CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD - CARNIVAL-INSPIRED FASHION

Every year in the last weekend of August, London residents glue on their peacock feathers, slip on their sequinned bra tops, and take to the streets to celebrate sunny Caribbean culture in the conversely drizzly streets of Notting Hill. However, I’d like to offer you a way to incorporate the carnival spirit into everyday outfits and add a bit of Caribbean spice to your wardrobe all year round, whatever the weather.

Whilst you’d stick out like a sore thumb going about your everyday tasks wearing an authentic feathered headdress, there is a way to compromise and yet maintain the carnival spirit. ALDO always pleasantly surprises me with their statement jewellery and right now their feathered accessories, particularly the earrings, are definitely worth a browse. You could also overload on carnival style with Topshop’s £16.50 Feather Hoops, which embody the Caribbean flare for over-sized hoops and feathery décor.

Designers at Topshop have latched on to the popularity of feathering detail and combined it with the urban and very current “distressed” look to create the Feather Print Burnout Tee, available in burgundy or bottle blue. This design adds a ‘street’ twist to the conventional Caribbean street-party style, has had rave reviews and is priced at an affordable £20.

Prancing down the street in carnival attire on an everyday basis could possibly have you answering charges for indecent exposure. However, there is a way to sequin-up responsibly! By toughening up these ASOS Sequin Jersey Knicker Shorts with studded ankle boots and a high-neck baggy jumper you can bring the fun factor and a flavour of sexy samba to a daily outfit, without looking offensive. As an added bonus, the super mini, high-waisted design is bang-on trend and the shorts are a reasonable £25. If you wanted to go in the opposite direction, ASOS also offers a Boudoir Sequin Bandeau reduced from £14 to £4. Pairing the two together might not be such a great idea...

Carnivals are bursting with bold colours and brightly decorated floats and costumes. An easy way to add a dash of carnival colour and sparkle to an outfit is with an item of costume jewellery from Butler and Wilson, who are renowned for their mix of vintage couture and modern statement pieces. All the pieces command attention, but the one which certainly captures the essence of a carnival is the Large Faceted Stones Crystal Necklace. This product also happens to be the most expensive at £128, a price reflecting the extravagant design and Swarovski detailing.

By Greta Hedley-Miller