The ladies' paradise

Gold standard

Okay, gold is not exactly the uncontroversial topic it once was. And now the price has gone sky high, just to make matters more complicated. But this necklace is really lovely -- not usually my thing (it's a bit delicate) but really pretty, and it would also make a good layering piece. What I particularly like is that it's made of something called bi-metal -- 14 karat gold fused to sterling. So although the price isn't that of a throw-away bangle from Target or anything, it is a reasonable price for what it is -- and much less pricy than it would be in gold alone.

Rebecca Overmann Gold Lily Pad Necklace ($370)

It's a wrap!

Yes, I know the warm weather is upon us, but don't you find yourself occasionally chilly at 1) a movie theater, 2) work, 3) on an airplane, 4) other? I do! I usually keep in my purse a rolled-up ivory very thin wool scarf (a pashmina wannabe, but those are so over).

Here's a more-current alternative. It taps into the global vibe with a vengeance.

Mudcloth wool shawl in olive ($195)

By the way, a couple readers have complained that the price point of the things I blog about is too high. I will be focusing on less-expensive things in posts to come. But I also encourage you to think about the cost-per-wearing of the things you buy. If you buy a shawl for almost $200 and wear it frequently for the next 10 years, I consider that a bargain.

On the other hand, I am going to a black-tie function in a couple weeks. I bought the dress ($200) and now need shoes ($100). Fortunately, I have the jewelry and the bag. Even so, I will probably wear the dress once -- maybe twice -- and the shoes, the same.

The shawl winds up being a much more economical purchase.

Another jolt of color!

I have a necklace I bought a few years ago at Urban Outfitters. It was a festoon necklace (I believe that's the name for a necklace with several strands of graduated length) in a fake coral that almost looked like real coral. I still wear it all the time, so I may regret confessing that it cost just $18.

Bubble necklace in Sweet Papaya ($150)

This is a similar color, a color I love, but it's an update I would love to have. I'm all about the essential accessory (the accessory that makes the outfit), and this necklace (from J. Crew) fits the bill.

(If you like it, I'd buy it sooner rather than later; yesterday, the site also had it in lapis and turquoise, but today it just has it in Sweet Papaya.)

If you like the look (and don't mind paying a more), consider Subversive Jewelry. (The site is a little unusual; click on "New" when you get there.)

Subversive Jewelry necklace ($560)

 

Twinkle toes

These shoes are beautiful! I have many pairs of shoes by Cordani and I've loved all but one of them (and those were lovely, too, just too high for me). So imagine my delight at seeing this pair. You would wear them all summer, with everything. What a deal!

Cordani Danika ($213)

Perfect (low-cost) necklace

This is it: The low-cost piece of jewelry that will punch up your most boring outfit and make it scream "Spring." (It's little pieces of coral on a brown silk cord.)

Nikki Butler necklace ($40)

I will be wearing it with this, but you could layer it with many other types of things.

LFrank necklace ($502)

Both pieces from my favorite online jewelry store, Twist.

The perfect purple purse

I love, love, love this purse! Isn't it beautiful?

Rebecca Minkoff Nikki hobo bag in Night Blue ($620)

Spring into earrings

Certain clothes and accessories just shout spring to me. I love these earrings -- they would add color and movement to the most basic spring clothes (black dress, white T-shirt and jeans, etc.) From Twist, my favorite online jewelry store.

Ronni Kappos ellipse and triangle earrings ($165)

The color purple

Am I crazy to be contemplating a violet bag for spring? 

Let me explain. I adore purses. To my mind, they always lift the wattage of any outfit, not matter how ordinary. Throw on your basics from the Gap, and if you have a fabulous bag, you immediately look like a million bucks. My other thinking on bags is that black is boring -- it doesn't really do much for you unless you're dressed in gray, black, or white. So you're best off in either a neutral (tan or chocolate) or a color, something that will pop against the neutrals you're wearing.

I really put this idea to the test this past winter. I especially like hobos (they just fit my shoulders and body better), and so I bought a purple and forest-green large checked slouchy hobo. Sounds kind of weird, but it was perfect all winter -- perfect with blues, with orange (my favorite color), with the range of earth tones I favor, and with gray and black. (Yes, it worked better with some outfits than others.)

Fast forward to yesterday. I spotted this bag in gray over at Grechen's Closet but then saw that it was available in violet at Mr. Charles' Shop.

I love it! I would definitely wear this, and I think Grechen's Closet has discount codes that definitely make the steep price more palatable.

That got me thinking about violet, and how versatile it is, even though you might think otherwise. How about this great Botkier Isis tote in fuschia?

Botkier Isis tote ($695)

The bag below, by Tano, is much less expensive, on sale atLuna Boston for $125. That's a great price point for anyone branching out of a black-bag rut.

True Believer Oversized Hobo in Port ($125, on sale)

Or how about this, also on sale?

Hayden Hobo in Eggplant ($299 on sale)

The whole world on your arm

This is the kind of feel-good thing I am usually very skeptical about, but I really like the look of the bag and am always looking for attractive substitutes for my local grocery store's plastic bag for carrying around things that don't fit into my purse. So I love this Feed bag, the proceeds from which will feed one African schoolchild for one year. What's not to like?

Feed bag ($59.95)

Bag of bronze

Thanks to Grechen over at Grechens Closet for bringing this great bag to our attention. I think I'd like it especially in bronze.

Merrell McGinniss Maggie ($361)

(Also see what Grechen did with her bag-a-thon -- a different bag every day for almost two weeks -- and, in general, the Outfit of the Day section of her site. I'd loathe switching all my stuff from one bag to another, but I like the idea of being the kind of person who would.)