momocreatura

I've talked about my not-so-secret inner goth in a few posts before. It first came into existence in my early teens, when I realised that having pale skin and dark hair wasn't such a bad thing. After a few dodgy experiments with black hair dye and dark purple lipstick, I decided that I could still enjoy elements of gothic style without betraying my love for high fashion, and fortunately there are a number of brilliant designers around that make this very easy for me.

One such label is momocreatura, which has quickly become my new favourite jewellery brand. The 'Nearly Dead' collection in particular has become an all-consuming object of lust for me, and I am now making it my mission to save up for every perfect piece.

All images courtesy of momocreatura

So what do you think? momocreatura is stocked at a whole bunch of places, so visit www.momocreatura.com to find out more.

Events: Calvin Klein CK A/W jewellery & watch collection launch

Today I attended the Calvin Klein CK A/W jewellery and watch collection launch to browse the fine and shiny wares that will be available to buy this season.

Here's what I saw:










This collection epitomises the classic simplicity that Calvin Klein is so well-known for, offering a stunning range of versatile pieces that suit everyone, from your best friend to your elderly grandma. I particularly liked the rose gold pieces, as the softer tone never fails to add a touch of elegance to an outfit.

I really enjoyed the event, and it gave me a chance to catch up with the lovely Karena and Hayley from Fashion Forward PR, as well the beautiful Rosie Fortescue. You may know Rosie from such reality TV show delights as Made in Chelsea, but did you know she also has a blog that documents all of her fashionable exploits? To find out more, visit www.atfashionforte.com and have a mooch around.

Is this just a tribute?

If you follow me on Twitter (*cough* @frankiestyling *cough*), you may have seen that I treated myself to an early birthday present courtesy of the Browns sale...


Isn't she a beaut? I love how bold it is, and it also appeals to my inner-goth. Once I get used to the extra weight everything will be perfect!

This purchase inspired me to browse more McQueen jewellery online, and I stumbled across this seller on Ebay that specialises in Alexander McQueen "tribute" rings:


The seller does not try to disguise the fact that this ring isn't a real McQueen piece. In fact, he goes so far as to say, "Please note that this ring is NOT Alexander McQueen - it is a Tribute ring, but it is more or less identical to the £160 ring". This "tribute" can be purchased for the bargain price of £23.50.

I don't know what your feelings are on the subject, but personally I find this extremely insulting for a number of different reasons:

1. You can call it whatever you like - a tribute, a dedication, a homage - but at the end of the day, this is nothing but a cheap copy. A knock-off. A FAKE. And a bad one at that. To think that the genius and beauty of a McQueen piece can be recreated using cheap metal and subpar design skills is insane and, as this ring illustrates, impossible.
   
   
2. Do you really think that this monstrosity is a fitting "tribute" to Alexander McQueen's work? Really??!!? Poor Lee McQueen must be doing backflips in his grave.
   

At the end of the day, I'm all for a bargain and I know that designer jewellery can be pricey, but there is a reason for that. So much talent, skill and plain hard work goes into creating a ring as incredible as my new Alexander McQueen ring, and "tributes" such as this cheapen the whole process.

But what do you think? Is it ok to opt for the cheaper option every now and then? Are unaffordable designer pieces forcing people to go down the fake route? I'd love to hear what you think!