Shopping-Adviser

Sunglass Statement

Probably the best way to be mistaken for a celebrity is to have a wonderful selection of fabulous sunglasses at your disposal.  They can hit just the right balance between being incognito and calling attention to yourself.  How can something so small change an entire look or mood of an outfit.

People are using sunglasses to make a fashion statement.  They are a way to individualize an outfit that might not consist of more than a t-shirt and a pair of shorts or blue jeans.  Eyewear has become the hottest new accessory.  People are building a wardrobe of sunglasses much like they would with shoes or handbags and matching them to their outfits. 

“They are jewelry for the face,” says fashion designer James Mischka, who, with his partner Mark Badgley, has introduced their first Badgley Mischka sunglasses collection.  They are known for they ornate line of evening wear and are now applying those same principles to the frames by adding Swarovski crystals, laser-cut inlays and pearls onto the frames. 

Lining on the inside of the arms has also become very chic as well as eye catching.  Stripes, polka dots and leopard prints are just a few that you will see on such brands as Donna Karan, Ray-Ban, Kate Spade and Dolce & Gabbana.

Sunglasses do represent more than just a fashion statement.  Polarization, which is a filter that absorbs the reflective glare, can now be injected into the lens instead of simply being added to it and that makes for a high quality, clearer lens.

In the early 1970’s my mother had very large sunglasses with white frames.  I wish she still had them.

Clothing Rules For Wedding Guests

Finding an appropriate outfit for a summer wedding can be much more of a challenge that one might think. There are so many things to consider.  What time of day is the wedding?  Obviously you would not wear the same thing to an 11:00 am wedding as you would a 7:00 pm affair.  Is it an indoor or outdoor wedding?  Is the ceremony taking place in a church or synagogue where dressing more conservatively might be called for?  And a destination wedding brings on a whole week end of outfits to plan for. 

Women:
It seems silly to state this but women should shy away from white or off white attire.  A mix of color with white is fine buy not a solid color.  Don’t  wear something that will outshine the wedding party.  No matter what time of day or what the setting select a sophisticated outfit that does not scream “LOOK AT ME”

If it is a destination wedding try to get into the theme.  A wispy tropical outfit for the islands or a wonderful turtleneck dress with a beautiful broach or beaded necklace for a winter wonderland destination is nice and shows that you are going along with the theme.  Don’t forget to inquire about plans for the day so you bring everything you need to make the most out of the weekend. 

You can be a bit bolder for a black tie event but again, not anything too flashy with a lot of sequins and glitter.  Leave that for the mother of the bride. 

Men:
You can never go wrong with a wonderful pair of linen or fine gauge cotton trousers and a navy blue blazer for a more casual wedding.  High quality shoes and a knock out tie can make a big impact especially in the summer.  Unless it is ultra casual or on the beach please don’t take your blazer off to reveal a short sleeve shirt or a polo type shirt under your jacket. 

A classic dark suit is the most appropriate way to go for a late afternoon wedding.  It does not have to be black and in fact gray is perfectly acceptable.  Pinstripes can add a sophisticated touch and with a colored shirt and coordinating tie it can make the outfit not appear too business like. 

A classic black tux is the way to go for a formal wedding but you can add some unexpected fun with a colored or patterned bowtie and cummerbund.  A dark suite will suffice if you don’t own a tux and renting is always an option.

For more advice on dressing for a wedding go to: http://fashion.about.com/cs/tipsadvice/a/weddingguest.htm

Memories

I think we all have memories, sometimes tender, sometimes not, of a particular piece of clothing or accessory that evokes strong feelings and attachments.  Like an old song, when you come across a photograph or are cleaning out a closest and come upon the item certain feelings come to light.  I have a few that I would like to share.

We had gone to my grand parent’s house in Manitowoc, Wisconsin one summer when I was maybe 12 years old and somehow encouraged my grandmother to go in the attic and bring down my mothers wedding dress.  Both she and my two aunts had worn the dress and I wanted to see it in person.  The minute the box was opened I fell in love.  It was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen and swore that I too would wear the dress. 

Years later I was living in Washington, DC and became engaged.  My mom encouraged me to go take a look at dresses as the selection was much better there versus in Madison.  My best friend Gina and I shopped for two straight days and found nothing.  There was not a single dress that compared to my mother’s.  The dress was cleaned and altered and just perfect.  I have it all preserved in my attic now and who knows, one of my girls may end up wearing it one day.

My first big high school dance was freshman year.  I found a darling red dress that had spaghetti straps, was some sort of heavy nylon fabric and had three or four tiers of material giving it that 1920s flapper look.  It was so comfortable and I just loved it.  So on the night of the big dance I did my hair and makeup and was so excited about the dress.  I made my big entrance down stairs before my date arrived and my parents and brother were in the den.  Now keep in mind that my brother and I were very close.  He is three years older than me and was very popular in school.  I walked into the den feeling great and Mike turned to me and said, “My god, you look like a hooker”.  I do not know whether it was the bright red color or all of the layers but I was devastated. 

My next strong memory was a beautiful navy short dress I purchased in the early 1990’s.  Ok, I know you have an image of it already and you are right.  Big puffy sleeves, a tight bodice and then crinoline at the bottom just above my knees that went out like a hoop skirt.  I wore it with high navy pumps and it was quite a dress.  This past year our oldest daughter who was a sophomore at the University of Georgia and in a sorority asked to see some of my old clothes.  They have many theme “date nights” and she wanted to see if there was anything she could take back with her.  Now I am not a sentimental person and I love to pitch things that I no longer use but I really liked that dress and have kept it. 

Once she could compose herself and stop laughing she asked if she could take the dress back to school with her.  I was annoyed by her reaction but let her take the dress.  It continued to get a lot of laughs the night she went to wear it to a “90’s” date night but I did get my revenge when she went to get into her car and sat down only to find the entire bottom half of the skirt in her face and crinoline all around her.  Driving was definitely a challenge that evening.

My last apparel memory involves a sequined number I also bought in the “90’s” ( I promise I do have pretty good taste in clothes, it was just the ‘90’s”).  Leopard prints had just become popular and I found this great dress at Neiman Marcus.  It was short and quite form fitting.  The woman who helped me also found a pair of dangly leopard crystal earrings that matched the dress to perfection.  We had a formal business weekend at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia and it was going to be just right. 

I did not eat for weeks before hand, well not really, to make sure that the dress would fit just right.  My husband had not seen the dress before and I think was a bit taken back.  It was a little loud.  As we walked into the main ball room one of our very good friends took a look at me and said, “That is not a dress that is a weapon”.  It was a fun outfit to wear and brought about quite a lot of comments. 

We all make mistakes when it comes to buying what works for us, what fits properly and what is trendy at the time but some things, even though we wouldn’t ever be caught dead in them again, where appropriate at the time and some things like my wedding dress will always be in style and elegant. 

Building A Jewelry Wardrobe

Building A Jewelry Wardrobe

It is my opinion that jewelry is no longer viewed as an indulgence.  Whether you are buying an investment piece or something fun, faux and trendy it makes a statement about your personal style as well as your mood.  You do not have to be stuck wearing the same pieces everyday and changing your jewelry does not have to cost you a fortune.  There are some wonderful pieces out there that look just like the real thing at a fraction of the cost. 

Building a jewelry wardrode is a process and reflects not only your style but can be characterized by the times.  Here are some tips and suggestions to creating your own stash of goodies.

Every woman should have at least two watches.  One for everyday that is durable and large enough to read that can be worn with a suit or with jeans.  Leather straps, which now come is a bevy of  fun colors are always classic but keep in mind that they will need to be replaced in time with wear.  Metal bands will last longer and can get slightly wet if necessary.  A simple dress watch is also a nice piece to own.  Something elegant for evening, possibly with some diamonds around the face to dress it up further. 

Diamonds are no longer reserved just for evening wear.  Everyone should own a pair of diamond stud earrings and enjoy them during the day no matter what you are wearing or your age.  If the real thing is not an option most fine department stores sell wonderful fakes in all shapes and sizes.  Stick to the realistic one to one and a half carat range set in white gold.  No one, I promise, will ever know the difference unless you tell them they are not real. 

Diamond chandelier earrings are also still popular for the evening.  Not too big though, just long enough to catch the light and shimmer in a flattering way.

Brooches go in and out of style but to own one or two can really make for a versatile piece of jewelry and can dress up any suite or outer wear.  You can also get creative and wear them in your hair, clipped to a multiple strand of pearls or pin one on your plain handbag to dress it up. 

Do not wear too much jewelry at one time.  It is ok to layer on the bracelets or wear multiple long necklaces at once but please don’t do them at the same time.  You will look as though you are six years old again and are again playing dress up. 

If you have been given a piece of heirloom jewelry from a family member or good friend, enjoy it, wear it.  Don’t keep it hidden away in a safe place.  Everything is in right now so you can’t go wrong with the style and hopefully it will bring back fond memories. 

While classic fine jewelry is always a good investment and will remain timeless today’s retailers offer a wide variety of choices at every price point.  Experiment, enjoy and let go of your creative side.  Shop On!!!!!

Weekend Getaway Tips

There is nothing more relaxing that a nice weekend getaway with your family, especially this time of year with the warm weather.  Whether you are headed to the beach or the mountains packing should be simple and practical.

It is easy to claim that most travelers pack too much, but I am not so sure that is always the case.  True, nobody wants to lug a giant suit case with them but you also do not want to get caught in an unfamiliar area without the essentials and have to spend valuable vacation time shopping for the basics that should have been included in the first place. 

I have listed a few of my favorite tips that I hope you will find helpful.

If you have to pack your toilet items and cannot carry them with you, put them in separate zip lock bags.  This way if they leak they won’t ruin your clothes.

Go through your daily routine of getting ready and either write the things down as you use them or pack them after you use them as to not forget anything.  Be especially mindful of medications as these are more difficult to replace away from home.  Packing a small bag of medicine for headaches, stomach aches, poison ivy, allergies, etc is always a good idea especially if you have children. 

Pack clothes that are prone to wrinkles in plastic bags.  Dry cleaner bags work especially well.  Also, if you roll up sweaters instead of folding them, you’ll avoid the wrinkles that way too. 

Use the plastic bags that your newspaper comes in to put your shoes in.  They are see through so you can find which pair of shoes you are looking for and it also protects your other items from getting dirty.

Pack one or two extra plastic garbage bags.  They come in very handy to use as laundry bags or for wet bathing suits that were used at the last minute before leaving.

The list can go on and on but those are a few of my favorites.  Pack your favorite items to wear that you always feel comfortable in and remember that shopping should be a part of every getaway trip.  You never know what wonderful things you will find.  Enjoy, relax and be happy.

Dressing To Fly

I know that air travel has changed drastically since 911 but lets face it, you do not have to dress like you are going to a NASCAR race. 

I began traveling as a young girl with my family on vacations in a time when people dressed up to get on an airplane.  It was fun and exciting to fly and people took it seriously.  They would never consider traveling in blue jeans, flip flops and sleeveless tank tops. 

On a recent trip I was appalled to have to sit next to a man who was clearly overweight, wearing shorts that showed way too much leg and was wearing Birkenstock sandals exposing toes that had obviously never been properly taken care of.  What ever happened to a nice pair of khaki slacks a white shirt and navy blazer.  And the women are no better, wearing short shorts, sweat pants and tank tops. 

I realize that travel has become very complicated with airport security issues, cancelled or delayed flights, lost baggage and rude counter employees but dressing up can have its advantages.  It is my opinion and belief that you are taken much more seriously if you are properly dressed.  When a family of four wants some special accommodations and looks like they are already ON the beach instead of heading TO the beach versus a family that is clothed in a suitable manner, I, as a ticket agent, would have to say that I would be biased in favor of helping the family that was more dressed up.

I do not think that it is asking too much to hope that people would dress appropriately in public.  Most individuals would not consider wearing a sweat suit to work or a skimpy tank top.  I am all for comfort, especially when flying, but looking like you are about to go to the gym is really stretching the line. 

Air travel is not what it used to be but that doesn’t mean that all fashion sense has to go down the drain.  Dress up folks, you will feel better and certainly look better : )

Landing Your Dream Ring

Women’s Guide to Getting Their Dream Diamond Engagement Ring

How can women get their dream diamond engagement ring when it is the boyfriend making the purchase and wanting it to be a surprise?  To find the answer you need to understand your man’s thought process.  After all, he is shopping for a diamond, the symbol of his love for you.

The man shopping for an engagement diamond has three primary shopping priorities:

1) They want to make a good investment
2) They want to make you happy
3) They fear disappointing you or worse yet, rejection

On all three points, men act out of fear of making a mistake.  Their pride and desire to surprise their girlfriend typically prohibit them from asking the woman’s advice.  As men so often do, they try to apply logic to what is a very emotional decision.

Most men attack diamond shopping the same as any other problem they face.  They research the subject, gather all the facts (often in a spreadsheet), and then make a logical decision.  They assume you will have the same priorities they have so they focus on what will be a good investment.  They seek a high quality diamond fearing that anything less will as somehow imply some lower level of love.

The man’s first stop is often the jewelry store in the closest shopping mall.  They walk in the door and realize they just entered a world foreign to them.  They look at rings in the display cases and see more zeros in the price tag than they have seen since they bought their car.  Their heart starts pounding as they realize they have to spend thousands of dollars on a tiny little rock they know nothing about, then give it away to someone else or worse yet, face rejection. 

Now their legs are shaking so they decide they need to do more research and do it in a friendlier environment.  They head home, turn on the computer, and start searching online for clues on how to survive the diamond buying process.  Their goal is to find a pretty ring their girlfriend will like and have a few dollars left in their pocket.  They feel more comfortable with the discussions of the four C’s (color, clarity, carat weight and cut) where they can match up those letter grades with their budget to find some possible options.  However, with a little knowledge comes the sinking feeling that there is a whole lot more for them to learn in order to protect themselves from making an expensive mistake.  They become even more determined not to make a mistake so they spend the next weeks and months gathering ever fact and opinion they can find on diamond buying.  It is almost like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant.  There is just too much to drink in.

It is at this stage of the shopping process men sometimes forget the reason they started on this adventure in the first place.  They can lose sight of the fact that their primary goal is to make their girlfriend happy.

If you are a woman, by now you are probably getting the picture.  However, you are asking yourself, what should I do to help ensure the diamond of my dreams and the proposal moment as romantic as I hope?

Here are some suggestions that can help make your dreams come true:

1) Do some shopping yourself so you can tell your boyfriend what shape of diamond you like best on your finger.  Do not leave it up to him to guess wrong.

2) If you sense this is going to be mostly a surprise gift, drop some subtle hints about what kind of mounting (solitaire, side stones, etc.) you want for your diamond.  If you do not know, hint you want something very simple so he does not make an expensive mistake.

3) If you have a strong preference for the type of metal in the ring (yellow gold, white gold, platinum), find a way to tell him.

4) If you have the type of relationship that supports it, get involved in the diamond buying process.  There are more couples shopping together for the engagement ring now than ever before and the result is often higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress.

Many couples now shop together so the boyfriend knows what shape of diamond the girlfriend likes, knows what style of mounting she likes and then he takes that knowledge to buy the ring on his own timetable and make the presentation a surprise.

The bottom line is your man is trying, to the best of his ability, to do all the right things to make you happy.  You just need to be patient and try to appreciate the effort he is making on your behalf.  If you would like to see this diamond gift giving repeated, then by all means tell him how proud you are of his research show him how much you love that sparkling diamond on your finger.

Traveling With Your Jewelry

Protect Your Jewelry When Traveling

If you have travel plans in your future, think carefully if you really need to take all your expensive jewelry.  The risk of theft, loss and damage increases as soon as you start your trip because you are in new surroundings, doing new activities and often in tourist areas that are the target of pickpockets, thieves and con artists.

If you are traveling out of the country, check to be sure your jewelry insurance covers your property when you are traveling outside the United States.  Because the risk of theft is so much higher in foreign countries, some insurance companies only provide domestic coverage.

To avoid inviting crime, plan to dress inconspicuously to blend into the environment, especially when in another country.  When traveling internationally, consider taking and wearing no jewelry.  Criminals assume all tourists are wealthy so if you choose to wear jewelry, turn rings around so the diamonds are not showing and avoid dangling earrings. Large, expensive-looking jewelry is an attractive target and it is easy to snatch dangling earrings.

It is never wise to put jewelry items in checked baggage, especially with security personnel going through your belongings.  The percentage of bags lost by airlines continues to increase and their liability for your lost luggage is very limited.  Keep your jewelry and other valuables like money, keys, wallets, tickets, cameras, and medications in your carryon luggage.  If airport security requires going through your carryon, request a private place so other travelers will not see your valuables.

Be especially careful with your valuables in hotel rooms because they are open to cleaning personnel several times a day and safes in hotel rooms are not particularly secure.  How many times have you walked by hotel rooms with doors wide open and cleaning crews not visible?  Professional criminals know the cleaning procedures and can quickly enter your room when cleaning service personnel are not looking.

If you do not put your jewelry in your luggage or leave it in your hotel room, that means you are carrying it with you but that can be a problem at the security checks at airports or when carrying something all day as you travel or are sightseeing.  Many valuables disappear after being left for a few moments in a bag at a restaurant, transportation waiting room, restroom, or ticket line.  Thieves patiently wait for travelers to let their guard down for just a minute and grab their bag without anyone noticing.

Theft is only one of the risks when traveling.  Often a vacation includes some time at the beach, pool or hot tub.  The sand and concrete can easily scratch precious metals in jewelry as well as gemstones that are not as hard as diamonds.  Chlorine can also weaken and discolor precious metals.  Travelers often expose their jewelry to risks they would never think of doing at home.

Carrying jewelry when traveling also needs some special care.  Diamonds, gemstones and metal can scratch each other if carried together in a single bag.  Place fine jewelry in separate cloth bags or put in separate compartments of a jewelry bag made for travel.  Then be sure to carry the jewelry case in a purse or carryon.

The purpose of most vacations is to relax, not to impress the locals, so minimize jewelry when traveling.  If you do take jewelry, be aware that you are in new and potentially dangerous surroundings.  Take special care of your valuables and enjoy your trip.

Celebrity Engagement Rings

Whether it is the sparkle of a princess’s necklace or a beautiful bauble gleaming on the left hand of an actress society has long been fascinated with celebrity jewelry.  If offers the fans an intimate detail about their favorite stars. 

From the Traditional to the Antique and even Art Deco, there is as much variation among celebrity engagement rings and there is between the brides themselves.  Here are a few of the true show stoppers:

Tom Cruise presented his fiancé Katie Holmes, and now the mother of his baby daughter, with a 5.5 carat oval diamond in an Edwardian-style ring with over six carats of smaller diamonds outlining the oval and on the shank.  The late Princess Diana wore an 18 carat oval blue sapphire with fourteen diamonds surrounding it.

Catherine Zeta-Jones’ engagement ring from Michael Douglas was a spectacular 10 carat marquise diamond set horizontally.  And Reese Witherspoon’s 4.5 carat Asscher cut diamond is set in a beautiful 1920s art deco style mounting.

Most of these engagement rings are out of reach for most newly engaged couples but you can recreate these looks in many ways.  For example, in order to afford a larger center stone you could use 14 karat white gold for the mounting instead of the much more expensive platinum.  Another way to get that big look without a big price tag would be to pave tiny diamonds around the center stone.  It will make the center stone appear much larger and will also add to the sparkle of the ring.  Three stone rings are also very popular, and not just for anniversaries, and it creates a larger overall look.

My advice would be to look for quality in your diamond.  Many jewelry stores try to sell you what they have in inventory instead of getting in the size, shape and quality of stone you are looking for.  All diamonds look good under jewelry store lights.  Make sure to see the certification for the diamond not just the store paperwork and take a good look at it under the microscope.    Taking the diamond or ring to an independent appraiser is the best choice.  They do not own the diamond and therefore will give you an honest opinion of the stones quality. For more information on the diamond buying process please visit: http://www.diamondsourceva.com/ShoppingAdvice/diamonds-shopping-advice.asp

And finally, your love for each other should last a life time, the diamond can always be up graded : )

Living And Working In Richmond

Living, as I do, in Richmond, Virginia has many advantages.  It is close to the Washington, DC area with all of the culture, shopping and politics one could want.  The beach is only 90 miles away and you can be in the mountains in an hour.  The weather cooperates most of the time, not too very cold in the winter or too terribly hot in the summer.  I grew up in Wisconsin and so I consider myself a northerner.  But living in the “so called” south there are certain traditions that are so very southern.

I participated last weekend in the Southern Woman’s Show here in Richmond.  It is a three day event centered solely on women.  I work for Diamond Source of Virginia a family owned internet based diamond company that has been doing business here in Richmond since 1989.  We don’t advertise in the conventional way, i.e. newspaper ads, radio or billboards.  A great deal of our clientele have come to us through word of mouth of previous happy customers.  We keep our costs low; in fact they are the lowest in the country, by not carrying inventory.  We do individual diamond searches based on our customers’ criteria.  We joined the conference this year to get the word out that we are here and ready to help our Richmond neighbors.

This particular Women’s Show Series attracts over 250,000 women, ages 25-64, who come to shop, gather information, make decisions and yes, buy.  The show featured demonstrations on fashion, food, business, health, beauty, travel and home improvement. 

We were positioned in a key spot at the show after teaming up with an event planner and a travel agency. Our booth was center stage as you entered the convention center.  A free flowing Belgian chocolate fountain ran for three days in the center of our tent which made for a wonderful gathering place.  Attendees could come into the tent, sample the chocolate and learn about diamonds at the same time.  Now tell me, what is better than chocolate and diamonds. 

It was a great event to meet and greet people from all over the Central Virginia area.  I am very fortunate to work for such a great company with wonderful co-workers and in a business that is full of happiness and celebration.  People buy diamonds for engagements, anniversaries, holidays and the birth of a baby and it is such fun to be able to help them with their buying needs and to be a part of happy times.  Please check us out on the web or give us a call and we would be more than happy to make your purchase as easy as possible.  http://www.diamondsourceva.com/