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.
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.)
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!)
I’ve shopped the Lafayette 148 clothing line for many years with some of my clients. They have clean lines, often some very unique color palettes, and they have an extended size range (woot!). But much to my surprise, I was very impressed with the fashion jewelry shown in their latest catalogue that appeared in my mail box. Is this something new for them? Or have I just been missing the boat? I’ve never seen any of their jewelry shown in the San Francisco stores that sell their clothing, but I think it might be time for the buyers to clue into these hidden gems. Here are some of the pieces that intrigued me the most. Aside from the first necklace shown, the rest of them are in the $198-$248 range. I think it’s a lot of look for the price point.
So what do you think? These are certainly larger scale pieces, so not for the faint of heart. They will definitely make a statement! Could you see yourself wearing any of these designs? Have you ever seen them for sale near you? I’d love to hear from you.
As an image consultant and personal shopper, I think of Union Square in San Francisco as my “office.” While walking around pre-shopping for a client the other day, I was amazed at how many statement necklaces I spotted just within three hours. Of course, I wasn’t able to get a photo of all of them (I probably saw about 15-20), but here’s a sampling of what was sparkling at the square on this lovely September afternoon.
This visitor from South Africa was showing some major flower power, between her necklace and her embroidered jacket.
The juxtaposition of the bright turquoise with the black blouse caught my attention on this woman.
This gal told me that her Nordstrom purchase has become one of her go-to pieces.
And while walking back to the parking garage, this woman rocked her $9.99 necklace (no joke!) from Forever 21.
So what about you? Do you incorporate statement necklaces in your wardrobe? Or is this a style that you’d prefer to admire on others, while you enjoy a more minimalist personal style? OR….do you think this trend is passé? I definitely want to hear your opinions!
While strolling along the charming streets of Carmel, California, I came across this stylish 60-something. She was wearing a simple white tee, black pants, and a teal sweater. While a fine outfit in its own right, it was her creative necklace that really set her apart from the crowd.
In chatting with her, it turns out that wearing a statement necklace has really become her jewelry signature. Love that! Just goes to show that fabulous jewelry knows no age! Jewelry Judge gives the thumbs up!
On Thursday I went to a ModeWalk trunk show at Azadeh in San Francisco. ModeWalk is a unique business model in the world of fashion. Basically, they get hot, luxury fashions from Europe (many brands that I’ve never heard of!) and sell them online, through selective trunk shows, and via stylist appointments. Interesting! While I went to the show intending to focus on the clothing, my attention was (not surprisingly) re-directed to some stellar pieces of jewelry!
First up was this fab necklace by Fiona Paxton. With its pop of neon, it’s truly on-trend.
Another statement necklace that had me drooling was this rose-gold stunner by Lara Bohinc.
I certainly didn’t want to ignore my wrists, so I quickly tried on this amazing bracelet by Parisian designer Philippe Audibert…well actually it’s much more than a bracelet. I don’t even know how to describe it! But I love it — it makes my arms look so sleek!
I also adore these knotted bracelets by Coralie De Seynes. I’m very tempted by the orange one. While orange isn’t a color that necessarily looks good on me in clothing or make-up, why not add a dash of it in an accessory?!
If you’d like the opportunity to see some of these gems live, you’re in luck. ModeWalk will be having another trunk show this week (Feb. 5-9) at Azadeh in Los Gatos, California. You can find out about their upcoming trunk shows on their Facebook page. Happy shopping!
Yes, I was trying on shoes…again…some things never change. But across the aisle to another bank of couches, my eyes were glued on this major necklace. The scale with it’s floral motif and layered chains really takes the bib necklace to a whole new level. If you’re wearing a simple tee (as this gal was), there’s no need for further embellishment!
As is typical here in San Francisco during summer…we get foggy, gloomy mornings. On a good day, it’ll clear by lunch, but many times we’re immersed in grey for the whole day. Trying to “look” like summer (while staying warm) when the high is going to be 64 degrees can be a challenge, to put it mildly!
Yesterday I was heading out of Neiman’s, when I accosted this darling girl who was lunching with a friend. Not only is she right on trend with her bold, colorful necklace, but I love how she paired it with the black and white check shirt. Inspired! And I like how she kept the rest of the accessories clean with her watch and simple, yet elegant ring.
She said the necklace was from J. Crew a few seasons ago. (Does this make it vintage?!) Just goes to show that you don’t need to break the bank to make a killer statement with your jewelry!
I’ve already admitted to you that Live with Kelly is one of my guilty pleasures on a leisurely morning. Well this week she had Joss Stone on as a musical guest, who was there promoting her new album. (Many of my Facebook fans are raving about it…I’ll have to check it out.) Well anyway, my attention during her performance was not on the song, but rather the spectacular necklace she was wearing. (I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear this!) It was reminiscent of a royal Egyptian collar, yet in sparkling silver, and it looked just amaze-balls with her black strapless top. Wow! Now, I’ll just have to track down who designed this stunning piece….
Shopping amidst a major downpour isn’t my favorite way to shop, but when I spotted this fabulous necklace it brightened the Seattle Day! Very happy with her smashing Miriam Haskell necklace, this gal just had it going on. Despite her petite stature, her presence definitely carried the scale of this necklace. I also like how her crocheted sweater vest compliments the design of the necklace. Two thumbs up!
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!