Life’s A Charm

What we choose to put on every day is a reflection of who we are and what we want to portray. But the latest way of reflecting our interests and loves is in the form of a charm necklace.

Charms have gained a rather quaint reputation with bracelets becoming so commonplace that they become a generic representation with a rather annoying rattle.

The new way of wearing charms is a quirky and urban representation of what you like, where you want to be or just what you are feeling that day and instead of wearing them on your wrist, they are dangled prominently from your neck.

They can either be a permanent cluster of who you are or each morning you can decide just what you want to represent and thread on various charms.

We like the idea of grouping charms that may say ‘I want to be shopping in New York’ or ‘I love travel’, ‘country girl at heart’ or ‘best of British’. Try to mix metals and colours so that charms standout, and represent your individual style. Odd numbers often work better then even ones so try three charms and do not overload, you want people to see what you are trying to say – you can always change them tomorrow!

Stephen Einhorn (charms above) has some fabulously quirky charms in silver and gold that can be mixed and matched to portray your personality. From King Kong and a mini Marmite jar to cupcakes and lipsticks, his charms come in a variety of metals and can also include semi-precious stones.

Other favourite designers include Alex Munroe (available from £110 from John Lewis) whose bumble bees can be seen on the necks of  fashionistas across London – but we love his hummingbird pendant. The Country Girl Signature Charm Necklace by Annina Vogel (£850.00 from Liberty) has a lovely combination of charms at different points and levels showing just how innovative you can be.

Links of London have some great charms that you can buy individually. For those proud to be a Londoner, the British bulldog (£55) and the London bus (£50) are perfect. This Charming Girl also has a great range of quirky vintage charms at reasonable prices. We love her Fly Me To The Moon gold plated filigree hot air balloon pendant which is just £14.50.

AbiLu Creations has a whimsical collection of charms that tap into the retro trend. Her My Love For You charm necklace (above left, £15 Abilu Creations) has a great combination on shapes and colours, while her cup and saucer pendants are traditional enough for grandma to love ( above right £10 AbiLu Creations). Her range of vintage charms including postage stamp portraits and love letters are also worth a look.

The great thing about this trend is you don’t have to fork out loads to dabble with this look. Accessorize have a great range of pendant necklaces starting at around £6 which means you can buy a few to mix and match for a unique look.

So what is your charm necklace going to say about you?