Tips for Purchasing the Right Bracelet

It is often hard to choose the perfect bracelet. If it is for a gift, you need to consider the style and size as well as if you want it to match their rings and other pieces of jewellery. Here, we've listed everything you need to consider when purchasing a bracelet.

Consider the style of the jewellery you/they already have 

If it is for yourself, take a careful look at the jewellery you already have and consider whether or not you want your bracelet to match the other jewellery pieces you own. If the bracelet is a gift it is also important to look at the jewellery the person you are giving it to, already has.

A good way to find out their style is to look at what they have in their jewellery box or what sort of jewellery they wear on a daily basis. A good way to browse different styles of bracelets is from the comfort of your own home by searching the Internet. This is a great way to see what styles are currently on the market and also to get an idea of pricing before you make a purchase.

Think of the budget for what you want 

Once you have a budget set for how much you want to spend on a bracelet for yourself or for a gift, you can look at what you are able to buy for the allocated price. You may find that you have put aside more than what you need and can also purchase a set of earrings to match.

What metal is best for you/them

This is also related to the style you like. If you wear mostly white gold, it would be a good idea to buy a white gold bracelet to match the rest of your jewellery. If it is a gift, you also need to think about what the majority of their jewellery is made from. You may want to go all out on a gift for that special someone and buy a diamond bracelet to match the diamond rings they have.

Sizing it right 

Getting the sizing right for a gift can often be difficult. Some bracelets are adjustable so size isn't an issue. A good idea is to look at other items they wear on their wrist such as a watch, bangles or other bracelets.

Engraving of gifts 

Add a personal touch to your gift for someone special by having their bracelet or bangle engraved. A message from you to them or even a quote they like is also good. This is a lovely idea and something they'll have that will always reminds them of you.

Tips on Buying Women's Wedding Bands

The wedding band is a significant piece of jewelry, symbolizing commitment, love and passion. You can choose from many different kinds of women's wedding bands and engagement rings, including conservative bands, creative designer bridal sets and wedding bands covered in precious stones. It is important to weigh the options carefully when shopping forwomen's wedding bands to find the wedding jewelryt hat will be perfect for you or your bride.

Buying Women's Wedding Bands:

Consider sets: If you want a wedding band that coordinates well with your engagement ring, then you might consider purchasing a bridal set. Bridal sets offer a variety of style options and bring continuity to wedding jewelry. Bridal sets are available with plain wedding rings, diamond wedding bands and wedding rings with intricate metalwork.

Browse: Give yourself the chance to consider a variety of wedding jewelry options. Some women will know right away that they want a traditional diamond band or a unique ruby-studded ring, while others will need to browse and take a little time to find the right one. If you are selecting a wedding ring for your bride without her help, consider many styles and varieties in the preliminary shopping step.

1. Put style first: If you are shopping for your own wedding band, choose something that will go with your everyday style. If you are choosing a wedding band for your future wife, pay attention to her current jewelry and fashion choices. Elegant diamond wedding bands will appeal to the feminine, elegant woman, while simple bands will be perfect for the casual woman and unique wedding bands will be suit the eclectic woman.

Contemplate lifestyle: It is important to consider lifestyle when shopping for a wedding band. The wedding ring you choose should be comfortable to wear on a typical day. If you are in a profession where wearing jewelry is discouraged or impractical, consider simple wedding bands.

Consider gemstones: Gemstones can add beautiful detail to a wedding band. Diamond bands can complement a stunning diamond engagement ring. Diamonds aren't the only option when choosing wedding band gemstones. Rubies, garnets and moonstones, for example, symbolize passion and love, while blue sapphires symbolize loyalty. Many women like to add color to their wedding band with a bright pink sapphire or deep green emerald.

How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home

A quick Web search will turn up hundreds of different methods for cleaning your jewelry—like using toothpaste to make diamonds sparkle, beer to shine gold and ketchup to polish silver. These are exactly the kind of clever tricks you'd love to try…just not on your own jewelry. So instead of experimenting with Grandma's heirlooms, we talked to the pros to find out how to safely care for your jewelry.

Pearls 
"When pearls are visibly dirty, wash them in 1 teaspoon of Woolite diluted in 1 quart of water," says Kathy Higginbotham, Silpada Designs' director of quality control. "Immerse them for 10 to 15 seconds, wipe with a soft cotton cloth and lay flat to dry." Store them in a cotton bag—never plastic—separate from other jewelry. To ensure that they stay lustrous, think outside the jewelry box: wearing them regularly will keep them polished, thanks to your body's natural oils. When you take them off, wipe them with a dry cotton cloth.

Diamonds
"The best way to clean a diamond is with warm soapy water and a soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush," says Loretta Castoro, vice president and international jewelry buyer for Jewelry Television. Pat it dry with a soft cloth. You may have heard that using toothpaste gets your diamond to sparkle; it's not a great idea, says Castro. "While toothpaste won't harm the diamond, it is abrasive enough to harm the softer metals next to the diamond, like silver, so it is not recommended."

Gold
Always remove gold jewelry before showering or cleaning because "soap and chemicals can cause a film to form on karat gold, which makes it appear dull and dingy," says Castoro. While there are plenty of commercial cleaners available, it's just as effective to clean gold with what you already have. For untarnished jewelry, mix a few drops of mild dish detergent with warm water, and scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush. If it's tarnished, mix a few drops of ammonia into soapy water, submerge the jewelry and carefully brush with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Rinse it with lukewarm water and allow it to dry.

Avoiding chlorine is key to keeping gold jewelry looking good. "Chlorine at high temperatures, like in a hot tub, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry," says Castoro.

Sterling Silver
"Sterling silver is a soft metal that can scratch easily," says Higginbotham. "Scrubbing it or using a cloth with even the slightest abrasiveness will harm the surface." She advises using a silver polishing cloth or a very soft, clean sponge with no residue to polish and get rid of tarnish.

Jewelry with a Textured Surface
A brass brush, which can be found in the paint department of a hardware store, with soapy water works especially well on textured 14 karat gold jewelry, says Nantucket-based jeweler Jessica Hicks. "The tiny bristles get in the grooved surface to clean. The brass metal of the bristles help give it a nice satin polished look." For silver jewelry with an intricate design, use a silver-cleaning paste to get into the grooves, and wipe with a soft, clean cloth.

Turquoise
According to Carly Wickell, author of About.com's Guide to Jewelry, you should "clean your turquoise in warm, sudsy water and dry it immediately with a soft cloth. Don't submerge the stone in water—it is very porous and liquids can easily seep in and cause discoloration." Avoid commercial jewelry cleansers, as they can also discolor the stone.

Note: While commercial cleaners, including dip treatments, often work on most jewelry, our experts agree that products you have around the house will be just as effective—no need to run out and buy anything. As for the ketchup, beer and other grocery store stand-ins? None of our experts endorse them, but we haven't found any evidence that they don't work

7 Rules for Wearing Statement Jewelry

Jewellery is the perfect way to bring life to an outfit and enhance your best features. What better way to do so than to complete your look with a bold, striking and attention-grabbing piece of statement jewellery?

Jewelry is the perfect way to bring life to an outfit and enhance your best features. What better way to do so than to complete your look with a bold, striking and attention-grabbing piece of statement jewelry?

Statement pieces are designed for you to have fun with, but can make all the wrong statements if they are not worn correctly.

The beauty of statement jewelry is that it only takes one piece to make your whole outfit stand out. The key is to keep it simple and either work your outfit around one big eye-catching piece, or to work well-coordinated statement accessories into your look by striking the right balance.

From cocktail rings to cuff bracelets and bib necklaces, statement pieces come in all forms, designs, colours and sizes. They can work wonders to add dazzle to a simple dress or can help to draw attention to parts of yourself that you would like to emphasize.

Either way, make sure you follow our rules to pull off a look that gets people looking at you in awe rather than dismay.

1. Less is more

Bold pieces should be allowed to stand out, so do not over-crowd your look by wearing them within close proximity of each other. It is preferable to wear one at a time, but if you do want to wear more than one statement piece, make sure not to wear statement bracelets and rings together and avoid wearing statement earrings and necklaces at the same time.

Chandelier earrings and a cuff bracelet can look beautiful when worn together, while a long necklace and a cocktail ring can match perfectly. Just make sure to select items that coordinate. Try to stick with the same kind of metal and avoid clashing patterns and charms.

Layered chain necklaces can look extremely charming if worn correctly. Keep your look tasteful by making sure that you do not layer too many strands together and keep tabs on how much sparkle you layer on.

Avoid wearing long chain necklaces, however, if you are wearing a belt, as there will be too much going on around the same area. Wide chokers and bib necklaces can stand to be your sole statement piece, so let such items take center stage and forgo other pieces of jewelry.

2. Keep it simple

Big accessories are best worn with simple clothes. Steer clear of busy patterns and embellishments such as sequins when wearing bold jewelry. Remember, you want your statement piece to stand out, so match items wisely.

A little black dress is the perfect match for one or two attention-grabbing pieces, while jeans and a pure white top will make an ideal backdrop for something big, bright and colourful. Try to stick to neutral and block colour items when wearing bright and detailed accessories. Less busy pieces can work very well with patterned items of clothing, however.

Don’t pull the focus away from your bold jewelry. Coordinate smaller accessories with your statement pieces by keeping them to a minimum and sticking to the same colour or metal.

3. Choose earrings wisely

Statement earrings are beautiful, ornate and cannot be missed. They will be the first thing that anyone talking to you will notice. To make sure they frame your face, choose a pair that suits your face shape and enhances your features. Choosing the wrong pair can be distracting, so take details such as length, colour, shape and outfit coordination into consideration when choosing adornment for your ears.

When wearing dangly statement earrings, it is better to keep your hair sleek and not too big. Remember, it’s all about balance, so while you can pump up the volume with simple earrings, larger ones will balance better with loose waves or poker-straight hair.

Alternatively, pull your hair up into a chic chignon. Also make sure that your make-up balances well with your earrings. If you are wearing a brightly coloured pair, they may look best with clean and simple makeup.

4. Match the right necklace with the right neckline

The best way to make sure a statement necklace stands out is to wear it with the right neckline. Strapless, off-the shoulder, scoop necked or v-necked dresses and tops are ideal, as they will let your statement piece do the talking.

Collars, halter necks and detailing close to the face should be avoided, as they will clash with bold pieces. A one-colour turtle-neck sweater can work beautifully with a statement necklace, provided that it is form-fitting and one colour throughout.

Make sure to wear a statement necklace next to a simple and preferably one-colour top to keep the look chic and to do your necklace justice. You can never go wrong with neutral tones, so wear bright and attention-grabbing necklaces with black, white or nude to keep the look elegant.

5. Pay attention to your hands

When wearing a bold ring, it is worth remembering that it will draw attention to your hands, and consequently, your nails, so make sure they are perfectly groomed. Go for a simple manicure.

Make sure that the colour of your nail polish does not clash with the colours in your ring, and avoid wearing a bold and colourful ring with multi-coloured manicures, nail art and glittery nail polish. While this may look cute on an adolescent, it does not exactly convey a statement of elegance.

These eye-catching rings are the smallest of all the statement pieces, so have as much fun with them as you like. The bigger and brighter, the better. Just remember that balance is key, so it is better to wear one at a time.

6. Adorn your arms tastefully

Cuff bracelets are an excellent choice if you want to wear a statement piece. To show yours off, keep your arms bare or wear a cuff over a slim-fitting one colour long sleeve top. Stick to one cuff to create a focal point.

Bangles are another great option. Just remember that if you would like to stack a number of bangles together, stick to one arm only. Keep to a maximum of six bangles at a time as a general rule of thumb to avoid overdoing it and make sure that the bangles’ colours and patterns complement each other. When layering bangles, throwing in some gold or silver always looks great.

7. Wear pieces that create an outfit

Remember that statement pieces are supposed to make – you guessed it – a statement, so choose pieces that help to create an over-all outfit. If you are going for a prim and polished look, opt for pearls.

Vintage or floral pieces will look beautiful with a romantic and feminine outfit, while colourful beads are a must if you are going for a boho look. A bold cuff will compliment a block colour mini dress, while chandelier earrings will look gorgeous with a long flowing maxi.

Handbag shapes

Hobo

A hobo bag is a soft body, crescent-shaped bag. These bags can be dressy or casual. Most hobos feature a top zipper closure.

Satchel

A satchel has a short handle and can be a handheld or sometimes put over the shoulder. It has a flat bottom and a zippered, clasped, drawstring or buckled top.

Frame bag

A frame bag is a bag the has a hard frame, rather than a soft body. Frame handbags come in assortment of shapes, including satchels, doctor bags and bowling bags.

Envelope bag

An envelope bag is a clutch that is shaped like an envelope with a fold-over flap closure.

Wristlet

A wristlet is a very small bag that has a very thin strap to wear around your wrist. It holds very little - oftentimes less than a wallet. Wristlets have become popular in recent years, particular at night clubs when you don't want to set down your bag.

Evening bags

Special occasion or evening bags come in a variety of different shapes and styles. They can be mini-clutches, drawstring bags, small shoulder bags or any other variety of bag. Whatever shape and style, evening bags are normally shiny, featuring patent leather, sequins, crystals or jewels. Hard case clutches made of metal or hard plastic have grown in popularity in recent years.

Other popular shapes of bags, include the doctor bag, bowler, baguette and duffle.

Types of handbags

When shopping for a new handbag this season, consider your body type. Not every handbag is ideal for every woman. Follow these tips to find the perfect handbag for you.

Handbags come in a variety of shapes, styles, fabrics and colors. They are designed, not only to hold your belongings, but also to make a fashion statement. When categorizing handbags, you should think of them in two different ways - the shape of the the bag and the way you carry it. First we will categorize bags by how you carry them.

Shoulder Bag

Shoulder bags come in many different shapes and sizes. They are fairly large and can normally hold your wallet, keys, cell phone, books, notepad, cosmetics and more. They are sometimes compartmentalized with different pockets both inside and out. These handbags are designed to be worn over the shoulder. Shoulder bags are very practical and perhaps the most common bag carried by women.

Clutch

A clutch is a type of handbag that doesn't have handles. It can be carried in your hand or tucked under your arm. Throughout the history of handbags, clutches have been relatively small and often reserved for evenings. Clutches can hold your keys, driver's license, a lipstick and that's about it. However in recent years, the "oversized" clutch has grown in popularity. These bags are designed the same as a regular clutch but they are much larger and can carry all your essentials.

Clutches can be soft-bodied, framed or even hard-cased. They come in variety of shapes and materials, including silk, patent leather and sequined fabrics. A clutch can be closed with a fold-over flap, top closure, zipper, push lock, drawstring or any number other types of closures.

Handheld bag

Obviously, these handbags are designed to be held by hand. They feature a small handle. They are not intended to be slung over the shoulder - these bags can only be handheld. They are normally smaller than a shoulder bag, but bigger than a clutch.

Tote bag

These casual bags are often made from canvas. Tote bags are open at the top and usually have only one main compartment. Tote bags are very big. When over your shoulder, tote bags usually fall around elbow length. Tote bags are good for the beach, outdoor activities or shopping.

Messenger bag

Messenger bags are also often called crossbody bags because of how they are worn. These bags are great because you can't loose them! Worn across the body, messenger bag come in a variety of styles and sizes. Crossbody bags are commonly worn by students and travelers.

Backpack

Another bag that is popular among students is the backpack. These bags have two straps and are intended to be worn on your back. Backpacks are great for carrying school books, notepads and other somewhat heavy items. They are normally made of nylon, but they can also be canvas or leather. Backpacks are also great for traveling, hiking, camping and other activities.

The style of handbag you choose depends on what you need to carry, where you are going and your personal style preferences. Many women have an favorite that they carry almost daily, only switching to a smaller or larger bag for special occasions or circumstances. Other women own dozens of handbags and switch their bag on a regular basis, matching it to their outfit, destination and mood.

Now that you understand the handbag categories by how you carry them, we will break it down a little further. On the next page, we discusses some of the more common shapes of handbags.

Pick the right handbag for your body type

When shopping for a new handbag this season, consider your body type. Not every handbag is ideal for every woman. Follow these tips to find the perfect handbag for you.

Generally speaking when it comes to handbags, the opposite shape of your body type is the most flattering. When shopping, head to the dressing room, carry the bag as you normally would and check it out from all angles in the mirror.

Tall and thin

Choose handbags with a short, slouchy shape like the hobo. Avoid shoulder bags with a short strap as they will make you look even taller. Select handbags that are wider than they are tall. A clutch is a good choice.

Petite

Despite what you see in Hollywood, oversized bags aren't for small women. Large bags tend to overwhelm your frame. Avoid shoulder bags with a long strap as they will weigh you down, making you look even shorter.

Plus-size

Pick a large structured or boxy bag to balance out your curves. Don't carry a bag that is too small as it will make you look larger. If you love prints, steer clear of tiny patterns.

Everyone

If you are splurging on an expensive bag, choose one that you will be able to wear often. There's no need to spend $500 or more on a bag that will rarely make it out of your closet. If you are buying several inexpensive bags instead, pick one classic everyday bag in black or brown. Then, experiment with fun, funky styles and metallics for your other bags.

5 top tips for choosing the perfect Handbag

The right handbag can flatter your figure and complete a favourite outfit. You might end up carrying your handbag every day for months on end so it is essential that you choose one that is right for you! 

The tips below explain an easy to remember, 5 point process for choosing the right handbag every time. 


1)  Length

There is one easy rule to remember here. The part of your body where the bottom of the bag sits will be accentuated. So, if you have small, boy hips, having a bag which sits on your hips will make your shape look more feminine. If you have large hips, try a bag which sits at your waist line, accentuating the tapering of your waist and making you look slimmer. Handbags that sit at waist level will flatter most shapes in fact, so it is always good to have a bag of this type in your collection. 

2)  Size

Don’t be tempted just to follow the fashion here, very small bags on very tall girls will get lost, and alternatively if you are on the short side, you will be swamped with a large or oversized bag! 

3)  Shape

Try to choose a handbag which compliments your own shape. To do this, think about your overall shape, then buy handbags with opposite features. For example, if you are tall and slim, choose a handbag which is rounded and slouchy. If you are short and curvy, handbags with strong angles will look great on you. 

4)  Style

Think about your general style. If you usually wear casual clothes, going for a very formal handbag is not a good idea! This can be tricky, so make sure you do a bit of research. Look in fashion magazines for models wearing similar style clothes to you, then make a note of the types of handbags that they have been dressed with. You may not like that particular handbag, but note the style, and think about whether you would like it in a different colour, a different material, or if it were slightly bigger or smaller. The main thing is to note the style, i.e. if it is a tote, a clutch, or a slouch shoulder bag. Having said all of that, if you are buying a handbag for a particular occasion, where you will be wearing something outside of your usual style, be sure to complete the above magazine steps for the style of outfit you will be wearing! You are not going to buy something you don’t like, so there will always be a bit of ‘you’ in the handbag, no matter what style you choose. 

5)  Usage

I have left the practical part until last, although this is definitely an important factor. What do you want this handbag for? Is it to be used everyday for work and going out, does it need to carry books, a laptop or your gym kit? Perhaps you are looking for a small handbag for going out, which needs to match with a particular outfit. Either way, once you know what you will use your bag for, you will have an idea of what compartments and pockets you need it to have. As a final check when you find bag that you like, always find out what is inside. Is there a separate pocket for your phone and is there a secure area for your wallet or purse and keys? A handbag is a great and essential accessory but a particular handbag, no matter how nice it is, is no good if it fundamentally can’t be used to keep your stuff safe!