Statement jewelry - we’re all familiar with the idea of using it to add spice to an understated outfit or to increase the glam factor to a fancy get-up…whether it’s an eye-catching necklace, cocktail ring, bracelet, or earrings. But amidst all these different types of baubles, the poor brooch has been forgotten. Many of us consider the brooch to be an old-fashioned piece of jewelry, something reminiscent of our grandmother’s generation. I’m here to tell you that this is not the case! The little brooch is getting a revival of sorts. It’s back as an accessory on women’s dresses and blazers, reminding us of the elegance or quirkiness it can bring to an outfit (just take a look at First Lady Michelle Obama!). And what’s more, the brooch is probably the most versatile piece of jewelry you can own. You’d be surprised by the innumerable ways that one can use it or wear it! How, you ask? Well, dear reader, you’re about to find out!

Image source: top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right

Whether you’re the kind of person who carefully curates your jewelry pieces or the kind who buys anything and everything that catches your eye, you know that keeping your jewelry organized can be tricky. If your lovely baubles are in disarray, if you have to fish around for your favorite pair of sparkly earrings every time, or if your necklaces are an entangled mess, it’s time to whip your jewelry storage into shape. Here are a few basic ideas and tips:

I was doing my monthly yearly closet cleaning the other day and I came across a box of my favorite accessories – hair bands! There is a lot of talk about all other types of accessories – rings, scarves, necklaces, but I don’t think enough is said about the hair band.

Love them or hate them, hair bands have been around forever. A quick Wiki search showed me that the ancient Greeks and Romans wore hair bands for special occasions and often encrusted them with gold to create a hair ornament. Thousands of years later, hair bands are still in fashion largely because they are so versatile and can be used to channel a range of looks.

Functional Look

Hair bands were originally created to keep hair out of your face, but I think this functionality can be mixed with a little style to create a cute look. I often see athletes, such as soccer and tennis players use thick headbands to pull hair out of their face, while also injecting their personal style.

When I’m having a particularly bad hair day, I often just pull my hair into a ponytail and put on a hair band. This works to both keep my hair away and pull attention onto the hair band instead of my hair.

Preppy Look

Championed in most recent memory by Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, the hair band is the perfect accessory to complete a preppy look. Usually worn with her hair down, Blair uses hair bands that have bright colors or flowers to add that extra girly detail.

I became obsessed with these types of hair bands a few years back, but soon realized that it can be difficult to wear them without looking like a teenager. I think the key to wearing them is to limit them to the weekend (probably wouldn’t wear it to the office) when you’re going for a girly, preppy look. If your headband has pretty ornamentation on it, like in the picture below, it might even work in fancier occasions. 

  

Boho-Chic Look

Thin hair bands were often worn around the crown of the head in the ‘70s by hippies, but have been revived in recent years as a summer staple. Often worn in concert festivals, these are great accessories for a casual mid-summer day!

How often do you all wear hair bands? What are some looks that you like? 

With spring finally here, I’m so excited to shed off the bulky coats and jackets from the winter. Which means it is now time to fish into the depths of my closet for clothes better suited for the warmer temperatures coming our way. It’s also a grrrreat excuse for some spring shopping (do some spring cleaning to get rid of the old, make way for the new!).

      As someone who has had a mixed experience with online shopping, I’m generally a little wary of the whole process. But not too long ago, I learned about this unique online retailer called Stitch Fix. It took me a while to actually try it out from the time I first discovered it but now, I’m hooked. Stitch Fix is a service that offers customers their “fix” of 5 items of apparel and/or accessories in their mailbox upon request. It works like this:

1.  You start off by taking a detailed personal style survey on the Stitch Fix website. 
2. Soon after, a package is sent to you with 5 goodies based on your aforementioned size and style preferences. 
3. You try the items out in the privacy of your home and keep what you like, return what you don’t.

What’s fun about this service is the element of surprise associated with it. I get quite excited when I receive my Stitch Fix box because I don’t quite know what I’ll find in there! But I do know that I will find on-trend apparel and accessories customized to me and within my specified budget. In my experience, their selections have generally been pretty spot-on. Sometimes I’ll receive an item which forces me to give it a second look even though I wouldn’t normally consider wearing it. I also love the tags that are provided with ideas on how to pair each article of clothing to achieve different looks. Talk about an affordable online personal stylist!

Getting ready with spring colors - items from a recent Stitch Fix package

Stitch Fix tags that come with the clothes

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Katrina Lake, CEO of Stitch Fix. As co-founder of this startup along with Erin Flynn, Katrina is an admirable example of female entrepreneurs. Over a delicious lunch in SoHo, a small group of Stitch Fix consumers like me met with Katrina and had a lively conservation about the business. Katrina was keen on speaking to consumers and learning about their experience with Stitch Fix and how to improve it. From my end, I enjoyed learning the concept behind Stitch Fix, how it works behind the scenes, and the challenges of expanding a startup. It was also interesting to learn about the wide customer base, from a scientist in NASA to a writer for the TV show 30 Rock! Well, they can now add me, a medical writer, to their list!

If you’re curious to try out Stitch Fix, here’s the link to get you started: http://stitchfix.com/users/signup/?referrer_id=3004821. Happy Spring Shopping!

We’ve been noticing that jewelry inspired by the traditional Indian design has slowly and surely been making an appearance in Western wear. For a long while, we thought those colorful bangle sets, sold in stores like Claire’s to higher end designers like Amrita Singh, were just a passing trend.

But perhaps the continued influence of Indian jewelry design is here to stay. Has anybody else noticed that the statement necklaces, rings, and cuffs that are big this season look distinctly Indian? Jewelry designers like Isharya and Amrita Singh have several pieces inspired by traditional Indian jewelry work. And just the other day, I noticed the main character of the new ABC Family show Jane by Design wearing an ethnically-inspired statement necklace.

Amrita Singh Rupal Spring Bangle Set

Jane by Design, Episode 3 - necklace

 

Recently while browsing through the “sales rack” of Piperlime, I came across a statement necklace that really caught my eye. The beads, the tassels, the rich colors of red against brass – I just had to have it! The necklace totally reminded me of the jewelry I wear when I dress up in my lehengas for Indian weddings and other such occasions…except its simpler and slightly more modern design makes it pair-able with my usual everyday outfits! Depending on how I feel, I might choose to pair the necklace with a colored top for a bold, bright look or perhaps, wear a plain top and let the necklace do the talking!

Piperlime Sabine Necklace

Pairing the necklace with a bright top 

How do you like to pair your statement necklaces?