Gold in Bloom

If you hadn't noticed yet, gold jewelry is back in fashion in a huge way. In the past I had favored silver or white gold, but recently that has all changed. I have personally found myself radiating to all kinds of golden jewelry over the last few months and have come up with quite a collection. Whether it's chunky gold bracelets, rose gold watches or little delicate flaxen treasures, there are so many ways to successfully sport this trend. 

Long story short, I decided to do a mini photo shoot with some of my most favorite finds, hidden within the blooms of our rooftop garden. Since this trend will be all over this spring and summer, I thought it appropriate to use a background full of flora. Hopefully these pieces will inspire you to jump on the gold-accessory-bandwagon too! Below, I have listed where I bought all of my gold jewelry. Although most of the pieces were random finds, you can always look for something that is similar in style in a store near you, or perhaps even online. [You can also view these photos in a gallery by clicking here.]

1. leather studded bracelet - street vendor in SoHo 2. stone neclace - ann taylor 3. button bracelet - vintage shop in Athens, Ohio 4. egyptian ring - Houston, Texas 5. black ring - mall in Columbus, Ohio 6. & 7. chunky gold bracelets - vendor in midtown Manhattan 8. whistle and watch necklaces - vintage store in Columbus, OH called Cinda-Lou 9. winged necklace - street vendor in SoHo 10. zipper necklace - vintage store in Columbus, OH called Cinda-Lou 11. watch necklace (see above) 12. plastic and gold bracelet - art gallery in Columbus Circle 13. utilitarian bracelet - Madewell 14. 'flute' shaped necklace - Madewell 15. rose gold studded watch - Macy's

Neon Nation

This spring is one of the most colorful we have had in a while. With bright color trends, full of neons and other bold hues, there are a lot of great colors to work with. The leader in all things color, Pantone has their own Spring 2012 Color Report with shades such as: Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Cockatoo and Cabaret just to name a few. And while these are some of the major colors we are seeing in stores everywhere this season, I think the most important trend is neons. And this look is especially brilliant when paired with neutrals, nudes or black and white. But you can also try wearing neons from head to toe for a all-out BOLD twist. Whether it's flourescent yellow, vivacious purple, fruity citron, neon pink, electric blue, kelly green, royal blue or construction cone orange, these show-stopping colors are making a huge impact on our springtime wardrobes.

I did a few little collages below to highlight some of my favorite neon finds that are in stores right now. [Just click on the corresponding number below to be taken to the item's website!] Whether it's a nail color, statement necklace, sandals, accessories, shirts, pants, skirts or dresses -- be sure to incorporate these fun-loving neons into your spring wardrobe. Not only will you be right on trend, you will also bring some bright pops of color into your day. {Also >> If you want some more neon inspiration, you can always visit my Pinterest page for more images! I've been posting a lot of neons lately!}

 

ONE TWO THREE : all three are from j. crew

FOUR : ciccio from madewell FIVE : minoux skyline necklace SIX : nails from new york magazine

SEVEN : jessica simpson sandals EIGHT : ann taylor blouse NINE : cambridge satchel company

Cuffed

I've recently come across an accessory that I never really knew existed, or at least not in this form -- the ear cuff. Or, more specifically, the 'behind the ear cuff.' In loo of regular earrings, multiple piercings, clip-ons or even feather hair extensions, this alternative can really create some drama and interest in your everyday look.

Not to be confused with the 80s/90s punk-inspired, literal ear cuff (that looks like it clips onto your ear) these kind of behind the ear cuffs are shaped like a half heart, made from metal and usually have hanging embellishments that are attached on the end. The heart shaped part fits right behind your ear lobe and hangs, basically hidden, behind the ear. The effect is quite stunning, and even looks as though the earring is floating behind your lobe instead of poking through it. These embellishments may come in the form of metal, jewels, spikes, charms or feathers. Although I suppose the options are limitless. Depending on the size, length and number of things hanging from the cuff, the effect can be more subtle or over the top. And I'd suggest wearing a more subtle, shorter and more delicate cuff during the day or to work, versus a bigger, longer, more colorful cuff at night or to go out. [But be sure not to wear more than one cuff at a time, otherwise it can be too much of a good thing.]

I've taken the liberty of hunting down some of my favorite examples of these ear cuffs for you. I encourage you to click on the photos, as they all link to the site where you can buy that particular cuff. Most of the styles I've come across were found on Etsy, Francesca's or ShopJeen.com.

 

Crystal creatures

I absolutely LOVE animals, and I LOVE jewelry. The only thing better than either of those would be a combination of the two - animal jewelry. And Hanna Bernhard creates just that... hand crafted rhinestone jewelry made in the shapes and forms of every kind of animal you could think of. While I had known about Hanna Bernhard jewelry for a while, I recently saw that another blog, Sea of Shoes, had interviewed the designer and put up some awesome pictures of the jewelry on her site. My favorite piece out of all of the photos posted was this snake necklace. Although I'm not quite sure how much it costs, it is absolutely to DIE for. I love how over the top it is, while also looking lifelike. The crystal embellishment creates a very rich and almost antique feeling, as if the necklace was unearthed from a thousand year old tomb. And the fact that the necklace doesn't completely connect in a full circle is also what makes it stand out to me. I think that this snake necklace would be an amazing accessory to have, and certainly a one of a kind treasure. Hanna Bernhard jewelry has been featured in numerous magazine and collections around the world. And while they sell jewelry on their website, it is hard to snatch up a piece quick enough before it is sold!

[Photos used from SeaofShoes.com]