I have a confession… I am seriously addicted to jewelry. Sparkly and shiny, rustic and ethnic, precious and costume – I love it all! Much to my husband’s dismay, my hoard frequently overflows the jewelry chest and ends up all over the bedroom as I search for just the right accent for an outfit. Each piece is unique, I explain to him (yet again). How can I possibly cull my collection?

My little obsession isn’t usually a real issue (and hubby truly is a patient man). But it can be problematic when I am ready to pack for vacation. How to choose just the perfect pieces? Jewelry can make or break an outfit I rationalize. And even with limited baggage space, I usually end up over-packing.

Lucky for me, just this week I discovered the perfect necklace for vacation. It’s ccalled Caracas and is a funky combination of vibrant glass beads, a delicate chain, and some retro pewter thrown in! I loved the burst of bright colors – this necklace would work with everything in my summer closet. With a 20” silver chain and lobster clasp, it’s also adjustable to a variety of lengths. This lovely piece is from Stella Designs of Montreal. $50

I found the Caracas necklace at Flying Daisies, which is the neatest online store — ever! Founder Michelle Kranz has a wonderful eye for unique products – from gorgeous jewelry, to fun bags, to treasures from around the world. Every piece sold by the folks at Flying Daisies was chosen specifically to inspire others to explore their own free-spirited path. Truly my kind of place!

My other ultimate vacation find is this set of stunning bangles from Taqwa Iman.  Envision a fabulous swimsuit, broad brimmed straw hat and an armful of these lovely bracelets… perfect! Later in the day, swap out the swimsuit for a sundress and slides, plus bangles and voila! you’re ready for a day of sightseeing. For evening, pair a simple strapless dress, sexy heels and an armful of these lovely bangles and you’re ready for a night on the town.

The bangles are made out of Rhodium and are imported. Each set contains six bangle bracelets, and at only $9.50, I would buy two set and really make a statement. Plus, Taqwa Iman is currently offering free shipping on all orders over $75. If you are ordering from the USA, enter coupon code USFREESHIP. If ordering from Canada, enter coupon code UKCAFREESHIP.

Now, if I can just find a little more room in that jewelry chest of mine … just don’t tell my husband!

–Susan

I’ve decided that everyone has a hidden artist buried somewhere deep within them. The desire to create something beautiful is sometimes just too tempting to be denied! This is especially true of talented jewelry designer Alicia Van Fleteren, who spent a decade in the financial service industry before giving in to her inner artist. And we’re so glad she did!

Van Fleteren’s designs are sophisticated and elegant, but incorporate a touch of playfulness. The San Francisco Bay area based artist creates her line with an eye for pleasing herself first, so that every necklace, bracelet or earring feels utterly unique, authentic and personal. Finely wrought from an eclectic variety of high-quality materials including precious and semi-precious gemstones, silver, gold and pearls, her hand-beaded pieces are beautifully distinct. The pieces are priced for every budget, from $29 to $229.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I found the Passion necklace.  The necklace incorporates delicate, multi-colored spinel drops, 24-karat gold vermeil charms, and unique, silver Thai beads. The handcrafted 24-karat gold vermeil pendant is decorated with an ethereal flower and the word “Passion” in both Sanskrit and English on the back. Best of all, the necklace length can be adjusted from 16.75 to 18.5 inches. Perfect for a night on the town (or Sunday brunch the next morning!). $165.

Until recently, Van Fleteren’s beautiful line was only available to her loyal following of customers at select boutiques and private trunk shows throughout Northern California. However, a new online store at www.AliciaVF.com means that all of us can now appreciate her lovely designs.

Passion for Valentine’s Day? You betcha!

Photo: Courtesy of Alicia Van Fleteren

New Year’s Eve is one of my favorite nights of the year. Not just because Don and I always seem to attend a fabulous party filled with great friends and family, but because it’s the quintessential night of hope. On New Year’s Eve, I feel like anything is possible!

So, for this wonderful night, a truly spectacular outfit is an absolute necessity. I have several cocktail dresses that I absolutely LOVE (you know the kind – super slimming, completely wrinkle free, and oh-so-sexy!!). This year I am being frugal (trying to, at least), so I will probably wear one of the dresses from my closet, but a girl can always use a little new sparkle!

The three most interesting options I have found to jazz up a cocktail dress are all from ModCloth, a favorite haunt of mine. ModCloth is filled with unique clothing, vintage items, accessories and of course, lots of great jewelry!

This Champagne and Caviar necklace turns a simple, strapless dress into a showstopper! Reminiscent of the bygone elegance of Edwardian England, this choker is crafted of fine black resin beads in faceted tear drop shapes as well as tiny seed beads. An amazing bargain at only $24.99.

For an ethereal look, these Morgan le Fay earrings are sure to cast a spell on your guy! White egret-white feathers gently brush the shoulders and antiqued gold tone findings are embellished with delicate, faux gems. These enchanting earrings are only $16.99.

Perfect for a one shouldered dress, the Girl’s Best Friend Brooch makes a powerful statement! A bevy of glittering rhinestones spiral around a central pinwheel, complete with golden arms. This sparkling brooch is only $14.99.

Whatever you wear for your festivities, celebrate 2010 in style!

I’ve been shopping after work this week… a lot. And my feet are killing me! That’s why I was so excited to learn about CitySlips. These are foldable ballet flats that fit right into your purse – ready whenever you need them. And not a moment too soon – I mean, who can get any serious Christmas shopping done in 4” heels?!

And since I am not about to give up my favorite heels anytime soon, CitySlips are the perfect solution. Late evening out? Look fabulous all night, but head home in your CitySlips! Shopping after work? Pull the ballet flats right out of your handbag and you’re all set. No cab? No worries!

CitySlips were developed by former NYU students Susie Levitt and Katie Shea. Living in heels in NYC isn’t for the faint of heart, so the friends put their heads together to find a solution. The ballet flats they’ve designed are a combination of a rigid flat shoe and a sock-like slipper. The leather-like material has an innovative rubber, double-soled structure — one under top of foot and another under bottom of foot, for extra cushioning, comfort, and support. And the outer soles are thin enough to allow the shoes to be folded, but durable enough for daily use.

Although I’d pay just about anything for comfortable shoes on those long days when my feet are just aching, CitySlips are incredibly affordable! A pair of ballet flats with carrying case are only $27.99 and are available in shimmery gold, neutral silver, or classic black.

So slip into a pair. You’ll be glad you did!

In the best of all possible worlds, gift giving would never be considered a hassle, but sometimes real life intervenes. Enter SomeoneSpoilMe ! This is, without question, the most convenient gift giving site on the Internet.

Founders Lisa Friedman and Alexis Stein have created the go-to site for everything from the perfect gift for your impossible-to-please mother-in-law, to a trendy teen, to your daughter’s elderly piano teacher. At SomeoneSpoilMe you can find gifts for every occasion, every personality, and every price in a vast number of Expert-Picked Gift Guides, each which is helpfully organized by holiday, personality and price!

In addition to Gift Guides, these clever gals also offer several other free services that make gift giving blissfully easy, including:

Wish Lists & Gift Registries

Now you can view friends’ wish lists and gift registries. From jewelry, to bags, to cameras to heated socks – you can give the perfect gift every time. To create your own Wish List, simply go to the “My Wish Lists” tab, click on the Wish List you want to add to, select “Add a gift”, enter the gift name and url and your gift will be added to your Wish List. Easy!

Gift Etiquette 101

Your real-life etiquette questions about gracious gift giving and receiving are finally answered! From how to properly address envelopes, to how ask friends to be bridesmaids, to how to acknowledge your boss on National Boss Day, the etiquette sections answers them all.

Daily Blog Updates

Personally one of my favorite sections, this is where the SomeoneSpoilMe gift experts dish on their latest finds, alerting you to the latest must-have products before the general public catches on!

Coupon Codes

What’s not to like? Coupons and codes for over 40,000 stores, plus exclusive deals for SomeoneSpoilMe readers.

Corporate Gift Buying Service

Launched in 2007, this service puts a new spin on corporate gift giving, with fresh new ideas, and of course, the most innovative products.

Let’s go shopping!

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Fashion Picks

Oct. 23-25

I will be in Atlantic City tomorrow, celebrating the birthday of someone special, and in honor of all things gaudy and outrageous, I’ve gathered together a mini collection of fashions that remind me of those crazy, loud casinos. From glitter and sequins to bright colors and statement pieces—there’s a little piece of flashy Atlantic City style in all of us.

Tina Turner dress.

I saw this blue sequined dress in Express last time I was at the mall searching for my AC outfit, and I really really loved it—definitely something I would find a reason to wear. You can either wear it with or without leggings underneath for different options and different looks. I suggest pairing it with a more demure blazer or go all out and wear a military-style or motorcycle jacket.

 High, high (hooker?) boots. 

 Found these amazing zippered booties at DSW for a semi-reasonable price. They’re not something you will find on any other gambler/partier at AC because they’re unique statement fashion at its best. Dare to wear them as you strut around the casinos—they received great comfort ratings on DSW.com, so your feet will love you for treating them right and making them look fantastic.

 A crazy crystal ring.

 I realize it’s a bit of a splurge, but I couldn’t help but mention this Swarovski crystal abstract flower ring. It’s huge and chaotic and crazy—just like the casinos at good ol’ AC. Plus, it’ll distract the other card sharks at the poker table from your less-than-perfect poker face.

 Feather hairpin.

 I have a (not-so) secret obsession with feather hairpins, and there’s literally two places I would have the guts to wear one—New York City and Atlantic City. Some of them can run up quite a tab—especially if they’re handmade by an independent artist like most are—but I managed to find a ton of affordable options just by searching on eBay. I would post a link to the one I found that I liked, but it only has a day of bidding left. It’s a circular cluster of short, bright turquoise feathers with longer iridescent black peacock feathers, and it’s huge at 7.5 inches in diameter. Order one in a shocking color and feel like a sassy showgirl.

 Ruffly purple clutch.

 Try a Steve Madden ruffled clutch to add texture to your AC outfit. The studs keep it light on the girly side of things, and the price won’t cut into your gambling fund. Should you choose to wear all of the fashions I’ve mentioned here, you’ll look like a fantastic mess of Atlantic City gaudy-fashion.

-Keri

Keri is a 24-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

I love scarves. Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I have amassed quite a collection over the years! They add a splash of color and interest to my wardrobe and often add a dash of whimsy, as well.

And, like any collector, my friends and family continually feed my habit by presenting me with fabulous new additions for every birthday, holiday and anniversary. I recently received a gorgeous silk square based on the artwork of Picasso that my mom found at the Louvre, a vintage nautical-inspired piece complete with depictions of an ocean liner and turn-of-the-century wooden deck chairs in lovely, muted colors, and my new favorite — an animal print Valentino from my friend Vincenza’s vacation trip to Italy.

So I was thrilled to learn about a new scarf/wrap/sarong called a Chilly Jilly. Not only are Chilly Jillys beautiful, they are so useful. They are lightweight and are so small that they can be kept right in your purse in their own little bag. But the best part is that they do not wrinkle.  I actually have to say that again – they do not wrinkle. Hooray!

I was fortunate enough to speak with the designer responsible for this minor miracle, Jill Boehler. The following is an excerpt of that conversation. Enjoy! 

What was your inspiration to create the Chilly Jilly?  
In the summer of 2007, my husband and I had just enjoyed a beautiful summer day in Massachusetts with friends.  We were prepared to end the day with wonderful food and conversation at a local restaurant.  As we entered the restaurant we were overcome with a blast of cold air that continued throughout the meal.  My friends and I found ourselves taking turns leaving the restaurant and stepping outside just to warm up.  As I looked around the room, I noticed several women covering themselves with napkins because of the air conditioning.  Most were in short sleeves because it was a warm summer day.  As my husband took his reading glasses out of his pocket to read the menu I remember thinking, “wouldn’t it be nice if there was a wrap small enough to put in your pocket for times like these.” That was my inspirational moment!

What is your design background?

We came across the brooches at a trade show. One of our rep groups was showing a Chilly Jilly with the brooch and we thought it looked great as an added accessory with bling.  They are magnetically fastened.  Great on the Chilly Jilly or anywhere else.    

I went shoe shopping the other day to visit my favorite wedges at Famous Footwear, and to my surprise, they were finally on sale! I immediately snatched up the only 7 ½ they had in black patent, and considered ordering the white patent ones, too. (At FF, you can order shoes directly from the store and they deliver them right to your door, no shipping!) As I walked toward the register after convincing myself not to get the white ones, I spotted a pair of woven white leather high heel sandals and FELL IN LOVE with them.

Inspired by these amazingly gorgeous shoes (and the fact that Memorial Day is fast approaching), I’ve found five more pairs of white sandals to don when the weather’s nice.

1. Piperlime® is selling these adorable flat white sandals that have all the comfort of flops (that’s flip flops) but with more style, and a heel strap to keep them from making that “flop” sound when the sole of the shoe hits the sole of your foot. (These are way nicer than my foam Old Navy flops!)
2. Payless® is practically giving away these white peep-toe slingbacks. The only drawback is they’re in white canvas, so be sure not to go traipsing around in any grassy fields or anything.
3. I love love DSW’s online store because it gives customers a chance to review a shoe’s comfort, length and width, which comes in SO handy when buying shoes online. These small wedge thongs by Italian Shoemakers come in great spring colors—including white, of course—and customers have rated them as very comfortable, which seems to be a rarity when it comes to thong-style sandals. (No one likes chafing between the toes!)
4. Steve Madden® has a pair of white ruffle-y flat thongs on clearance. I love anything with ruffles (at least the small, cute kind and not the big, scary 80s kind), and spring’s the best time to pair white ruffle-y shoes with a bold floral top.
5. These gladiator wedges by diba® on Zappos.com are embellished with cute medallions, and they make a statement without being too over-the-top. Pair them with a white Goddess-style dress or top (another season must-have, according to Miss Susan, listed below) to feel like Grecian royalty.

–Keri

May is Gold Month and a quick review of the May issue of InStore magazine revealed a wonderful surprise — rose gold is back in a big way for 2009.

Numerous designers showcased a variety of fabulous pieces using elegant rose gold. Paired with yellow and white gold, these designs looked fresh, contemporary and the perfect accent for breezy summer fashions.

A couple of my favorites include Zeira’s stacking rings in yellow and rose gold highlighted with diamonds. Anna Sheffield’s drop earrings – a combination of rose gold and sapphires — made me think of a summer day. And Carla Amorim’s “flower path” ring combined two of my favorite trends – rose gold and huge cocktail rings – into one fantastic piece.

Rose gold, also known as pink gold or red gold, is a beautiful choice for jewelry of all kinds. After a little research today, I learned that rose gold is actually a mixture of pure yellow gold with copper, which gives it a mellow, pink color.

Rumor has it that WHIMSY will release a rose gold accented version of the WHIMSY ring sometime later this year. So stay tuned.

–Susan