Shopping Guide: Top Fashion Jewelry Brands

Fine Jewelry is undoubtedly at the top of every woman’s dream list. It is an investment that will be an heirloom and will outlast trends and time. However, fashion or costume jewelry holds a special place in every fashionista’s heart and her closet and jewelry box, of course. High street brands like Zara, Mango, River Island etc., all have their respective takes on fun and fashion forward bling. But here I’ve rounded up the brands and some top picks for fabulous and glamorous fashion jewelry that are both playful, elegant, tasteful, and are of high quality. Ditch those statement costume jewelry that are tarnished or have missing stones, and invest in sparklers that pile on the wow factor.

DANNIJO

Sister Jodie and Danielle, the founders and designers of DANNIJO, put a premium on sustainability and women empowerment. What started out as a way to raise funds for their grassroots women’s initiative in Africa turned out to a be highly successful and coveted line of costume jewelry. With aztec and geometric influences and rock n’ roll lifestyle feel, DANNIJO is at the top of every it girl’s list. This brand has been spotted on the likes of Rihanna, Blake Lively, and Natalie Portman.

Rashida Jones wearing a Dannijo necklace

 

Images from DANNIJO.com

 

LULU FROST

Founded and based in NYC, Lulu Frost has a distinct aesthetic combining art deco architecture inspiration with contemporary kitschy and girly influences. The brand has had collaborations with eponymous retailer, J. Crew, and has been spotted on First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift proving the brand’s diverse yet sophisticated look. Marrying antique and modern, Lulu Frost captures the crux of what it means to be chic and stylish.

Olivia Palermo wearing a Lulu Frost necklace

 

 

Images from LuluFrost.com

BAUBLE BAR

Another NYC made and based jewelry brand, Bauble Bar is at the forefront of fashion jewelry online retail. They have an entire range of customizable jewelry and special services to cater to brides-to-be. They pretty much have every service you can imagine. Bauble Bar even has guest bartenders, who curate their own collection. Emma Roberts and Coco Rocha are some of the stylist celebs that they have collaborated with. There are also available stylists online, whether by chat, mail, phone or video, for any of your burning questions on accessorizing.

Guest bartender Emma Roberts wearing Bauble Bar

 

Images from BaubleBar.com

EDDIE BORGO

Making edgy jewelry since 2008, Eddie Borgo is a NYC brand that takes inspiration from the wonderful city it is based in. Aside from harnessing and capturing the vibrant and upbeat energy of New York City in its designs, Eddie Borgo is also inspired by vintage costume jewelry, American tradition and heritage, and heavily rooted in the rock n’ roll culture. This luxe jewelry brand injects street style trends and urban vibes effortlessly into each piece. The designer, Eddie Borgo, has won many awards including the CFDA Swarovski Award for Innovation in Accessory Design.

Sienna Miller wearing an Eddie Borgo tiara

Images from Net-a-Porter

JENNIFER MEYER

Marrying the special quality of personalized jewelry, modern high street style, and the timeless elegance of fine jewelry, Jennifer Meyer has become a quick A-list favorite. From the Olsen twins to Jessica Alba, her understated yet statement making jewelry have been making fashion headlines and winning her scores of fashion fans from all over. Luxury meets wearability, her designs are handmade with love and Los Angeles and definitely have that distinctive echo of bohemian style and an easy air of sophistication.

Elle Fanning and Drew Barrymore wearing Jennifer Meyer Jewelry

Images from Net-a-Porter

LIZZIE FORTUNATO

Twins Kathryn and Lizzie Fortunato have been consistently creating eclectic jewelry since 2008. Using influences from various world cultures and handicrafts, these pieces are adorned with hand beading, loom embroidery, and vintage textiles. If you’re looking for something perfect to go with your bohemian pieces or to update your summer style, Fortunato Jewels are it. Their pieces are where high-end and world-class craftmanship go together to create cool pieces that every girl would love to have on their necks.

Image from Lizzie Fortunato Instagram

Images from Lizzie Fortunato

Happy Xmas shopping ladies!

 

Style Report: Under the Radar Street Style Stars

The streets are the new place to see and be seen in your sartorial best. The recent surge of popularity and fashion authority of street style blogs and street style photography has produced a new crop of style stars that are a category all their own.

Bloggers, fashion editors, fashion buyers, and other personalities that work behind the scenes in the fashion industry have now come to the forefront in the fashion media solely because of their stellar personal style. Names like Miroslava Duma, Leandra Medine, Yasmin Sewell, Giovanna Battaglia, Ann dello Russo, Harley Viera Newton, Susie Lau are some fashionistas that have been a fixture in street style blogs. They have risen to the top and went on to lucrative products and collaboration, and are now fashion icons in their own right. Now let me bring you another set of street style stars you should be watching out for.

Eva Chen

Her now infamous #EvaChenPose on Instagram (see photo below) has gained her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Lucky Magazine’s EIC Eva Chen does a daily style snap at the back of her cab/town car to show off her eclectic taste in accessories as she displays her shoe and bag of the day. A mix of high and low, her style is that ever elusive marriage of girly and playful fashion meets haute and happening trends.

Kristina Bazan

One of the breakout street style stars for this year’s fashion month, Kristina Bazan of the style blog Kayture is a Swiss-born and raised style maven who has been dominating more than street style blogs. Her amazing ensembles and great taste in fashion has been featured in sites like Teen Vogue and WhoWhatWear. I predict that this 19-year old stylista will be making waves in the industry soon.

Linda Tol

Amsterdam based blogger and trendsetter Linda Tol has been wearing one edgy look after another. Her ultra modern and chic blunt white bob aside, her style aesthetic is carefully cultivated and she thoughtfully puts together each look into one gorgeous photoready outfit. But picking apart her look, you’ll find that each piece can stand stylishly on its own. Her taste is something that you will do well to learn from.

Caroline Brasch Nielsen

Danish model Caroline Brasch Nielsen is a permanent face on Caroline’s Mode a model off duty street style blog. She certainly possesses the hallmarks of great model off duty style, she has that same effortless ease in assembling looks that convey casual sophistication and approachable daytime glamour.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

If you’re the offspring of, arguably, one of the most influential voices and most important stylesettes in the industry, how can you not turn out to be a top tier fashionista too? Simple answer, you can’t. Growing up surrounded by great style and with a glamorous mom like Carine Roitfeld, former editor of Parisian Vogue, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld has pretty much her name written in the fashion history books. She certainly nails the essence of Parisian Girl style, she seamlessly blends textures together for visually interesting looks.

Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor

Model and DJ Atlanta de Cadenet Taylor is part of an emerging young fashion mafia. With her incredible street style cred, she constantly mixes the best of high street brands like Topshop and Zara with more high-end and feminine pieces. Each of her looks have a definite rock n’ roll vibe, probably an influence of her rockstar dad John Taylor of Duran Duran, she loves wearing vintage band shirts with fun and girly pieces like full skirts and heart-shaped leather crossbody bags.

Pernille Teisbaek

Look de Pernille is a wildly successful street style blog from Pernille Teisbaek, who is a huge influencer in the Danish fashion industry. This former fashion editor and current freelance stylist and TV personality has been dropping jaws left and right with her refreshing take on feminine dressing, either going all out in a pastel pink cape dress or putting her on spin on menswear with sporty stripes and cropped bra tops.

Candela Novembre

Argentine born and Milan based model Candela Novembre has that enviable ability to inject bright colors to every single one of her looks without looking too over-the-top and still looking seasonally appropriate and fashion forward. She also has an extraordinary penchant for mixing patterns and textures together. So take some notes every time you see her in one of her signature standout ensembles.

Ella Catliff

La Petite Anglaise is Ella Catliff’s fashion blog where she expresses her sense of style, and that is feminine meets vintage. In an age where trends and faces blend together in a blur, Ella Catliff distinguishes herself by always sticking to her signature style. This London based model and blogger embraces girly and ladylike silhouettes and shows off her love for color.

Whose style speaks to you? I love the inspiration I get from these fashionistas!