Mr Selfridge Style

If like us you’ve been completely swept away with ITV’s drama Mr Selfidge, you will know what we mean when we say we cannot get enough of the beauty and glamour that oozes from our screens every time we switch on to catch up with the latest dramas of Mr Selfridge, his family and all the people he meets along the way. With the final episode of the series shown on Sunday, full of emotional twists and turns, it’s safe to say I will definitely be mourning the loss of Mr Selfridge on my TV screen… but am extremely excited for its anticipated return!

Set in London in the 1900’s, where make-up is still kept tightly hidden away under store counters, is a world full of custom dresses, fine jewels, exaggerated hats and some of the biggest hair I have ever seen! It seems that this enchanting world of 20th century London leads to a whole host of inspiring ideas, whether it be for your wedding, a gift, or even just a little classic edge to your look. From elegant pearls and eye-catching diamonds to those wonderfully vintage inspired brooches, there is something for everyone at Ernest Jones, sure to add a dash of Mr Selfridge chic to your look. 

It seems only right to begin with Ellen Love, an enviously beautiful woman who starts her journey as the ‘Spirit of Selfridges’. Ms Love is the ultimate showgirl, taking on elaborate costumes inspired by the fast paced and glamorous world of showbiz Hollywood that was spilling over from the states. With elegant velvet gowns teamed with fur overlays and beautiful bows, pearls and diamonds are essential to complete this kind of vintage inspired look. Diamond collars and cuffs seem to be a favourite for the upper class women on the show, perfect for adding a lavish decoration to silk gloves. For a contemporary twist on a classic choice, why not layer tennis bracelets to re-create this statement look. Swap the gloves for a shimmering evening dress for a dash of vintage luxury.

Decorative brooches were a jewellery necessity during this time period. Adorning the coats and dresses of London’s finest, intricate filigree and bejewelled brooches were a must. I adore this beautifully feminine Swarovski flower brooch. Add to a Spring/Summer jacket in mint or apricot for a dash of Mr Selfridge style sure to make heads turn. 

Pearls are an essential accessory for the perfect portrayal of vintage extravagance. Rosalie Selfridge, who’s look remained subtle but feminine throughout the series, sports beautiful pearl drop earrings to compliment the light pink and beige hues of her ornate gowns.

This week at Ernest Jones we launched exquisite jewellery brand Yoko London, who offer a vast range of stunning jewellery complete with Japanese Akoya and Tahitian pearls. These stunning earrings are perfect for adding timeless style with a modern edge, teaming stunning diamond and cultured pearl drops with a simplistic, contemporary design. With the matrimonial season upon us, these earrings are sure to compliment a beautiful wedding dress perfectly; wear with an up do for statement style, or with your hair loose for a flash of classic detailing. 

Lady Mae Loxley settles into the role of the powerful women extremely well in the series, boasting distinctive styles of striking dresses, long coats and audacious feather and bow detailing on those enormous hats! Her style represents the upper class pre-war woman perfectly, with her elegant jewels of diamonds, precious stones and pearls not only being a demonstration of her status, but also an iconic fashion statement - and one that can be altered to fit within our modern fashions. 

This Swarovski pendant not only fits with the S/S pastel trend, but also looks as though it could have been pulled straight from the 1900’s! With a bold purple Swarovski oceanic crystal and smaller white crystals combined with a rope style chain, this beautiful pendant would definitely not look out of place on Lady Loxley! Teamed with a chunky knit or even a Little Black Dress, this necklace is sure to add some vintage elegance to your look. 

Shop vintage inspired jewellery at Ernest Jones. 

From the Red Carpet to the Aisle

With the Oscar awards ceremony recently held in LA, we were once again witness to Hollywood’s elite stepping out in the most gorgeous gowns. This year we saw some beautiful bridal inspired dresses, making it a must that we look to the stars for some tips that can be taken straight from the red carpet to the aisle.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional dress or contemporary gown, the red carpet is always a great place to look for ideas and inspiration to add some Hollywood glamour to your Big Day. From Jennifer Lawrence to Amy Adams, we saw some of LA’s finest wearing gowns that had a little matrimonial inspiration delicately integrated; and of course we cannot miss out the beautiful jewellery they accessorised with. 

Jennifer Lawrence wore a drop-waist Dior Couture gown to the Oscars, one we’re thinking was full of luck as she went on to win The Best Actress award! Although she took a slight tumble on her way to collect her award, she still looked graceful as ever and I’m pretty sure that gown could make any accidental mishap look completely beautiful. With her gown she wore a delicate necklace made up of a string of diamonds, contrasted with statement diamond earrings.

These Amanda Wakeley spherical earrings are perfect for adding a contemporary twist to your wedding gown with a chic, statement edge. Teamed with a dress like Jennifer’s with a fitted waist and drop-waist flared tail, these earrings are great for any fashion-conscious bride to be.

For a necklace to capture the elegance of the one Jennifer wore, this diamond collar is ideal. Complete with diamond clusters set between a twisted white gold setting, this necklace is sure to make a lavish addition to a strapless wedding gown. Statement earrings like those of Amanda Wakeley, teamed with a delicately designed diamond collar, is sure to be the perfect accompaniment for any bride looking for a way to introduce a touch of red-carpet glitz into her Big Day.

Zoe Saldana stepped out in style in a couture dress inspired by the Spring/Summer trend of monochrome. This fitted couture gown was complete with decorative floral detailing on the bust, a statement beige belt and a flared monochrome skirt.

To complete her look, Zoe wore elegant drop pearl earrings that provided a stylish vintage aspect to her look. Pearls are a fashion favourite for any bride and look beautifully sophisticated combined with any wedding gown. These art-deco style 9ct white gold pearl drop earrings are perfect for adding a subtle dash of vintage elegance to your bridal look. Wear with your hair down for a subtle flash of pearl chic, or team with a glamorous up do to create an effortlessly timeless look.

Not only did Zoe Saldana opt for traditional pearls, she also did not forget the classic diamond. Zoe flaunted the luxurious designs of Neil Lane on the red-carpet, giving her look that added bit of Hollywood allure.

If you’re looking for a contemporary engagement ring designed with exquisite vintage inspirations and plenty of sparkle, Neil Lane is the perfect choice to start your wedding story with. Whether you’re looking for Nouveau, deco or statement there is a ring sure to reflect your style with a luxury Hollywood edge.

Take a look at our full wedding jewellery range at Ernest Jones.

Monochrome Chic

When huddling in layers of chunky knits, nursing a cuppa and looking out at the forlorn sky, its always nice to look forward to the Summer – no matter how impossibly far away it seems. Aside from the much-longed-for spurts of sun and tinkling ice-cream vans the British Summer graces us with, what I most look forward to in the coming months is the promise of the new Spring/Summer fashion trends. From prints to the swinging sixties, all the ususal culprits were on the S/S ’13 catwalk round up. But what really caught my attention was a rogue trend flaunting neither colour nor bold patterning: monochrome.

Marc Jacobs was first to take this intrepid move, the models stepping onto the catwalk in a rather unexpected vision of black and white. Whilst it may seem to go against the cheery spring/summer grain, this simple style can be an all too welcome break from the somewhat overpowering graphics and fluoro that was bouncing down the catwalk. If you aren’t too keen to go all out in black and white, then adding a stylish piece of monochrome jewellery is the perfect way to integrate this iconic trend into your look.

If you’re looking to invest in a staple piece of jewellery this Spring/Summer, then this Marc by Marc Jacobs ladies’ watch is just the thing from the man himself. Sporting a chic boyfriend style teamed with a bold contrast of black and white, this is a stand-out timepiece with a sports luxe egde. Though striking, the monochrome combination lends a versatile style, perfect for everyday wear with any ensemble.

Emporio Armani’s contemporary fashion style is one that has bagged it a loyal following from all dedicated fashionistas over the years. It’s frequent use of monochrome makes it a particularly versatile brand, ideal for teaming with all sorts of looks for a whole range of occasions. Let monochrome makes it mark on your charm bracelet with this stylish Emporio Armani ladies' black enamel charm bracelet, featuring striped discs, a touch of sparkle and a key charm featuring the iconic Armani eagle.

If monochrome isn’t a striking enough look for you over the summer months, why not add a touch of bling to it with this sparkling Pesavento sterling silver starsdust cubic zirconia ring. A chunky black pixel cocktail ring is embellished with glimmering white cubic zirconia, creating that classic monochrome contrast with a dash of that all important summer shine.

Amanda Wakeley is renowned for her minimalist monochrome jewellery, featuring simply designed black and white ceramic pieces. This Amanda Wakeley diamond bar ring is crafted from smooth white ceramic and set with a chic diamond bar for a dash of sparkle. Team with this chunky Amanda Wakeley black ceramic curb bracelet to complete the monochrome look with a stroke of statement style.

Whatever your trend crush this Spring Summer, check out our stylish brands at Ernest Jones online.