Accessorize

Accessorize sits firmly in the affordable fashion-accessory bracket, so manage expectations on the lowest-priced pieces. The very cheapest plated styles can lose their gold look within months of daily wear, while the gold-plated sterling silver and the higher-spec lines tend to hold their finish far longer. To make plating last, keep pieces away from perfume, lotion and water, and store them somewhere dry.

Most shoppers find Accessorize lands as occasion and outfit-finishing jewellery rather than daily heirloom pieces. The colourful, of-the-moment designs are ideal for a wedding, party or seasonal refresh, and they are priced to be enjoyed and rotated. If you want something to wear every single day for years, lean toward the sterling-silver-based items.

Start with the category Accessorize is built around: a statement piece that finishes an outfit, such as a beaded or embellished necklace, drop earrings or a printed scarf. These are the items the in-house design team is known for, mixing global-inspired colour and texture. A versatile pair of earrings is the safest first buy because it pairs with almost everything.

They overlap on the high street but pitch slightly differently. Claire's leans younger and playful with piercing services and novelty designs, while Accessorize skews a little more grown-up and occasion-led, with embellished jewellery, bags, scarves and footwear. If you want pretty, dressier accessories, Accessorize is usually the better fit; for fun, trend-driven basics, Claire's competes hard.

A common piece of advice from regular shoppers is to time purchases around end-of-season clearances, when the value sharpens considerably. New ranges arrive with the seasons, so the previous collection moves to sale to make room. If you have your eye on a specific style, buy it early; if you are browsing, the sale rails reward patience.

Accessorize trades through its own high-street shops and online store. Historically the brand grew side by side with its sister chain Monsoon, and at its peak the parent company operated well over a hundred UK stores. Stick to the official shops and website to be sure of genuine stock and current ranges.

Accessorize is part of Monsoon Accessorize, a British company founded by market-stall trader Peter Simon. He floated the business on the Stock Exchange in 1998, then took it private again in 2007. After the company went into administration in 2020 during the pandemic, Simon bought it back, and he bought it out of bankruptcy again in late 2022.

The first Accessorize shop opened in 1984 in Covent Garden, London, right next door to Monsoon. Monsoon itself had been started in London in 1973 by Peter Simon, with its first shop on Beauchamp Place. Accessorize was essentially the accessories spin-off that grew alongside the clothing chain.

In 1994 the company set up the Monsoon Accessorize Trust, a registered charity created to help under-privileged women and children in Asia. It reflects the brand's long-standing links to the regions that inspire much of its design and craft. It is one of the threads that distinguishes the company beyond the products on the shelves.

Treat the jewellery as fashion pieces: keep plated and mixed-metal items away from water, perfume and lotion, wipe them gently after wear and store them flat and dry to slow tarnishing. Beaded and embellished pieces last longest when they are the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. For printed scarves, follow the care label and avoid harsh washing.

For colourful, on-trend accessories at high-street prices, most shoppers rate the value as fair, especially when buying in the sales. Service and delivery tend to draw positive comments, while the main grumble is occasional inconsistency on the cheapest pieces. Buy the better-quality lines if longevity matters, and you will generally feel you got your money's worth.