We do enjoy adorning ourselves in colourful baubles, but heavy statement pieces rather weigh us down.

Instead, we’re lightening our look (and our lobes) with Bijougraphie’s hand-painted wood-based jewellery from Montreal designer Mercedes La Rosa. For a fun, daytime pick-me-up, we love the pink scalloped Dearest Algy earrings ($45) and for soirées, the purple and gold Laureates Only brass chain pendant ($35) is positively perfect.

Now we can strut around light as a feathered peacock.

At Lola and Emily, 3475 St-Laurent, Montreal, 514-288-7598, www.lolaandemily.com

Ask a little girl what she wants to be when she grows up and you can hear any response from “Princess” to “Prime Minister.”

Equal parts poised and pretty, the cotton knit giant paiettes headband with an embellished flower (US$40) from e-shop Kicokids is serious enough for tough tea party talks and whimsical enough for playing dress-up.

And she’ll always have a good head on her shoulders.

www.kicokids.com

Trimming bangs, snipping loose threads, diffusing nuclear bombs—all things we’ve been unable to do since our much-needed Swiss Army knife was confiscated at the airport.

Thankfully, choosing a handy new gadget from Victorinox’s chic 125th anniversary collection was a breeze. We’re besotted with the gold cross motif emblazoned on the knife’s iconic Pantone 201 red (from $34). Other must-have travel pieces? The retractable stainless steel Jubilee Alarm Clock (replete with tweezers and a toothpick), and the Hardside Officers Trunk (from $449) that‘s perfect for packing, and fighting crime.

At Mosel, 4048 Jean-Talon W., Montreal, 514-735-1138, www.mosels.com

See our favourite Swiss Army gadgets on today's Editors' Diary.

There once was a girl named Nicole, whose potty mouth made her quite droll.

Then she fought with a Hilton, got thinner than stilton and became quite a little lost thing.

So she hooked up with a rocker, had a sweet baby (shocker!) and launched her own line of bling.

Sixties-inspired, House of Harlow it’s called, we trotted to Holts to see it all sprawled.

To our great surprise we were really quite chuffed, the collection includes a gladiator cuff.

From pyramid bangles to tiger eye rings, this lovely collection has become quite the thing.

Miss Richie, we think, has an eye for what’s vogue. Next in line? Striking African mode.

House of Harlow 1960, from $35 at Holt Renfrew, 1300 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, 514-842-5111, www.holtrenfrew.com

Who needs to follow trends when Mother Nature is your muse?

While creating their Lubie collection of eye-catching jewellery, Val David designers Claudine Thibault and Genevieve Beaulieu only had to step out their door to find inspiration. Working with sterling silver and a variety of natural elements including shells, sand, dried flowers and leaves, each piece is designed to represent one of Quebec’s seasons.

Now you just have to decide whether you’re a winter or a summer.

Available at the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art’s boutique, 185 Ste-Catherine St. W., 514-847-6904.  

It’s your pal’s birthday and she already has it all. What’s a BFF to do?

You can’t go wrong with functional-but-fabulous goodies. Head 2 Toe carries practical gifts you won’t find anywhere else in the city: Miss Oops Rescue Sponges ($15) for removing deodorant marks, one-time-use Nundies “pantyless panties” ($20), and the portable Little Hooker for keeping purses off dirty floors ($15-$25).

This off-the-beaten-path boutique also carries exclusive lines of nickel-free jewelry from Claudia Accessories, Mariana of Israel, Tula and Robin Steele. Worried your friend might already have it? Owner Elyssa Caron keeps meticulous records of who bought what so you’ll never be outdone.

Head 2 Toe Accessories, 2360 Lucerne Rd., Suite 1-D, T.M.R., 514-344-4936, www.shophead2toe.com