Posts Tagged ‘jewelry’
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
I was so happy yesterday to finally see all the photos in our look book. This being the first one, we were experimenting with it, but I think we will probably do a style guide soon. I can’t really reveal too much about it, but it will most likely be on our site this week if everything tests out well. I thought you might enjoy seeing some photographs from our latest photo shoot. These didn’t make it into the look book. For this latest round, we used talented photographer Eloisa Nadine Hernandez. She takes amazing photos and definitely understands all the nuances of making the shot look beautiful, as well as tell a story.
The emma blouse is my sister’s favorite blouse so far. So soft and very figure flattering because it isn’t fitted so it allows you to eat and not divulge any imperfections you may have around your waistline. Because it is so versatile, you can wear it casual with your best boyfriend jeans or dressy, for office days and when you want to look prim and proper.
(First look: Loralei wears the emma blouse with distressed boyfriend jeans, Prada sunglasses, and a straw hat. Second look: Loralei wears the emma blouse with snakeskin natural belt, braid bracelet, blue moissanite bracelet, charm hoop disk earrings in gold, and a floral print skirt. | Photography by Eloisa Nadine Hernandez for Bella Maven | Styled by Loralei Rose Bingamon.)
Tags: apparel, Bella Maven, bellamaven.com, braid bracelet, By Boe, charm hoop disk earrings, Chinese Laundry belts, Collective Clothing, Eloisa Nadine Hernandez, emma blouse, fashion, floral print skirt, Gorjana, jewelry, Loralei Rose Bingamon, Nine Threads
Posted in look of the day, photo shoots | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Towards the end of summer, I like to travel. I figure there’s less chance of being somewhere crowded since most people take their vacations beforehand. I tend to pack light just in case I buy some new things. So, for the most part, much of my wardrobe consists of dresses. They don’t take up much space in my suitcase. I favor dresses that are comfortable and look great. In fact, I like dresses that feel like I’m wearing sweats for days when I don’t want to spend too much time on my appearance. I am on vacation. At the same time, I don’t want people I don’t know to think I’m a bum. Who knows if I might catch the eye of a good looking, muscular toned stranger, right? My go-to-travel dress right now is the abby. The color, cut, and pleating of the dress make it very figure flattering. Here’s Abby, looking relaxed in a tropical setting, wearing the dress that is so aptly named after her.
(Abby wears the Abby dress with forum sea necklace and trio bracelet. | Photography by Marie Padilla for Bella Maven.)
Tags: Abby dress, Abby Nyema, accessories, apparel, Bella Maven, bellamaven.com, Bubijou, jewelry, Many Belles Down, Marie Padilla, Skillus
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
I have a weakness for jewelry that began when I was four. My mother gave me my first piece of jewelry then, a beautiful 24 karat gold bracelet. I’ve been collecting jewelry ever since. It’s a passion I share with my sister.
There were years when I would only gravitate towards sterling silver, white gold, or platinum, but lately, I have a fondness for gold. I especially love mixing metals – gold with silver. And, I like jewelry that’s modern, yet classic. When I was living in Hawaii, I began a love affair with By Boe jewelry. It has a simple understated elegance.
By Boe jewelry was created by designer Annika Inez, who graduated from Parsons. The jewelry is handmade in New York and has been worn by celebrities. You’ll recognize the names from Cameron Diaz, Oprah Winfrey, Mandy Moore, Kelly Ripa, to Jessica Alba, etc. It has been featured in several magazines such as Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Real Simple, and Lucky.
I love the materials they use from 14 karat gold-filled to sterling silver. Their new collection for Spring and Summer 2010 incorporates a combination of new and vintage materials like hundred year-old metallic yarn from France or leather. If you buy a piece of jewelry from By Boe, you’ll absolutely love it. I have given out By Boe jewelry as gifts to some of my friends on their birthdays. Days later, I usually receive a thank you note where they are gushing about it.
dainty and demure – copper 175 necklace, and sparkling thread
sexy dimepiece – slip-knot necklace, signum 169, wire arc, and dangling paddle; on sale – falling water
cool rock n’ rolla – braid bracelet, braid ring, waterfall hoop; on sale – tiered chain
classic everyday – zacky circle, joely
Tags: Bella Maven, bellamaven.com, bracelet, braid bracelet, braid ring, By Boe, By Boe jewelry, By Boe tiered chain necklace, By Boe zacky circle necklace, copper 175 necklace, dangling paddle, dangling paddle earrings, earrings, falling water necklace, jewelry, joely earrings, rings, signum 169, slip-knot necklace, sparkling thread, sparkling thread ring, waterfall hoop earrings
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010
I just love love LOVE hats…almost, but not quite as much as I love food. I think it’s probably because I’m one of those people that actually look good in them. I can take any hat, put it on, and it looks great on me. It’s actually surprising considering I have a big noggin. Usually, people with large heads look silly in hats, that’s not true for me. But, I look hideous in glasses so thank goodness I have 20/20 vision.
Well, with the weather turning awful, hats are the perfect accessory to keep you warm. So, here’s BM model Abby looking lovely and beautiful with a knit hat from the Bella Maven closet. Remind me to tell you more about the Bella Maven closet as we get closer to relaunching our website with its enhanced features. You know what this means, we will probably be carrying hats soon.
(Abby is wearing the gwen dress by Lush, ivy earrings by Gorjana, lara handbag in creme by Big Buddha, wisdom ring by Ur Eternity, and turquoise pear necklace by Boe. Hat, denim vest, and belt from the Bella Maven closet. Photography by Marie Padilla enhanced with lomography technique and viewfinder | Styled by Loralei Rose Bingamon for bellamaven.com.)
Tags: Abby Nyema, apparel, Bella Maven, bellamaven.com, Big Buddha, By Boe, clothing, fashion, Gorjana, handbags, hats, jewelry, look of the day, Loralei Rose Bingamon, Lush, Marie Padilla, Ur Eternity
Posted in look of the day | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Coco Chanel once said, “I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little – if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”
With all the holiday parties these season, including the family get-togethers and office shin-digs, we need to look our best. That means putting some effort on our part, you just never know who you are going to meet, right?
I’m notorious for going over-the-top with my holiday dressing. My sister with her sharp tongue tends to reign me in. So, this year, I’m looking to go more streamlined, have one or two “look at me” accessories, but the focus remains largely on the dress. I’m crushing on black dresses. Here are a few of my recommendations for the best holiday dresses.
palomar - I can’t stop gushing about this dress. I wore it to a fancy dinner party once in San Fran and my stylish gay best friend complimented me when I walked in. I love it in purple, just to be different.
rumi – So soft because it’s made out of silk and fitted to show off your body’s contours. It’s all about the black and white combination that we’ve seen on the runways.
marble – Great in black! You’ll look adorable!
japonai - I wore this dress on my birthday during a five course meal and it was roomy enough to hide my belly bulge.
(Abby wears the palomar dress with the max clutch, nancy bracelet, letter A charm necklace, and tiger eye ring. Fur mini-wrap, knee high socks, and shoes are model’s own. Abby also wears the marble dress in black and nancy bracelet. Knit hat, scarf, stockings, and shoes are model’s own. Photography by Marie Padilla. Styled by Loralei Rose Bingamon for bellamaven.com.)
Tags: Bella Maven, C & C, clothes, clutches, Diana Warner, dresses, fashion, Gorjana, holiday dressing, jewelry, letter A charm necklace, look of the day, Loralei Rose Bingamon, Lush, Marie Padilla, max clutch, Naked Zebra, nancy bracelet, necklace, palomar dress, ring
Posted in holiday, look of the day | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
By Loralei Rose Bingamon
It began last Wednesday morning with an email. I had just been invited to Los Angeles Laker- Ron Artest’s December bash and toy drive. Thrilled, but also in a state of disbelief, I sat staring at my computer screen. Anxiety began to fill my veins. Like every style conscious woman, the first question that popped into my mind was, “What am I going to wear?” With only two days to find the perfect fit, I decided to skip the crowded malls and go straight to the Bella Maven girls for help.
After a long debate with myself, I decided that I wanted to go for the glam rock look. But just how would I pull this off and still be comfortable and confident at the same time? I knew I needed the perfect dress and just the right accessories to do the trick. Thank God Bella Maven had so many great selections for me to choose from.
The puple palomar dress saved my life! I absolutely loved it and so did everyone else at the party! It’s stretchy and the body shaping material hugged me in just the right places, accentuating what needed to be accentuated and hiding what needed to be hidden, if you know what I mean. Ahem. The dress was classy, hip, and occasion appropriate. Whether walking through the club or dancing on the dance floor, I felt confident in every stride and two step. Black textured tights and black ankle booties undoubtedly complemented the dress and aided my rocker aura.
Knowing that glam rock style is not complete without the appropriate details, I chose a few edgy pieces from the Bella Maven jewelry collection. Scouring for studs, metals, and metallics, I decided on the snake earrings and gray graham leather wrap bracelet with gold studs. If these two pieces didn’t scream “she’s bad”, nothing could. To tie the entire outfit together, I went with the studded rockstar clutch.
I truly felt like a rockstar that night and I have Bella Maven to thank. So, thank you Bella Maven. I heart you!
(Stylist and model Loralei Rose Bingamon wears the palomar dress in purple, rockstar clutch in black, snake earrings, and graham leather wrap bracelet in gray. Shoes and stockings are model’s own.)
Tags: apparel, Bella Maven, clutch, dress, fashion, graham leather wrap bracelet by Gorjana, handbags, jewelry, look of the day, Loralei Rose Bingamon, palomar dress, rockstar clutch, Ron Artest, Ron Artest December party, snake earrings, SOOS, Urban Expressions
Posted in look of the day | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
As we approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded that it’s that time of the year again to be thankful for all the blessings in my life and to let the people I care about know I appreciate them. So, I wanted to thank Bella Maven and my sister for all the joy they have given me these past few months. Without them, I would not be able to look great at an affordable price every day. Among the blessings in my closet that I am most thankful for are:
(1) jaime tunic – It’s the perfect office top. I can wear it under a suit or with a full skirt and some pumps. The vertical ruffles are ladylike and feminine and give the illusion of looking slimmer and taller. The modern look of the nancy bracelet and wisdom ring is a nice contrast to the ruffles. The jaime tunic would also look great with vintage pieces like the floral necklace or blue flower locket.
(2) rose dress – The most versatile dress and great for traveling because it packs up easily and is fairly wrinkle resistant. For a casual day of sightseeing or shopping, wear it with the boyfriend sweater, patterned tights, and booties. For an evening out, exchange the sweater for a beautiful scarf, and ditch the tights and booties for some strappy silver or gold heels. Finish off the look with the matching silver or gold ivy necklace and earring set.
(3) tiny dancer bag – This is the perfect alternative to a briefcase. It holds everything – paperwork, files, pens, even a laptop or netbook, and my wallet. It also doubles as an overnight bag for those weekend getaways.
(4) make love not trash tote bags – So inexpensive and strong, I keep one handy wherever I am to carry all my extra stuff. These eco-friendly bags carry groceries, books, gifts, papers, gym clothes, and just about anything else that I put in them, and I love how they come with different prints and colors.
(5) tress square and heart rings and small star earrings – Stackable rings so cute and lightweight I sometimes forget that I am wearing them. The rings and star earrings are small and dainty enough to wear in the office every day, but also unique enough to add interest to any outfit.
I am looking forward to adding more blessings to my closet in the upcoming year. In fact, I can start this Friday at the Bella Maven Black Friday Sale – 30% off everything! Now that, is a blessing! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Shopping!
Tags: apparel, Bella Maven, Big Buddha, blue flower locket, boyfriend sweater, Cara Lyndon jewelry, fashion, floral necklace, Gorjana jewelry, handbags, ivy earrings, ivy necklace, jaime tunic, jewelry, Lush, make love not trash tote bags, Naked Zebra, nancy bracelet, rose dress, small star earrings, tiny dancer handbag, tress heart ring, tress square ring, wisdom ring
Posted in holiday, products | 7 Comments »
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
A few years ago when I was climbing the corporate ladder and had a routine 8 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. job, I was restricted in what was considered appropriate office attire. You know the drill. No sleeveless blouses, no open toe shoes. If you wore a skirt, it couldn’t be too short. And, you had to wear hosiery. My workplace was ultra conservative. Me, being the slacker that I am, always tried to find a way to push the envelope so that I wasn’t breaking the rules, but I definitely wanted to stand out. It’s a little risky to wear brightly colored stockings, completely different colored shoes, and to sport a blouse that you would normally wear with jeans, to the office. I like to stack necklaces too. You just need a little confidence. And then suddenly, office wear looks amazingly cool!
(Model is wearing jolie blouse in white, small horseshoe necklace in gold, and large horseshoe necklace in gold. Skirt, stockings, and shoes are model’s own. Photographed by Ryan Gabriel. Styled by Loralei Rose Bingamon.)
Tags: Bella Maven, clothes, fashion, Gorjana, jewelry, jolie blouse, large horseshoe necklace, look of the day, Loralei Rose Bingamon, necklaces, office fashion, office wear, Ryan Gabriel, small horseshoe necklace, tops
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Friday, November 20th, 2009
by Cassandra King
As far back as 3500 B.C., women have worn jewelry. Since then, it has undergone serious transformation. From our furry ancestors donning necklaces made from animal teeth, bones, and claws to Sarah Jessica Parker and her ghetto gold. No matter how you measure it – by the pound or carat – jewelry isn’t going anywhere.
For some of us, our first experience with jewelry may have been playing dress up with our mother’s jewelry, which we knew we were not supposed to do, or perhaps a gift for a holiday or a birthday. In my case, a lovely pair of pearl earrings was sent to me as a gift from an aunt. Whatever the case may be, when worn jewelry symbolizes fun, adornment, status, or just something special.
For me, jewelry has significance for the wearer and in some instances, the giver as well. If you are considering something special for the one you love this holiday season, check out the array of statement pieces that won’t break the bank. In this economy, who can really afford the bling of Cartier and DeBeers right now? For those of you who can’t, take a look at some of my favorites for $100 or less! Really! $100 or LESS.
top picks: madrid ring ($14), bri paddle pin earrings ($42.00), graham leather wrap ($55 and it was just featured in Lucky magazine), tere hoops ($57.00 and seen on Gossip Girl), waterfall hoop earrings ($60.00 and seen on actress Jessica Alba), treasure chime earrings ($60.00 and seen on actress Hayden Panettiere), charm hoop disk earrings ($65.00 and featured in Self magazine and Sweet magazine), and vintage blue flower locket ($65.00).
about the author – Cassandra King is owner and CEO of Concepts de Mode, a fashion consulting and image management firm in San Francisco. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Cassandra at (925) 360-4707 or on the web at Cassandra@conceptsdemode.com.
Tags: Bella Maven, bracelets, Cassandra King, Concepts de Mode, earrings, fashion, fashion advice, Gossip Girl, Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Alba, jewelry, Lucky magazine, necklaces, rings, Self magazine, Sweet magazine
Posted in jewelry bargains | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
I have a weakness for tops that are super comfortable and look great with everything. So, it’s not surprising then that I was enthusiastic when I saw the moderne tank. It’s the type of shirt that goes perfect with a bunch of different looks. Casually, I would pair it up with my black jeans, some boots, and a leather jacket or sweater. Of course, I wanted to know about some other ways to wear it. I asked BM stylist Loralei Rose Bingamon for some advice and she came up with two different outfits for the moderne tank. She paired it up with a short full skirt and also some shorts. Why had I not thought of that? Anyway, Abby, the BM model, looks terrific in both getups.
(right photo: Abby is wearing ebony fate earrings, layering ryan necklace, moderne tank, and eclipse clutch in copper. Jacket, belt, skirt, and shoes are model’s own. left photo: Abby is wearing joely earrings, nancy bracelet, graham leather wrap bracelet, tiger’s eye ring, band ring, rich expresso scarf, and moderne tank. Shorts, fishnet stockings, and shoes are model’s own. Styled by Loralei Rose Bingamon and photographed by Marie Padilla.)
Tags: Bella Maven, Big Buddha, bracelet, Bubijou, Collective Clothing, Diana Warner, earrings, eclipse clutch, fashion, Gorjana, graham leather wrap, jewelry, look of the day, Loralei Rose Bingamon, Marie Padilla, moderne tank, nancy bracelet, necklace, rings, scarf, tank, tops
Posted in look of the day | 1 Comment »
