Whoever said "diamonds are a girl’s best friend" slightly missed the point. Every accessory we wear tells a story about who we are, be it from a flea market, a best friend, an ex-lover or an auction house (wishful thinking...).
We caught up with some of Britain’s coolest creatives to find out what makes their look their own when it comes to accessories. Introducing: Felicity Hayward, Elizabeth Ilsley, Emma Breschi, Kate Stewart, Millicent Hailes and Tinea Taylor from GRLPWR Gang, a collective of women who work and support each other in their creative endeavours.
From bright berets to animal-print bags – with some classic gold hoops thrown in, naturally – here’s what these movers and shakers wear to dress up, dress down, and everything in between.
Elizabeth Ilsley
@elizabethilsley
Elizabeth Ilsley has built her profile as an artist by exploring her own weaknesses. From relationship failures to personal demons, she’s unravelled it all in the name of art. Chances are, you’ve seen some of her creations floating around Instagram – the young Brit is famed for her no-holds-barred slogan jackets. Here she tells us how she makes her jewellery her own.
“My style is a direct result of the music I listen to. Right now, I'm obsessed with the '90s so I tend to dress up as Courtney Love or Pamela Anderson by day, then for night I go really classic. Little black dress, red lipstick, statement earrings... That classic look really works for my body type.
"This gold ring will go perfectly with all my other jewellery because it’s quite dainty. I like to stack them up and be 'extra'. I like making things my own: right now I keep removing my handbag handles and replacing them with scarves. It’s very chic.
"I also love a statement and how more 'statement' can you get than a beret? Berets make everyone look cute. That's just the rules.”
Elizabeth's picks: Pearly Ring Statement Earrings, £12; Open Pearl Ring, £6; Spot Neckerchief Scarf, £15; Leather Gloves, £22; Embroidered Cross Body Bag, £25.
Emma Breschi
@emmabreschi
Meet slasher Emma Breschi: the photographer, filmmaker and model is a performer who’s also not afraid to turn the camera on herself. In her own work she explores female identity, body image and what it means to be a woman. Just some light touch work then.
Emma talks to us about being brave with her accessories and how she manages to cut the beret free of its ‘chic’ French associations…
“My favourite thing about my style is that I'm not scared to overkill with colours (right now I'm obsessed with being head to toe in the colour red!). Here, I picked the brightest pieces because they resonated more with me as a person and on a creative level. Mixing up colours and being a little more vibrant is a good thing. I mean, who wants to blend in?!
"My go-to accessories have always been hats and shades; if I don’t wear my baseball caps and tinted specs, I feel naked. But this time I went with a beret because it was a popping colour – I thought it would be fun to add some of that European flare to my aesthetic. When you think of berets you just imagine a chic, all-black polo neck look. Not with this beret, though: I achieved quite the opposite. For me, accessories are the cherry on top!”
Emma's picks: Lily Ribbed Scarf, £17; Tia Scalloped Square Sunglasses, £12; Mini Bag, £15; Ball Statement Earrings, £10; 2x Vintage Cocktail Rings, £18.
Felicity Hayward
@felicityhayward
You know what’s cool? Being scouted by Miles Aldridge. While you’re dancing to Diana Ross. In an east London pub. That’s Felicity Hayward, to the uninitiated. Here, the first-class model and creator of the hashtag #selflovebringsbeauty tells us which accessories help her show her personal style.
“As a child I used to play in my nan's jewellery box all the time. Then when I was 15 I bought a load of old '80s accessories – I’ve been obsessed ever since. The bigger the better.
"If I’m ever having a wardrobe strop, I always go for a simple jersey dress and jazz up the whole look. I love the fact I am able to switch up my style depending on my mood – but at the same time it’s still all under the same aesthetic. It's little pieces of everything I have been inspired by in my life.
"For me, getting dressed is like decorating a Christmas tree: keep the base simple and over-accessorise the rest.”
Felicity's picks: Layered Leaf Cocktail Ring, £12; 80s Rings Set, £10; Statement Hoop Earrings, £12; Lola Glitter Cross Body Bag, £20.
Kate Stewart
@kstewartmusic
Words we dream about hearing: "You’re this generation's answer to Mariah Carey." Well, according to i-D, that’s exactly what singer Kate Stewart is. And if you hadn’t fallen for her enough already, she’s also got great style to boot.
Kate explains how she keeps her wardrobe on its toes… and what she always needs on a night out.
“I switch up my style; a lot. During the day I usually wear tracksuit bottoms and hoodies, but when I go out I like wearing a pair of heels, jeans and a crop top! I like that I can go from super tomboy to girly whenever I feel like it.
"I wear a lot of animal print, and a lot of gold jewellery. I feel like I would wear all of these accessories and they would go with everything! I love a big glamorous statement earring for a night out – and talking of going out, it’s so important to get a bag that’s the right size. It helps if it’s in animal print!
"I always wear a lot of necklaces and rings: I never take them off. I believe if you’re wearing an outfit that might be a bit boring or plain, then accessories always bring the outfit to life. My go-to accessory is always, always good hoops!”
Kate's picks: Harper Leopard Point Shoes, £29; Snake Handheld Bag, £40; Marilyn Cross Body Bag, £25; Leopard Mini Cross Body Bag, £20; Urban Leopard Scarf, £18.
Millicent Hailes
@millicenthailes
If you haven’t seen work by photographer and director Millicent Hailes, you’ve probably been reading the wrong magazines. Hailes has the ability to take on big issues with a light touch, adopting a tongue-in-cheek style to play with ideas of sexuality and, ultimately, provoke reactions.
Here, the London College of Fashion alumnus explains what accessories do for her part girly, part grungy look.
“The thing I love most about my style is that I don't necessarily have a particular style. I like this glittery bag and sparkly pink earrings because they’d work for a day when I’m feeling a little femme and girly, when I want to feel like a princess. But other days I might just want to wear a backpack and hoops.
"I like my accessories to give my look a bit of sparkle, especially when I’m dressed down. It adds a small personal touch, a little flair. When styling more girly accessories, I’d toughen them up with jeans and trainers. And maybe even some overalls for when I'm working.”
Millicent's picks: 80s Glam Choker, £8; Faux Fur Beanie Hat, £20; Glitter Cross Body Bag, £17; Crystal Mismatch Earrings, £12; Lola Applique Cross Body Bag, £20.
Tinea Taylor
@tineataylor
You may not recognise her face but you’d almost certainly recognise her voice: Tinea Taylor cut her teeth at Rinse FM before moving onto KissFMUK’s drive-time show, where she had 1 million listeners. One million!
Aside from her presenting skills, Taylor has a real eye for fashion, and what makes her own style unique. Here she talks us through her favourite Accessorize pieces…
“I’m confident within my body: I’ve accepted all of my flaws and I own them. So whether I’m wearing a bralette or a baggy jumper, I’m always comfortable with my style. I’m really looking forward to autumn/winter now, and you can’t go wrong with a matching scarf for comfort and warmth. This cute silver clutch will be perfect for winter parties because it will go with everything and it reminds me a bit of Christmas.
"I love a hoop earring – I’m always wearing them. You can have minimal makeup on and they will stand out and dress up an outfit. Adding accessories to an outfit is so important as they can make jeans and T-shirt look dressy. I’m not a fan of clashing prints, I love a clean look and I think the pieces I’ve chosen are just that: simple but effective.”
Tinea's picks: Lena Pleated Scarf, £22; Double Hoop Earrings, £7; Kaa Silver Snake Ring, £5; Thandie Metallic Cross Body Bag, £17; Oksana Crackle Leather Clutch Bag, £29; Contrast Beanie Hat, £17.
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