December 6, 2025

Kindred Fashion

Accessorising with Ottoman Hands Jewellery
10/27/2025 | Isobel Duff

Accessorising with Ottoman Hands Jewellery

I’ve always been quite a simple person when it comes to wearing jewellery. To be honest, I actually only ever worn simple silver pieces but in the last couple of months I’ve branched out. I was recently introduced to a brand called Ottoman Hands which is an online handmade jewellery company based in the UK and inspired by the traditions of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Hands is primarily gold plated jewellery and I was lucky to be gifted a few items. There are so many gorgeous collections including zodiac and alphabet ones which would make a great gift for someone.

I thought I would share the three items that I have been obsessed with. I picked up the Batya Eye Necklace and Earrings Set from the Evil Eye collection. I know there are different superstitions behind the symbol but personally I believe that it deflects bad energy and keep evil away. Both the necklace and earrings are 21ct gold plated on recycled brass and I chose the blue cubic zirconia gemstone. There are also clear and green stones available too. The necklace can be adjusted to several different lengths which I really like and I’ve been wearing it on the shortest level.

My late Grandma always wore similar pieces as she was into ancient Egyptian history and I always was fascinated with all the different symbols and turquoise gems. I also loved that Ottoman Hands actually had a few necklaces that were of the hieroglyphic letters and also the Eye of Horus symbol.

The other item which I picked up from Ottoman Hands is a gorgeous little ring. The Polymnia Blue Topaz Square Stacking Ring comes in three sizes. I went for the largest size but I do have to say it’s still quite tight and won’t fit on my middle finger. The large size equates to a size N/P so it’s worth measuring up before purchasing. However, the ring is utterly gorgeous, I’m obsessed with the gemstone. The ring is 18ct gold plated recycled Sterling Silver and to be honest, it’s not left my finger since it arrived.

It’s also worth mentioning that all three items came in a little recyclable pouch and all the packaging is sustainable. I’m sure you’ll be seeing these items a lot on my Instagram. I’m really happy with the quality and think that these will be staples in my jewellery collection!

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Styling Maxi Dresses All Year Round
10/25/2025 | Isobel Duff

Styling Maxi Dresses All Year Round

Many people associate maxi dresses with casual summer outfits, but they can actually be so much more versatile than this. Maxi dresses can be worn across different seasons and also for a variety of occasions, both formal and informal. Simply styling your dress differently and pairing it with certain shoes and accessories can transform your look. If you’d like some tips on how to style your maxi dresses for different seasons and events, then keep on reading.

Summer:

Maxi dresses are perhaps most commonly worn during the daytime in summer. Due to their thin, breezy fabric and long skirts, maxi dresses are great for keeping you cool on hot days. You can also find so many stylish maxi dresses with bright colours and floral prints, and these are perfect for this season.

To style your maxi dresses for summer days by the beach, it’s important to keep things simple and casual. Pairing these dresses with sandals or flip flops is a great idea for the summer, and to avoid the glare of the sun, you could opt for a big sun hat and some stylish sunglasses. For the dress itself, halterneck or strapless maxi dresses are a great option.

Formal events:

Although maxi dresses are often seen as informal, they can also be styled for the evening or more formal occasions. A dress in an elegant fabric like satin is a good choice, and pairing this with some high heels is perfect for a formal event. If your dress is a bit loose and shapeless, then wearing a belt around your waist will add structure to the look. Finally, to complete the outfit, you can layer a blazer or shrug on top of your maxi dress.

Winter:

Maxi dresses are often seen as a summer outfit, but they can also be worn in winter with just a few adjustments. Just like for formal events, a blazer or jacket is great to wear with your maxi dress. A leather jacket is a classic choice, or you may prefer to go for a thicker coat if you need more warmth.

However, since maxi dresses have long, breezy skirts, you may find your legs getting cold when wearing these dresses in the winter. To combat this, you can wear high boots to cover your calves and add some extra style, or you can even wear tights or leggings underneath your dress. Since a the dress’s skirt is so long, no one will notice that you’re wearing leggings. Finally, if you just need one more layer, a jumper can be worn under or over your dress to make you as cosy as possible.

If you love maxi dresses, then you’ll be happy to learn that they can be worn around the year and for almost any occasion you can think of. By selecting the right shoes, jacket and accessories, you can create casual summer looks, elegant formal outfits, and a cosy winter wardrobe all with this incredibly versatile piece of clothing. Try out some of the ideas listed above to see what suits you!

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5 Ways I’ve been Styling My Dr. Martens Clarissa Quad Sandals
10/19/2025 | Isobel Duff

5 Ways I’ve been Styling My Dr. Martens Clarissa Quad Sandals

I’ve finally joined the Dr. Martens club! The lovely team over at Dr. Martens recently sent over a pair of their Clarissa II Quad Leather Platform Sandals. I thought I would share some of the outfits I’ve been wearing my new sandals with and how I’ve been getting on. This week we visited the Lake District for a short staycation, there will be plenty more posts coming about our trip. However, it was the perfect time to take my new Dr. Marten sandals out for a spin.

It’s no secret that Dr. Martens generally take a while to break in but that’s because they are so well made with genuine leather and also some styles come in vegan leather. The Clarissa II Quad Sandals are platforms so they give you a little height. With that they are quite weighty but you soon get used to it! I’ve been wearing them around the house to break them in and sometimes with thick bed socks. Personally, I’ve not really found them to be too problematic but it’s always good to have some spare plasters in your bag. The Clarissa ll Quad Sandals are such a versatile pair of sandals, there are so many outfits to wear with them. You can see that I’ve been dressing them both up and down.

CASUAL cycling shorts combo

cropped tee & culottes

gingham daisies & leather jacket

polka dot dress

leopard print midi

These are just a few of the outfits that I wore during my holiday to the Lakes. As you can see my new Dr. Martens sandals went absolutely perfect with every outfit. Whether it was dressing up for a meal in the evening or dressing down for a wander around the lakeside, they are such a versatile piece. I can’t wait to wear them throughout Summer and I can already tell they will be a staple item within my wardrobe. I feel so cool and edgy now that I’ve got a pair of Docs!

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Investing in Antique Jewellery
10/08/2025 | Isobel Duff

Investing in Antique Jewellery

Every girl loves to accessorize with a bit of sparkle. Although I do tend to stick to the same couple of pieces, I do love wearing Jewellery. I have more recently become interested in investing in more expensive and interesting pieces which is why I’ve also been looking at antique jewellery. My Grandma was always the queen of beautiful jewellery. Her collection was incredible and included some amazing pieces which have got me searching online to see what is available. Carus Jewellery is an online website specialising in Antique Jewellery with worldwide delivery and a huge range of pieces.

I thought I would share some of my favourite items on the Carus Jewellery website and also talk a little bit about why I want to invest in more antique pieces. You can find some really stunning pieces from a range of different time periods. There are also so many different designs and stones for every price range. One of the key things with investing in antique jewellery is that most likely the quality is unreal and you’re also getting a piece with so much history. No to mention, by purchasing a second-hand piece of jewellery you are been sustainable which is always a good thing.

So Carus Jewellery has some incredible pieces on their website. I could spend hours trawling through the website and lusting after lots of pretty diamonds. I’m always drawn to the rings as they are just beautiful. One of my favourites is this 9ct gold five stone Amethyst Ring. I just think the colour, cut and style is just gorgeous. The ring is actually hallmarked from 1977 so this is actually classed as pretty modern in the world of Antique jewels. This is definitely something my Grandma would’ve worn so there is no denying that her taste has been passed onto me.

Although I don’t really have a particular stone which I would consider a favourite, I do love the Amethyst above and Aquamarine is also another stunning stone which I’m fond out. However, I’ve always loved a gorgeous set of pearls. It’s a timeless piece which never goes out of style and looks unbelievably classy. I’m pretty sure my obsession with pearls stemmed from that incredible piece at Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Although this piece is not as show-stopping, I love how dainty and just so pretty this Edwardian pearl necklace is. Dating back to more than 100 years, it’s such a beautiful necklace and would look so stunning with an LBD. Just like Audrey Hepburn!

There are actually a few pearl items on Carus Jewellery which have caught my eye. You can get some simple pearl stud earrings or go all out with a stunning show-stopping pendant. A lot of the pearl items do date back to the Edwardian period and I’m sure to carry so much history with them. I’d love to hear down below in the comments if you would invest in antique jewellery or do you already own some vintage items?

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Daisy London X Estée Lalonde Jewellery
10/02/2025 | Isobel Duff

Daisy London X Estée Lalonde Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, I like to keep things simple. Classic timeless designs which you can wear every day. I very much stick to the few pieces that I like and roll with those on a daily basis. A new addition to my collection is a piece from the Estée Lalande collection at Daisy London. This is actually my second item from the collection as I love the simplicity of the Daisy London necklaces. I’ve always watched Estee on YouTube so it’s lovely to see her have this collection with such stunning designs.

I was actually kindly gifted this necklace but since it’s arrival a couple of weeks ago, it’s not left my neck. The piece I chose was the Sunburst Chain Necklace in silver as I love how simple it was and because it had a slightly shorter chain than what I usually would wear. I thought the shorter chain would be ideal for layering necklaces which it really is.The little sunbursts on the chain make it so unique but I love the whole vibe of the collection which features medallions and sun & luna charms. Each piece in the collection actually has a deeper meaning whilst channelling seventies and bohemian vibes.

As I’ve said, I pretty much wear this daily as it really goes with everything and is not too invasive which is something I go for with when choosing jewellery. I’m pretty much a silver girl when it comes to jewellery but I love that you can get a lot of the items in the Estée Lalonde collection in both silver and gold. My other piece from the collection is the Unity Ring Necklace which is also in Silver. This necklace is on a much longer chain so they actually go pretty well together when layering. You’ll be seeing these making more of an appearance on my blog as I’m trying to upload a few more outfit photos. For now, I’ve been taking a few selfies – The last one featuring the Sunburst Necklace!

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