With the days getting longer and the rays of the sun bringing warmth and a glow, locals are getting ready to shed their layers and hit the buzzing UK scene. May and June are jam packed with auspicious festivals bound to grab the attention of enthusiasts over a span of areas from music to food and drink and even hobbyist fairs and events.

The 9th of May is a day to look forward to for horse lovers and fans of royal spectacle alike. Windsor Castle is the backdrop to the infamous Royal Windsor Horse Show. Three show arenas, numerous shops, a food and drink festival, a fun fair and even a 4X4 course are some of the attractions that entice enthusiasts.

Attracting a number of celebrity chefs over the years, the Christchurch Food and Wine Festival, which takes place from 10 – 19 May, has earned its recognition as one of the top food festivals in the UK. Thousands of people are drawn to a colourful and vibrant town centre to enjoy the free live entertainment and hundreds of stalls offering a large selection of eats and drinks.

An enchanting bank holiday weekend can be anticipated toward the end of May. The beautiful wilds of the south of England is the setting for a weekend of music, crafts, delectable food, inspiring workshops and talks, wild walks, yoga, dancing and meditation. At Wild Heart, there certainly is something for everyone to enjoy.

The third week in June brings the world’s longest continually running film festival to five cinemas around Edinburgh. Besides feature films, documentaries and short films, it brings well-known actors and writers.

It may be that diamonds are forever, but the pertinent question around accessories at the moment is “what are the hot jewellery trends for spring 2013’? There are generally three places we turn to in the search of sizzling seasonal style – the red carpet, runways and real life.

What we see popping up in all the right places and certainly earning its title as colour of the year – is the bright emerald. While they have been head-turners on red carpets for some time, emerald accessories are now becoming household must-haves. Get fashion forward with stunning pieces like the Boldly Beautiful Tru-Emerald Earrings, the Tru-Emerald Eternity Ring, or the Emerald Inspiration Pendant. Such a vivid colour also ties in neatly with another currently famous trend – that of colour blocking. A cross trend win-win situation!

Make a slightly bigger statement than last year’s studs with subtle drop earrings. Having started their appearance on red carpets in 2012 already, these petite yet eye-catching accessories will complement the romantic effects of spring 2013 styles. Drop in on the trend with the Drop Teardrop or the Drop of Elegance Earrings. While on the earring escapade, chandelier and dangle earrings are also getting a lot of play this season. Try something with a coloured stone like the Sparkling Pink Earrings to enhance the hang.

With the black and white trend dominating in the fashion departments, diamonds and onyx stones shine bright as accompanying accessories. The good news around this particular fad is that albeit popular now, the styles are enduring and almost timeless.

Another accessory tying in famously with the romantic theme of spring is the petite gold pendant. Delicate pieces like All Atwirl or the Fire and Ice Pendant enhance necklines all the while keeping the quixotic feeling of the seasonal style.

While most of them lead lives reserved only for the indisputably rich and famous, we tend to turn to celebs for style tips from length of hair to colour of nail polish. It is no doubt then that as the weather warms, it is to these famed figures we turn for seasonal trends.

Black and White

While just the word ‘spring’ might call to mind bright colours of floral prints, an emphasis has been placed on black and white designs. The good news is that these bold colours are appropriate for any time of year and are easy to pull off at any budget.

The short suit

If you have some funds to splurge on one thing this season, make it a short suit. This look is versatile and fun, yet office-appropriate and uber-stylish. Best to let the suit do all the talking so accessorise modestly with a small clutch and a simple pair of sparkling earrings.

With the abundance of trends and styles that grace store racks and rails every season, it is incredibly difficult to keep ahead of the fashion pack. Never mind the colossal expense if we keep trying to update our wardrobe every 3 to 4 months.  

In the case of a worthy wardrobe, you need to be cruel to be kind – or at least selective to be stylish. Hang on to items that will last, in other words, make sure you have some superior quality garments hanging in there somewhere. Trends are fashion fads that shine momentarily and then pass almost as quickly. Accumulate a wardrobe of classic staples that you can add to and accessorise easily.

Whether you are jazzing up your existing wardrobe or starting a fresh, here are some essentials that your winter wardrobe should never be without ever again.

Black tights

These versatile leggings are the pants version of Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress. Dress them down by pairing them with denim. Adding a blazer and some sparkle smartens them up and is great for work or a more formal occasion.