A DAY IN THE LIFE: GIRL CHAT & ACCESSORIZING FOR AUTUMN

Last week I got on a fuchsia pink disco bus with LCD tv screen, iced buckets of champagne and drove to Essex with the ultimate GRL PWR gang. Just your average 10am on a Wednesday as a blogger, ya know. accessorising

It felt quite coincidental getting on that bus and heading to the countryside with 8 women in my industry seeing as I had just posted my COOL GIRL blog post the night before. The reason for bringing us together was a very important and positive event that Accessorize had orchestrated. Being the control freak I am, as soon as I sat on the bus I was quizzing everyone about the agenda for the day. I heard we were to have a talk, it was being filmed, I’d had a few questions through hinting at what the topic would be but in reality I knew little about what the day had in store for us all.

What transpired was amazing. After arriving in the very pink bus we entered a VERY pink house. Greeted by the Accessorize team, we had a tour of the most fantastical venue I’ve ever set eyes on. Each of the 15 rooms I visited fulfilled a unique fantasy. My favourite was the living room with 20 sheepskin rugs draping the sectional sofa. Only in Essex surely….

Biscuit decorating class ensued and we all got chatting over coffee and cakes. We were all clearly brought together not just for our ties to the blogging world but also our love of accessories. Each one of us was decorated in our favourite product from the AW17 line.

I was so excited to see that Accessorize were doing berets this season, as I have been hunting high and low for a very chic and classic black one. I have also been coveting a fur handbag too but didn’t know whether one with fluff all over was a bit too out there, so opted for this one with a fluffy handle accent, a happy medium I thought!

Shop my Beret here

Shop my Monroe Cross Body Bag here

Every season the Z line with Accessorize charms me into selecting a bunch of rings and necklaces to adorn myself. I love layering my jewels so that is why I always opt for the gold Z line with its zodiac, celestial and chakra inspired designs. Many of the girls wore velvet and diamantes which had me feeling all festive even though we have just entered autumn!

Shop

Evil Eye Ring Trio

Rose Gold Chakra Bracelet

Super Sparkle Rings

After the tour we sat down to a tasty lunch and the real reason for us coming together. We were all prompted (by our little embroidered napkins) with questions to get the conversation flowing. Who was your fave girl band growing up? What advice would you give yourself now starting out? What is your spirit animal? We took turns to give our answers; they were all so different but every single one relatable.

As I listen to Ella Toal Gangar speak about how she was part of a 5% minority of female workers doing engineering in the tunnels of the London underground. I felt empowered. Nathalie Sade, a singer from Zambia, new to the UK and finding her feet as well as freedom- finding her way in a country with a brand new ideology. Flick- a plus size model who has inspiring and REAL thoughts on body shaming and love on social media.

Shop my Charmy Long Pendant Necklace

Writing my COOL Girl blog post the week before was a clear sign of my disillusion and annoyance at the industry I work in and the people I am sometimes surrounded by. It transpired that all 8 of these women were totally incredible in their own right and I was humbled to spend the following 7 hours in their presence; listening, learning, debating and all with the most positive and encouraging atmospheres.

Shop my Alesha Star Shopper bag

Isn’t it wonderful how life works itself out like that?

Just when I needed a dose of assurance that the work I’m doing is topical, inspiring and also humbling, especially when you step back and see how far reaching your words can be. It was also incredible to feel supported by people doing the same thing as me, everyone with a different story to tell, style to show and opinion to give.