Monthly Archives: March 2020

How To Thrive While Staying at Home

Whether you’re working while at home or using the time to catch up on a good book, we’ve got everything you need to create the perfect home office or relaxing sanctuary (or both!)

CREATE A WORK SPACE

If you are working or studying from home the best way to keep your head in the game (and get your work done) is to create a space to work – in other words, do not work from bed! The best way to drag yourself out of the duvet? Set up a nice space to work from and complete it with stationery that makes you want to work! Think, flat-lay worthy pens, fun notebooks and this happy vibe pencil case.

 

VIDEO CALL IN STYLE

Whether you’re logging into a morning meeting or ‘meeting’ the girls for Friday night drinks, there will come a time where 3-day-dirty-hair-top-knot and your old hoodie won’t cut it! Don’t worry, we aren’t suggesting a next level glow up – though there is something fun in a makeover! All we are suggesting is some little mood-boosting touches to your stay-at-home outfit that bring a bit of joy! Think: A cool scrunchie to adorn the 3-day-dirty-hair-top-knot or some chunky layered necklaces to make your hoodie casual chic! 

If you need want a little more inspo, why not try and master the perfect pony or the perfect bun – don’t worry, both can be done in a matter of minutes!  

WRITE ABOUT IT

Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet or you need somewhere to write about the feelings and stresses you’re experiencing, journalling and writing is a great way to spend your time at home! 

We love the Jasmine Floral Notebook (the same as our bestselling bag!) and the Initial Notebook Range. Cause everyone knows you need a good notebook for things like this!

ORGANISE YOUR LIFE

Embrace the life-changing magic of having an organised life and sort out your stuff! After all, what better time to spring clean.

  1. Clean out your makeup, getting rid of old things (we all have them). Then, pop then in a nice clear case – very picture worthy. 
  2. Get all your travel bits together in a travel document holder – and check your passport isn’t expired. 
  3. Untangle your headphones and charging cords and pop them in this handy – and cute – tech organiser

STAY COMFY

Again, if you have to get out of bed (which you do!) you may as well stay as cosy as possible. That’s why we are all about leisurewear – the cosier the better. Pair it with some fun socks and you’re set! 

 

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Shop the Stay at Home Edit

Shop the Kid’s Edit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mane Attraction: How to wear a Hairband

A bad hair day can well and truly make or break a day (and night) especially if it’s a special occasion! So, how do you style the perfect bun? We’ve got you covered with an easy to recreate hair tutorial – complete with our pick of stunning accessories, of course. 

We ventured to Duck and Dry’s Soho salon to create some hair tutorials to inspire your next look. Next up, new ways to style on-trend hairbands.

 

I’M WITH THE BAND

Curl hair with a curling iron, twisting in alternate ways to create beautiful bounce! Brush out curls and spray with a light-weight hairspray to create a oh-so-lovely blow dry look.

Place a bold hairband into the waves, leaving hair to frame your face. Our top pick is the Beaded Polka Dot Hairband (It’s also available in black!)

 

Change it up by pulling your hair back from your face, we love the Crochet Knot Hairband for this look. 

 

Take it to the next level with a catwalk-inspired look and stack multiple hairbands – the more the merrier! The trick is to play with size and colour – we reach for a smaller band like the Freshwater Pearl Headband with bigger and bolder bands like the Black Velvet Sparkle Headband and Ruched Velvet Headband.

 

Feeling inspired? Watch the full tutorial here.

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Shop Hair Accessories

Master more on-trend hair looks…

Style the Perfect Pony

Style An Embellished Braid

Style Beautiful Bridal Hair

 

 

left: a women with a spotted headband. Right a women in a spotted headband and two children with pearl clips and heart sunglasses

A Mother’s Musings: Katie Impey

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we spoke to three inspiring women about motherhood, their careers and their top styling tips, of course.

left: a women with a spotted headband. Right a women in a spotted headband and two children with pearl clips and heart sunglasses

Katie Impey is a mother of two, Isabella (9) and Charlotte (3). She’s a Creative Director and Stylist. 

Katie, what is the best advice your mother ever gave you?

To lead by example. She was the head of our family in every way, strong, kind and the most generous person I have ever known. If I can be half the mum she was I’m doing OK.

They say it takes a village, why is it important for you to have a community to help you raise your family?

It’s especially important for me as I lost my biggest support, my Mum, in April last year. I absolutely could not have got through this last year without help and support of others, it meant I can keep juggling all those balls, even at the most difficult time.

How does being a mother make you feel empowered?

Just the fact that you grew another human inside you is empowering in itself and will never not blow my mind! Then to give birth and raise those little humans and guide them through life as well as navigating your own, it can be tough, but the most rewarding thing you will ever do.  

Tell us a bit about your career? 

I started out in events before moving on to marketing  & PR. I was made redundant after I had Isabella, but I ended up landing my dream job as a fashion PR. I gradually progressed to a Creative Director role and last year I took the jump to freelance as an Art Director and Stylist.  


How have other women empowered you and helped you succeed in your career?

My Step Nan Liz is a huge inspiration to me, she has always worked, even while raising her children, first as a nurse, and went on to be a director at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, she is still working now in to her 70’s but has always maintained the balance of career and motherhood.

A group of mothers and their children dressed in Accessorize accessories

Living an on-the-go life with kids, how do you refresh everyone’s outfits with accessories? 

We love a hair accessory around here!  Bows, headbands, clips bring a bit of fun to any outfit.  I also think accessories are a great compromise to let them think they’re styling themselves.  

 

Shop Katie’s Edit

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Together We Can: International Women’s Day with Accessorize

Here at Accessorize, we honour strong women all day, every day. As a brand by women, for women, we’re proud to celebrate the move toward a more equal world – which just so happens to be the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day

[ All images in this post were found on Pinterest and are not owned by Accessorize! ]

So, as we champion change toward a more gender-equal world, what does International Women’s Day mean to our team?

Kathleen Mitchell
Accessorize Brand Director

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the trailblazers that came before us and identify the remaining inequalities that persist. Thankfully the role of women in work and in the world has evolved tremendously since I left university, but we still have work to do!

My entire career has been spent at companies that are for and by women and working with mostly female teams and customers has been my absolute privilege. 

Julia Beal-Preston
Accessorize Marketing Director

It’s about recognising inequality and restoring the balance of power in every aspect of women’s lives.

At work, it’s being heard and respected the same way as men. As a mum, it’s raising a daughter and a son who both feel they can achieve the same goals, both respect everyone the same way and both feel worthy.

Every day it’s empowering females and males around me to ensure equality this the norm rather than a ‘thing’.

International Women’s Day is also a day to re-brand feminism, moving away from the stereotypical idea of women’s rights. It’s all of our responsibility to teach society equality and kindness.

It’s about equal respect regardless of gender. 

Daniel Shocklidge
Learning & Development Manager

International Women’s Day is about recognition, celebration, and empowerment; it’s a chance to recognise all women, give a spotlight to those who might not always get it when they deserve one, and lending my own voice to theirs.

Harriet Poppleton
International Director

It’s a day to reflect on achievements and progress that’s been made in creating equal opportunities around the world.  We have a long way to go but the wave of change has most certainly started and there is an opportunity to ride it, so don’t waste it!  

It’s also a chance to give thanks for not only all the women around the world but more importantly those that make up your world!  

 

Shop our outfit-making accessories for women-on-the-go >>

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A Mother’s Musings: Portia Prince

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we spoke to three inspiring women about motherhood, their careers and their top styling tips, of course.

Portia Prince is a mother of Ngaire (1) and a full-time model living in London. 

Portia, what does motherhood mean to you? 

It’s meant a lot of growth, patience and more rewarding that I could have ever imagined. She’s taught me a lot about myself along the way. I certainly feel like motherhood is just the start of something fresh and exciting. 

They say it takes a village, why is it important for you to have a community to help you raise your family?

I still say this all the time. Especially living in London. Women simply weren’t meant to sit alone in their city flats raising children. You soon gravitate towards other mums with children the same age or I found with older children, so I could take their tips. 

Tell us a bit about your career?

I’m a freelance British model and have lived in London for 11 years. I’m represented internationally and hoping to spend some time in New Zealand at the end of the year.

How did becoming a mother make you feel empowered in your body, especially as a model?

I couldn’t believe what I was capable of. Any hang ups I had before that completely disappeared. I owe my life to this body because it gave me a healthy baby girl.

How have other women empowered you and helped you succeed in your career?

I have a solid work ethic, maybe too much at times, but it’s helped me achieve more than I could have imagined and I’m proud of that.

A group of mothers and their children dressed in Accessorize accessories

What career advice would you share with other women?

If a new opportunity arises, say yes even if it’s out of your comfort zone. I’m extremely optimistic in the sense that even if the outcome is bad, I think there’s something to be learnt from it. 

What advice about self-love and confidence do you wish to pass on to your daughter?

She’ll know that it’s important and it needs to be prioritised as no one else can do it for you. I want her to see the way I do it for myself and it will be openly spoken about in our household.

Living an on-the-go life with kids, how do you refresh everyone’s outfits with accessories?

Definitely hair accessories or earrings. Both are easy to add to outfits and great for transitioning an outfit from day to night.

 

Shop Portia’s Edit

 

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Shop the Mother’s Day Edit

 

A Mother’s Musings: Michelle Kennedy

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we spoke to three inspiring women about motherhood, their careers and their top styling tips, of course.

Michelle Kennedy is a mother of two, Nuala (7 months) and Finlay (6) and the founder and CEO of Peanut, a social network created to connect like-minded women across fertility and motherhood. 

Michelle, what does motherhood mean to you?

Selflessness – I never truly understood what that meant until I became a mother. It’s an all consuming kind of love where you experience their pain more sharply than your own. 

It’s also a huge responsibility, not just from a practical point of view, but sharing lessons and teaching values. Trying to raise two little people who want to make the world a better place, who feel like they can change the world.

What is the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Don’t pluck your eyebrows! Which of course I ignored and now regret! That and the idea I could do anything. “There is nothing you can’t do”.

What’s the most important lesson you want your children to learn?

Your work ethic is everything! Both of my parents were incredibly hard working and it’s something I’ve always had too. I want them to understand that working hard is how you get that sense of achievement, how you build things and how you make changes.

Society puts a lot of pressure on mothers, and women, to ‘have it all’ as a mother and CEO? How do you manage this challenging idea?

There is no ‘all’. Sometimes I’m a brilliant CEO, sometimes I’m a brilliant mother, sometimes I’m the best wife. Rarely (read never) does that happen on the same day at the same time. And that’s OK! If I pretend to ‘have it all’ what message does that send to the women who work for me (and the men for that matter), to the women who use Peanut, to my son and daughter? 

Tell us a bit about your career?

I started life as a corporate lawyer, moved into the dating industry (where I was Deputy CEO of Badoo, and founding member of female focused dating app Bumble), and then went on to found my own company, Peanut.

How have other women empowered you and helped you succeed in your career?

I was always taught that you pull another woman up the ladder once you get up, [I believe] it’s my job to pay it forward. From hiring to building products for women, I’ve always had that grounding and I believe it.

A group of mothers and their children dressed in Accessorize accessories

Pictured: Introducing the mothers behind our Hey Mama campaign. (Left to right) Katie Impey, Michelle Kennedy & Portia Prince and their children.

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What career advice would you share with other women?

Use whatever your point of difference is to your advantage. Disarm people. Be exactly what they expect you not to be.

Why was it so important for you to create a meaningful community where women can unite?

For the longest time we haven’t had it! Simple as that. We need a safe space, to connect, to discuss issues which are deeply personal, private, without fear of targeted ads, or judgement. 

Living an on-the-go life with kids, how do you refresh your outfits with accessories?

Accessories are everything. You can scoop your hair up in a clip and add a new bag and you’ve already changed your outfit. It effectively makes your wardrobe capsule without you realising!

Accessories are the finishing touch that make an outfit, what is your top style advice to pass on to your kids?

A beautiful earring and something elegant on your wrist finishes your outfit, whatever the occasion. Oh, and keep a change of jewellery in your handbag!

 

Shop Michelle’s Edit

 

 

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