Santa’s Little Christmas Fillers – Great ideas for Christmas Stockings

Looking for a few ideas for the women in your life? Well, we at L&G have found a few Christmas Stocking Fillers we know you’ll love and will add cache to anyone’s style.  Take a look at our luxury list of accessories, gadgets and designer jewellery.

For the person who has it all, why not check out the latest range of bespoke Smythson Iphone Covers. This stunning dark berry case caught our eye and you can personalise them with a name.

http://www.smythson.com/dark-berry-mara-iphone-cover.html

£95

Eyezone Massager

For those late nights and early mornings, the Eyezone Massager will do the trick. As the name suggests, it combines massage therapy, pinhole therapy and magnetic therapy into one clever little massager. The Eyezone Massager provides Massage & Magnetic Therapy; The foam pads inside the Eyezone Massager strategically work on 4 acupressure areas - namely, the eyes, temples, nose and cheekbones whilst magnets have been incorporated into the inner frame to create a body facing magnetic field. You may look like a storm trooper but your eyes will feel great!

Add a bit of sparkle to Christmas with these Christmas festive handmade luxury truffles. A sparkling silver or gold jewellery inspired hinged box reveals a precious assortment of silver white South Sea Pearls filled with the finest dark ganache, golden white South Sea Pearls filled with the silky milk ganache and dark silver Tahiti pearls with a smooth hazelnut praline. The perfect little Christmas Stocking Filler.  http://artisanduchocolat.com/assorted-pearls-946.html.

Chanel Clutch – Be the envy of your friends and even enemies with the recently launched Chanel Flap bag. Sparkle the night away.

 www.chanel.com

We have saved the best till last, a true gem of a stocking filler – the perfect Christmas surprise. And not in the slightest bit biased…
Why not treat a loved one to an L&G statement piece: The Imperial Rose Gold Cuff. This piece delivers impact and luxury. True designer jewellery, we believe it is perfection from every angle and is the perfect Christmas treat.

Written by Rosie May Reddington

Why do we wear that? How does a Fashion Trend start?

We’re all too aware of the fashion trends that surround us and the speed at which they can change. What’s hot one season can be all but dead within 12 months, and your prized, on-trend coat can suddenly look rather dated.
But who is deciding all this? Why do we even have trends? It stands to reason that, left to their own devices, those at the top of the fashion tree should be coming up with wildly varied designs each season, thus allowing us to enjoy a multitude of outfits and without one particular style standing out.
And that there is the big question: how is it that every season, such prominent trends appear across all the different designer’s work? Are they having secret meetings before? Is there a master trend-setter hiding behind smoke and mirrors?

You wore what last year?

The first thing to realise is that all trends and collections you see have been at least 12-18 months in the making. Seasonal collections premier at fashion shows around half a year before they are due to hit the shop floors, which means design work for them started 12 months ago, or more. It is back then that what you wear now is decided upon.

The second thing to understand is how a ‘trend’ is taken up. Primarily, trends start with the major designer brands who exhibit a noticeable style at the major shows. More ‘retail friendly’ versions then appear in stores, and as this happens the large high street brands pick up on the style and make their equivalents. It is the high street brands that allow a style to go ‘global’. The most recent years have seen a slight shift from this model, with trends passing through faster thanks to live broadcasts of shows, bloggers and a need for the high street retailers to start selling new trends faster. However, the basic premise still remains that a handful of designers will influence the next season’s trend.
Now that we’ve given a quick run-down on the industry, it’s time to understand how a trend develops.  

Textile Mills have a big say in colour trends

Now, 12 months preparation for designers may seem like a long time, but that is until we tell you that fabric designers are yet another season ahead of the fashion designers. And here is where it all begins. Hardly any brands manufacture their own fabrics- even huge power house fashion brands or large high street companies usually buy fabric from huge textiles companies. These textile companies, ultimately, determine the basis for what we will be wearing in 2 years time. In most cases, this means designers already being limited to certain textures, prints and hence forms of clothing. 

Most colour schemes have been decided before the designers have even started

Ok, so you can understand why designers may all be heading in the same direction – but the same styles? Why do we find ourselves with a variety of angle-cuts one year and more curvy, feminine shapes the next? There are two answers to this.

Firstly: Actually, designers don’t all have the same ideas. At every fashion show there is a wealth of styles and looks across the board. You only have to look at the most recent Fashion Weeks to see the variety of different trends available. However, across the multitude of brands displaying, there will always be similarities to be picked across some of them.
This is not to say ‘trends’ are a faux – far from it – but it is saying that there are many different ones available, which increases the likelihood of similarity when analysed and cherry-picked across the board. 

Secondly: The fashion world is not as big as you think it is. There are only a handful of top-level designers in clothing that set the bar for the mass-produced trends to begin. And they are all influenced by similar things – art shows, exhibitions, visual books, major films etc. You would think the chances of finding the same source of inspiration are low, but, actually, this is not the case. Most designers, by nature of their training, think in a similar way and recognise inspiration in similar forms. More often than not, most designers will be aware of the major visual and graphical releases during a season and therefore similar concepts will emerge.

Photography books and graphical works strongly influence trends

What about trend forecasters? Trend forecasters tend to work with fast fashion names, diluting trends from the luxury designers to create the major concepts for the mass market. So in reality, trend forecasters tend to be running behind the luxury names. However, they are sometimes used to consult on fabrics and colour themes as they are well clued in to the world of textiles.  

The overall analysis of what makes a ‘trend’ is a complex scientific and psychological question that no one has yet been able to pin down. But there is a basic structure in place in the industry which makes for some form of ‘trend path’ that can be followed.

At Lolo & Galago, we have a complex design process, working with jewellery designers from all over the world to encompass our own ideas and concepts based on our inspirations and findings, before applying this to new collections, ensuring that our exotic designs fit well with our customers. As a global brand with a British twist, it’s essential to us that we are aware of design trends but at the same time keep true to our own style.

Perfect Party Christmas Dresses

It is coming into that festive part of year when all the Christmas parties are starting and it’s  time to get ready for the Christmas season to begin - Party dresses – oh what to wear! Well, fear not, at L&G we are here to help you out, as well as provide you ladies some jewellery recommendations…

Now, one of the most versatile dresses is the little black dress and one of our Christmas party favourites is the Maje Drasera plissé georgette mini dress - £210
ww.maje.com.
If you are looking for a more formal Christmas dress and want to stand out in the party, then look no further than the J MENDEL Embellished pleated silk-chiffon gown (£7,355, netaporter.com)

If you are looking to accessorise then we would wear this simple black dress with a designer necklace that will make an impact. The L&G Imperial necklace is the perfect piece to add as the necklace stands out on the neckline cut of the black dress and gives and added dimension.

www.loloandgalago.com

J Mendel's gown is the height of Christmas glamor. This dress has intricate beading patterned in a geometric, Art Deco-inspired design. The fitted bodice trails into a fluid hand pleated silk-chiffon skirt. This dress carries a lot of structure and is a statement in itself so in terms of accessorising only a simple piece with structure is required. One of the latest L&G jewellery collections - Visionary Structures - has simple structured bangles which will work well with this dress due to its simplicity in structure and design.

Funk and Punk is going be huge in 2015 so if you are looking for a party dress not just for Christmas but one that will see you well into the 2015 season, as well as hitting one of the core 2015 fashion trends with a statement, then look no further than the Alexander Mc Queen kaleidoscopic beetle print tube dress.

A dress as punk funk as this needs a cutting edge pair of earrings to define the look. So to really add to the outfit we recommend the L&G 1950-Sixty Monochrome stud earrings – which will enhance the look and add that ‘ Punk Funk’ edge.(www.loloangalago.com).

So enjoy the Christmas Party fun, dresses and funk!

Written by Rosie May Reddington

New Year is what you make of it

It seems that everyone is holding out for the BIG thing. The one party that will end the year with a bang and bring in 2015 with true style. But does that party really exist? And is it really worth it anyway?

New Year. Two words guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of any party person. What are you doing? Is it good enough? Might there be a better offer?

London is one of the best cities in the world, and with that comes a plethora of New Year’s night options. Will you party at the biggest clubs, see in 2015 with thousands of others at the Mayor of London’s Fireworks Display or will you keep it simple and stay home with friends? There seems to be a disproportionate amount of pressure loaded onto New Year’s eve, as if the amount of fun you have on this one night will inform the whole of the rest of 2015.

In ancient times, New Year’s eve was all about staying at home, waiting for a stranger to appear at the door bearing coal (to ensure the house was always warm), bread (to keep the family from starving that year), and greenery (for a long life). In medieval times, a flat cake was placed on the horns of a cow. The farmer and workers sang and danced until the cake fell off. If it fell in front of the cow, it would be a good year. It was all about hope. Hope for a good year ahead, hope for health and prosperity, hope for friends and family.

So we say – ignore the hype. The biggest and best party is unlikely to be either of those things. For us, the best way to welcome 2015 will be with friends, having a good time in our own way. That might be partying hard all night long, or it might be dinner and a toast at midnight. Or it might be sitting watching the fireworks on TV. It’s whatever suits you best. Because if you’re trying to force it, it’s never going to be that good. So relax this new year, and do it your way.

To give you a helping hand, we’ve come up with our top five inspirations for New Year’s eve in London this year - whatever your style:

1.    A house party with a difference. The Mansion London put on exclusive themed parties at secret locations. For New Year, they are hosting the ‘Golden Mansion’ with DJs, entertainment and psychic readings…

2.    The works. And by ‘works’, we mean fireworks. The Mayor’s fireworks are always a showstopper and to see them in all of their glory, you need to be one of the 100,000 with a ticket to the viewing area. This is the first year the event has been ticketed, so get in quickly.

3.    Hogmany… sort of. Channel the Scottish spirit at this Electronic Ceilidh at Hackney Downs Studios. It’s a combination of Celtic tradition and East London cool.

4.    Run away to the Circus. Circus themes are hot, and you can indulge your inner wild thing at Twisted Circus 

5.    Parliament Hill. A fun, outdoorsy, off-the-cuff option that is fun, but don’t go expecting a big party. It’s mostly local families and young people with a few drinks and the odd firework, all gathered to watch over the rest of the city and spot the biggest displays. Low-key, makeshift, but as fun as you make it.

What do you prefer to do at New Year? Are you a party person or totally over it? Any other recommendations for seeing in 2015? Let us know in the comments.

Looking for the perfect Fashion Accessories in 2015

As the year comes to an end, it is time to look forwards to the new fashion trends for 2015.

In terms of designer jewellery shapes, all forms are in - the edgier the better: floral earrings, bows, lips, zippers, 3D jewellery with geometrical shapes are all the rage – futuristic is the future.

Later on in the year – there will be a trend towards beautiful gems: fantastic gemstone jewellery, something we all love at L&G.

Autumn winter 2015/16 will bring quirky gems to accessorise any piece of clothing from shirts to loafers. Heart shaped zipper pulls, diamond encrusted floral earrings and laser cut leather loafers, lipstick handbags will be the key trends this season.

Natural is back and Rustic backpacks and wooden clutches will make a strong appearance this season. Jewellery is trending in the style of crosses and 3 dimensional geometric shapes – they will be the perfect fashion accessory in 2015.

At the end of this year we have seen crystal clear glass and plastic used in clutches and handbags, hair accessories and shoes.  However next year this trend is going to get bigger. Paired with white, transparent accessories are fresh and clean looks, the key fashion accessory in 2015. Rustic gold jewellery will also contribute to the modern era in bold and unusual shapes.

And on the flip side, the dark era has begun!
Accessories this season will be dark and chunky i.e. black half gloves and high heels... the use of a hat or even a heavy bag will be an important fashion accessory in 2015.

However, don’t forget this year is the year of Punk and Funk with bright pinks and crimsons, so whatever your fashion style, there is a key fashion accessory out there for you.

What did they wear? How Jewellery has changed…

Lately, a video showing 100 years of makeup trends in 1 minute (for those interested, you can watch it here http://twistedsifter.com/videos/100-years-of-hair-and-makeup-in-a-minute/) has been doing the rounds, creating a lot of social media activity around styles and looks from bygone days.

But, whilst most of us have an innate understanding of what fashion and makeup looked like in each decade, (70s = flares, 80s = big hair dos, right?) do we know how jewellery has evolved?

Designer jewellery has indeed seen its fair share of trends throughout the last half century, fluctuating in terms of gemstone use, colours and innate jewellery style. So what were they? What did the height of luxury jewellery look like in the 50s? What style was hot in the 80s? Read on to find out, and soon you’ll be sounding like a jewellery expert. 

1950s

The 1950s was a decade of two halves for jewellery design. Starting off with traditional jewellery designs (reserved and ‘fussy’ looks - think lace patterns), within 5 years it was leaping into the uncharted world of Costume jewellery. The advancement of mass production led to more affordable pieces, but this in turn helped spark a change in style – clean lines and full sets of jewellery became more common. Women tended to reserve their best pieces for evening wear whilst enjoying their costume pieces during the day- although design the style of rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets themselves were still echoing from previous decades. 

1960s

The free thinking of the 60s was reflected in its jewellery: pieces got bigger and colours got brighter. Any conservative style left from the 50s was cast out as designers looked to the Middle and Far East for inspiration. Many organic, flower-based designs emerged (much like a modern take on the 19^th century naturalistic jewellery (learn more about it here), drawing their inspiration from the ‘flower power’ movement that embroiled the decade.

1970s
As the 70s rolled on, Glam Rock took to the fore, a style still influencing many of today’s pieces (Stephen Webster is a good example). A big part of this theme was glitter and sparkle – which featured across many designs. Big, bold pieces continued to stand firm as the designer’s choice. 

1980s 

If the 70s was bold then the 80s was extreme. We know all about the make up and hair dos, and the jewellery didn’t disappoint in keeping up. Plastic was used a lot to help achieve large, statement pieces at affordable prices whilst beads were used as an alternative to gemstones. For the more luxury end of the market, jewellery continued to be designed to turn heads and pearls garnered a lot of support. 

1990s 

And, 40 years after we started our journey, we saw the first signs of jewellery becoming more understated again. The grunge scene of the 90s helped influence jewellery that became less dressy and designs moved towards a cleaner, more contemporary look. Plastics moved out in favour of silver and more reserved sizes in precious metal. Whilst not delicate, pieces became more refined and designs simpler. 

So there you have it. You’ve now been whisked through 50 years of jewellery trends. For all jewellery houses, it is important to keep in touch with what customers want and the styles that work for the fashion at the time. But at Lolo & Galago, we also think it’s important to ensure our own unique approach to designer jewellery is kept consistent throughout the ages.