Pure Collection Cashmere me up

It's been well documented on this here blog that I LOVE cashmere and it is one of my ultimate wardrobe staples along with seam free pants and a silk blouse. I am the very proud owner of not 1 cashmere jumper but 4 (black, navy, camel and lime) and each time I wear them I get a compliment. Case in point - I met my friend Amy a while ago and the first words that tripped out of her mouth when I exited the wardrobe mobile were

"You look so expensive."

Not bad, eh? I was wearing my Pure Collection navy crew neck jumper with phat jewelz, grey suede Zara court shoes and a Preen lace skirt. Cashmere is versatile and stylish and warm - now that winter has firmly set its sights upon us we need to wardrobe-up and bring out the big guns! Acrylic may be half as expensive but it'll only keep you half as warm and last half as long as a proper cashmere investment piece.

Ever wondered why the price of cashmere differs so widely on our Great British High Street? Pure Collection uses the longest fibres of cashmere to weave their jumpers which cost the most but means they pill (bobble) the least. Brands like M&S use the shorter ones which cost less but pill more when you wear them. 

This week I am styling at the Pure Collection shop in York showcasing their new Autumn Winter stock. Pure Collection is the largest online and catalogue retailer of cashmere in the UK and it is always a joy and a pleasure to work alongside them, inspiring their customers at seasonal events. Here's the info in case you'd like to pop along:

Pure Collection exclusive Winter Styling Event at the York store, on Wednesday 8th October 4pm - 7pm including 15% off our full price collection. The perfect opportunity to build your winter wardrobe!

The event is FREE TO ATTEND, including a glass of Prosecco and a goodie bag. Awesome!

To reserve your place at this exciting event, please call the York store on 01904 466477 or email shopyork@purecollection.com. 

I've been drooling over the Pure Collection website all week and these are my top picks:

For those cosy winter nights in with a DVD and a mug of tea the Gassato Cashmere Cowl Neck in heather grey worn with the Cashmere Lounge pant are beyond perfect. How decadent!!!

Duster coats and mannish tailoring are BIG again this winter and the Pure Collection Revere coat has not only nailed this trend but it's a coat you'll be wearing for seasons to come. Not for the faint hearted - the colour is so striking and impactful:

And then this skirt - my oh my how perfect is this sequinned skirt for me  the Christmas party season. Hell, I'd wear this with a white tee tucked in in summer. BIG YUM:

See you on Wednesday night!

Christmas Baubles Part deux!

So we've had caring for pearls, now we have caring for sterling silver! 

Open air/oxygen and humidity encourages Sterling Silver to tarnish, therefore, avoid just leaving your jewellery lying around when you’re not wearing them.  To slow down the tarnishing process and reduce the risk of scratching against other jewellery, always put the pieces into their own jewellery bag and store in an air-tight cool dry place. 

Extra tip – for the best results, pop into a little plastic bag too for extra O2 protection! 

Sterling Silver, stored properly, can be worn often and with minimal cleaning required making it very easy to care for.  Silver polishing cloths are impregnated with jewellery cleaner and are an excellent choice for cleaning your Sterling Silver jewellery.  If you wear the items daily, Dee and Gee Designs highly recommends that you just ‘buff’ clean them every day to keep them sparkling!  These polishing cloths are inexpensive, widely available and very easy to use and it‘s a good idea to have one cleaning cloth for gold and one for silver!

Avoid Silver/Gold Plated Jewellery

One of the reasons Dee and Gee Designs only uses precious metals e.g. Sterling Silver, is that whilst plated metals maybe cheaper, there is a huge difference in quality between real sterling silver and silver/gold plated jewellery/components.  For example, silver plated merely has a very thin layer of silver bonded to a base metal, such as brass or copper, which is less durable. Even with little wear or use, the layer wears off quite quickly revealing the unsightly base metal.  Sterling Silver, however, has a more attractive colour and shine as well as the ability to last a lifetime.   When purchasing Sterling Silver jewellery, look out for a hallmark i.e. it should be stamped 'sterling silver' or '925'.

A little care invested in your jewellery pays off in the long run!!

Dee and Gee Designs is an exciting luxury brand focused on bridging the gap between designer and high street.  Their collections, all named after family members, are classical with a contemporary twist and distinctive look and style. Check out their website by clicking here!