I have neither the time nor the inclination to subscribe to medical journals, but they are occasionally mined for gold by the consumer press when it comes to matters of appearance and self-esteem.

As my regular readers know, I strive to help jewelers help their customers select jewelry that brings attention to the customers’ favorite features, especially their eyes and mouths. Women can be notoriously hard on themselves as to every perceived imperfection. As retailers, you can help your customers see and acknowledge their inherent beauty.

       

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A dream for many of the creative, free-spirited jewelry designers out there, a key trend for fall and winter is the return of highly architectural designs in clothing. These designs exaggerate lines and repeat geometric shapes, creating exciting designs that get noticed.

The ideal jewelry to adorn these designs is also stand-out and architectural or geometric in shape. Strong three-dimensional forms are perfection with these fashions. Repeating the overall shapes and lines of the wearer’s apparel in her jewelry can provide an extraordinary effect. Jewelry that is too small or insignificant cannot hold its own against these styles.

This trend will be embraced by the woman with a dramatic styl...Read More

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A determination of face shape and an assessment of facial features enters into any assessment of what styles would be most flattering to an individual.

With that in mind, it is fascinating to read the cover story in the August 21, 2008 issue of New Yorkmagazine, entitled “The New New Face.” Jonathan Van Meter writes that Madonna, Demi Moore, and even the Olson twins have this face, and that you can have it too, for about $30,000.

       

The article focuses on new techniques of plastic surgery that &ldqu...Read More

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Lace is an amazing textile. A net-like fabric, in its purest form, made by hand, it is truly an art form. Machine-produced lace, which is the norm today, is beautiful in its own right, and has become a fabric of choice for the upcoming fall/winter season.

The level of refinement of lace is high, and generally speaking, the jewelry worn with it should similarly be jewelry of a high level of refinement. That is to say, chunky pieces and uncut stones generally are not going to work, nor are workhorse pieces like hoop earrings and oversize watches. Lace calls for a lighter touch in jewelry. The easiest way to think of the normal l...Read More

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How does one recommend or choose jewelry for an individual whose body is adorned with tattoos? This question was posed to me recently by a jeweler who fretted that her jewelry would clash with the colorful ink designs on the skin of her client.

In recent years, tattoos have become practically de rigueur for female celebrities of a certain (young) age, even though large numbers of these reported tattoos are not readily visible. Indeed, the location of some of these tattoos perhaps should be categorized as TMI – too much information!

Actress Angelina Jolie, who is a style icon around...Read More

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This autumn, body-hugging pencil skirts are in style, but some of the freshest designs in skirts are full and flirty, rendered in look-at-me colors. This season’s skirts are longer than many of the hemlines we’ve seen recently, often hitting below the knee.

In its September 2008 issue, Glamour magazine notes that pencil skirts flatter most bodies but urges its readers not to be afraid of the new fuller skirts, which can be “super-flattering, especially if you wear them with a snug top. Safest way to wear any bright skirt? With a dark, fitted sweater and multiple necklaces.”

Glamour doesn’t explain the reason for its recommendation, but consider...Read More

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Much of the fashion media is slowly accepting and promoting the idea that beauty comes in different shapes and sizes (a broader, if not yet totally inclusive view), and is seen in women of all ages. In its August 2008 issue, for instance, Vogue magazine focuses on beauty at every age, stating that “today, decade-denial just isn’t chic. Owning your look is. A strong self of self: That’s the hard-earned hallmark of a deeply stylish woman in 2008.”

With the American population overall getting older and broader, such a positive and inclusive view of beauty inspires millions of women to feel good about themselves. It’s also a message that mirrors back what the public is telling the fashion world. Enough with the idea that there is one standa...Read More

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Singers and speakers, rejoice! Your necks and throats are going to be well-protected this fall if you embrace one of the season’s key trends. Scarves, turtlenecks and lush cowl-neck sweaters surround the neck in cozy warmth.

The trend of focus on the neck (seen in statement necklaces and the wearing of large numbers of necklaces over the spring and summer) is continuing into the cold months with this latest take on neck adornment. Indeed, with these latest looks, the neck sometimes disappears entirely, creating a “no-neck look.”

Scarves, in both knit and silk versions, are a key component of this look. They haven’t been terribly successful during the warmer months, perhaps b...Read More

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Following up on the question I received last week from Delia on how I might complement a cleft chin with jewelry, I spent some time going through some of the many wonderful books on jewelry in my personal library.

Looking at extraordinary jewelry designs always inspires me and moves me deeply. What artistry is represented in a beautiful jewel!

I have chosen a couple of representative, but very dissimilar, pendant designs that would beautifully serve to draw attention to a cleft chin.

 
          ...Read More

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The tendency to pile on the jewelry has migrated from wrists to necks. Utilizing what appears to be an alternative to this season’s popular statement necklace, several highly photographed celebrities have been seen sporting a notable number of necklaces.

“Don’t Wear Just One!” admonishes People magazine in its July 28, 2008 issue. If you’ve got “tons of necklaces just sitting in a jewelry box,” “[g]ive them all a night out by accessorizing a simple dress with lots of strands.”

At least the pictured celebs got the simple dress part right, in neutral shades of black or taupe. In fact—gasp—Sarah Jessica Parker is wearing s...Read More

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From time to time, I come across a photo of an individual styled so beautifully with jewelry that the photo deserves comment and another admiring look. At times, the opposite is true, and it’s time to break out the black bar and ask the question favored by various celebrity-focused magazines, “What was she thinking?” Today, sadly, is an example of the latter.

Sheer trench coats and jackets are very much in the fashion news these days. The sheer layer adds structure and a hint of color to what lies under it, which, for purposes of public wear at least, should be something that could stand on its own.

 
     ...Read More

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