The Accessorize Blog

Design Stories: Hand-Crafted Macramé Bags

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Instant Summer: Bali with Lucia and Kavita

The sun warming your skin, the lapping of the ocean, that first sip of an ice-cold drink on the beach: it only takes a few small moments to make it feel like summer. As part of our new #InstantSummer campaign, we’re inviting some of our favourite influencers to capture the spirit of the season with dreamy snapshots and style inspiration from wanderlust-worthy holiday destinations. First in line? Fashion bloggers Lucia and Kavita, straight from the tropical paradise of Bali, Indonesia..

Tell us about your holiday destination…

Lucia: It’s my fourth time here in Bali and there’s something so magical about this island that draws me back every time. It has everything, from the coolest surfer neighbourhoods like Canggu, lined with amazing cafés, bars and restaurants to stunning waterfalls and rice fields in Ubud and then the most beautiful beaches in Uluwatu. There’s never a dull moment here and the energy is infectious.

Kavita: It’s my third time in Bali and I can’t wait to return next year! It has the perfect mix of what I want in a holiday destination: sun, beaches, yoga, surfing, amazing food… there’s a reason it’s all over Instagram!

What are your #InstantSummer moments?

Lucia: The moment when we landed in Bali when the thick heat hits you as you step off the plane. They also always burn a particular incense in the airport here which has become so familiar to me now – that combination always gets me excited. Jumping on my scooter and feeling the sand between my toes for the first time in months also conjure up the same emotions.

Kavita: Mine is when my local rooftop bar opens for the summer! I live in south-east London and Frank’s Café in Peckham is the place to be when the sun comes out (plus it’s the perfect place for a picture against the Instagram-worthy pink walls!)

Give us the low-down of your top summer suitcase must-packs – and why you can’t leave home without them.

Kavita: A dress to throw on over a bikini – great for brunching and chilling before hitting the beach. I also love clutches which double up as a daytime and evening bag, as well as these red statement earrings and a printed headscarf to add onto a bag or cover a bad hair day! Finally, a nice pair of shoes that aren’t a pair of flip-flops – this pointed black pair is perfect.

Lucia: A little white dress is a must for me – this gorgeous broderie design can take me from the beach to the bar and I love it. Shell jewellery is also a big one, from the little anklets I buy in Bali to this pretty pendant from Accessorize. A statement beach bag is also an essential when you’re exploring the island – this stripy style is perfect for carrying around my camera, swimsuit, sarong and tanning oil.

What’s the soundtrack to your summer?

Lucia: Jack Johnson always gives me the best summer vibes!

Kavita: Anything by Izzy Bizu or Sarah Close.

Where’s next on your wanderlust list?

Kavita: Vietnam is next for me – I’m desperate to see some of their beaches.

Lucia: I’m about to hop on over to Australia for the first time and couldn’t be more excited!

Home or Away: How to Wear the Seashell Jewellery Trend

Home or Away: How to Wear the Seashell Jewellery Trend

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Fashion Revolution Week 2019: Who Made My Clothes?

Here at Accessorize, we’re proud to support Fashion Revolution Week’s (22nd-28th April 2019) #whomademyclothes campaign, demanding greater transparency, sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry. The global movement aims to radically change the way clothes are sourced, produced and consumed, and help ensure that people, the environment, creativity and profit are all valued in equal measure. As a brand, we’re committed to sourcing responsibly and understanding our supply chain and doing right by the people who make our most beautiful things – here are just some of the talented artisans that we work with…

1. The Multicolour Stripe Swimsuit

Tapping into the rainbow trend, our multicolour stripe swimsuit is spliced with bright blocks of pink, red, yellow, blue and green for an eye-catching effect. It’s cut with a flattering wrap neckline and waist-defining ties, as well as criss-cross straps on the back – perfect for showing off sun-kissed skin.

Made by Lu and Li

Lu Songnian, 30, and Li Shuoling, 31, are a married couple with two young children. They met in the same factory – Lu is a sewing worker while Li has recently been promoted to a process improvement technician. In their spare time, the couple enjoy going for walks, taking selfies and attending the theatre together.

2. The Tropicana Statement Necklace

Embrace the exotic – our Tropicana statement necklace is lavishly embellished with gemstones, beads and 3D flowers in high-octane hues of green, pink and yellow while the back is fully lined for a smooth and snag-free fit.

Made by Mumtaz

Mumtaz is an artisan who specialises in hand-embellishment at one of our suppliers. He was keen to talk about his craft, which is commonly referred to as adda or aari work in northern India where many skilled craftspeople are keeping the traditional technique alive. The process involves tying fabric to a wooden frame and adorning its surface with beads and sequins using specific stitches, giving garments a rich, unique look.

3. The Cockatoo Earrings

There’s no shortage of tropical vibes with our embellished cockatoo earrings, carefully adorned with small-scale beads and gemstones in a sunshine-ready colour palette. Raffia feathers add a playful touch to this statement-making pair.

Made by Mohd

Mohd Ehsaan, 33, is an artisan who has been an embellishment worker at one of our jewellery suppliers for last five years. Talented with an eye for detail, he creates beautiful pieces for Accessorize.

Originally from the small village of Sitarim Zila from eastern India, Mohd moved to New Delhi to find work and better support his family. He’s been married to wife Mehnaaz Khatoon for 12 years and the couple have two children together –Mohd Shakib, nine, and Nabg, 11. He loves spending time with his children and telling them stories about his own childhood.

The Monsoon Accessorize Product Supply Chain

Here at Accessorize, we take responsibility for our product supply chain. We have a team in India and in China who personally visit our suppliers where our products are made. As part of that visit, they speak directly with workers to check that they are being treated and paid fairly.

Home or Away: How to Wear the Seashell Jewellery Trend

Design Stories: Hand-Crafted Macramé Bags

Arts and crafts, but make it fashion. Saluting the straw styles and basket bags that we’ve been loving for several seasons now, macramé and crochet are having a well-deserved moment in SS19. Here, we take a look at the runway routes of the trend, as well as exploring the design story behind the hand-crafted macramé bags in our new-season collection.

On the Runway

Left to right: Oscar De La Renta | Chloé | Salvatore Ferragamo

From crochet to macramé, hand-crafted techniques have made their presence known on the recent runways. Oscar de la Renta showcased the trend through a crocheted silk dress in a monochrome colour palette, while a similar story unfolded at Salvatore Ferragamo with a statement-making macramé maxi, fashioned from black suede. Over at Chloé, free-spirited femininity was expressed with a sheer crochet sun dress in pure white, styled for the catwalk with a violet bikini.

The Inspiration

“For the macramé and crochet pieces within the beach range, we sourced inspiration from a mixture of catwalk shows, vintage, and festivals. Development trips to India enabled teams to work directly with the suppliers on new and interesting woven techniques and designs. The final pieces are authentic and can be worn layered over clothing and swimwear for a unique styled look.”

– Charlotte Wood, Assistant Designer (Beach)

As Seen On

Macramé is making waves on the city streets. Loved by the likes of fashion blogger Aysen Miller (@stylebyaysh), hand-crafted designs in soft cream and classic black are proving to be the most stylish (and versatile) pieces of the spring/summer months, instantly lifting the mood of every look – even if the weather isn’t playing ball. From spacious fringed totes to sleek circular styles, we like how these woven wonders are just at chic on home ground as they are in far-flung destinations.

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Home or Away: How to Wear the Seashell Jewellery Trend

If, like us, you spent most of your childhood holidays collecting seashells on the beach then SS19’s latest drops are sure to delight. New, nostalgic and unexpectedly cool, shell-laden jewellery is back for the season ahead, with the runways and Instagram both awash with the throwback trend. In our latest style video, we present the key pieces that have arrived online and in store, as well as deciphering how to wear seashell jewellery – no matter where the summer takes you.

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Seashell Jewellery: On Holiday

Summer getaways are the perfect place to showcase the souvenir staples that we all know and love. Sun dresses and swimsuits are the dreamiest backdrops for mismatched shell and pearl-bead necklaces and shoulder-grazing earrings, nodding to the nostalgic designs that most of us wore as children. Reading more chic than beach, this season’s styles also combine with gold-tone metals and abstract shapes for a fresh, directional feel.

Seashell Jewellery: At Home

Back on our shores, seashells are still retaining their relevance. Long, layered chains, stacked bracelets and cowrie-embellished earrings are the memento pieces that we’re taking back from the beach and styling with our summer favourites. For something that feels city-appropriate, wear yours against a tonal white palette, highlighting the natural hues of the jewels with a slatted wood bag.

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10 Woven Bags We Need for SS19

Straw, raffia and wicker: woven bags have won our hearts this season. Having risen in the fashion ranks during the fifties, totes in natural textures became associated with luxury travel, with the trend now extending fay beyond the beach. Here are the 10 woven bags we need for SS19…

1. Woven Jute Handheld Bag

Handcrafted for a unique feel, our woven jute bag (as seen on Faye Ellaby) is the new-season style hero we never knew we needed until now. Equally at home in the city as it is on the beach, this handheld design features raffia ring handles for a subtle clash of texture while its zip-top fastening helps keep summer essentials secure.

2. Cherry Straw Cross-Body Bag

The straw bag just got even sweeter. Having had the influencer seal of approval by Megan Ellaby, this cross-body design comes with cherry pom-poms for extra summer flavour, making it a true sunny-day mainstay. Carry it by the handles or wear it over the shoulder by the long leather-look strap.

3. Metal Ring-Handle Bucket

Make way for the bucket bag of the summer. Structured without feeling too polished, this straw style is spliced with leather-look panels in clean white and is finished with glossy gold-tone metal ring handles for effortless cool. Need to go hands-free? Wear it cross-body using the detachable shoulder strap.

4. Glitzy Straw Basket Bag

It’s time to shine in the sunlight. Woven with a metallic chevron design, this handcrafted straw basket bag will sparkle its way from city breaks to beach escapes. It has an integrated drawstring pouch to help keep belongings safe, while its long leather-look handles are made to fit comfortably over your shoulder.

5. Wicker Cross-Body Bag

Having evolved from a quirky holiday buy to a fashion staple, the wicker bag is back in force for SS19. This season’s iteration boasts a structured boxy shape with blue straps and a striped canvas lining, nodding to nautical styling. Perfect for the beach and beyond.

6. City Wicker Cross-Body Bag

No longer reserved solely for the beach, the wicker bag has had a city-ready update. This boxy cross-body comes with a tan leather-look panel for extra polish and closes with a push-lock fastening in glossy gold metal – sun-filled weekends, we’re ready.

7. Wicker Circle Cross-Body Bag

Moving on from the straw circle bags of last summer, this season’s styles combine woven wicker textures with hexagonal shapes. This design is detailed with cut-outs that feel fresh and directional and is finished with a long shoulder strap in leather-look tan.

8. Wicker Bucket Bag

Summer days, here we come. Drawing its inspiration from bucket-bag silhouettes, this wicker wonder has a structured shape which feels nostalgic and new at the same time. Fashion-forward yet fuss-free, this piece has leather-look tabs and a long shoulder strap in soft pink, lending it an unexpected element.

9. Wooden Handheld Bag

Evocative of long, languid days spent in the sunshine, the wooden bag has made its comeback for SS19. The slatted structure creates a see-through effect, while its handles are adorned with small clear beads for an artful touch.

10. Wooden Crescent Handheld Bag

Lighter in colour than its style counterpart, this slatted wooden bag is crafted in the shape of a crescent, lending it plenty of Instagram-worthy appeal. Whether worn with denim or a wind-blown sun dress on your next getaway, it’s a must-have for warm weather.

Amalfi Bloom: 3 Beach Looks for Dreamy Destinations

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How to Wear Monochrome on the Beach

When we think of summer styling, bold colours and tropical prints are the usual suspects that spring to mind. But if your style persona reads less is more or you simply want to pare it back on your next getaway, put your fashion focus on black and white. Classically cool, the trend is making its move on our suitcase selection in fresh new shapes, fabrics and accessories – here’s how to wear monochrome on the beach…

Beach Daze

The easiest way to get into monochrome styling on your next holiday? It’s all in your beachside essentials. From the classic black swimsuit to the white lace cover-up, these sun-kissed styles are simple yet impactful – accessorise with our striped crochet tote for a nod to the nautical.

Cover Up

How to make a black swimsuit feel instantly more summery – regardless of what the weather has in store? Add an all-white cover-up. Made for pool parties and long, languid days spent on the beach, this sheer lace kimono lends a little extra glamour to the classic one-piece. Give yours the seal of SS19 approval with a belt bag and monochrome accessories.

Natural Order

From straw to wood, natural textures are the perfect way to complement monochrome colour palettes this summer. Whether on the beach, off on a city break or navigating rising temperatures on home ground, break up the black and white with bags in earthy neutrals – think circular straw totes and slatted wood styles for a fashion moment that’s worthy of an Instagram.

Amalfi Bloom: 3 Beach Looks for Dreamy Destinations

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Design Stories: Angels by Accessorize

Ready to make a splash? Our new beach collection from Angels by Accessorize is full of stand-out styles for the summer, which everything from swimwear to holiday clothing thrown into the mix. Join us as we find out more about design story behind one of our most special pieces, plus take a sneak peek at the rest of the range right here.

Straw Thing

One for you, one for her! Honouring the mini-me trend that’s been all over Instagram, our straw circle bag offers a fun, easy way to twin with little ones on the beach. Each one comes with pom-poms and tassels which have been hand-selected by our team of in-house designers, adding a playful pop of colour and detail to an otherwise simple shape. Take it to the seaside with our ice-cream swimsuit, featuring 3D frills and an all-over polka dot design. Too cute!

You’re a Star

This summer, we’re seeing stars. Find them on our beach-ready sliders and sunglasses, both in glittery pink, and use them to create a colourful look for fun in the sun. From ombre-stripe kaftan to the badge-covered backpack, this awesome outfit is sure to stand out on your next holiday.

Let’s Go, Flamingo!

Flamingos are here, there and everywhere in the new-season collection at Angels by Accessorize. They’ve fluttered their way onto our striped swimsuit with flouncy frills, flower appliqués and pops of neon, as well as our beach bag, complete with colourful 3D pom-poms.

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The Monochrome Accessory Edit by Laura Byrnes

It’s down in black and white – monochrome is still going strong in SS19. Cool and considered, the trend is making itself known on this season’s key bags, jewellery and accessories, adding instant polish to every look. Want a new way to wear it? See how blogger Laura Byrnes is styling fashion’s favourite colour palette on her exotic escape to Marrakesh, featuring her top picks from our new-season collection.

Belt it Up

The belt bag has gone high-fashion for SS19. Imagined in clean white, this structured design is one of the most versatile pieces of the months ahead, whether worn in the city or on your next getaway. We love how Laura styled this neutral number with a cream cami and wide-leg trousers in warm rust, evoking a cool, carefree mood on her Moroccan adventure.

Add the Details

How to add definition to tonal outfits? All you need is black. From the headband and the hoop earrings to the pom-pom mules, Laura’s utilised all-black accessories to help further accentuate the neutral palette of her look. Fashion-forward and effortless, these pieces will carry you through the summer with ease.

Laura’s Top Picks

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