fashion

ad-pr Autumn Jackets Worth Investing In


Lands' End is a clothing brand that was founded back in 1963. I found it interesting when looking at their website that the placement of the apostrophe in their name was an accident at the start that turned into a deliberate decision to keep it where it was and it became a permanent position within the name. Originally selling sailing equipment, Lands' End moved to producing clothing in 1977 and has built up a reputation for extraordinary quality and great value. Lands' End offered to send a few items from their coats and jackets section of their website. The first item we chose is the Men's Blake Shelton x Lands' End Sherpa Fleece Lined Cotton Jacket in Black Slate. This has a cotton canvas shell with stretch that has Sherpa fleece within the body and hood sections of the jacket to add warmth, as well as having insulated sleeves. Even with this lining within the jacket, my husband commented on how lightweight the jacket still felt.


The jacket felt cosy and warm while still giving a great styled jacket perfect to fit in with the country style, thanks to the riveted angled hip pockets and chest pocket that add some nice touches to the overall look of the jacket. Elasticated cuffs also pull the sleeves in nicely at the wrist, and the lined hood also helps to keep the heat in on those cold days. The jacket is made from 98% cotton, 2% elastane shell, with 100% polyester linings, with the sleeve insulation being made from 100% recycled polyester. Being machine washable is an added bonus to make sure that the jacket stays looking its best. As my husband wears a lot of black and grey clothing, it really works well with his typical everyday outfits and can be paired with multiple clothing items. He is really looking forward to wearing this jacket and was really impressed with the quality and design. It also comes in a Coriander colour if you want a different style to suit what you typically wear. 


The item that I chose was the Women's Water Repellent Waxed Cotton Parka in black, which is part of the Women's Coats & Jackets range. I've always liked wearing parka coats so was really drawn to this one. I have to say that I was immediately impressed with this when I got it out of the box as you could feel the quality of the material. It's s water-repellent, waxed cotton-rich shell with 100% recycled insulation made from recycled plastic bottles. The lining is a really soft faux fur within the top half of the body section as well as the hood and provides a really cosy feeling when wearing it. The bottom section of the body has a quilted lining to ensure you are kept warm all the way down the coat. There are multiple features within the coat designed to keep the wet weather out, including a popper storm flap across the zip, popper adjustable outer cuffs and rib-knit inner storm cuffs. You feel well protected from the elements while wearing this coat, without compromising on design.


I love the length of the parka as it comes down to roughly mid-thigh height and I'm 5ft 4" which is the perfect length for me for walking around and also when sat down. My nan always told me to make sure I keep my hips warm in the colder weather, and this definitely does the job of keeping me nice and cosy without getting too hot. This coat is available in a variety of colours and sizes, ranging from a size 8 to size 30 across their regular, petite and plus sizes. It's great that they have catered for different body sizes, it's 2023, so why aren't more companies doing the same I wonder. The parka is made from 60% cotton and 40% nylon shell, with 100% polyester linings & insulation. I like how this is also machine washable, making the upkeep of the parka easier. 


The final item that we chose from Lands' End was the Men's Blake Shelton x Lands' End Cotton Utility Jacket in Golden Oak Brown. This is a fully lined jacket with a shirt collar and a popper front. It's a lighter-weight jacket that has a flapped chest popper pocket on one side, and a patch chest pocket on the other, with rivets on these pockets and hip weld pockets for added style. It would be a great jacket for when it's a little colder but you're not needing a thicker jacket or coat. Especially when the weather isn't sure what it's doing. The lining, made from 52% cotton and 48% viscose provides a soft material that is comfortable on your skin. My husband really likes this jacket as an option to complete an outfit with something more than just a hoodie or jumper. 


The jacket also comes in Forest Moss and Flint Blue colours if you prefer an alternative colour to suit your style. Like the other products we've been able to try out, this jacket is also machine washable making it easy to keep clean. Myself and my husband have been really impressed with the quality of each of these jackets and coats from Lands' End, and you can tell a lot of care and effort has gone into producing them. We're both really happy with these products and feel like they are going to give us many years of use. Thank you Lands' End for gifting these amazing jackets.


AD/Gifted | Daisy London Jewellery Review


Daisy London is a jewellery brand from the UK that create pieces that they feel are missing from jewellery collections. They launched in 2009 on Portobello Road with the name Daisy London; inspired by wildflowers and has grown from a small business to a cult favourite. I love how they've blended together bohemian style with contemporary fashion. It's a brand made by women and they want the brand to represent us all. All their jewellery comes with a 6-month warranty, so you know you're in good hands. The rings I've kindly been gifted have come from the Esteé Lalonde collection which is their third collaboration now, as I just couldn't resist the theme. When I was watching YouTube a lot I used to watch Esteé's vlogs, so it's nice to see she is doing well and helping to make beautiful jewellery. On the Daisy London website there is a page on how to keep your jewellery clean and beautiful which is fabulous as this is often not provided.



The first ring I chose from the Esteé Lalonde collection is the Goddess Hexagonal Ring (18Ct Gold Plate) £49 which is a cocktail ring with 18ct gold-plated silver with a carved border and the lunar goddess symbol within the hexagon. It has a slim band which is perfect for me. If you know me, I love all things celestial, so this ring was the first one I chose. If you're more into different colours, it also comes in silver. The Goddess collection includes bracelets, earrings and necklaces too, which I'm so tempted by! I have to remind myself I am saving for my wedding. I just love the full moon and crescent moon design with what I see as like a moonbeam coming from behind them. For some reason I really love hexagons too, I'm even fitting bathroom tiles in this shape. It just looks different and that's exactly what I love about Daisy London's jewellery. These rings are a fusion of vintage and modern style which is right up my street, and I'm sure it's up your street too.




The second ring I chose was the Estée Lalonde Mini Sunburst Shield Ring (18Ct Gold Plate) £49. It reminds me of the 1920's Art Deco style which I adore. If you're into subtle designs with a bit of a twist, this is the ring for you. According to Daisy London, it symbolises positivity and happiness, with the sunburst engraved within the shield. Along with the Goddess Collection, the Sunburst Collection contains necklace, bracelets and earrings too which are also available in silver. The rings go from size XS to XL which covers UK sizes from J to S. I am usually an O (if you've seen my engagement ring its Q 1/4 as it's American and it's too big now!) so I chose an L to make sure it was the right fit and wasn't too tight. Daisy London has a sizing guide and also teach you how to measure your fingers to find out what size you are. If you wear rings on multiple fingers this comes in handy!



The products in the Esteé Lalonde collection range from £19 to £408, with the higher prices for the necklace layering sets. If you're not looking for layering sets, the prices go up to £179 which I think is great for a jewellery company in the UK. There are pieces that are affordable for everyone. They are also working hard to be as sustainable as they can, which is a must-have in this current climate. Daisy London's jewellery is made from 100% recycled silver and packaging is made from FSC approved paper. They are continuing to work with factories to limit the amount of plastic used whilst maintaining their high standard of hygiene. Daisy London is working with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to minimise the impact of their jewellery on the environment. There is a whole page on sustainability here, where you can read their environmental statement. I'm really thankful for Daisy London for working with me, and I hope more people can support their business, given the impact of the last year or so. I'm definitely going to be checking them out when it comes to gift-giving over the next year, as I have a lot of people who like jewellery who might be interested in their lovely products. I hope in the future Daisy London will consider creating rose gold jewellery too, now that would be beautiful!


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20 Small Businesses to Support in 2021


I decided during the first lockdown that supporting small businesses would be more important than ever now. For most of the Christmas presents we bought, we bought them from small businesses and it was more exciting than buying the same old products from the same huge stores. I've picked out some shops I've bought things from before, and some stores I will check out when financially viable. I hope you'll consider supporting some of these shops in the coming year if the opportunity presents itself to you.



Okay, I am biased here, but my Sister-in-law has her own small business selling scrunchies, masks, greetings cards, bunting and other bits and bobs. She has a degree in textile design and has made items using her own patterns and fabrics. I'm sure she will release more products as time goes on but right now she's just announced her items for Valentine's Day which look so cute. I've bought scrunchies from her before and received a greetings card for my birthday too so I can vouch that she's a hard worker with great quality items. You can check out her Etsy store here > Handmade By Helen Liz.



I first saw Alice's small business over Twitter and have bought multiple pairs of earrings and keyrings from her since. She makes items using Polyclay and as I'm writing this post I'm realising there are a few new pairs of earrings I am eyeing up. Her products are worth a lot more than she charges and she is doing so well over on Etsy. I love all the different colours her earrings are and since I love wearing drop earrings her products are perfect for me. You can check out her Etsy store here > AlicexLizzy.



I bought a beautiful white and gold ring dish from Love Me Unique for myself and Andy for our wedding and engagement rings instead of putting them in their ring boxes. We have them out in the dish even though they're not being worn yet. Our dish is like the one above but has L & A on and I absolutely love it. I know we're well ahead of our wedding (which has been postponed for the third time!) but it's so nice to have the rings out on our pretty dish. Love Me Unique also sell ring cones, foiled prints and Christmas decorations if you'd like to check out their store here > Love Me Unique.


Sootmegs is actually a store I bought from a few years ago now as I wanted to wear badges for when I used the disabled toilet in public if it wasn't inherently obvious that I had a disability. They don't just sell badges for disability, they have LGBTQA+ badges, mental health, social distancing, general feelings and custom pins. They have badges for everyone and the bright colours really help others pay attention to them. I have mine on my sunflower lanyard to help highlight that I have an invisible disability and I know I'd like the public to read them and acknowledge them, I feel more confident using services available to disabled people just by wearing them. I'll have to pick up some more soon as they have badges for neurodiversity and more of my health conditions. You can check out Sootmegs Etsy store here > Sootmegs.


I've only recently discovered Tree Market and I love their store. I was browsing through Depop the other day and saw that they sell vintage books and other goodies and it was so lovely to see there. Because of the pandemic, I've not been able to go to stores to see products like these, so obviously, I had to pick something up for a present for someone. If you'd like to visit them, click the link here > Tree Market.



I've followed Cally who makes Constellation Co Jewellery on Twitter for a while, so I have seen her jewellery before, and it is stunning. I'm obsessed with the piece above, the Celestial Space Pendant Necklace (£16). I mainly wear rose gold jewellery which is why I haven't bought it yet, but if an event comes up where I need to wear gold, I can guarantee this is the first piece I'm buying. I love celestial things, I even have most of my gallery wall in my living room based around celestial things. If you'd like to check out Cally's Etsy store, click the link here > Constellation Co Jewellery.



Stitch & Ink is a sustainable and plant friendly shop that make some really nice home decor and accessories as well as some items for your doggy friends. Whether it's prints, candles, decorative home pieces, face masks, makeup bags or a doggy bandana this shop has something you should like. I'll be looking to buy from here in the future and if you like these type of products it's worth checking out their Etsy store, click the link here > StitchandInkbyAC.



Dumpling Art Design sells some really cute gloss vinyl stickers, art prints and postcards and I love the style of the designs. I noticed that they have done some animal crossing designs which I particularly like as I'm obsessed with this game right now with Maple, Paté and Merengue being my current favourite characters. They have a number of different designs so you should be able to find one you like or for someone as a gift. If you'd like to check out their Etsy store here > Dumplingartdesign.



If you are looking for handmade teddies or fabric bags then I'd check out Fleabag Crafts as they have some really nice designs. I particularly love the vintage campervan bag in the photo above and could see myself using one of these in the future. They use both new and reclaimed fabrics and have a range of designs that would make perfect gifts or a nice treat for yourself. The bags come in different styles including tote and shopping ones so would come in useful. If you want to check out their Etsy store click here > Fleabagcrafts28.



I have started to pick up more handcrafted jewellery recently so enjoy browsing through designers such as KLAI Studio. There have quite a few different colours and designs that are unique compared to items you can buy on the high street, such as their marble earrings. They sell necklaces, bracelets and earrings which includes some clip-on earrings which I think is great to include those who need to wear these and don't want to be limited to what's in a normal shop. To check out their Etsy store click here > KLAIStudio.



I attempted to hand-knit myself a blanket once and can tell you it was a lot harder than I thought it would be and it didn't turn out as it should have so I can really appreciate the detail and quality finish of these knitted items by Alice. She's made a few different items including scarfs, snoods, headbands and blankets and has different colour options. These could be perfect gifts to give to someone close to you, or as a treat to yourself. If you'd like to look at their Etsy store click here > TheKnittingFoxGB.



Blighty's is an independant family-run gift shop that sell gifts made in the British Isles and are proudly supporting British manufacturing. They also like to discover talented makers on Instagram and at trade shows. They have an online shop on their website where you can browse through a whole host of products amd gifts. If you are local to Cranbook, Kent they also have a gift shop on Cranbook high street to visit. To have a look through all the products they offer you can click here > Blighty's



Paquita Ruby Jewellery sell a number of different pieces of metal jewellery in gold, silver and rose gold with many including gemstones. They are quite subtle pieces that could be worn regularly with different outfits which is great. Their products include earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings and they have plenty of different designs to suit different tastes. To see what they are selling, you can click here > Paquita Ruby Jewellery.



The Doodling Company make personalised and handmade gifts for special occasions including wedding-related items. Personalised gifts can make really special presents for someone and show you have put thought into it. The shop sells things such as bags, cards, signs and decorative items that all can be personalised to the recipient. If you want to check out their Etsy shop, you can click here > TheDoodlingCompany.



When I asked on Twitter for small businesses, Terranova Clay Creations posted their shop and I went on and immediately fell in love with a couple of items that could be used for my wedding but would also look cute in my house, so I purchased them straight away. One of these is the one in the picture above. They make some really cute terracotta ornaments, garlands and even cards decorated with clay pieces. If you'd like to see what they have, you can check out their Etsy store if you click here > TerranovaCCreations.


Laura produces some amazing art and I love her style. She paints acrylic landscape paintings and art prints. I particularly love the one above with the celestial theme as this vibe is very me. The detail in these paintings is really impressive and they would be great as decoration in your home or also for giving as a gift. If you'd like to see more of what she makes, you can see her Etsy store if you click here > LauraCarolineArt.



AliceandIvy sells boutique stationery designed to bring a smile to your day which includes cards, prints and paper goods. I've bought some postcards from here before as I really like the style and have put them on my gallery wall and in my kitchen. They have funny, motivational and cute designs including ones for different occassions with many different options to choose from. To check out their Esty store, you can click here > AliceandIvyuk.



I came across Doodles From My Brain on TikTok and thought his style is really quirky and fun. He has a lot of fun with his designs and lets his mind run free when creating. He makes pins, patches, cards and more all in his unique style. There are so many products to browse through you should be able to find something you like. He's also made his own books which would be worth checking out. To see the Esty shop click here > DoodlesFromMyBrain.



If you're looking for some pretty women's home and lifestyle accessories then it's worth checking out what Robin and Thorn offer. They have items such as pin badges, bags and purses, homewear, cards, notebooks, beauty and skincare products and more. I love collecting pin badges and particulaly love the the witch one above. If you want to see all of the products they offer on their website click here > Robin and Thorn.



This shop creates pretty fabric items including bags, gifts, face coverings and decorative homeware pieces. They have a number of bunting designs in different colours which I think are really cute. There are items that could be for yourself or make great gifts for others. If you want to see their Etsy shop, click here > madebymeinyorkshire.