May 2011 Archives

This necklace has me as undeceive as I am in the ice cream section at the grocery store. Should I? No, I shouldn't- it's probably not good for me and will eventually hurt me... but it's like a hot stove I just want to touch and see if it's actually bad.

The Juliet & Company Grand Fleur necklace is a knot of over-the-top-ness. The thick cluster of beads spins you in floral shapes and winds around your neck like a vine about to choke you. However, I love it. I can't exactly explain why. It looks like a bib necklace on steroids but the flowers draw my eyes in, the beading keeps them there and the drama of the entire look makes it romantic to me, but in a forbidden way, which I love, as all women do.

What do you guys think? I think the turquoise is just too much but the black and blush could be pulled of with a simple LBD or an elegant cocktail dress.

Should I... or shouldn't I?

ShopBop for $106

Frugal find! I love the look of a sculptural cuff, and this one by Cara Accessories is out of a modern high-art gallery at a very low-art price.The matte-shiny mix highlights the daring twists and gives it depth, which also makes it look more valuable than it's crazy-low cost. Gold is ideal for a long, gauzy dress and bronzed skin, while silver is the route to take for sharpening an already-polished cocktail look. Blending high and low is the key to intelligent dressing. It's also the best way to flaunt the styling tricks you've got up your sleeve - and in this case, on your wrist. At Nordstrom for $48 (from $31.90).

Pair with: Reed Krakoff's ostrich-and-crocodile bag is as gorgeous as a white summer bag can be. Wear it with the silver cuff and match your metals or the gold version to righteously break the rules. Reed Krakoff No. 9 Handle Bag, $4,400.

The name says it all: some say they're "over" studs, but studded jewels are a timeless classic for me. I'll never get over them, and I don't ever want to! Especially when I spot a piece like this Tom Binns' cuff, proving that studs can look elegant when they're done in light-catching 22-karat gold and on a teeny-tiny scale.

Binns is the master of elegant punk: safety pins and crosses layered to the point of opulence, neon and crystal blended for techno-bright luxury, and even a collection called "Pearls in Peril." Compared to most of his pieces, this is decidedly minimal. Spiked studs that glisten like little jewels on a cuff equals a versatile piece you can wear with jeans or a fancy dress. Long live the stud! On ShopBop for $396.

Pair with: What says "pretty punk" like a black leather and lace dress? Especially when it's belted with a bow and done by Valentino. On Net-a-Porter for $3,890.

Beetle, moth, scorpion: these are the most universally despised bugs, what humans generally cringe at and run from. Not to mention a bat skull! For me, the moth is the worst. You encounter it more than any of the others; when you try to kill it, it's powdery and frightening, but worst of all, it eats your clothes. Snobs' Enemy #1!

But thanks to Philippa Holland's beautifully handmade take on these critters, I actually want them all over me! The Siamese moth twins ($1,010), dusted in 18-karat gold, look like they're about to kiss and the overall shape is reminiscent of a far more popular insect, the butterfly. The result is surprisingly charming.

The scorpion ($3,535) is the creepy-crawliest of these creatures, but oddly enough, the shape of this pendant necklace has the most interest. Thin and delicate with the effect of graceful movement (and black diamonds certainly don't hurt).

The oxidized silver beetle ($1,260), dipped in gold enamel, has fascinating elements. It was done by Bottega Veneta with huge success, so maybe that accounts for my desensitization - I think it's the least gross. In fact, that iridescent shell is gorgeous.

And then there's the bat skull ($1,010). Somehow I feel like a real bat would be better, but Holland makes the macabre beautiful through degrade gold and silver tones. Who knew "gross" could be so engrossing?!

Nothing says, "Hey, look at me! I'm rich!" like giant baubles draped around your neck. Add a sprinkling of designer logos to the equation, and you are entering a colorful new stratosphere of tacky. It looks like the label-lover got sprinkled with magic fairy dust.
Louis Vuitton's strass and cabochons necklace would be a fun costume piece to play dress up with - it actually reminds me of something I did play dress up with as a kid, when I wanted to be a "royal queen" - but something that looks like it could be scooped by the pound in the candy store (sure, a sparkly and extra-tantalizing version) should not cost four figures. Spring for a few Cracker Jack boxes and you might find something similar! At Louis Vuitton for $1,500.

Venessa Arizaga's "Life's a Beach" necklace is for the bohemian snob with a bit of plundering pirate in her. Or at least a Johnny Depp fantasy. While I love the plentiful, varying length multi-chains, the charms are on the questionable side. Don't be deceived by the girlie colors, rhinestones, and heart accents. These charms are more likely to incite an "aarrrgh!" than an "awww!" A human skeleton, fish skeleton, and shark jaw - or is it a hungry piranha? - don't quite fit with the cutesy vibe of the whole necklace.
Or am I just not edgy enough? Because I'm wishing those charms were a pink heart, yellow moon, orange star, and green clover, instead! Nonetheless, this piece is fun in a haphazard, devil-may-care kind of way, for the beach and beyond. On Net-a-Porter for $315.

Pair with: Keep your other jewels very minimal. Actually, with such a bundle of booty around your neck, you need to keep everything minimal. Alice + Olivia's long crinkle silk skirt, complete with jagged hem, will bring out your inner shipwrecked siren. On ShopBop for $220.

Love these. The silver-plated post earrings with rhinestones are simple, cute and unique. I'm not a huge big-earring girl because I tend to love to pile on the bracelets and wear the heck out of big necklaces. As the old saying goes, before you go out, remove one piece of jewelry, and for me, large earrings are always the first to go. I tend to feel over-done in them. These, however, could make the - before the door- cut because of the small size and dainty appearance. The House of Harlow 1960 Pave Stargazer Earrings can be worn to work, to the bar or to the ball. The starburst design is a fancier approach to the regular star shape. It gives them an old-school glamour feel that is just fabulous.

Best part of these is that they fit in any budget. Pick them up for just $30 at ShopBop

Selena Gomez attended May 22nd's Billboard Music Awards and sent two messages, loud and clear: she wants you to know she's all grown-up and she has fabulous taste in jewels. While her Dolce & Gabbana gown, too mature and big for her petite frame, made her look like a little girl dressed up in her mom's sexy dress (the cut-outs hit her several inches too low; a more statuesque starlet would wear it better), her jewels were a major win. The gorgeous rough-cut diamond-and-gold "Circle" earrings make up for the oddly cut gown. Worn with mixed metals - the "Diamond Ball" bangle and a big diamond-and-gold cocktail ring, and the look is right-on and even a little rock 'n' roll. A young start like Selena shouldn't be sporting overtly elegant Liz Taylor-style jewels. The Neil Lane pieces she chose look important while maintaining a playful aesthetic - jewels save the day!

Bow accessories: been there, done that, right? Marc Jacobs has a way of making even the most ubiquitous styles look fresh. These Frugal Snob-approved jewels are not your average bows.

Love the neon trend but not daring enough to go head-to-toe bright? Go for a pop of Day-Glo chartreuse peeking out from your earlobes. The "Bianca" enamel stud earrings ($48) are so unorthodox even a total tomboy might be tempted to accessorize with this traditionally feminine touch. If you'd prefer to sparkle rather than glow, the pavé bow hinged bracelet ($128) will glitter day or night. An oversized rhinestone-encrusted bow is unusual set on a thick, antiqued silver-plated band; it's got enough weight so it doesn't read "prissy."

Pair with: Sneak in another far-out bow with Carven's black slingbacks, suede heels with a tie-back that's more of a knot than a bow. At Barneys New York for $555.

I've always loved the whimsy of wearing two different earrings. Sure, you can mix up a pair from your own jewelry box, but odds are you'll just look like you got distracted while you were accessorizing. In the same tone, texture, and size, Judy Geib's mismatched pair actually kind of match. Cracked and distressed silver give these abstract flower shapes a truly organic feel. They are so charmingly imperfect and strangely dynamic that they have a life of their own. Oxidized and flawed has never looked so good! Another capricious touch? The pair comes in a little crochet pod. At Barneys New York for $540.

Pair with: What's more sweetly quixotic than a pair of white eyelet shorts? Milly's embroidery is in the pattern on cutout flowers - let the (mis)matching continue! On Net-a-Porter for $225.

To me, nothing says "summertime chic" louder than turquoise jewels. Earthy, gypsy-perfect, popping against sheer whites, and the color of sun-pierced tropical ocean water: turquoise just might be the most uplifting mineral around! These long, dangly, and upliftingly priced 14-karat gold-plated Lisa Stewart earrings inject a sprinkling of aqua-blue beads, to frame your face and peek out playfully from your salt-textured tresses. A golden tan set off by a bright white T-shirt or gauzy ivory dress is all you need to complete the beachy look, no matter where you are. On ShopBop for $75.

Pair with: Did I mention something white? Give your ethnic earrings some geometric edge with Max Azria's cutout top in silk-georgette. Loose and breeze-catching with a sliver of skin revealed in the front, a more daring triangle cutout in the back, it's ideal for flaunting tan skin. On Net-a-Porter for $200.

I have always loved the look of horn jewels: translucent, textural, and marbled all at once. While chunky horn pendants are in your face, Ashley Pittman's light bangles of organic cow horns, are versatile and blend-able. Bangles are great for stacking and mixing, but this neutral set of five (bangles should always be worn in odd numbers; it just looks better) might be all you need to accessorize a colorful look. Especially with a kaftan or sheer frock in the dog days of summer. Ethnically made in Africa and reasonably priced too for the quantity - I've seen single horn bangles go for $800. You pay for organic beauty! At Browns Fashion for $356.

Pair with: Suno's - designed in New York City and produced in Kenya by artisans - overlay sundress, with a flirty-busy "deco circle" print, will look stellar with an arm of natural bangles. At Barneys New York for $596.

Who says jewelry shouldn't be as playful as it is fabulous? Internet mogul, trendsetter, and founder of a unique jewelry line, Loren Ridinger shows us handcrafted jewels can be spunky. A synchrony of the frothy and the lavish, her pieces are fun and fashionable, yet ultra-luxe. The Butterfly ring by with diamonds set in 18-karat rose gold is a sumptuous example of her design aesthetic - flowing curves and arcs are ablaze with radiant gems. I've never seen tentacles look so glamorous: the Octopus ring is a sheer delight. The quirky 14-karat gold-and-sterling silver mollusk features legs decked in pave diamonds and big, eye-catching pearl for a head. And the stunning, shell-shaped 18-karat yellow-gold ring is a feast for the eyes. The fanning of white diamonds from its pedestal of black diamonds, all set against a backdrop of mother of pearl is a beauty to behold! No wonder Loren Jewels are a favorite of Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria, the ubiquitous Kardashians, and now, yours truly.

Loren Ridinger for LorenJewels.com 18-Karat Rose-Gold Diamond Butterfly Ring (LJRI-12853), $5,950.
Loren Ridinger for LorenJewels.com 14-Karat and Sterling Silver, Pave Diamond and Pearl Octopus Ring (LJRI-795), $7,660.
Loren Ridinger for LorenJewels.com 18-Karat Yellow-Gold Black and White Diamond Ring with Mother of Pearl (LJRI-13233), $6,110.

These sporty little numbers by Isabel Marant are perfect for warm weather. They come in a set of three and have hot red stones, wooden beads and silver-tone leaves that really make your wrist pop. I think the little glass beads are my favorite. They remind me of the friendship bracelets I used to wear in 5th grade that always caused a million fights between my girlfriends because someone had more than the other. Some things never change. Wear this hot summer accessory with a jumper for a fresh daytime look and a cute one-shoulder dress and some nude heels at night. This is a great way to put some color back into your wardrobe for the season. Pick it up at Net-a-Porter for $685.

Leave it to Oscar de la Renta, a gentleman known for catering to the true lady, to give us old-world jewels with opulent carved flowers. These pieces remind me of the jewelry my grandmother had from 1920's Shanghai. The three-tier drop earrings, featuring floral carvings in tropical orange, pale jade, and ocean turquoise resin set in Russian golden finished pewter and brass, satisfy the elegant gypsy in us. Large earrings (3" in length) make a dramatic statement, while bronze epoxy resin coating gives this cuff an alluring, ethereal glow. Candy-bright hues pop, particularly lavish in synchrony atop golden bands, so if you're prone to wearing all black this is a surefire way to bring exotic color into your world.

Oscar de la Renta Three-Tier Drop Earrings, $290, and Carved-Stones Cuff, $560 at Bergdorf Goodman.

Pair with: Grandma would approve of you wearing her jewels with Preen Line's long and elegant "Attention" jersey dress - an old-school cut in a modern fabric.On Net-a-Porter for $525.

Remember spoon rings? The ends of antique sterling silver flatware wrapped around to fit your fingers - very hippie-dippy, very obvious cutlery. These earrings are the opposite side of the same spoon. It takes ingenious design to use an everyday object and make it unrecognizable. You can look closely at Husam El Odeh's gold-plated spoon earrings and still not see what they truly are until it's spelled out. The disguise is in the ombré gemstones - cubic zirconia has never looked so glamorous, shimmering softly like flecks of glittering sand. Who knew the soft, curvy shape of a spoon is perfect for earrings? Instead of a simple oval, which we would typical see on a jewel, with a spoon, you get a divot for added depth, making the stones sparkle brightly. Give these earrings a test: I bet you could walk about all day without a single person pointing out that you have spoons hanging from your earlobes. At Browns for $502.88.

Pair with: For every oval we need a square, and what better way to balance out your shapes than through a sharp little clutch? Take your pick between Dsquared2's snappy brown envelope, Yves Saint Laurent's metallic bronze clutch, and Alexander Wang's stingray wristlet, sharpened with rose-gold hardware.

Dsquared2 "Portland" Envelope Clutch, $715.
Yves Saint Laurent "Y" Clutch, $695.
Alexander Wang "Jade" Trunk Wristlet, $795.

Iridescent black pearls are wrapped and knotted, bondage-style, with inky green fabric on their mixed-materials bracelet. Lanvin is genius when it comes to mixing the sweet and the flamboyant in their jewels, and this piece is no exception. The old-school charm of pearls, antique gold-tone brass, and a dash of rhinestone in the triple-band rings has a bold, modern finish, thanks to the funky styling. The unexpected result? Heavy-metal sex appeal that's so whimsical it's wearable. On Ssense for $375.

Pair with: When the colors and accessories are this unusual, it's cool to be matchy-matchy. Alaïa's dark bottle-green python sandals bring out the jade fabric on your Lanvin and bring your count to two fabulous statement pieces. Alaïa Leather-Trimmed Python Platform Sandals, $2,645.

You do not know this about me but I am a watch freak. I will not disclose how many I own but let's just say it's an obnoxious number (been collecting since college). My husband is also a watch collector and he has a birthday coming up-- I am thinking Corum's Golden Bridge Automatic is just what he needs to add to his arsenal of watches! Corum's newest Golden Bridge Automatic watch is a first of its kind. It features the world's first ever self-winding movement. The watch's tonneau case offers a 360 ˚ view of the movement visible from the front and back of the case, as well as from the sides. This distinct '360 degree' aspect of the watch, together with the movement, makes the Golden Bridge Automatic a unique piece for any watch connoisseur. The watch comes in 18k red gold or 18k white gold on a black crocodile hand-stitched leather strap.

Below is the women's new sport Admiral's Cup Legend 38 (something for him, something for me)-- it exudes a classic, yet sporty , elegance and is the ideal everyday watch for those women who love to dress up a with a larger watch (yes that's me!). Its distinctive black mother of pearl oyster face beautifully offsets the diamond bezel and graceful satin strap. Available in steel or 18k red gold (I mean, RED gold, doesn't that sound divine?) at fine jewelers. More info at Corum.ch.

To be honest, I'm not one to drop a lot of loot on jewelry in this time of my life. I'm a 20-something, single and use most of my disposable income on shoes, bags and traveling the world in search of Prince Harry. Though I love jewelry with all my heart, sometimes it's hard to swallow shelling out $500 on a necklace I will only wear a few times a year. So my favorite things to find are pretty, reasonably priced accessories that I can wear more than a handful of times that I won't have to sell off in a month to pay my rent. Ladies, I give you the Adia Kibur Beaded Twist Necklace. This is $88 dollars and could be worn to everything from a night out to a day at the office. I adore the color combo of the beads. I have seen these muted grays, yellows and creams all over the stores for spring and this would be the perfect accomplice to my new purchases. I would buy this necklace, wear the heck out of it (and look great doing it) and not have to eat Special K for the next 3 months to make up for paying for it. Win, Win, Win.

Pick it up at ShopBop today!

At the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibit that opened this week at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a quote from the artist-designer reads in simple lettering: "I especially like the accessory for its sadomasochistic aspect."

Indeed, the bethorned headdress and long, snaking armband designed by Shaun Leane for McQueen, are so sharp and jagged you can almost see the punctures they would put into human flesh - and that's what makes them so stunning.

To say the pieces aren't functional is a grave understatement, but they are certainly inspiring. I love the concept of a piece of jewelry that works with your body in such an intimate manner, as if it's trying to become one with your anatomy. They say beauty is pain, so thorns must be beautiful, right?

Joomi Lim's pieces are wearable interpretations of spiked body jewelry. With a vaguely medieval feel, her necklace, choker, and headband have all the toughness and none of the pain of sharp thorns (and soft prices, to boot). For the more demure, Aesa's brass "Thorn" cuff is a subtler take, more Grecian goddess than inspired by torture devices.

Let savage beauty reign on!

Joomi Lim Headband with Single Spikes At Opening Ceremony for $205.

Joomi Lim Double Spike Choker At Opening Ceremony for $135.

Joomi Lim Short Neckalce with Spikes At Opening Ceremony for $225.

Aesa Thorn Cuff At Barneys New York for $235.

Thanks to Duchess Kate, acorns are the new tiaras. The diamond oak leaf and acorn earrings worn by the prince's bride on her wedding day (commissioned by her parents and based on their acorn-adorned family crest) have already spawned a ridiculous amount of nature-themed jewels. Like Aurelie Biderman's leafy 18-karat gold-plated necklace with gleaming acorn pendant hanging from the center. The question is, does squirrel food have a place in our jewel boxes? This necklace looks something out of the costume wardrobe for a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I'm more of a pyramid-stud kind of girl myself. The last thing I want is acorns dangling in my décolletage - or anywhere on me, for that matter. Regardless, you know a craze is a-coming! At Kirna Zabête for $825.

The name "Trump" is synonymous with wealth and luxury, so it seems fitting that the name Ivanka Trump is coming to epitomize feminine, decadent, and creatively lush jewels. Ivanka's latest collection was inspired by her travels to Morocco, Turkey, and Baku, Azerbaijan, as well as her passion for art-deco style - and it shows. The "Noor" (meaning "light" in Arabic) collection, released this spring, blends classically elegant early twentieth-century glamour with the thrill of the exotic.

There's an emphasis on both layers and transparency at play here. Vintage lace, intricate patterns, and hints of Byzantine architecture meet via oversized stones of black onyx, pearls, and white agate enclosed in white-gold cages, adorned in what often looks like hundreds of little diamonds, and surrounded by branch-like, lace-effect enamel. Big cocktail rings, ribbon-and-diamond bracelets, and long-stranded necklaces invite a girlish quality to serious jewels, while plays on proportion and scale offer youthful appeal to what would otherwise be too grand to feel at all funky. But the queen of the collection? A one-of-a-kind necklace composed of over 3,000 diamonds, valued at a hefty $150,000. Hey, it just wouldn't be Trump without at least one mega-majestic piece! At Ivanka Trump for $1,500-$50,000.

Don't be fooled by the ultra-magnified point-of-view and ultra-intricate rocker-ness of this piece of black crystal jewelry. While this looks like a major cuff, it's actually an even more major ring (it doesn't help matters that Barneys doesn't use models for their pics!). A layered multi-chain effect on a ring is a twist on your typical digit design. And Iosselliani scores points! They know what they're doing when it comes to fashioning hardcore accessories: the intense chain detail doesn't go all the way around your delicate finger, so it's totally comfortable. This easily casual take on a rock 'n' roll piece is perfection for bringing out your "rebel yell" without uprooting the whole rebel (cause she might be scary!). At Barneys New York for $235.

Pair with: Show you're tough-enough with your sky-scraping-heel footwear choice. Burberry Prorsum's stiletto is as lean as it is long - which looks awesome set against a big buckle and mega-straps. On Net-a-Porter for $750.

You all know I am obsessed with a few things in life; high heels, pretty bags, royal weddings, and charm necklaces, and this one takes the wedding cake.

This little guy has everything from horseshoes to ladybugs on it and is as delicate as a springtime flower. The18k yellow gold cable chain necklace coils around with various dainty charms made from gold and enamel. Pieces like this will last forever. This will be something you hand down to your daughter, and she to hers. It's fun to wear, pretty to look at and can be worn with almost anything.

However, this kind of timelessness comes with a price tag and a hefty one at that. Pick up this little guy for $5750 at Barney's.

These earrings have all current trends going on - links, chandelier and rose gold! If you have a mom who is impossible to shop for because she is too chic for words, she will be quite impressed if you present her with these on Sunday. Or if your mom is too practical (like mine, she just wants cash!!) then more for you!! Wear these with everything for a I-thought-long-and-hard-about-what-I'm-wearing-even-though-I-just-rolled-out-of-bed look. Amazing what a good pair of earrings can do! At Saks Fifth Avenue for $495.

BVLGARI has been raising funds (over $9 million) and awareness for Save The Children's education programs since 2009. This year they continue their efforts with a specially designed ring of silver and ceramic. We are flattered to be involved in this effort and showing our support along with our fellow bloggers, by wearing the rings. On top of the great cause, the ring with the black ceramic embedded channel is uber cool. It gets so much attention, which is the whole point, because I get to tell everyone about the cause and encourage them to get one of their own. Purchase Rings

Send all inquiries to elleandcie@gmail.com

14-Karat Single Sparkle Necklace, $215.

14-Karat Gold Triple Teardrop Earrings, $965.

14-Karat Gold Teardrop Earrings, $325.

5-Cognac Diamond Bands, $2,675.