I think I may approach Valentine’s Day differently than many women. True, I don’t currently have a love in my life to share it with in the way that Hallmark intended us to, but that really doesn’t make me sad. I feel complete with myself, and I think this holiday is another perfect opportunity to gift myself with a heart-felt token…no, not chocolate (though that’s not off the table), but with jewelry of course! With the overabundance of catalogues and e-mails flooding my mailboxes, I came across many items that would definitely bring a not-so-obviously-valentine-sy smile to my heart.
The first is this heart pendant by Mizuki. The word “love” is subtly spelled out with pave diamonds. (Thanks to my friend Jen for modeling it while we were shopping at Red Bird.)
Again, liking the subtle reference to the heart theme, I thought this bracelet by Zoe Chicco would be so cool in a big bracelet stack. Though you would know you were wearing a self-love gift, most people would just admire your bracelet collection as a whole.
I know there are some of you that would rather have a more obvious sentiment. Meeting in the middle, these 14K gold hearts with white diamonds featured in the Arhaus catalogue would achieve this.
I adore this ring by Workhorse, and if you’re a Francophile, you undoubtedly will as well. Perfect on its own or in a creative stack, I “heart” it.
If you want to be more incognito, then how about this cuff by Coordinates. You can have the coordinates of a special occasion engraved. This doesn’t meant it has to be where you were married or where you first fell in love, but how about where you were born or where you had some other significant event happen in your life, just for you?!
And last, but certainly not least, perhaps you are inspired by the colors associated with Valentine’s Day — from pink to red. If so, then these amazing sea glass rings by Aloha Sea Glass are just perfect.
I wish all of you a wonderful Valentine’s Day. May you fill it with whatever it is that makes you happiest, be it a special dinner with your love, a luxurious massage, or your favorite cocktail and a little trash TV. Cheers! xo
No matter what the size of your home, there’s bound to be things in it that you no longer use. This even trickles down to your jewelry box. It could be a bracelet (that’s not quite your style) you received for your birthday from a dear friend (so you can’t throw it out, right?!) or an heirloom piece that you don’t wear, but just lies unloved at the bottom of your jewelry box. Or perhaps it’s some sparkly brooches that you wore at your neck during the 80’s or a singular earring, with it’s mate lost on some trip long ago. Whatever the case may be, I’ve got a bunch of ideas for you that might give new life to those items.
Take parts of different pieces to create a new one
If you’ve got a bunch of costume brooches laying around then you might just love Martha Stewart’s idea for creating a brooch ribbon necklace. It’s a simple process, and the result is so unique.
Turn unused pearl strands into a multi-strand bracelet
A client of mine did this, and it worked beautifully. She had two matching long strands of pearls that she wasn’t wearing. She used a local jeweler to re-fashion them into a multi-strand bracelet, something along the lines of this:
The same could also be done with fresh-water strands, to create some great stacking bracelets.
Use a pearl necklace to make earrings for a group
This idea came from a reader. (Thanks, Monique!) She suggested that you can take apart a pearl necklace and make earrings for each woman in the family — perfect for a significant event like a wedding. She said it, “connects everyone with a thread of beauty.” Love that! Depending on the length of the original necklace, you could likely get many pair of earrings made!
You could even make pearl enhancers for everyone to wear on small hoop earrings.
Turn jewelry into decor
If you’ve got a piece of jewelry that you really won’t be wearing (perhaps a family heirloom?), how about framing it in a shadow box and hanging it on your wall? You could even frame various pieces in different sizes and create a montage on your dressing room wall. How girly would that be?
There’s such a wide range of frames available now, that you can get any look from sleek and modern to scrolly and vintage. I had my local frame shop frame this antique Central American crown that I found in a Santa Barbara shop. A crown is almost jewelry, right?!
Use a brooch on an evening bag
My friend Jen is a master of this. She has quite the collections of both pins and evening bags, so she always comes up with something beautiful. Here’s one she just used during the holiday season.
I love how she pinned the brooch right into the center of the bow — great focal point.
Create unique napkin rings
My table is normally set in neutrals, so I decided to spice things up a bit for a recent dinner party. Using scraps of ribbon and some brooches from the far recesses of my jewelry box, I fashioned some creative napkin rings with a pop of color. It worked perfectly with my beige linens and white dishes.
Create a bridal bouquet
I’ve got to credit Pinterest with this idea. I came across so many lovely brooch bouquets while scrolling through the images!
Country star Miranda Lambert even used one at her wedding to Blake Shelton.
Decorate a package
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the special wrapping on a package is just as memorable as the gift inside. Why not glam it up even more by affixing some jewelry to the present?
Bedazzle a bottle
Decorative bottles with embellished tops have been quite popular the past few years. Why not add another dimension by adding a “necklace” of sorts? Here’s part of an old rosary around a vintage bottle with a stained glass cross.
Make a Christmas Wreath
If you’re looking for a way to make your holiday sparkle even more, then you might just love this bejeweled wreath. Better Homes and Gardens has instructions here on how to make it yourself.
So what have you done to creatively repurpose jewelry? I’d love to hear all about your ideas — please send me photos too!
Coming from the world of fashion, Fern Freeman is a prolific jewelry designer! When I stopped at their booth at the JCK show, I learned that a whopping 70% of the items in their cases were brand new.
The line is full of statement pieces, many with a creative, bohemian edge. This is definitely at the opposite end of the spectrum from delicate chains and skinny stacking rings. Take a gander at this long labradorite pendant.
And what about this geode and diamond necklace with a double chain? Yes, please!
I was also loving this rhodium cuff with a diamond bar. It’s large, yet still a bit delicate at the same time.
And is it cocktail time? I mean cocktail ring, that is. I’ll take mine in the form of this crystal and 22K gold ring.
And because I’m obsessed with all shades of aqua, these agate and moonstone earrings are a gypset girls dream!
Would some of these pieces work for your personal style? How would you style them?
I must admit that I never did very well in my history classes, but if Coomi Bhasin had been my teacher I would have rocked it, no doubt! During the course of our interview at the Couture show, everything from the Mesopotamian Era to Alexander the Great was thrown into the mix. This beautiful, highly intelligent and evervescent woman really wowed me, as did her jewelry line.
Coomi, a Mumbai native who has spent her whole life designing, studied construction management (I can SO not picture her in a hard hat!) as well as being a textile designer and landscape architect. She made the official switch to full-time jewelry designer in 2002, at the age of 52. The fact that she followed her dream is a true inspiration to me.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of her work, which she describes as “important, yet wearable.” Here’s her Lucy necklace. Lucy was one of the oldest skeletons every found, and Coomi designed her skeleton in gold, just as it was found, backed by an arrowhead, over 10,000 years old. (See what I’m saying about the history lesson?!) Have you ever seen anything quite like it? I sure haven’t!
I adore how she used another arrowhead in this fantastic cuff.
I was quite taken with this 15th century bronze buddah ring. I tried it on was amazed to see that it had a backside covered in diamonds. She told me with a glint in her eye, “They’re just for you!! No one else knows they are there!” Coomi told me that diamonds have the purest energy of any stone, and they must touch your skin to release the energy. She has one on every single piece she makes.
This diamond cuff is honestly a work of art. Each diamond takes two hours to set by hand, if you can believe it. That’s one labor-intensive bracelet!
One project she has worked long and hard on is how to create a diamond piece without any metal showing. Two years in development, she finally worked it out (I guess this is where her architectural training really comes in handy!). Here’s a diamond and ruby necklace in which the gems just seem to be floating. This was her first attempt with white gold, and I say she nailed it!
Another necklace she showed me was this one from her Serenity collection. It depicts the desert rose from the Kalahara desert in Africa, which blooms only once every 100 years. The diamonds represent the water droplets that get trapped in the bottom, center of the flower, and the texture of the gold represents the dryness of the desert sand.
Coomi has also recently launched a silver line, which is currently available at Neiman Marcus and Wilke’s Bashford. You can find her line at numerous states across the country, so if this collection intrigues you, then I urge you to go see it in person!
So how is your holiday shopping going? If you’re like most Americans (myself included), there are definitely some more gifts to buy — perhaps for others or even for yourself! (I’m still working on my boyfriend gift this year.) With that in mind and only 9 more shopping days, I’ve been scouring all the latest and greatest items in the world of jewelry. With so many stunning choices, which way to turn? Well, whomever the gift is for, don’t forget to take the recipient’s personal style into consideration.
During my 6-part series, Jewelry Box Basics, I discussed what jewelry each person should have in their jewelry box, based on their personal style: the lady who lunches, bohemian, rock star, minimalist, romantic, and the trendy gal. Of course, practically no one fits into one tidy box, but this still provides a framework with which to hit the jewelry store or your favorite online site. Here are some suggestions for Santa on what you might put under the Christmas tree.
The Lady Who Lunches
Pearls and studs are a mainstay for this personal style. Once you’ve got the basics covered, it’s time to branch out. Alexis Bittar is a great fit for this lady, and he recently came out with an oo-la-la fine jewelry line. I think this multi-strand pearl necklace is so unique!
Midnight Marquis necklace
Look at the detail of aquamarines, green amethysts and gold on the multiple layers of grey pearls.
If a new pair of studs is in order this year, then I think these grey diamond slice lovelies by Sethi Couture would certainly do the trick!
Grey and white diamonds
The Bohemian
True, I have a strong Bohemian influence in my own personal style, so I know that adding a statement ring to the jewelry box is always a good idea. Here are a couple that have really caught my eye. First is a unique horizontal design by Jemma Wynne. I had the opportunity to try it on last week, and it looked spectacular — plus it was so comfortable to wear!
Labradorite and diamonds
For an even bolder statement, I turn to one of my all-time favorite designers, Rona Pfeiffer. Take a look at this major ring!
Fan-tab-ulous diamonds!
The Rock Star
Do you have a rock star on your list? I’m sure that her jewelry box is in need of refreshing as well. And what better way to do that, than by one of the edgy ear cuffs that are hitting the market? If this is a more refined rocker, then I think this ear cuff by Repossi would be perfect.
And if she’s into something a little more “raw,” then I recommend this one by Mania Mania.
“Vamp” ear cuff
Here’s how it looks on the ear.
Pretty cool, right?!
The Minimalist
In stark contrast to the Rock Star, this personal style thrives on clean lines, and fewer choices in the jewelry box. But don’t let this scare you off — you can still find the perfect addition to make her smile. Likely, she has a pair of simple studs in her collection, so how about you give her a pair with just a small twist? This small cluster design by Jacquie Aiche is perfection.
A slim, low-profile ring would also be a solid (yet sparkling) choice. This band by Melissa Joy Manning is simple beauty, in white gold with black diamonds. It’s easily captivating on its own or stacked.
The Romantic
This time of year doubtless stirs up feelings of nostalgia and sweet smiles for this personal style. Since many of the pieces in her jewelry box are most certainly family heirlooms, selecting a gift with a nod to the past is wonderful. I came across this unique necklace by Ginger Peachy, made from a vintage pin centered on a rose gold chain. Love it!
Or how about this delicate boulder opal ring by Armenta, which is sure to become a favorite!
This will certainly be passed down for generations.
The Trendy Gal
There are so many jewelry trends going on right now, that this is one of the easiest personal styles to shop for. Definitely a trend on the rise, the hand chain (otherwise known as a slave bracelet) is popping up from coast to coast. Here is a clean design by Blee Inara that might delight her.
Here’s how it looks when worn.
Chains are appearing everywhere, and here’s a very on-trend ring by Djula that proves it.
If “brand names” are something that she’s into, then you can’t go wrong with a bracelet by Vita Fede. There are SO many different metal colors and styles, that it’ll be tough to make a choice.
Titan rose gold and Swarovski crystals
I’ve seen endless permutations of stacks that incorporate them.
Stack ’em up!
Now I know that many of the pieces in this article may not be in your shopping budget. (They certainly aren’t all in mine!) But don’t let that discourage you. It’s possible to find the “look” at a variety of price points. Just use this as a jumping-off point to find the perfect gift. I’d love to know what you find!!
So December comes along in the life of a personal shopper and wardrobe stylist…the majority of fall/winter clothes are going on sale, resort is coming in, and it’s pretty much chaos in downtown San Francisco. I’m tying up loose ends for my clients’ wardrobes, doing some holiday gift shopping, and trying to keep calm through it all — especially on a day like today, which was pretty much loco at Union Square.
As I strolled along, taking calming breaths, I was delighted to be side-tracked by this mannequin outside the Jill Sander boutique in Neiman Marcus. The chic black dress was lovely, but what really made it pop for me was the trio of silver bracelets on the wrist. I don’t know who designed them, but I instantly pictured myself on a rustic, cracked tile-floored terrace in Sorrento, overlooking the Mediterranean while drinking a cold vodka-soda. (and of course a handsome, charming gentleman by my side!)
You may think I’m crazy that jewelry can transport me like that, but it truly does. I picture where I would be wearing it, who I’d be with, and how I’d be feeling. Who needs fairy tales when you can get all this from a mannequin?! I walked away with a smile on my face.
Do you know what these are? If so, you are clearly someone in the KNOW!
When my 5 year-old nephew and almost 9 year-old niece came over for Thanksgiving, these colorful rubber bands were soon scattered around the house. But…the “jewelry aunt” could hardly be upset, as it was all for the sake of jewelry! I’ve seen kids using the Rainbow Loom
for quite some time, but this was the first time I’ve become acquainted with it first hand. I’m astounded by the cool creations that can be made. Look at what my niece cranked out just during the holiday!
All you need is the loom and a variety of rubber bands. Here’s her kit and the loom in action.
Our other young Thanksgiving guest was a 4th grader, and I was so not surprised when she arrived with her kit as well. (And no, there was seriously NO pre-planning on that!)
Love the personalization!
Not to be outdone, my kindergarten nephew has learned to loom on his own two fingers. I am amazed by what he made!
I was just thrilled to see the hours spent creating instead of in front of the TV or iPad. This is a hobby that I will whole-heartedly support, and I can’t wait to see what they make during the Christmas break. If you’re in need of a holiday gift for the creative kid in your life, then I highly encourage you to investigate the Rainbow Loom.
I love approaching the different booths at the Couture show in Las Vegas– it’s like being a kid in a candy shop, and there are countless treats to be savored. That’s just how I felt when meeting Moritz Glik and trying on some of his amazing collection!
Born and raised in Brazil, Moritz came to the US in 1991. Though he was an extremely talented shoe designer, he eventually made the shift to jewelry-making. Buying the tools and teaching himself the art, Moritz started his own line about 12 years ago. He is famous for designing pieces that have diamonds that appear to be “floating” in a shaker-like concept. Take these earrings, for example — they have diamonds enclosed in double white sapphires. Have you ever seen anything like it?
The champagne rose cut diamonds in these earrings with pink gold and blackened silver, are truly unique. (This is his first collection where he’s used pink gold.) You can see how he is inspired by antique jewelry, yet he hand-crafts something so contemporary.
I was drawn to his link bracelets with various “charms.” Here’s one from his new kaleidoscope collection with a blackened silver chain along with yellow and white diamonds in the charms.
I tried one on, and it melded beautifully with my bracelet stack. Love it!!
stack-tastic!
Here is a cool trio of his designs.
He also makes some substantial cuffs. This one makes a bold statement. As Moritz told me, “I bring downtown cool wearability to diamonds.” Agreed!
This is a “wow” piece!
His collection of rings also showcase his floating diamonds. I particularly adore this large one with white and champagne diamonds.
Not only is Moritz branching out with pink gold this time around, but he’s also started using colored stones. This necklace has both diamonds and colored sapphires.
You can find Moritz’s line sold at many retailers around the globe, including at Fragments in NYC. Definitely worth checking out!
What do you get when you mix an architect with an outdoorsy, yet elegant gal who lives in the Austrian Alps? Well you may not guess, but a talented jewelry designer! I was thrilled to meet Elizabeth Weiss-Lasater of Baukunst Studios last week during a special trunk show in San Francisco.
Elizabeth and Amy
With a masters in architecture from Columbia, Elizabeth and her architect-husband moved to Austria for a huge project. During this time, working long hours in freezing-cold conditions, she realized that this was not what she wanted to be doing. But with her love of geometry, form and design, she made the move to jewelry design about a year ago. It started with her wedding rings. Her husband didn’t want to wear one, so she said, “Fine, then I want two!” (Love that!) Here I am wearing three of the rings she designed (she wears two for her wedding set).
So cool how they fit together
Elizabeth begins the creative process with sketching. These designs are then transferred into 3D images and a plastic mold is made. She wears the plastic models, road-testing it and tweaking if necessary. Only then is the piece cast in metal. (She casts both in the USA and in Europe, depending where her client lives.) Here you can see the plastic model and the finished bracelet.
The word is getting out on this fresh line. Her hexagon bracelet was recently featured in 1st Magazine in Austria, which would translate to something like Vanity Fair here in the States.
Hexagon Bracelet
The designs are very clean, modern and comfortable to wear. Case in point is this bracelet.
Revolution Bracelet
She is growing the line, and earrings will be coming soon. I look forward to seeing the new pieces!
OK, I have yet another jewelry designer to add to my list of favorites. How does this keep happening?! I discovered Pade Vavra and her line while at the Women’s Jewelry Association “Designers by the Bay” event.
Amy and Pade
This petite designer has got great energy and was overflowing with love for her craft. In fact she told me, “It’s truly my love. I don’t know how to do anything else!” With a “raw meets refined” look, I first tried on this fan-tab-ulous aqua quartz double-fingered ring.
Yes, please!
Now based in Healdsburg, she began her business in 1999. She has two branches of her collection, which includes Pade Vavra Fine and Pade by Pade Vavra. One of the things that has put her on the map are her diamond-embellished shark tooth necklaces. Here is a beautiful example in a blond/peach color scheme.
In fact, Mila Kunis wore one of these awesome necklaces throughout the whole movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. (I’ll have to add that to my Netflix list.)
Mila Kunis
I also thought this Herkimer diamond bracelet would be amazing stacked with some of my bracelets.
And how cool is this grey quartz necklace?
She has a new “ribcage” ring, which can be worn three different ways. Very clever design!! It can be made in 14K gold or sterling silver, accented with black or white diamonds. She can also make it in just the metal, sans sparkle.
Wear it three ways!
Pade, whose pieces have been featured in numerous fashion magazines, also does custom work, using either her own materials, or re-working the clients’ jewelry. Not only does she design jewelry, but Pade is also mom to two boys and is married to a vintner — owner of Red Car Wine in Sesbastopol. Where does she find the time? I love her work and look forward to seeing more!
