Flower Statement Necklaces

Call me a girly girl, but I love flowers. I've never been a fan of roses, but poseys get me every time. A bouquet of peonies can make a room, and a bowl of lilacs can improve the worst of days.

It only seems natural then, that for one who loves flowers, the ideal situation would be to wear them. To combat the problems of wilting and shedding petals, I've found the most lovely solutions below.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Marni necklace. Its so artlike that it is worthy of framing, only then you wouldn't be able to wear it. At $685, it is a bit beyond my budget.

This option at right, from the Shop Suey Boutique, is a lot more palletable at only $28. How lovely would this look with a black strapless cotton dress, or even over top of a casual tank with jeans? It reminds me of something I found in my grandmother's jewelry box. My only concern would be the quality - but for that price, I'd deem it worth the risk!!!

What is that you say? $28 is too much? Well, in this economy, that is understandable. Once upon a time, about 7 years ago, Miss Margaret fell in love with a store called Forever 21. Don't be fooled by the teenager-ish name and the short skirts lurking in the windows. This store has things for all ages, and it is cheap cheap cheap. Their jewelry is awesome. Often modeled after what is new at J.Crew and other similar shops, they put out stylish pieces at literally a fraction of the price. This necklace is about $15.

I know this necklace is not floral, but I love it and I've loved it for a long time, in its various incarnations from J.Crew. It has been black, coral, turquoise, and now gray and everytime I see I WANT IT!!! Unfortunately, it is always $150. I've seen it on eBay for a little bit less, but not enough less for me to take the plunge. I have however seen some alternatives elsewhere.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Forever 21 was a national chain and you could order online. Deluxe!!! This necklace at right is a good $15 substitute for the J.Crew bubble necklace at 1/10 of the price. It may be made of cheap metal and plastic, but what do you think the J.Crew version is made of, platinum and diamonds? Let's be real here.

Any of these pieces would be perfect for a night out, at a wedding, or even at the office. I may just have to buy all of them :)

Inaugural Blogural

Many times each week, I find myself searching the web for things that please the eye, preferably in my budget. I'll see a glossy magazine filled with the latest designer look, and I'll yearn for pieces of each outfit. I've never been one to sit and pine away, so thank God for the internet.

I'm a California girl by birth, but spent over a decade in New England, and picked up (what I consider) a nice hybrid style in the process. I love seersucker and monograms and anything you'll find in a Memorial Day weekend shot on Nantucket. I've considered the J. Crew catalog serious reading material since middle school. That said, you can take the girl out of California, but you can't take the California out of the girl. We wear white in December and winter coats in July. Anything goes out here.

I currently reside in downtown San Francisco, the city with a style entirely of its own. A seersucker sheath dress with high brown boots on a cold June after-noon? Bring it on I say! Let's mix the east and west and come up with something great.

Top that with marrying into a family from Bombay, India, and the style becomes international. I could spend days combing flea markets and bazaars finding just the right piece (or the right 20 pieces). I am lucky to have a mother-in-law who loves jewelry.

Lastly, I'm notoriously cheap. I love shopping too much to blow my whole budget on one item, so I am constantly combing the internet, sample sales and other sources for my "finds." I'll spend on a good pair of jeans and on fine jewelry, but that is about it. Anything else can be found at a serious discount somewhere!

I've seen similar blogs, and (not to be braggy) I think I can do it as well, if not better. Certainly a nice break from lawyer life, to say the least! Happy viewing!