FOUND - Memento That Tells Tales

I found this souvenir bracelet at the Avenue Vintage & Antique Market in West Ealing. Old travel mementos like these are a personal favorite - the writer in me not only enjoys wearing them but also imagining their hidden history. This little piece of Spain - those are bullfighters in the metal work - came to me via a dealer selling primarily French collectibles. It's seen some life - if only it could speak. I imagine it's the type of touristy keepsake that a man like Ernest Hemingway would have bought for his first wife Hadley when they were visiting San Fermin in Pamplona. This is where Hemingway became fascinated with bull fighting and would meet Pauline Pfeiffer, the woman who would become his 2nd wife.'Papa,' the cad, would buy a silly but stylish trifle like this for Hadley in an effort to put her off the scent. But it did not disguise the acrid smell of Hemingway's marital deceit. Fiction? Maybe. But I enjoy giving voice to this souvenir's secrets. The price for such an inspiring accessory? Just £10.

            

For more on Hadely Richarson's life with Hemgingway

read The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, CLICK HERE.

TRY THIS - Branch Out by Wearing Wood

I found this wooden big-bead bracelet at the Barnardo's charity shop in Whitstable on the Kent Coast. It happily joins similar bangles I've collected over the years. Today's contemporary women's style requires mismatching, pattern clashing and competing textures - opposites attract it seems. So to "toughen-up" a feminine look, professional stylists perpetually add biker boots or a black leather jacket to frilly frocks. Frankly it's a choice that's becoming all too typical and to be honest, I've never been able to make biker boots work. But thankfully there are alternatives for ensuring your feminine style-turn stays strong. I like pairing natural materials - like wood - with my girly gear. The rich colour, grainy pattern and over-sized shape of these bangles add an air of "Modern Art" or "Nature's Power" to any womanly wear I pull on. Solid style, courtesy of a beaded bracelet, was just 49p.

TRY THIS - Stylish Buys & Sparkling Skies

I found these sparkling paste bangles at a Saturday 2nd-hand market in the seaside town of Deal, Kent. This small but perfectly formed buyers' delight is located in Union Road car park in the 'Old Town' CLICK HERE. Traders are friendly but pack up promptly at 3pm. Once the market moves on, Deal's clutch of antique shops, vintage emporiums and charity shops will keep a 2nd-hand shopper happy for the balance of an afternoon. I'd plenty of spending left over from my bracelet buy, these dazzlers were just £3. 

On this visit to Deal we booked in at bright and cozy Turnstone Cottage CLICK HERE. Teaming with quirky twists and turns, the seaside 2-bedroom home, stocked full of amenities, is the perfect HQ for exploring the Kent coast. The Middle Street Fish Bar is a 'must eat' CLICK HERE and The Ship, also on Middle Street, has a relaxed but traditional pub vibe. The new fast trains whizzed us into Deal from London St Pancras in under 90 minutes - sparkling sky and sea beckoned us the moment we disembarked. This lovely little (high speed) whistle stop has become my home-from-home, a peaceful but buzzy village with lively pubs, 2nd-hand hot spots, welcoming people and an unending view of the sea. 

BONUS POST - Top Kat Designer Q&A

I find jewellery the most personal of style items. Given as a gift or handed-down, it becomes increasingly meaningful, taking on more significance as it shines throughout the important days of the wearer's life. So jewellery created in small batches or as one-offs, by an emerging designer, is quite simply contemporary gold dust waiting to wrap itself round our memories. Design debutante Katherine Hitchcock credits her mum for inspiring her jewellery brand, WildKat, and tips her hat to Dolly Parton, Salvador Dali and Top Girls.        

What inspires the vibe of your work?

I would definitely have to say travel, I love seeing how jewellery varies across the globe. I am particularly inspired by Native Americans. I love their use of colour, geometry and beadwork.

Favourite Music? Painting? Play?

This is the point where I could ramble on forever. I love 70s and 80s music. My parents listened to Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel and Hall and Oates to name a few and it used to drive me mad, but now I love it, it’s full of nostalgia.

As for paintings, I love Dali and my favourite is - get this for a title - Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening. It’s the painting with tigers and an elephant with stilt-like legs. Dali's paintings are so bonkers, what’s not to like?

My favourite play would have to be Top Girls by Caryl Churchill.

If you could have 3 women (dead or alive) round for dinner, who would you invite?

Well I would have to invite my mum as it would be rude not to, especially if I was going to invite Meryl Streep as we both love her. Dolly Parton would have to be there as she has a wicked sense of humour and the voice of an angel, and I'd probably throw in Joan Rivers for good measure.

How does your mum effect or inspire your work?

My mum is a huge influence on my work. She worked as an air stewardess before becoming an interior designer so our house has a very eclectic feel. She is never afraid to use colour and is always mixing old with new.

Is there a piece of pricey jewellery you'd like to own?

Oh sure! There is a whole shop of it on Portobello road called Jessie Western CLICK HERE. They specialize in Native American jewellery and the shop is stacked to the roof with pretty things.

If you weren't expressing yourself through jewellery, what would you be doing instead?

I would love to work on films as a set painter or prop maker.

What next for your brand? 

More new pieces, I believe it’s important to keep evolving. I have recently released some more modern pieces, but they still incorporate my favourite material, leather, which can be seen throughout my work. I’m also continuously looking for inspiration so perhaps a cheeky little trip to Europe next! 

To see more of Kat's jewellery online CLICK HERE   

TRY THIS - Shifting Gifts Your Way

My step-mom gave me these pinky vintage bangles. She reads Huntress London faithfully so like you, maybe, learned that I've a penchant for wacky wrist-wear. To date, thanks in part to her, my bangle count is over 60, including stretchy varieties, several sterling silver, 2 hand-beaded and dozens of fat plastic models. Passionately collecting a fashion item has been tonnes of fun. My bangle searches have lead me down so many interesting style streets. And bracelet pressies from friends and family offer lovely little insights into the gift givers themselves. I pair the new/old pink bangles with several blood red numbers from my collection for an evocative colour and shape combination. As the holidays approach, make sure everyone knows what YOU collect. They'll appreciate the helpful gift hint.

TRY THIS - Make the Most of a Market

I found both these bracelets (bangles even!) at Shepherds Bush Market in London. The market is dwarfed by the retail playground that is Westfields. While admittedly it won't be everyone's cup of tea, I'd take this market over a mall every time. Westfields may have anything you'd want to buy, but Shepherds Bush Market is an inspiring feast for the eyes. With the smell of falafel, the best I've eaten in ages, wafting through the air, this market - offering more new than used - is a riot of colour, form and proportion. The building blocks of style. 

"All the kids in the market place say: 

Walk like an Egyptian"

                   -The Bangles

No, you won't find the latest A/W 14 runway sensation, but you will find stunning garments crafted from African wax print, handmade in a tiny stall barely big enough for seamstress and sewing machine. You'll find every size and shaped nylon night gown in the world, but look closely and you'll find a few cotton varieties as well. Plastic fruit, coloured zippers, fake flowers, beach balls, hand towels, bed spreads, strainers, drainers, kaftans, petroleum jelly, real fruit, real veg, cheap luggage, hardware, soft furnishings and more are on offer. The stallholders hailing from at least 3 continents are friendly and approachable. These bracelet were £2.99 apiece. The afternoon stroll through the market, exhilarating.