The Look for Less: Crystal Charm Bracelet

The Look:

kate spade "Lady Marmelade," $225.

For Less:Talbot's, $49.

Ann Taylor, $65.

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Comme les hommes

Comme les hommes by deja pseu featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs

J'adore menswear inspired looks. This one is femme'd up a bit with jewelry from Beladora 2.
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Another retailer gets a makeover

So yesterday while at the mall to pick up some birthday cards, I passed by a window that made me do a double-take. In a good way. "Isn't this where Ann Taylor used to be?" mused une femme. To my surprise, the window still belonged to Ann Taylor, but a very updated Ann Taylor. This retailer lost me a few years back when they decided to throw their lot in with a younger, thinner customer looking for (as the parlance goes) more "body conscious" styles (e.g. tight and skimpy). Any item with more fabric than a spaghetti strap was either a snorefest or just too "debutante-wannabe" for my taste.

But (can you hear une femme's Hallelujah Chorus?), they are under the influence of a new designer, and look at some of what they're offering for fall!

This tweed jacket looks GREAT on! The collar can be worn open or buttoned up, works either way.

A flattering pencil skirt cut at a perfect length!


I was sorely tempted by this cardigan in grey (color available in stores, doesn't seem to be online).

If I were more of a blouse person, I would have been all over this ruffled number, c'est tres chic!

I need this scarf for Paris. (In the "Woodberry" color, s'il vous plait.) Content is 99% wool, 1% spandex.

A positively Chanel-esque necklace.

These heels are a bit too high pour moi, but love the shape and the tweed.

And that topper pictured at the top of the post...stunning!! I came home with the pencil skirt, and may go back for the tweed jacket and the scarf....
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Not my grand-mere's pearls...

I'm crazy for these Chan Luu pearl and leather bracelets from Garnet Hill. This combination adds edge to a classic.Pearl and nugget wrap bracelets, $158-168.

Multistrand leather bracelet, $180.

Leather and pearl wrap bracelet, $138. I want that blue one!
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Bijoux in the News

Pieces that feel special but without over-the-top glitz make sense right now, says L.A.-based jewelry designer Devon Leigh. "People are reaching back to the earth and to things that happen naturally," she explains. "There are a lot of negative things happening in the world, and ideas found in nature are balancing and comforting." Leigh uses geodes -- plain on the outside, glittery crystal on the inside -- in her work, slicing them for one-of-a-kind earrings and necklace pendants.

I've always had an appreciation for naturalistic jewelry, and Devon Leigh has some wonderful designs in utilizing natural materials and motifs.

Her website also offers a selection of lovely pieces for under $200. Just in time for Mothers' Day!

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Fake it 'til you make it

One item that's been on my wishlist for quite a while now is a longer pearl necklace. But I don't want just any old demure pinky-extended-four-o'clock-tea pearls. I want some pearls with presence, pearls that dance to the blues and ride in a convertible with the top down, pearls that are more Basie than Bach.

Earlier this week, Duchesse posted about Priceless Imperfections pearls, and after perusing the website, I've found my ideal pearl necklace. But, drat my timing, between paying last year's taxes and saving for this year's vacation, we've put ourselves on a spending moratorium. So I'm really glad that last month I jumped on these faux Gerard Darel beauties from luxcouture.com. Aren't they fun?

I'll confess now that with the exception of my engagement/wedding ring, my Wendy B "Diana" necklace and a gold chain or two, almost all my bijoux are of the costume variety. I covet and admire many pieces of the real stuff, but for the most part, les bijoux faux seem to fit my life and style a bit better. There's less worry about loss and theft, and far less guilt about picking up a little something new when inspiration strikes.

What's your jewelry style, faux or real or a mix of both?
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On Safari with...Talbots????

Definitely seeing a new aesthetic. Batik print tunic, $79.

According to InStyle, "Safari" is one of the hot spring trends.

Talbot's has it covered.

Safari Blouse, $139.

I never expected to see something like this from Talbots:
Silk Halter Dress, $199. (Wish it was a better print, though.)

But by far, some of the best safari-themed looks can be found in accessories.


Faux horn cuff, $49.


Ikat linen wrap, $59.

Exotic bead charm bracelet, $69.

Bamboo-handled bag, $199.
Cane print Wellies, $59. (OK, so these aren't exactly consistent with the "safari" theme, but I thought they were fun.)

Tumbled leather hobo, $159.

Botanical print scarf, $59.
Bead necklaces, $109 and $89.
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The Bold and the Beautiful

Statement jewelry is back in a big way, and my favorite LA-based jewelry designer, Devon Leigh, has some offerings right in line with this trend. I love the naturalistic style of her pieces, and the unique way she utilizes her materials. I have a couple pairs of her earrings, and would love to add some of these pieces to my collection.

Green tuquoise and amethyst necklace, $825.

Lapis nugget and amber CZ necklace, $675.

Black Drusy Quartz wire wrapped ring $325. (stone dipped in 24K gold, wire is 14K)

18K gold-dipped cuff, $245.

Figure eight earrings, $240.

Amethyst slice pendant and gold chain, $750. Isn't this just stunning???

Gold and amber circle earrings (5" long), $495. I love amber but you so rarely see it paired with gold.

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Do The Right Thing, Win Some Bling

Wendy Brandes is auctioning off some of her gorgeous jewelry to raise money to help cover medical expenses for blogger Stephanie Neilsen who was severely burned in a small plane crash last month. Go! Bid!

Edited to add: Wendy has upped the ante! She also has a link up for donations via Paypal for those who aren't bidding or would like to make additional contributions. Bid here.

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From the tiny acorn...

I suppose it's inevitable. Being an Autumnophile, une femme has developed a sentimental fondness for kitschy fall themes. I'm irrationally charmed by accessories featuring pumpkins, colorful fall foliage, oak leaves and especially acorns.

But tread carefully, mes petites. When it comes to acorn accessories (or anything with a seasonal theme), there's not a lot of real estate between "kitsch" and "nauseatingly hokey." I've found a few pieces that can claim residence on the right side of the tracks, or at least can be worn with a bit of insouciant irony.Acorn earrings with black freshwater pearl, $49.


Wood acorn charm bracelet, J.Crew $85.

So how cute is this?? Acorn necklace, J.Crew $125. (According to InStyle, it's now OK to go matchy-matchy with necklaces and bracelets.)

But here's the Holy Grail of acorn jewelry...

Wendy Brandes, $6,000.
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Pearls of Wisdom

"A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls," said Coco Chanel, who was known to toss as many as seven around her neck for everything from heading to the office to hopping on a horse. Though hers were real, she teamed up with jeweler Fulco di Verdura to produce costume pieces featuring glass pearls, so women wouldn't have to shell out to step out in style.

Real pearls are best worn next to the skin; the oils in the skin will improve and preserve the nacre.

Spray le parfum and allow to dry before putting your pearls on, and don't let any alcohol-based sprays come in contact with your pearls.

Store pearls hanging.

Une femme owns only one small graduated strand of real pearls, inherited from her grand mere, and several costume strands of varying lengths. I borrow a page from Mademoiselle's book, and layer multiple strands with or without other necklaces, but usually stop far short of seven.

March 12 was my grandmother's birthday, so I think of her on this day. Some of her pearls of wisdom:

"There's no point in having nice things if you don't use them."

"Life is too short to spend time with people you don't like."

Smart lady, and she could really rock the red lipstick.

Coco photo from here.

Diamonds Really Can Be a Girl's Best Friend

Victorian bracelet from BELADORA.com.

One of my readers has asked me to pass this along:

Our Estate Jewelry Website will be donating 2% of our online sales over the Holiday Season to the Lynne Cohen Foundation which funds groundbreaking research to support the survival rates for women with ovarian cancer. This cause is very important because the survival rates for ovarian cancer are shockingly low. We would like to increase public awareness of this and hopefully do for ovarian cancer what the Susan B. Komen Foundation has done for breast cancer. Please help us by telling your readers about BELADORA.COM and the LynneCohenFoundation.org.

I've never purchased anything from Beladora, but I perused the website yesterday and they have some really gorgeous and unique pieces. I love jewelry with history. If you're looking for something sparkly and special, please do go check them out.