Accessories, Jewelry and Handbags

I discovered Julie Vos Jewelry towards the end of last year and immediately loved it. It’s everything I look for in a piece to recommend to our community. She makes high quality, timeless pieces with a twist.

Admittedly, I am a bit of a jewelry snob. My husband has worked for almost 20 years at Tiffany & Co, so I’ve not only learned so much about the industry but have been fortunate to receive incredible gifts over the years.

But this is the real world, and I don’t have a drawer full of jewels. Instead, it’s made me picky about where I spend. There is rarely a middle ground with me; I either want the real deal or a $20 necklace.

It’s been my experience that the quality in the mid-range price point is always disappointing. Often, a $200 necklace feels just like the $20 one. 

But over the last few years, I’ve discovered a handful of brands that offer more. I’m a huge fan of Kendra Scott. However, many of the designs are starting to look redundant. Gorjana is an affordable, perfect-for-work line of modern basics. And I often look to my former employer, QVC, for better quality staples at reasonable prices. 

Today, I’m adding Julie Vos into the mix and rounding up some pieces that are part of her sample sale. This an excellent opportunity to discover the brand at a slight discount. 

My Top Picks from the Julie Vos Sample Sale

All of her pieces are gold plated with varying carat levels. These are substantial, they aren’t too heavy, but they don’t feel flimsy either. As you navigate her site, be sure to look at the piece on the model to you can get a sense of their scale.

Earrings

Drop Earring, $95  |  Hoop, $55

These drop earrings are so fun for the summer!  They are 24k gold plate, with an oversized clear crystal at the bottom. They are marked down to under $100. 

If you are in the market for a good old fashioned hoop earring, these are fantastic. They have a pretty texture around the entire outside, also 24k gold plate and only $55. 

Other earrings I love not in the sample sale, these Soho X earrings for $68 that I featured yesterday, are perfect for everyday wear, and these Penelope studs are also only $68 (in the small size) and a stunning update on a traditional pearl stud. 

Bracelets

Link Bracelet, $295  |  Hinge Bangle, $175

Her bracelets are more expensive, but pack a punch. This link bracelet might be the only bracelet you wear. It lays beautifully on the wrist, and is the epitome of everyday glamour. 

If you like a bangle, try this lux hinge option. You can wear it dressed up, but I would wear it every day with jeans and a tee. 

I just ordered this simple bangle with gemstone stations in CZ (not part of the sale) for only $75.

Necklaces 

Pendant necklace, $195  |  Charm Necklace, $110  |  Delicate Necklace, $95 

Finally, you know I love necklaces. especially ones that create length. 

In the sample sale are some fantastic options, including this pendant necklace. It’s BIG necklace, with a 36 inch chain, so you can wear it long or double. 

Next is this charm necklace, which is my top pick. It’s not as oversized as the pendant necklace but still gives you some length and movement. It would look gorgeous with a swing dress, long tunic, or even a sweater in the colder months.

Finally, this delicate necklace is sweet and simple. You can wear it alone or layer with other pieces you already have. It fills in a v-neck wonderfully or would sit over a crew neck for just a hint of detail. 

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please consider following on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

Going to work this summer is going to look different for everyone. You might be slowly heading back to the office, staying home based or a combination of the two. I’m anxious to see how the landscape of office life evolves as states begin a return to normal operations.  (Tell me your plans in the comments below!)

Whatever your situation, you might need a bag to get you and your laptop to and from, and this one from Target is fantastic – and it’s only $45. 

An Under $50 Bag for Work from Target!

Bag, $45 

I’m always a proponent of investing in better pieces, especially something like a bag or shoe that you’ll carry or wear day in and day out. But after these last three months, I’m not excited to spend money on many things. 

This certainly doesn’t feel like the season to splurge on a handbag. 

So when I found this bag on a recent trip to Target (since it’s the only place I’m allowed to physically shop) I picked it up immediately. 

It’s available in gray (above) or black. The choice is yours depending on what you already have. I grabbed the gray. 

See the inside of the bag and read the 5 Star reviews here. 

Size-wise, this is a big bag. You can fit a laptop, full size wallet, sunglass case, a book – all comfortably inside. The cross body strap makes it easy to carry around, or you can hold it by the top handle. 

I plan to use it for the summer with my work and as an updated diaper bag.

When you are shopping for a handbag, regardless of price point, it’s important to buy one with clean lines and minimal hardware. Think of it like, the more “stuff” on a bag, the cheaper it will look. Avoid logos and labels that are part of the design as that pattern will fight with other patterns you might be wearing. 

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please consider following on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

Let’s talk about how to create a classic jewelry capsule. I’m frequently asked about what exactly you should have on hand in order to easily layer accessories into your outfits. The key here is easy. It’s been my experience working with clients that if your pieces aren’t thoughtfully edited and organized, you probably won’t take the extra step to put them on. 

Because jewelry is personal and subjective, I’ve avoided a comprehensive guide up until now. But today, I thought I would share what I consider modern basics. 

Building a basics collection of jewelry is a lot like building out your actual wardrobe. It takes some strategy and thought. Depending on how much you want to spend or invest, it might take some time to pull it together. 

Once you have these pieces or a version of them on hand, you’ll have something to use every time you get dressed.

How to Create a Classic Jewelry Capsule

Before we dive in, a few notes:

First, I made sure almost all of these are also available in silver or silver-tone.

Second, remember everyone has different budgets and comfort levels with prices, especially when it comes to jewelry. I tried to balance quality with affordability with this line up. 

You can certainly shop this post, or use it as a checklist of sorts as you create your own capsule.

Finally, this is just a baseline. Once you have these pieces (or versions of them), layer in statement and novelty items, much like you would with your wardrobe.

Earrings

Earrings: Studs, $27  |  Pearls, $37  |  Hoops, $45

To start, you need a few earrings.

First, studs. Whether you have a pair of real diamonds or going with a CZ, a simple pair of studs will work with everything hanging in your closet. While I would love a pair of heirloom quality diamond earrings at some point, I’m sticking with these under $30 studs from QVC.

I discovered these over a decade ago when I was a buyer for QVC and had been wearing them ever since. They are realistic, sparkly, and comfortable to wear. What I like about them the most (aside from the price) is that they are sterling with a coating of platinum. For someone with sensitive ears (mine turn green if I wear anything other than at least silver), they are ideal.

Next, pearls. They may seem old fashioned, but I’ve been wearing them more and more. They elevate an inexpensive dress, and offer a lovely alternative to the diamond/cz stud. 

Prices are all over the place with these, you can go with an affordable simulated pair, like these for under $40 at Bloomingdales, or a several hundred with a traditional pair by Mikimoto. 

Finally, a hoop of some kind will provide some movement to an outfit. I LOVE these by Gorjana, in gold or silver. They are the perfect size for everyday use. If you’ve been following along for the last year, you know I’m a big fan of Gorjana for their quality and price.

Watch

Watch, $395

It’s nice to see traditional watches make a comeback amid Apple watches and Fitbits. Admittedly, I wear a Fitbit, and I HATE how it looks when I’m dressed.

You can spend a small fortune on a watch, and you may want to. But for today, I’m highlighting Deco Sport by Michele. They are reasonable (for a watch) and gorgeous.

You buy one face, and they can add additional straps so you can create several different looks.

Necklaces

Necklaces: Long Link Necklace, $28  |  Choker Necklace, $95

In my book, you only “need” two kinds of necklaces, a long and short one.

A long necklace helps elongate the line of your body. It works best with high necklines, like a turtle, boat, and crewnecks. It gives movement and interest to tunics or high neck halter dresses. They know no limit in terms of seasons or occasions.

These days, it’s not easy to find a universal one—something you can wear with everything. This was the most challenging item to source for this post.

Then I found this one from Banana Republic in silver and gold for under $30. Go, buy it and wear it all summer long. You’ll love it. 

Next you need a shorter necklace, to fill in open necklines (like under a collared shirt) or layer with other pieces. This Kendra Scott piece is called a “chocker” but it’s not like the ones we wore in the 90’s. It has an adjustable slider so you can make it sit where you like. 

It’s really beautiful, and feels special without being over the top. It’s available in gold, rose gold and silver tones. 

Bracelets

Bracelets: Hinged Bangle, $45 |  Chain Cuff, $40 |  Pearl Cable Cuff, $129 

Of all the categories, bracelets are my jam. I layer them on almost every day.

Narrowing down to a list of “must-haves’ I’m going with a hinged bangle. This one is under $50 by Kate Spade. The design is inspired by the iconic Cartier love bracelet (on my dream wish list). You can wear it with everything all the time. Works great as an anchor to layer with other pieces.

Next up, a cuff. I just ordered this chain cuff for myself. It’s a timeless piece for under $40, and another perfect layer.

Finally, it’s perfectly acceptable and stylish to mix metals, but like everything we talk about, you have to do it with purpose for it to look chic.

By incorporating a two-tone cuff (this one has a subtle speck of gold with a pearl accent), you instantly create cohesion for the different toned metals.

For example, let’s say your wedding rings, and studs are set in platinum, but you prefer gold-tone for everything else. Add this cuff (or something similar), and you pull all of your stand-alone pieces together.

Storage

Jewelry Box, $25 – $35 

Finally, keep your jewelry safe and organized is important. You need to see what you have in order to incorporate it into your daily outfits.  I purchased this stackable jewelry box system from The Container Store in January and absolutely love it. 

I keep my everyday pieces and rings in the top box, and more statement pieces in the middle. The bottom is a deeper box perfect for oversized cuffs or even sunglasses. 

Below is the combination I have at home: 

Top: (1) Stackers Classic Lidded Box White 

Middle: (2) Stackers Classic 25-Section Tray White

Bottom: (1) Stackers Classic Deep Open Tray White 

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please consider following on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

With summer around the corner, many of us are optimistically planning some time in the sun. So today, I thought I would share one of my favorite finds – the beach bag to end all beach bags.

We are planning on a social-distancing-friendly trip to the beach once virtual learning wraps up, to give the kids and us a much-needed breather.

Because it’s going to take us 10 hours by car, I’ve been throwing myself into preparing for not only the week away but a long drive with cranky kids.

I plan on bringing only the essentials, but with a teenager, a ten-year-old, and a toddler, we don’t travel light.

As I started to pull out all of our summer gear, I realized my heavy boat and totes were going to take up too much room in the car. So I went off to find a solution and landed on this incredibly affordable option.

The Best Beach Bag for Under $25

Read All of the 5 Star Reviews Here

At first, I was looking for something both stylish and practical – Instagram-worthy, if you will. Then I landed on this oversized, mesh bag with zipper compartments and outside pockets and was sold. 

There is a lot to love about this, and I will eventually update this post with a video of everything it holds, but for now, if you need a beach or pool bag, pick this up. 

First off, it’s huge. You can fit about eight large beach towels rolled up, and the outside pockets fit everything from flip-flops to magazines, to small beach toys.

There is an inside zip top pocket to keep your keys, phone and wallet dry and save. 

The bottom is waterproof so no worrying about your things getting damp. 

And the best – it folds up. So it doesn’t take up any room at all. 

I bought two, one for towels and essentials and one for all the baby beach toys. 

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please consider following on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.