When I snap my fingers…. it will be Spring

 

Vermillion Flurry Blouse

 

Since I woke up to the schools being closed…AGAIN (thanks for the 5 a.m. phone call informing of me this, school district) and God only knows how many feet of snow outside my door, which was completely unexpected (run Sam Champion, RUNNN) I thought it would be an ideal time to remind you of a few things.

1. Spring is coming. It’s coming. The snow will go away. It will. I will make it go away. I can melt snow with a glare. It is my superpower. : ) 

How do I know this? How can I be so sure? I have already started shopping around for a few items to add to the wardrobe. Because I’m a pretty average size (8) things get snapped up fast and I have learned over the years that If I don’t grab it, it will be gone. As a matter of fact the shirt I mentioned in my blog a couple of weeks ago is already on backorder. But it is on sale, so grab it. http://avoo.net/yhcci I consider that type of shirt more of a staple item. Something to just throw on without thinking, by the way, not a big fashion statement. 

Tropicana Earrings

 

2. It’s time to go through your closet and figure out what you didn’t wear this winter, release your emotional attachment. (it used to fit me, my mom gave it to me, blah, blah blah) and get rid of it. Also assess what you already have for Spring so you don’t end up buying two of the same thing.

3. I’ve been making all sorts of Spring jewelry. Truly, so much has yet to be put on my site yet, http://www.sueanneshirzay.etsy.com but I do have a special category for the new Spring stuff AND for you gift givers or MEN (come on, I know you guys are reading this–and you might as well subscribe, by the way ) I have even added gift certificates. By the way, I’m going to have a contest soon, the prize will be a gift certificate, so please do subscribe so the blog will be emailed to you and you won’t miss it. : )

Gift Certificates in $50 and $75

 

4. Start looking around for things that inspire you. Inspiration comes from all kinds of places. This video is a great song, is beautifully art directed/directed and reeks of style, for example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn84jwhL3W4

5. Think COLOR. No, not head to toe neon green, darling. Just a pop of red, orange, bright blue. Get yourself in the mood for Spring before it actually arrives. No law against that.

Butterflies for Lupus Necklace

 

6. Do something nice for somebody. While you are still hibernating, take the time to do something that will help somebody else, somebody you don’t even know, and make a difference. To that end I have co-designed the Butterflies for Lupus Necklace. $20 from every purchase of this necklace will go to the Lupus Foundation of PA. As always, click on the pictures to get more information on ony of the items I have mentioned here. 

Now. Pass me the shovel.

Why Jewelry is Sexy

Can it be helped? Jewelry is sexy. People who wear it are sexy. I’m in a sexy business. It’s a great place for a hopeless freakin’ romantic to be. Ha.

There’s a saying “Any piece of clothing can be sexy with a quietly passionate woman inside it”. The same applies for jewelry.

Sexy, how, you ask?

Gisele Earrings

 

Think back, boys… That flash of silver on the curve of her neck when you kissed it. The flutter of an eyelash atop her beautiful eyes. The earrings that brought out the color of those eyes and rustled as she let you whisper in her ear “I love you” for the first time, while you tried to decipher if her eyes were really more of a blue or green, brown or hazel.

The pretty jewels that sparkled and drew you in as you looked…there… hoping she didn’t notice, because you just couldn’t help yourself. This is why jewelry is sexy. This is why men don’t buy jewelry for a woman they’re seeing unless they think she is “IT” all caps, exclamation point, hot, hot, hot personified. Because they know once they do that…they’re making a statement. All they see is you. All they want to see is you. And you are more than enough.

As a jewelry designer, I don’t just make jewelry, I make love happen. Passion, excitement, attraction. Hey- somebody’s got to do it. And it’s a fun job. My full line can be found online at http://www.sueanneshirzay.etsy.com

Ladies, I always say I want the beauty of a woman to be seen first before any piece I may design.  The  jewelry is only to accentuate the individuality of every woman. That’s why I love making custom pieces. Working with color and texture fascinates me. Simple, sensual, beautiful stones. I never make anything that’s overwhelming. Many of my pieces can be grouped together and layered.

Stephanie Mystic Blue Topaz Earrings

 

When you receive a gift of jewelry from a man it’s him saying “I want you, I love you, and that won’t go away anytime soon”. When you purchase it for yourself, it’s you saying “Look out, world, here I am. I look fantastic. Make way. I take no prisoners.”

It’s fun hearing stories about what happened to women when they were wearing something I created. People tell me how they met their new boyfriend, or better yet…married their husband… while wearing my jewelry. They got the job they really wanted. They got compliments all day. They tell me I must have put some kind of spell on the jewelry, because they met someone special the first time they put it on. Some people think that because I touched it they get my good vibes. I don’t know if any of that is true, it sounds silly, but it makes me happy to make them happy. What I really think is when you look good, you feel good. And good things happen.

Of course, I also hear stories of how the very interesting ways the jewelry, can, ahem, can get broken.  I have a “no questions asked” repair policy. Most of all I hear…”Sueanne…He really loves your jewelry on me”. “No”, I say, “It is you he loves”. The jewelry is just a sweet frosting on a delicious cake. And that is you. A beautiful woman, inside and out.

I wish you a happy, happy, sexy Valentine’s Day.

Don’t be afraid to show your stripes

I feel good in stripes. 

Vintage bateau J Crew

 

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. I must have “done time” at some point in my life. Knocked somebody down during a Nordstrom semi-annual sale.  Thrown a shoe at somebody who said they loved wearing black. Gotten in a tussle with some unsuspecting chick over who is cuter, Johnny Depp or Matthew Mcconaughey. For the record, it’s Johnny. 

Pineapple Quartz Gunmetal Necklace

 

But, no, it’s not that. I’ve given it a great deal of thought and decided I just have my moods where I want to look like a french sailor. Whaaat? Is that so wrong? It’s a clean look, a fresh classic look. A little boatneck, a little shoulder showing. It’s basically my much nicer alternative to throwing on sweats. I’m the anti-sweat, unless I’m actually exercising. If you think that sweatpants are stylish, by the way, please take a moment and subscribe to this blog now. I will find you, and your little closet too. I think stripes are sexy. You can disagree. But you’d be wrong.

Cameron Earrings

 

The good news is even though they never went “out” stripes seem to be particularly “in” for spring and summer this year, so there is a tremendous amount from which to choose. It doesn’t matter that I already own ten striped shirts, I’ll still buy more. And please don’t tell me that stripes make you look fat. Just don’t wear prison stripes. Keep the stripes darker and/or thinner, like black stripes on a brown shirt. Or just let a little of the stripes peek out from under a sweater so they don’t make you look all horizontal.

As far as wearing jewelry with stripes, I think you can either keep it simple with just a necklace or earrings and light makeup, or go for more of a rocker look with tons of layered pieces and a smokey eye. Stripes are extremely versatile in this way. My full line of jewelry can be found at http://www.sueanneshirzay.etsy.com

As always, please feel free to comment on this post and send any and all suggestions or questions to sueanneshirzay3@gmail.com. Happy Shopping. : )

Plaid Shirts are for Suckers

Step Away From the Plaid

 

The Bella Necklace, one of my bestsellers

 

A number of people, men and women alike, have asked me about the obnoxious tendency “the fashion world” has towards pushing plaid shirts upon women as the “latest trend” every 4.5 years. It happened again this Fall. As I am part Scottish, you would think plaid would be my best friend.

Eh, Not when it comes to shirts, ladies.

Ask yourself these important questions. Do you hunt moose? Do you drink a lot of beer? Do you want to look like a guy who chops wood for a living? So, in essence, if you do not want to look like a beer-guzzling, wood-chopping, moose-hunting …dude… then avoid the plaid shirts. If it sounds like I’m yelling…it’s because I am. 

Soho Blazer

 

That being said, I happen to like plaid scarves and jackets. That’s different. Here’s a really cute jacket from Boden. The rule of thumb is they need to be short and fitted to look current. Yes, they are not especially figure-flattering, but quite frankly if it’s a cute jacket, who cares if you look two pounds heavier? Cute jackets are hot, hot, hot. I do have several in my closet and I just can’t get enough. This one is on sale right now as it’s the end of the season, so if you like it, grab it. They don’t have my size anymore, it sold out early and I missed the boat. Click on the picture to get the the website. And yes, it will still be in style for the next few years, it’s pretty classic. 

Go out and have some fun with plaid, just put away the shotgun and Schlitz. And please forward any and all style questions to sueanneshirzay3@gmail.com