Bringing on the bling...

It’s no secret to my friends and clients that I simply adore jewelry. ADORE. Always have. I love the sparkle, the quality of different stones, the architectural genius of certain designs.

My love for jewelry infuses my work as an image consultant, too. I love it because of the way a change of jewelry (and, okay, maybe a switcheroo of the bag and shoes) can COMPLETELY change an outfit. So … one black dress, and three changes of jewelry and you have three outfits. (Here are some famous examples of the power of a pin … or a necklace ….)

How great is that?! It makes it easier to spend money on things that can be worn more often. It makes it easier to pack. It makes it easier to, yes, look more stylish. (And isn’t that what we all want?!)

But many of my clients find jewelry to be overwhelming and confusing.

Does jewelry confuse YOU?

It doesn’t have to. Whether you have overflowing jewelry box or an empty one, intimidation at the jewelry counter or lack of confidence in your decisionmaking, it’s time to get over these common jewelry concerns.

What do I do with jewelry I already have but don’t wear?

Guess what? Just like your clothing wardrobe, your jewelry “wardrobe” need purging and editing, because it can accumulate over the years, too. You likely have jewelry that’s broken, has lost its meaning to you, or no

longer suits your style (if it ever did). Take an afternoon and go through your jewelry. Keep what you love and discard or donate what’s broken or out of style. Your discards would be welcomed at women’s shelters, Dress for Success—type organizations, or consignment stores.

I’ve spent so much money on clothes, why would I spend money on jewelry?

Your outfits look more polished and stylish when you wear jewelry. It also adds more depth, definition, and interest to what you’re wearing. Jewelry expresses your style and individuality. Another plus for spending money on jewelry is that it expands your clothing investment, often by a LOT. Adding or changing the jewelry you’re wearing transforms simple, classic clothing pieces.

There’s so much to choose from, how can I possibly know what to buy?

Pay attention to three things: color, proportion, and personal appeal. If you buy higher-end fashion or costume jewelry that mirrors your own coloring, you’ve made a good investment. So, for instance, if your coloring is warm, look for warm metals (gold, brass, copper) and warmer shades of stones, gemstones, or colored beads. If your coloring is cool, go for cooler shades in jewelry and you’ll be able to wear them all the time.

In addition, look at the scale of your features and bones to understand proportion. If you have large bones, chances are that bigger-scale pieces will look better on you. If you have small facial features, more delicate pieces will be better on you. If you have a mix of small and large features, you’ll be able to mix large -scale items with smaller-scale ones. Or if you’re working with large scaled proportion but like delicate necklaces, try clustering multiple layers of them to create a bigger impact.

Jewelry pieces generally stay with us a lot longer than clothing pieces do. Be sure the ones you collect are ones you really look forward to wearing. If you love it, you’ll wear it and enjoy it.

Is it okay to wear the same jewelry pieces every day?

There are many examples in fashion history as well as modern times where a woman was known for signature jewelry that she wore everyday. It could be an arm full of bangles, multiple strands of pearls or large rings. (Think Coco Chanel.)

But you may not be satisfied with a signature jewelry look, and that’s fine. Most people change their jewelry according to their activities – what you wear to the soccer game isn’t what you wear to work or the theater. This is why you may want or need a variety of jewelry just like you have more than one outfit.

How do I fit accessorizing into my schedule when I’m already late in the morning?

Spend some time during the weekend creating a few outfits to wear for the following week. When you’re not stressed out, it’s easier to finish an outfit from head to toe, paying closer attention to the jewelry details. Either write down all the pieces of the outfit, including the jewelry, hang each look together, or take a picture. You can even put the jewelry you’ll need for each outfit into a separate Ziploc bag and hang it with the clothing pieces. Then create a section of your closet for these grab-and-go outfits. Just think how stress-free you’ll be when Monday rolls around! (Need inspiration? Take a look here.)

Quite possibly the perfect necklace...

Isn’t this necklace amazing? It is quite possibly the perfect necklace. Here’s why: It goes with almost (more…)

New Year’s Resolution #3: Take a r...

Are you a cautious person?

I know I am. Someone I used to work with often teased me for being risk- and change-averse. And it’s true.

In matters of personal style, though, I often think it makes sense to throw caution to the wind. Here’s how I look at it. What if you were to try something different — two colors (or three!) together. Or the addition of a jacket with an outfit you’ve never worn that way. Or, say, a shoe that doesn’t “match” the rest of your outfit but that pleases you nonetheless in that combination.

Really — what’s the worst that could happen? Will people line up in the street to jeer you? Will you lose your job, your dignity ….? Of course not!

So why are we so afraid to take risks? What’s the worst that could happen? We all make mistakes — it’s just that in this arena, our mistakes only last as long as it takes to get back home and change our clothes.

But on the up side — when we take those risks, we sometimes discover things about ourselves we never knew before.

Like, for instance, that we look awesome in that particular shade of green. That our red shoe looks amazing with our purple dress — and everyone seems to agree. Or we look good in that kind of hat, something we’ve never worn. I often hear a complaint from my clients that they have no style — and my standard response is that they simply need to be a little less careful, to add that something extra to their outfit — even if they’re a littl unsure about it.

So next year, let’s all resolve to take a few more risks.

Try a new hairstyle (it will grow back!) or highlights. Go crazy with nail color. Add a layer or an accessory to your outfit before walking out the door. Buy a handbag in a … gasp! … color! And please, let me know how your risk-taking works!

(Note: Images are, from top, from B. Jones Style, Style & Pepper, and Fashion for Nerds — personal style blogs by three fantastically creative women.)

Andean Collection: Great jewelry for now...

I had the great pleasure of attending a fun trunk show event at the Anthropologie accessories and shoe store in Chevy Chase, MD. It was a perfect thing for a Sunday early afternoon. The best part was the jewelry in the trunk show, though — by New York-based Andean Collection.

Those who know me know I adore jewelry, and clients know I am always on the lookout for cute jewelry that makes a big impact at a low price point. These pieces fit the bill. I quickly found what I wanted for myself (in Eucalyptus). (Very, very unfortunately, I was unable to find any pictures I could upload here.) Even though I liked it right away, I wasn’t sure it would look great with a lot of stuff I own, but it turns out that because it’s in the right colors (for me), and so are most my clothes, it looks great with a lot. I also splurged on this (in coral). It’s got a great hippie vibe, which I love.

A few other favorites are here and here.

The best part of the jewelry is that it is made in Ecuador by women artisans from renewable resources, namely, tagua and acai nuts. As the company’s owner described it, the tagua nuts are harvested twice a year, shaken down by men who climb the trees for that purpose. Everything about the nuts that aren’t used for jewelry are used for something else, either fertilizer or other things. The jewelry has empowered the women artisans to buy things for their families they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. All this, and the jewelry looks great, too!

What’s your favorite looks-great clothing or accessories that also has a great story behind it?

(Ketura Persellin is a DC-based image consultant and personal stylist. Contact her for a complimentary session designed to identify that strategy that will most easily get you the style you’ve always wanted.)

What to wear to beat the heat...

Keeping cool in the heat by KeturaP featuring metallic gold shoes

It’s hard to know what to wear when it’s beastly hot outside, but here’s what I came up with — what works for me personally:

First, a bare-up-top top/tunic/mini-dress. This can work on its own or over cropped, breezy pants or some sort of longish shorts. (Many women complain that their upper thighs rub together when it’s hot, which is why the pants or shorts work. Or just put some bicycle shorts on under the minidress.)

Next: flip-flops. My go-to flip-flop of choice is the Birkenstock Gizeh, a fresh pair every summer (because I wear them into the ground). But this pretty gold flip-flop is a nice alternative. Certainly we don’t want to be wearing rubber ones all summer, do we?!

Next, big earrings. Why’s that? Because it gets too hot to wear a lot of other jewelry — bracelets, necklaces, rings — they’ll all make you sweat. It’s often just not worth it. However, unless you are rock climbing or something, it always looks better to wear a cute pair of earrings.

Water — gotta rehydrate!

A big ethnic-inspired bag. I love a good summer bag, one that doubles as a weekend bag or beach bag or whatever.

A great nail polish, in a great color. It’ll act like another piece of jewelry.

Finally, a scarf or shawl for when the sun sets and it gets a little chilly, or when you duck in to a movie theater during the day as a respite from the heat, only to find that you’re suddenly freezing.

Have I left anything out? What are YOUR staples when the mercury soars? (And what will be on your playlist?)