Seeing Oxblood

Hanneli Mustaparta

Oxblood is an undeniable star colour of the season, and it will be continuing its reign come spring as well. This seductive deep red shade has an ability to look both daytime and nighttime appropriate, and extremely polished at that.

 Miroslava Duma

Vita Fede Capri Wrap
 
We love Miroslava Duma's sporty take with her leather jumpsuit. Not only is oxblood a gorgeous colour, but really sexy in leather form. We suggest Vita Fede's wrap bracelet for go with the look.

Rodarte F/W 2012 

Bounkit Faceted Ruby and Peridot Earrings

Rodarte's oxblood had a '40s ladylike feel to it. Very demure and sophisticated, we think Bounkit's ruby earrings would hit the right feel.

Jason Wu F/W 2012  

Elizabeth Cole Chandelier Earrings

Oh, Jason Wu. He's becoming every girl's dream designer, taking notes from legendary Oscar de la Renta. This oxblood evening gown is a stunner and, may we say, a bit of a doppelganger for Elizabeth Cole's chandelier earrings.

RING POWER

Gwyneth Paltrow

Although the last couple of posts were all about layering, this week we are taking a "less is more" kind of approach to accessorising. Taking cues from Hollywood's minimalists like Gwyneth Paltrow, we are focusing on the power of a great cocktail ring.


Emma Stone and Scarlett Johansson

When there is a spectacular dress in play, the best way to accessorize is with a great cocktail ring or maybe great earrings (but that's another post altogether). But the ring also has to be spectacular: large and flashy, enough to take notice all on its own.


KENNETH JAY LANE 'Discoball' Ring'

This Kenneth Jay Lane 'Discoball' reminds us of Gwyneth's giant Bavna diamond ring. So sculptural and sparkly, yet very modern and minimalist.


ERICKSON BEAMON 'Gold Digger' Ring


NOIR Pave Flower Ring

Both of these florals bring a ladylike vintage feel. Aptly titled 'Gold Digger', Erickson Beamon's ring is one of the most intricate we've ever seen, while Noir's flower is just plain beautiful. We see these on really feminine and glamorous girls like Scarlett Johansson or Natalie Portman.


CC SKYE 'Can't Buy Me Love' Ring


VITA FEDE 'Principe' Ring

CC Skye and Vita Fede borrow from the art deco era with these larger-than-life rings. The first one, of course, is a CC Skye signature (similar one was worn by Olivia Palermo a couple of years ago): so intricately made yet so powerful. Vita Fede's 'Principe' ring is as glamorous as it gets. Inspired by Venice’s grand Hotel Principe, its focal point is a large beautiful white pearl surrounded by cascading crystals. Some serious dazzle.

Here's to the power of a ring!

Jewellery Inspiration: JAK & JIL

We are big fans of street style. Okay, maybe not your average street but the streets of New York, Milan and Paris during fashion weeks when all the editors and fashion insiders come out decked out in the latest and perfectly accessorised. And they always take risks, mixing different styles together. It's the same when it comes to jewellery.



KENNETH JAY LANE Double Lion Head Bracelet;
VITA FEDE Vero Snakeskin Bracelet

Our favourite is Jak & Jil, a blog run by a fashion photographer Tommy Ton, precisely because he shoots a lot of accessories. The images are absolutely stunning and style inspiring. It always prompts us to push the envelope a bit and pull out some of the pieces we haven't worn in a while.



KENNETH JAY LANE Snake Bracelet;
VITA FEDE Chain Snakeskin Bracelet



RACHEL LEIGH Gumball Ring;
VITA FEDE Como Hex Bracelet



JOOMI LIM Spike Bracelets;
CC SKYE Pave Stud Bracelet




CHAN LUU Wrap Bracelets;
VITA FEDE Como Hex Bracelet

The styling provides us with endless combinations: things we would never pair up before now make so much sense. We think of it as the runway outside the runway. And New York Fashion Week is just around the corner!

SUNNY BRIGHTS... from runways to Sophie’s Closet

Max Mara S/S '11 and Prada S/S '11

This spring/summer season is just soaking in sunny brights! We love the emphasis on yellow and orange as seen on countless runways like Max Mara, Prada, Jil Sander, Marc Jacobs and Dior. Not only are the clothes going brighter, but also makeup and accessories. Sophie's Closet is filled with brights of every variety: rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.


Max Mara S/S '11 and Peter Som S/S '11 makeup

Yellow is such a happy colour, whether soft like our Bounkit drop earrings or neon like our CC Skye screw bracelet. They are bound to brighten anyone's day. If you are really adventurous, wear them with the Peter Som yellow eyeliner!


BOUNKIT Lemon Quartz Drop Earrings (AED 1,590)


KENNETH JAY LANE Enamel Flower Ring (AED 400)


CC SKYE Screw Bracelet (AED 420)



Prada S/S '11 and Marc by Marc Jacobs S/S '11 makeup

Orange is a constant player every summer since it's a coral shade, but it seemed even bigger this year. It's playful and sexy, a sunny alternative to red. We love a big pop of colour and these Kenneth Jay Lane and vintage Chanel star earrings are definitely a great way to bring attention to our faces. But, let's not forget something for our wrists too.


KENNETH JAY LANE Coral Pave Earrings (AED 620)


Vintage CHANEL Enamel Star Earrings (AED 1,280)


VITA FEDE Fascino Triple Wrap (AED 550)

Spring is finally here!

GIRLS WITH PEARLS

We have been so into classics lately, and it doesn't get more classic than pearls. Some of fashion's most iconic images involve pearl accessories, like the elegant Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her character Holly Golightly refused to wear diamonds, deeming them too old (although now, it's maybe considered the opposite). Then there is also the iconic Coco Chanel, a woman that preferred pearls to any other jewelry.

Far from old-fashioned, pearls are essentially timeless: a beautiful heirloom to pass from generation to generation. Stars today embrace them just as much as in the past, from edgy Rihanna to elegant Sarah Jessica Parker to hip Olivia Palermo and Anne Hathaway to classic Angelina Jolie. Pearls are 'in' for everyone.


Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker

Two extremely different women, two extremely different pearl necklaces. For Rihanna's look, try the layered look with Siman Tu's pearl choker (and if that's not enough, layer every single pearl necklace you own over it!). For elegant simplicity like Sarah Jessica Parker's, go with one strand only with David Aubrey's stunning necklace (it comes with a brooch too for extra POW!). Of course, one could never go wrong with adding a little pearl to our wrists too - we suggest Joomi Lim's pearl bracelet.


SIMAN TU Five Strand Pearl Choker with Coral and Pearl Flower (AED 3600)


DAVID AUBREY 32" Pearl Necklace with Vintage Crystal Brooch (AED 820)


JOOMI LIM Mini Bijoux Pearl Bracelet (AED 450)


Olivia Palermo, Anne Hathaway

These two young trendsetters both rock pearl earrings, but in very different ways. Olivia Palermo plays it up casual with her pearl studs, her hair down and minimal make-up. For Olivia's look, we suggest Kenneth Jay Lane pearl earrings with gold rim (it makes them a little more special). At last year's Oscars, Anne Hathaway worked it Old Hollywood style with a combination of pearls and diamonds. For a similar (but more affordable) effect, we look to glamorous earrings by Jacques Fath.


KENNETH JAY LANE Extra Large Pearl Cabochon Earrings, 1.5x1.5 inches (AED 360)


JACQUES FATH Bal à Versailles Pearl Earrings with Swarovski Crystals (AED 650)


JACQUES FATH Bal à Versailles Long Peal and Swarovski Crystal Earrings (AED 1800)


Angelina Jolie

And then there is Angelina Jolie, a woman that seems to adore pearls, seen wearing her Mikimoto earrings and ring on several occasions. We are all for pearl rings: they make such a great visual statement. We especially love them really chunky and preferably surrounded by Swarovski crystals like Jacques Fath's and Vita Fede's.


JACQUES FATH Bal à Versailles Large Pearl and Swarovski Crystals Ring (AED 960)


VITA FEDE Principe Ring with Pearl and Swarovski Crystals (AED 1600)

Loving pearls? We have many more! Visit www.shopstsophiescloset.com to view our complete selection.