Gorgeous Gold Rings at HSN

Yellow has been a favorite color since this past winter, and what better embodiment of that trend in jewelry than gold.

Though it's ever so pricey, yellow gold has made a comeback in a big way this year, and rings continue to be bold and chunky. So I set out to find some beautiful gold rings that won't put a gigantic dent in your bank account. Surprisingly, I found a wonderful selection at HSN.





14k Gold Heart Dangle Ring

Midas-touched in polished yellow gold, this ring showcases a puffed yellow gold heart dangle. The heart features a textured, rhodium-plated heart design in the center with a prong-set, round diamond accent, for a splash of sparkle. Polished finish, tapered shank, so cute!

$119



Pure gold is too soft to withstand the stresses of every-day wear, so it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, nickel, and zinc to give it strength and durability. Caratage, indicated by a number followed by k, indicates purity, or how much of the metal in a piece of jewelry is gold. Caratage is expressed in 24ths, 24k gold being 100% gold.





14k Gold Polished and Satin Bypass Ring

This stunning yellow gold bypass ring showcases a thick, overlapping design. The ring's sleek polished side overlaps atop a sugary satin-finish side, for a sinfully asymmetrical appearance. Measures approx. 13/16"L x 13/16"W x 1/8"H with 3/16"W shank. Tapered shank. Made in Italy.

$170



Of all metals, gold is the softest and most malleable, yet has exercised the strongest hold on the human imagination. It appears naturally in its metallic form, and can be fashioned into complex shapes with the simplest bronze, bone, or wooden tools, meaning that gold could be worked into tokens, personal adornments, and talismans by the earliest craftspeople.





14k Gold Hand-finished Floral Motif Ring

Fashioned from polished yellow gold, this picturesque ring features a wide silhouette with an openwork floral motif on a satin-finish backdrop. Creating a bold, yet feminine look upon your finger, this golden garden radiates elegance. Polished finish, tapered shank, made in Italy.

$220



The Cost

The price of gold jewelry is dependent upon the purity of the gold used or karat weight, as well as the design and construction of the piece of jewelry. The color of the gold is determined by the type of metal alloys included in it, and the percentage of each alloy. 18k gold contains 75% gold, which is alloyed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand everyday wear.



Now, these are all 14k gold rings - 18k is not in my budget. Because 14k gold is composed of only 58.3% gold and 41.7% other metals, its gold color isn't as rich as 18k gold. 14k gold is most commonly used where strength is most important, like in earring backs and bracelet clasps, but if I can have a nice 14k ring - or none at all - I'm going for it.





14k Gold Polished 'Snakeskin' Concave Ring

This impressive yellow gold ring boasts a sizable, eye-catching square table with a concave silhouette. The table showcases a snakeskin design, while open geometric cutouts on gallery let light pass through the hand-polished piece. Split tapered shank, polished finish, made in Italy.

$330



Pure gold doesn't react with other elements to create tarnish - the residue that accumulates on some metals before transferring to your skin as a stain. Sometimes people have allergy or staining problems with metals that are combined with gold, but the gold itself is rarely a problem.





14k Gold Brocade Ring

Enhance your style with a touch of opulence when you wear this elegant ring. Polished yellow gold is crafted into a bold, slightly domed square with an intriguing openwork design. Cutouts in the top of the square form a swirling, brocade-like pattern that reveals a layer of translucent blue enamel, while filigree scrolls form an open gallery along the sides. This allows light to reflect through the sapphire-colored enamel, simulating the rich look of stained glass. The raised, dimensional-looking square appears to float atop a polished band, which feels smooth and comfortable on the finger. Made in Italy. A customer favorite!

$200



To clean gold jewelry, use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and wash gold gently with a soft-bristled brush - an old toothbrush works well. Store gold pieces separately in soft cloth bags or in their original boxes to protect them from the exposure to harsh daily elements.





14k Gold Bold Concave Square Ring

Smooth, silky and irresistibly seductive, this ring is a striking testament to your sophisticated taste. Sculpted from yellow gold, this highly polished ring has a modified cigar band silhouette with a concave center. Flattened edges and tapered shoulders produce a square shape in front, lending a geometric flair to the dramatic design. Tapered shank. Made in USA.

$124



Sweet!

See full article.





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Rogan for Target for Barney's Co-Op for Pete's Sake

Riddle me this, dear readers: Why would one retailer premiere a fashion line created exclusively for another retailer at the first retailer's store? Well maybe, as in the case of Kate Moss for Topshop, said second retailer is not currently located in the country of said second retailer. Or, perhaps...um...well, that's it. I'm out of ideas.

Which is why the recent three-day premiere of Rogan Gregory's line for Target's Go International collection at Barney's Co-op is so very, very strange to me. And here's the real kicker: try to find any evidence that it ever existed at Barney's Co-op. You can't!

Oh sure, the blogosphere lit up with pics (like the one from the official Target Pressroom, at right) and chit-chat, but are there any official remnants of this odd collab? Nope.

Barney's Co-op's website has removed all traces of those li'l Target clothes. Simon Doonan's interview with Rogan Gregory? Gone. None of the links work anymore.

How about a press release? Nope, no luck there, either.

Well surely someone captured an image from the print ads or an in-store display, right? Not that I can find.

What gives?!

Certainly a high-end retailer like Barney's takes a chance when association with a mass merchandiser like Target, who - truth be told - has some of the best advertising out there. Dare I say, advertising that might rival Barney's in some ways? (Don't worry, Simon, your windows will always be the best.)

And then I figured it out.

There was this weird part of the interview with Rogan Gregory where Simon Doonan asked him (and I'm paraphrasing here) in reference to the line premiering a week early at Barney's Co-Op, "But what about the Target customers?" To which Gregory replied, "They'll just have to wait until May 18th!"

Cue needle scratching across record. What?! Oh, I see. Target shoppers don't go to Barney's! Oh, ha ha. Of course they don't! Certainly they'd want to buy the dress to the left in a fluorescent-lit big box store while simultaneously picking up toothbrushes and DVDs, not in an earth-tone, dimly lit boutique with sales associates.

Oh, how silly of me to think that maybe some people shop at both Target and Barney's Co-op. Now, I'm not blaming Target or Barney's for all of this. Certainly I love both of those retailers and I'm sure they just wanted to create buzz around this clothing line and weren't thinking of the ramifications of statements like those above.

But the types of attitudes expressed by Simon and Rogan are so typical in the retail industry and are just the kind of thing this blog is designed to address. Goodwill's mission, for example, is not to be a store that sells clothes for poor people. It's a store that sells good merchandise at great prices. For ALL people. You like Target? Great! Come shop at Goodwill. You like Barney's? Great! Come shop at Goodwill. And I would hope that well-known, beloved retailers like Target and Barney's would want people in their employ to reflect a similar attitude.

Certainly Barney's prices are cost prohibitive for many. But why wouldn't they use the Rogan for Target clothes - most of which are priced between $15 and $40 - to introduce a whole new crowd to Barney's? Just as our eBay store (which has this week's Goodwill Good Buy of the Week up now, by the way) introduces a whole new audience to the fantastic stuff we have at Goodwill, I'd think that most retailers would jump at the chance to broaden their audience.

Meh. But these are just the rambling opinions of the DCGF. Whaddya think?




Any purchase made at a Goodwill Retail Store or on shopgoodwill.com funds Goodwill's mission of training and employment programs for people with disadvantages or disabilities.

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Fruity Tutti

It's always great to be reminded about your five-a-day and these fruity b&ab SS08 ads that were conceptualised by Japanese pop artist Nagi Noda are just the ticket. I've never really been a big fan of b&ab, a Hong Kong high street label that takes cutesy inspiration from Japanese streetstyle but I've always thought they've been a victim of bad styling as opposed to poor clothes...

...though I'm not entirely sure of a polka dot frilly edged onesie, I love the way the proportions of the body are exaggerated and enlarged in the video. I've also loved what Nagi Noda has done with previous seasons of b&ab ads. A shame that I'm still never sold whenever I go into a b&ab store. Thought right now I'd give anything to be there as I'm going through a severe bout of Hong Kong home-sickness that's only curable through a 1 hour pointless walking through of any random shopping mall that has that distinct air of wonton consumerism with someone stuffing egg waffles, proper roast goose lai fun and fish balls down my throat...or alternatively, a purposefull planned trip back to Hong Kong would also be a good idea... will investigate that further instead of fantasising bizzarely...

Backstage shots with fruits galore from the IT Blog...

An accompanying video to the ads...

Dear Monsieur Postman

I've done so many posts about novelty handbag "don'ts" that when I come across a "do", I have to share it.

What could be more fitting for a small envelope sized clutch than to turn it into, well, an envelope?
The Yves Saint Lauren Y-Mail clutch is a perfect addition to any collection, especially if you've been coveting a grafitti-esque handbag, with a little class. In black patent, with gold lettering, this clutch is just the right size to fit in your hand, and will instantly add a touch of humor to even the most serious of evening attire.
At $395, it costs more than the postage to mail it, but not so much that it breaks the bank. An evening bag also gets less wear, and is less prone to big trends, so you will get lots of years worth of wear for your money.
Pre-order one today from Yves Saint Lauren.

Bag the slurge, get the steal

Love the look of the Marc Jacobs Serafima but hate to shell out 4 digits for such a here-today-gone-tomorrow look?

Or, maybe you hated the Serafima passionately, and then it grew on you, but now it's sold out everywhere?
Well, you can still get some bag on bag action without breaking the bank, or looking like every other trendy Wendy with a Marc Jacobs.

The Goldenbleu Audra Clutch has the same idea, but presented in a smaller, less "out there" way. In a quilted blue leather it is 2 kiss lock granny purses, one on a gold chain, the other stuck to the front. The chain tucks inside easily, and in a design genius move, the front purse is removable, making an adorable little change purse to stick in any bag. The inside is lined in suede (something a Marc Jacobs at twice the price is not) and has a zipper pocket and key ring.

The blue, called Water, is $650, but for the uber-bargain hunter, it is also available in black, which is currently half price at $325. Choose your color, both are from Shop Bop.

Prescriptives Daily Pop Quiz May 23, 2008

Congrats to Juliet and Meg Jones! Baby's first name was Frances!

Who doesn’t love “Dirty Dancing?” I know I spent many a dance class dreaming of doing the lift with Patrick Swayze. Tell us the real first name of “Baby,” Jennifer Grey’s character.

Game Rules Here.
Sponsored by Prescriptives!

Shopping In Buenos Aires - Part 3

Here are some more photos from my shopping excursions in Buenos Aires. For those who have never been to this energetic South American city, the Buenos Aires metropolitan area has its fair share of upscale malls, including Paseo Acorta, Alto Palermo, Buenos Aires Design, Patio Bullrich, Unicenter, and Galerías Pacifico. Between the malls, the many local designer boutiques, outdoor flea markets, and busy shopping corridors such as Avenida Santa Fe, Buenos Aires is a shopper's paradise.

Rather than follow the upcoming A/W '08 European runway trends, it seemed to me that the Argentinian designers were influenced by previous seasons. They also create their fashion own trends (such as the drop-crotch pants I bought), in addition to using cheaper locally produced fabrics such as leather, cashmere, and wool. Traditional fall fabrics such as tweed, plaid, corduroy, leather, suede, and chunky knits were dominant on the racks of the chain stores. Important colors for fall in Buenos Aires include: cherry red, kelly green, deep purple, royal blue, and ebony. Deep purple in particular appeared to be the single most popular color used in window displays. Many of the stores I visited had the clothing arranged in groups by color. This made it easier for me to head straight to the garments I liked in shades of blue, purple, or green, as those tend to be my favorite hues.

As far as embellishments, I noticed sequins, glitter, peacock feathers, studs, and fringe on clothing and leather goods. At Rapsodia (whose jeans are favored by the editors at Lucky magazine and now by me as well), bohemian styles and lightweight flirty tops reigned supreme. Most of the denim at Rapsodia was low rise and straight leg or skinny leg, and the washes were lighter in color with minor fading and whiskering on the thighs. Skinny ankle-zip jeans were also popular at the trendy, youthful retailers. John Cook was the place to go for shiny metallic leggings, long jersey tunics, and neon jeans. Looking for bright, fun, and flashy clubwear? Then I'd recommend A.Y. Not Dead. I spotted high-waisted wide leg trousers at several boutiques, although I didn't see any high-waisted skinny leg styles. I was happy to see a few pairs of jodhpurs in some of the independent boutiques, although they were more conservative and less baggy in the thigh than styles seen on past season's runways.

Standout styles that I admired included: hot pink leather boots, crochet vests, colorful thick leather belts, stretchy wrap sweaters that can be tied various ways, fringed hobo handbags, flirty brocade dresses, and bold graphic tees with bursts of neon.

Kan Kan you dig it?

Every time you think a trend has no life left, a new take on it pops up.
Ruffles were innovative and fresh when YSL began the trend a few years back, and they keep rearing their undulating head.

There is a sensuality to the Be & D Kan Kan Tote for sure...the nude color, the curvy waves of leather the seam down the center, it almost feels like you shouldn't be looking. And yet, it is hard to look away. Is it gorgeous, or heinous? I'm definitely torn.
I think the handle is a bit too businessy for such a soft looking bag, then again, the nail head detail has a hard edge, but it suits the style perfectly. The ruffles on a tote may not be a great idea, considering a tote is a workhorse, and the ruffles might crush and pick up dirt.
Perhaps, scaled down, as a shoulder bag it would be more fitting, because architecturally, the bag is pretty amazing, it looks almost clothinglike, like a tuxedo top.
Heavenly, or Hellish, you decide.
The Kan Kan Tote is $1390 from Be & D.

PSA time

Here at In My Bag, I like to take a moment once in a while to give public service advice.
If you happen to go to a party, and see a coat you like better than the one you arrived in it is not OK to take it anyway, even if you are Lindsay Lohan.

And if you do take it, maybe because you are Lindsay Lohan, try to remember that as a famous train wreck, you will be photographed and busted.
This was just too good to not share. The full story can be read here: New York Post. In Lindsay's defense, I'm sure it was very dark, and sometimes after a few probably-not-so-mock-tails a pile of other peoples' coats can resemble a SWAG suite...it's hard to be a star you know.

Valentine's Day: Coming Soon

Valentine's Day is just around the corner - less than a month away, and I'm trying to get the newest Valentine's creations on the Cluny Grey website. A few jewelry pieces that I will be adding are featured here today: first is the heart pendant necklace above made with garnets and a touch of Swarovski crystals here and there. Of course, the lampwork beads of Lynn Nurge, especially the silver-laced heart I used to make the pendant, are the focal points of the entire necklace. The necklace can be found on our Handmade Necklaces page (along with the last heart necklace at the bottom of this post).The Prayer Box Necklace above has some of my favorite silver freshwater pearls, little flower beads and charms, and of course a sterling silver prayer box. This prayer box is a favorite because when it opens, not only is there a place to put a prayer or wish, but a kneeling angel comes out. The prayer box hangs from a flower shape that reminds me of some stylized flowers I've seen in the great cathedrals in Spain and Portugal.
The last necklace also features the beads of Lynn Nurge: the lampwork heart with flowers, rose quartz coloured tabs and mauvey-pink and green rounds. The gemstones here are purple crazy lace agate faceted rondelles; little charms hang from two places on the necklace as well-flowers and hearts - very appropriate for Valentine's Day. The necklace also has a flower on the "S" clasp (from the Thai Karen Hill Tribes).

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