Be Mine with Valentine Jewelry

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and whether you're single, married, dating, or anything in between, Valentine's is the perfect excuse to wear your heart on your fingers or to splurge on a new necklace.

Here are my top picks for Valentine's Day appropriate jewelry. Treat yourself, buy one for a friend, or share this blog post with your honey for a (not-so?) subtle hint!

1. Jennifer Zeuner Mini Heart Rose Gold Necklace

2. Alexa Leigh Double Heart Necklace

3. Kris Nations Heart Ring

4. Gorjana Friendship Heart Earrings

5. Michael Kors Pave Delicate Heart Necklace

6. Marc by Marc Jacobs Heart Studs

7. Gorjana Hammered Heart Necklace

8. Jennie Kwon Diamond Dipped Heart Necklace

9. Alexa Leigh Heart Anklet 

10. Alexa Leigh Love is Love Pave Ring

11. Jennifer Zeuner Heart Lariat

Colour Moment: Jet Black

I am having a jewelry love affair with black stones! I know summer is the time to lighten up, but there is something striking and unexpected about black that will always stand out, no matter the month.

1. Vita Fede, mini titan bracelet

2. Jennie Kwon, emerald cut onyx ring

3. blanca monros gomez, Black Diamond Small Dainty Necklace

4. Alexa Leigh, Black Rhodium and Black Pavé Diamond Elijo Ring

5. Zoe Chicco, black pave v ring

6. Gemma Redux, mood bracelet

7. House of Harlow 1960, Seer's Necklace

8. B-Low The Belt, Bow bracelet

9. Jacquie Aiche, Anklet

10. House of Harlow 1960, Sunburst necklace

11. Gorjana, bloom necklace

12. Jennie Kwon, black diamond cuff ring

13. blanca monros gomez, Little Black Diamond Stud Earrings

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?

Trend Spotting: Cage Rings

Lately I've been swooning over double-decker/cross/"X"/cage rings. I don't know if they have an official name, but any ring that has more than one band and is somehow interlocked has piqued my interest. There is something edgy and cool about this look that I just can't shake from head. So I started to hunt down the best cage rings on the internet that I could find. I'd take any one of these below!

1. Gorjana Lena Ring, Shopbop
2. ASOS Pack of Three Double Bar Rings
3. Crossing Ring, Catbird
4. Gold Textured Cage Ring, Bluefly
5. Eva Fehren Diamond X Ring, Barneys
6. Odette New York Klaia Cage Ring, Catbird
7. BIJULES Large Knuckle Ring, My Chameleon
8. Pink Circle Cage Ring, Colette
9. Gold Pavé Diamond Elijo Ring, Alexa Leigh
10. Bijules 3 Tier Ring, My Chameleon

What do you think of this trend? Would you wear a cage ring?

Designer Spotlight: Alexa Leigh

Known for her dainty hearts and signatures stars, jewelry designer Alexa Leigh, offers pretty necklaces, bracelets, and anklets for the minimalist and layer-loving crowd. Determined to enter a job that she loved, Alexa started her eponymous line and hasn't looked back. To learn more about how Alexa started her own company and what inspires her pretty jewels, read on! 

Let's start at the beginning. How did you get into jewelry design? Are you formally trained, self-taught, or some combination of the two?

I have no real formal training, but I love to draw so that has enabled me to design jewelry. I have always loved jewelry. Even though I would regularly go through my mother’s pieces when I was younger, it was always as if I was seeing them for the first time. I am a sucker for anything that sparkles. In high school I started making a lot of beaded jewelry, always saying I was going to sell them, but then liking them too much to part with. Funny enough, I still have everything I made then.  

What inspires your jewelry designs?

I think subconsciously I am constantly drawing inspiration from everything around me, but my designs are most affected by my mood and style at the time. I create jewelry I would want to wear myself. If I don't like it how can I expect anyone else to? 

Who would your dream client be? 

I would really love to have Alexa Chung as a client. I think she has impeccable taste and a great sense of style so I would be honored to have her wearing my jewelry.

Being a jewelry designer, what do you like best about your job? What are some of the most challenging parts of running your own business? 

I love that I am constantly creating. I can get lost for hours designing new pieces. Running your own business, however, is a 24/7 job. Both the successes and the failures lie on my shoulders alone. 

If you could go back and give your 20 year old self some advice, what would it be? 

I wouldn't go back and tell myself anything. I believe everything happens for a reason. 

Ps - take a look at some of the fabulous bloggers who love Alexa Leigh! Sincerely Jules, The Glamourai, and Song of Style. *All photos from Alexa Leigh Facebook page - go to her page for more!*