My Picks!

Left to right: Poppy Tunic Dress, $19.80, www.forever21.com; Adriana Knit Dress, $39.50, www.delias.com; Draped Tube Dress, $22.99, www.charlotte-russe.com; bex beads dress, $149.99, www.usa.frenchconnection.com

Left to right: Grecian Dress, $38.50, www.alloy.com; Jersey dress, $45, www.victoriassecret.com; Safari Belted Pencil Dress, $128, www.ardenb.com; ABS by Allen Schwartz Belted Shirtdress, $258, www.shop.nordstrom.com

If you too aren’t drawn to patterns, try picking dresses in this season’s must-have shapes like the bubble dress but opt for colors you’ll always cherish. Black and other neutrals are classics but summer was meant for color so go live a little!

Advanced Fashion Quiz: Martin's Dream Edition

One of the photos below shows a Eugenia Kim hat, retail price: $312; the other shows an Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie from my new favorite website. Can you tell which is which?

_________________________________

Martin says:
I like the second one.

Susan Marie Designs Jewelry

Fine Jewelry Designer and Goldsmith

The timeless elegance of the finest handcrafted gold, precious gemstone and pearl jewelry awaits you at Susan Marie Phipps' website. A professional goldsmith for twenty-four years, Susan is also a GIA graduate gemologist, using her expertise to select only the most vibrant Diamonds, Tahitian Pearls, fancy colored Sapphire, Tanzanite, and other gemstones for use in her work.





14k Gold & Multicolor Sapphire Pendant

1.38 carats Sapphire

3 mm Japanese Cultured Pearl

18" 14k Yellow Gold 10-strand cable necklace



Susan Phipps began making jewelry while attending a high school class on the subject, in her hometown of Findlay, Ohio. During that period, she received several awards, including a Gold Key Scholastic Award for jewelry in 1979 and 1980. She furthered her study of metalsmithing at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and later at the University of South Carolina.





14k Gold & Spessarite Garnet Earrings

3.09 carats Spessarite Garnet

.10 carats Diamond

14k Yellow Gold



Susan Phipps' professional career began in 1981, when she was employed as a goldsmith, and she continued working for various employers until 1993, when she began her own business. In August 1992, she completed the Gemological Institute of America's program and earned a Graduate Gemologist Degree.





18k Gold & Chrome Tourmaline Ring

1.23 carats Medicine Wheel-cut Chrome Tourmaline

Cut by award winning stone cutter Larry Woods

18k Yellow Gold

Platinum crown



Artist Statement

My experience as a goldsmith enables me to design jewelry that is functional and substantial enough that customers will not have durability problems. To me, this is a basic and fundamental consideration in designing fine jewelry.



As a graduate gemologist, I am aware of the broad spectrum of colored stones available beyond emeralds, blue sapphires and rubies. I always enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for colored stones with others, exciting people with the endless possibilities which exist for coordination of colored gemstone jewelry with fashion.



To this end, I carefully hand-select gemstones of all colors for use in my work. In choosing gemstones, I pay special attention to the quality of the cut and the maximum beauty it has to offer. In addition, I seek stones of exceptional clarity and vibrant color, always with an eye for overall quality and value.



As an artist, I have always been drawn to forms which are graceful and elegant, without being overly complex. I want my designs to enhance and amplify, never crowd or compete with the inherent beauty of the precious material of which they are composed. As I evolve, I will continue to draw on these basic principles of sound design in order to create classical styles that will endure through the seasons of fashion.

AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

2001 American Gem Trade Association's Spectrum Award

1998 26th International Pearl Design Competition

1995 De Beers Diamonds Today Award

1993 21st International Pearl Design Competition

1993 American Vision Award

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Jewelry That Rocks - 28 July 2007

DiSpagna Jewelry Gets Creative with Cold Fusion Jewelry! - 18 December 2007

Susan Barth Jewelry - 27 June 2008

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.

Juicy Couture Jewelry

Juicy Couture



Once upon a time, two women created the cutest velour hoodies and matching drawstring pants. The line was called Juicy Couture and every starlet in Tinseltown had to have one. Soon after, so did the rest of the world. Now the once little brand has blossomed into a fashion empire, complete with clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and most recently, fragrance.





Juicy Couture Onyx Geometric Ring

Geometry is easy to master - pyramids and angled bands create striking linear effect.

14-karat yellow gold plate.

Black onyx.

$92



Juicy Couture was founded in 1997, by Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy, as premium designer, marketer and wholesaler of sexy sophisticated basics. The California-based company is known worldwide for its casual-chic designs, high quality materials and superior craftsmanship. Juicy Couture is embraced by fashionistas from all walks of life, and is also a celebrity favorite.





Juicy Couture 'Vintage Estate' Chain Bracelet

Five linked chains in various finishes and widths comprise a vintage-inspired bracelet centered with tiny heart charms.

Width: 2"

Bar closure.

Length: 7 1/2"

14k gold-plated brass/enamel.

$128



Juicy Couture started out as a women's sportswear line but quickly branched out, and began offering a full line of products. Juicy Couture brings their signature style to their extraordinary line of women's shoes and girl's shoes. For women, Juicy Couture offers a wide array of pumps, sandals, ballet-flats, slippers and boots. Trendy young girls can enjoy a wonderful selection of Juicy Couture sandals and flats.





Juicy Couture Buckle Bracelet

Faux buckle gives a unique look to a wide bracelet.

Magnetic bar closure with clasp lock.

14k gold- or platinum-plated brass.

Width: 1 1/4"

Length: 7"

$128



Juicy Couture embodies all that is chic and glamorous, but lends itself to a relaxed and comfortable way of dressing. Juicy Couture is all about being happy, feeling comfortable, and looking gorgeous.

See full article.





Related Entries:

Juicy Couture Handbag - 22 October 2006

Spring/Summer 07 Jewelry Colors - 27 January 2007

Warm it Up & Be Juicy - 10 February 2007

Couture Jewelry Awards - 04 March 2007

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.

Shooooo(e) La La! What a Haute Blog!

I'm amusing myself with ridiculousness this afternoon. Labeling it and putting it away, not to worry over but placing it in a file for chuckles when needed. Why obsess over media icons - why force one's body to the pain over footwear with spikes to the rear of the soles - why does a fashionista have to love shoes at all—or even follow a single rule of our couture culture - why not let go of any girlish trappings you never wanted? And yes! Hold on to one's website when the site-mistress's feelings toward the subject changes - why can't a blog be living and growing as well the human behind it?

You know this is where I've been for a while (and it has nothing to do with most recent silence - that I think is busy-ness, health and different types of changes - irrelevant in the long-run, don't worry) - BUT have I mentioned that I now, well, can't stand shoes? Mm Hmm. This site started as purely (and fluffily) a shoe blog. With “candy” and star ratings (wow I purchased too many pairs if I was able to serially review them—but it was Zappos with their return policy..). I still could never have too many bags if I were true to my heart and had the magic powers to defy capitolism.... but shoes, well they're necessary, and I wear them of course .... OK not all the time, I will hop in a car to my best friend's house without ever changing from terry slippers! But yes, I even still INSIST I MUST wear CUTE shoes ... and now living in Florida, it's easier. I pretty much only wear/buy Easy Spirit sandals and wedges (yes, wedges my friends, their WEDGES are more comfortable than most flats!) and I don't have to worry about widths. But god - the last time I bought shoes was after moving (and thus needing more of those sandals) last Fall. (And I only plan on one new pair in the recent future - I want sandals in pink!)

So yes, I've sworn off heels, and all designer shoes forever, and will only maintain a mild affection—purely aesthetic and on the Internet — it's still fashion, it's visual art.

And yet (here we are after an insanely long intro) I have a new blog among my favorites, and it's a shoe blog. How writer, Katie, from Shoe La La, can call herself a shoeaholic when each of her posts are so wittily spot-on with their critiques of the silliness of this crazed-after accessory and are so “shamelessly” reasonable (”Oh no she di'in't just type a synonym for “practical”? Oh girlfriend!), yes, reasonable. A woman - a shoeaholic woman. Dissing the glass slipper (even I love the glass slipper at heart - my name is a Cinderella pun, doi) was the post I first discovered thanks to Google images, with her words mimicking my feelings so deeply—and then recent posts—confessions on walking in high heels and sexy-exercising—graphic-edits and craft-name dropping while she unmasks the label “hobby” from the shopaholic disease (shushies!)—and more! *Thump-thump. Thump-thump.* She has my heart and sole.

Her bio confesses how her guilty pleasure developed, and assures, even furthers my blog crush (coining a term here, folks, pay attention) for her. I bet, for her, when the shoe fits she does buy it in every color and wears it happily, for she can appreciate the rarity. *Swoon.*

Yes, blog crush! I want to give her presents ... like hosting where she can earn money from Google Adsense and a divine header logo and custom blog template.... (and not to mention the Google link juice I'm now gving.) I want to claim her with the roses of the Internet! And not just to gain benefit, but because I like her!

Oh but I know she's too good for me - SEO be damned her blog titles are short and merely perfectly creative with not one keyword a necessity. Sighhh.. She smells so sweetly of integrity and perhaps even “not for profit”...

But as I continue to follow her posts, there will always be something. I don't even know where she lives in the real world, but in my heart it works. We have that olive (insert any food here) love/hate thing. I will consume handbags and she will consume shoes. And I know we'd both wear pants. Mine will mostly be sweatpants and even pajama pants, whether it's that same slippers-day or even walking up the street to my friend's house. “Cause rules be damned when you don't even pass anyone on the way - this is a new world of freedom in gender roles! (A world where a woman was a huge candidate for President, and although that goal's ruled out again for a while longer, at least the pantsuits are gone. Roles/schmoles, a woman can't deny her hips!)

Oh and speaking of pants - get your butt over there to read every last post of Shoe La La now. Whether you love shoes or hate them, too, whether your blog-sexuality is straight or what — I know you will love this blog as much as I do!

Just don't like the blogger as much as I do - ok?

April Higashi Enamel Jewelry

Jewelry Designer and Metalsmith

April Higashi is a Bay area jeweler and designer, who is recognized for her work in painted enamel and mixed metals with high karat gold. She earned a BFA from the University of San Francisco, and after a brief stint in the corporate fashion world, April opened her own company. The second order she received was for an amount well into six figures, and her career as an independent designer and artist was launched.





18k Gold Biwa Pearl Ring

Maximum impact with 18k gold.

Biwa coin pearl ring.

Pearl is 12-13mm.

$1570



Born and raised near Salt Lake City, Higashi has always been engaged in making things. Her grandfather, an artist, took her for walks in the mountains, where he would draw, and he was an important influence on her life. By the age of eight, she showed a strong and creatively independent spirit.





Circle Shield Earrings

Oxidized silver frame earrings topped with enamel.

18k gold wires.

$365



Higashi aims to create wearable art that is both comfortable and uniquely beautiful. Her appreciation for wabi-sabi forms - an aesthetic described as beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, or incomplete - has inspired her to invent new techniques, combining Japanese influences with those of modern design and textiles.





Kombacha Earrings

Set in oxidized silver with 18k gold accents.

Black enamel with 24k embedded gold.

Kombacha is Japanese for squash.

18k gold ear wires.

$440



Higashi paints, textures, and etches her enamel surfaces to give them depth and dimension. She experiments with heat and layering to create texture and translucency, firing some pieces as many as thirty times. She accents her work with darkened silver, high-karat gold, and precious gemstones to give the pieces an earthy modern feel.



April's career continues to expand into diverse areas. She does consulting work, is employed as a buyer for a Paris-based clothing business, and is art director for the Jerry Garcia Estate.



Artist Statement

I use enamel to create rich color fields, markings, and textures. By creating layers of glass, I can create translucent paintings. In the process of heating glass in the kiln, there is always an unpredictable element at play. I am attracted to the depth, textures, translucency, and bleeding that occur during firing.



In a sense, I am marking imperfections in layers to create beauty and balance, by utilizing the unique properties of fusing glass with metal. I look to create a simple sense of beauty and leave a timeless imprint for the audience's reflection. My jewelry represents my aesthetic, which is both contemporary and ancient.

See full article.





Related Entries:

April Flower Jewelry Contest - 01 April 2006

April Jewelry Contest - 19 April 2006

April Contest Almost Over! - 27 April 2006

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Contents of this feed are a property of Creative Weblogging Limited and are protected by copyright laws. Violations will be prosecuted. Please email us if you'd like to use this feed for non-commercial activities at feeds - at - creative-weblogging.com.

Ebony and Ivory

Besides being the topic of a classic song, and part of a hilarious karaoke scene in the movie Undercover Brother, ebony and ivory are a fantastic summertime color combination. Not quite as stark as black and white, the two hues compliment each other in a way that says, "I'm sophisticated and effortlessly put together. Don't you wish you could dress this way?"

Well now you can, with this week's Goodwill Good Buy of the Week. The DCGF has pulled together two looks, both of which include pieces that still have the tags on them!

The first ensemble, at right, is comprised of a new-with-tags lightweight sweater by Isda & Co. It's very sheer and requires a camisole to be worn underneath, but the fabric is wonderfully soft. The front placket fastens with covered snaps. The sweater is in a size medium and will fit anywhere from a size 6 to a 10.

The sweater's been paired with a black skirt from Banana Republic. It has a straight style with side zipper, and a fun flounce at the bottom. The ramie/cotton/silk blend is fully lined in acetate and quite resistant to wrinkling from what I can tell. It's also environmentally friendly! The skirt is a size 8 and shows no signs of wear. It's hard to see the detail in this picture of the bottom hem, so look for better pics on the DC Goodwill eBay store later today.

The second outfit is a little dressier, and incredibly flattering to a tall gal, especially (not that I'm biased!). The top is from Tahari and still has the original tag from Neiman Marcus showing that the original price was $198. I know - almost $200! Suffice to say you can acquire it for much less. The top is polyester and has a loose tunic style with a drawstring neckline and belled sleeves. Very boho chic.

In keeping with this loose vibe, I've paired the blouse with 100% silk ivory palazzo pants from Flores & Flores. Fairly new to the world of women's clothing (they were founded in 1999), Flores & Flores features classic design and luxurious fabrics. Similar pants are currently retailing for $250. And these are brand new, too.

Although they're wide at the bottom of the leg, the pants are narrower near the thigh and feature no-waistband styling, creating a fluid line all the way down the body. The key to wearing to loose-fitting pieces like this is that they are well tailored. In the case of the blouse, the waist is defined and the sleeves narrow before they end in the flounce at the wrists. The pants also have pleated inserts of woven silk that flow out from the mid-thigh section, creating a long line down the leg. That way you'll look taller and leaner, not like you're drowning in fabric. Or like you're a mime. Because mimes are scary.


Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on eBay funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.