Long Turquoise Necklace: Jewelry Judge

Yesterday I was psyched to stop by The Podolls in Burlingame to see the latest and greatest fall arrivals. As I was chatting with Josh, half of the husband/wife team behind this local, sustainably-made brand, I got distracted… A woman walked in and I was instantly drawn to her look.

long turquoise necklace
Though her outfit was cute, I wouldn’t have necessarily done a double-take without the necklace. Not only did it add a major pop of color, but it created this cool vertical line which led right up to her smiling face. It complemented the long lines of her jacket and the overall impression was casual, not over-done, and just right.

And do you want to hear where it was from? It was found online at Anthropologie! This goes to show that you don’t always have to spend a fortune on jewelry to really take your outfit to a whole new level. (And of course I came home and had to check out the whole jewelry section on the Anthropologie website — I did find the necklace, and it’s only $88.)

gemline lariat necklace by lena bernard
Another key lesson from his look — it doesn’t take a whole lot of effort take an outfit from nice to pretty awesome. In this case, simply adding a necklace. That can’t slow you down getting out the door too much, can it?!

(P.S. I just realized that this is the 500th article I’ve written for my blog. Time to celebrate!)

22 Jewelry Gifts for $50 and Under

I have been receiving quite a few inquiries from readers about jewelry gifts that fit in their holiday shopping budget. With the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals upon us, I’ve gathered a range of ideas for you that fall in the $50 and under range. Some are as low as the $20 range, yet they have no shortage of style in my opinion. In no particular order…

Isharya Mirror Gems Marquise Bangle

isharya mirror gems marquise bangle
Sundance Lucky Labradorite Ring

sundance lucky labradorite ring
Antrhopologie Clustered Crest Cuff

anthropologie clustered crest cuff
J.Crew Brûlée Crystal Drop Earrings

j.crew brulee crystal drop earrings
Kate Spade “Make me Blush” Pave Bangle

kate spade make me blush pave bangle
Pradelles Drop Earrings

Predates Drop Earrings
Rebecca Minkoff Feather Knuckle Duster Ring

rebecca minkoff feather knuckle duster ring
rebecca minkoff feather ring
Sam Edelman Pave Spike Pendant Necklace

sam edelman paave spike pendant necklace
Tai Stardust Earrings

tai stardust earrings
Nordstrom Oversize Crystal Statement Necklace

nordstrom oversize crystal statement necklace
Gorjana Cress Shimmer Split Ring

gorjana cress shimmer split ring
Anthropologie Luminous Feather Pendant Necklace

anthropologie luminous feather pendant neckalce
Sundance Window Box Ring

sundance window box ring
Ted Baker London Lynda Stud Earrings

ted baker london lynda stud earring
Lucina Layered Necklace

lucina layered necklace
Melinda Maria Trillion Ear Jackets

melinda maria trillion ear jackets
Kendra Scott Elisa Pendant Necklace — comes in a wide variety of colors

kendra scott elisa pendant necklace
Rebecca Minkoff Rhinestone Stud Earrings

rebecca minkoff rhinestone stud earrings
BaubleBar Canopy Crystal Drop Earrings

baublebar canopy crystal drop earrings
Starlight Climbers

starlight climbers
Madewell Dala Layering Necklace

Madewell Dala layering necklace
SonyaRenee Lee Semiprecious Stone Pendant Necklace

sonyarenee lee semiprecious stone pendant
Some of these items are already marked down on the websites, yet others may have a code you need to enter at checkout, so shop carefully. Also, act fast, as these deals won’t last long. Happy clicking!

13 Gift Ideas for Under $100

Yep, it’s true, Christmas is less than two weeks away. As you scan through your “to do” list and your stress level starts rising, don’t forget that jewelry can always make for a great gift, be it for a friend, family member, or even yourself. (You know that I’m the queen of self-gifting!!) I’ve done a little cruising through the web, and I’ve come up with 13 ideas that won’t break the bank. I hope you like them, and let me know if you have some great ideas as well!

Tai bracelet — The perfect neutral with a little sparkle that’s lovely on its own or layered.

tai moonstone station macrame bracelet, black
Jane Basch personalized bar necklace — because bar necklaces are tres hot, and who doesn’t love something personalized?

jane basch personalized bar pendant necklace

Labradorite earrings — totally versatile color in a sleek, modern design.

sundance drops of magic earrings
Hammered stack ring by Argento Vivo — get the whole stacked look in a single ring!

argento vivo hammered stack ring
Earrings by Avant Garde Paris — they look like small ear climbers, which are very on-trend, yet they aren’t over-the-top, with their smaller size and antiqued metal.

avant garde paris lidia earrings
Alexis Bittar necklace — a modified, sparkly take on the bar necklace; can be worn casually or for a fancy night out.

alexis bittar gold liquid crystal delicate cluster pendant necklace
Melinda Maria ring — total statement piece!

melinda maria mademoiselle pod ring
Kendra Scott cuff — because I think the color and iridescence of the stones are so pretty.

kendra scott arden station cuff
Jennifer Zeuner initial earrings — choose your own letters, too cute! And they come in three different metal colors.

jennifer zeuner izzy mini cursive initial post earrings
“Amadine” necklace — the mixed metals make this a super versatile piece, and it’d look great with long sweaters and tunics.

anthropologie golden amadine necklace
Gorjana cuff ring — looks like a piece of fine jewelry, right?

gorjana orbit shimmer cuff ring
Roman Coin charm bracelet — makes me want to hang out on the Riviera!

la mer collections roman coins charm bracelet
Jewelry Case — because everyone needs a way to get their gems from point A to point B!

sundance letter perfect jewelry case
I hope this list provides you with a bit of inspiration during this holiday season. Happy shopping!