Color Craze: Pantone's Spring Fling

Top Row: ModCloth Dress, Dorothy Perkins Dress, Victoria Victoria Beckham Dress, 
Middle Row: Victoria Beckham Dress, Diane Von Furstenberg Dress, Maison Rabih Kayrouz Dress, 
Bottom Row: Herve Leger Dress, Joseph Dress, Lela Rose Dress, Alberta Ferretti Dress

To say I'm a fan of the colors Pantone, the global authority on color has selected to highlight for Spring 2014 is an understatement. The balanced mix of brights and pastels is modern and refreshing. Alone, each color can stand on its own, but the possible color combos are what's really exciting. Since my schedule this Spring and Summer will involve a lot of personal appearance, I've decided to add a few special pieces to my wardrobe. While shopping, I started to see how some of my favorite designers have incorporated this color forecast into some pretty spectacular dresses. I've already added the DVF Kaley Dress in a very Sand-like color to my wardrobe. 

I'm using this glorious color palette in my my jewelry too. Add a pair of drop earrings in Celonia Orange to a Dazzling Blue dress. Or a pave crystal bracelet in the soft gray, Paloma with a top in icy green Hemlock. These colors can revive your wardrobe with strong vibrancy or add versatility with the more tranquil hues. Mix it up and have fun with these colors!

All jewelry from our JulRe Designs Classics and Gemmy Jewels Collections

It's a Mad, Mad March

Images: ncaa.com, printyourbrackets.com, sportsblogs.star-telegram.com

This month is one of my favorites. The madness that is March in college basketball begins and as the sports fanatic that I am, I can't get enough of the spirit of competition and whole championship drama. The speculation as to which teams will be selected for tournament, what seed they will be given, the coaches perched on their soapboxes touting why their team deserves consideration, the drama of the committee that chooses which teams are worthy (thank goodness the playoff system goes into effect next season), filling out your own brackets to test your skills at guessing which teams will win and possibly becoming super rich if you're right. It's all a more than real reality show and it all begins in 2 days with Selection Sunday for the Men's tourney. I'll be glued to the TV to watch it all unfold (GO SYRACUSE MEN and UCONN WOMEN!) and then the madness truly begins as the Road to the Final Four brings college basketball games to watch almost every day of the week until we have the teams that will vie for the National Championship. 

It's been a long standing tradition to gather my equally sports obsessed friends together for March Madness viewing parties and it wouldn't be one of my gatherings without my famous game day buffets. Here are 4 of my current favorite recipes for you and your sports-loving friends to enjoy too: 

Fried Pickles with Spicy Mayo  (top left) and Old School Garlic Bread (top right) from Bon Appetit

Four-Cheese Mushroom Lasagna (bottom right) from Ladies Home Journal

The Snakebite (bottom left) from Saveur

Enjoy the games! 

In the Color Lab: Chartreuse & Red

Images (top left, clockwise): JulRe Designs Necklace, Bicycle, Limes and Chili Peppers, Suede Pump,
Print, Flower Box, Lacquer Tray, Chevron Pillow, Soda Pop, Chartreuse Blouse and Red Pencil Skirt

Part of my process for designing jewelry is to create color and inspiration boards where I find images filled with shapes, fashions, objects, stories and hues that resonate with me. When I discover a combination that "speaks", I shop for beads and stones needed to create something fabulous. Chartreuse and Red have been on my radar for awhile because each color alone evokes brilliance and happiness. Together, they are a crazy mix of abundant passion.

Don't let the "punch" of these two power-packed colors scare you. Accessorizing with this combo will always be fresh for Spring and Summer. Try a pretty silk scarf, a tasseled slipper shoe or our Neon Glow Necklace. Chic & unique!

Images: TopShopTall Crepe Flippy Dress, Gemmy Jewels Crystal Teardrop Earrings, 

TopShop 90’s Metal Insert Sunglasses, HOBO Venice Katrina Clutch, L’Wren Scott Pencil Skirt

Pierre Dare Pumps, Green Gingko Leaf Silk Scarf

And the Carpet Was Red

Images from Elle.com (top left, clockwise): Amy Adams in Gucci, Lupita Nyong'o in custom Prada,
Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive, Sandra Bullock in Bette Midler in Reem Acra, 

It's no secret that I'm an awards show red carpet junkie so since the Academy Awards or Oscars were handed out on Sunday, I'm sadly back to craving the glitz for another year. While I usually focus my after-show blog posts on the gems and jewels (or lack thereof), I decided to share my favorite gowns of the night as well (my Top 5 above). I loved the actresses that chose gowns that fit their public personalities, from Amy Adams' understated elegance to Bette Midler's bold vibrancy. And finally this is the year when everyone broke out of color bondage although there was still a fair amount of icy cool white and black as dark as midnight to be seen. 

Frankly, it's been years since truly statement making jewelry has been worn by actresses and it sometimes seems that the fashion stylists forget that the right earrings or necklace can make or break a look.. And while this year's Oscars had glimmers of bejeweled glam (some standouts below), the gowns were the big winners once again. 

Images from Elle.com and nj.com (top left, clockwise): Naomi Watts necklace by Bulgari, Amy Adams'
Tiffany earrings, Charlize Theron in Harry Winston jewels, Viola Davis in cuff bracelets by Lorraine Schwartz,
Cate Blanchett in earrings by Chopard