for all of the time that i spend shopping (and trust me, it’s a lot), i rarely come across a jewelry designer that gets me really excited. i see a lot of “oh, isn’t that cute,” or “if only i could afford that”, but it’s rare for me to really fall hard for a jewelry line. so when i find a designer whose pieces are stylish, well-made, unique, gorgeous, and affordable…well, i have to sing their praises.

the lovely peggy li is my latest find, and i couldn’t be happier. all of her designs are delicate, stylish, impeccably made, and impossibly affordable.

i’ve been wearing her gorgeous ‘diamonds in the rough’ necklace nonstop since it arrived, and people literally stop me on the street when i’m wearing it. i adore the organic shape of those raw diamond beads, and their unusual chocolate brown color. and the chain is this impossibly lacy, delicate link chain…details i would expect from a truly high end designer. in a million years, you’d never guess it was only $65.

another piece i just love is her rudilated quartz spy pendant. it just looks like something you got in some fabulously overpriced antique store, or better yet, in the jewelry department at barney’s. the chain has fabulous detailing, and the stone on that pendant…it’s just such a fantastic statement piece. oh, and did i mention you can order her necklaces in a range of lengths? just makes me love her even more!

and i was just coveting a pair of earrings almost exactly like these brushed gold ovals for an entire episode of gossip girl – how exciting to find them on peggy’s site…for under $50! once again, the detail on these is what makes them really special. that gorgeous brushed gold detail, the wire wrap at the top to add texture – they’re just perfect.

best of all, the designer is just about as sweet as can be – and i always love buying from designers that are still as involved in their product as she is. every piece is still made by hand, by her…and it shows.

head over to peggy’s website, and i think you’ll enjoy getting lost in her world as much i did!

i know, the sample sale sites are everywhere now. but truth be told, i’m glad they’re there…i get a little sick of bluefly being my only option for great deals on designers goods, and honestly, even they’ve been lagging lately.

regent’s secret is the newest incarnation, and they have a style all their own. for my readers that eschew the more preppy, styles you can rely on from hautelook, and can’t afford the high-end couture at gilt, even at sample sale prices, regent’s secret offers sample sales for the cool kids.

this week, you can hook your other half up with some style at the frankie b. sale that starts tonight at midnight – i’m anxiously awaiting this opportunity to make my hubs even cuter than normal.

or, hang on to your wallet until monday, and pick up some of the darling, tattoo-inspired wares from SMET.

hold out even longer, and you’ll be able to score some ultra-cool cavalli sunglasses on the 10th. that’s the one i’m saving up for!

to get signed up, make sure you head over to regent’s secret via the links here, and then you can just enter my email addy – shoppingsmycardio at gmail.com – to bypass that whole ‘invite-only’ madness.