jewelry

Amazingly Affordable Holiday Jewelry

December 11, 2012 at 1:57 pm , by Gabrielle Porcaro

You are probably too busy thinking about the gifts you are buying for others to think about buying anything for yourself, but you might be in need of a little holiday glam. Don’t put off planning your festive attire for all the parties and merriment taking place. Now’s the time to search your closet to see what you might need to update your go-to holiday looks. Instead of investing in a new outfit you will wear once, grab a piece of jewelry. And no need to speed a ton! We know you are just a price conscious as we are these days so this isn’t the time to splurge on yourself. Here are 10 jewels that look way than the under $50 price tag they cost.

 

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Do Good: Help Bees, Look Good!

May 16, 2011 at 1:24 pm , by Gabrielle Porcaro

I’ve never really been a big fan of bees. Between the time they stung me when I was 8 years old and killing Macaulay Culkin in My Girl, they haven’t exactly been my favorite. But two of my favorite brands (the maker of, in my opinion, the best lip balm ever, Burt’s Bees, and one of my favorite jewelry designers, Helen Ficalora) teamed up with the Pollinator Partnership to raise awareness about the increased threat to pollinators in our country. Bees and other pollinators (butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds and bats) play a crucial roll in our food system and help maintain our natural ecosystem. But pesticides, habitat loss and disease have put them on the endangered species list.

Burt’s Bees has been working with the Pollinator Partnership for years but this year in honor of National Pollinator Week, Helen Ficalora joined the cause. This cute sterling silver beehive charm and chain costs $100 and comes with Burt’s Bees tinted Lip Balm in Pink Blossom (which was our pick for best lip balm in our First Annual “This Stuff Works” Beauty Awards). 100 percent of the proceeds will go to providing a school with a Bee Smart School garden kit, which will help students learn how vital pollinators are and allow them to create bee-friendly gardens.

This is a win-win all around. A beautiful necklace, a fabulous lip balm and helping the bees. Because even though they sting and their buzzing can be annoying, life wouldn’t be the same with out them!

To purchase the charm or donate visit pollinator.org/beesmart.htm

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Go Ask Gab: The New Statement Necklace

March 29, 2011 at 4:50 pm , by Gabrielle Porcaro

Hey Gab, I have so many short statement necklaces, I would love an update for spring. What’s the newest trend? – Samantha

If we haven’t drilled it into your brains yet, I will say it one more time: The 70′s are back! (insert some Studio 54 reference here). As we showed you in our April accessories story, the long medallion style is a big trend for spring. Whether you’re looking for something simple or a little more bling (a la Flavor Flav‘s clock), there’s a plethora for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for something classic and simple, how about this sweet oval locket from J. Crew? Necklaces like a black pendant from Jules Smith or a this gold horn, from Julie Collection, are also classic pieces to have in your collection.

Animal jewelry is still around in a big way. Whether you like this diamond feline necklace from Forever 21 or you’re feeling this pave snake necklace from Eden, you can’t go wrong with adding an animal (or two or three) to your look! (Hey, sometimes more is more!)

Tassels are also quite popular. Ann Taylor has this great tassel necklace and Monet has this lighter more delicate version. If you are looking for color, Kendra Scott is your girl. She has great long necklaces with colorful pendant stones for under $50 (this emerald stone is on sale today for $32).

A huge pendant certainly becomes the focal point of your outfit. This Rachel Rachel Roy necklace will have everyone wanting a piece of your heart. I’m also currently obsessed with this Theodora & Callum navy drop necklace. As you can see in this picture taken last summer, I often have the “go big or go home” philosophy when it comes to jewelry! (Flavor Flav and I clearly have that in common.)

So whatever you’re looking for, these necklaces are easy to pair with your wardrobe. Put one on with a shift dress or a t-shirt and jeans. Or throw on a jumpsuit, some platforms and rock an entire 70′s look. Now I suddenly need to listen to some Bee Gees…

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3 Sweet Deals on Jewelry

August 5, 2010 at 5:48 pm , by Megan Finnegan

Accessorizing is the easiest way to jazz up an old outfit or try out a trend without committing your entire season’s wardrobe budget. Today we’ve got some fabulous deals from savings.com on jewelry to liven your look.

Manhattanite
15% off all jewelry
Our pick: Foxy Originals Lilith Earrings

> Get Manhattanite 15% off coupon
> All Manhattanite Deals

 

Ice.com
20% off entire order
Our pick: 1/2 Carat Diamond Sterling Silver Pendant w/ Black Rhodium & Chain

> Get the Ice.com 20% off coupon
> All Ice.com Deals

 

My Jewelry Box
20% off entire order
Our pick: Antique Vintage Amber Ring in Sterling Silver

> Get My Jewelry Box 20% off coupon
< All My Jewelry Box Deals

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Design It Yourself: Jewelry Design Goes Digital

June 15, 2010 at 3:48 pm , by Chelsea Rae Simmons

Hi ladies, I’m Chelsea, the new fashion and beauty intern at LHJ, and I’m here to give you the scoop on a cool new jewelry DIY tool.

Love Heals launched its custom Design Studio so would-be designers like me (seriously, it’s crazy how much I spend on beads and chains), can design the perfect piece of jewelry without actually having to make it.

You can choose from a selection of charms, pendants and strands to create anything from a simple cord necklace (like this pretty number I made, at right) to a pair of lavish pearl chandelier earrings. After you submit and purchase your design, your jewelry is handcrafted by their California-based artisan team and sent to you in two weeks. The Design Studio is easy to navigate and use and it’s not too expensive: A custom piece of jewelry can cost you less than $100—my necklace clocks in at $90.

Another good reason to shop: Love Heals is committed to doing good. They use ethically-sourced materials for their jewelry and have planted more than 432,000 trees with GreenerEthiopia.org. And if that wasn’t great enough, here’s another huge shopping bonus: If you design a custom piece, you can buy it for 40 percent off with the promo code DESIGN40! Enter the code, which is good until June 30, at checkout.

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Sentimental Jewelry: The Pieces I Cherish

April 6, 2010 at 12:51 pm , by Sue Erneta

I love costume jewelry. It can make a huge impact on an otherwise boring outfit. But if I had to give up all my jewelry and keep just a few pieces, it would be the sentimental ones over the costume any day. Not because they’re worth more, cost-wise, but because they mean the most to me. I love the antique diamond earrings my parents gave me to wear for my wedding, my sapphire engagement ring that my husband’s late father made in the 80s, my wedding band, and Weli’s gold bracelets. That’s Weli in the picture and she’s wearing those little gold bangles. She was my husband’s grandmother and she passed away in 2005.

When Pablo and I were first dating, it was his love for his grandmother that made me begin to fall in love with him. A native of Argentina, her English wasn’t perfect (but it was better than my Spanish!) so our communication was a little strained. Our visits to her little apartment in Queens were filled with Pablo and Weli speaking in Spanish while I watched TV or read a magazine. But I always remember that “clink-clink-clink” sound of her gold bangles. She wore them everyday and I never thought much of them—as a fashion statement, that is—but when she passed away and my sister-in-law asked if I wanted any of her jewelry, I didn’t hesitate.

I’m wearing them today and they’re making that “clink-clink-clink” sound as I type. It reminds me of Weli and how she called me her “4th grandchild.” And that makes me smile.

So, tell me—what jewelry do you wear that has sentimental meaning?

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Talbots is Cool

March 29, 2010 at 11:12 am , by Sue Erneta

I love Michael Smaldone. Who’s he, you ask? Well, just the genius Creative Director who has transformed Talbots into a really cool brand. Have you noticed how good Talbots is looking lately? Michelle Obama has. And when the best dressed woman in America is wearing it, so should you.

It’s kind of crazy when my mom’s favorite brand is suddenly appealing to me—and I’m not even 40 yet! (Okay, I know I’m getting close but I still shop at American Eagle so clearly I’m fighting that “40-something-look” every way I can!) Their clothes are cut a little closer to the body now, and their jewelry is looking downright modern. And the bags? Don’t get me started on the bags. At their recent fall presentation, I was drooling over all the gorgeous (and well-priced) styles. You’ll have to wait for fall to get the get the one pictured here but you can find other great handbag styles on their website right now. I particularly love this little camel clutch so much that we featured it in our March fashion feature. I’m also dying over this python-embossed leather clutch. And bonus: Most bags cost well under $300, with many under $200.

If that wasn’t enough to get you running to your nearest Talbots, how about this: They’re not just promoting looking good, but they’re doing good too. Talbots is giving $200 gift cards to 600 female veterans as part of Maria’s Shriver’s WE Support program that helps veterans transitioning back to civilian life. In addition, 2,100 military spouses will receive Talbots 30% off discount cards. Now, that’s something that makes shopping feel even better.

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