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Designers of Fine Jewelry

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Designers of Fine Jewelry
John Wind founded Maximal Art in 1985, immediately upon graduating from Slade School of Art in London and returning to his hometown of Philadelphia. He recently started to design the John Wind Signature Collection from Maximal Art, which unveils a spirited new approach aimed at stylish, fashion-conscious, and yet individualistic women who adore unique and sophisticated accessories. For the Signature Collection, John continues his collage work using new and vintage design elements, but takes his vision in a whole new direction. For inspiration and materials, Wind draws from his own archives of vintage treasures and still heads to flea markets and other antiquing venues. He works with old and new Austrian, Venetian and Czech glass beads, semi-precious stones, charms, metal chains, dupioni silks and other sumptuous ribbons to deliver the collection’s wearable works of art. The Signature Collection’s handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and belts are dramatic, quirky and avant garde.

Born in Spain, Miguel Ases’ love for design brought him to Madrid’s School of Arts to study fashion and design after his retirement from the National Ballet of Spain. Upon completion of his studies, Miguel worked in Barcelona. His success there led him to New York, where he began to design his own label that has developed a large following. Miguel is forging ahead with his powerful impressions of elegance in his intricate designs. Miguel has been featured in countless magazines and fashion shows.

Ben-Amun Necklace: Issac Manevitz is the design genius behind Ben Amun. His work exudes classic style with a richness behind it that is not beyond one’s pockets. He makes jewelry that is exquisite and wearable, without feeling that as though you can only wear it to a grand ball. This particular necklace is made of marbled amber, multifaceted metallic brown beads, and turquoise beads all on a silver metal link chain. It measures at 50″ long. A great piece that can be worn throught the seasons. Price: $170

Antiqued Rose Cabochon Necklace: I found more gold jewelry! It is understated yet still an amazingly beautiful pendant that reminds me of the Victorian age, where women were delicate and feminine, but incredibly strong. The rose pendant measures 40 mm by 30 mm and hangs from an 18″ gold plated chain. It appears subtle in its beauty, and in a jewelry case one could overlook it, but paired with the right outfit, it could very well be the bold piece. It would be nicely accented with stacked gold bracelets and small earrings. Price: $25.

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Stupendous Designer Accessories

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Be&D Ruffled Handbag: I really like this particular shade of grey used here - it is almost translucent and gives off a light and airy feel, and the ruffles are very feminine. It is a great contrast against the stronger and more masculine feel of the metal chain that is wrapped around the bag. To a certain extent I like hardware being used as decorative accents, but it is refreshing to see designers using other types of detailing for this season. The calfskin leather bag features an 11″ drop shoulder drop, magnetic closure, and interior suede lining. It is also available in black and espresso. Bag dimensions: 10�”H X 18″L X 6″W.
Price: $1,280

Mark Walsh & Leslie Chin Flower Cuff: Even though this a cuff, my mind will not allow to me comprehend the idea of wearing a flower on your wrist. And I know back in the day we all had one for the prom, but even then I couldn’t comprehend it and wouldn’t wear one. In my opinion, this would have a stronger presence if it were a ring or a pendant. Walsh & Chin’s Flower Cuff is actually quite beautiful - it’s fun with a bit of sophistication due to the color palette used. I find black, white and red together will always look sharp and elegant (if done right). Made of glass enamel and 14kt gilt metal, the flower cuff is accented with Swarovski crystals and features mother-of-pearl lacquer detail. The flower measures at 2�” X 2�” . Price: $460.

Athropologie Tote: I’m struck by the geometric pattern and emerald green leather in Anthropologie’s Fairways Tote. The green strip breaks up the pattern a bit and incorporates itself even more so by showing how complimentary of color it is to the overall feel of the bag. The tote is classic in its design, yet fun and edgy with the use of colors. It features a a zip pocket, interior pouch and has a 5.5″ shoulder drop. Bag dimensions: 13.5″l, 13″w, 6″d. Price: $418.

Jill Jacobson Carnelian Cuff: Knowing me, I have probably already reviewed this Cuff by Jill Jacobson, But, I love it and it’s worth highlighting one more time in case you missed it. Made of plated gold, the beautiful center stone is carnelian. A bold and vibrant colored accent piece. The cuff measures at 2″ wide. It is also available with a green aventurine stone with scroll detailing. Price: $88.

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Inspirational Designer Accessories

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Pedre Watch: Made of brushed stainless steel with a rectangular face, the Pedre watch has a woven strap to make for a post modern yet retro appeal. A stylish everyday watch that will add a splash of color to your day. Seen here in orange, it is also available in green, pink, and white. Price: $68

Isabella Fiore Tote: Whenever I think of Isabella Fiore’s designs my mind immediately turns to highly decorated studded bags. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see the Sydney Tote. In comparison to the typical and more well known handbags, this one is much more low key and subdued in style. It’s made of Italian leather and accented with antiqued brass hardware. I love the geometric patterns and lines thoughout. The top flap and tabbed ring helps to break up the pattern a bit. A great bag to wear during all seasons. Bag dimensions: 7 1/2″H x 18″W x 6 1/2″D. Price: $750.

Tod’s Calfskin Bag: Oh, how I love, love, love this bag. I am drawn to the structure and almost utility like feel it has with all of its little zippered pockets. The color is sharp, bold and rich. The muted brass hardware is the perfect color tone to compliment the bag. You could wear this for work, travel, and play. I am normally not a big fan of Tod’s - I think the simplicity is at times too simple - but this particular bag really grabbed my attention. Today, I start saving in my piggy bank for this one. Price: $1,245.

Victoria Secret Convertible Bag: I never usually buy much from Victoria Secret, except of course the unmentionables - I love them! But, it was their clothing line that I was a bit skeptical about. It always seemed a bit racey, and not that I have an ultra conservative style - but it just didn’t seem like it suited me. So, I took a gander at their accessories instead and was pleasantly surprised by this little number. The VS Convertible Bag is made of canvas/polyurethane and has brass hardware. I love anything that could be used in various ways - more bang for your buck! The silver has a little bit of a sheen and sparkle to it, but not so much that it loses its ability to blend in well with outfits and not take center stage. Bag dimensions: messenger style (15″ x 11″) or tote style (15″ x 16″). Price: $79.

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Inspirational Designer Shoes

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Kate Spade Luisa: This is one of the more creative designs that I have seen from Kate Spade. I find they have a very classic and simple design style - not in a bad way at all. The Luisa shoe has a very post modern feel with its subtle geometric pattern. The color is not all at bright in it hue, so you match this up with almost anything. Whether you can walk and have your feet in them all day , everyday is a whole nother story. The heel measures at 3 3/4″ and features a leather sole. Price: $275.

Twelfth Street Wedge: Even though the summer is gone, I still like searching for cool summer gear - I suppose it’s a bit torturous but what can I say - I love window shopping! The wood wedge heel by Twelfth Street is quite stylish with its turquoise blue elastic band offsetting the basic brown. The heel measures at 3 3/4″. With the height and the wood, I’m not sure how comfy they would be, but at such a great price, I would take the chance.
Price:$149.

Lulu Shoes: Red is such a strong and powerful color. If you were to have a red 4″ pointed heel, you immediately think about sex appeal and femininity. A red flat may have a more carefree and fun feel. All being said, red is a color that has many meanings that few colors can evoke out of you. Lulu’s modest sized heel pumps say to me, fun yet sophisticated. Made of suede, these round toe shoes are great for work or play. The bow trim allows the shoe to not be completely stuffy and conservative. You can pair these with wide leg pants or have some fun and try them with skinny black jeans. Price: $75

Lotus Chain Ankle Boot: I am really trying to get into the ankle boots thing - but I just can’t get myself to buy a pair. Other people seem to really pull it off well, and being the fashionista that I am (or at least try to be) I have to give these a chance. The Lotus Chain Ankle Boot has serious rock star appeal. The studded front strap and and funky chin running underneath the boot are pretty cool. With a 4″ heel, it also has sex appeal allowing almost any pair of legs to look ten times better. It features a side zipper and silver metallic piping that pulls the black suede and silver stud accents together well. Price: $262.

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Delightful Designer Shoes

Friday, December 11th, 2009

DKNY Magee Round Toe Lace Pump: I never really think about wearing anything gold, except for jewelry, but lately I been drawn to golds and silver. Persoanlly, I prefer accessories that are more muted in color and not so shiny, but there is room in my closet for every shoe. Made of suede, these DKNY pumps feel more appropriate for an evening out, than a shoe that would be worn to work or a day out. They have that understated glam-rock feeling to them. The stacked heel measures at 3.75″. Price: $250

Rock & Republic Flame Trim with Crystals Pumps: Man, these shoes are fierce! It’s totally something that you would see Beyonce wearing in one of her videos. They have glitz, glam and rock star appeal. Made of suede and trimmed with metallic gold snakeskin leather and sparkling crystal studs, these pointy heels would improve any outfit. Initially, I would pair these with some great fitting jeans, a fitted white button down shirt, and some bold jewlery. But, I bet you an outfit with some color and funk would probably look even better. The stiletto heel measures at 3.75″ and thankfully it has a padded insole. Price: $465.

Fluevog Audrey Shoes: The design team behind John Fluevog have a very distinct style - they are funky and have a punk rock aesthetic. If you don’t want to go full force and would rather something more subtle, the Audrey shoes are a perfect blend of rock star glam with a classic appeal. The scalloped resin heel and shiny cracked leather offer a fun and flirtatious look. The heel measures at 3 1/2″. It is also available in red - which totally reminds me of a more feminine London punk rock scene. Price: $119

Nuala Coral Hobo: Puma has sure stepped it up in their pursuit for more fashionable yet ever comfortable clothing and sneakers. Their handbag line were always basic in design, yet a better alternative from other sport utility bags. Now with the Nuala Line, a collection by Christy Turlington and Puma, stay tuned for a more fashionable side of Puma. The Nuala Hobo is part of their parachute collection and is made of brushed nylon, a plus for easy cleaning. It features a outside front zip pocket and internal pockets for the essentials. This would be useful as a Spring everyday bag. Seen here in coral, it is also available in black. Bag dimensions: 34 cm x 30 cm x 9 cm. Price: $120.

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Choosing Scarves

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

If you can dream it, you can crochet it. And unfortunately, that’s exactly what your great-aunt Tillie from Milwaukee did on her Knitaway - available from Ronco, free with the Be-Dazzler, circa 1979 - when she gave you that multicolored scarf now hanging in your closet. (I have a storage unit full of Knitaways because I bought so many Be-Dazzlers, by the way. Hello? eBay?)

Great-aunt Tillie seems to be the source for most men’s scarves. Scarves just seem to come into our lives. You don’t realize how you get them, you just get them. They’re like moles.

But just like everything else, you need to buy scarves. You need to have a classic, basic scarf. I recommend a black or grey cashmere scarf - it’s a great introduction to cashmere at about $75. They’re warm, chic, and sophisticated, and they look great with everything. You can wear them with a suit, with a casual sweater, or even jeans and a T-shirt. Those crazy multi-coloured scarves that you get from great-aunt Tillie? Those don’t look good with anything.

The scarf is a big holiday gift, but inevitably you get the one you don’t want. Time to go shopping! After the holidays there are vast quantities of scarves on sale, although selection might be slightly limited. But in most climates, that’s just when you’re going to need one, and you might hit a great deal.

If you can’t do cashmere, look for merino wool or superfine lambs wool. But what�ever you do, keep the fibers real, just like everything else. Avoid scarves made of things like “cashmayre” or “cashmink” or “cashmina”. It’s a plot to trick you. But alas, dear reader, you’ve got me on your side, and you shan’t be duped.

Watch out for novelty scarves, too. If it lights up, plays music, is decorated with a keyboard, or is adorned with any Disney characters whatsoever, just keep looking.

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Choosing Socks

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Men seem to be eternally bewildered about what colour their socks are supposed to be. It’s okay. I’m here for you. First of all, it’s always better to stray on the side of darker socks, meaning your socks can be darker than your suit. Promise me you will never, ever-ever-buy flesh-toned socks. You’ll look like you’re wearing nude panty hose and just those three words - nude panty hose - give me the heebiejeebies. When in doubt, match your sock colour to that of your shoes; it will create a seamless line. You don’t want to match socks to pants, because you could wind up looking like you’re wearing stirrup pants. Basically, if you buy yourself an army of black and brown cotton or silk dress socks, you’ll be just fine. If you want to try some patterned socks, remember to keep it simple. There’s nothing worse than a bold-patterned suit with a patterned sock.

Socks can really invigorate your wardrobe. If you’re wearing casual clothes, you can mix it up with argyles, herringbone, dots, whatever. Go ahead and have yourself a little party in your shoes. It can also be really festive to wear brightly coloured socks - purple, red, yellow, etc. - for occasions like holiday parties, but I say that with extreme caution because this can easily backfire. And just like underwear, any kind of novelty socks (sports figures, superheroes, Valentine’s cupids, Christmas trees, socks that play music, light up, etc.) are to be avoided at all costs. You should also steer clear of any sock that’s provided free of charge, especially airline socks.

Some people like wool socks for when it’s nippy out, but I think most wool socks are scratchy, hot, and tend to trap moisture. They’ve gone the way of the milkman.
They’re outdated. For the ultimate in sock luxury, you can invest in a pair of soft and cuddly cashmere socks. They’ll probably run you around $150, but you didn’t really need to eat much this month, did you? If you can’t afford cashmere socks, you can try a merino wool sock, which is a very high-quality wool, or a wool/cashmere blend. It’s almost like the real thing. Just like that nice “lady,” Suzy, you met at the Vince Lombardi service area on the New Jersey Turnpike! You remember her!

And now we come to one of the pressing questions of our times: How high should your socks be? A good quality dress sock should always be long. They shouldn’t be as long as control-top panty hose, of course, but they should always be long enough to go well up to your calf. I do not want to see the gap between your sock and your pants when you cross your legs. First of all, hopefully your pants will not be that short to start with. (Clam diggers are always the wrong answer.) Your socks should also be able to stay up without Levitra. If your socks are falling down around your ankles, making you look like you have elephantiasis, or you’re wondering where you can find yourself a good pair of sock garters like your great-grandfather Ebenezer wore, it’s time to get new socks. High-quality socks of the proper length should come up to your calf and stay there.

The only exception to the rule is the athletic sock which is a fluffy white cotton sock to be worn with an athletic shoe at the gym. Period. These socks should be shorter. You don’t want to look like a jackass with big tall tube socks up to your knees, like Kristy McNichol wore in Little Darlings. It’s not 1979, people.

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