Union Jewellery’s Unique Treasure Trove – The Chic Classics.

Accessories can make an outfit! If I had a penny for every time I’ve advised a client, friend, or family member of that fact… well, I’d own every sensational piece of jewellery ever designed by the incomparable Alexis Bittar (as you know dear readers, my love for Bittar jewellery is undying) and probably have enough spare change to invest in several pairs of limited edition Louboutins (including the spellbinding stilettos on the right)!!

The transformative powers of beautiful, stylish jewellery and accessories is undeniable. Some pieces have an almost magical ability to change the look & style of an outfit, from something relatively simple and unremarkable, to a stunningly beautiful, unique outfit which showcases the wearer’s individuality, and allows them to stand out from the crowd. And no one understands this better than the multi-talented team at Union Jewellery.

Union Jewellery is one of those highly treasured style address book secrets that the Image Mistress simply can’t resist sharing with you! Stocking an amazing array of jewellery and accessories, Union is a treasure trove of stylish gems, offering customers a fabulous mixture of pieces from the collections of universally renowned brands such as Mawi & Lara Bohinc, and the delightful designs of incredible up & coming labels including Modern Love & Miquella. Plus, a friendly, relaxed atmosphere & wonderful customer service – something The Image Mistress has experienced first hand during trips to Union – ensure customers have the perfect shopping experience! Little wonder then, that this Brighton based luxury jewellery & accessories store is fast becoming the go-to destination for any stylista seeking to find chic, statement jewellery.

With their incredible knowledge & expertise in the field of fashionable jewellery and accessories; a keen eye for phenomenally beautiful, luxe pieces; and an impeccable sense of what supremely stylish women want from jewellery and accessories, the team at Union Jewellery have a flair for finding those unique ‘must have’ accessories. Every product stocked by Union is the pure embodiment of the modern stylista’s ideal accessory, combining statement glamour, versatility, quality, and ultimately style – which is exactly why the Image Mistress is thrilled to be collaborating with Union on a series of superb blog posts!

So today, we’re kick-starting this exciting collaboration by putting a spotlight on several fairly classic, sensationally stylish products currently stocked by Union Jewellery, and available in both their Brighton store and on their official website – www.unionjewellery.com. The Image Mistress has personally selected seven divine, classically chic pieces which will transform the appearance of two wardrobe staples that every woman owns – the basic white shirt and the little black dress.

Kimono-Kouture cuff, by abi-K – Personally, I think that abi-K – the accessories label Launched in 2011 by exceptionally talented British designer Abigail Keefe – is one of Union’s greatest discoveries. The label’s award winning Kimono-Kouture collection features luxurious jewellery & clutch bags intricately hand-crafted from delectably decadent, vintage Japanese obi silk. Given that only a small number of pieces can be made from the material of any one obi, each of abi-K’s designs are completely unique.

Fusing elements of classic style, creative chic, dramatic glamour, and sophisticated femininity, this beautiful red, black, and gold butterfly patterned cuff is incredibly versatile, and a brilliant accessory to invest in. The combination of rich colours and lavish fabrics will add luxe detailing to your favourite LBD & add a unique twist to your look. Or, if you want to give your classic white shirt a chic-over, the vibrant red and gold hues will look bold, dramatic, and striking against the pristine white fabric!

As with any statement cuff or bangle, this piece is particularly suited to apple, inverted triangle, & rectangle-shaped women, as it will emphasize your elegant, slender wrists, and help deflect attention from the upper body, though it will suit pears & hourglasses too. Though there are a number of abi-K cuffs available in this particular colourway, the pattern on the obi silk is laid out in such a way that no two cuffs are identical, meaning you’ll get a piece that is truly one of a kind!

Navajo Cuff, by Anabel Campbell – Vibrant colours and patterns, found in various tribal costumes and textiles from around the globe, provide inspiration for the designs of newly established British jewellery label Anabel Campbell. Based at her North London studio, Anabel skilfully and painstakingly weaves each of her Bohemian style necklaces, cuffs, and bracelets on a loom.

As we’re focusing on jewellery and accessories with a fairly classic aesthetic today, we’ve chosen to showcase this gorgeous gold, black, and silver beaded Navajo cuff – a piece which reflects 2012’s highly popular ethnic traveller trend, but in such a subtle way that this cuff will not date quickly. Plus, the impeccable quality of Campbell’s jewellery ensures that this exquisite beaded cuff will feature in your wardrobe for years to come.

No matter what your body shape, the Navajo cuff will undoubtedly give your classic black dress, or white shirt a contemporary edge. However it is an especially good accessory for rectangle, inverted triangle, and apple figured women, as it will draw the eye towards that lean lower body you want to show off.

Key Largo Brooch, by Erickson Beamon – A brand synonymous with opulence & excellent quality, Erickson Beamon’s incredibly beautiful jewellery is adored by such supremely stylish celebrities as Samantha Cameron & Kate Moss. Offering a hint of gorgeous vintage glamour, the enchanting Art Deco inspired Key Largo brooch displays Erickson Beamon’s characteristic originality and artistry in its intricately detailed design.

Bearing all the hallmarks of the glamorous, feminine, and eclectic style personalities, this elegant pale pink brooch is an ideal accessory for women of all body shapes, as it can be worn in a variety of ways. Rectangles, hourglasses, and pears will find that pinning this pretty, feminine brooch to the top of the button placket on a classic white shirt, so as it sits around the throat, will help to draw the eye towards their lean upper body, whilst adding an interesting, creative detail to an otherwise plain garment.

The Key Largo brooch can also be used to embellish the lapels of coats and blazers, or adorn the neckline of a dress to lend a hint of sophisticated sparkle to the garment. And if you are wary of drawing too much focus towards your torso, why not do something unexpected with this brooch by pinning it to hats or headbands? Not only will this look incredibly refined & quite creative, it will also ensure that attention is deflected from broader shoulders, or a full upper body!

Heiress triple strand necklace Mawi – We at The Image Mistress absolutely adore Mawi’s lustworthy jewellery, for its remarkable versatility, timeless quality, and general splendour. Each piece is a bewitching blend of contemporary style & elements of traditional jewellery, and the Heiress triple strand necklace – one of several stunning Mawi designs stocked by Union – simply radiates alluring glamour & class.

An absolutely exquisite, bejewelled accessory, Mawi’s triple strand Heiress necklace manages to be a strong statement necklace which will enhance the slender upper body of a pear, rectangle, or hourglass-figured woman, yet delicate enough to suit inverted triangle and apple-shaped women also. Teaming this necklace with your basic, unembellished little black dress will lend a touch of opulent glamour to the classic wardrobe staple, and will instantly make that chic yet simple white shirt appear dramatic & infinitely stylish.

As your style evolves over time the Heiress triple strand necklace will continue to lend itself to a variety of looks & complement countless garments. Every woman should own an enchanting investment piece such as this, which will transcend the seasons & the ages with ease, never going out of fashion.

Twisted knot earrings by Miquella – Following a highly successful debut at LFW in February 2009, London based jewellery label Miquella is now firmly situated at the cutting edge of style, and is hot property in the fashion industry! The founders of Miquella – entrepreneur David Rosenberg & graduate Caroline Upward – draw inspiration for their highly covetable jewellery designs from a mixture of key art movements & current fashion trends. Semi precious stones, fine metals, & Swarovski crystals are carefully interwoven with luxe fabrics such as silk & leather, to create Miquella’s distinctive, utterly enchanting jewellery.

Wearing these sublime earrings will instantly transform even the simplest of outfits, adding a sophisticated, dramatic edge to your look. Miquella’s twisted knot earrings will dangle gracefully down the side of the face, which will help elongate round, oval, and heart shaped faces, whilst the roundness of the twisted knot will help to soften the angles of a square shaped face.

Blue Smoke Scarf by Modern Love – When selecting accessories to complement classic garments like a little black dress, or a white shirt, women tend to look for pieces which will inject detail and personality into an outfit, changing the look of a garment without overwhelming it. Incorporating a printed scarf into your sleek, polished ensemble is an excellent way to do just that, and the Blue Smoke scarf by Modern Love will instantly breathe new life into plain white shirts & simple black dresses.

The result of a collaboration between designer Sarah Arnett & fashion editor Kim Hunt, up and coming label Modern Love is one of many exciting new brands stocked by Union Jewellery, and several of their scarves are exclusively available at Union! An inspiring fusion of myriad influences result in the beguiling prints which are a key characteristic of Modern Love designs. Each individual scarf is like a phenomenally chic work of art – a quality which sets Modern Love apart from a host of other labels.

The combination of deep blue, charcoal, and soft grey hues is brilliant for injecting stylish detailing, and a hint of colour into a crisp white shirt or a black dress, as the neutral grey and charcoal shades in the print temper the vibrancy of the blue to ensure that the colour will not be overpowering or leave your complexion looking washed out. And the mesmerizing, whimsical print which represents the spellbinding patterns created by wisps of smoke drifting through the air, reflects aspects of the creative, eclectic, and dramatic style personalities.

Printed silk neck scarves like this are perfect for women whose shape is pear, rectangle, or hourglass, as they add volume to your slimmer top half, extending the lines of your shoulders & creating the illusion of beautiful balance between the proportions of your upper and lower body. However, apple and inverted triangle-shaped women should be careful when accessorizing with a scarf, especially one as eye-catching and detailed as the ‘Blue Smoke’ scarf, as it will emphasize your full upper body, rather than slimming it. Of course, you can always overcome this problem by wearing the scarf in your hair as a headband, or statement hair tie, or why not try something a little different by wearing it around your wrist?

Statement Cocktail Ring, by Rings Eclectic – As a girl with a penchant for unique & unusual statement rings, I’m totally enthralled by the designs of New York based artist Melanie Lynn – the founder of jewellery label Rings eclectic. Using a combination of her own thoroughly original design & production techniques, incredible skill and talent, and painstaking work, Melanie creates the most intriguing, stunningly chic cocktail rings.

Statement rings are a sterling choice of accessory for any woman, as they are perfectly suited to all body shapes, and every single captivating cocktail ring designed by Rings Eclectic is more than worthy of a place in your jewellery box. This particular ring in dark, earthy tones, with a faceted central glass bead, possesses a kind of antique charm which gives it the appearance of a beautiful, priceless heirloom with a thoroughly modern edge.

A supremely sophisticated piece which oozes graceful glamour and has an air of mystique about it. This statement cocktail ring is versatile enough to complement any outfit, and is yet another example of the countless unique, yet timeless pieces Union Jewellery has to offer.

I could honestly spend hours raving about the incredible team at Union Jewellery, and showcasing all the exquisitely stylish products they stock – but that would make for one very long (and possibly endless) blog post. And I know all you stunning style mavens would infinitely prefer to marvel at the sublime jewellery & accessories Union have to offer on their official website – www.unionjewellery.com – where you can snap up a couple of the beautiful, unique pieces featured in this post!

Besides, this is just the beginning of the exciting collaboration between the Image Mistress & Union Jewellery – I can’t wait to get started on my next blog post!

Stay stylish,

The Image Mistress xo