‘Claire’s‘ is well and truly on my radar because I am the Mother of a small girl! I remember Jonny’s cousin years ago when she was about 12 talking about ‘Claire’s’ and now at the tender age of three, Florence too has been drawn by the window displays of all things sparkly and glittery and who can blame her?!

For those of you not familiar with the costume jewellery and accessories shop I can pretty much guarantee that if you have a present to buy for a girl under 16 you won’t go far wrong here! I knew all that before yesterday of course but what I didn’t really appreciate was quite how many of the products I would like myself for myself. My shopping trips are fleeting and usually of the window variety with Florence – after all she is only three and like it she may but money to spend she doesn’t really have yet. I would pop in for hair bands and perhaps a sparkly stocking filler but the shops are often very busy and the browsing I have left to the teenage girls.

I know they do ear piecing and need to go and have one of mine done as it seems to have closed up and I know it is here I would buy gifts for the little girls we know. I found out yesterday that I will actually buy gifts for my own friends now that I have seen up close some of the beautiful pieces of costume jewellery that are very definitely not JUST for the pre teens, tweens and teens themselves! I saw some very grown up and sophisticated pieces with still that girlish charm I expect from ‘Claire’s’!

‘Claire’s’ invited us to a sneaky peak of their spring/summer collection for 2014. They held a party at Somerset house and the children were fully catered for with arts and crafts stands, a sweetie stall they could help themselves from, face painting and dress up table as well as being invited to put on as much jewellery as they could find! Florence was in her element. Jimmy didn’t mind being dressed as a Bumblebee too much…

Spring/summer at ‘Claire’s’ is floral and bright!

I know it’s Christmas time right now but looking at the bright, floral hippy set that looks like it will be hitting ‘Claire’s’ come the clock change and I feel brightened looking forward to summer. I might be considered a tad too old for daisy chain head dresses and funky bright earrings but the people who consider me so can forget it! I love my inner hippy and will gladly wear flowers in my hair next summer! I saw so many things that remind me of the stuff my friend Eve and I would wear in the heady summer days of our youth and so many things I would buy for her and I even now – why not!

I also loved all the gold for summer which usually isn’t my bag but which I found to be whimsical and charming with nods to ‘Alice In Wonderland’ in every clock face!

In the 90’s it was extremely fashionable to have rings with clocks on them, ring watches if you will and I remember us all being glow sticked up at the local house party dive waving our bewatched fingers in the air. Next season at ‘Claire’s’ sees a much more sophisticated take on clocks and reminded me of ‘Alice In Wonderland’ and pocket watches. Lots of working clock faces as pendants on necklaces and yes, I would absolutely wear some of them! Florence took a rather big shine to the owl necklace which reveals a clock when you open his wings!

The owl necklace is a big hit with us!

The pre teen and teen market may be ‘Claire’s’ initial customer base but I think with products like these and they’ll have the likes of me and my pals in too! Especially with such a good website www.claires.co.uk which is easy to navigate around and relieves the aspect of fighting through the throngs of tweens out spending their pocket money of a Saturday afternoon!

Florence and Jimmy at the party with their pal Scarlet (An Essex Wife’s biggest little one)!

We had an amazing time at the party, what little girl wouldn’t enjoy getting fairy wings and tiaras and then covering herself in costume jewellery as someone sparkles up her nails?! We also had an amazing time at the art and craft stations ‘Claire’s’ had so thoughtfully hired! Jimmy sat for ages making cards with his sister and he really enjoyed the biscuit decoration (especially when he realised he could eat rather a lot of marshmallows as he decorated) and Florence was in her absolute element creating art and crafty designs with ‘Arty Party‘! If only I had known about them a while ago and I would have saved up for her birthday party! £250 is what they charge which I know is expensive but when you hear that covers 3 hours and 20 children it’s really not so bad so next year I have it in mind!

‘Arty Party’ made reindeer on sticks which were simply fabulous and I really enjoyed talking to John about his business which he takes into schools as well as providing workshops and the all important birthday party entertainment for the 4+ market! Florence simply LOVED it and we love the results! ‘Cookie Crumbles‘ were the people decorating biscuits with the children (they were so lovely with Jimmy) which of course was a hit too but the art has it for us because Florence is such a craft fan!

Biscuit decoration with ‘Cookie Crumbles’ and reindeers on sticks with ‘Arty Party’!

And then as if that all wasn’t enough, because we were at Somerset House, we got to have another whirl on their amazing ice rink! Florence is becoming a bit of a pro now she’s been so many times! I on the other hand, although having been just as many times as her, managed to fall over on my bottom. Twice! One time taking down with me a poor unfortunate late teen lad who was obviously trying to impress on a date… Ah well!

We made this video about the lovely time we had with ‘Claires’ and we’re looking forward to all the bright colours of summer when Christmas is over! The floral hair bands and turquoise jewellery are giving me visions of hot sun drenched beaches but for now it’s Christmas time, so I give you: #ChristmasWithClaire’s!

I have not been paid to write this post.