This week I’ve been trying to mentally prepare myself for the shopping frenzy that will occur on Friday. My holiday list is long and sadly, my budget is small, so I am getting extra creative!

Each year, I search for interesting, unusual and useful gifts that will please the recipient and not break the bank. This year I’ve found some fabulous, stylish pieces that are guaranteed to please the people on my list, and I hope yours, too!

My list started with my oh-so-chic mother. Although I aspired to a Hermes scarf in an equestrian pattern, with price tags of approximately $375, I needed to find a more reasonable alternative. At Travel Smith I found a fabulous silk scarf in a beautiful pattern that I know she will just adore. Same look, and for only $45!

Next, my sister in law in Boston is only person I know who owns a larger collection of accessories than I do! One of this season’s oversized necklaces was just the thing. A quick trip to www.Overstock.com and I found this gorgeous Maddy Emerson necklace made of genuine freshwater pearls with gemstones like red agate, agate, and tear shaped quartz at the incredible price of only $39.99 (down from $160.91 – a savings of 80%!).

For my BFF, a die-hard Vera Bradley collector, I found a Jewelry Box, perfect for traveling at a budget-friendly $35.

Finally, my hard-to-buy-for aunt. (You probably have one, too.) She really needs nothing, has no room for any home-related gifts, and is always on a diet! My solution is this elegant Galleria Auto Super-Mini Umbrella with a scene from Paris. Weighing only 1 lb., 3 oz. this is a convenient and lovely gift. I found this all over the Internet, from $24.

Now that my shopping is done, would anyone care for some eggnog?

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc.wordpress.com

Christina Applegate has come a long way from her big-haired, short-skirt-wearing, red-lipstick-loving character Kelly Bundy on Married With Children—needless to say (but I’m going to say it anyway), her style has changed from 80s Wild Child to Timeless Beauty.

When attending red carpet events, Christina wears beautiful gowns in classic silhouettes, creating a signature look that is polished, sophisticated and utterly timeless. Her style is never edgy, but always feminine and classy.

In the above image taken at the Golden Globes, Christina wears a pale yellow Roberto Cavalli gown with a sweetheart neckline and keeps things fresh with an eye-catching necklace featuring beautiful cascading flowers. To finish the look, a pair of simple drop earrings–a great choice so nothing competes with her statement necklace. The real star of the show is the Lorraine Schwartz necklace, for sure!

In the image to the left, Christina opts for big, sexy curls and an ultra-feminine beige lace-top dress with cap sleeves. The sleeves give her a little extra coverage and balance the low cut of the front. She keeps her makeup demure but fresh and goddess-esque with black eyeliner and blush in just the right shade to match her skin tone. Her tan lines are a little distracting with the cut of the dress, but hey–we all battle tan lines sometimes!

At the 2009 Emmys, Christina donned a beautiful navy gown with a draped asymmetrical neckline and lace inset by Basil Soda. She looked very fashion forward and tres chic!

Ann Taylor is one of my favorite places to shop. I realize that this says a little bit about my personal style, but hey, when I need another great pair of black pants or the perfect charcoal gray pencil skirt, I know I’m in the right place!

Since I usually stick to the basics there, I took a quick swing by the jewelry section, just to see what they were showing. Much to my surprise I was blinded by the bling! The “New Ann Taylor” (as they are calling the chain these days) had a boatload of great accessories. And their tagline –“Sparkle or shine – a girl’s best friend” was exactly what I wanted to hear!

This season’s accessories – ropes or pearls, armfuls of gem encrusted bangles and enormous cocktail rings – are all about luxury. Perhaps this says something about the state of the economy – if you can’t be rich, you can at least look rich? Whatever the reason, traditional pieces like pearls, diamond bracelets and oversized, vintage-inspired brooches take on a really edgy look when paired with trendy ensemble – leggings, thigh high boots – even bleach-dyed jeans.

Some of my favorites from Ann Taylor include a four row rhinestone bracelet. This beauty would look equally at home dressed up for cocktail party (think Marilyn Monroe) or dressed way down (a la Madonna). Only $65.

Another fabulous find from Ann Taylor is super trendy bib necklace with heaps of sparkling, multifaceted crystals. This is an online exclusive, and at only $55 probably won’t last long!

At Talbots (another favorite stop), I found a striking purple and black cabochon brooch with a serious 1950’s vintage vibe. I love a brooch used to anchor a scarf securely on the shoulder or randomly placed on a sweater  (never on a lapel!). A real bargain at just $39.

Chicos has a pearletta necklace – a double strand of oversized irregular beads that look freshwater pearls. The choker is definitely the look of the season and this particular necklace would work with almost anything in my closet. Plus, it’s on sale down from $49 to only $42!

My last great find, and my absolute favorite, is a faceted dome ring by Ariella at Nordstrom’s for only $78. Plated in14-karat gold, the ring comes in several options including black, turquoise, cat’s eye or white jade.

It’s payday. Time to go shopping!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, fashion blogger

 and sales manager for the WHIMSY jewelry line. Susan

also writes for http://mcneilldesigns.wordpress.com and

http://successwontwaitinc

Like most (all?!) fashion bloggers, we love New York Fashion Week.

Even though we couldn’t be there, we eagerly gobble up what other bloggers have posted regarding what styles designers are showing for the Spring 2010 season. But unlike most fashion bloggers, we focus more on jewelry trends than clothing trends. This is often difficult during NYFW because most runway models’ necks and ears aren’t adorned, for fear of taking attention away from the fabulous clothing. We’ve actually noticed that the spectators are the ones wearing most of the fantastic jewelry!

Lucky for us, this season the Accessories Exhibit returned to NYFW with amazing designers like Judith Ripka and Alex Soldier, along with a number of great handbag and watch designers.

A lot of fine jewelers are struggling for sales in this economy because quality jewelry is a true investment, so it was excellent to hear that fashionistas who traveled to the event had a chance to see popular trends in the jewelry industry—what’s a great outfit without accessories?!?!  And we were delighted to see that we’ve covered a lot of the trends NYFW showcased—like Indian/Bollywood-inspired pieces with bright colors and rich yellow gold, like those found at Isharya; the bright gemstones and chocolate diamonds like those from Alex Soldier; and fantastic multi-strand necklaces and chokers like the findings at Lulu Frost.

It’s just so nice to have a temporary escape in the form of great fashion in NYC, and we’re not looking forward to it ending!!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

Favorite

Fashion Picks

Sept. 11-13

Grape cluster necklace.

You don’t have to love wine to love this brooch pendant necklace from SpaceMermaid. Miniature pearly early white grapes dangle from a long gold-plated brass chain—very whimsical and simply beautiful.

 A blue embroidered scarf.

 Wet Seal markets itself as a teen clothing retailer, and even though I’m past my teen years, I admit I still find things I love from them. I own a handful of scarves from Wet Seal because they come in so many different colors and styles that they’re so hard to resist! I recently found this blue embroidered scarf with flower motifs that also comes in grey. I like to wear one with a long “grandpa” sweater when I run errands, so I just might have to add this scarf to my collection.

 A cupcake!

 In the spirit of my upcoming birthday (one week!), I’ve been perusing for new beads for my Chamilia™ bracelet. I like to stick to just Chamilia beads on that bracelet (because I’m anal retentive like that), but I couldn’t help but notice how cute some of the Halia beads sold at Whitten’s Fine Jewelry are, and they fit on my Chamilia bracelet! So I bought myself an adorable pink cupcake bead and a pink flower bead with a dangle. Beads are so addictive!

 A slouchy sweater.

 Our office is (and therefore I am) perpetually cold, so I’m always wishing I had a slouchy, oversized sweater to pull on when I’m particularly chilly. I found a summer/fall transition sweater at New York & Company that’s great for layering. It’s actually more like a vest, but it’s perfect to grab on the way to dinner (chilly restaurants) and a movie (cool theaters). I also love it in the wine color because it’ll go with black or brown.

 A super-affordable bangle.

 Bangles are a must-have because they’re so easy to just slip on and run out the door, and they add pizzazz to any and every outfit. I found an open-weave bangle from Body Central (a store commonly found in shopping malls) for $6!! It comes in silver and gold, and it’s a no-brainer for a bit of pocket change.

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

Chain fringe is all the rage in jewelry this season—not surprising, because when you flip through the pages of the latest fashion magazines, you see studded bags, boots and belts. The edgy, biker look is back, and since we—the ladies here at From The Jewelry Box—LOVE chunky and slim, mismatched chains, we’re thrilled to see the trend reemerge this fall! (We’re girly but we like to feel dangerous!)

Stella & Dot, a great jewelry company with tons of funky and fabulous pieces, offers these chain fringe earrings. With slinky chains and lines of tiny rhinestones, they’ll sparkle and sway while you’re dancing on tables at a girls’ night out.

I was surprised (and delighted!) to find this leaf and chain fringe necklace at Pac Sun. It’s very “funky fall” and would look fantastic with a coral-hued top.

Besides the fact that I love the name of the jewelry line—Dirty Librarian Chains—ShopBop offers this necklace that looks like a hodge-podge of delicate, old chains repurposed into something simple and elegant. Check out the model photo to get an idea of what it would look like with a strapless top.

Have some extra cash to spend? This FANTASTIC chain fringe bracelet from Winifred Grace is stunning and absolutely beautiful. Featuring freshwater pearls and gold detailing, it’s a definite splurge at $310, but it’s a great inspiration when bargain hunting for something more affordable.

I fell in love with this chain and leather necklace from Express as soon as I saw it. It’s a total “mixed-media” statement piece—almost like a treasure chest of all sorts of charms and dangles to look at. For the daring fashionista!

I wasn’t really expecting to find anything in a search for “chain fringe ring”, but I stumbled upon this aptly named Studio 54 ring, complete with a generous bundle of fringe! Not sure how it would feel on my hand because the fringe seems rather long, but I’d be curious to give it a try!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads  

(real) books.

If you’re feeling backed into a corner when it comes to popular fashion, you’re not alone. The pages of most fashion magazines show super-thin models who look good in just about everything. They can pull off tight clothing because they don’t have little rolls here and there to hide, and they can pull off baggy styles because—let’s face it—a size small looks purposely loose and flowy.

I know I’ve encountered many-a-style that looked great on the size 2 mannequin display but just absolutely ridiculous on my size 8 body. Even the “Street Chic” page on Elle.com, which consists of photos of fashionable New Yorkers, makes me think that no one in NYC really eats or wears/needs a bra.

Most of us will never reach a waifish figure (and that’s totally fine as long as we’re healthy and happy!), so we’ve got to learn what works and what doesn’t for how we’re built, which can be a daunting—and often frustrating—task.

Find a signature style. Whether you rock skinny jeans to show off your legs, racer-back tanks to show off toned shoulders or you layer on long strands of pearls, find a style that you love so much you want to wear it all the time. I knew a girl who stacked a ton of jingly silver bangles on one wrist, and I always thought it was such a defining look for her.

Accentuate your assets. Have a great bottom half? Wear booty-hugging jeans with embellished back pockets or short shorts with high heels. Great top half? Show it off in a low-cut halter or partially unbuttoned blouse. When you accentuate your favorite body part, you focus less on the features you aren’t as crazy about and you exude confidence, which other people can sense.

Buy one in every color. When you find a top or a pair of jeans that you absolutely love and that makes you feel hot, buy one in every color. Make them look different by adding embellishments and accessorizing them so they always look fresh.

Avoid what doesn’t work. The ultimate cure-all for fashions that just won’t work for your body type is to just avoid them altogether. Buy yourself a cute new necklace or brooch or handbag—that’s my strategy to liven up my wardrobe if I come out empty-handed after a shopping trip for clothing. Just don’t fill your closet with clothes you wish looked great on you—it’ll make you feel bad about yourself, not to mention it’s a huge waste of money.

Have any other shopping suggestions? Comment away!

-Keri

Keri is a 23-year-old aunt, blogger, editor,

wanna-be fashionista and marketing chick

who loves M&Ms way too much and reads

(real) books.

I have loved bangle bracelets since I was a teen. An armful of jingly yellow gold Monet costume bracelets and I was all set! Today my tastes are a little more refined, but I still love bangles of every shape and size.

So when my National Jeweler magazine (http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com) came today, I was happy to see a double page spread just filled with luscious bangles in an array of styles and prices. As a bonus, many also featured colored gemstones, another one of my borderline addictions!

For me, bangles are best worn in bunches, Bollywood style, for maximum “jingle effect.” I also like to combine styles – Grandmom’s engraved yellow gold bracelet from the 1930’s with a modern, twisted sterling piece I got on my honeymoon. Throw in an enameled bangle and I’m in heaven!

National Jeweler featured a trendy ELLE croc embossed sterling piece for only $320, which I thought could easily be combined with older pieces for an instant updated look. Kir showed stackable sterling bangles with wonderful detailing,18-karat yellow gold accents, an colored gemstones like smoky, blue and white topaz for only $385 each. Or if you want to really invest, Daniel K’s pave-set yellow and pink diamond, ruby, or multicolored sapphire stacking bangles are priced from $7,200 to $23,600.

Daniel K is definitely out of my price range, but it’s nice to dream!

–Susan

Fall is fast approaching and I’ve had to take inventory of my closet. What to keep, what to toss? Like most women in today’s economy, I need to maximize my new season budget. Sadly, this means that I can’t indulge in every new trend. And honestly, some of those runway looks I don’t really mind skipping – over-the-knee stiletto heeled boots, feathers and plumes, and intentionally ripped tights are not my style anyway.

Based on budget constraints, traditional wisdom says that I should be investing in “classic pieces.” That sounds boring! But with the fabulous styles I’ve found recently, classic doesn’t have to equal dull. And these looks will stay stylish for more than one season, without breaking the bank.

Easy to incorporate into an existing wardrobe and budget-conscious, these looks are my “Top 5 Best of Fall”:

Texture

Adding texture instantly telegraphs fall style. Ribbed or textured tights are a really inexpensive way to add substance to a look. Mock croc belts, bags and shoes quickly update last year’s dress. Even embossed and hammered materials in oversized costume jewelry pieces — like the Elle cuff bracelet pictured above – easily provide trendy look.

Gray

Gray is everywhere! From “dawn” to “charcoal” in pencil skits, belted cardigans, and bags. Gray is warmer and kinder to the complexion than basic black and pairs exceptionally well with popular, 80’s inspired brights.

Pleated tops and dresses

I loved this look when I saw Project Runway last season and my ardor has not cooled a bit! Pleating adds a whole different dimension to a piece and an real couture feel.

Wide belts

Jackets, cardigans and dresses suddenly look fresh with the addition of a superwide belt. Leather, fabric, embellished or plain … this season, everyone will be sporting a sexy, hourglass shape.

Scarves

When the temperature is still high, but the calendar says fall, scarves are a great season extender for summery clothes. A scarf that incorporates more fall-like colors like deep purple or plum will cozy up transitional pieces. Raj makes some of my favorites.

–Susan

I’ve been known to pin a fabric flower on my shirt a la Carrie Bradshaw from time to time, and even though it makes the most sense in spring and summer, it’s easy to carry the look into fall by selecting flowers in either muted neutrals or rich jewel tones.

In an online search for fabric flowers to adorn my fall wardrobe, I came across a New York company that specializes in creating them! M & S Schmalberg—whose designs are used by Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Carolina Herrara, among others—offers an extensive library of flowers in every style, color and fabric imagineable. Soft, feminine organza gardenias, bright silk orchids and black sequined and leather roses—a flower for every woman!

I loved so many in their online store that I couldn’t even begin to narrow down my list of favorites (and it was equally as difficult to choose which photos to put up)! I was even more ecstatic to read that their designs were used in Sex & the City, no doubt worn by the ever-fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker!

Try pinning a bright blue rose on your favorite little black dress for a splash of color or decorating the neckline of a neutral cardigan with pale pink chiffon peonies. You could even pin one on a clutch to give it an updated look.

The possibilities are truly endless and the chic accessories are sure to cheer you up on a chilly fall afternoon!

-Keri