Fashion Trends

What’s your totem animal? Are you stealthy and cat-like or more the lovable puppy? Perhaps you simply love frogs and they adorn your house (not the live kinds!)

Or you’re intrigued by any TV show featuring sharks. Or you’ve never gotten rid of that childhood love of dinosaurs.

Whatever your motif, we can create a piece of jewelry out of it. This has been done for centuries of course, and is tribal in origin. Some believe you are empowered by your totem animal or symbol and wearing it serves to strengthen you. Wear coins and bring money into your life. Wear sunshine and find your spirits lifting!

Here’s a little more on motif jewelry for 2010:

Don’t shy away from strong imagery this season.

Snakes, elephants, flowers, birds, and coins are some of the most popular motifs.

These elements add a very particular mood to a collection so find one that you like and then style it in a way that makes it your own.

Emphasize a motif by repeating it in many different ways.

For example: a necklace dripping with metal textured elephants, enamel elephants, carved wood elephants, and mixed with cords and chains can be a statement piece.

Applying chains in a snake-like pattern to a fabric frontal necklace can evoke the feeling of the snake without actually using the image.

Mixing and layering colorful flowers in fabrics, beads, and metals can create a romantic statement.

– Jewelry Business Blog

Here’s one of our motif pieces – The Key of Love pendant necklace. Who knows what doors you could open?

Style 10347

Key of Love Necklace

If you’re on a tight budget during this never-ending recession, remember: you don’t have to sacrifice spirit-lifting pleasures such as jewelry.

Here are a few steps you can take that are only a jewelry box away!

Get Rid of Old Gold:

Your old, unused gold and platinum jewelry could be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars – more now than ever before. Why not sell your old gold and turn it into something new and exciting!

Joseph Schubach Jewelers will buy your old gold and platinum jewelry out right or apply it to a new purchase. It’s an easy way to get that ring you’ve had your eye on – or to get some extra cash. Contact us for details on how we can help you turn your old memories into new ones.

Keep the Stones:

If you’ve got fine jewelry that seems worn or out of date, or broken, you should keep the stones. Think of a jeweler as a tailor, if you need a ring redesigned, it’s a cinch. Emeralds are just like buttons that can be added to other pieces to give a whole new look.

A good practice is buying old jewelry from swap meets, garage sales, or estate sales. Keep thinking about the type of jewelry design you would like, and just be creative to get it by combining elements from more than one piece. It’s far less costly to have the diamonds and gemstones available and just put them in a different setting, than to buy an entirely new piece.

Develop a Relationship with your Jeweler:

With gold being as valuable as it is, it’s important to work with a jeweler you can trust. You don’t want to end up handing in a 14k gold chain and receiving a piece with 10k gold. It’s very likely that you won’t even notice, but the piece will be worth far less.

The same is true of diamonds in your recycled jewelry. An unscrupulous jeweler can switch gemstones on you, leaving you with a less valuable piece while he resells the one he switched.

After 100 years in business, we can assure you that we are the most trusted jeweler we know and we pride ourselves in creating relationships that span generations. Give us a call at (888) 724-8222 and let us see how we can help you recycle your jewelry today. There may be a new gift in store for you.

Partial Source: Abazia’s Diamonds

Everybody is a model during Fashion Week. Of course, you have your runway models but everyone in attendance, such as celebrities, are also fodder for the tabloids and examples of upcoming trends.

According to expert Carly Wickel:

Cross pendants were a common theme at London Fashion Week, with cross styles varying from traditional to contemporary. Chunky necklaces, wide bracelets and large cocktail rings continued to be popular.

Below is a glimpse of Fashion Week at the last London Fashion Week:

Kate Moss wore a modest station necklace and a pair of diamond earrings to the Unique Fashion Show during London Fashion Week.

Mary-Kate Olsen, wearing an ornate cocktail ring on her index finger. Her ring finger holds a narrow style with curved extensions that flow over adjacent fingers.

Jennifer Saunders, wearing a turquoise bracelet and a couple of earthy-looking beaded necklaces. Her daughter wore pretty cocktail rings and slipped on a wide, black bracelet with (what appears to be) turquoise trim.

Liv Tyler wore an extra wide black cuff bracelet to the Burberry show. Emma Watson kept it simple, wearing a couple of classic rings.

Estelle wore gold drop-hoop earrings to the Pringle of Scotland fashion show.

Model and singer Agyness Deyn, wearing an oversize cocktail ring and a cross pendant on a chunky chain.

We don’t often think of the impact our current era has on our fashion choices. There are usually practical reasons why certain fashion trends come into being in the first place, such as economic or political climates.

Take this one expert’s opinion:

Millennial Trends

Consumerism is now centered on convenience, and the same goes for the jewelry market. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires are the safe choices in the jewelry case. Easy-to-wear jewelry trends are most popular in the form of necklaces, earrings and bracelets-a continuation of simplicity. But a few trends from each decade past still exist in today’s jewelry market.

The cocktail ring has arguably made a large comeback in recent years, flaunted in different social circles and age groups. Both faux versions and the real things have come to coexist in casual settings and ritzy locales.

While platinum still reigns in the precious metal world, yellow gold has been reborn in the 21st Century, replacing the white gold dominance of the Nineties.

It’s been a roller coaster ride of trends for jewelry aficionados over the last century. What will fill the jewelry boxes of the future?

If you’re looking for a classic piece, look no further. After 3 generations in business, we’ve seen it all but continue to carry pieces with lasting appeal. Our Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace, for instance, is one of our big crowd pleasers.

Style 10119-4.5mm (1/3ct)

Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace

Classic Sweetheart pave necklace with 1/5ct t.w. round brilliant stones set on an 18″ cable chain. Fits a 4.5mm (1/3ct diamond) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone).

It’s always a breath of fresh air to discover that the fashion trends for a particular season are accessible, simple to wear and fashionable. No sharp, pointy heels or or studded leather chokers this Spring!

According to Today’s Hot Trends, this Springs offers up ease and sweetness.

White is the key color for your wardrobe this season – and all of its variations. Once you have your whites covered, here’s the other trending colors, according to PANTONE at the Fashion Color Report Spring 2010.

Turquoise, tomato purée, fusion coral, violet, tuscany, aurora, amparo blue, pink champagne, dried herb and eucalyptus will be favorite colors.

Fashion trends include ripped jeans, feminine and frilly dresses, billowy pants and an overall casual, light feel.

Our Keys of Love pendant match perfectly with the relaxed look at a price you can afford. Prices start at $199.

Key of Love Pendant Necklace with Pave Set Stones

Hoop earrings are one the mainstays of any jewelry collection. They go with just about any outfit and are a natural eye-catcher. And this Spring, they’re hotter than ever. They cast a flirty feel and sit lightly on your ear.

When buying jewelry, it’s important to develop a collection of “go to” items first. This includes a set of pearls, diamond stud earrings, a simple pendant necklace and some traditional hoops.

This pair really ups the ante:

Style 10110

Inside Out Hoop Earrings With Round Stones

Prong set inside out hoop earrings set with round brilliant stones.

According to one fashion expert, the Oscars still honored a more subdued look in light of our economy.

Beth Bernstein believes that this is a good thing for a consumer: we can actually afford pieces or styles that celebrities are wearing without breaking the bank.

Of course, this requires some creativity: like using moissanite instead of naturally-mined diamonds or freshwater pearls or Gemesis – all considerably more affordable material:

Bling is no longer the thing at red carpet events.  Low key and subdued is the message A-List celebrities have been sending out for some time now. And, personally,  I think this couldn’t be better for our retailers.

What celebrities are wearing translate into understandable pieces that can easily be interepreted (at lower diamond weights and less tony price tags) into your customer’s wardrobes. And these divas, many whom I’ve watched for several years have had a range of faux pas and now have all come into their own.

I realize that some of my editorial counterparts might not agree, wishing to see more stand out pieces but once again the red carpet was the stage for earrings, cuffs and right hand rings and a few spectacular yet more delicate necklaces.

Earrings are always a way to light up a woman’s face and can easily be interpreted with varied collections you have in your stores. The cuff bracelets are perhaps harder to sell but are good stand out pieces to revolve a collection around. Buy one for impact.

When we finally saw necklaces they were choker length and we didn’t see too many but the styles we did see were breath-taking and less overwhelming than in the past.

I like this minimalism. It doesn’t say jewelry isn’t important; it says don’t let your jewelry wear you.

Writer: Beth Bernstein

Kate Winslet with a Scaled Down Bling Look

The styles at the Grammys this year were decidedly a little more daring than last year, hopefully a small sign that our economic woes are slowly lifting and celebrities feel a little more comfortable “blinging” out.

Jewelry choice were chunkier and bolder, some with a decidedly futuristic slant.

As for the fashion, this experts sums up the top winners of the evening, including Lady Gaga’s celestial beast of a dress:

1. Beyonce– With the most wins of the night, the starlet is seen wearing a Stephane Rolland gown, Casadei Heels, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
2. Fergie– Fergie is stunning in a blue Emilio Pucci mini dress, Kwiat cuff, Jessica Robinson jewelry, Le Silla sandals, and a jeweled Judith Leiber clutch. Lately, I’ve seen Fergie in Emilio Pucci at several red carpet events. She surely is a fan of his and I’m sure he is of her. Maybe a collaboration sometime in the future?
3. Jennifer Lopez- JLo looks gorgeous in this silver chain Versace gown.
4. Mary J Blige– So happy to see her in some color and her dress is another unique cut-out neckline that I adore. The R&B star brights up the right carpet in a fuschia Gucci gown with a Gucci clutch, and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
5. Lady Gaga– With Lady Gaga you wonder, “What is she going to pull of next?” She surely gave us an eye-popping look in this futuristic, Armani prive dress with towering, sparkly heels.
6. Miley Cyrus– Love her futuristic, rocker-chic style. Miley is wearing a short teal Herve Leger by Max Azria dress, Judith Leiber clutch, and gladiator sandals. Love it!
7. Pink– Now this is a change. Pink giving us old-Hollywood glamour? She looks amazing in a crystal-encrusted Tony Ward haute couture gown, Judith Leiber clutch, and Neil Lane diamond jewelry worth 2.5 million dollars. Wow!
8. Taylor Swift–  She brings extreme glamour in this shimmery blue Kaufman Franco gown, platinum and diamond jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz. I love the neckline of this dress!

Source: HotBeautyHealth

Nothing gives the world a better fashion indicator than a good award ceremony. Figure it this way: some of the top fashion designers in the world are recruited to dress celebrities. These people know what’s hot!

So let’s cut to the chase: what was hot and what was not at last night’s Grammys?

Lady Gaga, in her own fashion universe

Imogen Heap, Mary Poppins style

Pink, in a gray mood

Beyonce, giving flesh tone a whole new meaning

Miley Cyrus, in a marbled look?

Oh, Britney. A good friend would have stopped you.

Katy Perry – vintage goth

Tomorrow, we’ll take a closer look at some of the jewelry choices seen at the Grammys. Stay tuned!