Trend Spotting: Wearing Your Watch On Top

The Winter brings its own set of fashion quandaries. From finding chic yet warm and dry footwear to how to showcase your watch and arm parties while wearing sweaters and layers. May I suggest a solution to problem #2? (Still unsure working on number 1...erg.) Why not try wearing your wrist watch on top?! I've been noticing some super stylish ladies rocking this trend all season long. I thought I'd share my stylish observation with you, dear readers. Enjoy!

pc: blue and yellow / with oversized clutch / black and white / red and navy

Would you wear your watch over your sweater or sleeve? Is this a trend you'll try before Spring arrives?

Do or Don't? Jewelry for the Wee Ones

I found the found the story behind these chubby little hands over on Odette NY's blog.  Apparently the daughter of a friend of a friend started trying on her Momma's jewelry and they snapped a pic. There is no question that these soft little bejeweled fingers are cute! But how young is too young for jewelry (aside from playing dress-up!)?

Do babies with pierced ears freak you out? Do you swoon over tiny silver baby bracelets? Vote in the comments below!

Trend Spotting: Floral Jewelry for Spring

The way I see it, the more that I post about Spring and Summer the quicker the remainder of the Winter shall pass. Agree? Should we make a pact to continue to look ahead?

I am loving the floral, bright, and pastel jewelry pieces that are appearing for in stores for Spring. I can't wait to dress up in something a little brighter and happier in a few months!

Here are my picks for Spring jewelry. {Warning, this post is J Crew and Anthropologie heavy, so if you're not a fan, you might want to look away. And...who arrrrre you?}

1. Doloris Petunia Ombre Squash Blossom necklace

2. Anthropologie Filament Earrings

3. Anthropologie Glinted Petal Necklace

4. J Crew Crystal color stone statement necklace

5. Anthropologie Heirloom Earrings

6. J Crew Beaded rose bracelet

7. Anthropologie Monte Carlo Necklace

8. Anthropologie Lombok Pendant Necklace

9. Anthropologie Royal Wreath Necklace

10. Anthropologie Twinkle Bloom Earrings

11. J Crew Fan fringe necklace

12. J Crew Neon flower bracelet

13. J Crew Mixed crystals necklace

14. J Crew Bright stone necklace

15. Anthropologie Blushing Pearl Bib Necklace

16. J Crew Pastel and neon statement necklace

Best of: 2013 Academy Awards

The Oscars are the pinnacle of award season fashion and last night the ladies did not disappoint! I for one was glued to my TV watching the 2013 Academy Awards. Well, to be honest, my favourite part was the pre-show, watching as dazzling gowns, drool-worthy jewelry, and steal-worthy beauty trends littering the red carpet.

For a full recap on my favourite looks and trends that you can try at home, head on over to zuuzstyle.com! 

Spring Fever

 

<< Beautiful ombre coloured glasses and vases + shades of green pottery >>

Something about the dreary mid-February weather brings out the do-er in me. To combat the cold, I made this week about searching out fun colours, jewelry making, and planning fun events for Spring.  Here are few photos that have me gearing up for brighter weather and hopefully they'll inspire some colour in your life as well! Happy weekend :)

 << Nothing says Spring like waking up to fresh flowers >>

 << Beautiful cake stands at Chapters Indigo. Wish-listed for Spring get-togethers! >>

 << Getting crafty with bright friendship bracelets >>

 

<< Two new, sparkly necklaces I made this week. I've been wearing them non-stop! >>

<< A spiked necklace and embellished shoulders. The perfect pair >> 

Trend Spotting: Neon + Rhinestone Necklaces

This look is classic meets trendy; colorful meets demure; and ladylike meets street-style. The trend I am talking about is taking the classic rhinestone necklace and adding in bright pops of neon color. This trend has been popping up in many of my favorite stores and offers a fun and modern way to incorporate fancy rhinestones into your day-to-day style. From Tom Binns and Shourouk to American Eagle and Club Monaco, there is a neon rhinestone necklace out there for everyone!

Some of my favorites below!

1. AEO, Cord Charm Necklace

2. Windsor Store, Neon Rhinestone Collar Necklace

3. Dorthy Perkins, Pink Neon Ethnic Necklace

4. Tom Binns, Pinata Painted Necklace

5. Adia Kibur, Short Neon Stone Necklace

6.  Lovisa, Zinc Rhinestone Neon Rope & Pear Diamond Necklace 

7. Shourouk, Sierra and Cora Bamako crystal necklace

8. Club Monaco, Poppy Crystal Necklace

9. New Look, Neon Green Gem Drape Necklace

10. DANNIJO, Capucine

11. Tom Binns, Rainbows End Painted Necklace

Do or Don't? Jeweled Hair

What do you think of wearing jewelry in your hair? Is this look a 'Do' or a 'Don't'?

I for one love this look for special occasions. It's such an unexpected way to wear jewelry for a special night out! I especially love seeing this look on brides on their wedding day. Jeweled hair is perfectly romantic and is sure to make a statement. Did I mention I wore jeweled hair on my wedding day? Perhaps I am biased...

But what do you think? Would you wear some sparkle in your hair or is this look too fairy tale for you?

Colour Moment: Winter White Necklaces

February is in full swing and we have the snow to show for it here Ontario. While it can be a bother at times, it certainly is pretty. I've been seeing lots of sparkly necklaces lately that have been reminding me of the snow outside my window.  And let me ask you this, is there any better time to wear winter white than in the winter?! So stop acting like a snow queen and embrace the weather. Dress up with a little snowy sparkle and you'll be feeling more like an ice princess in no time.

Shop the look!

1. Ann Taylor, Large Pearl Statement necklace

2. Gemma Redux Mixed Metal necklace

3. Fallon Jewelry, FOREVER Regalia Bib Necklace

4. Banana Republic, Spring Fling necklace

5. Ann Taylor, Candy Coated necklace

6. Juicy Couture, Chunky Chain Necklace

7. Forever 21, Peter Pan Collar Necklace

8. House of Harlow 1960, White Sand Sunburst Necklace

9. Lauren Elan, Oliva Necklace

Jolie Jouel on Instagram

I am finally on Instagram! In a few short days I've become obsessed. How did I manage keeping up with all the pretty things and pretty people before my Instagram feed? Some of my faves are bloggers like Sincerely, Jules and Atlantic-Pacific; jewelry designers like Lauren Elan and Vita Fede; stores like Kate Spade and Anthropologie; and celebrities like Boo the dog and Jessica Alba. Yes, if you're not following Boo yet, he is a must. 

It's still really new, but I'd love for my readers to follow me here (username ashleighnim) for jewelry updates and day-to-day sparkle from the Jolie Jouel headquarters.

Back tomorrow with regularly scheduled posts! xx

Designer Spotlight: Monikia Hibbs // BFREND

I first found Monika Hibb's cute bracelet line through her blog, The Doctor's Closet. Her line of dainty,  feminine, friendship bracelets is aptly named BFREND. (Side note: could she come up with better names for her ventures?!) 

Monika seamlessly applies the same pretty aesthetic to both of her brands and this has earned her a huge following.  From perfectly styled photos of her new house on Instagram, to tweets about fun fashion events that she's attending, her aesthetic is well defined and leaves the rest of wanting more.

In an effort to get to the bottom of how she makes it all seem effortless while producing quality work on both her blog and with her jewelry line, I set out to interview Monika. She was kind enough to answer all of my burning questions about BFREND and left me hanging with a few others. Once you read her last answer, you too will be chomping at the bit for more.

Let's get into it! 

Take us back to the start: How did your jewelry line, BFREND, begin? Was it something you purposefully started out to do or was it one of those happy occurrences that just sort of evolved and took off? 

It's so funny how things start in life, most of the time very unexpected. I was not planning on starting a business at all. I was actually making some friendship bracelets at home and decided to give away two on my blog that month. Once I posted them I had a lot of requests to buy them... and that's pretty much how it all began!

What inspires BFREND and your designs? 

I love working with different colors and gold. My range is everything from chunky to simple and delicate depending what my mood is! 

What is your typical work day like? 

My day is so different EVERYDAY. Anything from working on BFREND orders to blogging for myself (and my followers of course) on thedoctorscloset.com. Some people might also not know that I am the main contributor for the Blush Bridal blog and ( yes, there is another 'and'....) work at as the events coordinator part time at The Hudson's Bay Company in downtown Vancouver! So you can just imagine how every day can be so diverse! I love being busy and kept on my toes!

What do you like best about being a jewelry designer? What are some of the challenges? 

I love creating a piece of jewelry that I can't find! It's definitely not easy to source everything I want or have imagined, which makes it a bit challenging! 

 
What advice would you give to other aspiring jewelry designers and bloggers on growing their business?  

Be yourself and create your own ideas! I think that is so important! Creating a brand that represents you and your passion will get you the furthest in life! 

Where do you see BFREND headed (or any fun future plans you can share with us)? 

I do have a little new business venture coming up! But it's still top secret. It's not exactly with BFREND... and that's all I can say! :) 

  

Thanks Monika! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next. And don't forget to shop BFREND here!

Celebrity Jewelry Style: Pregnancy Edition!

To say I've got baby on the brain would be an understatement. She doesn't let me forget about her for too long, even if I tried. With her rolly-polly moves and cute little kicks, my little buddy is definitely making her presence known. Not to mention my ever-expanding waist-line that shocks me every morning when I catch my reflection in the mirror. My mission this weekend is to find a decent pair of maternity skinny jeans. I can't go on without them.

But what about jewelry style? Does this change or need to change as your belly grows? Well obviously it doesn't have to! But I love wearing longer necklaces with pendants to accentuate my bump. This would be my biggest shift in accessorizing since the appearance of the bump. I also think going necklace free and wearing dangly earrings or hoops is a super cool maternity look. And you can keep those arm parties coming. Baby probably likes the sound of those clinging and clanging bracelets and isn't around to pull on them - yet.

Here is a photo of a necklace I made to fill my need for longer pendants. It's a purple amethyst druzy hung on gold plated chain. I added two strands of smaller gold chain as an interesting detail. Also, as a side note, this is my first Instagram pic! Follow me here!

But enough about me, let's look to the celebs to see how they accessories during pregnancy. They always do it best, right?

Do you have any pregnancy style tips to share?

Get the Look: City Cool Arm Party

pc: Sincerely Jules

Looking to add and edgy cool arm party to your everyday look? We have you covered with how you can recreate the look above. This look is heavy on mixed metals, spikes, and interesting shapes. Get the look now!

 

1. Vita Fede, Mini Titan Crystal Bracelet

2. Vita Fede, Titan Gold Bracelet

3. Shashi, Delicate Swarovski Bracelet

4. Jennifer Zeuner, Evil Eye Bracelet

5. Gabriela Artigas, Pyramid Cuff

6. Michael Kors, Oversized Watch   

Would you rock this look?

Jewelry Throw Back: Crowns

They're the things fairy tales are made of and everyone in Game of Thrones wants - crowns. I came across an image on Pinterest of a mermaid in crown and it stirred so many emotions in me. It was whimsical, strange, and curious. I immediately dreamt up the tale that this mermaid could tell if she weren't just an image. And the crown on her head was central to her story. I know we don't walk around wearing crowns (unless they're floral, hello!), but aren't they a cool piece of jewelry to consider? Not to consider wearing, but to just think about - what they mean and symbolize, the power that comes with them, and their ornate beauty.  Here is a mood board for all things crown-related, pulled from my mind's eye, and shared with you. Get swept away...

pc: mermaids / castle / fireworks / snowy forest / green forest / lace collar / antlers / gold thin crown / silver crown / crown with mesh / branch crown / flower crown / black and white crown / kid crown / diamond crown / two flower crowns / small crown /

Obsessed

Here are the jewelry images that have me swooning this month. Hope you enjoy this little dose of inspiration on your Monday!

All images from my Pinterest jewelry board. Enjoy!

Line Lust: Samantha Wills

Two nights ago, stunning jewelry designer Samantha Wills invited media and bloggers to step inside her jewelry world with her New York Fashion Week Presentation at The Crosby Street Hotel. Her line is bold, intricate, and breathtakingly beautiful and the decor for the event was no exception. Suspending blooms hung from chandeliers and installation pieces, and moss and indigo colored roses emerged from every corner. 

Here are some of my favourite Samantha Wills jewelry pieces interspersed with some of her instagram shots. This lady has mad style and each piece is definitely a show stopper - enjoy! 

***all photos are from samanthawills.com and instagram***

Do or Don't? Serious Hand Bling

Where do you stand on bracelets with large pieces that rest on the top of the hand? Is this hand-focused look totally fashion-forward or simply weird? Sound off in the comments below!

pc

Vote!

Get the Look: Chunky Meets Dainty Rings

Lately I've been loving dainty, thin, plain rings.  But my old, tried and true self will always have a weak spot for chunky, stone, statement rings. Can my two loves live harmoniously? This image from my Pinterest proves that it can be done and demonstrates us how we can incorporate both looks on the same hand without it looking too gaudy or mismatched.  Here's how you can recreate the look!

1. Robyn Rhodes Gold and Crystal Sappho Ring, Max & Chloe

2. Aurélie Bidermann18-karat rose gold-dipped lace ring

3. C A T B I R D Mignon Memory Ring, rose gold

4. House of Harlowe 1960 Rose Gold Spike ring

5. Rosette Ring, Vale

6. Gabriela Artigas Single White Diamond Ring

7. Mini Pave Diamond Ring, Ariel Gordon Jewelry

 

 

Colour Moment: Rose Gold Round-Up

Everything is coming up roses in jewelry! Rose gold has definitely taken the accessories world by storm.  With it's subtle twist on yellow gold and the fact that it mixes so well with silver, it's no surprise that rose gold is the colour of the moment. And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, why not indulge in some rose gold bling?

1. 14K Rose Simple Band Set of 4, Gabriela Artigas

2. Nixon Monopoly Watc, Shopbop / 

3. Infinite Tusk Ring, Shopbop

4. Vita Fede Mini Titan Stone Bracelet

5. Open I-Beam Cuff, Vale

6. Rose Tusk Ring, Gabriela Artigas

7. CC SKYE Mirror Clutch, Shopbop

8. Cambridge Satchel, Shopbop

9. Rose Gold Solid Heart Single Pendant Necklace, Alexa Leigh

10. Tomboy First Knuckle Ring, Catbird

11. Ray-Ban Oversized Original Aviator Sunglasses, Shopbop

Tell me, are you loving Rose Gold at the moment?

Best Of: Valentine's Day Jewelry

Love is in the air, friends! Valentine's Day is just around the corner and even if cupid hasn't shot you in the tush with an arrow, it's still fun dress up a little on the day, right? So treat yourself to a red velvet cupcake, rent your favorite movie, and sport a little love inspired jewelry. And Men, if you're looking to get your special lady a sweet Valentine's treat, may I suggest one of these festive pieces of jewelry?

1. Jennifer Meyer Diamond Heart Bracelet

2. A Little Love Ring, Astley Clarke

3. Alexa Leigh Double Heart Necklace

4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Enamel Lips Studs

5. Jennifer Zeuner harley horizontal engraved bar necklace

6. Tory Burch Stud Heart Earrings

7. Gorjana XO Cuff

8. Catbird, Rose Gold Heart Ring

9. Jennifer Meyer Diamond Open Heart Ring

10. J Crew Heart Charm Bracelet

11. Jules Smith Nature's Heart Ring

12. Love Ring, Astley Clarke

13. Vale Heart Studs

14. Vale 14K Baby Heart Bracelet

15. Jennifer Zeuner XO necklace

16. Gorjana Friendship Heart Bracelets

17. Vale 14K Baby Heart Choker Necklace (Rose)

Will you be wearing hearts, red, lips, arrows, or kisses on the 14th?

Sparkle At Home

Welcome to a few little snippets from around my home. These days are focused on getting ready for baby girl and adding sparkle in unexpected places.  Here are few photos from the Jolie Jouel headquarters this week.

 A glittery bow for a growing baby bump.

H&M kids 

One for you, one for me. The only person more exciting to shop for than yourself: Baby girl.

Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. (was on sale) and GAP onesie

Jewelry storage/unexpected sparkle.

Forever 21 Necklace and Animal Head

Getting the nursery started with Baby Girl's new star light fixture.

Star Light

A sweet Valentine's Day card from last year that I had framed.

Card and Frame

Hope you all had a great week, too! xx