Trust Me—I'm an Editor: Where I Shop for Cheap Jewellery That Looks Expensive
I'd like to tell you that there are some hard-and-fast rules about what kind of jewellery looks cheap and what kind of jewellery looks expensive, but unfortunately it's an ever-changing set of visual pointers that are entirely related to what's trending at the time. For example, if faux-crystal chandeliers are having a moment within design circles, it can be very hard to distinguish which pieces are £500 and which cost you a fiver. In essence, many jewellery trends can look cheap on purpose—and that plays to our benefit.
Eni wearing jewellery from Ottoman Hands.
A few tips for you: Cheaper metals may tarnish more easily, so don't expect a long shelf life on something you want to wear every single day. I'd suggest looking out for and avoiding jewelled pieces that have foil-effect backgrounds on the gems, as they can chip. Perhaps this is just my preference, but I always think gold tones tend to look more expensive than silver ones.
Monikh wearing bangles from Daphine.
Then it really comes down to knowing the brands that have an eye for creating directional jewellery pieces at a lower price point. Which is where I'm stepping in to help. Keep scrolling to see the labels I go to for affordable jewellery that looks 100% fabulous.
Mango: Great for Sculptural Art Teacher-Style Jewellery
Free People: Perfect for Bohemian Girls
& Other Stories: Look Out for Unusual Combinations
Related: We're Shopping Rosie's 10-Piece Capsule Wardrobe at & Other Stories
Daphine: The Go-To for Simple Gold Pieces
H&M: Best for Sets of Jewellery
Ottoman Hands: For Exotic Pieces That Look Like Antique Trinkets
Next up, your guide to the high-street pieces trending at fashion week.
Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.
Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.
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