Jewelry…own it, love it, wear it!
I spied this waif of a thing at Nordstrom in Palo Alto. She was sporting the latest style with her skinny, colored jeans, but what really made the outfit was her statement necklace.
The iridescence of the beads complements the sheen of her feminine leather jacket. And while you may be surprised that such a petite person can carry such a chunky necklace, there’s no doubt that she can. Rock it, girlfriend!
I am (clearly) obsessed with jewelry, and interior design is not far behind. In my post about jewelry storage I made reference to using jewelry as decor, but I’d like to take it one step farther.
I’m currently working on a home decorating project for a client, and I knew that she loved jewelry as well. While we were shopping in Carmel for home decor objects, we visited one of my favorite shops, Conway of Asia. When you walk into this establishment, it’s basically like walking into an Asian/Middle Eastern art museum, yet you can actually buy all the amazing artifacts you’re looking at! (How cool is that?!)
This was the display in the window that greeted us:
For me, Brunello Cucinelli’s line is synonymous with exquisite fabrics and neutral colors with a bit of complex, subdued color thrown in. It’s not contrived whatsoever, and to me, it epitomizes the concept of causal (Italian) chic.
Whenever I enter the Cucinelli area in a store, I just breathe a contented sigh, and wish that I were walking into my own closet. The past couple seasons I’ve been very pleased to see that he’s added some amazing jewelry to his ready-to-wear line. Here are a few snapshots of his spring pieces.
So go ahead and lust away…I know I am!
The way I look at Valentine’s Day, or basically any other holiday, is that it’s the perfect opportunity to buy yourself a lovely gift! Pricey, inexpensive, it doesn’t really matter — just do it! (You know I’m a strong proponent of self-gifting!)
As I’m strolling around the internet this morning, I’m coming across quite a few lovelies that would be the perfect gift. I thought I’d share some of my finds and hopefully inspire you to go look for yourself.
1. Check out this stunning labradorite ring by Armenta. It’s an investment, but it would look to-die-for with a necklace I already own.
2. Since I’m always in search of gorgeous stud earrings, these rose gold druzy studs by Dara Ettinger might be just the ticket. (Love that they’re under $100 too!)
3. I can always find some fabulous, ethnic jewelry at Maison K in Montecito, CA. This rhinestone and turquoise necklace from Istanbul would be amazing with an all-white linen outfit and gold sandals…with a drink in my hand…
4. I own these Jennifer Meyer hoops in yellow gold, and I’m surprised I haven’t worn them out yet. Perhaps I need a pair in white gold as well? Decisions, decisions….
5. A statement necklace makes the simplest of tops look like you came right from Fifth Avenue. This neutral druzy necklace by Isharya would pair beautifully with jeans, a white tee and a camel cardigan. Yum!
6. I’ve tried this bracelet on twice at J.Crew recently. My wrists are tiny, and it actually fits perfectly. Layered with some of my bangles, I think it could be a very inspired combination.
Oh, the choices I have… And who’s to say I won’t come across something else while I’m out shopping today? And the bonus, is that this treat is calorie free, unlike those giant chocolate-filled heart boxes. So go treat yourself and enjoy Valentine’s Day! Feel free to share any of your great finds — I’d love to see them.
So I found myself lunching at Stanford Mall yesterday. Half way through the meal, a couple of beautiful women sat down just two tables away. Long hair, perfect skin, designer bags…but what was on that one woman’s ears?! Was is a teenager’s bracelet? Oy! She would have looked amazing had she opted for a simpler earring, better in scale with both her own personal features and the necklace she was wearing. I know that color is THE thing for spring, but really, these earrings just need to go!
Ippolita has become one of my “go to” lines for years now in my personal shopping business. Silver, gold, rose gold, gunmetal and gems galore — how can you go wrong? I now have an even deeper appreciation of this stunning line after spending some time chatting with the designer, Ippolita, herself.
Though the trunk show was absolutely packed, she easily spent fifteen minutes or more casually chatting with me. We seemed to quickly bond, covering topics from how to deal with our (mutually) curly hair to our love of Italy. (Granted, she was born there and I am only half Italian, but still…) It’s amazing how much she has done in her life already. She received a degree in sculpture in Italy, a degree in English literature, founded a dance company, and oh, yeah…started an incredible jewelry line in the 1990’s. Never mind that she’s also a mother and involved in countless other things. How does she do it?
One of the things that I love about her line is that it appeals to a wide range of personal styles among my clients. I’ve got classic gals, more bohemian women, and sporty chics who all incorporate pieces from her line into their jewelry wardrobe. Her pieces don’t become dated, either. They will be as beautiful and stylish the day you buy them as they will in ten years. That’s always a selling point, as it really lowers the cost-per-wear. (Not that you need a reason to buy a new bauble, do you?!)
Here’s a close-up of some of her bangles. She designs the bracelets in a rainbow of colors and metals. They easily can stack with bangles you already own.
This silver link necklace will take you from boardroom to a cocktail party, depending on how you style it. Now that’s jewelry bang for your buck!
I’ve written about choosing jewelry metals for different skin tones before. These mother-of-pearl earrings work on a wide range of skin tones. I’ve tried them on clients with both cool and warmer skin, and they just sort of reflect back in a flattering tone. Since she designs mother of pearl pieces in both gold and silver, all you have to do is pick what metal color best suits you, and you’re sure to have a winner.
The Neiman Marcus chain will be doing a “Silk Road Dream” Ippolita show in mid-February. She won’t be making a personal appearance, but you can still view the collection. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can see it in San Francisco on February 10th and in Palo Alto on February 15th.
If you have a few minutes to surf around her website, I highly recommend it. It’s much more than just a jewelry site. In particular, I like the “Three Things” and “Salon” segments, so click away. You needed a little break right now, didn’t you?
I was lunching in the Neiman’s cafe in San Francisco today, when I spied this woman with just the right necklaces layered together. Not too much, not too wimpy, but just right. (Goldilocks would be pleased.) What could have been just an ordinary jean and black top turned into a head-turning ensemble with the addition of the killer necklaces and the pop of color with the scarf. In addition, the scarf carries the circular design element of the main necklace and her watch echoes the nutmeg color in the scarf. Well done!
