Category Archives: jewelry

gift guide: mother’s day gifts from hatch jewelry

{This Mother’s Day gift guide is sponsored by Hatch Jewelry, but I’m happy to say that all opinions and blatant coveting of their goods are entirely mine. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support SMC!}

 hatch-jewelry-mother's-day

Left to right, from top: Cloud Necklace | Marquise Bracelet | Teardrop StudsMini Media Bracelet | Hammered Bead Necklace | Branch RingSilver Loop Necklace  | Pyramid Earrings | Bindery Bracelet

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, friends…are you ready? Neither am I. But in recent years, it’s gotten easier to find something to show my mom how appreciated she is – I’ve finally figured out that jewelry is almost always the answer. It’s sentimental, feels like a splurge (but doesn’t have to be), and you can borrow it back any time you want!

But please, I beg you, don’t think for a second that this means running to Ye Olde Megamart and picking up the first plastic bauble that catches your eye. If you’re going for sentiment, you’ll wow Mom infinitely more with a handcrafted piece that has a story. That’s where Hatch Jewelry comes in. Read on

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cheap thrill: accessory concierge

For all my preaching about quality over quantity, sometimes a girl just needs to take that last $40 in her checking account and treat herself to a little immediate gratification. Am I right? But of course, cheap thrills aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be (pleather shoes, anyone?). accessory concierge review

Luckily, I’ve met some friends that can relate. The lovely ladies behind Accessory Concierge, the newest (and quite possibly the best) “cheap chic” jewelry atelier on the block, are here to save you from those piles of jangly plastic junk by offering up a well-edited selection (read: no scrolling through endless pages of awful to get to the one or two goodies on the site) of the best bargain baubles around. And I, for one, can’t get enough.

accessory concierge, accessory concierge review, cheap spring jewelry, best costume jewelry Read on

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currently coveting: grayling jewelry’s spring collection

Every season, I swoon over the gorgeous gems my dear friend at Grayling Jewelry cooks up, but she launched her new spring line today, and she’s really outdone herself.

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I’m painfully torn between the Venus Necklace, which would go with absolutely everything:

venus necklace, grayling jewelry, via shopping's my cardio

And the newest incarnation of their classic Variability, this time in gold and turquoise, which is so lovely and versatile, I just can’t stand it!

variability necklace, grayling jewelry, via shopping's my cardio

What’s a girl to do but buy both?

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weekend forecast

Casa SMC has been Casa Crazy this week, my friends. Work is piling up (but that’s a good thing, right?), and I’m already swimming in holiday ideas for our gift guides. Lucky thing, since Hanukkah starts in…four weeks?! No pressure. Just wait until you see what I have up my sleeve – this year’s going to be the best yet!

Besides working my un-manicured little fingers to the bone, here’s what I’ll be up to this weekend: Read on

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weekend forecast

lauren manoogian, via shopping's my cardio

Happy Friday, friends! This weekend, I’m helping my future sis-in-law shop for a wedding dress. Ah, memories! But the real killer is how to dress myself…honestly, I’m so sick of this Indian summer, I can hardly stand it. I miss my sweaters!

Here’s what I’ll be up to: Read on

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currently coveting: grayling jewelry fall 2013

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Casbah necklace / Mercury necklace / Souk necklace {all from Grayling Jewelry}

I’m pretty smitten with the newest offerings from my friends at Grayling Jewelry, and have been waiting with bated breath to show you their gorgeous fall collection. Designer Katy Kippen always manages to put together a stunning group of pieces that are genuinely unlike anything else out there, and I adore her for it. (Full disclosure: I adore her for lots of other things too. She’s amazing.)

I’m really digging the Moroccan vibe running throughout the collection, and I see a bit of a 1920s/Gatsby thing going on too, which is just fine by me. More tassels, I say! Plus, every piece is light as a feather (no aching ears and necks at the end of the day), and endlessly versatile – Katy is all about making pieces that you can wear a dozen different ways.

My rapidly-expanding Grayling collection is sure to include a few of these beauties, but I’m having a very hard time narrowing my list. What’s your favorite?

Oh! I almost forgot. If you’re in love with anything, you’ll want to buy soon…with a $100 purchase, you get Grayling’s signature Curve necklace as a thank-you gift. Talk about incentive.

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in jewelry-related news…

Apropos of nothing, I have two lovely jewelry-related things to tell you today, friends.

First, remember that today’s the last day to nab those two beautiful Alicia Marilyn bracelets and see 20% of the proceeds go to a very deserving nonprofit that helps furry little farm animals. (Sorry, I can’t resist a little guilt…it’s a genetic imperative).

Alicia Marilyn Designs, via shopping's my cardio

Second, you simply have to see the new collection of vintage jewels for sale over at Elva Fields. She makes the most divine vintage-inspired original pieces (in fact, they’re so good that she’s a featured designer at Anthropologie now!), so it’s no surprise she has a fantastic eye for vintage finds. This new trove is fantastic news for me, as I’ve always wanted to be a vintage jewelry collector, but have no patience for sifting through mounds of eyesores to find one gem (I’m talking to you, Etsy). Better still, everything’s incredibly affordable, so you’ll get plenty of bling for your buck.

Elva Fields, Vintage Jewelry, vintage bracelet, vintage necklace

Could someone please buy that amazing crystal panther bangle before my resolve wears down?

Since I’m clearly on a jewelry kick this week (wait, when am I not?), have you seen anything new and gorgeous I should know about? Tell me all about it…I’m itching for some new bling!

Read on

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on my radar: stylyt

I got the sweetest email not so long ago from the founders of Stylyt, and I loved their concept so much, I had to share. On the site, members submit ideas for new designs they’d like to see from a select group of labels. The rest of the members vote, and the winning ideas actually get produced and sold on Stylyt. So, if you love those signature Hayden-Harnett studded cuffs, for instance, but always wished for a different color combo? Done!

But my heart really sings for these sweet little enamel pendants by Brandy Pham, a designer that’s the darling of style blogs these days. Done up in rose gold (you know I can never resist rose gold), you can go for the girly ribbon bar pendant, with a bit of sparkle thanks to the glittered enamel, or the slightly edgier thorn pendant with milky white enamel. Both do a great job of standing alone, but are also pretty perfect for layering (especially the thorn, which I think is just begging to be paired with a classic pearl necklace for fall). And the prices are fantastic – $88 for a beautifully-made, wear-with-anything piece that none of your friends will have? Done.

Brandy Pham for Stylyt, via shopping's my cardio

I can’t possibly choose. Do you have a favorite?

Take a peek at Stylyt…I think you’ll love it as much as I do.

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