Wishlist: Armor Inspired Jewelry

   We love statement jewelry so naturally when I came across Maria Piana's beautiful creations I was in love. Also being a bit of a nerd and loving all things medieval, Piana's jewelry really made an impression.  Piana works as a dentist by day and by night creates her masterfully crafted designs. Piana's use of metal and her ability to mold it are skills that show how her day job has influenced her designs and mediums. Piana's armor like jewelry evokes a sense of strong femininity and power. The jewelry makes any woman who wears it feel confident and strong. I also love that the jewelry isn't conventional, it is on the border of wearable art because of its sculptural features. Since Maria's stunning collection is over our budget, we scooped out some cool inexpensive (well some at least..) pieces and have outlined our favorites below:

These pieces have a certain element of duality, they convey a feminine spirit while being inspired from a protective masculine garment. The joint armored ring is one of my favorite rings that I found, I love that its simple, and plate armor like. Most rings I found were over decorated and ornate, something that I'm not interested in with this specific jewelry trend. The collar necklace is obviously something we love, Stephanie has already shown her budding collection. The collar has a regal quality to it, that can transform an outfit.  The cuffs are all reminiscent of a vambrace, that is the part of plate armor that protects the forearm. The cuffs are a cool addition to an outfit with their sleek and metallic finishes. The Nara gold bracelet stood out to me because it reminded me of scale armor. The jewelry is a perfect balance of wearable art and a medium to express my closet nerdiness. 

-Silvya

Image credit: bloodygray.com

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Beauty: Spring 2012 Essentials

            Silvya and I have been spoiled with some unseasonably warm weather as of late, which is making us yearn even more for the return of breezy spring days. Unfortunately for now we must settle for a few days of bliss before the chill sets back in. To counteract our winter blues, we've decided to look ahead wardrobe wise and start planning for spring. For us, to have a good look it's essential to start off with a good foundation for your clothes to go on. This means kicking off our spring planning with our desired make up and skincare routines for the upcoming season. For some it may seem silly to plan something like this out, but with all of the recent articles about the 'french' way of dressing in a carefully planned wardrobe of luxurious staples it only makes sense to do the same for everything else that goes on your body. If you assemble your wardrobe carefully you will never look at your closet thinking you have nothing to wear, and if you approach your beauty routine with the same critical eye, you will never leave the house not feeling your best. Pictured above is a summary of my winter beauty purchases from Chanel including two varnishes in Peridot and Black Pearl, Stylo Yeux waterproof eyeliner in Ebene, and Rouge Allure Velvet in  L'Exubérante. 

From top left: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Carolina Herrara, Derek Lam

Bottom Left: Christian Dior Haute Couture, Dolce & Gabbana, Giles

                  A look at the Spring 2012 collections provides much inspiration for those looking for a rejuvenation of their beauty routine. Silvya and I combed through the collections to find the top six looks we felt embodied the feeling of summer best. It was very refreshing to see that for the most part the looks created at the Spring collections were not elaborate transformations but rather simple enhancements that allowed the model's natural beauty to show through. The smokey eye or bold lip has been admired and coveted for a long while, and while the idea of a mostly bare face can unnerve many, I find the look modern and elegant. Some may look at the shots above and say that it is an unrealistic representation, that going au naturale can never look so polished. Au contraire! The secret lies in carefully chosen and applied products that create maximum impact without giving away you've put effort into your face. This is the look both Silvya and I plan to sport this upcoming spring and summer and I have already started penning my product wish list to help achieve this look.

           For New Year's I always find sequins to be essential. So I chose I simple sequin party dress form Oasis-Stores.com. For accessories I like simplicity yet with a mix of textures and this vintage suede clutch is just the thing to add a different texture to the outfit. The dress should be highlighted and not overshadowed so I chose the gold antler wrap ring from House of Harlow. Since the dress and clutch is all black, I added a pop of color with the YSL suede pumps and the YSL Rouge lipstick. Red is one of my favorite colors and also very festive.  I never like to wear to much makeup, simple black eyeliner and mascara add definition and volume to my eyes. I finish with OPI's champagne colored nail lacquer for an added feminine and elegant touch. 

           On my list of essentials for the New Years includes a long dress with lean lines like this one from Alice + Olivia. A maxi dress is both an elegant and comfortable choice for party attire. I never like my outfits to be too ultra-feminine and i prefer adding something to toughen it up a bit such as this Sass + Bide necklace that is made of parts that look like they could be found from a hardware store. I like to keep accessories simple with complimentary pumps and a festive sequin clutch. I think every dream outfit should be finished off with a touch of Chanel, and their luxurious varnishes and perfumes will make you ring in the new year feeling à la mode!