Five Golden Gifts: The Gift of Sentiment + Win A Limited Edition Alex & Ani Bracelet

Jewellery is not a unique gift idea, I am aware. However, I do think that it can be a really powerful gift if thought is put into it. It is something that the person receiving it will likely keep and wear frequently for the rest of their lives. There is also something in the fact that they wear it, keep it against their skin, carry it around, that makes it a really intimate gift. If you give them the right piece, you are essentially giving them your feelings and allowing them to hold your sentiments close.

I'm not personally a big jewellery wearer, I don't really like the sensation of it against my skin, but there are many pieces that I have received over the years and hold very dear: the lovely silver pendant my mother gave me for my 16th birthday, the gold bangle with my name inscribed on it that my godmother gave me when I was born, the gold locket my mother gave me on my Confirmation day.

And some of the gifts that I have given and have most proud of have been pieces of jewellery such as one of my best friends' Christmas present last year. We were going to be separated for a year while she went to work in Hong Kong so I bought her a simple heart-shaped necklace and had in engraved with a message. Small and simple, it could be easily brought and packed, easily worn and could stay with her as a constant reminder that, even if she felt very homesick, I was with her and missing her too.

In my personal opinion, it is not the most expensive jewellery that makes for the best gifts, it's the pieces with the most heartfelt messages attached. So, how do you figure out how to tug on the heartstrings in the right way? I've compiled a list of questions to help you come up with a theme for the piece and then your understanding of your own budget, the tastes of the person in mind and practical considerations (such as whether they have their ears pierced, have active lives that make wearing long or dangling pieces difficult, dislike wearing certain types of jewellery etc) will help narrow down the potential list of candidates.

1. Do you have pet names for each other?
(For example, even if you just happen to call the person "dear" a lot, you could buy something with a deer on it.)

2. Do you have a memory of a moment together that you hold particularly dear?
(That one time you had too much wine and ended up staying up all night talking? Bonding over a mutual love for Bowie when you first met?)

3. Do you have an in-joke that no one else knows about?

4. Is you the person a mega-fan of any brands?
(Particularly luxury brands. Chanel offers some costume jewellery pieces that are, by no means, inexpensive but are much more affordable than anything else from the label. If someone loves a particular brand, just seeing the box will make their face light up with joy.)

5. Did you meet somewhere specific? Have you ever gone on a trip together that changed your relationship? Have you been dreaming of going somewhere together?

Which brings me on to today's giveaway. It's a piece from Alex & Ani's Liberty Copper Collection, available in Ireland from the Kilkenny Design Centre. I talked about this collection upon its launch and it is a very limited line of jewellery that features recycled copper from one of New York's most famous landmarks; the Statue of Liberty. It is, therefore, the perfect gift for someone you share important memories of New York with or plan to travel there with. It would even be a great little gift to announce to someone that you are bringing them to New York as the main gift!

If you want to win this piece, just read on and be sure to come back over the next few days for more amazing prizes!

1. This giveaway is, sadly, only open to entrants located in Ireland, who are over 18 years of age.

2. The prize is one Kindred Cord bracelet from the Alex & Ani Liberty Copper Collection.
3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr). Let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!

4. Competition closes a week from now on the 9th of December 2016 at midnight Irish time.

5. Winners will be chosen at random.

6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

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Alex & Ani Liberty Copper Collection

Blogger launches probably seem glamorous from the outside. And they probably are, for most people, but I seem to constantly embarrass myself at these things and shouldn't really be allowed outside on my own without an escort. At the launch of Alex & Ani's new Liberty Copper Collection in the Kilkenny Design Centre on Nassau Street last Thursday, I managed to, once again, make a tit of myself.

The launch was happening during a customer evening and there was lots going on; there was candyfloss, popcorn and retro glass bottles of Coke being passed around, the Bugle Babes (a trio of ladies in forties military garb) were singing ragtimey tunes, Dara Kenny was painting the New York skyline and totes were being screen printed with an image of the city by Damn Fine Print. Cue my arrival in the midst of this, a wave of social-awkwardness washing over me and my turning to the snacks in lieu of human interaction. Sadly, when I reached for some candyfloss, six sticks had melted together and after a flustered interaction with the girl handing them out, I was told to take the lot. Which is why I spent the rest of the launch walking around with a giant melted glob of candyfloss in my hand, trying to juggle my camera and be taken seriously...

...sigh...

Anyhoo, if we ignore my little bout of social disfunction, I'm sure a trend or theme has already become apparent. New York was brought to Nassau street to celebrate the launch of Alex & Ani's very limited line of jewellery that features recycled copper from one of the city's most famous landmarks; the Statue of Liberty.

And how, pray tell, did the brand end up with recycled copper from a world famous monument? They were on the ball, that's how. When the Statue of Liberty was recycled between 1984 and 1986, to celebrate its centennial, the original copper supports were replaced with stainless steel and the copper was removed. Alex & Ani were clever enough to seize the opportunity and bought up the copper.

Now, they have produced a limited line of 26 special pieces using the copper that they purchased.

As per the brand's usual ethos, this line has a deeper message; it is the Carry Light collection. The design of the charms on these pieces features a torch and flame that is an exact replica of Lady Liberty’s torch and is a powerful symbol of hope.

The line is super limited due to the nature of the material used and each stockist was only granted a certain number of pieces. Kilkenny were given the most in Ireland but there still aren't many knocking about, which is something to keep in mind if you are interested in the line.

To me, jewellery with a sentiment behind it is really meaningful and personal as a gift, in particular, and I think that this line is the ideal thing as a present to someone in need of a reminder that there is always hope or, maybe, someone with whom you share a fond memory of New York.

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Zac, you're Posen a problem to my wallet.

Because I want to buy every piece for S/S.

Zac Posen is a reliable source for cute dresses girls will always want to wear. I've always appreciated his garments for their beauty but his latest show really impressed me in a different way. It helped that the styling was SO on point but the pieces themselves killed it. Dreamy, girly, princessy clothes that somehow avoid being overly saccharine and just seem relevant. Perhaps it's the underlying sex appeal and timeless silhouettes that stop them going from princessy to things pulled out of a dress-up box but whatever the case may be, there's no denying the instant appeal of these clothes. It's also nice that the pastel palette thing didn't stray into overly-literal and expected land.

The little girl inside me (who was 90% leg and usually in tiny shorts and a tee up a tree somewhere) would have gone crazy for this collection - tomboy or not, my eyes would be doing that cartoon, popping-out-on-springs thing, as I screamed "AROOOGA!"

Damn, Zac.

Alexander Wang - It Pieces for another Season.

I predict it now, it's fairly - if not patently (geddit?) - obvious that Alexander Wang has knocked it out of the park once again and created a collection full of stand-out pieces that will sell out world wide. He has a real knack for that - creating the must-haves that women all over will lust after. Which is funny because lust and sensuality are key components of the appeal of the collection. The Parental Advisory pieces, the boxer shorts, the shirts and all the pieces emblazoned with his name will be at the top of many shopping lists.

Now, it's no news that I'm a major fan. Like, seriously. He's gone and done it again with all the things I like; unobvious sexiness, playing on the whole male-female dynamic and putting uncomplicated but striking pieces together. As has been noted in many reviews of the show, his girl looks like one who rolled out of bed and is fabulously undone. She looks like she is this cool without trying at all. And that is an amazingly appealing notion to fashion people and normal women alike.

A nineties, early nougthies aesthetic runs through the collection in much of the silhouettes, fabric choices and return of logo-mania but, as a whole, it remains undeniably fresh and modern. The cool, limited palette isn't very S/S but is decidedly New York and Wang.

Wang's strength of vision is, once again, apparent in his latest showing. His girl is as unmistakable as she is stylish and much as he creates pieces with ephemeral appeal, his collections are permeated with that sense of style that Yves Saint Laurent once specified as being different from fashion.

(Images from NY Post)

Rag and Bone meets Felicity?

The Fall campaign shots remind me so much of the show - especially the opening credits with the black and white images of the characters. I can't be the only one who thinks this, right?

But seriously though, ice cool much. Michael Pitt, you big dreamboat...and Lea Seydoux is pretty damn alright too. New York, the third uncredited star of the campaign is also looking damn fine. SO MUCH LOVE.

(Images via Rag & Bone and Refinery29)

When did DKNY get so cool?

Like, seriously. 

It's always been the younger, cooler Donna Karan diffusion line but they've really stepped it up a notch. It-Girl and name on everyone's lips, Cara Delvingne is the current campaign girl and their A/W 2013-4 collection is so New York, so modern and impossibly cool. It's been described as an on-point reworking of nineties grunge and sport shapes with playful use of colour. The styling, however, is perfect and makes it particularly relevant to today; sleek, unassuming, unfussy and expertly layered. Expect this to be seen all over the streets next Autumn.

(All images from vogue.co.uk)