How To Choose A Wedding Band

While traditional gold bands will never go out of style, modern brides and grooms are opting for more unique options in the wedding band department these days. Here are a few tips to keep in mind and important links to Jewelry.com's treasure chest full of affordable and fashionable options.

Although gold is still the metal of choice for wedding rings, platinum has become extremely popular as a bridal metal. The allure of platinum is its unparalleled strength, durability and purity. Many wedding rings also combine the warmth of yellow gold with the cool white of platinum, providing a contemporary twist to a traditional classic.

For those who like the look of platinum but can't afford it, there is always white gold. White gold, which is pure gold that has been mixed with nickel, zinc, silver or other white metals, costs considerably less than platinum, but is also less durable.

Not only can today's brides and grooms choose from a dizzying array of fashionable solid metal bands, but they can also opt for wedding rings with diamonds or colored stones. Channel set bands - rings with a line of small diamonds set in a groove, or channel, along the band - are particularly popular.

An increasing number of men are choosing wedding rings with diamonds, as well. One word of caution, however: when buying either a men's or women's diamond wedding band, make sure the stones are small enough so they don't overpower the engagement ring.

Other considerations for buying a wedding ring include:

Consider your lifestyle. If you or your spouse are athletic, outdoor types or work with your hands, pure gold (24 karat) probably isn't the choice for you because it's scratches and shows wear easily due to its softness.

Consider your existing jewelry. Look at the kind of jewelry and watches you already wear, and consider how your wedding band will look next to them. A bride-to-be also needs to consider whether she'll wear her wedding band and engagement ring on the same finger, or whether she will move her engagement ring to her right hand and just wear the band on her left. If she plans to wear them together, she'll need to choose a wedding band that matches the engagement ring and sits comfortably against it.

Establish a budget. Plain gold bands can be bought for less than $150, but fashion comes with a price. High-fashion bands with diamonds or other gemstones can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the size and quality of the stones and the workmanship of the piece. Also keep in mind that a men's band tends to be more expensive than a woman's, because it tends to be larger, wider and denser.

Michael Jackson R.I.P.

Romper Lust (and two posts in one day...?!?)

You can probably recall them: that ridiculous article of clothing that has haunted us since our childhood (or young adulthood if you grew up in the 70's). They go by many name: rompers, onesies, playsuits... and they're back in full force with their childish cuteness and awkward i-have-to-pee-and-must-remove-the-whole-thing charm! Some are even, dare I say... sexy?!

Despite my mother's fair warnings, I have been lusting after these bad boys, biding my time and frankly desperately searching for one that isn't utterly unflattering.



I present: ROMPERS!!!!



Go with the Spendy?1) Bellatrix Printed Silk Romper $98.00

2) Nanette Lepore Optical Romper $325.00

3) Anna Sui Constellation Border Romper $495.00



Or Cheap & Trendy?

1) F21 Satin Trim Romper $38.00

2) F21 Sweet Polka Dot Romper $19.80

3) fredflare Ruffle Bib Drawstring Onesie $39.99



What do you think of rompers? Silly or glorious?



Also: JIMMYCHOOFORH&M?!?!?!?!?*faints*



-Berit xoxo

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

Today it was discovered that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has died of cardiac arrest. Despite his disputed personal decisions, MJ was an amazing musician and influence on worldwide pop culture.

We'll never forget his glorious sequined Sargent Pepper jackets: Or his famous Thriller get-up:
Or his influence on the rest of our wardrobes:

Rest in peace, MJ! Your memory will live on, especially in the fashion world!

-Berit xoxo

Get Michelle Obama’s Toywatch on Jewelry.com

From blingy brooch jewelry to gardening and upper arm workouts, our nation’s First Lady is setting trends all over the place. The latest look that has Obamaphiles drooling is a bright lavendar watch she wore in Paris while sightseeing with her daughters.

The watch is from Toywatch and as soon as the style hit the airwaves the watchmaker had the style on backorder. Well, I’ve been doing some digging in the Jewelry.com treasure chest and just happened to find it offered from their brand new Diamond Partner, Nordstrom.


Priced reasonably at $195, the purple timepiece from the Plasteramic Collection is perfect for casual daytime use or could cause a stir if paired with a fun cocktail dress.

If Michelle can bare her arms in the halls of Congress and sport blingy diamonds in the daytime, you can wear a purple watch to a formal. Go for it.

And if purple isn’t your style, they have an array of colorful options – from bright green and orange to pretty in pink.

So check out the Nordies Toywatch collection on Jewelry.com by clicking right here, and be sure to browse through their other hot jewelry styles.

Designer names like Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy Couture, Betsy Johnson, Marc Jacobs, Kate Spade and more are all there for the taking - all at prices that will make your frugalista side smile wide.

What do you guys think of the watch style? Perfectly purple or a plastic poser?

Today I saw your face again; it reminded me of snow...

here

"Dress stay crisp for him, 

button stay put, 

bloom narcissus-

air stay still and sweet."

-F Scott Fitzgerald

Black Diamonds - Get in Touch with Your Dark Side

Coco Chanel gave us the ubiquitous little black dress, and the diamond world has its own equivalent: black diamonds. Black diamonds are as beautiful and elegant as the traditional white gem - they just have a dark side. And like the versatile LBD, black diamonds add sparkle to any occasion. Dress them up with a cocktail dress or down with jeans and your favorite ruffle shirt. Think of them as the Audrey Hepburn of the diamond world - sophisticated, urbane, mysterious, elegant - and always in style.

The dark color of a black diamond adds to its unique luster and brilliance. Luster is the light or sparkle reflected from the surface of a stone and can be enhanced by the play of light within the stone's inner surfaces or facets. Because less light can penetrate a black diamond, prismatic play is at a minimun resulting in a unique, metallic brilliance that is unmatched in any other stone.

So what is a black diamond, exactly?

Most black diamonds are actually white or colorless diamonds that become black after exposure to a widely used and extremely safe radiation treatment. The diamonds quickly become inert after treatment and are then heated to effect an overall coloration. The dark color fully penetrates the stone and will not fade over time. This process not only results in a black diamond but is also used to create every color of the diamond rainbow - from red to green, purple to even brown.

Natural black diamonds are extremely rare and are not often seen in the jewelry world. The black color results from the presence of numerous inclusions, often consisting of graphite. Due to the dense concentrations of these dark inclusions, sometimes lining the stone's cleavages and fractures, natural black diamonds are generally opaque and difficult to cut. And since natural black diamonds are often blemished and pitted, they are often unusable in jewelry. Some notable black diamonds are the Black Star of Africa at 202.00 cts. and the Black Orfloff, at 67.50 cts.

While most of us can't afford natural black gems, treated black diamonds are well within our budget. Shop from Jewelry.com's extensive stash of black diamond jewels, and add a little rock and roll to your diamond collection.

Megan Fox Transforms in Diamonds

It could very well be illegal to be that hot. Transformers superbabe, Megan Fox, has been lighting the world on fire at various premieres for her latest summer blockbuster, but last night’s Los Angeles opening won the grand prize.


Stunning the photogs and red carpet looky-loos with her sultry style, Fox wore a toga-inspired frock from Kaufman Franco and accessorized with Dior diamonds to die for.



A pair of icy diamond hoops were just the beginning of a perfectly accessorized ensemble. Adding to the sparkle was a zebra-striped right hand ring and two stunning diamond cuffs.

It doesn’t get much better than that, right?


And while many young stars attended the glittering premiere, none could hold a candle to FHM’s #2 sexiest woman. Although a golden Vanessa Manillo and pretty in pink Kristen Cavalari gave it an A for effort.


You won’t see my butt in the seat for this summer movie offering (I’m SO not their target audience), but I will most definitely keep the Fox hunt going. Stay tuned…

What do you guys think of her style? Summertime sexy or trying to hard?

Your Worst Nightmare

Painful, unsightly,

making you want to cry, hide, and scream,

it creeps up on you in the dark...

IT'S THE MONSTER ZIT!!!!

Whoa there sister.

Chill out!

Yes, it looks terrible and hurts like a mother but never fear!

Claire is here! :D

Most monster zits are cystic pimples, also known as the "under the skin" zit.

You can normally feel the tenderness before the inflammation shows up,

and it appears as a bump without any sort of whitehead.

These are the kinds of zits that scar most easily.

They form WAAAAY down deep within the pore.

The pore itself is clogged up with some hard concentrated oil,

and while you will no doubt try to squeeze, pick, scrape, stab, and otherwise attack it,

that thing is not going to pop.

At least not on the surface.

See the zit is formed sooooo deep within the skin that sometimes if you squeeze it,

you cause it to pop INSIDE YOUR FACE.

Yeah its as terrible as it sounds.

So stop causing yourself unnecessary pain and don't touch it.

1) First, remember that this is a wound,

just like getting stabbed or getting your tooth pulled.

There is no miracle zit cream that will make it heal overnight.

It will take some time to heal.

2) In order to draw the zit to the surface, steam it.

This means putting a wet washcloth in the microwave for 2 minutes.

when its ready, place the cloth gently on your blemish

It will probably hurt a little because its so warm,

but thats the feeling of your pore stretching open so that all that gross infection can come out!

3) Let the zit steam for about 10 minutes,

then gently pull the edges of it out to open up the pore even more.

3) This is the hard part.

DO NOT TRY AND POP IT!

you won't make any headway

and could potential just undo all that work you just put in

4) Dab some zit cream with benzoyl peroxide on it.

5) Repeat two to three times a day until the zit forms a large white head.

Make sure to moisturize as normal. Drying it out will not help.

(think of a scab. it heals faster if you keep it moist right? your zit is the same)

6) While waiting for it to heal:

mix concealer with a little translucent powder so that it is thicker and will have more coverage. dab it on with your middle finger, and seal with more powder.

WASH OFF before you steam.

Before you know it, the inflammation will have gone down,

and you will be glowing again in a few days :D

here is a little list of pleasant things to think about

when you are trying NOT to think about how much you really want to touch your face:

*porcelain colored skin

*unicorns

*opaque black tights

*charm bracelets

*snowpink cheeks

*costume storage spaces-Miles and miles of dresses and thousands of shoes. and WIGS.

*gangster guys who are really good with kids

*japanese boys with gravity defying hair

*shiatsu massage mmmmmmm

*lip piercings

and this picture

LOVE,

Claire

Baubles, Bvlgari and Barbie

With all the diamonds, designer duds and dream homes a girl could want, what’s left for Barbie to do but wish Ken’s arms would bend and hope for a better blinking mechanism?

Well, luxury jeweler, Bvlgari, has a plan to get Barbie out of the house by putting her to work for their latest charity campaign, “Rewrite the Future”.

Babs along with other celebrity spokesfolks like Jessica Biel, Mischa Barton, Ben Stiller and Sting are working with Bvlgari to promote Save the Children International’s latest efforts by wearing a special ring designed to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the worthy cause.

Save the Children is one of the largest independent international organizations for the defense and championing of children's rights; they are present in over 100 countries around the world and are committed to providing quality education to 8 million children living in conflict-affected areas by the end of 2010.

The ring retails for $555 and you can nab one for yourself by visitng their website here.

In the meantime, I’m diggin' Barbie’s high fashion makeover for the ad campaign. Cheer up, Barb. Blinking is so last season.

Glorious Interlude- The Keybag

Joao Sabino, a Portuguese designer, has been producing the Keybag since 2004, but I think that this is one piece of technology that won't go obsolete.

Behold:

They can be bought here- pricey, but worth the splurge, in my opinion...

-Berit xo

I RETURNNNNN (and more importantly, PARIS)

HELLO MY LOVES!!!!

So obviously it's been AGES since I posted, but as you all know life can get a little crazy...

back in March (yes, MARCH) I went to France for a week with my mom. It was amazing, and despite my non-stop adventuring, eating, and art-appreciating, I managed to do a little shopping and take some notes :)



Those chicas in Paris know what's up. Their style is tasteful, classy, tailored, daring, and glorious with a baguette on the side!



I'm going to break it all up into a few different posts, but for right now I'd like to cover:



Boots

Everyone wears boots in Paris. Everyone. Big heel, wedge, flat, knee-high, ankle, thigh-high, black, purple, leather, suede... they've got it all! Obviously boots are a big deal in the U.S. as well, but it was truly a staple in Paris. Boots are great in inclement weather, with sundresses, out at night, out to coffee, and if you buy a good pair, they are comfy as hell and last a lifetime! I tromped all over in my Gee WaWa boots and didn't get one sore toe!

1) Bethany Strappy Softie $388.00

2) Nine West Buckle Detail Flat Riding Boots £120.00

3) Oasis Studded Boot £74.00

4) Target Xhilaration Kayden Utility Boot $17.48

5) Steve Madden Gesar $159.95

Knotted Chain Necklaces

These necklaces were abundant in all the shops I visited- knotted chain necklaces that were chunky, sleek, edgy, sexy... and easily d.i.y.-able!

1) Oasis Multi Row Knot Necklace £8.00

2) Forever21 Knotted Jewel Necklace $6.80

3) Forever21 Knotted Chain & Pearl Necklace $8.80

4) Majorica 'Baroque Love Knot' Lariat Necklace $145.00



Ahhh it's 2 in the morning!! Time to call it a night... but I'll be back! With LOTS more lovely fashion glories to discuss! Just in case your mouths weren't already watering:



Behold! La Galerie Lafayette- a popular "department store" that for my mother and I started as a curious peek turned into a two-hour expedition. The store was 5 stories and was organized by designer label. Nothing was affordable, of course... but oh, to drool over Lanvin, Betsey Johnson, and Christian Lacroix in one place?!



Dream of such places (except with dollar-store prices!) and sleep well, my beauties :)



-Berit xo

Free Pearl Jewelry from Helzberg Diamonds

June is Pearl Month, jewelry hounds, and there’s a glittering new reason to add those shiny oyster babies to your jewelry box. Trusted jewelry retailer, Helzberg Diamonds, just joined the Jewelry.com family as a Diamond Partner, and to celebrate they’re handing out pearl earrings at our favorite price..FREE.

Johannes Vermeer’s iconic painting made the Girl with the Pearl Earring famous in the 17th century, Scarlett Johansson brought them to life again on the silver screen and now Helzberg is adding to their storied allure by offering the perfect pair of pearl studs with any Helzberg purchase of $99 or more on Jewelry.com.


Whether you’re a bride-to-be searching for wedding bands, a devoted boyfriend jewelry shopping for your June birthday girl, or a fashion hound updating your summer wardrobe – Helzberg Diamonds is offering the perfect reason to do it all on Jewelry.com.

And now that they’re a valued Diamond Partner, you have almost 1700 new styles at your fingerstips from yet another retailer we all trust. Over 90 years in the business counts for a lot these days.


(Word to the wise: their diamond studs and Journey diamond styles are big sellers).

So take a cue from Helzberg and history this month and be the girl with the pearl earrings who just happens to be in on the best secret in town.

Click here to shop Helzberg Diamonds on Jewelry.com.