CarrieMe have Christmas all 'wrapped' up

Wrapping gifts can be just as fun as ripping them apart! Rather than using traditional Christmas paper, why not try something a little different this year?

Being a gift brand, CarrieMe especially appreciate a beautifully wrapped gift and get excited when seeing pretty packages which are personalised to ‘us’. Small personal touches make the wrapping as memorable as the gift inside.

You don't have to spend plenty of money on materials either, get great-looking presents with things you probably already have on hand. To make sure your presents stand out under any tree, CarrieMe ‘present’ alternative and creative gift wrapping ideas for the festive season with a luxury fashion and accessory twist.

First up we’re swapping paper for fabric, using on-trend tartan, accessorised with vintage bowties in replace of ribbon. This idea is sourced from www.sweetpaulmag.com use leftover wool tartan for a warm, 'Christmassy' feel. Do you have spare / off cuts of fabric lying about? This is a great way to recycle unused and unwanted materials.

Tartan Gift Wrap

Second up, we discovered ‘A gift wrapped Life’ on BlogSpot featuring a look book of fashion inspired gift wrap. We like this ‘Paris Fashion’ themed parcel. Bright, pretty, and textured, take care not to rip this one when opening the present! Keep it rather than throwing the paper away. With a design like this we can re-use for framing or for scrap book/photo album type projects. Who else is guilty of throwing a mountain of wrapping paper in the bin on Boxing Day?

DIY Paris Fashion Gift Wrap

Know someone with a theatrical fashion palette? Try one with a ‘Tudor theme’ in classic gold and brown colours. Print off a chosen image from online, or from a glossy magazine and stick onto plain paper, tie a thick ribbon around, adorn with a gem or two and voila! Use vintage style jewellery, or maybe get some use out of a broken piece of jewellery you have lying around which you can up cycle?

Tudor Fashion Gift Wrap



Put to use those fashion magazines you keep as ‘reference materials’ to completely wrap a parcel, the heavy weight glossy paper is perfect for creating 3d shapes like the bow on this one below. If you’re into art check out 'Wrap' a publication that bridges the gap between being a magazine and a product; made up of pull out illustrations, produced by Polly who previously designed jewellery Cath Kidston and Ted Baker.



Glossy Fashion Gift Wrapping



Our final favourite to create is fun, effortless – to – make, and sure to stand out. Just wrap a selection of vibrant rainbow bright yarns, around a plain box and secure with a knot in the centre! This reminds me of the friendship bracelets I used to make as a child...

 

Yes to colourfully wrapped presents!

 

Too busy or just too lazy to make your own paper? Try this cute felt Pom Pom wrapping paper from Anthropology.

 

Pom Pom Paper from Anthropology



If you had a present under the tree wrapped in each of these styles, which one would you be most excited to open?

 

The CarrieMe Finder for Cameras!

A luxury fashion accessory, designed to help locate your camera quickly in your handbag. The CarrieMe Finder is an accessory offering style and a security conscious solution; the camera is attached to the clip hidden deep inside the bag, and the charm slips over the outside of the bag, accessorising the bag. Once the handbag is zipped up it is essentially impossible to pull the CarrieMe Finder out of the bag, ensuring maximum security for our valuable and cherished cameras.

Maybe you work in the fashion or photography field or know someone who does? The CarrieMe Finder is a fantastically useful gift for Fashion Bloggers. The camera is an essential piece of equipment for any Fashion blogger to create beautiful content while travelling and working on the road - taking photography of various designs. Bloggers need to have cameras to hand at all times.

Blogger and CarrieMe Fusion Finder

The Finder acts as a visual reminder of where our camera is, available in eye-catching, catwalk-inspired colours, there’s no chance of us losing sight of it. Spruce up your camera with a fashionable Finder. There's something about giving gifts which are personalised to express the wearer’s personality that we appreciated the most!

Blogger and CarrieMe silver heart finder

 

Of course, the CarrieMe Finder isn’t exclusive to professional photographers or fashion bloggers, I don't know many girls who aren't obsessed with taking oodles of pictures for Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.  For those looking to invest in a good quality camera for festive season, this is a good time to purchase. With many potential photo opportunities over the next few months, you’re sure to get plenty of mileage from your shiny new camera. 

For something a little less predictable, look at vintage and retro inspired style cameras in unusual quirky colours, this look has recently made a huge comeback in the fashion circle. For inspiration check out our Pinterest page, which also importantly shows how to accessorise your camera with the CarrieMe Finder :).

To purchase the CarrieMe Finder, visit www.carrieme.co.uk. Stay snap happy this festive season!

The CarrieMe Finder can help organise our crazy Christmas schedules!

The countdown to Christmas is on! This busy period provides us with a never-ending list of shopping trips, parties, dinners, lunches and so forth, while balancing day to day work. To ensure we stay calm, collected, organised and of course stylish, we plan to use the CarrieMe Finder.

Glamour Heart Finders 

 But what exactly is the CarrieMe Finder? This compact accessory designed as a beautiful bag charm, not only looks good, but provides security while out and about in our busy daily lives.

This slick accessory is easily attached to your mobile phone using the lanyard provided, either to the phone itself or to the phone case.  You hook the pretty shape over the outside of your bag and your phone will slide into the inside of your bag and stay hidden inside the bag out of pick picketers’ sight.  Don't forget to zip up your handbag though as living in London, we want to enjoy the cosmopolitan life without worrying about crime!

Classic Heart Finder & Round Finder

Quickly access your phone, and never miss a call again ...or an important Facebook or Twitter update ... and keep your phone handy to take pictures for Instagram updates with the Finder. Save valuable shopping time for those all-important Christmas presents!

Do you or do you know someone who rummages around trying to find their mobile? Why not give them a CarrieMe Finder, a thoughtful and useful gift to organise a fashion-conscious lady.... know several friends who could do with one, well why not take advantage of CarrieMe's current offer of 15% off when purchasing four!

The CarrieMe Finders are available in practically every colour possible, so check out www.carrieme.co.uk to find your favourite, maybe one to match your new Winter wardrobe, or why not collect a couple - with all those glitzy occasions coming up, it’s the perfect excuse to purchase one for the evening and one for day! With the Finder, a touch of colour or sparkle is instantly added to your outfit.

Gift Wrapped Heart Finder

Bored with black, how about some colour for Halloween?

Have you been trick or treating this weekend?  Bored of wearing black, want to bring some colour into your Halloween wardrobe?

CarrieMe has the answer, with a re-take on the classic costumes, why not ‘treat’ yourself by investing in some of these designer picks, which can be worn after the 31st?  Unlike the usual throw-away costumes that you’d usually only wear once!

If superhero is more your style than spooky, 'Poison Ivy' is a cool character. CarrieMe chose this embellished collar brocade dress from brand No.21, because this swirly pattern gives off an Ivy impression. For a high street version, try a green shirt dress from ASOS.

What would you paid it with, well for super sexy shoes, we recommend red Charlotte Olympia’s with a gold platform. Or after something that won’t break the bank? Try a pair of red velvet boots by ‘Antipodium for ASOS’ at £95. Pretty up your tresses with an Ivy or floral headpiece, these two are from ‘Gardens of whimsy’ and will definitely get you to stand out.

Poison Ivy inspired fashion

A childhood favourite, 'Alice in wonderland' has many characters to choose from for Halloween.

Our outfit is inspired by ‘The Queen of Hearts’ character, we would definitely wear this fun Westwood dress again and again. Layer up with a shirt underneath, easy to use for the office or make it more eveningly by accessorising it with big statement jewellery pieces. Rock a pair of Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes for this outfit, loving the regal gold and red pair! For a twist on a crown, why not try a flower headpiece which can be worn again? We came across this one from Crown and Glory in a queen of hearts colour palette.

Queen of Hearts fashion

Looking for something with some blue in it? Well you're in luck: a classic Halloween costume is the sailor. Give this costume a twist with tattoo Bebaroque ‘Saylor’ tights which feature an anchor and mermaid print! Vintage 1940s pin-up style dresses are ideal for the nautical sailor look, ‘Viviene Of Halloway’ specialise in this area, which is where you we found this 40s style dress. This L’Wren Scott’s jacquard and velvet dress would also work, but at £1,460 it will serve us as purely inspiration! 

Sailor inspired fashion

Who knew Halloween could be so versatile and fashionable!  So what will you be wearing this week to trick or treat while looking fabulous?

Halloween High Fashion - in the office or partying

With Halloween just around the corner and plenty of party invites to trick or treat, how do you get away with working the trend in a stylish way that can go from office to party effortlessly? 

CarrieMe has the answer, with a re-take on the classic costumes, why not ‘treat’ yourself by investing in some of these designer picks, which can be worn after the 31st?  Unlike the usual throw-away costumes that you’d usually only wear once!

First up is our shoe lust for these creepy Dsquared skeleton heels, paired with a white cable knit jumper and sheer maxi skirt for easy elegance, such as this one from Derek Lam. This cable knit gives the skeletal appearance without going OTT. Don’t forget to accessorise it with McQueen (the designer famous for his iconic skull print) with his fabulous 3D clutch and skull pearl bracelet.

Of course if this is too dressy, go for a slightly more casual look, with an x-ray tie dye dress by Raquel Allegra, which has the skeleton appeal. 




Skeleton inspired fashion

In terms of make up – this one from Dior really caught my eye – cobwebs inspired mesh combined with sharp jagged black edges to give it a truly dramatic and spooky feel!

Dior Make-up

For a fun and more affordable option, definitely less spooky too, we like the limited edition gem-encrusted cat ears from Crown and Glory, paired with a feline, fitted black jumpsuit. Deep V necklines were just the thing at New York fashion week for A/W, making this a versatile on trend purchase, which can be worn again after Halloween. This one we found on Celeb Boutique.

Talking of on-trend pieces, leopard print detailing was also large on catwalks for A/W from Burberry, Tom Ford and Moschino, so why not work your animal magic with a statement piece like this one from Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent.

Crown & Glory cat ears

Cat costume inspired fashion: Burberry leopard print; deep V jumpsuit; Twelfth St by Cynthia Vincent

So what will you be wearing this year? Who knew spooky, could be so fashionable! We hope you have fun trick or treating, while looking fabulous.

CarrieMe's shares their favourite contemporary jewellers as part of London's Jewellery Weeek

Let's celebrate all the wonderful jewellery designers out there - after all it is Jewellery Week in London!

At CarrieMe, we've picked some of our favourites that we found at the Jewellery Show in Somerset House, and are delighted that some of them will be featured in "Treasure", an exhibition set in Somerset House and open to the public this weekend (Friday 14th June - Sunday 16th June).

1) LucyQ Designs

Lucy is an award winning contemporary jewellery designer and I absolutely love her quirky and fun sterling silver designs, from clouds, drips, puzzles, buttons and more.... plus she'll be exhibiting at Treasure as part of Jewel Street, so make sure you stop by to find her!

LucyQ's large drip necklace

LucyQ's drip necklace

LucyQ's clouds

2) Antonio Ben Chimol

He's an Italian designer based in Spain, with a penchant for using natural leather skins and a brilliant magnetic clip for his bracelets.  He's recently also branched out more into metal - I was drawn to both his stunning Armour and leather bracelets.

Antonio Ben Chimol - Armour bracelet

Antonio Ben Chimol - metallic clasp bracelets

3) Maree London

Maria Thompson is the designer behind the Maree brand whose beautiful contemporary pieces are all handcrafted in silver, gold and with precious stones.  I was particularly taken by her new Daffodill collection (also one of my favourite flowers) the smaller daffodil on the pendant can move around.... don't forget to seek her out at Treasure, as you'll be amazed at her wonderful collection!

All from Maree London's new Daffodill collection

So don't forget to get your ticket in advance for the Treasure show - they're only £10 each but I think you can still get a 2:1 deal so hurry!!!

CarrieMe celebrates new UK brand: flattering fits for the vertically challenged

Finally, a British Brand dedicated to those that are vertically challenged!

But hang on, I'm not under 5'4" am I? I wish! After all there are lots of Petite ranges already on the High Street. No, unfortunately I'm part of the other spectrum, those that have been ignored for too many years, those that are 5'9" tall and above and don't fit the other fashion High Street niche of Plus Sizes.

Being tall, I'm often faced with the tricky decision of do I go inadvertently mini (really not ideal for work) or go up a size to get another inch on the hem, which doesn't really improve the fit!

So enter stage right, a new brand launching online in May, focused entirely on tall women: Taller Than Your Average

Conceived by UK fashion stylist Irene Agbontaen, who is an impressive 5'11", it looks like she has a collection worth checking out.  Selfridges Department Store has already nabbed the first spot and will be stocking her range of jersey and key wardrobe pieces from June - bet I'll see you there!

In the meantime, where would you recommend I get a new maxi dress, that properly sweeps the floor even in heels to take advantage of our new found summer weather?