Now, newcomer WHIMSY Worldwide has added a new twist to the bead craze with a series of gorgeous Swarovski crystal encrusted beads in a rainbow of colors. Best known for their interchangeable bead rings (known as Whimsy rings) the firm now offers the crystal beads as a delightful complement to the popular Murano glass and sterling silver beads. They add a dash of (what else?) whimsy to any necklace, bracelet or ring.

The beads retail for $30 and are only available online at WHIMSY Worldwide.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of WHIMSY Worldwide.

We’re giving away another beautiful, sterling silver WHIMSY™ ring!

This time, we’re giving away The Sophia, which is crafted using eco-friendly, reclaimed sterling silver and features a feminine rose-shaped endcap. It’s one of WHIMSY’s top sellers!

The Sophia offers timeless beauty inspired by screen siren Sophia Loren. The ring’s threaded center post is easy to use, adjustable and accommodates a range of bead widths.

The Sophia is pictured here with a bead made by Chamilia™, however, posts accommodate beads from most major bead companies including Trollbeads, Pandora™ and more.

Along with the ring, the winner will receive a bead from Eastern Trading Company, for a total retail value of $150!

5 easy ways to win:

1. Leave a comment with this post, 1 entry

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

3. “Like” Style on a WHIM, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow Style on a WHIM on Twitter, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

5. Click on and read another Style on a WHIM post, 1X (please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow.

Contest is open until midnight on August 16 and the winner will be notified August 17!

UPDATE 8/18. Scott from Illinois is the winner of the lovely Sophia ring from WHIMSY. Congratulations to Scott!

Today, we had a photo shoot with Carlos, our fantastic photographer who took all the images you see on the WHIMSY™ website. We were particularly excited this time around because our new station necklace and matching earrings were the subjects, and we LOVE them! (Although we’re a little biased…)

As you can see in the photo I took, our model, Barbie, continues to help us create beautiful shots that Carlos makes even better with his creative vision.

These two pieces will be the next release from WHIMSY, so stay tuned for the professional photos from the shoot today so you can get an up-close look of what’s new and upcoming!

-Keri

Handbags
If you aren’t choosing a different floral print bag to carry every day, then you need to get your hands on something that will match just about anything in your wardrobe.

Luckily, there’s a wealth of options out there, especially on Etsy.com. You could spend hours on their website perusing the handbag category, and you’d probably find more than a handful of floral bags that you love.

AllyBu, an Etsy seller since early 2009, offers over 100 different handbags to choose from, including hobo bags, totes and even wristlets. And almost all of them are made with floral print fabric. She uses a lot of bold prints from IKEA, and they definitely don’t look like upholstery!

One of my favorites is a slouchy hobo bag in a brown, gold and pink floral paisley pattern. It’s big enough to fit your favorite book or fashion magazine on trips to the pool, and it would be great with just about any summery outfit, except black, which you shouldn’t be wearing during hot summer days anyway! There are a couple nifty pockets on the inside of the bag, so it’s easier to stay organized within such a large bag. Right now, it’s on sale for $34 and shipping inside the U.S. is only $6.

Another of my favorites is the granny hobo bag in brown, turquoise, pink and green. The shape of the bag is fantastic, and the floral print is SO cute and girly. The pleats on the side add a little extra detail, and this one also has organizational pockets on the inside. It sells for $40.
(photos from AllyBu)

Jewelry
Another way to incorporate a shock of floral fancy is to wear a flowery piece of jewelry. ModCloth always has a handful of adorable floral necklaces to suit your style, including “The Pop-lar Pendant,” which I thought was enameled until I got a closer look—it’s actually made out of leather! Much lighter than metal (I hate wearing heavy jewelry in the summer), the leather “petals” are shaped to make them look more realistic. And at just $13.99, it’s definitely an affordable accessory!

As if I don’t have enough big flowery cocktail rings in my jewelry box, this one from ModCloth is much different than any one I have—it’s like a miniature bouquet of flowers in all different colors and shapes. Each flower even has a little colored rhinestone center for some glitz. So cute! And just $22.99!
(photos from ModCloth.com)

-Keri

While attending the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Trade Show two weeks ago, I noticed a small company that sells amazing, huge cocktail rings in both sterling silver and bronze, which, in most cases, slashed the price in half! Needless to say, I spent at least 45 minutes trying to pick out which one (okay, two) I wanted, and I ended up spending a very affordable $54 on two statement cocktail rings.

CJ Recht, a jewelry design company in NYC, has the same idea—offer a fine piece of jewelry for that occasional splurge, as well as a more affordable counterpart. You get to choose whether you want to treat yourself to the real deal, or get the same look for much less!

CJ Recht’s designer and metalsmith is Mindy Recht, who studied biology and became a lawyer before pursuing a career in design and jewelry-making. Talk about a drastic change! According to their website, she named the company after her dad, who encouraged Mindy to be a designer even though he was a lawyer himself.

It’s evident by looking at her pieces that Mindy’s true talents lie in designing beautiful, statement jewelry. She has fantastic bangles (like those pictured on the right), stackable rings (pictured left), station necklaces and more in a wide variety of metals including silver, gold, bronze, vermeil, gold filled and aluminum. Some pieces even include pearls and semiprecious stones for a bit of added color.

All of Mindy’s designs are original, but she makes multiples of each piece and is always willing to reproduce a “retired” style for a customer.

“I just replaced a lost earring for someone who bought the pair from one of my retailers about a year and a half ago,” says Mindy. “Even though I don’t make that style anymore, I was glad to make her happy.”

Celebrity talk show host Kelly Ripa wore a CJ Recht ring on Live! with Regis & Kelly back in March, which she talks about on Kelly’s Fashion Finder.

Clearly, everyone’s going crazy for Mindy’s designs because she says her stackable rings and bangles are her most popular pieces, and customers are buying them in multiples. And with different materials and styles to choose from, buying a bunch is totally doable!

Mindy says, “Jewelry is something that has real value and can be worn every day as a sort of signature.” What a bold, stylish signature she has!
(photos from www.cjrecht.com)

-Keri

Now you can win your very own pair of sterling silver Elizabeth earrings and two matching beads from Eastern Trading. The Elizabeth earrings are casual enough to be worn with jeans and fancy enough to be worn with a LBD for a night out on the town! And of course you can change the beads for a new look every day!

This prize package of a pair of Elizabeth earrings and two Murano glass beads by Eastern Trading is valued at $150, so enter today!

5 easy ways to win:

1. Leave a comment with this post, 1 entry

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

3. “Like” Style on a WHIM, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow Style on a WHIM on Twitter, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

5. Click on and read another Style on a WHIM post, 1X (please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow.

Contest is open until midnight on June 30 and the winner will be notified July 1!

-Keri

Photo courtesy of WHIMSY Worldwide.

UPDATE 7-1-2010: Katie is the winner of the earrings by WHIMSY and Murano glass beads from Eastern Trading Company. Congratulations!

If you haven’t seen the film yet, this is the truly inspirational story of the very early years of Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel. Of course, I was expecting to see the invention of the LBD and the use of ropes of pearls, but some of her other innovations really surprised me.

One of my favorites was her incorporation of nautical blue and white stripes, taken directly from while watching fishermen on a seaside holiday (Adrienne Tautou pictured). Nautical tradition in fashion is so commonplace today, that it is hard to reconcile that in Chanel’s day this styling was nothing short of revolutionary.

Since today is the official start of summer (no school!) I wanted to showcase an easy way to add Chanel’s whimsical, nautical style to your summer wardrobe without looking like the Gorton’ Fisherman! And Shiraleah has the perfect tote – sporting preppy, nautical style and created using renewable natural resources, reclaimed materials, plus environmentally friendly technologies.

The sturdy blue and white Shiraleah canvas tote (pictured here in blue, also available in raspberry) has silver metallic, vegan “leather” straps and trim, fun anchor and wheel charms, and is lined in bright pink. Secure zipper top, interior pockets for a phone, keys, and more. Perfect for the beach or boating, this tote will remind you of the shore, even when you’re landlocked! Retail $63.00

Shiraleah’s fabulous designs are available at Inspired Living, Bossa, and Ebags.

Now let’s hit the beach!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Body Central Seamless Cropped Leggings (photo from www.bodyc.com)

Oh, Leggings…what a love/hate relationship we’ve had over the past 24 years. You were so faithful to me in grade school, when I refused to wear jeans because they were “too uncomfy.” Then for so many years, you were “uncool,” yet now you’re cropping up again. And had it not been for my footless tights, I would still harbor bad feelings toward you because, well, you’re just so 80s!

I consider my footless tights the “gateway” to trying leggings again because my footless tights were too see-through to wear with tunic tops and short dresses and still assure good butt coverage. So, on a WHIM (shameless plug, I know) I decided to try a pair of leggings that I found while shopping on my lunch break. And good god, were they comfortable. I am now addicted and can’t wait to wear the three (yes…three) new pairs I bought. They’re not exactly appropriate office attire, but they’ll be perfect for a lazy weekend with the BF. (And ladies…might I add that men love the way a girl’s booty looks in leggings.)

The three things I love most about leggings:

1. They’re never too snug to wear on your “fat” days, so no matter what, you can still pull them on—which is more than I can say for my skinny jeans.
2. They can be dressed up or down, depending on what you wear up top and what you accessorize with. Dressing down? Slip on some flats or flip flops and a casual sleeveless tunic. Dressing up? Try a short dress with some sexy heels and your favorite handbag. Easy peasy.
3. They’re cheap!

Here is a handful of different places to purchase leggings at reasonable prices:
Mandee
Marshalls & T.J. Maxx (Just be prepared to dig through the racks for a bit!)
Express (I suggest waiting for one of their Buy One, Get One at 50% Off sales)
H&M
Body Central

Legging Dos:
Ruching, side-snaps, ankle-length, cropped, black, white, gray, navy blue, brown, cream, blush pink, worn with tunics, worn with short dresses

Legging Don’ts:
Zippers, ripped, leggings that look like jeans, worn with cropped shirts, worn too baggy or loose, tie-dye, anything neon

I suggest dark-colored ankle-lengths for nights out on the town and light-colored crops for beach trips and lounging, but feel free to switch it up and experiment! And do yourself a favor…if you ever see leggings with those weird foot stirrup things—run far, far away. Those were never cool.

-Keri

Bryant Park Tee Dress (photo from NYandCompany.com)

My countdown to Memorial Day has begun! Only 17 days left!

It’s the “official” start of summer, when all outdoor restaurants and bars have their seasonal openings and it’s not shocking to be lounging, sipping a margarita/Bloody Mary/mimosa before 5 p.m. To be honest—that’s what I fantasize about at work all day in my windowless office! And since white is the color of the day, I’m going to be doing my shopping for an appropriate white dress over the next week or so. Here are my favorite picks so far…

Mercer Street Sleeveless Dress (photo from NYandCompany.com)

First of all, I’m loving the versatility of The Bryant Park Tee Dress from New York & Company! It comes in a variety of patterns and 11 solid colors, FOUR of which you can score for just $9.99. (The white one is $19.95.) It’s a dolman-style t-shirt top with ruching up both sides of the skirt, so you can pull the ties tight to make it short and flirty or tie it loose for more coverage. Not only could you dress it up for a night out by belting it and throwing on some sparkly jewelry, but it could double as a beach cover-up on vacation.

Another option is the Twist Bust Tube Dress from Wet Seal, priced at just $16.50. It comes in a handful of bright summer colors (and, of course, white). What I love most about it is the babydoll waistline, which is flattering to every body type. I could imagine wearing oversized sunglasses and a pair of wedge sandals with this.

For slightly more formal occasions, I found a white tie-back halter top dress at JCPenney for $39.99. I love that it ties—so summery! And the bow in the back is an ultra-feminine touch. Wear to an outdoor dinner party and throw on a pale pink cardigan sweater once the sun goes down.

I went back to New York and Company and noticed The Mercer Street Sleeveless dress for $41.96. It’s a sheath-style pull-over dress, so it’s super easy to slip into. It’s perfect for just about any occasion, whether casual or not-so-casual—I would wear it to my boyfriend’s parents’ house for their summer BBQs.

-Keri

UPDATE: Today, May 28th, we chose a winner of this contest and it’s Phyllis in NY! Congratulations, Phyllis! We hope you LOVE your WHIMSY jewelry and Murano glass beads. To everyone who entered — thank you SOOO much for the support, and don’t worry — we’ll be running another contest very soon (hint hint)!

One of the things I love most about spring and summer is the return of color to my wardrobe. In the winter I definitely trend towards black, black and more black. So when I break out the summer clothes I feel like a butterfly emerging from the cocoon!

One of my favorite ways to add a shot of color to an outfit is through bold jewelry. Two dozen Indian-inspired bangles in sparkly brights like purple, lime and magenta or an attention-getting, oversized bib necklace inspired by the Wild West are some of my top choices to add punch to a summer ensemble.

My current obsession, however, is Murano glass beads and interchangeable bead jewelry. These little gems are a fraction of the cost of precious or semi-precious stones and add affordable color to every outfit. Trollbeads, Chamilia™ and Pandora™ are some of the best known manufacturers, however, the field is widening every day and smaller companies are quickly making a name for themselves with equally gorgeous designs and high quality craftsmanship.

One of the best is Eastern Trading. I have a dozen or so beads from this firm and they seem to be the ones I reach for time and again. Whether strung on a silver neck chain, adorning a silk bracelet, or as the crowning touch to a WHIMSY ring, these are real showstoppers.

Now, you can rock this trend, too! Style on a WHIM is giving away one sterling silver interchangeable bead ring by WHIMSY (pictured here with a bead by Chamilia™) and a wardrobe of three striking Murano glass beads by Eastern Trading to one lucky reader — a $200 retail value!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment, 1 entry

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

3. Follow Style on a WHIM on Facebook, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

4. Follow Style on a WHIM on Twitter, 1 entry (please leave a comment to let us know)

5. Click on and read another Style on a WHIM post, 1X (please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow.

Contest is open until midnight on May 27 and the winner will be notified May 28!

Good Luck!

UPDATE: Today, May 28th, we chose a winner of this contest and it’s Phyllis in NY! Congratulations, Phyllis! We hope you LOVE your WHIMSY jewelry and Murano glass beads. To everyone who entered — thank you SOOO much for the support, and don’t worry — we’ll be running another contest very soon (hint hint)!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition to Style on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!