It’s October and with it, Breast Cancer awareness month and it’s time we ALL start thinking about miracles! As a partner in Surviving Beautifully, a brand new project to help women with aesthetic issues during treatment, it’s my latest, heartfelt work. I promise more about that later. For now, the ... Read More »]]> “I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and… I believe in miracles. ” – Audrey Hepburn

It’s October and with it, Breast Cancer awareness month and it’s time we ALL start thinking about miracles! As a partner in Surviving Beautifully, a brand new project to help women with aesthetic issues during treatment, it’s my latest, heartfelt work. I promise more about that later. For now, the jewelry and fashion lover in me wants to Think Pink with style. Move over, my beloved pink ribbon, here are some picks for cool pink jewels and accessories:

Michael Von Krenner 14K Gold & Pink Spinel Ring

Gorgeous and sophisticated beyond belief!

Here are some beautiful, delicate earrings by Cathy Waterman with a decidedly antique flair:

Cathy Waterman Earrings

I’m thinking about them with a tailored Byron Lars dress I just saw….

Now onto the less serious: remember these? Who doesn’t! I guess the classics [??] never get old.

Jelly Bracelets

Sorry, designers, these are so ubiquitous that I didn’t know who to credit them to!

But jewelry can’t have ALL the fun: pink leather goods need some love too. Chanel is known for the subtle color palette, and this tote is no exception. C’mon, dontcha want it even if you don’t love baby pink 1000%?

Pink Chanel Tote

Don’t forget your keys: the King of Color, Jonathan Adler, has just the thing to corral them in cuteness:

Jonathan Adler Pink Poodle Keychain

The edgy German fashion designers Dirk Bikkembergs is known for his darkly quirky style. His pink kicks are quite a departure from his post-industrial chic and are just the thing to walk in this October.

Dirk Bikkembergs Pink Soccer Shoes

Finally, not to be too matchy-matchy, a classic shade from OPI: good color, great cause!

D

OPI Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer

Be sure to think pink this month and support breast cancer awareness and research. Komen for the Cure is always a great place to start learning how to get involved.

A stud earring is very similar to a studly guy: handsome, versatile and easy to wear…um, you know what I mean! Before I get myself in hot water, here’s are some of my picks for Sexiest Stud Alive.

Boy do I heart Vivienne Westwood, and her silver studs are no exception. These little gems sport Westwood’s ... Read More »]]>

Move aside Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Matthew McConaughey and the Old Spice guy…there’s a new stud in town. He’s slick, shiny and hard – colorful, too – and maybe a little naughty. He’s…AN EARRING?? Haha, betcha didn’t see that coming. Or maybe, knowing me, you did.

A stud earring is very similar to a studly guy: handsome, versatile and easy to wear…um, you know what I mean! Before I get myself in hot water, here’s are some of my picks for Sexiest Stud Alive.

Boy do I heart Vivienne Westwood, and her silver studs are no exception. These little gems sport Westwood’s inimitable logo and style despite their tiny size.

Vivienne Westwood silver-tone heart stud earrings

Asos Skull Earrings

Toast Earrings by The Tiny Fig

Anita Ko White Gold Panther Stud Earrings

Betsey Johnson Lip studs

Sophie Harley Dove Earrings

Cartier

My love affair with leather began long before my bumper sticker and continues long after. Gone is the 1980s, and 1990s, and 2000s and with the decades, ... Read More »]]> When I was 18, I put a bumpersticker on my car from a leather boy shop in Boston. Sporting discreet little handcuffs, it read: “It’s Better in Leather.” This really spiffed up my uber-dorky VW Dasher! My feeling of cool was cut short when, unsurprisingly, my parents removed it. I was hugely annoyed at their bourgeois mentality but soon realized that suburban New England was not ready for me…or my pretentious leather.

My love affair with leather began long before my bumper sticker and continues long after. Gone is the 1980s, and 1990s, and 2000s and with the decades, my Ramones jacket and cowboy boots with duct tape. So instead I now enjoy a little leather jewelry. Eschewing the ubiquitous Chan Luu beaded leather bracelets, here are some of my current favorites which sport a little of that old leather-loving style.
Leave it to the French to put the S for Style into S & M – this serious chunker from Givenchy sports bi-color metals and softened spikes:

Silver and Gold Studded Bracelet by Givenchy

For you natural types, check out this leafy choker by Natalie Brown. Resplendent with ferns and a dreamy aura to boot, it’s just the thing with a slouchy, off-the-shoulder tunic.

Natalie Brown fern shaped neck piece

A little more discreet but still sporting a rocker fleur-de-lis motif are these shabby-chic beauties from Early Jewelry.

Black Leather earrings by Early Jewelry

Why should “chicks” have all the fun? Here’s a truly guy’s style wrap bracelet with a birdie skull from LostApostle jewelry on Etsy.

Bronze and Leather Raven Skull Bracelet

Need something a little less hardcore and a little more fun? Check out this knotted orange leather ring by byboe jewelry. I like the ring cuz it’s cool, but especially because I’m fortunate to counts its designer, Annika Salame, as one of my students!

Orange Leather Knot Ring by byboe

Let’s end on a happy note: this bib necklace by tomgirl jewelry is piled with colorful leather leaves and just makes me want to smile.

TomGirl Necklace

My bumper sticker was right: it IS better in leather!

PS: If you’re a DIYer, you may want to peek into this cool book by Lark Books and make your own leather lovelies!

Leather Jewelry

This Spring 2011, BROCHU WALKER may be coming to a town near you! Designers Lisa Brochu and Lauren Walker are revealing exclusive, limited-time, concept stores around the country at four of their most supportive specialty stores. The trendsetting duo came up with this unique concept to give their specialty stores a chance to experience the brand in its entirety. “We often hear our buyers say that they love our collection and wish they had the budget to buy more of the line”, says Lauren. Each BROCHU WALKER concept store will feature favorite styles from both the BROCHU WALKER and 247.365 ... Read More »]]>

This Spring 2011, BROCHU WALKER may be coming to a town near you! Designers Lisa Brochu and Lauren Walker are revealing exclusive, limited-time, concept stores around the country at four of their most supportive specialty stores. The trendsetting duo came up with this unique concept to give their specialty stores a chance to experience the brand in its entirety. “We often hear our buyers say that they love our collection and wish they had the budget to buy more of the line”, says Lauren. Each BROCHU WALKER concept store will feature favorite styles from both the BROCHU WALKER and 247.365 Spring 2011 collections in an array of colors.

Customers will experience a total BROCHU WALKER shopping extravaganza complete with BROCHU WALKER imagery, hangers, shopping bags, and a special gift with purchase. Lisa Brochu and Lauren Walker will also be making personal appearances and hosting launch parties at a few of the boutiques.

BROCHU WALKER has identified a void in the market for a collection built on the principal of layering and wrapping. Color palettes are always neutral with a bold accent and luxurious fabrics. Crisp cottons, warm cashmeres, soft knits, and rumpled woven pieces are the cornerstones of BROCHU WALKER.

They recently expanded the BROCHU WALKER brand with 247.365, a line of basics that are designed to be worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 247.365 features popular BROCHU WALKER styles created in softer, more casual bodies- sumptuous draped tees in lightweight slub jersey, updated french terry sweats, and sleek cotton/modal tee shirt dresses. “We had always intended for BROCHU WALKER to be a head-to-toe layering collection and we realized that the tees and other basic pieces are able to stand on their own, creating a mix-and-match collection that fits easily within BROCHU WALKER and with every other piece in a woman’s closet”, says Lisa.

The concept stores will be open at each retailer for a limited-time of two weeks before packing up and moving on to the next location. The concept store dates are:

Abersons | Tulsa, OK | March 10 – 14

Zabayon | Englishtown, NJ | March 31 – April 14

P45 | Chicago, IL | April 7 – 22

Lifestyle | Sag Harbor, NY | April 14 – 28

Spring 2011 from Brochu Walker on Vimeo.

Lisa Brochu and Lauren Walker, both formerly from the East Coast but now residing in Los Angeles, have completely opposite styles and personalities. Lisa Brochu loves tailored, menswear inspired pieces personalized with bold accessories while Lauren Walker is beachy and bohemian, with a downtown edge. Lisa Brochu, former Design Director at Joie, spent years leading design teams for American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch. Lauren Walker, former National Sales Manager at YaYa Aflalo, was also integral in the growth of Splendid and James Perse. Together, Lisa and Lauren have over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry.  Visit http://www.brochuwalker.com

Dawn Del Russo is an On-Air fashion expert seen on National TV Better TV, Fox 5 NY, InStyle Magazine, Life and Style Magazine, US Weekly for her fashion and lifestyle tips and advice. She is the author of “101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle” and owner of www.BellaDawn.com