WHIMSY

Attainable luxury. Given the state of today’s economy, you might lament that this is an oxymoron. But when I found MISHI jewelry, I realized I could have it all!

The firm may be new (founded in 2009) but MISHI designers seem to have easily captured the essence of classic, centuries old beauty and luxury in their glamorous collections. This is jewelry that offers the fashion-conscious consumer a luxe look without the luxe cost!

MISHI has many collections – from spectacular necklaces and bracelets to earrings and ankle bracelets in a variety of stunning styles. The Have Heart, Lucky You, Mimi and Pearls collection each have a unique style, but all offer the same exquisite craftsmanship.

My favorite collection is, without a doubt, the Zen collection of necklaces. These delicate beauties incorporate the use of gorgeous materials like pearls, crystals and semi-precious stones, all suspended on silk cord.

My top choice is the simple and sweet Zen Blue Swarovski Drop Crystal and Freshwater Pearl Necklace, pictured. An effervescent blue Austrian Swarovski crystal hangs between freshwater pearls and handcrafted silver beads. According to MISHI the power of the pearls is enhanced by the crystal and the wearer will be lucky in the romance department! Retail $25

I also love the Zen Swarovski Drop and Amethyst Necklace. I have lifelong addiction to amethyst jewelry and this beautiful necklace is a stunning piece that can be worn for almost any occasion. Along a deep purple silk thread are small Swarovski crystals, amethysts and handcrafted silver beads accenting a larger, luminescent green Austrian Swarovski teardrop crystal. This necklace is said to bring the wearer good health and strength! Retail $25

Last, the Zen Opal Drop and Coral Necklace is simply striking. An opal drop is suspended on a salmon pink silk thread between six coral beads, alternating between light pink and red, and accented with handcrafted silver beads. This necklace will bring good fortune, good health, love and strength to its wearer! Retail $25

The Zen collection is available online at The MISHI Shop but now, three lucky Style on a WHIM readers can each win one of these spectacular necklaces!

This contest is open to those readers who are 18+ and US residents. The contest ends October 27, 2010. Odds of winning are determined by the number of entries received.

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit MISHI, learn one new thing about the firm and comment here. (1 entry)

2. Follow MISHI on Twitter (3 entries, please leave a separate comment here for each entry)

3. Like MISHI on Facebook (3 entries, please leave a separate comment here for each entry)

4. “Like” Style on a WHIM on Facebook (3 entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry)

5. Follow us on Twitter (3 entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry)

6. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option (3 entries, please leave a separate comment here for each entry)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition to Style on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game!, Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of MISHI.

It’s that time again!

Style on a WHIM, in tandem with a handful of really awesome companies, is giving away a bunch of fantastic products to one lucky Style on a WHIM reader! The retail value on this package is over $500!

Included in the Fall Giveaway are the following products:

Wallets2Wear
Youngblood makeup brush cleaner
Sine tulip skirt
Sterling silver WHIMSY ring and glimmer bead (of our choice)
Kushyfoot fishnets
Gray knit beret from Hellen Kaminski Australia
Mishi necklace

To enter:

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit each of the links above and let us know which product is your favorite! (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Giveaway ends Monday, Oct. 25!

Good Luck!

-Keri

Don’t forget to enter some of our other fabulous contests!

• Zen necklace giveaway. Three lucky winners!
• Womens-Hats.com sponsored winter hat giveaway!

UPDATE 10/27: Congratulations to Chrysa D. of Cambridge, MN, the winner of the Fall Fashion Giveaway!

How many times has this happened to you? You’re on a date or out for an evening with the girls. You’ve got on your favorite slinky dress, great heels, and are sporting a fantastic new haircut. But instead of enjoying yourself, you spend the whole night obsessing about leaving your purse while you’re out on the dance floor!

Today, losing your keys or cash are the least of your worries. With identity theft rampant, a stolen credit card or piece of personal information could create a daunting situation that takes months to resolve.

So, when I saw Wallets2Wear I knew someone had finally solved this problem – beautifully! A bracelet by Wallets2Wear enables you to have all of your necessities easily tucked away in a secure place. And the bracelets are so stylish, no one will ever guess that your ID, credit card and key are hidden within!

Each piece is designed around a pouch so you can carry your lipstick, credit cards, cash, key…just about anything you can think of that size! This stylish solution means that you can go shopping, to a wedding, or out clubbing without ever missing a beat!

My favorites are the beaded versions, as pictured, which are incredibly stylish (as well as practical). The beaded version comes in a huge variety of colors – from spicy red, to toasted coconut, to basic pearl so that you can find a bracelet to complement every outfit. Wallets2Wear bracelets are made of a variety of beads: cateye-like acrylic, faux stone, resin, wood and more. Retail: $29.00

If beading isn’t your style, Wallets2Wear also has a selection of Fabric Wrist Wallets for a more casual look, Sports Wrist Wallets to outdoor activities, and even Formal Wrist Wallets. Prices vary.

Sometimes, it’s really is what’s inside that counts!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game!, Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photo courtesy of Wallets2Wear.

Don’t forget to enter some of our fabulous contests!

• Zen necklace giveaway. Three lucky winners!
• Womens-Hats.com sponsored winter hat giveaway!
• Fall Fashion Super Giveaway. Valued at over $500!

WHIMSY™ recently unveiled the GODDESS COLLECTION of interchangeable bead jewelry for Holiday 2010. This is a highly anticipated release and the first new collection for the firm since February!

The new designs were inspired by the intrigues of Greek mythology and the changeable temperaments of the many goddesses that populated ancient Olympus. The designs are compatible with the majority of the Murano glass and crystal beads made by major bead manufacturers including Trollbeads, Pandora™ and more.

The mechanics of pieces by WHIMSY™ make it easy to change your bead and change your style. A threaded center post is so easy to use; you simply unscrew the end cap to release the bead. The threaded center post is also ultra secure, plus, the center posts are so adjustable that they can accommodate an even wider range of bead widths. The necklace and earrings from the GODDESS COLLECTION are even compatible with many one-of-a-kind art beads by lampwork artists!

Like all pieces by WHIMSY™, the GODDESS COLLECTION is beautifully crafted using eco-friendly, reclaimed sterling silver, and each piece is hand-finished.

The exciting Cynthia necklace is the focus of the collection. This “station” necklace, pictured, allows the wearer to showcase many of their favorite beads. The Cynthia is sold as an 18″ length (5 sections) and retails for $275.

To add even more variation, additional 3″ sections are available, so the possibilities or endless. Additional 3″ sections Retail: $55.

You can even purchase three 3″ sections and create a spectacular ankle bracelet — the only one I’ve ever seen that incorporates interchangeable Murano beads!

The Chloe earrings, shown, are a companion to the Cynthia necklace, but are striking enough to wear alone. The beads dangle from delicate chains for a truly eye-catching look.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition to Style on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game!, Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of Whimsy Worldwide.

Don’t forget to enter some of our fabulous contests!

• Zen necklace giveaway. Three lucky winners!
• Womens-Hats.com sponsored winter hat giveaway!
• Fall Fashion Super Giveaway. Valued at over $500!

Pearls are fascinating. Just think, a small sea creature creates a beautiful work of art in response to a tiny grain of sand? It’s one of the many miracles of our natural world!

In addition to their intriguing formation, pearls are also simply gorgeous. I admit to owning both freshwater and South Sea strands, bracelets, earrings … and more! But I’ve never seen pearls used in such an unusual and successful way as the Shondra Leigh Jewelry leather and pearls collection.

Shondra Leigh Jewelry collections each have a unique and distinctive personality. From “crocheted metals” to raw silk “chains” to this fabulous leather and pearl collection – Shondra Leigh has incredible vision for creating jewelry that pushes the boundaries in terms of materials and construction.

I especially adore the leather cuff with pearl charms, pictured. This trendy cuff looks just right with fall’s hottest looks and earthy colors. The 10-strand deerskin suede cuff is embellished with a variety of freshwater pearl charms in muted shades of salmon, coral and gray. The cuff features an easy-to-use blackened silver tube clasp and measures 7″ long x 2.5″ wide. Retail: $230.00

Also on my wish list is the Shondra Leigh Jewelry leather and pearl lariat necklace shown. Incredibly versatile, this 55” necklace can be worn long as a necklace, wrapped a few times and used as a choker, or wrapped multiple times around the wrist for a fabulous bracelet. The necklace is also made of deerskin suede and features freshwater pearl drop charms in classic gray. Retail: $105.00

Shondra Leigh Jewelry’s stunning designs are available to purchase online or at fine boutiques and jewelry stores across the US and in Canada.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition to Style on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game!, Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of Shondra Leigh Jewelry.

Don’t forget to enter some of our fabulous contests!

• Zen necklace giveaway. Three lucky winners!
• Womens-Hats.com sponsored winter hat giveaway!
• Fall Fashion Super Giveaway. Valued at over $500!

I recently wrote about the gorgeous new glimmer beads by WHIMSY. These beads are stunning and add a dash of sparkle to your bead bracelet, earrings or bead ring! The WHIMSY beads are crafted using dazzling Swarovski crystals; the core is sterling silver.

Do you want to add some sparkle to your life? WIN THREE of your own glimmer beads from WHIMSY – a $90 retail value! This contest ends October 6.

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit WHIMSY and let us know which three beads are your favorites. (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

3. “Like” us on Facebook (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

4. Follow us on Twitter (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition to Style on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game!, Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

New York Fashion Week has gotten me on a serious shopping kick — I’m in search of anything on-trend in shades of gray, camel, and blush because these are the “new” neutrals. And since these colors are dominating the runway (and soon, my closet), I’ll happily trade in a few of my bold-colored accessories for more demure, ladylike pieces to complement the subdued color scheme.

Enter: Jenny Present custom jewelry. Think delicate necklaces in silver and gold that add that little extra touch of style to any outfit. My favorite collection has to be the Proud Mama™ Collection (pictured, left), even though I’m not a mama! They feature cute little customizable tags and charms of your choice on a delicate chain in either all sterling, sterling and gold, or all gold. Prices start at $100.

I was lucky enough to be able to see one of Jenny’s pieces in person — the Gwyneth Silver Leaf Necklace (pictured, right) – and it is absolutely lovely. It would make a wonderful addition to any scoop-neck top or dress, which will mirror the gentle curve of the branch of leaves. The chain is ultra-delicate, which makes it truly feminine, and the labradorite briolette adds a little drip of chic detail. Labradorite is a gray-ish, semi-precious stone that shows hits of dark blue in the light — so pretty. I also love that there are two tiny labradorite beads on either side of the silver branch.  This one sells for $95.

Try pairing any of Jenny Present’s jewelry with a ladylike frock in fall’s trendiest new shades of gray, camel, taupe and blush! You’ll end up looking absolutely polished and refined.

Now round up some friends for afternoon tea!

-Keri

Without question, one of the hottest trends in jewelry over the last few years has been the emergence of Murano glass “bead companies” like Trollbeads, Pandora, Chamilia and more. Interchangeability, the huge variety of styles, and the ability to customize a piece to uniquely suit your tastes have all drawn legions of “bead converts.”

Now, newcomer WHIMSY Worldwide has added a new twist to the bead craze with a series of gorgeous Swarovski crystal encrusted beads in a rainbow of colors. Best known for their interchangeable bead rings (known as Whimsy rings) the firm now offers the crystal beads as a delightful complement to the popular Murano glass and sterling silver beads. They add a dash of (what else?) whimsy to any necklace, bracelet or ring.

The beads retail for $30 and are only available online at WHIMSY Worldwide.

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of WHIMSY Worldwide.

One of my favorite trends that’s really gaining ground this fall is a style of delicate jewelry that mimics lace. A romantic at heart, I adore whimsical jewelry and these openwork pieces feel fresh for fall.

And apparently, I’m not alone! InStyle (September 2010) recently featured some amazing pieces from some of the most recognized names in the industry. Spectacular earrings from Pomalleto, 18K white gold sparklers from Penny Preville and some dramatic drops from Cynthia Bach. Unfortunately, I don’t have an extra $26,475 for the Loree Rodkin “chandelier” earrings (but they are available at Neiman Marcus, just in case you do!). So, I began to search for the same look, but with a price tag that’s slightly more palatable.

My solution? Metal mesh jewelry from Shondra Leigh! The line incorporates a great openwork feel and is crafted of sterling silver and goldfill. My top three picks can be worn alone or together and complement both weekend casual wear and office ensembles.

First, I love the Mixed Metal “Crocheted” Square and Pearl Necklace, pictured. Many of the Shondra Leigh pieces have clever allusions to other mediums – from crochet to plaiting to braiding. The necklace is crafted of 14 goldfill squares on a blackened silver chain and is adorned with white nugget pearls. 32” long, this would be a spectacular necklace against a crisp white blouse this fall. Retail $262.00

Next, I adore the Repeating Squares Cuff. The cuff shown is created using sterling silver with goldfill accent squares and features an easy-to-use tube clasp. Measuring 7.5 inches long x 1.5 inches wide, this cuff is wonderfully lightweight and comfortable to wear (unlike some cuffs I’ve tried recently). The blackened silver looks especially lovely paired with the fall season’s bright jewel tones. Retail $210.00

Finally, my top pick is a pair of Square Earrings. These great openwork earrings allow you to rock the lace trend and still keep you bank account intact! Using the “crochet” method, Shondra Leigh has created a beautiful pair of earrings that will undoubtedly become your go-to faves. Retail $60.00

The Shondra Leigh line is available at boutiques and fine jewelry stores across the country. For a store locator, visit Shondra Leigh Jewelry or shop online.

Better yet, win a gorgeous pair of square earrings (pictured) from Shondra Leigh. Retail $60. It’s easy, so get started!

1. MANDATORY COMMENT – Please visit Shondra Leigh and let us know which piece is your fave. (1 entry)

2 Subscribe to the Shondra Leigh newsletter (Please leave us a separate comment for each of the five here to let us know, 5 entries)

3. Subscribe to Style on a WHIM via our brand new Google Friends Connect option, 5 entries (please leave a separate comment for each of the five to let us know)

4. “Like” us on Facebook (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

5. Follow us on Twitter (5 entries, please leave a comment to let us know)

Already a follower?  Just leave us a comment that you follow. Good Luck!

Susan McNeill is a wife, mother, author, entrepreneur and social activist. In addition toStyle on a WHIM Susan also writes for It’s how you play the game! , Success Won’t Wait! and Susan Said What?!

Photos courtesy of Shondra Leigh Jewelry.