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05June   {Giveaway} Edgy earrings by FOF Shaune Bazner
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FOF Shaune Bazner designs fabulous jewelry and accessories for all types of women. Her company, Shaune Bazner Accessories, is giving away 5 sets of clip-on earrings (retail value: $30-$32/pair). Her colorful collection, which also includes hair sticks and necklaces, are all under $100-- beautiful and affordable. To win, answer the question: Which set of earrings is your favorite?

 

How old are you?
62 years old.

What were you doing before you started your business?
I was a dancer and yoga instructor.

How and when did you get started with your business? I started my business out of a personal need to find a hair accessory that would not give me headaches or damage my hair. I founded the company in 1978 with one accessory, Mei Fa Hairstyx*. It’s still our flagship product.
*MEI FA translates to “beautiful hair” in Chinese. The hair sticks keep your hairstyle comfortably in place.

When did you start designing jewelry?
I started designing jewelry a few years after launching the company. I heard from many women that there were no clip-on earrings out there that were comfortable and fun looking. I jumped on this opportunity and we have one of the largest selection of handcrafted clip-ons available.

Where are you based out of?
All of our products are made in our studio in Washington, D.C.

What is a typical workday like for you?
Extremely varied! Which is part of the reason I've been at it for so long. I do trade and retail shows. We sell to about 600 stores across the country. I design two jewelry collections each year. I have a good sense of priorities and naturally gravitate toward what needs to be done.

What accessories do you sell?
Mei Fa Hairstyx, shawl pins, convertibles, necklaces, bracelets, ID beads, eyeglass cords and earrings (wire, post and clip-ons)

What are convertibles?
Convertibles are multi-purpose pieces of jewelry. Shaune Bazner has 60” of stretch cords with seed beads, faceted crystals, and pearls which can be worn as necklaces, bracelets, pony-tail holders and more!

Why would FOFs like your earrings?
First, they’re comfortable and not heavy. Next, we have such a large variety to choose from that a woman can match any outfit for work or something more artsy for play. Many women have gone back to clip-ons because of stretched out holes in their pierced ears. Our earrings take care of this problem. The most popular type of earrings are pearls. Ours are sophisticated and edgy.

To win, answer the question: Which set of earrings is your favorite?



5 FOFs will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes June 13th, 2013 at midnight E.S.T. Contest limited to residents of the continental U.S.
08May   {Giveaway} Win a gorgeous, FOF-designed bracelet
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Jewelry designer and FOF, Marleny Gonzalez, is giving away one a signature crocheted chain bracelet (retail value: $85) from her company, Tierra Dulce Couture.


Enter to win by answering in the comments, below: Where do you buy your jewelry?

FOF Marleny Gonzalez, an avid jewelry designer is battling breast cancer. Encouraged by her friends and daughter, Claudia, Marleny started selling at art shows in South Florida two years ago. Her jewelry, all hand crocheted macramé pieces with natural stones, was such a hit that she’s since expanded the business to Etsy and soon will launch her own website.  Her bracelets and necklaces range from $50 to $200.  “She’s not yet in remission but, hopefully, will soon be,” says Claudia. “We are almost at the end of the treatment. Her jewelry business gives her inspiration and allows her to focus on something else besides the cancer.” FOF chatted with Claudia and Marleny (Claudia translated for her mom, since Marleny is a native Spanish speaker.)

How old is Marleny?
Claudia: 54.

Do you own the business together?
Claudia: Yes. She does all the jewelry design. I do the logistics for all the shows and business development.

When did you start the business?
Claudia: We started selling at art shows in South Florida, about two years ago. But, my mom started designing four years ago. They have so many different art markets and shows here so it makes it so easy for us.

What does Tierra Dulce Couture stand for?
Claudia: My mom came up with it--it means “sweet earth” and I added Couture so it sounded more fashionable.

How did you decide to start the company?
Claudia: We started showing the jewelry off to our friends and family and everybody liked it. I thought it really had a future. So my mom quit her job in makeup sales to do this full time..

What are Marleny’s signature pieces?
Claudia: Crochet style in macrame with natural stones.

Where does she source the materials from?
Claudia: From her trips to Cali, Colombia and also from Miami.

Where do you sell your jewelry?
Claudia: Besides the art shows in South Florida, we sell in a store in Colombia and online at Etsy.com. We also are working on a website.

Enter to win by answering in the comments, below: Where do you buy your jewelry?


One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes May 16th, 2013 at midnight E.S.T. Contest limited to residents of the continental U.S.
26April   {FOF style} The timeless value of jewelry
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We all know that women today spend more time and effort than ever on the way we look. Happily, the desire to look great doesn’t stop when we turn Fab Over Fifty.

But, when we leaf through magazine after magazine and click on countless websites, we’re bombarded with a never-ending stream of photos featuring stick thin, and very young, women, wearing pencil-thin clothes.   That’s pretty irritating for FOFs who want advice on how to look their best.

The good news is that accessories can help us stay trendy and discover our own style, at any age. In minutes, jewelry can enhance anyone’s overall look. Diamonds are now more popular than at any time in history, and it’s easier than ever to purchase beautiful pieces online, as well as sell pieces that we no longer wear. If you’re interested in selling your jewelry, at the best possible prices, you can find diamond buyers at www.wpdiamonds.com.


Here, also, are some of FOF’s best recommendations to look stylish at any age:

Know your strengths and weaknesses. First of all, find a mirror and take a look. Recognize your good features, as well as your "not- so-good" features. We recommend wearing only jewelry and accessories that help you cover up some of your less desirable features and enhance your strong points. An exquisite diamond necklace, for example, may look dramatic on a long or medium neck but not so much on a short one.

Focus on your hair! Your hair may matter more than you realize. Update your hairstyle to something more contemporary in order to look fresh and vibrant. Those of us who have been using the same hairstyle for years should consider looking for new options. Keep in mind that the new style should look great on an FOF, which means staying clear of teenager styles. Hair style and color are  important pieces of the puzzle, along with accessories and jewelry. If you experiment, you’ll see that certain earrings or necklaces mix perfectly with a particular hairstyle, while other pieces don’t look as good.

Use trendy jewelry, not trendy clothing. It’s always a smart idea to use stylish or trendy pieces of jewelry to put the edge on elegant or casual outfits. FOFs should leave super trendy outfits for teenagers or younger women. Often, an FOF who wears an “in” outfit will look like she’s trying to hard and out of place. Stylish pieces of jewelry, such as bright silver, bronze or copper, also add a great deal of panache to an FOF’s skin tone and overall look!
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14February   {Giveaway} Officina Bernardi Bangle From Raymond Lee Jewelers






Dana Josephson is giving away this exquisite Officina Bernardi sterling silver and platinum bracelet (retail value: $695) from her Florida-based jewelry store, Raymond Lee Jewelers.  Enter to win by answering this question in the comments below: What outfit would you wear this bracelet with?

FOF Dana Josephson owned several retail stores with her ex-husband in Scotland during the 1970s. "We found that people were always drawn to the jewelry cases," Dana says. When Dana and her former husband decided to move to sunny South Florida for better weather in 1983, the two agreed to use their retail experience and love of jewelry to start a new business.

The couple opened Raymond Lee Jewelers (named after Dana's son) that same year. The store started out as a small operation, with Dana, her former husband, their daughter and son all working together. "We learned our customers’ personal styles,” says Dana. “When we'd get something in that we thought they would really like, we'd give them a call, and they'd come in to see it."

After noticing her competitors starting to sell jewelry online, Dana opened up shop online too, in the early 2000s, with the website, RaymondLeeJewelers.net. The e-commerce site features a unique diamond search section, where customers can search Dana's inventory by price, carat weight, color, and clarity. They ship all over the world, and have loyal customers everywhere from Asia to Australia.

In addition to carrying newer designer pieces, Raymond Lee Jewelers is also a jewelry estate buyer--they purchase unique, one-of-kind, pre-owned precious pieces from around the world and carry them in the store and online. "We carry secondhand, upscale pieces that you don't see everywhere, and aren't mass produced. You can buy a lot of pieces and spend a lot less money. We have five times more inventory than most other jewelry stores."

Enter to win this Officina Bernardi sterling silver and platinum bracelet by answering this question in the comments below: what outfit would you wear this bracelet with?


One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 21st, 2013 at midnight E.S.T. Contest limited to residents of the continental U.S.
13September   {Fashion} Not your mama’s clip-ons!


By Isabelle Krupnick

It is a sad, but inevitable truth that as we mature, our earlobes lose collagen and get a bit flappy. Years of wearing heavy earrings takes its toll. For some of us, the holes in our ears are so stretched that pierced earrings make us look like cocker spaniels.

I've worked in luxury costume jewelry for over 20 years and have met women who've had their earlobes sewn back by plastic surgeons, and for the majority of them, it didn't work. The latest trend apparently involves injecting the lobes with collagen--I myself would rather choose other parts of my body for this.

One of the biggest mistakes women of any age can make is closing their minds when it comes to fashion. Which brings us to clip earrings. For most of us, clip-on earrings represent something our grandmothers wore with pearls, red lipstick and a mink stole. But if today, you were in a top Paris boutique on the rue Saint-Honoré, you would be hard pressed to find anything but clip-on earrings that are elegant and stylish.

Why is that? The French are invested in looking good at every age. Chic is not something enjoyed solely by the youth. French women don’t give up because they’ve matured, instead they find ways to stay fabulous and make fashion work for them. Que clip earrings! Clip earrings fit better, are more flattering to the face, and most importantly they hide your earlobes. As someone who grew up in Paris and wears clip earrings exclusively, I can tell you this much, I know what I'm talking about. So, lend an ear because now it's time for your clip-on lesson.

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Choose the right type of clip. You can find two sorts of clips on the market. Some have a small metal bar with a ball at the end and others have a wide metal flap. The former tends to hurt because there aren't good pads available to cover them and they are difficult to adjust. Stay away! The clips with a wide metal flap are the best. Not only can you put a pad on them, but they cover your lobe fully.

Size (and shape) do matter. Earlobe shape and size should always be considered when buying clip earrings. A smaller lobe requires a smaller clip, (the part of the earring that actually covers the front of the earlobe) even if it has a drop. An “average” size earlobe can support a clip of almost any size, while a larger earlobe needs the larger clip to help restore balance to the face.

Try on clip earrings the way you try on shoes. Trying on clips is just like trying on shoes-- if it's not comfortable right away, it's only going to get worse as the night wears on. If you just HAVE to have them, do what I do. Throw them on right before you get out of the car for dinner (you'd do the same with your 4" Louboutins, right?).

Keep in mind: clip earrings can be adjusted. If the issue is tightness rather than weight, do not fret. Clip earrings can be made both tighter and looser and all you have to do is ask the salesperson to adjust them to your liking. If you don't have a trusted fine jeweler, you should be able to drop by a costume jewelry store, most people in the business know how to adjust clips.

Invest in some padding. It's possible to purchase a "clip sleeve" of sorts to slide onto the back of your clip. It is essentially a pillow for your lobe and it makes just about any earring comfortable. They can be found at JewelrySupply.com.  At IsabelleK.com, we include these with every pair of clip earrings we sell. Thank me later.

Remove your clip earrings the right way. The best way to keep your clips fitting the way you like is to stop yanking them down when you take them off. Open the back when removing, they'll last longer.

Position your earrings correctly. When putting on your earrings, you always want to position the earring right up against your face, where the lobe meets the cheek -- unless you have hanging lobes, in which case you center the clip on the fleshy part of your earlobe, and let it hang. Also, if you've fallen for a pair of clip hoops, please, put them on straight because they have a tendency to hang sideways and can cause what I lovingly call "elephant ear."





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Click through the slideshow below to see Isabelle's favorite clip earrings to splurge on (for all lobe sizes), and the fabulous "save" versions we found that are almost dead-ringers for Isabelle's splurge picks.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: These stunning Francoise Montague earrings suit small lobes, since the button that covers the front of the lobe is not too large or overpowering. $305, IsabelleK.com.









{Save} FOF: If your small lobes match your budget, these Lavonne Clip Earrings from Chicos mimic their pricier French “cousins” for half the price! $45, Chicos.com




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: Another great pair of clip earrings suited for smaller lobes are these chandelier stunners from designer Jose Maria Barrera, featuring a classic filigree pattern and multi-colored Austrian crystals. $440, NeimanMarcus.com.







{Save} FOF: If you want chandeliers, but your budget has a ceiling, consider this Kenneth Jay Lane number in a brilliant gold-tone with ocean blue beads. $69.99, Zappos.com.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: These classic Parisian-chic clip earrings from the Artisans de Gripoix Atelier are great for normal to large earlobes, because the front of the earring covers most of the lobe. $210, IsabelleK.com.







{Save} FOF: Coveting clusters? These brilliant Carolee clip-ons cover normal to large lobes as well, and are a steal! $38, Macys.com.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: These clip on earrings are for someone looking to make a major style statement. Designed by Herve Van Der Straeten, who is featured in fashion magazines every month, these earrings are super lightweight, and great for any medium to large-sized lobe. $250, IsabelleK.com.







{Save} FOF: For lobe-flattering, statement-making clip earrings at a steal, we love these teardrop clip-ons from Designs by Stephene. $16, designsbystephene.com.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: If you have a large lobe that you want to disguise, a pair of Kenneth Jay Lane's double drop crystal clip earrings make the perfect coverup. $115, neimanmarcus.com.







{Save} FOF: These Ralph Lauren double-drop clip-ons feature a big topaz glass shiny button to hide larger lobes and turquoise drops to add a flash of color to any outfit.  $36, Macys.com.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: This classic, elegant, French-style clip-on  is perfect for hiding very saggy ears, since it covers the entire lobe with glass pearls and Swarovski crystals. $320, IsabelleK.com.







{Save} FOF: The perfect pick me up for droopy lobes are these cluster style gold pearl and crystal earrings from Carolee. Plus, they won’t break the bank. $55, vonmaur.com.




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{Splurge} Isabelle K: These Jarin Plate Gold Clips are a perfect chandelier and flatter any earlobe. The part that attaches to the ear will not overwhelm the lobe, no matter what size it is. $565, IsabelleK.com.







{Save} FOF: Kenneth Jay Lane's gold-plated chandelier clip-ons are also a great fit for any earlobe, for a fraction of the price. $130, net-a-porter.com.



24May   {Giveaway} A copper and turquoise collar


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FOF Brenda Cline is giving away this gorgeous copper and turquoise collar. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: What’s the best beach you’ve been to?

Brenda Cline, an FOF from Satellite Beach, Florida, comes from a family of avid surfers--her husband, daughter, son and grandson all love riding the waves. Brenda too, enjoyed surfing until she had a run in with a shark in 1982.

“I couldn’t handle it, I was hyperventilating,” she says. Brenda stopped surfing, but continued accompanying her family members on their surf trips. Looking for something to occupy herself while they hit the waves, Brenda started combing the beach for sea glass and stones. When she returned home, she’d experiment, turning her findings into jewelry.

Brenda started with silver and sea glass, but then, a friend gave her a piece of recycled copper. “That began my love for copper,” says Brenda whose bestsellers are her signature copper collars. “Recently I reflected, asking myself, ‘why do I love working with metals so much?’ My dad was an ironworker. I think that’s a big part of it.”

More recently, Brenda has begun experimenting with aluminum. She crafts each piece from her Satellite Beach studio and sells at art shows and on Etsy. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation using recycled and repurposed metals from hardware stores and natural elements from her family surf trips. On her last trip to Nicaragua, she filled her suitcase with over 16 pounds of stones, for her new “Surf Safari” line. “I sacrificed packing my clothes to bring back stones,” says Brenda. “I have so much passion. Everything I look at, I think: ‘how can I make art out of it?’”

You can see more of Brenda’s pieces in her Etsy shop, Metal Souls.

Enter to win a gorgeous copper collar designed by FOF artist Brenda Cline by answering in the comments below: What’s the best beach you’ve been to?

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One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes May 31, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Images courtesy of Brenda Cline

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.
22December   {Style Expert} Channeling Liz Taylor . . . on the cheap.


Finance experts will tell you that clothing and handbags are among the worst investments you can make--they rarely appreciate. This did not hold true for Liz Taylor.

"One of the greatest couture clients of all time," Liz was said to have still been "buying clothes right up until she went into the hospital for the last time." And this week, Liz Taylor's wardrobe was auctioned off for many multiples of it's estimated value, breaking world records and racking up over 154.2 million.

Couldn't make it to Christie's auction house last week? Or, let's be real, couldn't swing those record-breaking prices? There's still hope for you, FOF. We found 10 Liz knock-offs worth investing in.

SLIDESHOW:





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1. Liz Taylor's Gold and Multi-Gem Charm Bracelet, sold for $326,500


Liz for Less: Juicy Couture starter bracelet, starting at $38, and charms, starting at $29







Elizabeth began wearing her signature charm bracelets when she was a teenager. "By the age of fifteen...I really did have a new love in my life: jewelry. And I've been loyal to that love ever since." she writes in her book, My Love Affair with Jewelry. A total of five of Elizabeth's charm bracelets were auctioned off last week--each with the charms symbolizing different events in her life. "Everybody was always gifting her with golden mementos," writes Ruth Peltason in an article for Vanity Fair. "Zeffirelli, for Taming of the Shrew; Burton, for Cleopatra; there was even a Henry VIII gold half-sovereign of 1544. Sweetest yet: a gold ball-shaped locket engraved with the names of Elizabeth’s children."

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2. Liz Taylor's Lavender Gray Crocodile Trapezoid Shape Bag by Gianfranco Ferré, sold for $5,250


Liz for Less: Biyibi Croc-Grain Shoulder Bag, $68 or Manhattan Clutch with Chain from Aspinal of London, $460







Liz Taylor's trademark was her violet eyes and, appropriately, purple was her favorite color. She decorated her home with purple textiles and paint, adored lavender tulips, wrote love letters in purple ink and often donned the signature hue. Many lavender-, violet- and orchid-colored accessories, such as this bag, were among her collection.




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3. Liz Taylor's Donna Karan Black Velvet and White Satin Lined Caftan, sold for $9,375


Liz for Less: Silk velvet tunic from Soft Surroundings, $89.95, or Caftan solid maxi dress from Rachel Pally, $233







Vicky Teal, a designer who created custom caftans for Liz for 25 years, wrote in the Huffington Post, "The caftan was the ideal garment for an imprisoned movie star who loved to eat, and was also the perfect carefree, exotic ensemble to entice her handsome, sensual husband, Richard Burton." An entire corner of Liz Taylor's collection at Christie's auction house was dedicated to Liz Taylor's "cast of caftans," as Meredith Etherington-Smith, curator of the exhibit, called them in an interview with NPR. "A lot of them were made by Thea Porter who used to go around the Middle East, finding fabrics, and then reassembling them as kaftans," she explains in the interview.




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4. Liz Taylor's Ivory Sheer Chiffon and Ruffled blouse, sold for $1,250


Liz for Less: Gold Hawk Ruffled Blouse from Dillards, $99







Among Liz's auctioned clothing was a seemingly endless racks of flowy, silk and chiffon blouses from designers including Valentino, Versace and Christian Dior. According to The Telegraph, Gianni Versace was Liz's favorite designer, and her collection of Versace signature printed shirts is one of the "highlights" of the fashion and accessories sale.




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5. Liz Taylor's Brown Leather Saddle Bag, sold for $5,625


Liz for Less: Vintage Hand-Tooled Purse with Flower Detailing from Frisk Jewelry, $72









The first poster child for equestrian fashion, Liz Taylor starred in National Velvet in 1944, at just twelve years old. The movie, about a girl who prepares a wild but gifted horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes, won two Oscars and launched Liz's career. Later, Liz recalled that while under contract to MGM as a child, the only time she "felt true freedom" was while riding her horse in the morning. As an adult, she often attended horse races including the 1968 Arc de Triomphe in Paris, with then-husband Richard Burton, and the 1986 races at California's Hollywood Park with Michael Jackson. From 1976 to 1982 she was married to Virginia senator John Warner, an avid horseman. The couple lived at Warner's Atoka Farm in Virginia. This Christian Dior saddle bag was purchased by Liz many years after the National Velvet's heyday, but it symbolizes her lifelong love of horses.




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6. Liz Taylor's Elegant Green Emerald Necklace, sold for $6.1 million


Liz for Less: Elegant Green Emerald Cubic Zirconia and Crystal Necklace from Overstock, $99.99









In the famed, on-again-off-again relationship between Richard Burton and Liz Taylor, Burton would win Elizabeth back each time with his charm... and lavish charms he gave her as gifts. One such gift was this emerald necklace from Bulgari, a jewelry store the two "discovered" while filming Cleopatra in Italy, where their love affair began. "I used to get so excited, I would jump on top of [Richard] and practically make love to him in Bulgari," Taylor is quoted saying in The New York Times in 2002." At first, Elizabeth waffled between a large emerald necklace and a smaller one, finally deciding on the smaller of the two. "Mr. B., you can't hardly get girls like that no more!'" Richard's friend told him. Elizabeth wore the necklace to meet HRH Queen Elizabeth II and for a photo shoot with Helmut Newton in 1985 in Los Angeles.




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7. Liz Taylor's 33.19-carat diamond ring, sold for $8,818,500


Liz for Less: Cubic Zirconia Ring form Overstock, $62.99









"My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was her engagement ring. I was hooked!" Elizabeth Taylor once joked, according to InStyle. Her own "engagement ring" (or, at least, the ring she wore on her ring finger) was the "Krupp Diamond," a gift from Burton, who paid $305,000 for the 33.19-carat Harry Winston piece in 1968 (a record price for a diamond at that time). "This remarkable stone is called the Krupp diamond because it had been owned by Vera Krupp, of the famous munitions family that helped knock off millions of Jews," wrote Elizabeth Taylor in her book, My Love Affair with Jewelry. "When it came up for auction in the late 1960s, I thought, how perfect it would be if a nice Jewish girl like me were to own it. In truth, though, there's nothing funny about the Krupp. When I look into it, the deep Asscher cuts—which are so complete and ravishing—are like steps that lead into eternity and beyond. With its sparks of red and white and blue and purple, and on and on, really, it sort of hums with its own beatific life. To me, the Krupp says, 'I want to share my chemistry—my magic—with you.'"




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8. Liz Taylor's Van Cleef & Arpels turquoise and gold "Alhambra" Necklace, sold for $31,250


Liz for Less:
Clover Necklace from Bliz Of Glitz, $29.00









Among Liz Taylor's jewels at auction, there were at least four pieces of "Alhambra" jewelry, the now-ubiquitous clover-shaped charms, originally sold by Van Cleef & Arpels. Of course, Liz's pieces are the real thing, but a New York Magazine article from 2007 documents that knockoffs in this particular style have run rampant. "A New York socialite I know had her Alhambra necklace made on 47th Street for a quarter of the retail price... and Web sites such as Overstockjeweler.com offer copies for $180." Despite the cloverload of "Alhambra" necklaces on the market, one buyer paid $31,250 for Liz's bauble last week.




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9. Liz Taylor's
Fish Charm Necklace, sold for $30,000


Liz for Less:
Rainbow Trout Necklace from Etsy, $23 or Mermaid Tail Fish Starfish Necklace, $119 from Betsy Johnson









One fish, two fish... $30,000 fish!? Elizabeth Taylor's Van Cleef & Arpels fish charm necklace reeled in $30,000 at auction, surprising Christie's appraisers who valued the piece between $400 and $600. It seems Elizabeth may have had a fish fetish--there were multiple fish-themed jewels up for auction, and in 1993 she created a collection for Avon including some aquatic pieces. The reason behind her love for sea creatures is anyone's guess, although, one theory--the star, born February 27, 1932, was a Pisces.




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10. Liz Taylor's Gautier Poncho, sold for $35,000


Liz for Less: House of Holland poncho dress, $409.05 or West Coast Wardrobe Hooded Stripe Poncho, $52







"Ms. Taylor was going through a sort of modified hippie phase," said Meredith Etherington-Smith, about the period in the 1960s and 70s when Liz favored caftans and ponchos. Meredith is the curator of the fashion part of the Elizabeth Taylor exhibit. Perhaps, at the height of this "modified hippie" phase was her purchase of this Gautier Poncho "made of lycra mesh and woven with Mexican stripes."



08December   {Gift Guide} 15 Wonderful, Wearable gifts.
What would an FOF stylist buy this year . . . for herself? Our FOF Fashion gurus have the gorgeous--but affordable--answers. Fifteen fab gifts, (almost) all under $100--all FOF approved.



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FOF Style Guru Glenyse Thompson is a personal home and wardrobe stylist and the creator of Styleosophy.


1. Brass Sea Necklace from Lilah Gabriel, $235
“Worn with with a crisp white shirt, a t-shirt or a black dress, this beautiful piece would be a stand-out! It's saying so much you wouldn’t need any other jewelry.”

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2. Songs from the Heart Dress, $68.
“I look for items that are wearable in a variety of climates, unique and inexpensive. My first request would be a comfy, customized dress from Kelans Art Couture. Send Kelans your measurements and they sew the dress to fit you exactly. You can even choose the fabric color.”

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3. JazJewelz Abalone and Brass Necklace, $27
“Easily create a complete outfit when you pair the heart dress with a serious statement necklace. Jazjewlz repurposed materials to create this stand-out (and very affordable) piece. Also love their Blue Tagua Nut Necklace.”

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FOF Style Guru Susan Hersh is a Ford model and the host and executive producer of Meet The Experts.



4. Bernardo Packable Down Vest, $78.00
“Lightweight, warm (without being bulky) and universally flattering. This is a great gift for anyone who runs around doing errands (i.e. everyone). Comes in bright, lush colors as well as neutrals.”

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5. Echo Touch Tech Gloves, Starting at $32
“Brilliantly designed to work with touch screens, so you don’t have to take your gloves off to futz with your iphone! Comes in 30 different styles, from fair isle, to cashmere, to 'cheetah.'"

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FOF Style Guru Terry Gibralter is the Sr. Vice President and Creative Director at Grey advertising as well as a fashion stylist and the creator of these clever work accessories.


6. Audrey Necklace from MoMa Store, $98.
“Vintage-inspired and perfect for the holidays and beyond. I’ve bought many well-priced pieces at MoMA and they never fail to garner lots of attention.  People always seem surprised when I say where they’re from--even more so when I tell them the price!"

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7. Helene Berman Faux Fur Collar $46
“A cool addition to a fitted sweater, a sheath dress or a narrow coat. Love the great price and the fact that its faux!  Found it on The Outnet, one of the designer discount sites I check every day.”

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8. Sumana Dress from Anthropologie, $198
“Checks two of my common shopping boxes: (1) colorful and (2) slightly ethnic. I love the boho print, and I can see it over velvet skinny jeans or leggings, or on an island getaway if I get lucky enough to have one.”

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FOF Style Guru Lovey Dash is a Beverly Hills-based personal stylist.


9. “Lovable” flat from Nine West, (starting at $42)
“I’m madly in love with this deal of the century. Why buy Prada when I can have these ballet slippers for $42$?”


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10. Monica di Creddo Tropicalia Ring ($74) and Tropicalia Rose Ring ($84)
“Move over Dior. Love these rings--especially the Swarovkski Crystal baguettes. I would like two, please!”
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FOF Linda Cohen owns her own consulting business specializing in retail merchandising.



11. Michael Kors Leather Wrap Bracelet, $75
“I wear a lot of black in the winter so I like accessories that add color and texture This Michael Kors bracelet gives you just the right amount of sophisticated "bling" for the holiday season as well as any vacation or warm weather climate.”

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12. Calypso St. Barth Sari Scarf, Kipour Scarf and Lady Scarf ($135 each)
“Scarves that you can wear 12 months of the year (with jeans or to work) are perfect gifts. I like the weight of this scarf as well as the print and beads--bohemian and chic.”


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13. Ann Taylor Icicle Beaded Scarf, $68
“Subtle 'bling' you can wear with a cashmere sweater and pants, jeans and a tee-shirt our any winter coat.”

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14. Ann Taylor Golden Lace Long Necklace with Chains, $98
“This Gatsbyish necklace has the most magnificent 1920s feel. It's capable of taking your favorite jeans, blouse and heels to an even more fabulous place. Add it to any holiday dress and use the 2" extender, because some pieces just look sexier and richer when you leave them long.”

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FOF Style Guru Sherrie Mathieson is a celebrated costume designer and stylist who has worked with everyone from Susan Sarandon to Brooke Shields. She is the author of two guides to finding great style after 50, Forever Cool and Steal this Style.


15. Recycled Rubber Bracelets from Made with Love, $28 for a set of 18
"These are fun, inexpensive and come in 8 stylish colors. (I love the orange.) Best of all, the profits go to L'Empire des Enfants, a center for homeless children from the streets of Dakar, Senegal."

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Enter to win a stunning statement necklace from Lilah Gabriel by leaving a comment below.

One FOF will win.
(See all our past winners, here.)
(See official rules, here.)
Contest closes December 14, 2011 at midnight E.S.T.
22November   {Giveaway} Win a custom, embroidered locket


Jennifer Shingelo is giving away a locket embroidered with a letter of your choice from her Etsy shop, Stella Saves the Day. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: Whose picture would you keep in a locket?

Lockets, all the rage during the Victorian era, haven't quite fallen out of style, but they've fallen out of style. Let us explain. A recent search for "locket" on Google, turned up a most uninspiring collection of trinkets. That is, until we found Jennifer Shingelo's Etsy shop, Stella Saves the Day. After we stopped oohing and ahhing of the hand-stitched designs, we wondered just who is Stella? And how does Jennifer craft these gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces?

Her collection is named after her great grandmother, Stella. Jenn was inspired to create lockets after years of adoring her grandmother's jewelry box. "I opened my Etsy shop in 2009 and sold my first piece in 2011," says Jenn, a trained sculptor. "In sculpting, you also make items that hold memory. I did that for a ten years but wanted to do something where I'd be interacting with people more. This business has been very touching and personal." Jenn says her customers often share their personal stories. "A man just sent me pictures of his baby twin sons," she says. "He wants them represented by two embroidered acorns in a locket for his wife."

An advisor at the Pratt Institute of Design by day, Jennifer crafts the jewelry in her Brooklyn kitchen at night. ("Some day I'll have a studio," she says.) Her lockets are sourced from a small, father-daughter owned company in New England ("I actually have to pick up the phone and call them to place orders!" she says.) Jenn hand-embroiders inserts for the lockets using patterns she finds in antique Victorian books about locket making. "For me, it's all about the history," she explains.

Enter to win a locket embroidered with a letter of your choice by answering in the comments below: Whose picture would you keep in a locket?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.

One FOF will win.

(See all our past winners, here.)
(See official rules, here.)

Contest closes December 1, 2011 at midnight E.S.T.
26October   {Giveaway} “Graham” Leather Studded Wrap Bracelet
FOF is giving away this gorgeous leather wrap bracelet from Gorjana. Enter to win by checking out all the amazing shades and answering in the comments below: Which color do you like the best?

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.




We'd give our right arm for a sophisticated wrap bracelet -- one reminiscent of the iconic Hermes double-strap watch, but ideally at a price point  slight less than $2700. That's why, when we spotted these leather beauties from Gorjana at $55 a pop, we wrapped up our search for fall's perfect bracelet.

Made from genuine leather and 18-K gold-plated accents, the bracelets come in over 30 colors.

Enter to win a "Graham" leather studded wrap bracelet from Gorjana by checking out all the amazing shades and answering in the comments below: Which color do you like the best?

(See all our past winners, here.)
(See official rules, here.)

Contest closes November 3, 2011 at midnight E.S.T.



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