Charm & Chain

Charm & Chain Spring Preview Anticipation is building at Charm & Chain, as February marks...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:14:39 -0500

Charm & Chain Spring Preview Anticipation is building at Charm & Chain, as February marks...

In this video, with the perfect blend of confidence and...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:13:24 -0500

In this video, with the perfect blend of confidence and irreverence, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, of British comedy Absolutely Fabulous, model the Alexis Bittar Spring 2012 jewelry collection.

Season after season, Alexis Bittar outdoes himself with the brand’s video and ad campaigns, not only with expert styling, but also with unexpected model choices. He makes a powerful statement in frequently choosing older women to represent his jewelry line, like Lauren Hutton and Iris Apfel.

Says Alexis, “As you all know, I’m a big fan of using a mature woman in our ads. For political fashion reasons, I think it’s important to never have enough images of mature women in the marketplace. I feel the message that’s being given to women that they should try no matter what to try to look 18 seems like a setup. The most impressive women I know have moved well beyond their teens. They are able to offer a faceted view of their lives and the accomplishments which contribute to their beauty.”

In the grand arena of fashion, jewelry is the most timeless article a woman can wear, so I think to pay homage to that is both relevant and admirable. It’s no wonder that at Charm & Chain, our Alexis Bittar customer demographic spans so many age groups!

With that in mind, enjoy this video from the Alexis Bittar Spring 2012 Campaign, which will be arriving at Charm & Chain in a few short weeks (and is better than ever!).

Obsession of the Week: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels Floreana...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:45:26 -0500

Obsession of the Week: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels Floreana Necklace

Inspired by the notion of escape and deserted paradise, Lizzie Fortunato Jewels debuted its first Resort collection this winter. Vibrant colored beads and tribal trinkets inspire wanderlust in this exotic necklace. Wear it to instantly make your outfit feel more sumptuous—especially if you’re not out there traveling the world.

Best of Jewelry at the SAG Awards The jewelry at the SAG awards last night was impressive, as many...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:36:23 -0500

Best of Jewelry at the SAG Awards The jewelry at the SAG awards last night was impressive, as many...

Style Inspiration: Overlapping Short Necklaces We often see...

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:54:07 -0500

Style Inspiration: Overlapping Short Necklaces

We often see people layering necklaces of different lengths and pairing shorter necklaces with longer ones, but I’d like to point attention towards the look showcased in the photo above: overlapping short necklaces. Here, our model is wearing three Charm & Chain vintage necklaces twisted and layered together. I love this pairing technique because it’s an easy way to adjust how much sparkle or how big of a statement you want around your neck. If you wear a more eclectic mix of designs (think of an Arm Party but around the collarbone), it’s an easy way to get a stylish and individualized jewelry look.

For example, to create an interesting tribal combination, I’d try this Kenneth Jay Lane necklace , Lizzie Fortunato necklace, and House of Harlow pendant all together. Note that pieces should be twisted to the side and lengthened as necessary to make your stack look purposely messy.

Find inspiration in Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2012...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:25:06 -0500

Find inspiration in Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2012 runway show, and stack your cuffs and bracelets elbow-high.

Image Courtesy of NinaGarcia.com

Obsession of the Week: Sequin Artistic Gold Cuff This cuff...

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:05:53 -0500

Obsession of the Week: Sequin Artistic Gold Cuff

This cuff reminds me so much of one of my favorite paintings, Matisse’s Le Lanceur De Couteaux. With its sleek, sculptural design, this stunning statement piece looks just as much a work of art as it does a piece of jewelry.

New Resort Arrivals on Charm & Chain What exactly is Resort...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:59:01 -0500

New Resort Arrivals on Charm & Chain

What exactly is Resort Jewelry, might you ask? Originally marketed by retailers to their clientele who spent the post-holiday season in warm weather climates, Resortwear is now a much broader category defined by bright colors and versatility. Generally, Resort Jewelry serves as a much needed pick-me-up from winter’s darker winter colors, but is still appropriate year-round.

My top picks from our newest delivery are highlighted above and include fantastic pieces from DANNIJO, Lizzie Fortunato, and Sequin. View our entire Resort Collection here.

Style Inspiration: Backwards Pendant Necklaces I’m always searching for inventive ways to...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:54:22 -0500

Style Inspiration: Backwards Pendant Necklaces I’m always searching for inventive ways to...

Obsession of the Week: DANNIJO Hixson Necklace Confession:...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:15:00 -0500

Obsession of the Week: DANNIJO Hixson Necklace

Confession: I’ve worn this necklace so much since it arrived to me a few weeks ago that I think my other jewelry is getting a little jealous. With its Peter Pan-style collar, neons in every color of the rainbow, and biker chain detail, this DANNIJO stunner is the epitome of a conversation piece.

The Hixson necklace is one of the jewels I’ve been most excited to have on Charm & Chain for 2012, so I’m thrilled that you can now buy it here.

Sneak peek of our Mawi Spring 2012 order, shipping to us today...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:38:20 -0500

Sneak peek of our Mawi Spring 2012 order, shipping to us today from the UK! (Taken with instagram)

Eva Mendes looks striking in this month’s French Elle,...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:37:19 -0500

Eva Mendes looks striking in this month’s French Elle, wearing our Elizabeth Cole Jewelry Black Dove Necklace

Happy Birthday Michelle Obama! Today, we at Charm & Chain...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:07:59 -0500

Happy Birthday Michelle Obama!

Today, we at Charm & Chain honor our First Lady and Jewelry Icon on her birthday. Michelle Obama inspires us daily with her sparkly selections, many of which are from Charm & Chain designers. Above is a montage of our favorite jewelry moments of hers over the past year, featuring Alexis Bittar, Miriam Haskell, FALLON, Erickson Beamon, Kara Ross, and Kenneth Jay Lane.

All photos courtesy of Mrs-O.com

Best Golden Globes Jewelry 2012 The Golden Globes is always my favorite awards show because all the...

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:38:12 -0500

Best Golden Globes Jewelry 2012 The Golden Globes is always my favorite awards show because all the...

Today was a perfect day to throw on this Lizzie Fortunato beaded...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:48:39 -0500

Today was a perfect day to throw on this Lizzie Fortunato beaded patch necklace… (Taken with instagram)

Obsession of the Week: Elizabeth Cole Bryce Earrings I love the slight contrast of the stark...

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:35:14 -0500

Obsession of the Week: Elizabeth Cole Bryce Earrings I love the slight contrast of the stark...

Best in Jewelry 2011 My Top Ten list of the best jewelry pieces, moments, and milestones of...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:21:00 -0500

Best in Jewelry 2011 My Top Ten list of the best jewelry pieces, moments, and milestones of...

January Guest Blogger: Sari Tuschman, Editor-in-Chief, Los...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:30:00 -0500

January Guest Blogger: Sari Tuschman, Editor-in-Chief, Los Angeles Confidential

Our Charm & Chain guest blogger this month is Sari Tuschman, Editor-in-Chief of Los Angeles Confidential and jewelry connoisseur extraordinaire. Sari not only has an unparalleled eye for good jewelry (her taste level rivals her icon Rachel Zoe when it comes to accessories) but like many of us, she also sees a deeper sentimental meaning in the act of wearing, buying and giving jewelry. Sari recently shared with me her special perception of what jewelry means in context of a story about her family history. I thought the anecdote was particularly poignant for anyone who appreciates jewelry, so I asked her to share the story with our readers. It’s not often that we stop and think about the power of what we wear…hopefully her words will give you pause to do so!

Jewelry’s Endless Story

It’s a common nightmare: You’ve shown up somewhere and realize you’ve forgotten to put on clothes, only to jolt yourself awake and realize it was—just that—only a bad dream. My idea of a nightmare is similar, only it’s arriving somewhere and realizing I forgot to put on jewelry. As far as I’m concerned, I would rather show up sans clothes than sans my accessories.

I come by this obsession rightfully. My grandmother (my dad’s mom) was always, always dressed to the nines, which meant she was constantly fully accessorized with a purse, scarf and of course necklace, earrings, and rings. The piece of hers I remember most vividly was a pair of gold earrings that were a lion’s head with a ring in his mouth. She wore them so often that when she passed away (she even went to the hospital for the last time fully done up), my cousin and I decided to each take one because they so reminded us of her. I later had my friend and Lulu Frost founder and designer Lisa Salzer put the earring on a chain along with a few other antique charms, giving the beloved heirloom a modern twist. The result was a beautiful necklace I treasure. Along with that one earring, I have many other of my grandmother’s pieces—mostly rings and bracelets and one spectacularly beautiful watch. I wear them all often and always feel closer to her when I do. There is simply something very special about being able to wear treasures that have traveled through so many decades.

Though they were not blood related, my own mother is also always beautifully decked out for any and all occasions (and this means a black-tie event or going to buy milk at the grocery store). My mother had the most beautiful collection of jewelry I had ever seen—anniversary and birthday gifts that told the story of my parent’s 44 (and still going strong) years together. She also had a few very special pieces of my grandmother’s she was saving for me—one breathtaking bracelet in particular I always dreamed of wearing on my wedding day. Sadly my parents’ house was recently robbed while they were away on vacation, and as a result they lost almost every piece of jewelry save for what they had on them on their trip. My parents raised me to believe that you are only allowed to let something like losing a possession upset you for a small amount of time. It’s an inanimate object—if everyone you love is happy and healthy you aren’t allowed to wallow in that kind of loss. And while they are right, this loss seemed particularly tragic. Not because of the monetary loss, but because of the loss of the precious stories each piece contained. The life each piece had lived.

Lisa Salzer once told me that the metals in jewelry take on the energy of the person who wears them. I found that to be oddly comforting when I think of my parents’ stolen items. Their energy—along with my grandmother’s—will live on in those pieces, no matter who currently has them. Hopefully over the years to come, my parents will assemble a new collection of jewelry that will tell the story of their lives together, perhaps in just a different way. Regardless, the robbery taught me an important lesson, as so many of the difficult things in life do. It taught me that jewelry is about more that beauty and trends. It’s about more than gemstones and monetary value. It’s about the person who wears it, the story behind it, the story it tells. The pieces of jewelry we wear, and how and why we wear them often tell the complicated and unique story of who we are as individuals. So perhaps now you can understand why it would be such a nightmare for me to ever show up somewhere without my accessories; they are simply too important—they’re part of who I am.

—Sari Anne Tuschman

Obsession of the Week: Rima Bracelets by DANNIJO Everyone at Charm & Chain is obsessed with...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:46:11 -0500

Obsession of the Week: Rima Bracelets by DANNIJO Everyone at Charm & Chain is obsessed with...

Today I’m sporting SS12 @DANNIJO in honor of their being...

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:22:50 -0500

Today I’m sporting SS12 @DANNIJO in honor of their being named “Most Wanted Jewelry Designer” of 2011 by @refinery29! Well deserved, ladies! http://tinyurl.com/74afkks (Taken with instagram)