It’s amazing to me how some people have a gift of knowing something is hot, even before the rest of the world is in on the secret. This is one of the many talents that jewelry designer Jacquie Aiche possesses. Back in 2009, Jacquie made her first finger bracelet, with a singular diamond. 5 years later, this is a full-fledged trend here in the US, and Jacquie was most definitely ahead of the curve. She now has multiple versions, such as this one with 13 diamonds.
This bohemian goddess is the mother of two, and began designing on the side about 15 years ago. She knew she was on to something when business just flowed in, and pretty soon her entire garage turned into her jewelry studio.
She was showing some stunning knuckle rings which span a few fingers. I tried on a labradorite one — amaze-balls!
Here’s a display from her case at the Couture show, which has one in shades of green.
It’s really hard to describe the instant bond I felt with Jacquie, but it was as if I’d known her for ages. She is one of those people who glows with happiness from the inside, and I truly believe she sees the beauty in everything, from each and every stone she hand-selects for her pieces to the flowers in her garden. Life just makes her happy!
Body chains are another of Jacquie’s specialties, and she described them to me as, “..modern day lingerie. They can be worn under your bra, just for you, your boyfriend, husband, whatever..”
No longer a solo operation in her garage, Jacquie is now so grateful to have 12 people on her team, and each piece is still made right in Los Angeles. One of the items she spent quite a bit of time introducing me to are her Blesslev amulets. When she met with a spiritual mystic 5 years ago, they were inspired by the concept, “When you concentrate on the core of who you are, and the true blessings you’ve been given, finding your inner joy and peace comes easy.” So these special amulets house a gratitude list and a Kabbalistic mantra in a beautiful shagreen pouch.
While also famous for her ear jackets, where part of the earring is suspended below your earlobe, she’s also now focusing on adorning the feet. If you want to see more, you can find some of her line, many items at lower price points, on Shopbop, in addition to the retail portion of her website.
Basically, when I left Jacquie’s booth, I felt like I had just taken a trip to a bejeweled, inner realm of happiness and optimism. While I don’t necessarily look like the woman in the photo below, it’s how I felt in my heart. Many thanks for the time you spent with me, Jacquie.
Sometimes the universe is just brilliant — how you can cross paths with someone at just the right time, without any planning or forethought. That’s just what happened yesterday. I was checking out the latest and greatest at Gallery of Jewels in Union Square (I know…shocker!) and once again eyeing this particular ring by Sakura Haru. I’ve tried it on more than once, and I love everything about it, from the mixed metals, to the weight and comfortable fit on my finger, to the sparkle of the diamonds.
Well wouldn’t you know it, but in walked Sakura to the boutique!
Though I clearly must have been keeping her from the mission that brought her into the store in the first place, she had a sense of ease and happiness as she let me barrage her with questions about her and her line. It turns out that she’s from Japan’s southernmost island, Okinawa, where the climate resembles Miami. (Who knew?!) And for Sakura, her line is inspired by this tropical island and “fun in the sun.”
I tried on a couple more pair of earrings…
The texture in this last pair of earrings is SO unique — part of her Paleo collection. That’s when I found out why she was actually there (drum roll…) to bring in her new body chain from this collection. How fun! You can wear it over a dress, under a tank, with just a hint showing… just use your imagination!
Designing the line for 8 years now, this San Francisco-based designer makes each and every piece herself. Her work is ethically made with recycled metals, conflict-free stones, and low-waste studio practices. She was fortunate to have an amazing art teacher in high school back in Japan who introduced her to jewelry making. Clearly, she was an effective and inspirational teacher, as Sakura’s line is just beautiful. As she says, her jewelry “appeals to women who embrace beauty in natural forms.”
Here’s a shot from her website, to give you more of a feel for her work. Definitely go check it out in person if this gets your jewelry heart pumping!
Summer is here, and it’s time to travel! One of my clients is taking a fantabulous trip with her two young boys. The itinerary includes Paris, London, Italy and the south of France. (Who me? Green with envy?!) While she’s not limiting herself to a carry-on bag, we also don’t want to have a monster-sized bag that she has to lug around from place to place. So the key is to have outfits that will definitely do double or even triple duty. This striped maxi dress by Vince is a great starting point.
Now I know many of you might be saying, “But, Amy,…don’t you know that horizontal stripes are universally unflattering?!” I hear ya, but I’m going to call you on it. This is an old rule (like not wearing white after Labor Day), and it’s not always true. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with many striped outfits over the years that look totally hot. And remember, the outfit will be broken up with other items and accessories, so that is also a big contributing factor.
For the first look, I’m going for a, “Come on boys! We’re going to spend the whole day wandering the streets of Rome — from savoring gelatos at the Fountain of Trevi to visiting the Sistine Chapel.” Translation fashion-wise: very comfortable shoes, layers, and fun jewelry. I always advise my clients to travel with costume jewelry. No need to tempt a pick-pocket, right?! This cargo vest by Velvet is the perfect day look for over the dress. (The pockets are an added bonus for keeping track of tickets, etc.)
For the sake of comfort and safety, a cross body bag is a must. Adding this one by Marc Jacobs in a bright red-orange hue definitely adds some punch to the outfit.
I definitely prefer when things are not all matchy-matchy. And I hate to say that for this trip, an actual comfort shoe is in order. Now this doesn’t have to mean you have to look like an unstylish tourist — I promise that there are some cute, hip alternatives out there, such as these metallic sandals by Ecco.
Since the vest looks best worn open, I want a long necklace, which will in turn elongate the whole look. Love this white beaded necklace with a tassel pendant from Anthropologie.
These double teardrop earrings and an organic slim cuff finish off the look. This bracelet would also stack very easily with others that might be in the suitcase…or acquired at a street market. (Yes…I’m dreaming of what I’d be doing there!)
Now for the stint in Paris, I know that she is meeting up with some other moms for a girl’s night out, Parisian style. Oo la la! So she much look tres chic, or I’ll be in trouble! So same dress, but let’s go a little more high style. First up, ditch the vest and don this white silk jacket by Amanda Uprichard.
Then leave the flats in the room (with the kids and the babysitter) and strap on these heels by Sol Sana. One reason I like them for travel is that they have a very wide heel base, making it much easier to walk on cobblestones, especially after a few glasses of champagne! The wide straps also give your foot a lot of support, holding you in as you meander to the next stop for the evening.
For a bag, I think a wristlet is the perfect solution, as it is safer having it around your wrist (as opposed to just a clutch), and it can double as your wallet for the rest of the trip, tucked inside the cross-body bag. And you know I certainly don’t want a boring one, so this gold version by Halogen adds some nice shine to the outfit.
I opted for a shorter necklace for this outfit, and in a much more streamlined, sophisticated style. This gold and lucite look by Alexis Bittar is just the ticket.
Paris is certainly one of the global headquarters of fashion, so I’ve got to make sure she blends in with the locals. (I told her if she gets asked for directions, then I did my job well.) These reversible stud earrings give some edgy attitude to the outfit. Might be fun to wear one with the gold side showing and one with with sparkles up front for an unexpected twist.
To continue this edgier look, I think it’s great fun to bring a set of multi-finger rings, along with a stand-alone ring to mix and match for different looks. Again, advising against bringing fine jewelry while traveling, this affordable ring set by Luv Aj and open design ring by Campbell are cool without the major price tags. These rings will also go great with her more casual looks, and they can be worn in different configurations.
Since Paris is one of THE best places in the world to find amazing costume jewelry, I hope that my client has some time for a little shopping as well. Can’t wait to hear all about her adventures! And don’t forget, if something in this article piques your interest, just click on the blue links for more info. Cheers!
I have been a fan of Isharya jewelry for years, in fact ever since I bought my first piece on Gilt group way back when. Emma Roberts is among the many celebrity fans, and she rocked their blue lapis goddess power cuff at the Tribeca Flim Festival.
Well meeting Radhika Tandon, one of the co-founders of the line, at a recent event in San Francisco was fantastic! Not only is she smart, stylish and beautiful, inside and out, but she also has an extremely welcoming personality. I was invited to visit their California headquarters and showroom in San Jose. (Their other main office is in Mumbai, India.)
I didn’t know where to look first, with shelves and beautiful displays of jewelry everywhere.
Isharya is the creation of Radhika and her sister-in-law, Gauri Tandon, who runs the Mumbai office. While neither started out in the jewelry business, they both have a love of sparkle and bling. Radhika told me that it all started when she would have jewelry designed and made for herself in India. Back in 2004, a friend borrowed one of her pieces, who then showed it to someone else, and next thing she knew, she was being featured everywhere from Daily Candy to Lucky and In Style magazines! Clearly she was on to something. Here’s a close-up of the blue lapis goddess fringe necklace Radhika was wearing at our meeting.
The first thing I tried on, because you know I couldn’t contain myself, was this abalone tentacle cuff. The shades of the sea were lovely on my wrist!
Knowing that the stones in the jewelry are all real (amazonite, lapis, labradorite, and more–click here for a list of materials they use), I was curious about how they keep the prices so reasonable. There’s nothing in the line over $498, and a large percentage of the pieces are under $100. The answer is that they use gold-plated brass. And I can tell you that the result is just beautiful! The jewelry is, “inspired by India’s intricate and vibrant style…each piece is designed to fuse an effortless California chic aesthetic with the glamour of Bollywood.” There are various collections, and each has a distinct vibe, ranging from very complex design, to items with cleaner, more Art Deco lines. In other words, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your personal style.
Radhika explained how much time and effort they put into each and every aspect of design and production. For example, they spent 8 months perfecting their enamel process so that it doesn’t chip. Here’s a lovely enamel example in the teal and turquoise jaisel floral statement cuff.
Learning how to cut mirrors was also a big project. Many of their pieces have cut mirror, some of which resemble polki diamonds (often mistakenly called rose cut diamonds). I adore these prism mirror statement earrings!
I also tried on this royal filigree tassel lariat, which can be worn different ways. They come up with a new filigree print each year, so there’s always something new to look forward to.
The matte finish on this black pyramid luxe bib necklace was killer. It’s surprising lightweight, and it would be a perfect centerpiece for some of today’s minimalist looks.
A couple of the gals who work at Isharya also showed me how to wear some of the body jewelry. So feminine and on trend!
This body chain would be fantabulous over a black strapless dress, don’t you think?
All the pieces, no matter what their size, are definitely for the girl who wants to make a statement!
These amethyst moon bali earrings certainly have more of an exotic, Indian style. I can picture wearing them with a flowing caftan and gold sandals, poolside.
Of if you’re looking for a more streamlined earring, then these purple druzy three stone drops are beautiful. (They also invested a lot of time perfecting how to set druzy so elegantly.)
And finally, because snakes are one of their signatures, I couldn’t resist trying on this serpent scale wraparound cuff. So unique, and I love the colors!
I was lucky to also check out their upcoming fall line. While I can’t share any photos with you (YET!), I will say that you will be wowed. I’ll be sure to share highlights with you come fall. If this line intrigues you, then definitely check out their website. They also have retail presence in the US and in 50 other countries around the globe! (Click here to find your nearest location.) I hope that you’ve enjoyed this visit to Isharya as much as I did!
I have to say that interior design is my second love after style and bling, so anytime I find a killer home store, I have to check it out! Abode is the best interiors store you’ll find on the San Mateo County coast, and I can attest to the quality, as I have a few pieces in my place. They have a mix of modern and vintage, AND they have a nice selection of baubles as well.
They carry between six and eight different designers, and the price points range from around $45-$300. During my last visit, they were celebrating their 10th anniversary — cheers! I was drawn to many pieces by San Francisco designer, Denise Heffernan. I loved her organic style and mixed metals.
One of the delights is how the pieces are displayed in the store. Take a gander at these necklaces on a little wooden dress form.
I also found a great interpretation of the bar necklace trend by The Urban Smith, another local SF company. Rachel, the owner, told me that you can order them with different words, and you can also get the bars hanging vertically.
These unisex vintage leather belt cuffs with Victorian pressed brass centerpieces by Bombshell Betty are definitely a statement! If you’ve got a boho/rocker style going on, then you may just need one of these.
Each time I visit this shop, I’m not only happy to see what’s new and exciting, but I love catching up with Rachel, owner extraordinaire. (…and she is my lovely cousin to boot)
Next time you find yourself in the vicinity of Half Moon Bay, definitely stop by and check out Abode. And if you want to include lunch during your visit to the coast, then I highly recommend Pasta Moon — the bread alone is worth the stop.
Back during Dior’s pre-fall 2013 runway show, we first caught glimpse of the “mise en Dior” tribal earring.
This double pearl confection is designed to be worn with the smaller pearl in the front, and the larger pearl in the back.
They are not necessarily meant to be worn in pairs, so just wearing one is something Dior likes, as apparently does Emma Watson.
They don’t just come in pearls, either — there are many varieties. The version in gold and palladium plate are called “tee shirt earrings,” and they have a more edgy vibe than the pearls.
Then with their cruise 2014 line, they expanded on the design by making the “gum tee shirt earring” that has a matte rubber lacquer finish.
Jennifer Lawrence was all over these, and opted for red for herself.
When something really starts catching on, then there’s bound to be knock-offs. Amazon has a really good replica for only $11. (Click here for the link.) Can you tell the difference?
So the question is…what do you think of this style? Is it just a flash-in-the-pan trend, or do you think it’s a classic in the making? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter!
Ok..so horizontal bar necklaces are definitely having a “jewelry moment.” Although they’ve been spotted on everyone from Reese Witherpoon…
…to the Kardashians…
I have a feeling that Clare, from the Bachelor (damn was I wrong about Juan Pablo!!), has really driven the trend home. I guess when you watch someone wear the same necklace for weeks on end, then it’s bound to creep into popular culture.
I’m not sure who designed Clare’s necklace, but it says “creer” (“believe” in Spanish). I’m glad that she had enough sense to ditch Juan Pablo at the end, and I think her necklace may have brought her some luck. She chose to believe her inner truth and tell him exactly how she felt. Yet I digress…
You can find many different designs of bar necklaces. I particularly like this one by BaubleBar for only $28.
You can also go very high-end with this trend — here’s Jennifer Meyer’s take.
One thing I like about these necklaces is that they can be easily worn on their own, or incorporated in a layered necklace ensemble. So talk to me — is this a necklace that you’ll be adding to your collection? Or perhaps you already own one? Do tell!
As a certified image consultant and wardrobe stylist, I need to earn a certain number of CEUs (continuing education units) each year to maintain my certification. I love attending conferences where I stay current with the latest teachings in the world of fashion and image. I spent last weekend attending the AICI (Association of Image Consultants, International) conference here in San Francisco. While I was of course taking copious notes, I was also snapping pics of jewelry that caught my eye on fellow attendees.
I noticed a few trends going on. First was layered necklaces. Here are various layers I spied….
Diamond leaf layered with raw diamonds
Rock ‘n roll with camo
Here’s a close-up of the key pendant, by Jennifer Montana’s jewelry line which donates 80% of its proceeds to charity.
Each of her pendants had sentimental meaning
Stunning tassel and rose gold accents
Stacked bracelets was another trend that was definitely going strong.
I recently wrote an article about the spring 2014 trend of layering delicate necklaces. (If you missed it, click here to read it.) I told you that I was going to go through my jewelry box and see what combinations I could come up with. Well never wanting to let you down, here are a few of the mixes I came up with.
This first trial includes a labradorite bead necklace (worn doubled) by Flying Lizard, a bezel-set diamond chain I got years ago from Ross-Simons, and a sort of boho creation that I got at a boutique somewhere in Santa Cruz.
The next incarnation combines a painted crystal purchased at Crimson Mim quite a few years ago, and a newer raw diamond necklace by Ali Grace, acquired at Carrots.
I wanted to make a mix with a longer necklace in it, so I pulled out a long sterling silver bead chain, also by Flying Lizard, and paired it with my Armenta horseshoe from Head over Heels and a tiny diamond disc on a black cord which I purchased through Gilt.com a couple years ago.
Finally, I wanted to see if I could bring my Nordstrom diamond circle pendant necklace (circa 2005?) back into rotation, so I coupled it with a Chan Luu silver and gold leaf long necklace, worn doubled, from Leaf & Petal.
I’ve definitely been having some fun with this, and I plan on creating more mixes in the weeks to come. What about you — have you tried it yet? I’d love to see what you’ve come up with!
“Spring trends?? Aren’t we still in winter?” Well, yes, but in the world of fashion things definitely move ahead of the actual calendar, so spring clothes and jewelry are beginning to grace the pages of the magazines and are slowly appearing in the stores. This is a very fun time of year for me, as I anticipate the trends for the coming season by analyzing what I’m seeing.
I stopped by one of my favorite boutiques in Palo Alto the other day and struck up a conversation with the manager. She had just been shopping on Hayes Street in San Francisco (definitely a street with some cool, edgy stores), and she wanted to talk jewelry. She had noticed that delicate necklaces were definitely being spotted again, and I had to agree. BUT, instead of just wearing one at a time, as we did back in the early 90’s, this time they’re being layered in all sorts of interesting ways. (Sidebar: if you have a minimalist personal style, then wearing just one at a time is just right for you!) Now this isn’t to say that bold, statement necklaces are “out.” (Though I would store away jeweled collars for now, a trend that had a rather short shelf life.) My larger scale necklaces are definitely still in rotation. Rather, this is just another option in the world of necklaces, and I think it pairs nicely with my new obsession, stacking skinny rings.
Take a look at this combination by Jacquie Aiche, where gold and some bling are a unifying theme.
Here’s another lovely example of gold layers. I like how the three chains are different textures, yet they blend beautifully.
If silver is more your thing, then you might like this combo with quartz pendants.
It’s easy to incorporate color into your layers as well, as shown in these necklaces by Kei jewelry.
Celebs are also in on the trend (shocker!). Here’s Kourtney Kardashian in a casual chic look with two necklaces. The sideways rose gold cross is by Sugar Bean Jewelry.
Kristin Cavallari has left The Hills and gone jewelry designer (who knew?!) — here’s her Pyramidia layered necklace, which looks like three different chains, but it’s actually all one necklace! That makes is pretty darn easy to get the look without having to think too much.
And just for one more look, I love the romantic feel of these necklaces by Rust Jewellery from England.
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take a tour through my jewelry box and see what combinations I can create. I’m going to mix metals, use different lengths, and I’ll be sure to let you know what I come up with. I hope you share your stylish mixes with me as well!
