Accessories

The 192 million people who wear non-prescription sunglasses will be pleased to know that there are plenty of great styles and colors to choose from this spring.

According to the Vision Council, key trends range from chic, ladylike frames made popular by  high-profile celebs including Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham, to shapes with an “indie” spirit for women who know that fashion rules are meant to be broken.

Check out eyecessorize.com for the latest trends in eyewear. 

May Yeung Jewelry announced the arrival of its Spring/Summer 2008 collection with fresh new looks for the season. This season's trends in apparel and accessories are reflected in some of her newest designs. From simple to bold, and using bold and vibrant colors such as yellow, pink and green, these pieces are sure to dazzle and impress. Other unique new pieces include aspen leaves, mother of pearl pendants and sand dollars that introduce organic elements into the collection. Check out the entire collection at www.mayyeung.com.

California Style readers can save 30% off the entire collection through April 30th with coupon code "castyle30." Happy shopping!

Items of the Week: Hilary Radley’s 3/4-sleeve patent quilted jacket and signature canvas bag
Retail: $295 and $240 respectively

This Patent leather bright green handbag is great for spring. Plenty of room to carry all and it has a fun print fabric lined interior. Available at shopbop.com.

Audrey Hu, the founder of AH Jewelry, incorporates feathers into her latest line of jewelry. The soft gold accent leaves and clean lines create a contemporary, yet bohemian look. Available at Stars and Infinite Darkness.

The timeless appeal of Lafont’s “Intrigue” is back for spring/summer 2008.
Looking just as chic and stylish now as it did when it made its debut 15 years ago,
“Intrigue” is available in a number of colors and patterns including crocodile.

Item of the Week: Lafont’s “Intrigue” sunglasses

Inspired by the sugar sand, cobalt blue skies and lush landscaping of their home in the Virgin Islands, Jules Smith creates luxe resort jewelry. The collections tell the story of a fashion forward soul bridging the gap between metropolitan trends and the laid-back, organic vibe of the Caribbean. Drawing from a myriad of life experiences, Gina Nigrelli’s appreciation for adventure and natural beauty began while studying abroad in Harare, Zimbabwe.

She began her fashion career at Diesel in Las Vegas where she was a manager and merchandiser. It was the exposure to the strong brand identity and cutting edge fashion philosophy of Diesel that motivated her to take the next step in her career. Always willing to take a leap of faith, Gina moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in fashion design. While in school, Gina held the post of Director of Marketing and Events for a national online shopping destination. In 2006, Gina and her husband relocated to the Virgin Islands. It was in this exotic environment that Gina was finally able to pursue her lifelong dream of designing her own collection. Jules Smith was established later that year.

I recently posted about the fabulous website Bag Borrow or Steal which allows customers to rent handbags. The Gucci 'Queen' Medium Hobo is sure to impress, with metallic platinum leather trim and goldtone hardware. And although the retail price is $1650 you can rent this bag for only $73 a week or $215 a month.

After two of my handbags fell apart last week, I've decided to invest in a quality piece. The trouble is, how do you get one quality bag to do the job of several, less expensive bags?

My suggestion is to avoid black. While it seems a logical choice to go with a versatile color, you're much better off with a neutral color such as gray or burgundy. Don't worry about matching your bag to your shoes (an old & silly rule anyway). Don't you want your style investment to say "Hey, look at me!" rather than "just another black bag?"

 

I'm crazy about this Foley & Corinna convertible tote bag. The gray color is extremely versatile and so is the style of the bag. Wear it as a spacious tote for daytime and fold it over and wear as a shoulder bag for evening! It's two bags in one.

Good news! Piperlime has added handbags to their online store. That means you can sample handbags without having to pay for shipping or returns.

Tired of tossing your 6 month-old handbag every season, and want the perfect solution? Well, instead of chasing fads, why not try buying in bulk- a color assortment of bulk that is… which means picking up at least 3- 4 substitute colors of black, white, tan, or neutral beige on your next shopping spree that you can ‘mysteriously’ interchange throughout the year.

And if you can bear to fork over the extra cash, then you’ll be doing yourself a favor by going with top designer labels, like Gucci, Fendi, or Louis Vuitton! These are truly ‘it” bags that will take you everywhere, as well as make the obvious fashion statement of “quality vs quantity,” …However, investing in an oversized shopper’s tote or a classic doctor’s bag has always been known to solicit more clout!