Neutral Territory

By the time you read this, I'll be submersed in strategic planning at our corporate retreat, sneaking quiet moments on the dock to read Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five and the September issue of Vogue. I doubt I'll find much sartorial inspiration in the former, so I'm relying on Vogue for autumnal staples - like a camel-colored dress. The feminine silhouette is reminiscent of the 1950s - certainly not an unappealing trait, but I still craved the juxtaposition of youthful accessories.

Outfit Notes: Nine West Dress; Banana Republic Necklace, The Limited Bracelet; Forever21 Ring; Jeffrey Campbell Shoes; Revlon "Minted" Nail Polish

p.s. Don't forget to enter the Polyvore contest! After creating your fall look, click on the gallery to see outfits from our talented readers!

{ wish listed } Diane von Furstenberg Bangles

Behold, my kind of bracelet: bold, sculptural, vintage-inspired and reminiscent of faraway lands. I'm leaning toward turquoise, what's your favorite?



Bracelets: $145 each by Diane von Furstenberg

Cocktail Hour

The opportunity to don silk, chiffon and piles of baubles is the real reason I always RSVP to a cocktail party. Well, that, and the promise of libations swirling in a martini glass. I snagged this Karen Zambos Vintage Couture mini dress at a Shopbop warehouse sale two years ago. Yet, the "dress" hasn't made its soiree debut. The short hemline barely covers my tush, pushing the boundaries of decency. Cue the black pencil skirt to rescue me from social misconduct.

Outfit Notes: Karen Zambos Vintage Couture Mini Dress; Max Studio Skirt; Banana Republic Beaded Purse; Forever21 Ring; Opal and Diamond Ring; Forever21 Bracelets; Earrings courtesy of LuShae Jewelry

Tie One On

It was just a matter of time before I dipped my toe into tie-dyed waters, shunning rows of neon in favor of a subtle silk blouse from Banana Republic. In the oppressive summer heat, I've opted to pair the top with simple, safari-esque shorts. But once fall arrives, the snake-like print will transition perfectly with layers of fall garments.


Outfit Notes: Banana Republic Blouse; Banana Republic Earrings; Noir Bracelet; Old Navy Shorts

Whale of a Time

After yet another coat of navy paint in the bedroom, Nate and I are assigned with our individual tasks. He's taking care of "manly" duties like electrical work and nailing trim. I'm in charge of decorating - the perfect excuse to acquire Thomas Paul's Moby Pillow. I had wish listed, obsessed over and even posted about this pillow over the last year and it was well worth the wait. Although, truth be told, the pillow is resting comfortably in my living room until I move into his place.

Outfit Notes: Banana Republic Dress; Forever21 and Banana Republic Bracelets; Necklaces from J.Crew, LOFT, NVme Fashions, Wendy Mink Jewelry

Sparkle & Shine

By now we've all lusted over J.Crew's 2010 fall look book. The styling of the collection is, in a word, perfection - right down to the artful excess of brooches adorning a menswear-inspired blazer. I'm never one to turn down a J.Crew bauble, but this season I'm taking it to eBay's variable collection of vintage jewels to recreate the look.

first row
Green Rhinestone Brooch, current bid: $9.99
Amber and Blue Round Brooch, current bid: $5.25

second row
Monet Goldtone Brooch, current bid: $7.99
Topaz and Citrine Rhinestone Brooch, buy it now: $28.99

third row
Crystal Oval Brooch, current bid: $6.99
Art Deco Sunburst Brooch, current bid: $24.99

Seeing Red

There aren't many items that rarely take residence inside my closet, but this dress is one exception. Each time it comes home from the dry cleaner, I can barely wait to wear it again ... and again. With its breezy silhouette and tropical-inspired print, it's an easy favorite for summer. It didn't come easy, though. After spotting the sold-out dress on Net-a-Porter 2008, it took nearly eight months of eBay scouring to finally seize the piece.

Outfit Notes: Diane von Furstenberg Dress; Guess Shoes; Forever21 Necklace; Druzy Ring via Silvermoon-inc on eBay; Revlon "Minted" Nail Polish

Green with Envy

A couple of weeks ago, I braved the Maxwell Street Day sales at Shopbop's brick and mortar location here in Madison, Wis. Designer names for $100 or less? I'm there - along with throngs of style-hungry girls. I tried on piles of Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg and a $50 Halston Heritage dress I so desperately wanted to love. But only one piece made its way home with me: an emerald blouse by Velvet with a Cleopatra-esque neckline.


Outfit Notes: Velvet Blouse; Jess LC Division Chevron Earrings; Bougainvillea Boutique Bracelet

Win it!
Enter to win a $140 Oufi London handbag!

Spotted

When I purchased my very first leopard-print garment, I was afraid that I'd be overpowered by the feline spots. The antidote: equally bold gilt cuffs and understated shorts. Safari glam at its finest.

For a minimal investment of $25 at H&M, the blouse has serious sartorial mileage. I'll up the glamour factor this autumn by pairing it with a curve-hugging black pencil skirt.

Outfit Notes: H&M Blouse; H&M Shorts; Forever21 Cuffs; House of Harlow Bangle

Win it!
Enter to win a $140 Oufi London handbag!

Giveaway: Wendy Mink Jewelry Necklace

It seems that many of you also fell for the necklace I wore in the previous post. Well, you're in luck. One Style Obsession reader will add the Crystal Gold Links necklace to her collection, courtesy of Wendy Mink Jewelry.

Simply visit Wendy Mink Jewelry and take a few minutes to browse the site. Leave a comment letting me know what other piece you love (like the gorgeous the Malachite Beaded Tassel). Be sure to check out the members-only section for exclusive treasures (username: wendyminkexclusive; password: minkmember).

The Details
Open to all readers - even our international friends! The entry period runs through Monday, June 21. The winner will be announced the following day.

For One Entry
Visit Wendy Mink Jewelry and leave a comment. You must leave your e-mail address or blog URL so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For Additional Entries
Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

• Follow Style Obsession (leave a comment saying you "follow")
  
• Blog about this giveaway (please provide link)
  
• Tweet about this giveaway (please provide link)

Free shipping for Style Obsession readers: If you fall in love with another piece of Wendy's work, Wendy Mink Jewelry has generously offered to extend free shipping to each of you! Just write "Style Obsession" in the "checkout notes" section and your shipping costs will be refunded.

Entries Closed. Thanks for participating!

Layer It On

I've had an affinity for baubles created by independent artisans ever since working at a small jewelry store in Bayfield, Wis. There's a level of quality and care - both about the jewelry and about the client - that goes into these pieces that you'll never find in a mass-marketed product. When I was contacted by Wendy Mink Jewelry, I knew I was going to fall hard for her work. Each piece is uniquely gorgeous - and each is handmade in her Tribeca studio by Tibetan artisans.

I now have an ever-expanding wish list of her work, but one piece that I kept clicking back to was the Crystal Gold Links necklace. With layers of gold-filled links and crystals from vintage stock, is it any surprise this one was right up my alley?

Wendy Mink's inspiration seems to come from a mix of organic features, Indian influences and vintage touches - all perfectly encompassed in this necklace. It's well-made and sturdy, yet weighs less than I expected. In fact, it's so comfortable that I've been wearing it every day since it arrived last Wednesday!

What I admire most about her line is the variety of price points. Most items seem to run around $200, but there are plenty of low-investment options like this sweet Lilypad necklace for $35.

Free shipping for Style Obsession readers: As an added bonus, Wendy Mink Jewelry has generously offered to extend free shipping to each of you! Just write "Style Obsession" in the "checkout notes" section and your shipping costs will be refunded.

Members-only access: You'll notice a "Members" section on the site. This is typically reserved for long-term customers of Wendy Mink, but you can shop the exclusive section with the following information: username: wendyminkexclusive; password: minkmember.

Love the Crystal Gold Links necklace? Come back Tuesday for details on how to win one of your own!

Outfit Notes: Max Studio Maxi Dress; Banana Republic Bracelet; Yves Saint Laurent Arty Ovale Ring; Wendy Mink Jewelry Crystal Gold Links Necklace; Nine West Sandals

FTC-Required Disclaimer: Wendy Mink Jewelry provided product free of charge for editorial review. All opinions stated within are my own and are not influenced in any way.

{ giveaway } Towne & Reese

Mandatory entry:

1. Visit Towne & Reese and let me know which item you'd like to add to your jewelry box!
   

Note: Leave a separate comment for each additional entry for it to be eligible.

1. Become an official follower of Style Obsession - new followers always welcome! Sign up at the right via Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', or by RSS. Just let me know how you follow.
   
   
2. Become a fan of Towne & Reese on Facebook.
   
   
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment.
   
   
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment.
   

The Fine Print: Giveaway open to readers in the United States. The giveaway period will run through Sunday, June 19, 2011. The winner will be announced the following day. Be sure to leave a blog URL or e-mail address so I can contact you!

Can't wait to see if you win? Take 15% off your purchase with coupon code STYLEOBSESSION15. It expires on Saturday, June 18.

Golden Skies

For years, I touted silver's superiority to gold.

"It goes with everything."

"It's much more classic."

"Gold is just so tacky."

And then I purchased a piece of gold costume jewelry. Then another. The truth is, gold exudes an exoticism and a warmth that silver just can't match.

(pictured clockwise, starting from upper left)

Gorjana, Essex Drop Necklace, $95
Alexis Bittar, Klimt Citrine Drop Earrings, $195
CC Skye, Tassel Bracelet, $179
ABS by Allen Schwartz, Chain and Teardrop Bracelet, $150
Dara Ettinger, Grey Jill Ring, $155
Alanna Bess, Black Garnet Earrings, $138

{reviewed} Towne & Reese

I have a not-so-secret life goal of owning an enviable collection of costume jewelry (real gems also accepted, but financially unrealistic), so when a new company springs up with lust-worthy designs, you know I'm on board. Last year Christi Pack and Jessica Stanfield launched Towne & Reese, a jewelry line featuring on-trend designs, each under $50. When the ladies over at Towne & Reese offered to send over a couple of items for review, I couldn't resist - especially when the baubles remind me of two summer loves.

As if you're not already cooing, let me add to the cuteness. The company was named after Christi's daughter, Towne, and Jessica's daughter, Reese. Even the jewelry selections share the sentiment with monikers honoring a daughter of a friend. Adorable, right?

Okay, back to the task at hand: fantastically well-made and trendy. I'll be the first to admit that the size of the coral Elise Necklace intimidated me at first, but it has all of the spring essentials: orange and boldly color blocked. It's growing on me quite a bit. As for the Ella earrings, I think there's the promise of an elegant patio dress in their future - especially when they're light enough to wear all evening without aching earlobes.

Stay tuned for a giveaway announcement in a couple of days!