A little find on my 'notes' app

I found myself scrolling through my 'notes' on my iPhone looking for something else when all of a sudden, the words "Pretty bracelet" pop up.  What's this?  The note is from July 9, 2013!  I click it open and find the words "Julie Rofman".  This jogs my brain to produce visions of a beaded bracelet I saw in a great shop in Kennebunk, Maine called Fleurant.  (Fleurant is a great flower and gift shop; stop by when in Kennebunk!)  I remember writing this note while in the store, as I debated purchasing a bracelet.  I never went back to get it!

Fast forward an hour.  I have spent the past hour googling her and looking at her bracelets on her website.  Holy cow.  I forgot how gorgeous they are and have literally gotten a measuring tape out to see what width of bracelet I want.  Help me out - which one should I get?!  I DEFINITELY need one this spring/summer, stacked with my other favorite bracelets!

This Snow Leopard/Cow bracelet appeals to me - more neutral than colorful (you just know I'm the queen of neutral) and the width of the bracelet is pretty perfect at 5/8".

The Zebra/Snake bracelet is the same width, more neutral, and I love the pop of orange.

Or, do I try the Hilo wrap bracelet?  It's really cool! 

Or, do I go with the Seaside bracelet?  At 38" wide, it's a little more narrow than the others, but would that go better with a stack of bracelets?  And at $55, it's a little less of an investment.

Or, do I really make a statement and go with the Snake cuff?  At 1 1/4" wide, it's sure to stand out!

I love that all the bracelets are wrist-adjustable with a cute silver clasp and T-A-S-S-E-L end.  Seriously, help me decide!  Happy 2015! ~ JH

All images from julierofmanjewelry.com.

Lisa takes to the high seas for fashion!

Not one to let a small thing like the Atlantic Ocean stand in the way of a good trunk sale,  I ferried over to Martha's Vineyard 2 weeks ago for the Sisco + Berluti trunk sale at the very vintage/modern/funky home store Brickyard in Vineyard Haven.

These are my new favorite stacking bracelets this summer.  Think turquoise, pyrite, red coral, white coral, antiqued bone, blue sodalite, brass porcupine - the semi-precious gems and bead combinations are endless - punctuated with sparkly gold stardust or pave beads. I could easily create an elbow-length stack.  Their trunk show was full of their amazing signature bracelets and since I'm in full-blown summer mode, my choices were true to the season:  White coral, double wrap turquoise, gold pave stack, plus an unusual brown bead speckled with gold as a transition to fall.   Lucky me the lovely Lisa Sisco was on hand to customize each bracelet for my tiny wrist and voila, perfection!  

Best of all was a sneak peak at some gorgeous - and I mean GORGEOUS - necklaces for fall.   Each was handmade by Lisa or sister Carolyn Berluti and were unique, one-of-a-kind creations.  I love, loved the tassel theme, especially the brown beaded one you see here.  Layer a few over a simple sweater and you are done.   I was on a mission for bracelets and did not shop the necklaces as hard as I should have.  Lisa Sisco told me that we'll see more necklaces for fall and a trunk show at Impulse in Wellesley this fall.  Hooray! 

Lisa and Carolyn were troopers about the littles creating stacks.  Kids bracelets are the rage at Impulse. 

~ LB

All images from Lisa Bida.

...you love leather belts and bracelets.

As you know (or are about to know), there are certain things that drive Lisa and I crazy with excitement.  Tassels, great shoes, and great leather goods are at the top of the list.  I was just in a saddlery store today and found myself pawing some saddles.  Delicious, yummy leather.

You can imagine my delight, when, while surfing Facebook, I found this post from a friend:

Image from Jennifer Houston.

Stop the presses - what is that?!  A DIFFERENT belt?!  Very cool, no buckle, just wrapped leather.  Love, love, love.  So, being me, I clicked on the video to learn more.  You should too.  Click here.

Lombardi Leather (est. 2012) is a fledgling company and through the site Kickstarter.com, it is trying to raise funds to launch their product line.  Kickstarter is this:  It's a website full of projects that are launched with the direct support of founders/customers (you!).  Project creators set a fundraising goal and a deadline for that goal.  If you like a project, you can fund it money.  Click here to read more about the site.  Pretty cool, right?!

So, Lombardi Leather IS one of the projects on Kickstarter.  By 'pledging' a certain amount, you are actually shopping.  If Lombardi reaches their fundraising goal by the end of June, the item you purchased will be delivered in August.  If they don't make their goal, no pledge, no product.  Projects must reach their fundraising goal by the deadline to receive any funds.  Pretty easy, right?

Since I'm obsessed with the leather bracelets, I plan to head over to the Lomardi project page right after I'm done typing this.  For a $29 dollar pledge, one of these will be mine!

Images from kickstarter.com.

And which color should I order?!  Love that St. Barths Blue!

Image from kickstarter.com.

I'm pretty obsessed with the belts too, I'm not going to lie.  They are priced at a 'founder's rate" of $79.  If the project goes live, they will call you to help find the correct size of belt.  Custom belt!  Think of the belt through belt loops, over a wrap sweater in the winter, or cinching a longer blouse or tunic.  Yum!  Gorgeous!

Image from kickstarter.com.

Maybe I'll just pledge $100 and get BOTH the belt and bracelet.  

It's always a happy day when you find a new accessory and can help a small business. Click here to check it out! ~ JH

...you want leather wrap bracelets.

On my Facebook wall last week, there was an ad/share/post from Leather Wraps, which I must have 'liked' at some point.  It was probably on one my attempts to search for something on Etsy that I found them.  It's not often that I find myself on Etsy.  It completely confuses me and any searches I have made return thousands of results.  Too overwhelming.  At any rate, I was glad to be reminded of them!  With spring and summer around the corner, I found myself clicking over to their Etsy shop and surfing around.

I believe I came upon these bracelets in a search because remind me of a one I purchased a couple of summers ago at an art gallery in Rhode Island.  (I must give credit to my friend's mother, who was wearing a version of it.  I grabbed her wrist and asked where I could get one.) By Gillian Julius, this bracelet ALWAYS gets compliments.  

Image from Jennifer Houston.

It has both gold and silver tubes on leather It goes with everything and is a statement on your wrist.  It was also an investment, which leads me back to Leather Wraps.  You can get a very similar look for a fraction of the price.  Check out these favorites below.  First, something similar to the Gillian Julius.

Image from etsy.com.

They come in colors, metallics, etc.  Prices ranging from $23 to $35 for sets.  Some colors come with 6 wraps; others come with 10.  Check out these favorites:

Images from etsy.com

There are lots to choose from and it looks like to can customize what color leather you'd like, what color tubes (silver or gold), and how many you'd like in a set.  What fun!  Hummm...might have to order some. ~ JH

100

Image from carriesdesignmusings.blogspot.com.

No, that's not the number of pairs of shoes in our closets.  Although we might be close.  It's this post - #100!  We've had a blast so far and will continue to blogging away.  Here are some of our favorite posts that you might have missed.

Our most-read post?  Stacked bracelets in our spring 2012 series.

Second most-read post?  How to wear a white blazer.

How this blog came to be?  Read about it here.

Most read answer-to-question-from-a-reader?

Least-read post?  Click here to give it a chance!

What's been your favorite post?  Do you have a fashion question?  Don't hesitate to email us at jen@what2wearwhen.net or lisa@what2wearwhen.net.  Thanks for continuing to read! ~ LB & JH

...you want a rope bracelet for bracelet stacking.

I stopped at a great store in Kennebunkport called Spaces.  Mostly an interior design store, they have some great home accessories, Roberta Roller Rabbit tunics, and some other fun stuff.

As I walked it, I spied this on the front desk:

Image from Jennifer Houston.

"What are THESE?" I squealed.  The sales people (who were completely delightful and knowledgable) told me they were the 'new' Nantucket rope bracelet.  They were from a company called 'The Ropes', all handmade in Maine using marine ropes and accessories.  They also told me that the bracelets had been featured in Elle.com and in other online magazines.

I loved them, their chunky hardware, bold colors, and easy wearability.   Check out the clasp on this one:

Image from Jennifer Houston.

The multi-strand ones were adorable too.

Image from shop.spaceskennebunkport.com.

I tried a few on and fell in love with a navy and white with a red band.  And, as if I was 5 again in the Stride Rite store asking to wear my new shoes home, I asked the sales person to cut the tag off so I could wear it home.

Image from Jennifer Houston.

I'm not as gifted as Lisa is at stacking bracelets, but I'm getting closer!  And, between $30 and $70, they are the perfect 'to me, from me' self-gift.

If you are interested in these little gems, you can see where to purchase them on The Ropes site, or purchase them online from Spaces Kennebunkport.  Happy stacking! ~ JH

what to add to your spring wardrobe? Item #4 is...

Bracelets, and lots of them!  

Hang up your statement necklaces ladies, it's all in the wrist this season.  Piling on a curated assortment of bracelets in every color, texture and size is a trendsetting look that can effortlessly update a casual daytime look or transform a nighttime ensemble.   A sleek cuff or simple bangle, beads, braids, leather, studs, rhinestones or ropes...layer it on like icing on a birthday cake.  But how many?  In what colors and materials?  So much for effortlessly.

I was delighted to find this "cheat sheet" for stacked arms on Pinterest which can help you get your arms around (heh, heh) this fun trend for spring.   I myself will play with 4+3+1 and completely drop 6.  2, 3, and 4 can stand alone and do the job.   There's really no right way to layer...that's the beauty of it!  You Pile & Play until you find a look you love.  There's no denying an armful of stacked mix and match bracelets that together become so chic.

Image from pinterest.com.

Here are some personal picks that I would love to work onto my wrist.

C. Wonder features their logo bangle at $38.  Look at these fabulous colors!  And equally fabulous prices.  Pick one and build around it.  Choose two or three complimentary colors when working on a color scheme for your stack.

Photo from cwonder.com.

J. Crew has some fantastic bracelets in store but not on line.  Check them out next time you're there.  This bad boy can stand by itself or bring the bling to an armful of wrist candy. Their classic gold bangle is just $28.  

Photo from jcrew.com.

How about a premixed set that's ready for stacking?  The textures on these are so interesting and will mix with just about anything you pair with it.  The Madewell stephan & co. metal bangle 7 pack is only ONLY and only $38.

Photo from madewell.com.

Another great anchor piece from Kate Spade to build around with more delicate, thinner pieces. The Kate Spade triple threat faceted bangle is $88.  

Photo from katespade.com.

Henri Bendel in NYC has a dazzling selection of bangles in all sizes and colors.  The chevron pattern is a classic and the white, a nod to summer.  The Henri Bendel Chevron bangle is $118.

Photo from henribendel.com.

Another fabulous anchor piece that would pair well with so many different looks or shine on its own. The tortoise and hammered gold cuff is featured at C. Wonder for $58.

Photo from cwonder.com.

Add some friendship bracelets - get a kit for your daughter and once she gets in a groove, you'll have a rainbow of custom designs, made with love, worn with sentimentality!  Otherwise, try these:

Love Miansai by Michael Saiger's rope bracelets.  $60 each.

Photo from miansai.com.

Add a shot of color with the indego africa bangle - 100% of profits go back to African communities.  Each is handmade and individual; $10 each at Madewell.

Photo from madewell.com.

I love this little number with Swarovski thrown into the mix. The Girlfriend Wrap bracelet is at Henri Bendel for $78.

Photo from henribendel.com.

Another chain wrapped silk cord for a splash of color! $10.74 at ASOS.

Photo from asos.com.

Mali Africa Bangles are so colorful and fun.  Handmade in Mali, and available at Need Supply Co. for $14.

Photo from needsupply.com.

Leather will add some grounding.  I could build a whole arm around either of these - the Logo Stud Wrap bracelets or the Hook Leather Wrap bracelet both from Tory Burch, each $95 at Nordstrom.

Photos from nordstrom.com.

When J. Crew started making jewelry, I got a chain link bracelet that I still reach for in a pinch.  If you don't have one, Michael Kors makes a pretty good one.  His Goldtone Link Bracelet is $125 at Saks.

Photo from saksfifthavenue.com

Finally, some inspirational photos....

Photo from pinterest.com.

Image from talkingwithtami.com.

Image from pinterest.com.

And from the Queen of the stacked bracelets, Atlantic-Pacific.

Images from atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com.

Happy stacking! ~ LB