I’ve been on a bit of a jewelry kick lately, so I’m super excited to tell you about Emily Elizabeth Jewelry.   New York-based designer Emily Elizabeth Kolins has produced a truly beautiful collection of pieces that you’ll keep in your jewelry box forever - and at fabulous price points.  She primarily uses the following materials in her designs: brass, gold plate, 14k gold fill charms, vermeil charms, chains, semi-precious stones, and freshwater pearls.  She designs based on her mood of the moment - so you’ll see a nice range of simply and shy pieces to bold and splashy.  ”When I am in a flirty, easy mood, I design my simple, feminine pieces. As for when I am in a confident mood, I design one of my more complicated ‘look-at-me’ pieces,” says Emily.

What drew me into the line was the Brass Fern Leaf Bangle for its glamorous grecian look. It’s super simple to slip onto the wrist and makes for a sophisticated accent to your everyday look.  I know that a few of my friends are going to flip over these Green Chrysoprase Stone and Leaf Charm Earrings. Truly show-stopping in its own elegance and would make the perfect finishing element for a simple LBD and heels!  I also must mention the Golden Saltine necklace as well. It’s so whimsical, playful and unexpected that I’m declaring it as a must-have. The texture is quite interesting and if you didn’t know the inspiration came from a Saltine cracker…well, you would never know!

You probably want to know what a few of the designer’s personal picks are, too. Emily adores the Lucky Four Leaf Clover Lariat, which is one of the line’s bestsellers. Very sweet and charming, don’t you think? The Feather Leaf Earrings and the Leaf Pendant necklace are two other favorites. Overall, they both have a very natural, earthy look that are very delicate and feminine.

Stop by the Emily Elizabeth Jewelry website to view the full collection or to make a purchase.

I recently discovered a jewelry line called Eclectic Eccentricity and have become enchanted by its romantic charm. Launched by UK designer Lucy Averill, the line’s tagline is “jewelry with inspired kookiness.” Naturally, each piece is created out of Lucy’s love of knick knacks with stories to tell. “I always strive to create pieces that are unique, charming and of course, a bit kooky,” notes Lucy. (more…)

As I get older, I’m finding myself increasingly drawn to nostalgic pieces that remind me of my childhood. Let’s take the Ballet Collection by Dejarnette New Orleans. Designed by Katherine Babin, this is a frilly collection of jewelry that will take you straight back to being five years old, prancing around in tutu at dance class (or maybe just pretending to be).

Looks like Katherine felt the same way, because when I asked why she designed this collection, she said, “My inspiration behind the Ballet Collection comes from my short stint with ballet class. I felt so beautiful every time I went to class. I wore a black leotard, pink tights, ballet slippers and my hair was pulled tightly into a perfect bun (with the help of Aquanet and bobby pins of course). My Mom would put blush on my cheeks and nose before class. The farthest thing from my mind was looking in the mirror for flaws or imperfections. I looked into the mirrored wall and felt so pretty. I thought, how could I translate this feeling I had into a jewelry collection? Soft pink, nudes, organza, ruffles, pleats and rhinestones!” (more…)

Lately, I’m obsessed with organic-inspired jewelry. I don’t know if it’s the warm weather or just a trend, but I can’t get enough of pieces with flowers, leaves and other natural details.

Prismera Design is my latest favorite - designer Laura Su has concocted a whole garden of goodies so pretty, I hardly know where to start. I just can’t get enough of her lovely Dogwood earrings (a steal at $40!).  They’re absolutely the perfect size for daily wear, but they’ll make an impact with any ensemble. For going out, her Mimosa earrings ($70) are absolutely perfect - elegant and streamlined, but unique and gorgeous.

And, of course I have to mention the sale goods. The designer recently marked her gorgeous Gilded Flora collection down by 45%, which means you can score delectable goodies like this chunky chrysanthemum necklace on a strand of pyrite beads for about $75.

Check out all of the collections at Prismera’s website…and don’t forget to let us know what pieces you couldn’t live without!

I’m not one of those girls who wears rings all that much. I’m not sure why, but I tend to wear necklaces and bracelets much more often. However, I’m more than happy to put away other accessories in favor of a standout ring from time to time. Here are my current picks:

The Cicada Ring by Lark & Lotus Jewelry has a beautifully simple, yet almost sculptural quality to it. “I hear a constant hum of cicadas in the summertime in New Orleans, and a cicada wing seemed like a perfect ingredient for a New Orleans voodoo good luck spell!” says designer Suzannah Murray. Each piece is handmade by Suzannah, so you know that you’re truly getting something special!

Want a pop of color? Try the Cabochon Ring in Vesuvianite by Shaesby. The shape and size is bold, but I love the earthy color of the stone. The tiny diamond accent adds asymmetry, which somehow makes the ring seem a bit more special. I also like huge cocktail rings like Shaesby’s Soleil Ring. I love the bright, cheery yellow hue of the cushion cut citrine stone, which is set in 18K gold. The first ring would look great at work year-round, while the latter is ideal for any fun nights out this summer.

If you want something a bit edgier, try the Sapphire Stalatite Ring by Pade Vavra. I love the jagged gold design, with the sprinkle of sapphires on top. You can also see that the gold is textured, which adds an interesting dimension to the ring. Overall, it just has a very downtown feel that would be perfect with a floaty top, skinny jeans, killer heels and a shrunken leather jacket over it.

Which one is your favorite? Or if you have suggestions, send them our way!

Jewelry designer Jennifer Rose produces beautiful pieces that we all covet. In fact, we count her jewelry as an obsession. Jennifer began as a sculpture and ceramics artist, but soon found her calling in jewelry design. Drawing inspiration from a variety of artistic eras such as Contemporary or Rococo, she creates piece that incorporate both natural and modern elements; the results are vibrant, feminine pieces that are ultra elegant and intricate. Aside from being stocked at top retailers like Fred Segal and Henri Bendel, she counts celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Rebecca Romijn, as fans of her line. Now, click here to see what she’s loving this month! (more…)

For some women, the saying of “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” suits their personalities perfectly. While I’m not that girl, I will never deny that they sure are pretty to look at…especially when they’re sitting around your neck, wrists or hands!

When I saw the Channel Bangle by Love Rocks NY, I gasped with delight. Be forewarned…such gorgeousness comes with a hefty price tag. In fact, it may make you gasp with horror, since it’s priced at $3,000. But it would be well worth it.

Designed by Limor Ratzabi Senker (who grew up in the diamond trade in New York), there are 3 carats worth of diamonds hand set in 14 karat gold. I’m pretty sure that it speaks for itself, but I’ll elaborate anyway. This bangle is utterly stunning. It’s glitzy, but classic and sophisticated enough that you can wear it everyday for the rest of your life. It will make you want take out your credit card, and click “buy,” tossing aside any fiscal responsibility. Like I said, it sure would be pretty…

To view the full collection, go to www.loverocksny.com.

When I discovered jewelry line, Odette New York, I couldn’t stop marveling over how gorgeous and unique each design is. Jennifer Sarkilahti, the designer behind Odette, creates playful, modern pieces that you’ll fall in love with easily. Jennifer draws inspiration from numerous sources, noting that “current inspirations include ancient Greek and Roman artifacts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, twigs and seed pods found on a walk through my neighborhood park, and photographs from a recent trip to Bali.” You’ll also appreciate the detailed handiwork and labor that goes into each piece. “Each design begins with a pencil sketch that is then carved by hand out of wax. A mold is formed from the wax and the precious metal is cast and polished,” says Jennifer. (more…)

When I saw jewelry designer Beth Lauren’s Peony Necklace, I knew it was going to be an item I would be obsessing over for months. Named after my favorite flower (which is reason enough for me to covet it), this amazing necklace features a vintage rhinestone button and iolite briolettes, all hung on an elegant woven gold thread necklace. “My inspiration for the piece is combining competing elements - hard and soft, as well as metallic and natural,” says Beth.

The sparkling button really shines when put together with the necklace, which is made of a mix of metallic threads and gold-filled chains; it provides a lovely texture and is something her line is known for. “The threads furnish the necklace with a softer, handmade element, as much of my jewelry does,” notes Beth. “I also employ natural semi-precious stones to give the necklace color and a lighter, more playful feel which competes with the neutral metallic elements to the piece.”

I am simply charmed by the vintage-looking, feminine quality of this necklace. Really, I can’t find the words to tell you about how much I want this! Head over to the Jewelry by Beth Lauren website to order.

When the warm weather hits, most of my jewelry gets a seasonal hiatus. If I’m hot and miserable, the last thing I want is a heavy, chunky beaded necklace weighing me down. So it’s rare for me to see a piece of jewelry that I really want around my neck mid-summer.

Imagine my surprise then, when I stumbled across this gorgeous, organic necklace from designer Melanie Auld, and started thinking of all of the ways it could dress up the most casual summer garb. Even a tank top and shorts would suddenly be ultra-chic with this gorgeous necklace topping it off. The length is perfect (30″) to keep things relaxed and cool, and the hardwood teardrop pendant paired with just a glimmer of gold gives off the perfect summer vibe.

Pick it up at Melanie’s website for $210. Something tells me it’ll be the only necklace in my accessory rotation this summer.