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.)

Great statement necklaces for Fall...

One of the things I’ve noticed with a lot of my clients is that they tend not to have enough accessories, particularly jewelry. They may have no problem spending hundreds of dollars on a jacket but balk at doing the same with a necklace. And I wish it weren’t so, because you can definitely — okay, usually — get a lot more mileage from the right piece of jewelry than from a single garment.

Recently I realized I hadn’t been to my absolute favorite jewelry and accessories store — Tabandeh – lately, so I stopped by to take a look.

I came across two great necklaces. Both would really give a boost to a whole variety of outfits and can be worn now and in the Fall and — this is the best part — neither will break the bank! These are just two of a large, eclectic and carefully edit collection, so if neither of these is right with you, there are many others to choose from!

(In both pictures, the model has two other necklaces flipped around to the back so they look like chokers — they aren’t part of the two necklaces  described. Top necklace is pearls and Swarovski crystals, $335; multistrand necklace on bottom is Swarovski crystals and vermeil chains and links, $185.)

If you live in DC, stop in and take a look!

(Ketura Persellin is an image consultant and personal stylist in Washington, DC, and surrounding suburbs. Need to find the right accessories to move your personal style forward? I can help — just send me an email.)

Fall 2010 wish list...

Some seasons you just hate everything that’s up for grabs — all the clothes seem designed in your worst colors, worst shapes … you get the idea.

Cozy cozy by KeturaP featuring Splendid tops

Then there are the times when it’s all … just … perfect. That’s how I feel about Fall 2010. That’s not to say that everything will look great on me. It won’t. (The blousy, asymmetrical knit tops are Exhibit A in my own personal What To Avoid.) But I really love most of it — the cozy cable knits, the very wearable leather, the lace, the velvet. And yet none of it too sweet — all of it designed with a certain toughness. I love that inner contradiction.

Of course, this is only one theme in this Fall’s trends. Want to learn more? I’ll be sending subscribers to my newsletter lots of guidance about the upcoming season, so if you don’t want to miss out, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter. In the meantime, here’s a look at what I’m dreaming off. Leave a comment and tell me what you think — and what’s on your wishlist right now.

White House Correspondents Association D...

Michelle Obama was stunning at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner style. Her draped red dress by Prabal Gurung was, no question, unbelievably beautiful. But, more important, she looked fantastic. That is my big takeaway from this dress: A big-deal dress should be fabulous, sure, but it should shine a spotlight on its wearer, not overpower her.

This dress lived up to that standard. (You can see more images here — especially the jewelry — and here.) Here’s why. The dress itself is so, so gorgeous. But it looks as if it was designed for Mrs. O — that neckline that frames her best assets — her shoulders, neck, and arms — so perfectly. The draping around her hips flatters her there, too. Need convincing? Compare these lines with the buttoned-and-unbuttoned cardigan style she often wears, which just makes her looks hippy.

Here’s another reason it was fantastic for her: the color. She has warm undertones, and the warmth of this yummy tomato red makes her glow. She can wear anything, but she doesn’t look nearly as good, in my opinion, in cooler colors, like the hot pink of this dress. I think she probably knows this and frequently picks dresses in orange and red, like this beauty (below right).

Orange crush

Compare that to the way her skin looks in this cool fuchsia dress. Pretty? Sure. Glowingly incandescent? No, I’d say just a wee bit ashy.

Now, let’s talk about her accessories. The earrings and the upper bracelet are apparently by Bochic, and Mrs. Obama apparently wore another pair by the same company at the Indian State Dinner, as seen here.  I have two things to say about them. First, no matter how much money a client of mine had, I’ve never recommend spending $17,500 on a bracelet that, although striking and beautiful, wouldn’t be something you’d get a lot of wear out of. But maybe she didn’t actually buy them — I really hope not, in fact, because a purchase like that in these times would seem foolish and out of touch politically.

But the other quibble I have is this: The two bracelets, while effective, move the observer’s focus from beautiful Michelle to the bracelets. I get that she loves bracelets on her left hand, and I get that she made the risky move of subbing out her engagement ring for one that better complemented her outfit and bracelets, but the three pieces are too much, and she should have stuck with just one bracelet. (Who’s that second — lower — bracelet by? Leave a comment and let me know!)

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