For several years dainty pieces have taken a back seat to chunky jewellery that makes a bold visual statement. About six years ago, and with the exception of stud earrings, dainty jewellery was considered a little dated, almost frumpy, and not at all fashionable. 

Well, that has changed. In the last couple of years dainty jewellery has made a fashionable comeback. It’s especially current when paired with trendier pieces, creating an interesting juxtaposition. Layering a few dainty jewellery items around your neck, your wrists, or on your fingers is popular too. 

I like dainty jewellery, but only when it’s worn on bare skin. I do not like the look of dainty necklaces and bracelets layered over clothing, because to my eye, that still looks frumpy. But looks can be frumpy right up until they become fashionable, so perhaps I’ll be eating my words over the next year or two. 

I’m seeing dainty jewellery — both fine and costume — become more popular with my clients as an alternative to chunkier items. Many sport both chunky and dainty jewellery daily, depending on their mood and outfit. Dainty jewellery is definitely more subtle and comfortable to wear. In fact, you forget that you’re wearing it because it’s extra lightweight. In some ways dainty jewellery is also more casual, despite being expensive. Chunky jewellery tends to make you look and feel more dressed up, whereas dainty jewellery is a little more versatile.  

Apart from my wedding ring, I made a conscious decision not to wear jewellery three years ago as a style statement in itself. I haven’t worn earrings for 18 years, and my multiple pearl necklaces simply decorate my closet. I love looking at them, but I don’t wear them. My specs and watch are my daily jewellery, but once a year, I’ll wear one of my late Mum’s jewellery pieces, which are chunky and not dainty. 

What are your thoughts on dainty jewellery? Do you wear it? Or do you prefer to wear chunky pieces that make a bolder statement.

Marks and Spencer made fashion headlines several times this week, British label Hobbs is coming to the US, Google Glass may be getting a stylish update, and more style stories that caught our attention.

• Game of Thrones fans listen up: Kit Harington, aka Jon Snow, will be the star of Jimmy Choo’s Fall 2014 men’s campaign.
• Not everyone is happy with the April Kanye & Kim Vogue Cover. Here’s Anna Wintour’s take on things.
• Alek Wek, Rita Ora, Annie Lennox, Emma Thompson… I’m loving Marks & Spencer’s lineup for their Leading Ladies Spring/Summer 2014 campaign! 
• Check out these pics from fashion mag Centrefold’s 10th edition, which was entirely shot on a 41-megapixel Nokia Lumia 1020 mobile phone.
• Always dreamt of owning a customised pair of Prada peds? You could make it happen this week in London with the Made To Order Décolleté collection.
• British retailer TK Maxx has cast 12 of its real-life customers to star in their “Me By Me” S/S 2014 campaign.
• We all knew it was bound to happen: Pinterest is launching paid advertising.
• I am excited to hear that British label Hobbs is coming to the US this week with five shops-in-shop in Bloomingdale’s stores.
• Marks & Spencer, Gap and H&M are on Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list for 2014.
• Google Glass may be getting a stylish update now that it has joined forces with Luxottica, the company behind eyewear brands like Ray-Ban.
• & Other Stories, H&M’s sister brand, is coming to NYC later this year. An e-commerce site is also in the works.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that London’s famous fashion landmark Browns, founded in 1970 by Joan Burstein and her husband, was the first store in Europe to stock emerging American designers like Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein?

This ensemble was inspired by my own recent purchase of J Brand’s Love Story flared jeans. As I mentioned in the must haves list for Spring and Summer 2014, there is life beyond skinnies and straight leg jeans. Pants and jeans are getting wider. So I added a pair of flared jeans to my denim capsule in a fairly light wash as another alternative to boyfriends and straight legs. 

Flared leg jeans are snug on the thigh and kick out at the knee, widening quite dramatically at the hem. The hems are wider than bootcuts, but the thigh fit is tighter than a trouser cut or wide leg style. Rises can be low, mid or high. They definitely have a ‘70s vibe, and can look quite bohemian. 

Flared jeans work really well when styled with a bohemian sensibility or a hard edge, and I’ll be helping some of my clients put together their flares with those style personas in mind. But in order for flared jeans to work for my own style, I had to create a look that was crisp and simple, yet soft and dressy. That’s what this ensemble is all about. The version on the extreme left with shocking pink man coat is almost an exact copy — item for item — of how I wore my new flares over the weekend. The version in the middle with the blue and white shirt and belt is how I will wear my flares when I don’t need a topper. And the version on the right is a combination of blouse and moto that I can see working equally well for a crisp and simple style sensibility. 

Here are the components of the ensemble:

Flared Jeans: The wide hem of flared jeans makes them work extremely well with heels when you wear them at the right length because they glide over shoes instead of creating an odd looking break line. Baby bootcuts don’t glide as well over heels, but bootcuts with wider hems might work. The tighter fit on the thighs adds structure to the outfit. Choose any denim wash or white jeans. 

Tops: I’ve chosen three tops. The first is a fluid untucked pullover, which doesn’t look fluid in the picture, but I have that exact pullover and it’s roomy. Although this pullover has a straight welted hem, a fitted high low hemline is another way to go. The second option is tucking or partially tucking a fluid button-down shirt and adding a belt. The third option is a draped or crossover blouse, which is the least structured of the tops.  

Topper: A topper is not essential, and adding one does downplay the drama of the flares. I found that I like my flares best with either a cropped jacket or a long coat. I didn’t like them quite as much when paired with in-between lengths, like a modern classic regular hip bone length Theory blazer, or a peacoat. I liked my short boxy jackets, motos, cropped tuxedo jacket, knee-length trench coats and long wool coat combinations much better with the line of the flares. 

Footwear: I vote pointy toe or almond toe heeled pumps or booties because the tips of the toe boxes peek through from under the dramatic drape of the flare. Round toes, peep-toes and sandals tend to get a little lost, unless you have long feet. 

Accessories: Finish off the look with a clutch, satchel or bowling bag. I vote leave off the scarf. Add a belt when wearing tops tucked or partially tucked. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired. 

Check out my pinterest board on flared jeans and trousers for further inspiration. 

These jeans are reserved for dry weather because you’ll get very soggy hems wearing floor sweeping lengths in the rain. Our Summers aren’t hot, so I’ll be wearing these jeans during our Summers sans topper. I’m excited to have a new silhouette in my denim capsule.

While it’s still freezing in parts of the country, swimwear season is upon is. If you’d like to get a head start on bathing suit shopping, then check out these roundups:

• For the fans of galaxy prints and other unexpected prints, Refinery29 has rounded up six edgy one-pieces.
• From a high-waisted bikini with retro floral print to a flamingo bikini, they’re also showing us 16 novelty prints.
• Or would you like to go retro all the way? They have that covered too. I’ll take the Seafolly Coastline Boyleg Maillot (slide 4), please.
• A nice roundup of plus-size cozzies, and more than 30 options for every shape and budget.
• How about 15 swimsuits under $50, or 12 bikinis that won’t break the bank?
• Popsugar looks into figure-flattering suits for small-busted ladies. They’ve also found us 15 one-pieces with a variety of prints.
• Last but not least, five bikinis that provide a bit more coverage. 

Fab Links from Our Members

Debora loves this modern-day advertisement for Galaxy chocolate with a computer-generated Audrey Hepburn. Here’s the article explaining how it was done.

TraceyLiz65 thought these pictures of celebrities before they had stylists really demonstrates what a stylist can do for anyone.

“A Size 2 Is a Size 2 Is a Size 8“. There has been some discussion on the forum about the shortcomings of women’s sizing in the US. Laurinda directs us to this Slate article that provides an overview of the history and some of the problems in coming up with standard women’s sizes.

Angie enjoyed browsing these street style photos at Tokyo Fashion Week, and thought that #17 and #18 are right at home in Harajuku.

Lisa Pippus has relaunched her blog as one with mostly verbal descriptions. Vildy is loving it as it helps her to focus and come up with ideas on how to wear the items she already has, instead of being distracted by the pictured styles.