JEWELRY

I bought a pair of big-impact gold earrings when winter was fading away, and I’ve been waiting to wear them, impatiently, since then. Summer is my favorite time for large gold earrings. I always feel like I’m on some tropical island as they jangle from my ears, even if I’m just on a balcony overlooking a noisy street.

Hopefully you wear your SPF-15+ dutifully and so the only tan you have is one you got from a bottle. But that doesn’t make it look any less pretty. Gold earrings pick up the sun, and compliment a tan.

I’m very much in love with the Kenneth Jay Lane Coin Chandelier Earrings ($68.00) from Nordstrom. They’re large enough that they’ll stand out even if you wear your hair down. Then again, in the ‘tropical’ heat, pulling your hair into a messy bun is often called for. Don’t let your ears go naked.

Another pair you might enjoy are the Gurhan Dangling Leaf-Flake Earrings ($1,400.00) from Neiman Marcus.

A more interesting take on the (by this point, standard) ‘feather’ trend are the Annette Ferdinandsen Peacock Earrings ($740.00) at Barney’s. The shape of these peacock earrings is bold, and unmistakable. Always rather fascinated with peacocks, I have some (fake) peacock feathers as decoration in my room. Oddly enough, the first report I can remember doing in grade school was on peacocks. I remember thinking it was such a big deal. This was before first graders were texting their Moms from the playground, so

none of us could type. I was lucky to have my friend’s Mom type it for me – and I felt extremely special. I may not be able to get that same feeling from that, but these earrings might do the trick.

To round these out: Jill Alberts’ Medallion Earrings ($1,950.00) from Neiman Marcus have a tribal feeling that I dig.

Here’s to living in sublime style,

Jessica Rae

You may not actually be going to on a safari unless you’re Angelina Jolie, but you can still dress for it. As an FYI: I hold the same belief for going skiing. You won’t find me on the slopes since I don’t want to fall down a gazillion times and I most certainly would – but I will dress the part of a snow bunny if I feel like it.

When girls go for the safari look, they go glam. Bold prints, glittering diamonds, bright colors, and big beaded baubles all come into play. And let’s emphasize that word – play.

[ Pictured right: Kenneth Jay Lane Panther Necklace (SALE $80.90) at Saks Fifth Avenue. I don’t know why it has spots, maybe it’s actually a leopard? Or, maybe it’s in disguise? What? That’s not crazy! Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. …Alexis totally will, when she reads this. I know it. Me = psychic.]

The safari look is not for a dull woman whose idea of a good night is watching the news and eating a handful of MnM’s while wearing a beige colored robe. God… I feel ill just thinking of that type of person. The safari look is about having fun.

[ Pictured left: Dooney & Bourke Zebra Watch ($110.00) at bloomingdale’s.]

Remember fun?

Isn’t it about time you had some? Yea, I think so too.

[ Pictured right: D&G Dolce & Gabbana Leopard Glass Bead Necklace ($195.00) at Nordstrom. It matches this bracelet.]

Betsey Johnson has incorporated a lot of leopard print into her latest jewelry collection. I don’t like it all, but there
are some pieces that I think are very appealing, as in: me likey! (Mirela said that phrase to me once and it’s stuck in my head.)

[ Pictured left: Betsey Johnson Leopard Necklace ($40.00) at Macy’s.]

Arianna and Brenae – now it’s your turn to either talk about safari-esque clothing, and/or tell us what to wear with our safari-inspired pieces of jewelry so we don’t look ridiculous. Are you up for your mission?!

Here’s to living in sublime style,

Jessica Rae

Much like everyone else, I love headbands right now. They are a really simple way to make your hair look great without investing effort you don’t have because you stayed up till 3 a.m. the night before watching bad movies with your best friend (or maybe something something more scandalous).

I really like the Jennifer Ouellette Triple Skinny Headband ($65.00) at Barney’s because the pink color will show up perfectly in my brunette hair and, to me, it’s more visually interesting than a big thick band. For those of who you are blondies – don’t fret. There’s other colors if you think the pink won’t show in your hair.

Style tip: Always wear headbands in a color that contrasts enough from your hair color so that it will show up in your hair.
Not only do I covet this model’s hair color (will I ever give in and dye my hair to a deep auburn?), but I want the headband she’s sporting. If you feel a similar urge of lust, it’s the Marc by Marc Jacob’s Hairband w/ Charms ($88.00) and you can get it at Saks Fifth Avenue.

This would be the perfect little accessory to wear for a job interview. For ideas on what else to wear for a job interview, take a look at what our Brenae’s suggested. If you don’t already have a chic, black pencil skirt like the one she posted, what are you waiting for?

I have a weakness for butterflies and while sometimes they can look tremendously tacky, they can also look ethereal and beautiful. Such is the case with the Tasha Butterfly Headband ($48.00) at Nordstrom. If you aren’t someone who wears loud things, then save this for a special occasion, because it can and will look romantically elegant with a gown.

However, I fully believe that you can wear this during the day as well. And see the model’s hair? I love those curls. They’re a little messy, but not a rat’s nest. Anyway, If you want a variation of this type of headband, there’s one with a flower.
Here’s to living in sublime style,

Jessica Rae

This is my follow-up post to the one I wrote about sunglasses with creative details. You’ll more than one pair of sunglasses this spring and summer because there are so many great trends for 2008. The trend that should be surprisingly nobody? Color. (Or colour, if you’re British, or just pretentious.) 

The Chloé Hakea Sunglasses from Saks ($330.00) come in Milk Coffee or Navy frames. Am I greedy if I want a pair in each color?

Burberry never disappoints – and you’d let me know if they did, right? Their Women’s Crystal Grey Sunglasses from bloomingdale’s ($210.00) look so devastatingly divine that I think whoever wears them leaves a trail of diamonds in her wake. Grey might not be the boldest color ever, but it is different than black or brown. And it’s much better when spelled with an E instead of an A. Who wants to wear gray when you can wear grey?

Red is a power color, but it looks almost demure when used for the MARC BY MARC JACOBS Oversized Square Sunglasses with Rhinestone Pyramid Detail from Nordstrom ($98.00). Am I crazy to think that something can be demure that also has rhinestones? Well, maybe I am. 

Tip: Wearing big sunglasses that pull the focus from your eyes is all the more reason to make sure your lips are taken care of.

I’m so pleased to see that our very own Alexis has located places in the city where you can take your dog with you as you eat, and if the place is close enough to walk to – wear your colored shades to make sure your adorable pooch doesn’t steal all the limelight. No one should be upstaged by a dog.

Here’s to living in style,

Jessica Rae