Gretchen Inspired Jewelry

Did anyone watch the most recent project runway?  Gretchen was sort of a polarizing figure. I really loved a lot of what she did, like this perfect little black dress:

She also had a couple of fun looks in her final collection on the show. The southwest inspired 70's vibe felt very current, but I think her collection just lacked color and excitement.  Anyways.. that was months ago...  What got me thinking about her was my hunt for some slightly graphic and structured jewelry pieces.  My favorite part of Gretchen's show was the unique jewelry that she made. Here is a picture of her and a model in the final collection.  Isn't that necklace such a cool, unfussy statement piece?

 I found myself wanting a peice of jewelry with a similar vibe.  A bit earthy but still with a graphic almost Native American feel.  Here are some of the pieces I found for reasonable prices:

1.       Triangle necklace ($54)

2.       Chevron Bangle ($48)

3.       Re-worked silver and gold fan ($30)

4.       Vintage necklace ($52)

5.       Fishpine necklace ($32)

6.       Twin Suspension Earrings ($48)

7.       Asos arrowhead necklace ($14.34)

8.       Mixed metal chevron necklace ($50)

 This is the one I picked up...

It's much simpler/smaller  than Gretchen's but I think it has a similar vibe.  We'll see..

Still Loving Green

Even more green items caught my eye today.  Not only do I love a good dose of green in my home but I love wearing it too.  It's probably too late to pick up something new to avoid getting pinched but I think these pieces will work year round (or, at least into spring)

1 - Target Paterned Dinnerware ($21.99) - Great retro dishes for summer by the pool.

2 - Asos green belt ($57) - The perfect splash of color for jeans and a tee or a LBD.

3 - Lotus Bleu Pillow ($68) - Spruce up the sofa for spring?

4 - Green Striped Aubin & Wills Shirt ($65) - A classic.

5 - Cole Haan Handbag ($398) - A splurge but a preppy bag that won't go out of style.

6 - Handmade ring ($140) - Beautiful organic shape with just the right amount of shimmer.

7 - Pleated Maxi Skirt ($1195) - I know this is way out of most people's price range but I love the flowin pleates.  American Apparel has some similar ones but I don't love them quite as much.  If I had it, I'd style it just like this.

8 - Nixon Green Watch ($60)- Just for fun.

9 - Target Printed Chair ($299) - Would add just the right pop of green to a neutral living room.

Green Living

With  St. Patrick's Day on Thursday,  I figured  I would celebrate one of my favorite colors - green! I've painted two bedrooms green and I think it is an awesome, warming color in a home.   I especially love bright kelly green  but I really believe that any shade can make a room more fun.   Here are some of the most inspirational green spaces I've bookmarked recently:

Stunning green campaign dresser console from Vanessa De Vargas's entryway in Lonny last year.

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Awesome green grass-cloth & statement making headboard found on Pinterest.

Graphic and glossy green kitchen from an old Domino.

Perfectly tailored green curtains and matching chair from House Beautiful.

Another inspiring green bedroom from Lonny.  How awesome is the ceiling?  Plus, I love the concave mirror and gold starburst wall sculptures.

Invitation-Only Online Shopping

It recently came to my attention that, unlike me, most people don't wake up to an inbox full of sample sales.  In fact,  a lot of my friends/colleagues haven't even heard of the long list of invitation-only shopping sites that have popped up over the past couple years.

While I still think HomeGoods is my favorite shopping stop for affordable home accessories and decor, these online shops are a close second.  One Kings Lane seems to have been around the longest and is home and decor focused. They often have great deals on art prints and candles but my favorite sales that they host are called "Tastemaker Tag Sales" where they feature sets of unique and antique objects curated by designers.  Sadly, the one-of-a-kind objects they feature are usually outside of my budget but it's still fun to see what each designer picks.

If you aren't already on the email lists,  click on the links below for invitations.  Careful, you may then find yourself online shopping every morning when new sales open up... don't say I didn't warn you..

 

Plus,  there are a number of more fashion-focused club sale sites that also ocasionally have good deals on home items:

Gilt

RueLaLa

Ideeli

HauteLook

Beyond the Rack

Oh yeah, and after I fawned over Oliver Peoples yesterday,  Gilt had their frames on sale today.  Sadly, none of the pairs on my list.

Sunglasses & Miss Zooey

I've already professed my love of the quirky and talented Zooey Deschanel but as I was browsing for suglasses (that I will never be able to afford) and I stumbled upon an awesome campaign she did for Oliver Peoples a couple years ago.

I've been eyeing this pair from Oliver Peoples:  Sadly they're a bit out of my price range but while I continue shopping...

Here is the video that also includes a bunch of fun and inspiring styles...

Some of my favorite stills from the campaign: