Giving Jewelry a New Life

I was touched by an email I received from a close friend about a piece in my recent newsletter.

Here it is:
Loved your newsletter as usual. I really liked the Italian piece, the bit about wearing your dressier accessories every day. I have this amazing ring that used to be my grandmothers. It's more of a cocktail ring than en every day ring. I vaguely have memories of her wearing it (mostly for church). Then, she gave it to my mother who wore it all the time. It's a large ring with a beautiful dark blue/aqua stone (nothing expensive) set in a white gold and yellow gold setting. It's an oval shape. It's been sitting in my mom's jewelry box since it was given to me after her death. The ring was in bad shape. The stone was very worn and the band broken. Back in May, I decided that I was going to wear that ring and took it to the jeweler. It took a month, but the stone was entirely re-cut, the mount rebuilt and the band fixed and sized. I LOVE this ring and wear it every day. The picture [above] doesn't do it justice. You'll see it when I see you next.

Anyway.. Inspiring blog!

Love, Heather

For those of you considering re-fashioning some jewelry, I highly, highly recommend you contact Calla Gold. She lives for such projects and does beautiful work!

Shopping Santa Barbara-3

Whenever one of my Wardrobe Wisdom clients needs a piece of jewelry to spice up an outfit--something that won't cost a fortune--I direct them to Lewis & Clark in Santa Barbara. This store, and its smaller one in Montecito, are known for their unique and beautiful jewelry, home furnishings, books, and stationery.

Let's say you have a simple black jacket that you wear all the time. It could use an eye-catching brooch on its lapel. At Lewis & Clark you will find lovely, tasteful, bejeweled pins that will update and elevate your jacket's look.

Or imagine you are going to a wedding and have the perfect dress. All it needs to look complete is a pretty, sparkly necklace with some semi-precious stones. You will find the perfect piece at Lewis & Clark. I often like to pop in there just to admire the jewelry cases, making a mental list of what I'd like for an upcoming birthday.

Pictured above are a pair of earrings that are typical of what you will find at this charming store. I receive nothing from promoting Lewis & Clark--I just truly love it!

New in Town

Most of us struggle when we move into a new town. It is hard enough to make new friends and figure out where the nearest Trader Joe's is. What can also be challenging is finding the services you counted on in your former town, such as where to get a haircut and how to find a good tailor. Thanks to the folks at Put This On, the search for experts is made easier. Go here to read their post on this topic.

P.S. In terms of finding a great hairdresser, just ask people who have styles and cuts you like, who cuts their hair. They will be flattered and you will have a good lead!

Cheat Sheets

Knowing how to wear belts is a real plus. In stores and magazines, belts are shown in all sizes and materials. The questions arise. When to wear the skinny one? How to wear the metallic one? And how on earth does one tie the kimono-style belt?

I find it handy to have some cheat sheets--photos of different belt looks--taped onto the inside of one of my cabinets, near my closet. In this way, I am reminded how to wear my various belts and can look to these sheets for inspiration. You can create such cheat sheets in a book, like some of my Wardrobe Wisdom clients do, and use them for getting ideas on how to wear all kinds of clothing and accessories. No one needs to know you are cheating!

Summer Sales

I hate to even think about summer coming to a close and resent it when, in mid-July, I hear about "end of summer sales." Nevertheless, it is useful to know how to be a smart sale shopper. Just because something is on sale doesn't mean you have to buy it. As usual, make a list of needs and go from there, trying not to get distracted by perceived good deals. For more advice on shopping the sales, read this well-researched article.

So What About Metallics?

A client recently sent me a photo of a dress and wondered what shoes would look good with them. I suggested a pair of metallic sandals. Here is what I love about metallics: They add some interest to an outfit while being incredibly neutral. Here is what Style Bakery recently had to say about metallics.

Shift vs. Sheath

Dresses have made a comeback over the past few years, and certain terms pop up repeatedly. Two of these are "shift" and "sheath." What is the difference?

A shift dress is a loose-fitting, knee or above the knee length dress. It is sleeveless and is often made in a knit fabric.. The dress below is a shift dress.

On the other hand, a sheath dress is form-fitting, commonly made out of rayon, silk, brushed cotton, or satin. I think of a shift dress as a sexier option. The dress above is a sheath.

Why I (Finally) Care (a Little) about My Clothes

This is a great piece, one that I am certain will resonate with a lot of men and women. Here is one of the wise observations by the author: "But my clothes and my character aren’t competing values between which I must only pick one." I encourage you to read the entire essay.

Jeaner?

Sure, I love jeans, but am I a "jeaner"? This is a term used in the denim industry to describe premium denim customers. Call me cheap, but I am not comfortable paying over $150 for a pair of jeans. True Religion is currently selling its popular Phantom jean for over $300. Guess how much it costs to make one pair of Phantom jeans? $50!

I will admit that my favorite pairs of jeans are considered premium. But I purchased all of them for around $50 at consignment stores. That means I could not follow my own Wardrobe Wisdom advice: Buy 2 pairs of jeans at once if they fit great and you can afford it. Consignment stores rarely carry identical jeans in one size.

Go here to read the article in the Wall Street Journal titled "How Jeans Can Cost $300." It is eye opening, to say the least.

(Yep, that is a big ball of jeans in the picture above.)

Summer Favorites

Now that the sun is out in Santa Barbara, I am having fun wearing my lightweight skirts, dresses, and tops. It is great to put on sandals and flip flops, too. This is my preferred way to dress. You can go here to read and view Style Bakery's favorite choices for summer garments and accessories.

Call Me Vain

I think the "shoes" above are the new Crocs. I have skipped the Crocs fad and plan to skip this one as well. No matter how many times people tell me they are comfortable, I just cannot wear such things on my feet!

Shopping Thrift Stores

As my regular blog readers know, I find great pleasure in consignment store shopping. Others share my passion for buying previously worn clothing, but they can become overwhelmed in some stores. Here is a very informative article written by a woman who adores thrift store shopping. She offers some helpful tips that will make this kind of shopping easier and more fun.