guide: fashion color report for fall 2009.

If you love fashion, I recommend checking out Pantone’s Fashion Color Report Fall 2009 for tips and trends on the upcoming season. I myself use Pantone’s color reports to guide my color selections whenever I am designing jewelry.

Within the report you will find a description of the season’s most prominent colors based on New York Fashion Week. You will also find summaries of top fashion designers’ collections, their color choices and other interesting tidbits. Throughout the guide there are sketches of ready-to-wear apparel, so you can get a taste of what new styles you will find in retail shops.

Pantone is a leading authority on fashion colors, and the best part about their document is that it is available for FREE!

Read the report now: Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2009

Love, Pauline xoxo

guide: trends that are here to stay.

I always find it a bit amusing in early July when all of the summer clearance sales are taking place (and summer officially just began in late June!).

With summer apparel being discounted to make way for fall merchandise, I thought it would be useful to take a look at the summer trends which will continue to be popular in the fall so that you can sift through all of the fabulous end-of-season sales and purchase summer apparel that can transition to your fall wardrobe.

I’ve analyzed the fall fashion runway shows and have the top trends that are here to stay for another season.

Love, Pauline xoxo

1. Studded Bliss Studs were seen all over sandals in the summer. Look for studded summer shoes (with a bit more coverage than sandals) and studded lightweight tops and tanks that can be layered under warmer pieces for the fall.

2. Bold Colors Glow Find the brightest colored apparel from summer (yes! neon is fine for fall 2009!) and wear them layered to give your fall wardrobe a vibrant look. We saw pinks, reds, greens, blues, purples and yellows!

3. Cardigans Rule Cardigans continue to rule. Grab any clearance cardigans you can find and wear them as the weather gets cooler.

4. Romancing with Ruffles Spring, summer and fall – ruffles continue to be popular. Look for tops and accessories (purses!) with ruffles that you can pair up with your fall wardrobe.

5. Egyptian Influence Fabric draping and rounded wide collars continue to be on the fashion runways. Be on the lookout for wide choker-style or bib necklaces and wear them with your fall outfits. Also look for dresses and tops with draping and rounded collars that you can pair with vests as it gets colder outside.

trend alert: egyptian style.

The fashion runways for spring, summer and fall 2009 showed off a plethora of Egyptian details. Take a look at the Egyptian-inspired dress shown here from Donna Karan’s collection. This is one of the hot trends of the season and I was eager to add some exotic details to my own wardrobe. I recently purchased a gorgeous, black, sleeveless, silk top from Karen Kane with a beautiful, wide, round collar reminiscent of Cleopatra-era fashion. I can’t wait to wear it on a summer evening.

If you want to add some Egyptian-inspired pieces to your own closet, look for fashions with draping fabric, ornate scrollwork, beadwork and wide round collars. And don’t forget gladiator-style shoes.

Inspired by the Egyptian fashions around me, my jewelry collection now includes a new necklace and pair of earrings available on my online shop. The Greek Key Design Necklace features an Egyptian-inspired bib design, golden beads and Greek key charms.

The Greek Key Design Earrings also feature a dangling Greek key pattern. Both pieces are a simple, glamorous way to add Egyptian beauty to your style.

Love, Pauline xoxo

guide to gold jewelry.

Gold jewelry is back – spotted on runways, adorned by celebrities and sold everywhere. There was a time when I wondered if gold would ever come back, and now it’s hard to imagine how it ever left the forefront.

With gold in demand, more questions arise about the gold jewelry available. Especially in a time of tight wallets we all need to know about quality and cost to make the best gold jewelry purchases. Below are some facts to help you.

Love, Pauline xoxo

What is the difference between gold-plated, gold-filled, gold and vermeil jewelry?

Gold-plated jewelry is the lowest quality of gold jewelry, but it is also the least expensive. With time its gold may wear away.

The gold on gold-filled and gold jewelry will NOT wear away. 14kt gold-filled jewelry contains less solid gold content than 14kt gold jewelry which contains less solid gold content than 18kt gold jewelry.

Because gold jewelry is quite a bit more expensive than gold-filled jewelry, gold-filled jewelry is a cost-efficient option for a high quality product.

Vermeil has the look of solid gold but it is actually sterling silver covered with a heavy layer of gold. It is a beautiful product made entirely of precious metal.

Does gold jewelry tarnish?

Solid gold does not tarnish. However gold jewelry including gold-plated, gold-filled, 14kt gold, 18kt gold, etc. has an alloy that can cause tarnish and discolor the skin. The higher the gold content, the less likely the jewelry will tarnish. Discoloration can be caused by cosmetics, humidity or perspiration. If your skin discolors from a piece of jewelry, try wearing pieces with a higher content of solid gold.

How do I care for my gold jewelry?

If a piece of gold jewelry is plated, use a chemical-free cloth to be sure that the gold doesn’t wear away. Otherwise gold jewelry may be cleaned using a polishing cloth. Do not expose jewelry to household cleansers or to chlorine in a swimming pool. Do not wear your jewelry when bathing. Store your jewelry away from sunlight in a zip bag or cloth pouch.

summer collection. summer trends.

Summer weather is here and I have been working enthusiastically on my new collection. There is nothing more exciting than purchasing pretty beads and dreaming up new jewelry designs. My current interest is in layered pieces that are romantic and vintage. The My Heart Necklace that I designed and pictured here features a wonderfully romantic, brass heart pendant. My recent jewelry has taken a turn toward timeless beauty and Victorian-inspired themes while using the vibrant colors of the season.

Summer 2008 is definitely all about color. Be on the lookout for jewelry that is punctuated by vibrant cobalt blues, cantaloupe oranges, canary yellows, leaf greens and pinkish purples. Vibrant colors have always filled me with life and energy, and I think summertime is one of the best times for wearing them. When you are shopping for clothes or accessories, don’t be shy…reach for color.

Love, Pauline xoxo