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.)

All About Color, or What I Learned in Or...

This woman's colors flatter rather than overwhelm her

A reader asked me yesterday about color, and the timing is perfect, because I thought a lot about color during the Association of Image Consultants International conference last week, in Orlando.

She wrote:

What’s YOUR fashion direction?...

New fashions come from many different sources of inspiration. That inspiration could come from a piece of fabric, a movie, a muse, or some other source. Let’s take a look at some of the directions designers took this year. One (or more!) may speak to you!

Minimalist meditation
Fashion as serene as a Zen garden, this is pared-down design with little or no embellishment for quiet understatement. Try:

• straight-line dresses
• jackets with shape but no details (like showy buttons, zippers, or other hardware), and
• a neutral color palette including winter white, rose beige, dove gray, and black.

Future focus: Bundle up, urban warrior

Futurama

Sparkle lights up military drab

Inventive individualist

Jessica Schroeder of WhatIWore.com, working her oxfords

Menswear mashup

New hair style with ‘turban’...

I love the idea of trying new things with my look, especially when it doesn’t involve making appointments and spending time and money. (Although, hey, I like that fine, too!)

Last night, after a great mastermind call in which we all talked about trying new things and taking time to style ourselves, I was inspired to try putting a faux head turban on myself. More of a headband than a turban, but with a knot on the top, like a turban, and for me it was kind of a new look. You might try it, too — it’s just the thing to make your regular-old-standard outfit pop! The one piece of advice is to choose a color that’s really fantastic on you, because the turban will truly frame your face, either for good or not.

And, okay, if I’m not being entirely convincing, please just take a look and see what I’m talking about anyway! (Click through to see the turban pictures and then again further to see the turban tutorial.)

And by the way, the blog where I found this is one I check everyday. Although the blogger is younger than I am and her overall sensibilities are different.

What can YOU do differently — you know, to bust out just a little? Maybe it’s a bag in a color, a larger earring, a different kind of shoe, or a shorter skirt. Go ahead — knock yourself out. (And let me know how it goes.)

(Ketura Persellin is a DC-based image consultant and stylist. She can help you identify and get out of your ruts — contact her for a free get-acquainted session.)

Wardrobe planning...

One of the services I get asked about most is making outfits — styling the clothes a client already has in her closet.

It’s a great thing, because it doesn’t involved shopping (which many women loathe, even when I am with them to make it less mysterious, confusing, and frustrating).

We simply take the pieces she already owns and find new ways to wear them. This can lead to a LOT of new outfits and to delighted surprise when a client finds she can get new life out of a piece she’d nearly gotten rid of because she had no way to wear it!

You can do this, too. You could find a little time on a weekend to plan what you’ll wear for the week (just make sure to keep notes, because you’ll forget, even though you think you won’t). You can try pairing new colors together or experiment with silhouettes. Just approach your closet as you would a rack of clothes in the store — that is, without preconception. What works together?

Caveat: You’ll need a mirror for trying the new combinations. And yes, you WILL want to try on the outfits!

Give it a try and let me know how it goes.