It’s Music Video Monday!

I’m SO excited about the upcoming return of one of my favorite shows: “So You Think You Can Dance” (it premieres on Thursday, May 21st). Last season was so entertaining, and I can’t wait for the fun to start again!

Katee and Joshua’s Bollywood routine was one of my favorites, and not just because of the bouncy music or the genius choreography or the flawless execution.

No, I just loved the costumes. Specifically, I loved Katee’s jewelry.

Joshua Allen and Katee Shean.

Choreographer and guest judge Mia Michaels went so far as to tell Katee that she needs to dress like this every day of her life!

However, we can’t all walk around in bikini tops and ankle bells on a daily basis.

That’s what I love about Hari Jewels, Inc.

The company is based in New York, but produced in India — and it shows. These show-stopping pieces are absolutely gorgeous — antique styling with an Indian flavor.

Assorted bangles by Hari Jewels, Inc.

I mean, wouldn’t any of the above bangles be so cute with a sparkly halter top? What a great way to take Katee’s stunning Bollywood look and translate it to real life!

I’ve gotta go. I just found a beginner’s version of this dance on YouTube. This might come in handy if my dream of attending an Indian wedding ever comes true.

Jai Ho,
Olivia

Unless you’re totally new to our blog, you know that Olivia loves designer jewelry.

She obsesses over it. She dreams about it. She blogs about it every day and thinks about it whenever she’s not actually typing furiously away.

Unfortunately, Olivia rarely buys designer jewelry.

Alas, she simply can’t afford it on her meager salary (no offense, boss — I love my job!). No, she must dream of Cartier, but shop at Claire’s.

But Olivia’s friend Donna the Sales Hound came through yet again with a fabulous website that provides an economical alternative to paying full price.

At Juxzy Shop, members can purchase designer fashion at discounted prices. And here’s a new twist: you can buy and sell items from other members, too!

Stores like Buffalo Exchange where you can sell your old clothes and also buy others’ castoffs are growing in popularity, as are clothing (and jewelry) swap events (when a bunch of ladies get together and bring stuff from their closets that they don’t want anymore to swap with one another).

So I can buy a Tiffany necklace at a discounted price — simply because it’s “gently used!” Or I can sell the earrings my aunt gave me for Christmas and use the proceeds to buy that David Yurman cocktail ring I’ve always wanted!

Who cares if they used to belong to someone else? It’s like I’ve been saying all week: “old” is the new “new!”

And, hey, if it’s new to you, then it’s new enough.

Reasonably,
Olivia

We recently told you that “old” is the new “new.”

Well, if that’s true, then Loree Rodkin’s designs are about as trendy as they come.

Medieval-inspired rings with a modern twist: that’s Loree Rodkin.

The Los Angeles-based designer likes to say that she “blurs the line between modern and medieval.” And she’s done it with an artist’s touch, that’s for sure!

Her line gives a modern edge to medieval-inspired motifs in order to create unique pieces that are both classic and contemporary — if there’s one thing the jewelry world loves, surely it’s paradox!

A recent Loree Rodkin advertisement.

But paradox is often difficult to pull off: black and white has become blasé; thick, but light is so last season; and those “cute skulls” that we’ve been seeing everywhere — simply pedestrian, darling.

That’s what makes Ms. Rodkin’s achievement so monumental: she’s successfully combined ancient designs with the “now” — and many people are recognizing her talent.

Loree Rodkin Earrings, $17,000.

In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama has been seen sporting lots of Loree Rodkin in recent days. She wore these earrings to the “We are One” concert in January, and she’s been adding more pieces to her collection.

Sometimes, even the First Lady goes medieval.

Gravely,
Olivia

When I first started getting interested in jewelry (thanks to Brenda Kinsel), I shopped around, looking for pieces that I thought would fit my style.

At first, I was a little bling-shy; I preferred to stay away from pieces that were too sparkly; I didn’t want to do it wrong and look gaudy (God forbid!).

And then my jewelry-making friend Kellee made me a pair of earrings.

Oh, how I loved those earrings! They were the first pair of dangly earrings I ever owned. They were feminine; they were sparkly; they were pink, and they still went with everything I wore! Best of all, because they were dangly, they moved with me, giving extra polish to my every movement.

Kellee told me that she made them with Swarovski crystals.

“Huh?” I asked. “What are Swarovski crystals?”

She didn’t really know, but I didn’t really care because — ooh! Sparkly!

But now that I’m “in the biz” myself, I wanna know what Swarovski crystals are and why they’re so highly prized!

In 1892, Daniel Swarovski patented a machine he invented that cut glass and revolutionized the world of cut glass crystals. Swarovski’s machine also provided a foundation from which Daniel Swarovski could launch his internationally-known, eponymous company.

Swarovski crystals contain about 32% lead. This helps to maximize refraction (that’s extra brilliance and sparkle). Some crystals are also coated with special metallic coatings. That’s how so many beautiful Swarovski crystals have such a luminous appearance.

Swarovski has become synonymous with crystals in the jewelry world. If it’s not Swarovski, it’s simply not good enough. Fortunately, Swarovski has opened a new website: Crystallized.com. This is the best place to get all of your Swarovski products so that you can design your own bling!

The entrance to Kristallwelten in Innsbruck, Austria.

Swarovski has done so well that they even have their own amusement park! Kristallwelten (German for “Crystal Worlds”) in Innsbruck, Austria, is a theme park at Swarovski’s original Wattens site. It’s filled with exhibitions inspired by Swarovski crystals. Um, bling pilgrimage, anyone?

This company is crystal. It’s clear that Swarovski has left an indelible mark on the jewelry world.

Crystal clear.

Clearly,
Olivia

Remember those t-shirts they used to have back in the day? They had a big, yellow smiley face on the front, and read “Have a Nice Day,” often with several exclamation points to emphasize the enthusiasm. I used to love those; they were so delightfully cheesy! They always made me smile.

Well, I didn’t know it, then, but Smiley is a registered trademark of The Smiley Company. And it’s not your middle school teacher’s brand anymore. Thanks to a recent artistic overhaul, the brand has crossed the line from “campy” to “vintage.” Suddenly, it’s hip to be happy!

And Smiley also funds a charity called Smiley World Association. This charity benefits victims of social isolation worldwide.

They’ve found partners all over the world to help with their charity work — including London-based jewelry designer Disaya Sorakraikitikul, founder of her eponymous ready-to-wear line Disaya.

This collaboration — Disaya + Smiley — donates 10% of all proceeds to Smiley World Association. And the icing on the cake is that the line truly captures the whimsy and joy of the Smiley brand!

How delightful — you can have joy and spread joy at the same time!

Here are a few selections from the line. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be sporting your own “smiley” before you even get halfway through.

Disaya + Smiley Yippy Hippy necklaces and bracelets, Melting Face necklaces, Green Peace bangle, Sunlight cell phone charm, Rainbow cell phone charm.

Disaya + Smiley Candy Watch bangle and locket necklace, Mozart bangle.

Disaya + Smiley Splash brooch.

Disaya + Smiley Owl necklaces.

Disaya + Smiley Happy Me bangles.

Smilingly,
Olivia

It’s Music Video Monday!

This was the song that immediately came to mind when I saw this stunning hair clip by Judy Geib Plus Alpha.

Judy Geib Plus Alpha Ribbony Hair Clip, price available upon request from info@judygeibplusalpha.com.

From her January 2009 Collection (”Ribbony”), its stunning emeralds remind me of a snake, wriggling its way into your hair — and from there, into your thoughts and, eventually, into your heart.

Way back in September, I covered the trend of hair jewelry, but it wasn’t until I saw this piece that I remembered why I love hair jewelry so much.

I can just picture this piece nestled in a messy updo, with all the seductive power of Paula Abdul’s 90s dance moves — but without the outdated 90s wardrobe (sorry, Paula).

Cold-Heartedly,
Olivia

I’ve been having kind of a crazy week.

There are various personal issues arising in my life that I can’t discuss here, but I feel so frazzled and out of control because of them.

And when I feel frazzled and out of control, I often wish that there was a way to express my inner emotions and still look smokin’ hot while doing it.

And that’s when I discovered Ariane Zurcher.

Ms. Zurcher has a background in the arts both deep and wide. She’s worked for fashion houses and magazines; she’s experienced arts and cultures from all over the world.

Her vision for her jewelry is for it to “be an extension of the body.” She thinks it’s essential for “the jewelry and the wearer to reflect each other… like a second skin.” Sounds too good to be true, right? But what if the wearer is feeling kinda unbalanced at the moment?

She even accounts for that. I took one look and knew that these earrings and I were a match made in heaven.

Ariane Zurcher E112 Earrings, price available upon request.

These earrings perfectly express the hot mess that I feel like today. They’re wild and asymmetrical, but still gloriously beautiful.

And Ms. Zurcher takes into account the fact that I’m not the same girl from day to day. Some days, I’m feeling sophisticated and chic:

Ariane Zurcher E159 Earrings, price available upon request.

Other days, I’m feeling carefree and whimsical:

Ariane Zurcher E124 Earrings, price available upon request.

And, occasionally, I even feel sultry and mysterious:

Ariane Zurcher E60 Earrings, price available upon request.

It’s such a relief to know that, no matter which girl I am on any given day, I can still be me.

Uniquely,
Olivia

A few years ago, I picked up a book from a sale rack at Barnes & Noble. It was called In the Dressing Room with Brenda: A Fun and Practical Guide to Buying Smart and Looking Great. The concept intrigued me, and at 50% off, I just couldn’t resist.

I didn’t know that buying this book would change my closet forever.

Brenda Kinsel is a fashion & image consultant, and she wrote the book based on her observations of women and their closets over the years.

At the time I read her book, I’d practically given up hope of ever being stylish, despite the fact that my closet was brimming over with clothing — in stark contrast to my jewelry box, which was empty because I was afraid to buy anything for fear of looking gaudy.

Well, after finishing Brenda’s book (I couldn’t put it down), I promptly marched to my closet and pulled out all of the items that I hardly ever wore or only wore because I’d paid good money for them, and donated them to Goodwill.

I then went shopping and replenished my closet with clothes that looked good on me — the body I had, not the body I wanted. And, to my surprise, there were clothes out there that looked good on me! My self-confidence went through the roof!

And the jewelry — oh, the jewelry!

Never before had I accessorized with such abandon! I bought cocktail rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets — my old fear was gone! I knew that I had the confidence to rock some major bling!

It was at this point in my life that I really fell in love with jewelry. And I have Brenda to thank for it.

Brenda, if you’re out there: your book changed my closet. And my confidence. And my life. You’re a gem!

And if you want to check out more of what Brenda has to say, I highly recommend that you check out her website at BrendaKinsel.com.

I promise you’ll thank us both for this tip.

Gratefully,
Olivia

When I first heard of bakelite, my initial reaction was: “Mmm, low-calorie cookies.”

Hey, how was I to know that it was a kind of resin?

Bakelite letter opener, circa 1920.

Bakelite was developed at the turn of the century by Dr. Leo Baekeland in Belgium. Created by applying heat and pressure to phenol and formaldehyde, it was the first synthetic plastic ever developed!

Fun fact: the scientific name of the resin bakelite is created from is polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. Aren’t you glad that they went with “bakelite” instead?

Originally prized for its nonconductive and heat-resistant properties, bakelite was often used in radio and telephone casings. But its popularity spread, and it was soon used in everything from children’s toys to kitchenware to — you guessed it: jewelry!

Bakelite simply screams “retro,” and it’s become super-hot in the collectibles market. And bakelite jewelry is even more collectible, thanks to the vintage feel that it gives to everything.

If you want some hot bakelite pieces, I’d recommend taking a look at Mark Davis’ collection of vintage bakelite jewelry.

Mark Davis Danielle Bangle, $2,750 at barneys.com.

Mark Davis Lucrezia Ring, $4,600 at barneys.com.

Mark Davis Chester Prison Ring, $3,300 at barneys.com.

He’s got some beautiful pieces that range from cool to campy. I love that his collection lets you dial the retro up or down, according to your taste.

So let’s apply what we learned yesteday and retro up, post haste!

Regressing,
Olivia

They say that trends are cyclical, and that’s especially true when it comes to jewelry.

Sometimes, the hottest new trend is also the hottest old trend. What I’m talking about here is vintage jewelry.

Jewels are like women: age gives them character. I love a piece with history, and, since my mother doesn’t really wear jewelry, in the tradition set by her mother before her, my only shot at getting the meaningful pieces I crave is by shopping vintage.

For those of you Woobies out there in the same fix as Olivia, here are three sites to help you get started.

Relics Jewelry by Tami Hichman

Relics Jewelry can be purchased at these retailers of fine jewelry.

Tami Hichman was worn to a frazzle caring for her twin sons when she had a moment of epiphany: in order to properly care for her boys, she needed to properly care for herself! For Tami, this included finding a creative outlet — and so Relics Jewelry was born.

Tami likes to combine the old with the new: she scours the globe for rare vintage jewelry and combines it with elements of her own design in order to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Her finely-tuned eye for style will help to ease you into the world of fine vintage jewelry.

Yoox.com’s Past & Present Collection

Yoox.com is committed to bringing the finest in fashion to the World Wide Web. So of course they have to have the most amazing collection of vintage jewelry on the internet! Each piece’s page includes a description and the era in which it was designed and worn.

I like to look at the pieces and imagine that I am a lady of leisure during the eras in which they were made. Let me tell you, I came this close to writing a romance novel set in the 1920s last night. That’s the power of a vintage piece.

Siegelson

Turquoise and Diamond Suite by Bulgari.

Siegelson is the vintage retailer of this lot. Founded in 1920, Louis Siegelson originally specialized in watches and watch repair, but his son Herman later steered the direction of the company towards diamonds.

Today, Siegelson is a well-known purveyor of fine diamonds, gemstones, objet d’art, and, of course, antique and estate jewelry. Their vintage collection includes pieces dating back to 1850 from French, Italian and American jewelry houses such as Boucheron, Boivin, Cartier, Lacloche, Tiffany & Co., and Bulgari.

They also produce their own line of jewelry — their looks to the past have inspired them for the present!

As for me, I’ve decided to begin a new family tradition — a new tradition of handing down old jewelry that I purchased for myself. But I’d better stock up. Who knows how many great-great-granddaughters I need to collect heirlooms for?

Looking Forward by Looking Back,
Olivia