What’s Up with Precious and Semi-Precious When it Comes to Jewelry?

Only three gemstones are designated as Precious Stones. Sapphire, Ruby and Emerald and Precious because in addition to being valuable they are rare to find with the proper mix of color and clarity. Other, more common stones are known as semi-precious, and the range and array of stones in that category is breathtaking. In fact, don’t get hung up on the terminology. Today, the stones and metals used to create exquisite jewelry is wider than ever before.

To be sure that you get the most from your jewelry purchases, just follow these guidelines:

• Look for quality materials.
• Look for quality construction.
• Look for uniqueness.

Great jewelry is a lifetime investment. Choose wisely, and even if you “park” an item for a year or two, it can come back out and still work with your style and your wardrobe. Twenty-five years ago, I bought a quirky snake necklace that I wore all the time over several years and then it was parked. Just this past weekend, I pulled it out, cleaned it thoroughly and started to plan where it goes in my wardrobe. No lie. The next day I sat down the look at some of the newest hot jewelry trends and I swear, my snake necklace jumped off the magazine page at me. When I bought the snake for $30 twenty-five years ago, the price seemed a bit high but I loved is so. Today, for just over a $1 a year, I’m fully back in style only by pulling an item from the back of my closet. That’s lifetime investment.

Style on Balance

Pulling together a look that looks good on you relies on balance – balance in color, balance in shapes and balance in accent. When adding jewelry to an outfit, balance counts, too. If you opt for big and bold jewelry for a statement, don’t mix that look with delicate jewelry. And, when the jewelry is big and bold, go easy with the color and the lines. Solid color and simple lines help the big and bold be the focal point.

Don’t be afraid to mix metals and stones. It’s A-OK to wear a mix as long as the styles coincide. For example, a simple strand of hematite paired with a single strange of pearls offers a defined look with just a touch of edge. Frankly, I pair those two with a same-thickness omega in silver and one in gold. I think the juxtaposition of opposite colors and opposite metals is modern and it is consistent with the eclectic nature of my being.

Be sure to wear the right length! Choose a necklace that lays just below the collarbone when pairing it with a deeper cut neckline. Wearing strapless? Go with a choker. Longer length necklaces look best with higher cut necklines – and it goes without saying that if your long necklace ends right where your neckline begins the two don’t balance each other well.

Look for interesting combinations of semi-precious stones and for semi-precious stones with a one-of-a-kind look that only nature can offer. The combinations and patterns are infinite, bounded only by the jewelry designers imagination, and they are a great way to add value to your wardrobe without a bank-breaking investment. Besides, they last forever.

Looking to spice up jewelry pieces you haven’t worn a while? Add a back-of-the-jewelry-box pin as an enhancer for a string of stones and you’ve got a new kicky piece – and the pin doesn’t have to dangle from front and center. Secure it off center – half way between front and center and your collarbone -- for a totally modern look.

Styles Hot Colors for 2010

Knowing what the season’s hot colors are can help you keep your personal style fresh – even when the season’s pick-of-the-crop colors aren’t in your personal color palette. Check out the season’s hot new colors here. They span a wide range, and it is likely that you’ll find one or more that coordinate or contrast well with the colors that love you as much as you love them.

 

Yellow-based colors:

• Turquoise. For the spring, there’s nothing muted or toned down about the green-leaning turquoise that you’ll see featured everywhere.
• Tomato. It’s hot and spicy. ‘Nuff said.
• Coral. If red isn’t your color, look toward coral. It gives the same eye-popping look.
• Violet. The violet we’re seeing tends to be yellow-based and goes well with yellow-based greens and blues.
• Buttery Yellow. This rich sunny color is more versatile than you think. It blends well with both yellow-based and blue-based hues.
• Poppy. Look for hot, rich colors that are just a shade to the middle of tomato and coral.
• Green-Yellow. This great color adds a spring-like feel to your look and it mixes well across your yellow-based palette.
• Puce. Not quite pink. Not quite grey. It’s a quirky color that takes a bit of effort to mix and match well.

Blue-based colors:

• Fuschia. This hot color is the alternative to coral if you’re looking for blue-based shades to blend and contrast with your personal color palette.
• Lavender. Look for the lovely blue-toned lavenders.
• Cobalt Blue. This is that exquisite shade of blue that makes your think of sapphires saturated with sunlight.
• Indigo. Think cobalt blue lightened by diamonds. It’s sparkly and pure.
• Dark Purple. Imagine an eggplant infused with blue overtones. You can’t go wrong with this color. It’s regal.
• Tangerine. This wonderful orangy vibrant color is just “blue” enough to incorporate into your blue-toned wardrobe.
• Mud. Don’t say “yuck.” This vibrant grey color is interesting and versatile

Mix and Match With Yellow-Based or Blue-Based Colors

• Ebony. Look for rich ultra-black colors to add depth to your color schemes.
• Ivory. There are shades of ivory to go well with every skin color and blend with your wardrobe colors. Look at them in natural light to be sure you get the right ivory for you.
• Bright Sky Blue. This blue is the new black. It’s rich, versatile and blends well across the color palette.

Make Your Statement Count

A piece of statement jewelry is a great way to punch up your wardrobe and express your personal style and your mood.  Some of my statement pieces are classy and some are sassy.  Just remember, if you decide to wear a piece of statement jewelry be sure to let it do the talking.  Statement jewelry should be allowed to stand-out as the focal point of your outfit.  Everything else in your outfit. including other jewelry pieces, should be simple, uncluttered to provide a great backdrop for a great piece.

Adopt the 5-30 Rule

If you work outside the house and are pressed for time in the moning, adopt the 5-30 rule to help you consistently step out in style with little fuss. Here's how it works:

Every weekend set aside 30 minutes to assemble 5 complete outfits -- clothing, accessories, shoes and bags -- for the coming week. Set aside a special place in your closet for you "next week" of clothes and place your 5 outfits there. (Be sure to check every item to be sure you didn't miss a spot, tear or missing button that needs attention before wearing.)

Having 5 outfits assembled and ready to go eliminates any guessing, last minute stress or returns to the closet for "something that looks better" when you are trying to get out the door.

The second part of the rule is that no one same combination of outfit components goes out the door a second time unless a minimum of 30 days has past since that combination last was worn. That eliminates falling back on "old faithful" in lieu of planning to step out in style.

It's a Confidence Game

At least 95% of style is confidence. When you step out the door with your pulled-together look it's shoulders back, head up, butt and gut tucked in as much as possible, and a confident lady-like stride.

Pratice can help with the stride. All too often I see well-dressed women either teetering on heels, scuffing along in slides or (yikes!) flip-flops, or taking one big giant manly step where two lady-like steps would be more appropriate. Without telling my ago, when I was growing up I not only had to go to "finishing" classes to learn how to properly rise from a chair and remove my coat, I had to spend a bit of time gliding around a room with a book on my head. I still can hear my mother behind me admonishing me when my gait became too long.  All these year's later, I realize that the way my mother walked into a room is large part of the reason she was always a show-stopper.

Your Style Tool Kit

To help you set your style, be sure your style tool kit is complete. Here's what you need:

• A full-length mirror. Always do a full-lengthy check, front to back, before stepping out the door.
• Iron, ironing board and spray starch. Groan. I know, but many clothing items benefit from a brief starch, press and seam-setting -- it can be the simple thing that sets you apart from the crowd. And, sometimes, carefule as we may be, items coming from the closet need a touch-up. If that's not enough to convince you, ironing also can help your clothing hang properly.
• Stain remover. Use it as quickly as possible after an accident.
• Needle and thread. Remember. No safety pins, no missing buttons, and no saggy hems.
• Lint brush.
• Fabric refresher (Febreze or other brand). My clothing gets sprayed when it comes out of the closet as I assemble my weekly wardrobe on Sunday evening.