An afternoon with Giacomina designer Jacqueline Headlam

Whilst attending an exhibition in London this weekend, my eye was caught by a strikingly chic collection of designer leather handbags and I got chatting to the inspirational designer, British born Jacqueline Headlam .

Stunning to look at, it was no surprise that Jacqueline entered the fashion industry as a model and even won a national modelling competition judged by the likes of Elite a few years ago. She modelled in New York, London and Germany, regularly taking part in London Fashion week financing her way through University. Following her subsidiary degree in Broadcast Journalism, Headlam worked on TV as a Television Fashion expert, re-styling individuals on make-over shows.

Jacqueline went on to complete a Fashion Journalism course at the London College of Fashion and wrote a series of articles on the industry's emerging young stars. She then set up "Jacqueline's Unique Boutique", a boutique specialising in the sale of classic English designs for women.

In Jacqueline's own words:

"I found selling other people's designs frustrating especially as I had so many ideas of my own. I started producing sketches for accessories, buying quite spectacular materials, but not having formal training, there wasn't any correlation between the images in my mind and my final creations."

Jacqueline travelled to Italy where she met a team of talented Italian and English artisans who have produced goods for the likes of Fendi and Harrods. They collaborated to create Italian named Giacomina, a designer label producing a beautiful range of exclusive, one-off and limited edition hand-made bags.

These super chic designer handbags are gorgeous to touch and the attention to detail is unrivalled. The various ranges include the Shopper, a Vintage collection, Classic range and the La Luna. You'll find furs, wool, soft leathers and patent leathers across the range in bold colours and animal prints, something for every occasion! Right now Giacomina's product line includes Handbags and Hats, however there are future plans for a leather accessories line for men.

These are designer handbags with a story, exceptionally superior in quality and made to be noticed! Most certainly worth the investment for any fashionista with fabulous taste.

To browse through their range, go to their website: giacomina. Check back regularly as new products are added.

Lolita Fashion

Lolita fashion is a fast growing trend influence on the runways and streets right now. It's feminine, chic, easy to wear and really comfortable; most definitely a style to embrace! Just don’t think ‘promiscuous girl’ when you think of Lolita with regard to Fashion as the essence of this style is quite the contrary. The primary influence for Lolita Fashion is “the Victorian child” with that extending to a ‘child-like’ appearance in general. Typically, you’d have a little less skin on show and look more on the pretty, girly, Victorian or deliberately plain side – certainly not ‘overtly’ sexy (unless you're venturing toward Goth-Lolita).


You really don’t need to go all out “Japanese Lolita” with frilly hat’s an umbrella’s when attempting this style. It works well when you take your favourite key Lolita pieces and mix them up with a bit of your own style; thus keeping a Lolita feel but adapting it to the 21st century! Of course there’s nothing stopping you from going all out Lolita either! No doubt it’ll be a head turner!


Old fashioned Vintage dresses, High necked blouses, Ruffles, Lace, Frills, Floral’s, Tights, Bows, Short mid waist skirts, Cardigans, White Socks, lace-up Oxford shoes, Shoe Boots, Ankle Boots and Mary Janes are some key pieces that perfectly represent the essence of Lolita Style Dress. These are uber-chic when accompanied with more modern pieces like skinny jeans and oversized handbags. Experiment with your own wardrobe staples to get a look that suits you best.


















For your hair, try plaits including alice-band plaits as Sienna and Mary Kate Olsen do it. Pony tails are cute too as well as a fringe or a bob (or both as Alexa Chung does it!). You can even save a some time and leave your hair looking a little unkempt, like you’ve just been playing outside!

This is a great trend to try out and it's so easy to carry off. For a bit of inspiration I’ve rustled up some celebrity candids where the Lolita influence is apparent.

Model Lily Cole with socks and Mary Janes

Alexa Chung in Victorian Style attire, and Peaches Geldof in a cream Blouse complete with neck bow and a cute black dress

Tv Presenter Fearne Cotton with a cute cream coat, red tights and red lace-up shoe boots






Tv Presenter Fearne Cotton in a Vintage Lace Dress

Alexa Chung in a little girl style dress and cardi


Sienna Miller in a vintage dress and Lace up Boots

Sienna Miller in a cute child-like short dress and shoe boots

Gwen Stefani's stepdaughter Pearle Lowe in a Polka Dot dress with socks and Mary Janes

Pearle Lowe in White tights and Mary Janes

Chloe Sevigny in Vintage with socks and shoe boots

Model Agyness Deyn with a pretty Cinderella style skirt and heels

Gwyneth Paltrow in a cute dress and pony tail

Gwyneth Paltrow in a gorgeous Cream Vintage dress

Kelly Osborne goes Victorian in a black girly dress and heels

Socks and Heels

I'll take you back to the 2004 Autumn Winter Collection where Socks and Heels were worn on the Cacharel, Marni and Dior Runways. We were told back then by 'Vogue' that this style was going to be a massive hit! I'm not sure about you, but I hadn't seen anybody in person donning the 'short sock' with heels look over the past few years until very recently. Yes people have been wearing 'over the knee socks' for a while, but short socks? Not so much.

Everybody has a their own unique style nowadays, street fashion quite simply isn't as structured and regimented as it used to be and I love that. People aren't afraid to be quirky and experiment with different genre's of dress such as Vintage, Retro, Brick Lane, Punk, Festival, Rock n Roll, ... (I could go on for a while). Perhaps this is why Socks and Heels fit in so well now in 2008 as opposed to 2004. Or perhaps it's just another case of designers doing their job rather well and foreseeing the trend waaay ahead of us mere mortals.

So, how to wear it on the Street?

Wearing socks and heels with a dress or something pretty can look kind of 'bobby-sock' Lolita cute as Peaches Geldof does it. Don't be too afraid though, the 'Lolita look' is totally in at the moment with the likes of Alexa Chung confessing that Lolita is one of her favourite icons and stating she loves dressing like a child: 'I'm dressed like a five-year-old' she said in her interview with the Telegraph .

If cute is definitely not your thing, then you can do as Chloe Sevigny does here and team socks and heels up with a bit of Vintage, Rock or Retro gear producing a quirky yet undoubtedly stylish look.

As with any trend, you need to adapt it to your own individual style to get a result that you feel comfortable with. There aren't many boundaries as to which style shoe you can wear with socks - though I personally wouldn't wear the pointed court shoe with socks. This is a great day or night time look, so I say go to town with it (try different colour socks and outfits), don't analyze it too much, as long as you feel comfortable and confident I'm sure you'll look great!

Cacharel, Marni and Dior runway 2004

Marilyn Manson's flame and beauty Evan Rachel Wood looks gorgeous in socks and heels

Adventurous Agyness wears her socks with Oxfords, though I'm sure I'd have been able to find a photo somewhere with Agy wearing heels and socks!

Taylor Momsen (Gossip Girls) looks stunning pictured here with Polka Dot Socks and cute Red Heels. The stylists imagination pulled off here!

Inspired to Accessorize

Accessories add the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. A gorgeous necklace, bracelet, earrings or the right handbag, belt, tights or scarf can be really eye-catching, stylish and expressive. If your outfit is a little on the plain side, you can really go to town with accessories.

I'm especially loving long gold and silver vintage necklaces, plain or with charms. These can come understated and thin or bold and chunky as Sienna does here. You can wear a few or buy them as a group of necklaces connected together. Pretty diamonds, pearls and charms always look sophistocated and glamorous - especially on that special occasion or on a night out. Interesting, bold and chunky bits are great eye-candy if you don't mind people looking! Be adventurous, creative and wear your accessories with confidence - don't offer any apologies and you'll pull it off just fine!

Animal print and vintage inspired bracelets/bangles, neck scarves and handbags are also a hot trend at the moment. I particularly love the Peacock feather earrings that you'll find in different variations at a lot of stores right now. Ever since Sienna Miller stepped out in that Matthew Williamson Peacock dress in 2005, Peacock feathers have braced many a catwalk and we've seen them adapted to and used on many different items.

Big, bold and interesting ear-rings are still very much in, but check and be careful with wearing weighty ear-rings as wearing these too often can severely and permanently distort the shape of your ears.

Skinny belts look extremely stylish sitting around the waist, gathering in looser fitting shirts, dresses and tunics. Wide waist belts are still very much in fashion too!

Scarves, wraps and Pashmina's look stunning worn so many ways, around the shoulders, neck, waist or even a little one tied to your handbag!

Handbags and purses are gorgeous in all shapes and sizes this season. You can go: Large or Small; Nappa or Shiny patent leather; Hippy Hobo style or Neat; Large or Small clutch; Bright or Neutral coloured (to name but a few different styles!) As you can see - there really are virtually no exclusions. It's all about being yourself, using different handbags with different outfits, being bold, creative and finding what fits in with your own personal style.

This is most certainly a season where almost anything goes. As long as you love what you wearing, you will look comfortable in your own skin and it will almost certainly look chic.

I've done some style-stalking and collated a few pictures of Celebrities wearing fantastic accessories. Enjoy, be inspired!






Kate Moss wears a stunning glittery shrug, vintage earrings and coloured scarf, then for the day she wears her balenciaga oversized bag, white ray-bans and a few silver diamond bracelets























Miley Cyrus CMT Music Awards, 2008 wearing Diamond, drop earrings.
















Katherine Heigl 2008 looking very glamorous wearing diamond stud earrings and a triple strand pearl necklace, and then wearing a bold shiny metallic necklace




















Ashlee Simpson-Wentz wears a single headband, oversized shades, oversized leather handbag/purse and a vintage style necklace with charms
















Lauren Conrad wears a black waist belt and fine Gold vintage style necklace





















Sarah Jessica Parker wearing several necklaces in varying shapes and sizes with a daring combination of gold and silver chains, big beads and stones.


















Agyness Deyn wears a white harness, Sienna Miller wears a black leather harness.





























Sienna Miller wears a brown leather studded belt and a brown hippy style handbag.
















Kiera Knightly wears gold and emerald old hollywood glamour style vintage ear-rings



















Sienna Miller wears a leopard print wrap, silver bracelet, oversized straw bag and hat.














Gwen Stefani wearing a chic houndstooth check wrap slung stylishly across her shoulder, then again with an animal print handbag.

















Hayden Panettiere and Eva Longoria Parker, Hayden wearing diamond ear-rings and a clutch bag, Eva using an oversized red hobo style leather Handbag.


Kate Hudson wearing a Jimmy Choo's "Saba" bag, sunglasses and a scarf
















Beyoncé using her Dolce & Gabbana "Miss Pocket" Patchwork bag and wearing a long pretty necklace