Would you like a cocktail...ring?

1. Roxanne Assoulin for Brian Reyes, $170.
2. Kara by Kara Ross, $185.
3. Dannijo, $170.
4. Yves Saint Laurent, $195.
5. Anton Heunis, $80.
6. Noir Jewelry, $175.

Currently Coveting: Stud Earrings

1. Made Her Think, $45 each.
2. Janis by Janis Savitt, $90.
3. Bing Bang, $48.
4. Bing Bang, $95.
5. Bing Bang, $85.
6. Glam Noir, $30.
7. CCSkye, $150.

When you have gorgeous jewelry, it's a shame to hide it. To add a little glitz to your home, use your jewels as decor. I drape pearls over my lampshade, keep earrings in little dishes and hang bracelets over a petite vintage mannequin. You can try just about anything - ashtrays, teacups, designer store boxes or even a beautiful cake stand.

So glamourous and Parisian boudoir, n'est-ce pas?

[Images from Atlanta Bartlett, Martha Stewart, Malinki and Pale & Interesting]

Pearls of Wisdom

I am completely enamored with this gorgeous layered vintage necklace from AJ Vintage Jewelry. The pairing of pearls and baguette-shaped rhinestones is so elegant and timeless, equally chic with a simple shift dress or to dress up a worn-in tee. Passing this "dress up/dress down" test is a hallmark of great investment jewelry.

Be inspired; layer pearls and chains from your bijoux box. Play with styles, lengths and colors to find a winning combination all your own.

Garden Party

They say April showers bring May flowers but I say why wait? Floral jewelry is already in full bloom and as promised, I have a fresh bundle of options - at all budgets - for you to feast on.

Anthropologie has a gorgeous selection of botanical baubles. I am coveting this soft chiffon petal necklace ($38) to complete my spring ensembles. The delicate earrings ($58) add a touch of romance, while the Marni-esque brooch ($28) is super versatile.

Kate Spade is coming up daisies with her enamel bib necklace ($325). The layered topper is sweet and oh-so-pretty for any occasion.

It's easy to make a statement with a bold bouquet ring. Juicy Couture stackables ($88); Kenneth Jay Lane ring ($98); Forever 21 ($5.80); Ariella adjustable gold-plated ring ($68).

Put the petal to the metal with this blossoming necklace from Blu Bijoux ($42).

Alexis Bittar pieces are a teensy bit pricey but totally worth it if only for the envious compliments you'll get. This hand-painted Lucite cuff ($325) is richly textured and decorative.

Nothing says springtime like flowers xo

Extra! Extra!

Check out an article on statement necklaces I wrote for new fashion and lifestyle website anewmode.com. Enjoy!

Spring Fever!

I'm crushing on...

Images courtesy of Style.com. Left to right: Gucci, Burberry Prorsum, Dries Van Noten, Vera Wang (2), Dries Van Noten, Chanel, Marni, Anna Sui, Louis Vuitton, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Valentino, Lanvin (2), Giambattista Valli, Oscar de la Renta, Emilio Pucci, Zac Posen.

This Old Thing?

I recently had to research eco-friendly jewelry for work, and fully expected to be greeted with tacky, homemade jewelry made from recycled trash. Bottlecap necklaces? No, thank you.

It didn’t even occur to me that wearing vintage jewels was eco-conscious as well! To give it a fresh twist, creative designers deconstruct antique pieces to craft edgy, new collectibles that seamlessly blend into our modern-day wardrobes - and are often one of a kind. Here are some of those notable collections, all based in New York City.

One of my favorite necklaces in my bijoux box is by Dirty Librarian Chains, a line based on reworking chain necklaces in an almost haphazard way. Costume pearls, charms, and other trinkets are threaded into gold and silver chains for options that can be dressed up or down.

Erica Weiner blends vintage pieces she finds with natural materials to produce très cool accessories. I like this wood link necklace for its Marni-esque appeal. The medallions in the John and Jackie necklace were actually uncovered in Providence, R.I. – how charming! Best of all, the pieces range from about $30 to $100.

Marquis & Camus is one of the rare jewelry lines where I am absolutely coveting every single piece. I fell head over heels for their Victorian Romance collection, which marries vintage chains with silk flowers. The suspender necklace is sweetly boyish when worn with a tee and rolled up khakis or jeans. Doesn’t it remind you of a WWII uniform or something?

It’s easy to find “vintage-inspired” jewelry but a handmade item with authentic vintage touches holds a story. You can have the old and the new in a completely unique – and sustainable – way. Everyone will be asking “Where’d you get that?”