Summer is the ideal season to shop and with the many bargains on adflyer at the moment, you can’t afford to miss out on an extensive range of gorgeous, unique jewellery to suit absolutely any outfit you can think of! If you’re a little bit stuck for ideas and you need the perfect dangly earrings, gold necklace or charm bracelet for that sunny barbecue coming up at the weekend, you’re in luck!  We’re going to tell you all about this season’s jewellery trends so we expect to hear the earrings jangle as you prick back your ears to listen up.

First of all is the chunky necklace! The kinds you see on the catwalk are probably a little too cumbersome for everyday wear, but there are other styles and varieties to choose from that will still achieve a similar look. They’re not ideal items for very, very hot weather, though some chunky beads always look good with a maxi-dress or a cute little sundress! Match this with some chunky bangles in the same colour and you’re away!

Some hoop earrings might carry the spirit of chav, but there are plenty of stylish designs out there that are simply not meant to be WAG chav chic. Avoid the enormous, tacky gold hoops and opt for something a little more elegant. Silver hoops earrings can look perfect with the right outfit, so long as you can’t fit your hand through them!

Try out the bohemian look this summer; bangles and bracelets are a must, accompanied by a bright, vibrant outfit. Earthy coloured bracelets with pretty jewels and sequins make a versatile addition to your jewellery collection. If you’re not fond of the bulkier bracelets or noisy bangles, a pretty tennis bracelet might suit your tastes instead.

Let’s not forget all of the other jewellery you can take a look at, too, anything from diamond rings to stylish hair clips. The world is your oyster!

Of course, no one is suggesting you have to follow the rules when it comes to jewellery. Like all clothes and accessories, it’s all about experimenting and discovering what suits you. Tastes differ from person to person, so try out new styles and ideas and maybe you’ll see it on the catwalk next season!

We hope none of you have forgotten that Mother’s Day is fast approaching, the day to honour the woman that carried you around for 9 months and suffered several agonising hours of labour to bring you into existence. She also changed your nappies, wiped your snotty nose and made you a delightfully greasy sausage sandwich (while derisively sniggering at your pain) to ease your pounding hangover the morning after your 18th birthday, so we think you can spare a day to show a little bit of appreciation.

As with many of our national and sometimes international holidays, Mother’s Day tends to be attested to the ancient Greeks (although they never really needed an excuse to celebrate anything). Around the vernal equinox (or simply, the spring equinox) they held a festival to honour the mother of gods, Cybele, the deification of the Earth Mother. You might know her as Gaia. The Romans had a similar festival known as Matronalia which was dedicated to Juno, the patron goddess of Rome. Of course, a variety of Christian denominations consider the day an appreciation of the Virgin Mary and the ‘mother’ church. This holiday falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent.

In modern times the day is celebrated internationally throughout the year. Thanks to the Socialist Party of America, International Women’s Day was also created, which eventually coincided with what we know here in the U.K. as Mother’s Day. This day had a positive social and political impact by highlighting the struggles and hardships of women across the world and has since drawn attention to the violence, abuse and discrimination suffered by women who are victims of war. International Women’s Day is less a celebration of mothers as it is a celebration of women where, similarly to Valentine’s Day, men give their wives, girlfriends, mothers, daughters etc, gifts. Valentine’s Day, but better! For us ladies, at least.

Anyway! You’re probably a lot more interested in hearing about our gift recommendations, aren’t you? Now we’ve forced a little history lesson on you, we can tell you all about the top Mother’s Day gifts that will put a smile on your dear ol’ Mum’s face for the rest of the week.

1. Do NOT forget to get a Mother’s Day card. We know this isn’t a gift, but we thought it was a good idea to remind you. Be it big or small or one of those fancy, ostentatious cards that plays music and lights up and does the washing and ironing, remember to get one, sign it and slide it into the envelope. This is the easy bit. Don’t mess it up.

2. All women are fond of perfume, but when making a decision about which one you should buy, consider the age group you’re buying for. Your girlfriend might  like the  Burberry range, but that’s not to say your mother or grandmother will. For fabulous females over 35, we recommend Prada. With a variety of scintillating scents that aren’t overpowering, Prada offer a wide range of perfect perfumes. Their Eau De Parfum is a particular favourite of ours, containing a delicate combination of patchouli, orange, mandarin and rose. Bvlgari is also a fond favourite and has an excellent collection of evening fragrances.

3. Flowers. This is not something you want to get wrong. Don’t present your mother with  funeral or sympathy flowers, otherwise you may well leave her with the wrong impression. If you can, find out what her favourites are, if you can’t, go for something bright and vivacious. Tulips and roses are always winners, but ensure they are as fresh as can be. Preferably, you want to buy a bunch of fresh flowers that are close to blooming. They will last longer and retain their vibrancy.

4. Hampers make for excellent gifts on any occasion, especially Mother’s Day and especially for those amongst you who find it difficult to decide on one perfect present. Hampers can contain anything from a bubbling bottle of Moet to crumbling cookies, from titillating teas to tasty treats. Buy one readymade, or make one up yourself containing anything you choose. The best bit is, the basket can be reused again and again afterwards, too.

5. You might not think there are any electronic gadgets your Mum will voluntarily use, but you might be surprised what you can convince her to try. If she’s a bit of a gym gal, consider buying her an mp3 or an mp4 player. All you have to do is show her how to plug the thing into the computer and she’s away! We also know she will fall in love with a digital photo frame. You might need to offer your technical assistance to upload photos, but seeing her favourite photos of friends and family scrolling by will certainly put a smile on her face. If she’s fond of travelling, she might also find a sat nav very, very useful. They’re also incredibly easy to learn how to use, so you won’t be getting myriad phone calls to ask you inane questions about something that is just so simple to you.

6. Finally, a great, big, hug. We don’t care if you consider yourself the epitome of masculinity, hugging your doting mother is not going to injure your manly ego. The ladies manage just fine (though arguably, we are better at everything, aren’t we?). We’re not asking you to declare your limitless familial affection, but you know what they say about hugs. They can make you live longer and anything that keeps Mum on Earth for a little longer is worth it, isn’t it?

As Carol Channing once told us, ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’. They’re tougher than a man, prettier than a man, and they don’t expect a Sunday afternoon bacon sandwich. They will serve you faithfully, suit every outfit and never ask for anything in return except to be loved. Of course, crystals, rubies and emeralds wouldn’t have noses turned up at them either.

Weddings, parties, formal occasions, dates, interviews. Deciding on an outfit for these things is bad enough, but trying to match your jewellery is one of the hardest parts next to shoes, handbags and make-up. It’s not just women who find it difficult either – lads, listen up, you might learn something.

We have a  jewellery section including anything from second hand pieces to antiques to unique, one-off items that have been lovingly handcrafted. Jewellery is a personal affair. Some slobber for Swarovski, others tingle for Tiffany. Our very own Jewellery Quarter, situated right here in Birmingham, is teeming with shop upon shop dedicated to the trade, but visiting requires leaving your nice, warm living room in the dead of winter to traipse around in snow and rain. We may just be down the road from it, but we’re a lot easier to visit.  You’ll see that ‘jewellery and watches’ is one of our most popular categories, listed on the left. adflyer is awfully easy to navigate and with the speedy little search bar near the top of the page, whatever you’re in the market for, no matter how specific, you can find it!

Of course, as we mentioned earlier, deciding on what jewellery is right for you or what piece will make the perfect present for a loved one, isn’t always easy. Just like clothing, certain styles suit certain people so always try to get a second opinion where you can. Better yet, ask your intended exactly what they would like. Watches always prove to be popular gifts and with myriad styles from eccentric to elegant, you can pretty much guarantee there is going to be something to suit every personality. Unfortunately we can’t tell you precisely what to choose, but we’re confident you can find something spot on!