Costume jewelry has been chic since Coco Chanel made it so, but sometimes there’s no substitute for real gemstone jewelry. If you’d like to pick some up for much less than usual, here’s how.
Hint: It’s all about timing — and March is my favorite time to hit the jewelry counters.
To update your look without spending a lot, jewelry can be your very best bet.
The right piece:
For example, to rock the current green trend, we suggest a gorgeous piece of jade jewelry — and it will still be stunning long after the trend is over.
Our pick is this sterling silver and jade open circle pendant for just $25. Ships to the U.S.
We get a lot of emails asking, “where is the best place to look for …”
To help us answer your questions, we have a list here at BQ HQ where we share all our favorite shopping spots with each other. As well as helping us answer your questions, we also use it to find fabulous things to write about, and of course, to work out which retailers we want as affiliates too!
Today, we’ve decided to share our ’secret’ list with the world. It’s been months of work compiling it, so we hope you find it useful.
Next time you’re looking for something fabulous at a reasonable price, we recommend that you try these retailers. We always have great luck with them, so we’d love to hear your thoughts on them too!
Without further ado, here’s the list:
Just a short note to let you know why we’re a little quiet here: we’re on the road!
I’m currently in San Francisco, where I’ll be ’til the end of this week.
Then, Meg and I will be attending the South by Southwest Interactive festival and conference in Austin, Texas from March 7th-11th.
After that, I’m headed to New York city, where I’ll be for at least a few months.
We’d love to catch up with our readers in any/all of the places we’re traveling, so if you’ll be there when we are, please feel free to drop us a line!
If you watched the recent Oprah Show episode on Schlumpadinka Makeovers, then you know that Lloyd Boston considers a trench coat to be a wardrobe essential.
Is it? No, but putting on a nice trench is a fool-proof way to add polish and class to just about any outfit.
So, if you feel like your wardrobe needs an instant makeover, or if you just loved this fabulous coat, check out this Kenneth Cole trench coat. It’s now $50 off — down to $150!
While it’s also available in black and sandstone, I recommend going with the red. It’ll still go with just about anything, but it packs a lot more wow-factor.
And don’t forget to check out Lloyd Boston’s book, Before You Put That On for more advice. (Read my review here.)
Ships to the U.S. and APO/FPO addresses; sizes XS-XL.
Since I’ve been a Floridian all my life, I know a thing or two about dressing for even triple-digit temperatures.
Fortunately, those temps are still a ways off even here — but with spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about warm-weather purchases that will keep on working as the temperatures rise.
At the beginning of this gift guide series, I said that there were three basic things that would make great Valentine’s Day gifts for your sweetie. I’ve already covered the first two, food and fun, by giving you some gift ideas under $20. However, I’ve saved the best idea for last.
The last gift idea isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s quite priceless — and something that only you can give.
You guessed it, the best gift that you can give is yourself!
Now, you could always just wrap yourself up in a bow or some sexy lingerie, but remember that there is more to you than that. So, step away from the computer for a few hours and show him how much you care by giving him your undivided attention.
Sounds simple, right? For some people, it is. But if you’re out of practice, here’s a few tips:
Of course, you don’t have to wait until Valentine’s Day to spend quality time with your sweetie. Start practicing now and make it a habit!
A loving relationship with yourself is the most important one you’ll ever have. After all, if you don’t honor and understand your own soul, how can you expect a significant other to cherish and adore you?
So romance the most important person this Valentine’s Day and beyond, with beauty, pampering and love. It all starts with a great night in, or a solitary weekend retreat.
Begin with a candle-lit soak in the tub with some sublimely-scented bath product, such as Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Honey Bath, to leave you silky and smelling good enough to eat. Turn up some soulful tunes and savor the warm water while you anticipate the pampering to come.
Once you’re done, slather your locks with some eggy-yellow Aesop rose hair moisturizing masque which tames even my frizz and smells divine. Pull your hair back into a bun and smooth some creme brulee body souffle over your arms and legs before bundling yourself up into something cozy yet chic, like a cashmere mesh sweater over silk pajama pants. Don’t forget to anoint your feet and wrap them up in some cashmere knee-high socks for all-over warmth.
There’s nothing like a vase of roses to fill your home with dreamy scent, but around Valentine’s Day these don’t represent the best use of your cash. Be smart and light some scented candles instead to create a perfumed pleasure zone and a gorgeous glow.
Orgasmically-good organic dark chocolate makes for indulgent nibbles, and the flavor is so intense you’ll find a little goes a long way. I’m currently torn between Dagoba’s raspberry and rosehips and the utterly divine lavender and blueberry with cocoa nibs, both packed with so many powerful polyphenols they’re practically health food. You’ll probably be sated for the rest of the night so just keep some sparkling water on hand to accompany, although some new season strawberries wouldn’t go astray either. Either way, it’s a light meal which will leave you feeling fabulous.
A pot of jasmine pearl tea is pretty, or else experiment with some flavoured and fruity herbals or white tea blends in a favorite mug.
Decide between watching a DVD or immersing yourself into a great book, but whichever you choose, commit your full focus to one so as to extract the purest pleasure.
I’d happily curl up with Sex and the City, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Before Sunrise or Before Sunset anytime, but sometimes only female-friendly reads are the best tools to nourish your mind and spirit.
* Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach – because sometimes we need gentle reminders of how to nurture happiness
* The Life Organizer by Jennifer Louden – prioritize your time and create the life you’ve always wanted
* A Room of One’s Own – this classic by Virginia Woolf reminds us to use our brilliant, female minds
* Live your best life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews and Inspiration from O – uplifting reads for when only Oprah will do
* Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead But Gutsy Girls Do by Kate White – for a gentle, yet empowering boost
* Living Out Loud: Activities to Fuel a Creative Life by Keri Smith – infectious and crafty fun
* Hip Tranquil Chick by Kimberly Wilson - a yummy manifesto for self-care and self-knowledge
Or devour some great fiction: Possession by A.S. Byatt – a smart, literary romance. Atonement by Ian McEwan – for a good cry in private. Or anything by Colette for a reminder of the importance of pleasure and independence, such as The Vagabond or the sassy Claudine series.
From all of us here at The Bargain Queens, have a passion-filled Valentine’s Day!
Some of the best recent reads from around the web.
Queen of hearts
Pretty ways to communicate love towards your beau, friends, or self.
Flavor bedfellows
How to match wine and chocolate.
Luxe for less
Rosewater delivers a lot of loveliness for its negligible cost … a bargain way to add beauty into your life in a multitude of ways.
Put to the test
They look stunning on the catwalk, but how do the latest designer collections work in real life?
Why do we read fashion magazines?
And can you trust any publication which accepts advertising?
Tighten those belts
How the American economic slowdown is affecting trends.
Credit to you
The pros and cons of opening store credit accounts.
YouLookFab’s wardrobe essentials
Angie lists the bare basics for any woman’s arsenal… how does yours rate?
Required reading from The Bargain Queens this week:
Love is in the air
… but what will you wear? We’re here to help. Read our tips for how to dress on a date for an angst-free preparation so that you can be your most fabulous and relaxed self. And if you’re thinking of treating the man in your life, capture his heart via his stomach or appeal to his sense of fun. (Coming this week, dear reader: how to treat yourself this Thursday.)
Look your svelte best
Get the skinny on how to create the illusion of height using vertical lines, and how to project a slim line in a pencil skirt, plus we share the most crucial shopping tip for smart fashionistas.
Sassy style
A lantern-sleeve jacket perfect for spring, tailored black pumps for climbing the career ladder, and some cute convertible mittens in for late-winter cheer.
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