Frugality: Many Looks for Less with Jewelry

Leather and Pearl Wrap Bracelet

The "Less is More" trend continues as people are stretching their fashion dollars with jewelry and accessories to turn one look into many with just a simple change here and there from existing items in the closet. 

Experiment with different looks you can create just by changing your jewelry style (no new clothing purchases required!)  For example, take a basic sleeveless shirt and dress it up with layers of coordinating necklaces for a daytime casual, fun look.  Add a basic black jacket and change to pearls or a choker for an evening dinner or work, or add a ruffled cardigan with a long strand for a flirty look for a fun night out.



Double Strand Faceted Multicolor Necklace

Jewelry is a great way to add color to any wardrobe.  You can keep up with color trends without investing in new clothes every season.  Match colors or use a color wheel to find secondary or tertiary colors for your wardrobe.  Have a turquoise shirt you love?  Try orange or pink jewelry to make it pop.  Or, try using a monochromatic scheme with using the same color in lighter and darker elements, or shades that are close together like yellow to orange to red-orange.  Also consider purchasing jewelry with different colors in one piece.  This will extend your jewelry wardrobe as well.

Most of all, have fun and don't be afraid to experiment with different lengths, textures and elements.  Some of the newest trends blend leather with pearls and cotton cords with gemstones and crystal.

Add Some Charm



Wrap your wrists in charm!

Love finding creative new ways to flaunt personality through jewelry?  Check out the bracelet craze that's gaining fashion traction right now:  cute charms are springing up on beaded bracelets left and right.  It's an edgy, hip twist on the classic charm bracelet that you will love!

To get the look, simply layer your favorite woven bead bracelets and attach the charms of your choice.  Stack several bracelets together to make the perfect perch for a flock of silver charms.

Face Shapes and Jewelry Choices - The Diamond-Shaped Face

The diamond-shaped face is balanced, angular and dramatic, being widest at the cheekbones and equally narrow at the forehead and at the jaw line. Often considered a more dramatic or angular version of the "perfect" oval face shape, the diamond-shaped face is slightly longer than it is wide, and can wear almost any neckline or jewelry style. This is the rarest face shape, and the features within the face are usually sharp and dramatic. Pick styles and fashions that accentuate the dramatic cheekbones that are the core of the diamond-shaped face.

Necklines 
Diamond-shaped faces can wear almost any neckline.  Ideal necklines: Scoop neckline, turtleneck, Nehru collar  Avoid: None

Necklaces 

Diamond-shaped faces can wear almost any shape or style of necklace, provided the design is in proportion to the individual, whether petite or plus-size. Necklaces should complement the neckline worn, as well as the wearer's other qualities: chokers emphasize her long neck, a long string of pearls worn flapper-style lengthens her torso and low-hanging necklaces with drops accent a low-cut neckline. Consider whether to downplay the angles of the diamond-shaped face with softly curving shapes such as the Collar or Princess necklace lengths, or to accentuate the sharp features with more angular or modern styles. 

Earrings 

Diamond-shaped faces can wear almost any shape or style of earring, if the designs are in proportion to her face. Avoid styles that are overly long, as they will lengthen the diamond-shaped face. To minimize a narrow diamond-shaped face or a too-long nose, use styles that creep up the ear or have wings that sweep upward. Add width to a pointy jaw line with dangling earrings with teardrops, pear-shaped or triangle drops. Echo the diamond-shaped face with dramatic and angular styles using triangles and cut crystal -- or soften the look of the diamond-shaped face with hoops. 

Eyewear 

Diamond-shaped faces, like oval faces, can wear almost any frame shape, so feel free to experiment with the latest looks. Keep in mind that the sharper angles of the diamond-shaped face can be either emphasized with square and angular styles, or counterbalanced with oval frames. Whatever style is chosen, make sure the frames are no wider than the top of the cheekbones. The top suggestion is to wear oval or rounded square rimless styles. 

Bridal Tips 

Diamond-shaped faces can wear almost any neckline, necklace or earring style. Keep in mind the size of the bride, her coloring and the simplicity (or ornateness) of her gown -- a more ornate gown can support more ornate jewelry. Matching the patterns, designs, textures and qualities of her gown completes the presentation.  If the bride has her hair pulled back or worn up, she shows her diamond-shaped face shape best -- and gives the jewelry designer the opportunity to create matching hair jewelry. 

Famous Faces: Diamond-Shaped 

Linda Evangelista, Felicity Huffman, Sophia Loren, Kim Raver 

Super Hip Hoops: A Huge Must Have



NEW! Glam oversized hoops to ignite your spring.

Ever-fashionable hoop earrings have not only re-doubled in popularity, they've quadrupled in size!  Huge hoops are heavy-hitters in celebrity spring fashion with J. Lo, Beyonce, Rihanna and other stars sporting extra-large circular earrings.  They're showing up everywhere - the bigger the better!

Hop on the hoop train - We've got just the ticket:  two brand-new marvelous mega hoops.  These 3-inch fashion hoops come in silver tone and gold tone and feature a gittering 2mm band of clear crystals.  The earwires are hypoallergenic surgical steel, too. 

These hot hoops are a rockstar essential at an incredibly low price.  Get yours now!

Celebrity Jewelry Watch: The Beauty of Nature

People Style Watch magazine recently featured actress Emmanuelle Chriqui modeling a gorgeous brown sliced agate pendant with four different ensembles, to show how the versatile piece can add that ultra-hip earthy vibe to a range of everyday looks.  

The natural splendor of the sliced agate necklace shown is perfect for the organic, bohemian climate of spring fashion.  Our necklace is half the price of the similar piece featured in the magazine.  Tap into a trendy ambiance of nature - at an amazing price!

Wear the necklace on its understated leather cord, or slide the pendant onto a long silver chain to capture that feminine, free-spirited Hollywood effect.

Face Shapes and Jewelry Choices - Triangle or Pear-Shape

The triangle/pear-shaped face has a narrow brow and wide jaw line -- the opposite of the heart-shaped face. In addition, the width of the face at the jaw line and cheekbones is greater than the width at the forehead. The features within the face can be sharp and angular or soft and curved, but the overall face shape will be a pear or triangle. The objective for the triangle/pear-shaped face is to rebalance the face, creating the appearance that the forehead is wider, and moving the eye away from the jaw line.

Necklines
Triangle-shaped faces need curves to soften the strong jaw line and make the face appear more oval. Consider a scalloped edge or lace trim on curved necklines. This face shape is often accompanied by a variety of body styles, so choose necklines that work best with each individual's body style.  Ideal necklines: V-neck, collared shirt, sweetheart neckline, Queen Anne neckline  Avoid: Empire (square) neckline, turtleneck, mock turtleneck

Necklaces
Triangle-shaped faces need short necklaces with gentle curves to soften the strong jaw line. Princess and matinee lengths are ideal, since they put a gentle curve under the jaw line and lengthen the look of the face. Large focal components on necklaces forming a "V" draw attention below the neck to give the appearance of a longer face. Choose pendants or focal components with curves and swirls to counter the strong angular elements of the jaw.

Earrings
Keep in mind that opposites attract for the triangle/pear-shaped face and choose heart-shaped dangling earrings -- whatever will put the narrowest part of the earring next to the jaw line. This face needs jewelry that adds width at the level of the cheekbones or above, so earcuffs and other styles that curve up the ears create the illusion of width. Use small post (button) styles with a few long narrow dangles to create more length. One of the techniques used to rebalance the triangle-shaped face is hairstyles which add bulk to the crown and temples, so consider embellished headbands, barrettes or fascinators as well.

Eyewear
The objective for this face shape is to appear to widen the brow and narrow the lower part of the face by accenting the eye area. To create the illusion of width and soften the strong angles of the jaw, choose styles with curves and a strong horizontal element. Ideally, a style with an attention-getting brow bar will draw attention toward the upper part of the face.

Bridal Tips
The pear-shaped/triangle face needs a strong focus in the upper parts of the face, to balance the strong jaw line. Colorful eyeglasses or attention-grabbing fascinators will draw the eye up and away from the jaw line. Small cluster earrings, or earring styles that climb the outside curve of the ear help the forehead look wider, balancing the face. A gently curving neckline will soften the jaw. Keep in mind the size of the bride, her coloring and the simplicity (or ornateness) of her gown -- a more ornate gown can support more ornate jewelry. Matching the patterns, designs, textures and qualities of her gown completes the presentation.  Hairpieces at the temples or above the ears, embellished headbands, fascinators or wreath-style headdresses add the appearance of width to the upper face.

Famous Faces: Pear-Shaped (or Triangle)
Victoria Beckham, Geena Davis, Kathy Ireland, Martine McCutcheon

Seasons Greetings with the Holiday Best

From charms with ringing silver bells, to stackable silver and golden rings, sterling silver designs are sure to strike the perfect chord this holiday season. Our Holiday category features stylish ways to wear your holiday spirit everywhere you go, with popular brooches and pins in sparkling holiday colors.  For maximum shine, see our collection of snowflake jewelry with our most beautiful, popular winter snowflake pendant, shown at left, made with .925 sterling and plated with rhodium with 37 cubic zirconia stones, for the look of white gold and diamonds at an affordable price, or lead the way with the dashing reindeer pin.  With so many festive choices, this twinkling trove of wintry accessories has just the right touch of cheer to warm your heart or brighten someone's day!