As seen on Kate in India - Amrapali earrings UPDATE: Copy Goad Earrings

Kate looked stunning at the gala in the Taj Mahal ball room yesterday night. Her stunning sapphire blue dress was complemented with a pair of earrings by Indian jeweler Amrapali. I love that Kate and her team do their research and put local brands in the spot light, and today I want to do the same. So what is the story behind Amrapali?

Amrapali earrings that closely resemble Kate's

Amrapali Jewels was founded in 1978 Rajiv Arora and Rajesh Ajmera in Jaipur. The brand specializes in gem stone jewelry in local, and tribal designs. The brand became known to the public with the opening of a sales point at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai: 
'This was a critical point in the history of the Amrapali Jewels, as The Oberoi presented Amrapali Jewels with a platform that was almost global in context, as it was right in the middle of India's financial hub – Mumbai. The Oberoi not only housed the crème dela crème of Indian society, but also international delegates and foreign visitors that really took a liking to this handcrafted technique of jewelry making, and its unique tribal jewelry that was presented in a contemporary manner. This gave Amrapali Jewels a global identity that propelled the company into the limelight of international recognition.'

From that point onwards, the brand has been expanding with stores all over the world. They ship to 22 countries worldwide. Furthermore, the brand  is present in  the UK, US, Spain, Sri Lanka, China & Nigeria. Amrapali has its own store in London at Beauchamp place, and the jewelry is available at Harrods. 


As I am writing this, I am not able to access the main site. The branch site, Tribe by Amrapali, is up though.

UPDATE: I have found a wonderful Copykate for the Goad Cassandra earrings, which we have seen numerous times during the tour. 

Left: Amrapali Gold Plated Flame Earrings, USD 11,
Right: Cassandra Temple of Heaven Earrings, GBP 1495,-

Copy Kate's McQueen Paisley dress as seen in Mumbai

What Kate Wore's live blog brought us the pictures of Kate and William arriving in Mumbai. Kate looked stunning in a McQueen dress in red paisley print. Paisley prints come in many colours, so can easily be incorporated into your personal style. Below are some budget-proof alternatives that work underneath a blazer at the office, or with a pair of great heels at a summer party.

Oasis Embroidered dress in Paisley Print at John Lewis, on sale for GBP 30,00

Nikita Paisley Shift dress at John Lewis, GBP 46,00

Asos Iska Paisley Printed Shift Dress, on sale for EUR 25,35

Asos Midi dress, EUR 39,44

Asos Tall and Petite Red Paisley Print dress, EUR 36,22

Trench Coat Styles for Different Work Places

Trench coats come in many styles and trends. While you cannot to wrong with the classic beige trench, you may want something more unique or specific. These five coats each have their own personality, and work in different work-related setting. We start of with the classic: 


The Corporate Office

 

Zara water proof trench coat in beige, EUR 69,95
Because I am digging a simple coat that allows the attention to be focused on you.
Your Job: Lawyer, Government employe(e)r

For the Outdoors Job

Marks and Spencer navy trench coat (also available in dark beige), EUR 99,95

Your job requires you to travel to various locations, and being on the move is an integral part of your profession. As a part of your job requires you to meet with clients, you are expected to look presentable. Practicality is key, however, and luckily this does not require you to sacrifice style.
Your job: landscape architect, gardener, photographer.

The Creative Industry 

River Island denim draped trench, EUR 100,- 

You like to dress unique and trendy, and it is part of your work to dress the part. This coat stands out because of its denim fabric. It is easy to style it edgy with a pair of sneakers, or you can opt for a classier style with a pair of nude heels.
Your job: (fashion) editor, model, graphic artist, designer

Retail, Hospitality, and Sales  

LK Bennett Collette coat, EUR 242,- 

You have a hands-on job and deal with clients on a day-to-day basis. Hospitality, service-minded, and approachable are your key words. Whether you are the manager or the junior assistent, you dress to know that you know what needs to be done. This black trench is trendy, and gives you the confidence to take the inititative where needed. 

Your job: Sales manager, Hotel manager, Restaurant owner 

The Best Business Wear Blogs

Beause inspiration is the fuel for sartorial creativity <3 

The Corporate Catwalk

Olivia's style is classic, sassy, and immaculate. Her talent is mixing designer pieces (her bags!) with budget brands such as Zara. Her most recent posts cover purchases she has made at the budget-proof-yet-corporate-cool line at Target.

Business Chic

Slighty rougher around the edges, this blog focuses on street wear gone professional. This is for the gents and ladies who work in the creative field.

This Time Tomorrow

Krystal is just very, very cool. From her love for cobalt blue maxi dresses, to her talent of mixing textures and statement pieces...she sure is a vision. 

Tatiana's Delights 

It does not matter that Tatiana's Delights is on a break, as each post has been written with a lot of love and care and is worth checking out. Tatiana is a Dutch blogger who is an Anglophile, and brings that classic English country-style to the Low Lands through her take on Kate Middleton's outfits. I am a fan. 

Memorandum

Memorandum is a little gem. Her goal is 'to reach more than just those women
who find themselves in an office environment identical to my own by offering a depth and breadth of office style options and inspiration that span a multitude of professional settings.' And she sure offers a broad line of inspiration - the outfits as seen on the blogs are divided in styles, such as 'Creative' and 'Corporate'. Bonus: she also has dedicated a section to outfits for job interviews. From Tory Burch to Zara and Reiss, Memorandum knows where to find it and style it. 

Copy Duchess Kate's Monica Vinader Necklace

Remember when Kate looked stunning in a blue Jenny Packham for the Photography Awards Gala in October 2014? You can find the article at What Kate Wore. Today I found a great Copykate for the Monica Vinader necklace she wore at the gala: 

H&M, EUR 24,99

The necklace consists of the same rounded triangular shapes and shares the same open structure as the Monica Vinader necklace. 

 It is a wonderful necklace that can work for both casual and formal occassions. It is not only a statement piece, but also a staple piece due to its elegant and clean design. See below for a closer look at the details of the piece: 

Spotted: Duchess Kate in a Saloni Polka Dot Dress

Today Duchess Kate and Prince William attended a reception at Buckingham Palace preceding their tour of India and Bhutan. Duchess Kate looked stunning wearing a floor-length Saloni dress. Find the full article at HRH Duchess Kate.

Kate gave a nod to the upcoming tour by wearing a dress from Indian designer Saloni. It is wonderful how the designer combines classic prints, such as polka dots, with prints that have a strong graphic element.

I love polka dots, so here is a budget-proof selection of dresses to embody your inner Duchess.

French Connection on Asos, on sale for EUR 63

Great for the office, easy to style for some Friday night drinks. While they are both LBD, the next dress is a glamorous sister of the previous one because of its slinky satin fabric and deep neckline.

Maison Scotch at Asos, on sale for EUR 140

Bring a touch of Spring into the office with these accessoires

April has kicked off, and the spring is here! It is getting sunnier, the days are lighter, and as a fresh-off-the-market intern I feel inspired to experiment more with colours and statement accessories now that the days are brighter. 

I recently purchased this necklace at H&M. It is a statement necklace, yet its dusty rose colour makes it extremely versatile and easy to combine with a range of outfits and colours.

I also purchased a dainty bracelet at the Costes sale. It is no longer available on the website, so I unfortunately cannot show any other pictures. It is a small cuff that has two diamonds paired on top of each other. I love jewelry that has a clean and strong design, but is also delicate.

Costes is a store that I recently discovered. The style is more bohemian-oriented with rich colours and strong graphic and ethnic prints, but the design of their clothes is simple and classic. Below is a selection of little gems from the current sale:

Statement Ring, now EUR 4,95 

Raffia Wallet, now EUR 9,95 (Also available in blue, and black-white)

Geometrical necklace with pearl, now EUR 4,95

Are you changing up your office wear as soon as the season changes? Let me know in the comments!

Love, Lotte