{FASHION NEWS} | Pandora Rose

Last week I attended an astoundingly beautiful and luxurious launch for Pandora’s 3 new collections for AW16. One of the collections launched on the night was the Pandora Rose Collection, which I HAVE to tell you about.

Pandora Rose was introduced to us by the gorgeous Lalla Hirayama in a custom David Tlale dress.

The collection brings together romantic, soft-pink metals with Pandora’s classic and recognisable aesthetic. The jewellery is incredibly charming and romantic and also features delicate, sparkling stones and crystals.

Rose gold is a pretty hot trend right now and I don’t see it leaving any time soon. The pieces in the Pandora Rose collection are all exceptionally dreamy but also very sophisticated and wearable. I would suggest getting in a ring that you can stack together with other jewelled and sterling silver rings. I also think that investing in the bracelet with rose-gold clasp is a good idea because you can vary the types of charms you choose to adorn your bracelet with.

With the holidays coming up I can definitely see some Pandora Rose pieces making it onto quite a few wishlists! ;)

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

*Images from Zebra Square

Pre Birthday Spoils with Pandora

This week was pretty exciting! On Wednesday I was invited for a little pre-birthday spoil with Pandora.

I visited the new Pandora store in the Mall of Africa which also happens to be the biggest one in the country. The interior of the store is warm, welcoming and luxurious with lots of lovely, soft pink touches. I’m so in love with the gorgeous pink glass light fittings. I wish I had taken a photo to share with you but I only had shopping and jewels on my mind ;)

Pandora started as a small family run jewellery store in Copenhagen before establishing itself as an international luxury brand. The Enevoldsen couple Per and Winnie opened their store in 1982 and sold imported jewellery from Thailand. Today it is the third largest jewellery company in the world in terms of sales (behind just Cartier and Tiffany and Co.!) and boasts a presence in 80 countries including South Africa. 

Despite the brand’s dramatic growth, the original values and aesthetic remain the same. Pandora’s production site still exists in Thailand and they source the finest metals and stones to craft their jewellery. 14k gold and sterling silver are married with Murano glass and enamel, gemstones, stones and cultured pearls to create the beautiful pieces we know and adore.

The charm I picked for my bracelet is a cute little Panda. I chose it because it was just too adorable to resist. I absolutely love Pandas and now I have one that can go everywhere with me. I’d like to name him but I haven’t thought of anything yet. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

I’d also like to share a small tip with you on cleaning and caring for your Pandora bracelet. If you find your bracelet is a bit dull or it has picked up some dirt soak it for 5-10 minutes in some lukewarm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub it if necessary and then dry the bracelet with a soft cloth. Use a polishing cloth (available at Pandora stores) to polish it afterwards. No jewellery cleaner or harsh chemicals necessary!

In just over 2 weeks we will be celebrating Pandora’s new AW16 collection. I can’t say much but I do know that if you love jewellery you are going to fall head over heels!

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{OUT & ABOUT} | Pandora SS16

 Last week I attended an event at the picturesque Shepstone Gardens to celebrate Pandora jewellery and their exquisite SS16 collection. . I’m pretty sure you’re all totally familiar with the Danish jewellery brand. As far as I know there is a Pandora piece on every girl’s wishlist!

The dress code was “all white” and everyone arrived looking fresh and glowing.  Against the gorgeous gardens, it was an absolutely perfect reflection of the SS16 jewels.

After walking through the Spring room, where we viewed the Spring collection in the company of (real live) fluttering butterflies, we were fed pink sushi (yes!) and snacks while we explored the stunning gardens.

We were then seated and treated to a magnificent ballet performance by the Johannesburg Ballet Theatre. The dancers began slow (like the blooming of Spring) and progressed to a faster, Summer inspired dance which brought the recital to an end. It was quite beautiful and really cemented the ambience for the rest of the evening.

The next bit was a fashion show. The jewellery was worn with a collection of white outfits created especially to showcase the collection by renowned designer Gert Johan Coetzee. The show was fantastic! The models were beautiful and ethereal (with white hair, by Boyd) in the clothes and jewels but it was all very entertaining and theatrical. Let’s just say rose petals were thrown about ;) Gert Johan Coetzee’s outfits provided the perfect canvas to show off Pandora’s SS16 jewellery.

We then walked through the Summer room where the Pandora jewels sat amongst hundreds of stunning and bright pink flowers. The evening ended with warm conversation with the fashion family over eclairs, pink velvet cupcakes and delicious pink macarons.

I can’t say much to you about the jewellery just yet because most of it isn’t in store yet. What I can tell you though is that although the collections are new they are still timeless. Think 14k gold and sterling silver married with Murano glass and enamel, gemstones, cubic zirconia and cultured pearls. Rings are absolutely huge for SS16 and Pandora has tons of gorgeous options. You can wear them alone for a dainty look or get a few and stack them for something edgier.

The Spring collection will be in stores on March 17 so I suggest to head to your nearest Pandora and have a look.

Until next time

Love and sparkles (and jewels)

Zaakira xox

{FASHION NEWS} | Pandora AW15

Hi lovelies! I hope your week was better than mine. There were a few hiccups but it’s all over now and I can look to the next one with renewed positivity. A few weeks back I was invited to view the new AW15 collection with Pandora. I’m pretty sure you’re all totally familiar with the Danish jewellery brand. As far as I know there is a Pandora piece on every girl’s wishlist!

Pandora started as a small family run jewellery store in Copenhagen before establishing itself as an international luxury brand. The Enevoldsen couple Per and Winnie opened their store in 1982 and imported jewellery from Thailand. Today it is the third largest jewellery company in the world in terms of sales (behind just Cartier and Tiffany and Co.!) and boasts a presence in 80 countries including South Africa. Despite the brand’s dramatic growth, the original values and aesthetic remain the same. Pandora’s production site still exists in Thailand and they source the finest metals and stones to craft their jewellery. 14k gold and sterling silver are married with Murano glass and enamel, gemstones, stones and cultured pearls to create the beautiful pieces we know and adore.

The AW15 collection is nothing short of spectacular. I’m going to tell you all about it without giving too much away. I suggest you head over to your nearest Pandora store or counter and have a look.

For autumn the design team looked to mythology and fairytale for inspiration. The result was the Majestic Feather series paying homage to the mighty phoenix, known for its strength and ability to renew itself. The collection might sound flashy but it is actually very ethereal and classic.

For Winter, the thought was simple and beautiful, a journey to a place frozen in time. Think icy tones; glittery blue and translucent crystals and sparkling cubic zirconia on sterling silver. The crystallized snowflake charm is naturally the star of the collection.

The Autumn collection is currently in stores and Winter will be in stores on 30 October 2015. Bracelets are priced from ZAR799 and charms start at ZAR445.

I hope you are already filling up your holiday wishlists because I will be posting the product shots on Facebook soon ;)

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox