Jewelry | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Apr 26, 2012

Hop on the Pantone Color of the Year Trend: Tangerine

April 26, 2012 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

The Pantone color of the year is tangerine and great tangerine items are popping up everywhere for summer! Here are a few of the best ways to rock the hot tangerine trend this summer.

Bag

Marc by Marc Jacobs Pot Holders Rosie: A fun and bright bag for summer that is perfect for any fun in the sun outing.

Dress

Mason by Michele Mason Color Block Tank Maxi Dress: Get two trends in one with this tangerine and white color block dress! The perfect dress for either a relaxed day or upscale outdoor function.

Makeup

Sephora+Pantone Color of the Year Set: This is a wonderful makeup set that plays off the tangerine color trend while still keeping a pretty and easy to wear look. A great value set!

Scarf

Made Well Victory Scarf: A beautiful and functional scarf with varying shades of orange and tangerine.

Watch

Rumba Time Fresh Squeeze Perry Slap Watch: A bright orange watch for summer fun!

Shoe

Rag and Bone Sigrid Thong Flat Sandals: A comfy flat sandal with a thong toe and a touch of on trend tangerine.

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Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion, Handbags, Jewelry, Makeup, Palettes and Collections, Shoes Tagged With: Dress, Handbags, Pantone, Sephora, Shoes

Nov 21, 2011

How to Shop for Diamond Jewelry

November 21, 2011 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Diamonds are timeless, quite literally. They have actually been around since the age of the dinosaurs – most diamonds that are dug from the ground today are hundreds of millions of years old.

But the allure of diamonds is not their age. The allure of diamonds is all about their timeless beauty – the sparkle, the scintillation, the fire.

So how do you go about shopping for diamonds, and making sure that you are getting a fair deal? Here are some tips that will help ensure your next diamond – be it a ring, a pendant, or if you are very lucky, a bracelet – is not only a great stone, but also a good deal.

How To Shop for Diamond Jewelry

The magic of a diamond is a combination of brilliance and fire. Brilliance is the white light that is reflected off the diamond, fire is the flash of colors that is emanating from within the diamond. The best combination of the two is a balance, and it is achieved by careful cutting of the stone. If you are looking at a ring, ask to see a "brilliant" cut, which will give you the best combination of brilliance and fire.
Don't get too hung up on the clarity grade. Again, this is mostly about diamond rings (or else a gorgeous pendant or earrings). VS1 or VS2 is fine (meaning "very slightly included"). You don't need a diamond that is internally flawless, or even near flawless. You would pay a huge premium, and most people could never see the difference, even with a jeweler's loupe.
For color, the J – M range should give you a bright, white diamond that will look fabulous in most lighting situations. The most widely accepted color range is the Gemological Institute of America's grading system, which runs from D – Z. The top end of the range, D – J, is colorless and near-colorless, which gets really pricey. The K – M range will be so slightly "colored" you probably won't notice any yellowish color unless you're a gemologist.
How many carats do you want? Here's a little secret – the jewelry industry has certain carat weights that they call "magic" weights. They call them magic because the customers' demand for those weights is so high, the industry can actually increase the price-per-carat at those points. The most common "magic" weight for most of us is the 1 carat mark. A diamond that weighs 0.98 carats may cost $3500 per carat. A diamond that weighs 1.01 carat might cost $4500 per carat. That's because you've crossed the "magic" 1 carat threshold, and the price goes up exponentially. If you can live without the bragging rights of "my diamond is over a carat," then look for a ring just under the carat, and put the rest of the money to your honeymoon.
For rings and other pieces, consider platinum or white gold settings, rather than yellow gold. The white setting will make the stone look even more brilliant.
Shop from a reputable source. There are many well-known jewelry stores out there. For most of us, they are the best place to go. Department stores are not in the business full time, and you will not get as good a deal as you will from a reputable jeweler. Be really, really wary about buying over the internet.
Tell the jeweler that you want "conflict-free" diamonds only. This means that the stone you purchase is certified as not coming from a region where diamond profits have been used to conduct wars. Not only is this good citizenship, it will help filter the good jewelers from the shady ones. Any jeweler who cannot supply "conflict-free" certification is not someone you want to buy from anyway.
Finally, after you choose your diamond jewelry, make sure to get adequate paperwork before you leave with it. At a minimum, your paperwork should include an accurate description of your jewelry, including its clarity and color grade, along with a full warranty. Better jewelry stores will also provide full return privileges for a period following your purchase.

The best advice of all? Once you have followed these steps, and made sure you are getting a good deal, ask yourself one final question. Do I love this piece of diamond jewelry? If you can instantly say "yes," then it's a match made in heaven.

Jennifer Wenger is a freelance writer who writes about fashion, travel, and design. Her most recent article focused on how to make a fashion statement with your umbrella.

Filed Under: Accessories, Jewelry Tagged With: Jewelry, Wedding

Jul 5, 2011

Look Slim With Layers, Prints, and Fashion Accessories

July 5, 2011 By Carleenp Leave a Comment

Guest Post: Look Slim with Layers, Prints and Fashion Accessories

If the diet isn’t going to plan or there isn’t enough time to reach your ideal weight before the big event don’t give up just yet. Carry on the good work but turn to plan B for some instant tricks to flatter your shape. Here’s five fab tips on how to shrink yourself slim with busy prints, big handbags, bold jewelry and nifty footwear.

Grab a Supersize Handbag

Ditch the dainty clutch bag and go for an oversized handbag and still stay the centre of attention. Nothing says more about your style personality than a luxe handbag. Think Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy for 1950’s fashion inspiration and monster size handbags. Princess Grace of Monaco made famous the big bag look when she was seen carrying a large tote to conceal her pregnancy. The Hermes Kelly Handbag was named after her and still has the longest waiting list in the world!

The luxury looking tote is still as popular today as back then and guaranteed to make you the envy of them all. Investing in a classic accessory will appeal to chic and stylish women who know how to tap into their inner style guru. Clever positioning of a super size bag can camouflage any trouble spots making you feel more confident with your appearance. However, holding a small purse-like bag will have the reverse effect.

Lay on the Layers

Accentuate your assets with softly draped layers, loose fitting kimonos, jersey cardigans and sheer over blouses. Slim your body and wear layers over a pair of slinky tailored trousers for a smoother silhouette. Wearing layers doesn’t mean adding bulk, work the latest sheer trend for some slim busting styles. For special occasions and daytime events like weddings try an elegant waterfall jacket over a bias cut dress or floaty skirt.

Delicate fabrics, chiffon and lightweight georgette are perfect for a summer wardrobe. Discover how to streamline your figure for the best look on the beach. A demi sheer sarong over a flower print swimsuit is a chic way to cover up and will get you from poolside to bar in true style.

Divert the Eye with Punchy Prints

Dress yourself slim in eye-catching prints, look leggy in the latest maxis or flash your booty in rainbow brights. A touch of style wizardry works wonders for a womanly shape. Curves in all the right places, long and lean looks plus a flattering derriere is yours with the right outfit for your shape. A medley of floral delights, graphic and paisley prints is a sure way to divert the eye and brighten your look.

Black has always been known for its slimming qualities but head to toe in black is not for everyone. Instead opt for a mix of prints and black, wearing the darker shade at your heaviest part. Focus on your best bits and use catwalk trends of dazzling prints and vibrant pops of colour to your advantage.

Walk Tall in Strappy Shoes

Create the perfect long legged look and trim down in a pair of strappy high heels. If you struggle in heels keep your balance in the latest wedge shoes or platforms to give you extra height without the wobble. It’s not always heel height that makes you appear thinner, the shape of the heel and straps have a lot to say too. Different features work in various ways which can accentuate a trim ankle or lengthen the leg.

A low fronted shoe and T-bar elongates the leg and shows off a slender ankle whereas ankle straps do no favours for a thicker ankle. The ankle strap cuts off the leg and draws the eye to the least flattering part of the leg. Whereas sling-backs with a narrow heel as high as your comfort level will go, is a winning style that works well for most people.

Make Accessories Work for You

In addition to shoes and bags other key items can be used to trim your appearance and balance your proportions. Accessories are a great way to update a look and can be used to introduce colour and shape to your wardrobe. Belts, scarves, hats and jewelry all have their part to play in the slimming game.

Belts worn cleverly can help add shape where needed and also balance the upper and lower body’s appearance. Wide statement belts can be worn low to give the illusion of a longer body and petite frames can use the same trick but with narrower belts. Wear large earrings to draw the eye to your face and long layered chains and necklaces to give the body a leaner line alternatively try a long scarf tied loosely around the neck to make your body appear taller.

Remember, no matter how long it takes to lose those pounds you can still look great by dressing yourself slim with clever use of fashion and accessories.

Sally Cooke writes for Mother of the Bride Outfits and has a keen interest in ladies fashion and helping ladies choose what to wear to a wedding or other special occasion event.