Ktcollection's Classic-Looking Jewelry

This past weekend I stumbled upon Time Square's Block Party (a street fair) in New York City. I love street fairs for the treasures you find and the food! As I was scoping out the different vendors, I came across Ktcollection Handmade Jewelry. I admired the elegant quality to the pieces. A gold necklace caught my eye and I asked about the cost. To my surprise, it was only $30.

Katie Thompson founded this company when she felt inspired to make jewelry to keep up with the ever evolving fashion scene. The people around her took note of her creativity and she became popular through word of mouth. In addition to necklaces, she makes rings, earrings, and bracelets. You can purchase items online, or if you're in NYC, why not see the collection at a street festival? Click here to look at the calendar and see where Katie will be next.

Get Bitten by SJP

Bitten is Sarah Jessica Parker's unbelievably affordable clothing line. Exclusively sold at Steve & Barry's, the collection includes apparel, shoes, and accessories. But don't expect the high fashions of her onscreen alter-ego, Carrie Bradshaw. Her line offers casual styles and I like them. Some of the looks do gear towards teens and women in their early twenties, but there is something for everyone.

I went in there looking for a summer dress, but there weren't many to choose from. I discovered some jewelry, though, and lucked out on a sale of 3 pieces for $15! There was so much to choose from, I had trouble making a decision. But I finally did and I've been wearing a necklace I bought everyday.


Everything in the collection is $20 or less and the quality is great. Sizes range from XS-XXL for tops and 0-22 for bottoms. It might be worth it to Get Bitten!

Julia Bristow Jewelry is Nature's Beauty

Nature’s Presence is a new collection of jewelry by designer Julia Bristow. There are aspects of nature in each design. The pieces are meticulously handcrafted and signed by the artisan on an engraved tag. The jewelry is made up of a mix of gemstones, high-quality glass, Swarovski crystal, select vintage beads, fruit, leaves, clays, and other materials.

I looked at the collection on her website and saw some really nice pieces. My desired necklace (pictured, right) has a hollow glass pendent and is made out of dark wood, Swarovski crystals, and glass beads.

In addition to Nature's Presence, there are other bracelets, brooches, eye glass holders, and even beaded guitar straps! Julia Bristow's Jewelry has bright colors and can add flavor to any casual, breezy outfit. Go online and check out her pieces. If you decide to buy, insurance is included with domestic shipping!

Keep Things Cool With Icybag

Icybag just might be your cure to melted snacks, ruined cosmetics, and piping hot lotions on a sizzling summer day outing. It's billed as a cooler and handbag in one. Invented by Kathy Cohen, this bag looks ideal for taking trips to the beach, a picnic or any other activity that'll keep you in the sun for long periods of time.

The bag comes in three colors: black, pink, and turquoise. It comes with one or two gel packs which you're supposed to chill overnight. The next day, you'd put them in your bag and go. No one should know that you're carrying a cooler on your shoulder. These bags are cheap too, prices range from $14-$19. That's it! Click here to find out more.

Stylish Bags at Accessory Bug

Want a new bag to go with a new outfit? Why go out and search endlessly, when you can relax at home and shop online at Accessory Bug? Owned by Cathy Chiang and Peter Lin, this online store is a woman's dream! They have designer-inspired handbags (Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Chanel, and more) at ridiculously affordable prices. You can take your pick of clutches, shoulder bags, satchels, and even motorcycle bags to bring an edge to any look. They have other kinds of bags, including those for prom and wedding occasions.

But that's not all. They sell stylish belts, wallets, and wristlets too. There is a reasonable $5 flat rate for shipping. To get more savings, use this 10% off coupon code: aprsale. But don't wait too long because this offer expires on May 31st, 2008. Click here to browse their selection and to sign up to receive coupons, promotions, and their newsletters.

2008 Oscars Best Dressed: Lady in Red

Everyone knows that the Oscars aren’t just about honoring the artists in the film industry. The red carpet fashions are just as exciting. There will always be those who miss the mark (like wearing a black dress with pink bows on each shoulder), and then there are the ones who got it right.

My favorite look for the night goes to Katherine Heigl (pictured at the left). She perfects the Old Hollywood look with her hairstyle and the Escada dress, which is a perfect shade of red. She didn't appear washed out in the carpet and the dress is simply gorgeous. But it didn't stop there. She adorned herself with Ryan Ryan jewels and topped off her look with a Jimmy Choo clutch and shoes. Her makeup was flawless and not overbearing at all. Although I am sure it took her a long time to get ready for the event, her finished look seems effortless.

[Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty]

Fortunate for fortunoff

Am I the only person who daydreams about being able to afford that $16,000 square cut ring from Tiffany’s? Of course not. One of the most popular tourist destinations in New York City is Tiffany's on W 57th Street. It's been idolized by many thanks to the book and movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. Walking around in the store lets us live out our fantasy and we pretend that we can afford to buy their jewelry. Thankfully there is a store that makes that a reality. After your "tour" of Tiffany's just walk across the street to fortunoff, from where you could actually leave with a purchase. It amused me to see that fortunoff has opened a location diagonally across from the iconic Tiffany's.

I decided to check out fortunoff. When I walked in, I immediately felt out of my element. My jeans and sneakers were no match for the neatly coiffed staff. A young woman gave me a warm welcome, handed me a store map (They have three levels.), and after getting over my silly notions, I looked around. Liking the superb presentation of the jewelry, I simply gazed at it as it gleamed before me. A particular sapphire ring caught my eye (similar to the one on the right), being that blue is my favorite color. After drooling over it, I went upstairs to look at the wedding gifts and baby registry. They had fine and casual china, silver flatware and a baby fortunoff section, as well as more jewelry to tease me with.

There's more to fortunoff than jewelry, baby, and wedding registry. Click here to peruse their array of home décor and artwork, the gift gallery, gazebos(wow, really?), the list goes on. So if you live in New York City or plan to visit, stop in fortunoff and give it a try. Happy savings!

Bead for Life: Ending Poverty Through Creativity

I just purchased a long beaded necklace which helped in getting rid of poverty in Uganda. How, you say? Through the Bead For Life organization, whose goal is to eradicate poverty through creative means. Instead of just accepting donations, they empower women (who have been through situations I cannot imagine) to create beads from recycled paper: old calendars, magazine pages, and even cereal boxes. These beads, which boast bold colors of red, orange, pink, blue, green, purple and more, become necklaces (long, short, flat, or circular), bracelets and beaded jewelry bags.

The profits they receive from selling their jewlery go toward their own community projects and six other organizations in Uganda. Do you want to get involved yourself? Why not have a bead party? At a bead party you could sell a bunch of bracelets and necklaces to family and friends. Another suggestion from the organization is to set up a table at a community event and reach out to others there.

In addition to selling jewelry and handbags, Bead for Life sells note cards, envelopes, and a CD filled with 16 original songs from their own choir. I also like the idea of buying a bag of beads from them and having an arts and crafts night with the family. There are so many facets to this wonderful organization, so please click here to read their stories and other ways to help.

Got Gilt?

Do you love getting 50%-75% off the original retail price of designer apparel and jewelry? Of course you do, so you need to be in with Gilt Groupe.

Founded by best friends Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis, Gilt Groupe specializes in offering sample sales or “Shopping Events” as they call it, of brands ranging from Badgley Mischka (How I love those clothes!) and Vivienne Tam, to the Indian-inspired jewelry of Amirita Singh, the Thai infused clothing of Thakoon, and the dainty outfits of Dessous. (The Dessous sale just ended on Wednesday, and some of their clothes sold out!) The Shopping Events last 36 hours and are only accessible online at Gilt.com. Gilt Groupe always has previews of their upcoming sales, which provide background info on the featured brands, usually accompanied by a 45 second video reel of the products.

But to be a part of this online community you have to be a member and, in order to join, an existing member must invite you. Well, today’s your lucky day, because as a reader of The Glamorous Bee you're invited! All you have to do is click here and register. Once that’s done, reciprocate and invite others to join.

So the next time someone asks, “Is that all it costs?” tell them about Gilt Groupe and then do them a favor by sending them an invitation!

In Marc's Corner Again

Years ago when Marc Jacobs first burst onto the scene I simply fell in love with what he was doing. Lately, though, it's been hard to say that I'm still a fan of his. Now I have a reason to cheer for him once again. I saw the shoe on the left in the latest issue of Harper's Bazaar, in the Fabulous At Every Age section on page 146.

Yes, it's recommended for the 70+ woman, but I'm not ashamed to admit I'm in love with this shoe. It reminds me of those classic Chanel slingbacks from a bygone era. I've always been a big fan of vintage Chanel and, if I never get to own a pair of Chanels, at least I can substitute Marc's (if I can manage to save up for them).

Hurray, Marc!

Buzzing off for now...

Be ClipChic This Holiday Season

Ladies, have you ever heard of purse hooks? I hadn't until I received the one on the left from Anne R.

Anne was introduced to purse hooks by a friend who'd bought a rather large one at a small store in Hawaii. She wanted one that was compact enough to fit inside her purse but it didn't exist. So, she invented the Stylagio ClipChic.

According to the Stylagio website, 1) handbags carry millions of bacteria, 2) We don't take care of our handbags with the same dedication we use to take care of ourselves, and 3) We're constantly thinking about securing our handbags while we're out in public.

Stylagio promises that we'll worry no more with ClipChic. No more putting bags on surfaces that God knows what has been on before-hand. No more sitting with a huge purse on your lap while you try to eat or conduct business. No more purse spills or otherwise just having your purse fall to the floor, be stepped on or accidentally kicked around.

I think ClipChic is a great idea. However, I also think it should be reiterated that it is a purse hook, not a purse lock. A woman should still keep an eye on her bag when using it.

Interested in purchasing Clipchic? It's available in several fashion colors for $19.95. If you order one now you'll save 20%. No minimum purchase is necessary. Just go to Stylagio.com and use promo code GLAMBEE20 at checkout. The code is good through December 31st. Happy shopping!

Buzzing off for now...

The Goddess of Totes

Ladies, allow me to introduce you to the Aphrodite Tote (above). Made of Italian leather with removable fringes and interchangeable straps, it is the signature piece of the Camenae Spring Resort 2008 collection.

I fell in love with this bag the moment I saw it at the press preview I attended a few weeks ago. The entire Spring Resort 2008 collection was on display that day, but I could do nothing but fixate on this tote. It's dimensions are 13" long x 4" wide x 15" high and it comes with a 17.3" long strap. In addition to the sand color above, it's also available in black and in mahogany.

If you know about this line of bags, you know that what makes it different from other handbag lines is the 3-part 'C-lock,' which enables straps to be interchanged with other bags and belts.

A woman can carry this bag casually or she can use it for business; it's large enough to carry a laptop in, which is good because its lining is waterproof. I would love to own this bag. However, with a $1,590 price tag, it will have to stay on my wish list for the foreseeable future.

Buzzing off for now...

Let The Giveaways Begin!

Thanks to Coutorture, there will now be weekly giveaways right here at The Glamorous Bee! This week's giveaways are wine totes, courtesy of Italian wine-maker Ecco Domani. For a chance to win see the box on the sidebar to the right, directly under the Coutorture button. This particular contest ends Oct 21, but be sure to check back weekly for more great giveaways! Good luck!

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It's A Couture Society

Have you heard about Couture Society? It's a brand new site by Lauren Taylor, who calls it "...a daily review and directory of designer handbags, couture, shoes and accessories." Go there for news on the latest designs, fashion events and sales, as well as for contests and giveaways. Lauren wants the site to be a real couture community so, included within it are the Society Forums, where fashion divas can chat with other like-minded women in cyberspace.

Sound interesting? Check it out! Good luck, Lauren.

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An Apple For The Shopper

Better check your rearview mirror, Lucky. You might have competition in the near future. Apples2apple is an online shopping magazine with links to all of the latest online deals on everything, including jewelry, accessories, beauty, apparel and home furnishings. Today, among other stories, they have a feature story on crystal, with a link to the number one name in crystal, Swarovski.

So if you're always looking for the best deals before plunking your money down, be sure to bookmark this site and check it daily.



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Ford Models 360: Must Have Handbags

Big news for video lovers! Ford Models now has a video component on its website. I was looking at some of them today and thought this one was pretty good:

[Player removed. Scroll down to see the permanent one!]


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Has Marc Jacobs Gone Mad?

Do you want "a retro carryall with all-American appeal, [is] a warm-weather essential?" This is the description of the bag on the left, one of the new Louis Vuitton tote bags for this Spring. The price tag: $2,660.

I'm trying to figure out if it's leather, or if there's something else about it that makes it that expensive. After all, it seems to be nothing more than one of those plastic totes you can buy in the dollar stores in working class neighborhoods. I have several of them, in several sizes. The only difference between this one and mine is the blue Louis Vuitton logo.

I can see paying thousands of dollars for a Louis Vuitton bag. I've actually done it. However, unless someone can tell me why I should plunk down $2,660 for a plastic tote bag, I'm not buying this bag. Marc Jacobs, you have gone mad.

Buzzing off for now...

Update: Well, what do you know, it is leather! I found it on the LV website. Hmmmm, it still reminds me of my plastic totes. Thanks but, no thanks.

Spring's Must-Haves (According To Saks)

Saks Fifth Avenue is continuing with its Must-Haves ad campaign with their recent announcement of what they consider to be the Spring Must-Haves. For women, the Must-Haves are:

High-Waisted Belt
Flat Shoe
Chic Day Dress
Floral Fragrance
Cocktail Dress
Crisp White Shirt
Platform Shoe
Hand-held Bag
Shorts

Take a look at a video preview:



You can watch the complete video here.


A high-waisted belt? No, thank you. I can definitely see myself wearing the other items, though!

Buzzing off for now...

A Walk Down Gladiator Lane

I have a confession to make: I was a big fan of the TV show "American Gladiators." Every time I tell someone that, they nearly end up on the floor, overcome with laughter. I don't know what it was about that show that kept me captivated every Saturday afternoon. I suppose it was the sports fan in me. In any case, perhaps Fox should consider bringing the show back, since there appears to be a gladiator sandal trend brewing for this Spring. Amazon.com's new website for shoes, Endless.com is now offering several cute sandals, all of which are either gladiator style
or gladiator-inspired:







I'm really impressed with this website! Not only do they have women's shoes, they have handbags, shoes for children and even footwear for the man in your life. Right now they've got a nice little promotion going on. For a limited time they're offering free overnight shipping to anywhere in the continental US. So try not to put it off for too long. Log on and satisfy your inner gladiator!

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NY Fashion Week, Fall 07: Heatherette

I was just looking at pictures from last night's Heatherette Show. I'm not sure why, but I'm having a hard time finding something nice to say about it. Maybe it's because it's early in the morning and I didn't sleep well. Or perhaps it's just that I prefer clothing that is more tailored and classic. Then again, maybe I'm just a middle-aged fart. I suspect it's all of the above. The only thing that caught my eye was the handbag some of the models were carrying:

(Photos by Coutorture, sponsored by Shopstyle.com )


This is a beautiful bag! If this is any indication of the handbag trend for Fall 2007, it's going to be a great season indeed.

Buzzing off for now...