Be. BOLD.

BOLD BLACK AND WHITE
Black and white is gushing in every designers Spring '13 runway; whether masculine or feminine this color combination sticks out. Stripes, color blocking, geometric shapes, or a mix of them all- You will be on trend. The perfect accessory? A&O Gum Ball Earrings gives the texture detail with simplistic colors. 
-Maranda

How to incorporate Spring 2013 trends into the still cold February

LEATHER LEATHER LEATHER

Traditionally leather has always been a cold weather detail, moving forward to Spring 2013 it’s everywhere! Lapels, trim’s, hem’s and full garments, black, brown, and every color of the rainbow, leather is the oh so lux detail to not miss! So how to incorporate this trend to the still cold weather? Keep your purchase in current season colors; mix with jeans or a pair of boots and your ready to send winter on its way! How to accessorize? Try small details like A&O Dogeared Gold Moroccan Earrings! 

- Maranda

THE LATEST IN JEWELRY TRENDS

Jewelry trends come from the three Rs: red carpet, runway, and real life. Here’s a list of 12 trends compiled through jewelry market research of new styles at shows, fashion designs for spring, and top looks at awards shows.

Button and Stud Earrings: A hit on the red carpet this year  and the subject of some new collections, button-style and stud earrings—particularly in fresh and unexpected—are a must-have in any wardrobe.

Chandelier Earrings: Are they back? Well, small versions may be. New modestly sized styles were evident in recent market visits with LAGOS, John Hardy, and more. Plus, a few more were recently photographed for the February 2012 issue of JCK.

Hair Jewelry: Evident at bridal runway shows and at some red carpet events, barrettes, hair bands, tiaras, and brooches pinned in place have particular appeal to younger clients for their whimsical effect. (Check out the February 2012 issue of JCK for selections.)

Jazz Age Styles: The flapper dresses from the spring 2012 runway shows combined with the now-filming remake of The Great Gatsby and HBO’s current hit Boardwalk Empire series will translate into flower motifs and Art Deco-inspired looks in bridal and fine fashion jewelry.

Moveable and Interchangeable Jewels: Ear charms are a growing category that offer multiple looks for owners. Plus, the inherent movement in these styles and other types—like mixed-link drop earrings—can mix well with voluminous fashions and those that demand drama.

Pearls: Abundant, pretty, and affordable, freshwater and mother-of-pearl are evident in new collections.

Pendant Necklaces: Layerable and no sizing required, pendants can accessorize a range of dresses—a "foolproof" look for spring collections like BCBGMAXAZRIA, according to Style.com—from shift styles to tailored numbers.

Pyrite: Fun, funky, and inexpensive, pyrite is appearing in a number of indie jewelry designers’ collections. Plus, its smoky color is ideal to transition into fall fashion.

Sporty Aesthetics: Think brightly colored watches to coordinate with hoodies and neoprene accents evident on 2012 spring runways, or "tiny token jewelry". (Look for sporty watches in the December/January issue of JCK.)

Geometric Shapes and Tribal Effects: Angular pieces like square rings and bangles will work well with column dresses while horn and leather accents will speak to tribal looks in fashion.

Tangerine Tango: It’s Pantone colors for 2012 in addition to being widely shown at spring runway shows. Coordinate other bright colors with it—called color blocking (see how celebs like Emma Stone do it) and keep it in stock in the form of stones like citrine, fire opal, and more.

Yellow Gold and Stones: The rich gold color was a familiar sight on spring runways  and golden stones like beryl and rutilated quartz are abundant at shows, suggesting that both will be prevalent in future lines. Plus, gold's price has dropped a bit, further reinforcing the ongoing gold standard. 

TOP 5 WAYS TO DRESS WITH STYLE THIS SPRING

***Take note to get ahead of the curve and start shopping now***

Ruffles – Frills aren’t just child’s play anymore. Ruffles exude a certain feminine spirit that may be intimidating to some, but the trend is completely wearable by any woman. Ruffles are dramatic and have the powerful ability to jazz up any outfit. Tip: Remember that a little goes a long way. You don’t want ruffles to appear overwhelming and take away from an ensemble.

(Credit, Kelly Johnston)

Blue Hues – The always-trusted geniuses at Pantone included blue hues in their spring 2013 fashion color report. The shades featured are dusk blue, a lighter tone, and Monaco blue, a darker tone. Color is continually big in the spring and summer seasons, so incorporating blue shouldn’t be difficult.Tip: Mix and match different shades of blue for a monochromatic look
Stripes – It’s nearly impossible to go wrong with stripes. Stripes are a classic and timeless wardrobe staple for people worldwide. They serve as a closet must-have and are an effortless go-to. Unlike polka dots and other patterns, stripes, whether the lines are thick or thin, pair well with virtually anything. Black and white stripes along with nautical-inspired stripes are most common, but have a little fun with multi-colored and disproportionate stripes.
Tip: Consider striped pieces as an investment. If cost per wear were calculated, you’d certainly get your money’s worth.

(Credit, Kelly Johnston)

Rag & Bone Spring 2013 (credit: Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Bermuda Shorts – Bermuda shorts often carry a tropical, beach-themed connotation, but subtle and appropriate options aren’t hard to come by. While the length, usually just above the knee, may not be flattering for women of shorter stature, trial and error proves effective. A tucked-in blouse and belt is all you need when dressing up Bermuda shorts. American designers Peter Som, Rag & Bone and DKNY all designed Bermuda shorts for their spring 2013 collection.
Tip: Avoid wearing high heels and stick with flats or wedges with shorts.

What’s Your Sign? Leo

SAT, JULY 21, 2012

LABELS: HOROSCOPE, SUSIE COX

Find out what this month, the sun sign of Leo (July 22 – August 22), has in store for you. Astrology expert Susie Cox tells all….

Leo
Happy birthday to the regal sign of Leo! Mercury is in retrograde for you until August 8th, so it’s time to rethink your responsibilities and possibly delegate some to others.

Virgo
Your sign gets a break after all those months of Mars in Virgo. You will feel the best on July 22nd, 23rd and 31st. Take some time out for yourself on those days.

Libra
Both Mars and Saturn are in your sign, which could indicate a change in your relationship life. The moon joins them for the power dates of July 24th and 25th.

Scorpio
Your power dates start on August 20th and last until early October. The sexy planet Mars is going through your sign, making you Scorpios even hotter!

Sagittarius
This is the last month in the next 19 years that the North Node will be in Sagittarius. The Node is your point of success, blessing you. Finish your big projects this month because new ones are on the horizon.

Capricorn
Your power dates are July 30th and 31st, when the moon joins Pluto in your sign. You will feel the most powerful at that time, so plan to take charge.

Aquarius
The full moon will be in your sign on August 1st. This full moon is one of the most fun of the year, so get a little wild.

Pisces
Your power dates are August 3rd, 4th and 5th. You will feel very connected to others, even if they are far away. Since you’re a water sign, plan to spend some time by an ocean or lake — any large body of water will do.

Aries
Aries is in focus with the wild planet Uranus moving through your sign. Aries power dates are July 24th and August 5th, so you might feel a bit more feisty than usual. Tackle something and change it totally.

Taurus
Taurus is the sign of creature comforts and deserves the best. Plan a luxurious getaway from July 21st to July 23rd. Indulge in an extravagance.

Gemini
Both loving Venus and fortunate Jupiter are in your sign. Venus will leave on August 7th, so be sure to pamper yourself before then.

Cancer
Venus enters your sign on August 8th and will remain there until September 7th. Surprise everyone with an impromptu family reunion during this time. Love of family will be in the air.

Stacked Arm Candy - More is Better - Even More is Best !

Stacked Arm Candy - More is Better - Even More is Best !

This season's big trend is Arm Candy -  it's all about stacking and layering all different styles of bracelets on top of bracelets on top of bracelets. Arms should always be loaded up. Here are some looks I love.

Starting with the BEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL stackers~ Vahan.

You can just start with one and keep adding and adding and adding....

Love the mixed metals and styles - great contrast of textures.

These are  classic wooden blessing beads -  awesome stacked with other styles.

Loving Emerald green right now - all these shades of green look great together.

What a mix~Horseshoe cuff, leather and gold wrap, classic gold initial charm bracelet, and classic zodiac pearl bracelet.

As we all know - you can NEVER go wrong with turquoise - especially pawn silver  - Love this look!

 Teal python cuff, pasha gemstone bracelets, black and teal enameled scroll bangles, and classic charm bracelet with turquoise drop holding my bee clutch.

 

Another great example of how to layer all kinds of bracelets - wide, beaded and trinkets - casual and dressy - bold and simple.

So try it out - Stack them up - More is better and even more is best -  Happy Stacking!

May Birthstone: Origin, History, and Powers of the Emerald

By Melody Jones

Takeaways

• The word emerald derives from the Latin term "smaragdus", meaning green gem.
• Columbian emerald mines have been in production for hundreds of years.
• Emeralds are symbols of love, fertility, and rebirth.

Emerald is the birthstone for May. Ranging in color from light to deep green, emeralds were Cleopatra's favorite gemstones. Her admiration was so deep, she claimed the ancient Egyptian emerald mines as her own.

The word emerald derives from the Latin term "smaragdus", simply meaning green gem. Emeralds are from the beryl family of minerals that includes aquamarine, the March birthstone. Their color comes from small quantities of chromium.

Red emeralds are the most rare of this gemstone. They are so difficult to locate and cut, that jewelry containing red emeralds is prohibitively expensive.

May Birthstone: Origin of Birthstones

How certain stones came to be connected to specific months is cloudy. Some speculate the birthstone originates from Biblical times when a priest's breastplate was adorned with twelve different colored gems. Over time, the number twelve became connected to months of the year and to the zodiac.

People began wearing a different gem each month as a sort of talisman, believing each stone held certain powers. Gradually, specific gems became attached to specific months and zodiac signs. People then wore the gem associated with their birth month all year long.

Fast-forward hundreds of years to 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri. The American National Association of Jewelers created a birthstone list, assigning different stones to each month. The birthstone list was controversial because people thought it was developed purely for commercial purposes. Even so, it is accepted worldwide today as the definitive list of birthstones.

May Birthstone: History

Ancient Egyptians established emerald mines before Cleopatra's birth. Tools were discovered in the mines dating back to Ramses II, around 1300 B.C. Worn by Egyptian royalty, emeralds were also buried with the dead. Though beautiful, Egyptian emeralds were found to be lower quality once the Spanish discovered Columbian gems.

In the region now known as Columbia, ancient Muzo Indians established successful emerald mining operations possibly as early as 500 A.D. These mines were so well hidden, that it took invading Spanish Conquistadors twenty years to find the mines. It was another thirty years before the invaders conquered the fierce Indian tribe, forcing the natives to work in the very emerald mines they had used for hundreds of years. Since then, Columbian emerald mining operations have continued nearly uninterrupted.

May Birthstone: Beliefs and Healing Powers

Ancient Romans associated emeralds with the goddess of love, Venus, and believed the gems embodied fertility, faith and goodness. Ancient Greeks wore emeralds to honor Aphrodite, their own goddess of love, fertility, and beauty.

Considered to have healing properties, some believed that merely gazing upon an emerald could soothe one's eyes. It is said that the Emperor Nero had eyeglasses made of emerald so that he could watch gladiator games and maintain the health of his eyes.

Some believe emeralds can help stop bleeding, prevent epileptic seizures, protect from panic, and reduce a fever. It is said that emeralds can restore peace, clear the mind, and enhance one's clairvoyance.

May Birthstone: Characteristics and Geography

Nearly all emeralds have imperfections such as inclusions and small fractures. This is not seen negatively, but rather as part of the character of an emerald. To diminish these flaws, most emeralds are treated with an oil, sometimes tinted green.

Emeralds are fragile and can be easily chipped. To reduce this tendency and cause less stress, a special rectangular cut was developed called the "emerald cut".

Columbia is still a top emerald producer. Other emerald sources include Russia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Madagascar. North Carolina is the only significant emerald source in the United States.

May Birthstone: Care and Cleaning

Emeralds can easily be damaged, so remove jewelry when cleaning or doing chores. Do not expose to salt water or sudden temperature changes. Carefully clean emerald jewelry with a soft brush and warm water. Do not use steam cleaners or ultra-sonic devices, as these will remove oil coatings.

Emeralds, the May birthstone, are indeed soothing and beautiful to gaze upon. Historically associated with love, fertility, and rebirth, emeralds are a perfect choice for the springtime month of May.