Style Lush

Black Lacquer Rings

By Leah

I woke up this morning with the phrase "black lacquer ring" in my head. I have no idea what that was about, but when I thought about it for a second I realized what a cool accessory that would be; you (or maybe just I) don't see a lot of black rings out there these days. I love that they can take on different looks--classic to funky--and go with a range of trends, from neutral or neon. I especially love the idea of a black ring in spring and summer. 

Forever 21, for less than five dollahs!

Vintage, from Elephant Caravan on Etsy ($25)

Vintage bakelite bubble ring, from Anciennes on Etsy ($35)

Fingerprint Charm

By Blythe

I have been quietly scoping out mothers' necklaces since my son was born. I would really like something subtle, high quality, and personal. It has to look OK as a single charm, since my son is most likely going to be an only child. Also, I'm really picky about jewelry. 

Did I mention my kid turned five a couple of weeks ago? Yeah. Really picky.

I have finally found a charm that I love. Send a fingerprint and this artist will create a sterling silver engraving with a name and birth date on the back.

Fingerprint Charm by Chris Parry

Chris's Etsy shop is full of clever items, including pretty fingerprint rings, personalized bar code cuff links, and engraved guitar picks. Love.

{photo credit: Chris Parry on Etsy}

Jewelry Wish List

By Megan

I think my best and worst discovery of this month is the Nordstrom app for my iPhone. From the ability to browse and purchase directly from the app, to quickly adding items to my wish list, I've got a major case of the gimmes. Although, I think adding items to my wish list is temporarily sating my need for said items.

I'm keep coming back to these pendant necklaces.

There's a matching set of bracelets that I'm drawn to also, although I rarely, if ever, wear a bracelet, and I'm not really the matchy-matchy jewelry kind of girl.

These just scream summer to me, and they're making me dream of lounging on a sandy beach with a cold drink in my hand. I don't suppose the Nordstrom app can help me with that part, though.

{Photo Credit: Nordstrom.com}

 

The Push Present

By Hillary

Look, I know the term is a bit gauche but I like the idea. Not in a "buy me a ridiculously expensive diamond for bestowing upon you an heir" sort of way but in a "wow, these last 40 weeks* and in particular, these last few hours** have really sucked for you. Have something pretty!" kind of way. 

* plus five days in my case

** eighteen for me!

My push present was given to me by my lovely older sister (who is currently carrying my first nephew and can expect her own non-diamond push present from me.) My husband is awesome and generous and kind and ... totally not into push presents. Something about the baby being the gift at the end blah blah blah talk to me when you've birthed an 8lb 6.5oz baby out of your lady bits without an epidural, sir. 

My sister had local artist Trudy Chalmers make a beautiful silver necklace stamped with my son's name and I honestly don't think I've ever treasured a material object so much. 

Did you receive a push present? Did it come from your partner or from someone else? 

{Photo credit: aforementioned (blog-less, Twitter-less) lovely older sister, Tara}

A Spin on the Classic Stud Earring

By Sara

There are times when a classic stud diamond (or CZ!) or pearl earring is perfect. Stud earrings go the distance and can be worn as easily to the grocery store as a night on the town with your favorite person. But sometimes you want just a little something more, a little something unexpected and these earrings are just right:

The Blooms Stud Earrings from Vale Jewelry come in silver or gold-plated and have six little cubic zirconia crystals in the center. At $30 a pair, you can buy both! I think these tiny beauties could bring that extra sparkle to your day. Or wrap them up and give them to someone you think deserves a special treat. 

Birthstone Tag Necklace

By Elisabeth

Ever since I had my third (and final!) boy in April, I joked with my husband that I needed a 3-diamond pendant to wear around my neck since all three kids were born in the month of the diamond birthstone.

(Hey, it's a legitimate request, right? Say YES! Please.)

Of course, a necklace like that is definitely something to save up for. So, until that day, my husband surprised me with this birthstone tag necklace from Isabelle Grace Jewelry for Christmas.

Isn't it so cool?

I've had a love for Isabelle Grace Jewelry since my husband gave me their photo pendant necklace with my first two children.

Definitely the best gift under my tree this year.

{photo credit: me}

Knot-free Traveling with Jewelry

By Kate

I usually travel with jewelry, and while it's nice to have once I get to my destination, packing it can be a pain. I've tried every jewelry roll and box on the market and this gold beauty from Z Gallerie's Everglades collection is my current favorite:

Travel boxes like this one (on the lower left) are great for earrings and rings, but in these and most jewelry rolls, necklaces still manage to get tangled and knotted and generally turn into a huge mess.

Enter Real Simple, via Pinterest:

Take drinking straw. Insert necklace. Clasp it together. Done. Easy, pretty much free, fits in a jewelry roll (or heck, even a ziploc bag, which I have used plenty of times) and no tangles. I'm still kicking myself for not having thought of it on my own. 

{Photo Credit: Z Gallerie, Real Simple}

Current Favorite: Gold Jewelry

by Natalie

For most of my life, I've been a silver jewelry person. My mom always wore silver, other than her wedding band, and I think I just liked its simplicity and clarity. About three years ago, though, I did an about-face and I'm now ALL ABOUT the gold jewelry. I recently clued my husband in to the wonder that is my Etsy favorites list (he rolled his eyes, but really, looking there for gifts for me just makes GOOD SENSE, yes?) and noticed that a large chunk of my favorites are gold earrings or necklaces.

These earrings from seller NaturalAbstract are calling me big time. (Side note: I have a pair that are very similar to these that are silver, and they're one of the few silver pieces I still wear on a regular basis.)

{photo via NaturalAbstract's Etsy storefront}

I would be thrilled to find this necklace under the Christmas tree this year. (There's something that's just so holidayish about a new piece of jewelry, isn't there?) I love a tiny, delicate necklace; I'd wear this every day.

{photo via the Novella Etsy shop}

These knotted earrings from Harborside Treasures are amazing; I'd wear these every day, too.

{photo via Harborside Treasures Etsy storefront}

And last, but definitely not least, I love a classic gold wedding band. This one is lovely.

{photo via Seashores Etsy storefront}

What do you think? Do you prefer gold or silver jewelry?

On Trend: White Enamel Watch

By Sara

You know how a trend surfaces and you see it and you like it and you sit on it for a while to see if it will really stick around. Then it does stick around and you want in on it but you don't want to pay a ridiculous sum of money to wear the trend. This is how Target keeps us fools coming back for more. But this isn't a post about Target or cheap, cheap versions of trends. This is about a watch, a lovely, not too expensive at all watch that I really, really want for Christmas. And it's from...Coldwater Creek. I KNOW.

Enamel Sport Watch in White, Coldwater Creek, $59.95

It hits the white enamel and gold jewelry trends as well as comes in at a reasonable price point. I like that this watch is still feminine whereas so many of the enamel/ceramic watches take a classic men's watch silhouette and slap it on a woman's band. It tends to feel too chunky and clunky to me. I think this watch adds just a little "something" to an ensemble...a finishing touch. Maybe I'll find this under the tree this year? I'll make sure to ask Santa extra sweetly.

Peacock!

By Leah

About a month ago I bought a shirt at Target that had tiny little peacock feathers over a navy background. It's not the sort of thing I'd normally pick out, but it was on sale, and the peacock motif made me feel like I was getting away with something--maybe because it's animal print without being, you know...animal print.

While looking for a link to the shirt, I found almost nothing else peacock-patterned at major retailers that wasn't completely hideous (these rain boots from Target are pushing it), but there was a ton of great stuff to be found from--who else?--our friends at Etsy. Here's small sampling:

Peacock pendant ($8.95) from The Pendant Emporium.

Smoky crystal peacock ring ($15.65) from Angeltodora98.

Peacock feather earrings ($4.99) from I Am Superstar.

Wooden peacock necklace ($16.00) from Juniper Rush.

Custom painted peacock Toms shoes ($149.00) from Blake Barash.

Peacock pumps with crystal ($60.00) from Paris XOX.

Custom printed peacock feather dress ($24.00) from Wear Yeti.

Handprinted peacock shirtdress ($40.00) from Seal Maiden.

Peacock tie ($30.00) from Cyberoptix.

Reclaimed redwood peacock clock ($65.00) from Nica and the Newfie.

Henna-inspired burned wood peacock spoons (3 for $38.00) from Greenwood Creations.

Peacock pillow cover ($45.00) from Pop O Color.

Peacock hip flask ($16.00) from Lezlee Elliott.