gold spikes running down the heel. This is a perfect signature piece which makes a statement on its own or adds impact to a show stopping outfit. It is also available in silver, retails at $19.99 {only recently purchased the Rose Gold Tone Asymmetrical Cuff but feel this cuff may make an appearance in my collection soon!}

 

Diamanté Peacock Ring {LOVISA}

 If I am going to wear a costume ring, it has to have impact, make a statement and stand out... which is the definition of a cocktail ring. Originally worn on the hands of women sipping cocktails and enjoying festivities, and now available to everyone.. You can go as simple or extravagant as you want - I always think a ring has been a success when it catches someone's eye and/or you get a comment or compliment about the ring. I loved this multi-coloured, embellished ring and snapped it up for $16.99

 

Embrace the tribal trend with the Ombre Ribbon Necklace

 

No animal print on this one but I adore the weaved look using a combination of gold metal and ribbon. It reminds me of women in African tribes or easily similar to fashions I saw in Dubai. I think exotic as soon as I see it and will be keeping an eye out for any future colours to come out before I decide which one to get - the turquoise ombre is a great piece for summer - pair with white, gold and bronzed skin. You can pick this up for $19.99

 

Lastly, I will extend this post to including the hair - hair covers {metal rings for over ponytails}, headbands, crowns, combs, clips, hairties ... often are just as embellished as the jewellery

 

The Cobalt Blue Beaded Sequin Headband retails at $19.99 from Lovisa and is a great statement piece to go with an outfit for a night out, special event or even for everyday wear, the elastic band means it can easily be incorporated into many different hairstyles. The black head band from Equip{called Textured Floral Alice Headband} can be paired with a classic up-do as a replacement for a fascinator and may be a perfect headpiece to pair with an evening dress - a headband like this is also great to distract from unwashed/styled hair, grab this for $14.99

 

Do you have a type of costume jewellery you commonly go for? Mine is definitely statement necklaces that are either embellished, involve strands of metal or chains, have some edge to them and are definitely eye-catching! I like my accessories to stand out from the crowd. For tips on how to protect and maintain any embellished pieces you may have or buy, read this post we wrote last year: Protect the Sparkle

 

Sarah - Kooklah - Living Doll Xo

 

As always you can find For the Style Seeking Girl on Facebook and Instagram

 





Lust Have!

I found a photo of these amazing shoes, and the definitely brightened my day! How special are they...



*Cannot find who they belong to - if anyone knows I will gladly apply source, I will keep looking too, but for now I will leave as is..

Kooklah Xx

Hint of Glamour #3

I have become increasingly intrigued of late with grouping multiple bangles and bracelets together...

 

 

This trend can be easily paired with everyday, basic styles or added to a dressy/ formal outfit for events. Watches or cocktail rings are often used to complement the look. This is a great way to accessorise.

Love the look of clustered bracelets-whether embellished, complementing or clashing in colour or design.

Many celebrities favour this look - including Nicole Ritchie, Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift and Blake Lively.This is definitely not just something in the celebrity world, my sister frequently has tangles of bangles or rope/beaded gypsy style bracelets adorning her arms and a friend I made while travelling picked up bracelets in each destination she visited, the clusters formed what she called her "gypsy arms".

  Go forth and experiment! This trend really allows you to highlight your individuality in a beautifully embellished way. Everyone loves some arm candy!

 

Would love to hear from you if you love/hate this style, any style/beauty questions or queries. Please leave a comment or send an email to kooklahstyle@gmail.com ...Kooklah Xx

Inspire Me Monday

Here is what is inspiring the start to my week! Sometimes you just need a little inspiration...

Inspire my Christmas!

I am working all across this Christmas, so I invested in a themed

scrub shirt to boost those of the patients... Check out Hunter Scrubs

 

 

Shoespiration

What I would love to have on my feet!

Amazing embellished flats From Marc by Marc Jacobs

 

Arabian Safari Inspiration...

Excited to go to Dubai next year, seeking inspiration from Sex & the City -2

Specifically flowing dresses and amazing harem pants (love Samantha's goldones below!)...

 



Summer makes things Brighter...

Love having more daylight hours, warm/musky evenings

 

 

 

What I am watching...

I am making good use of my box set and re-watching Friends

It is such a funny, endearing show, with characters to fall in love with

(Chandler Bing I am looking at you!)

 

 

What are you using as inspiration this week? More posts up soon!

Kooklah Xx

 





The Go-To for Needs-to-be-washed Hair

Do you ever have days where washing your hair feels like the biggest burden? Like the last thing that you actually want to do?



I do. Fairly often. Especially when I am working. I work a job that has long shifts (12hours) with busy days and the absolute last thing I feel like doing when I get home is washing and then drying my hair. Having asked some girls at work about this, the discussions started, not only did I find that I wasn't alone in not wanting to have to wash my hair on a run of shifts.

I found that the vast majority disliked the 'activity' of washing their hair altogether. Don't get me wrong, we don't like to have dirty hair but it was the effort involved. We also don't believe that you have to wash your hair every second day to have good hair. I wondered, has hair washing joined the club of bikini or jeans shopping? To be avoided until absolutley necessary?

I started watching each girl I had talked to, and what hairstyles they used. I noticed a pattern that was very close to what I do myself.

As the week went on the hairstyles went from chic well put together styles that attract attention - straight or curled styled hair (ponytails, structured 'dos)

to the use of big buns, woven styles and headbands (preferably embellished). Ala Carrie Bradshaw/Sarah jessica Parker, Lauren Conrad, Blair Waldorf...

 

I noticed that as we approached the end of the week of shifts a bun with height or texture was highly favoured. I have worn a half looped ponytail for the last two nightshifts (have taken it down and combed in between), which is bobbypinned in place. I find the bobbypins helped create the structure I wanted but also helped to stop the hair falling out or becoming too noticeable that it was messy/not washed. 

  

Do you have a go-to style to get extra mileage out of your hair? Wide, coloured or embellished headbands are always a bonus - one of my colleagues notices that I change my headbands each time, never wearing the same one twice in a row, but he has never noticed the needs-to-be-washed hair.

For other ideas on this topic head to a past post called 'For those Bad Hair Days'.


Kooklah Xx

*Disclaimer: I do not recommend avoiding washing if you use alot of product, this will only cause build up and make you look like you have dandruff!

Re-Invent Yourself...Style..

I find, like most people, I can often be unhappy about change. But this year I have been trying as much as possible to push myself out of my comfort zones in all areas of my life. This also includes my own style, I have tried new things- from accessories, to makeup to clothes, am currently pulling apart my wardrobe to get rid of items I no longer want or need and revamping my personal style.

I am currently favouring the use of a basic, almost minimalistic style using simple pieces which together create an impact. For example, one of these looks I am currently favouring is the use of:

• A blazer
• Tapered jeans or resin denim (coated denim which looks like leather)
• Embellished or detailed shoes (flats or heels)
• A flowy blouse or top

Using this simple formula I add accessories like necklaces, earrings, rings, bangles and clutches as I feel. This look is really very simple to go from day to night, either by vamping up an element of makeup or changing my hairdo but also from going from flats to heels, simple accessories to statement accessories. To start, the basics (pictures primarily sourced from current and past collections of Portmans, Forever New, Dotti, Just Jeans, Betts and ZU Shoes):




 

The colour and type of accessories you use will be dependant on the colours, fabrics and cuts used for your basic items. I favour my blazer in black, and dark denim or resin coated denim (usually come in gray or black) with shirts in any colour, most often something bright- white, pink, orange, patterned. I then use shoes that will blend or contrast including the use of glitter, textures or embellishment.

Using the outfit above, here are some accessories which add some glamour (from Equip Acessories).

 These accessories use the tonings of the outfit and complement whilst also drawing attention. I would use only two to three of these in order to achieve a minimalist look.

For example the ring, filigree drop earrings and the Ruby & Kit envelope clutch.

Using this look allows for simple and or more complex makeup and hair styles to be used (some examples are included below) but this is the time to have fun, use messy/bed hair, bold eye makeup red lips, have an intricate up do paired with barely there makeup. An outift like this becomes a canvas (albeit a well put together one) for you to explore with and add individual touches to.

What looks are you favouring? What looks would you like me to write about?

Kooklah, Xx