Holiday parties are possibly one of the top reasons why this time of year is so much fun. From office soirees to friendly get-togethers, we will find any reason to rendezvous in good spirits. Enemies seem to forget their hostilities and once the eggnog begins flowing, anything can happen. Suddenly, tinsel becomes the favorite fashion accessory, and poor choices are made. Perhaps with a little pre-party planning, you can avoid the regretful decisions, including unfortunate accessorizing.

For starters, pick something festive. Think about the way you decorate your house for the season and go a similar route for your ensemble. Gold tones mimic the warm light created by flickering candles, and, therefore, gold jewelry is a good place to start looking. Gorjana’s Gold Star Wrap Necklace can be worn as a long single-strand necklace or wrapped around the neck twice for a shorter, double-strand necklace. For a fuller, richer look, layer the necklace with another, such as Brian Danielle’s Multi Stone Necklace which features pearls, citrine, amethyst, and topaz.

Also, at this time of year you can get away with wearing certain pieces that you might be leery to try at other times. Our favorite is Gerard Yosca’s Bow Cuff. What better time than this to take a statement piece such as this for a test drive? You’ll look just as good as all the gifts being exchanged, if not better!

If yellow gold isn’t really your thing, Max and Chloe has a plethora of silver jewelry. One item that will positively stand out is Sogoli’s Silver Chain Knot Earrings. These earrings cascade beautifully from your ears and are unlike anything we have seen before.

Modern-day princesses can put a contemporary twist on the old tiara and sport one of Blu’s Royalty Headbands. They bear a sizable cluster of crystals and pearls on one side. The headbands come in three rich colors (navy, black, and purple) that will complement almost any outfit. We guarantee that you will be the belle of the ball in one of these pieces.

Now the only things you have to keep in mind are:

• Remember to make an entrance
• Stay hydrated (read: drink a lot of water to avoid those potentially regretful decisions)
• Have a blast!

Tags: Blu | bow cuff | Brian Danielle | Gerard Yosca | Gorjana | headbands | holiday jewelry | knot earrings | layered necklaces | Sogoli

“1, 2, 3, ACTION!” Ever admired the outfit an actress sported in a movie you were watching? You can borrow style ideas from the stars somewhere other than the candids of them shopping in Soho, on the red carpet, or at a fashion show.

Movies have become more sophisticated in recent years, and it’s understandable that how a character dresses for a scene has become just as revealing about who they are and what they’re likely to do as their lines. We’re seeing a burst of exciting jewelry trends and looks on young Hollywood on the sets of their hit shows and movies. Let’s take a look at what Hilary Duff, Alexis Bledel, and Blake Lively wore behind the scenes and see if the jewelry they’re wearing reflects the role they’re playing. We’ll leave which role you want to play up to you.

Hilary Duff was seen in a vibrant blue tiered cocktail dress and chunky black accessories on the set of Stay Cool, which is scheduled for release in 2009. She plays a high school senior, Shasta O’Neil, who has a crush on a fictional author who is town to deliver her class’ commencement address. Does Hilary look the part? She definitely does! The dress she’s wearing is flirty and youthful, and her trendy black jewelry hits the mark nicely. We love how her outfit reflects her self-confidence and the outgoing personality she has to portray while she’s in character as it does take guts to wear your heart on your sleeve.

Try the silver Blu Grecian Braided Cuff, the black Presh Silver Studded Leather Bracelets, and the Deborah Grivas Designs Black Oval Swarovski Crystal Loop Earrings. Hilary’s layered necklace takes this outfit from “Great” to “Wow!” Pile on the Arena CPH Leisa Ring Necklace, the black Ettika Peace Coin Silk Necklace, and the Blu Black Star Necklace for a look that’ll earn you an A. Add your Lorelei Black Patent Clutch to your look, and you’ll be as dressed to impress as Hilary.

Alexis Bledel was spotted last week on the set of The Good Guy, due out in 2009 as well, looking charming and youthful. She’s playing Beth who’s a shoe in for the girlfriend of good guy Tommy, played by Scott Porter, but a new coworker only complicates everything and turns this good guy’s world inside out. Alexis Bledel looks put together and classic in this flattering shift dress and her understated gold jewelry, proving that sometimes it’s all about finding the “perfect fit” to flatter you every moment of every day.

An 18″-22″ necklace looks great over a higher neckline like Alexis is wearing because of where it lies just below the collar. It’s a great trick to pull your friends’ eyes to your necklace and then back to your smile. Try the the 18″ Pade Vavra Shell With Pearls Necklace, 20″ Arena CPH Kamille Gold Flower Pendant Necklace, or the 22″ Jami Rodriguez Jaguar Crystal Necklace to top off a great day dress like this one. Type “18″ or “22″ in the search box in the top right corner of any page on the Max and Chloe site to see a variety of necklaces with these chain lengths.

Blake Lively was spotted in NYC looking stunning in her role as trendy knockout Serena on the CW’s Gossip Girl. While the show has gotten mixed remarks on the designer labels the elite private school cast wears without a second thought, don’t take notes from the show because of the labels; focus on the way you can mix highs and lows. If you like something that’s trendy or a little bit different, you should save where you can and splurge when you can.

Want a great example of mixing a high and a bunch of lows? Find a great big carryall handbag that you can rely on to hold your shopping purchases, your lip gloss, and your iPod (for when you’re in between stores). The Goldenbleu Black Patent Gemma Bag is a perfect example of a roomy bag that can hold everything you need. If you’ve just splurged on your handbag, wouldn’t you love to find a few jewelry “steals”? The Tracy Matthews Small Hammered Cuff has a great budget friendly price, and the cuff bracelet is one of the coolest jewelry trends of the season. The aqua Deborah Grivas Designs Swarovski Crystal Criss Cross Earrings would look gorgeous with the cuff bracelet and the handbag. If we had a chance to style Serena, we’d add one of Alex and Ani’s expandable wire bangle sets, the Kenneth Jay Lane Petite White Flower Ring and a cute short 16″ necklace like the Gorjana Silver Super Star Necklace.

So are you the beautiful, confident bombshell who always gets what she wants like Hilary? Then fill your jewelry box with chunky eye-catching earrings, necklaces and bracelets that look great on you. Are you the laidback, gorgeous girl next door like Alexis who pretty much has one guy wrapped around your finger? Find a signature piece and stick to a classic look to close the deal if you want to get your guy to focus on who you are. And if you’re as uptown trendy as Blake’s character Serena, mix highs and lows, and invest in gorgeous trendy jewelry for a great look. Take a cue from shots of your favorite stars filming their upcoming movies and TV episodes in People’s Star Style section to get yourself camera ready.

 So that’s a wrap!

Photos courtesy of People.

Tags: Alex and Ani | Alexis Bledel | Arena CPH | Blake Lively | Blu | celebrity | cuffs | Deborah Grivas | Ettika | Goldenbleu | Gorjana | handbags | Hilary Duff | Jami Rodriguez | Kenneth Jay Lane | Lorelei | Pade Vavra | Presh | Tracy Matthews

Feel the green with wooden jewelry. Whether you’re romping through the forest or shopping with friends, wooden accessories will look great with any outfit.

Get into the natural look with the Kenneth Jay Lane Exotic Wood Necklace. Worn with a casual outfit or summer dress, this necklace will look fun and fresh. With turquoise beads, it is much more lively than a plain wooden bead necklace.

Mix it up with wooden bangles. Try the Kenneth Jay Lane Wood Bangle with a flattering dress for a tropical look. While preparing for a picnic, slip on the Blu Exotic Wood Bangle and blend into your surroundings.

For a twist of wooden fun, try the Kenneth Jay Lane Black Wood Teardrop Earrings. In black or brown wood, these earrings are funky and fresh.

Instead of bangles, try a wooden bead bracelet as a smart accessory. Featuring a gold vermeil peace sign, the Jennifer Zeuner Peace Ebony Wood Beaded Bracelet is a great piece of wooden jewelry.

Tags: Blu | Jennifer Zeuner | Kenneth Jay Lane

Sparkle with star-inspired jewelry! There’s nothing more beautiful than a star studded sky. Actually, now there’s competition: you! Don some star jewelry for a glamorous effect, night and day. The stars can’t compete with that!

Star necklaces are absolutely fun and chic. Try them on in all different styles. The Gorjana Gold Super Star Necklace is simple and features two stars, one large and one small. Another, the Gorjana Gold Star Wrap Necklace, has stars scattered throughout the chain. Feeling adventurous? Stand out in the Samantha House Your Highness Necklace. Speckled with stars, this one is sure to be eye-catching. Bold? Slip on the Blu Black Star Necklace; Lindsey Lohan sported similar earrings not too long ago!

If you’re a fan of large charms, try the Lisa Stewart Moon and Star Necklace; the large star and moon are accompanied by a lovely crystal detail. Looking for a chic charm? Dazzle with the Arena CPH Elsie Gold Star Necklace. It is very simple and feminine. For a knockout star appearance, glitter your finger with the Brian Danielle Diamond Star Ring. It will make actual stars twinkle with envy. Finally, a great addition to any evening outfit, the Carolina Diamond Moon and Star Necklace is a gorgeous piece. Get ready to shine!

Tags: Arena CPH | Blu | Brian Danielle | Carolina | Gorjana | Lisa Stewart | Samantha House | stars

Couture. That word alone sparks a fire in every fashionista’s heart. Once the latest couture collections arrive,  you start lusting after the incredibly hip and cutting edge dresses on the Ellie Saab runway and turning your head away from one Chanel skirt and jacket set to focus on the upcoming ones becomes a battle. The appeal of couture fashion is undeniable and we can’t help but fall inexplicably head over heels for these spectacular creations. This summer, designers from revered fashion houses like Alexis Mabille and Christian Dior premiered glimpses of their fall 2008 couture collections. Each of the collections had their own distinct tone and flavor, but we noticed a few trends, and we have assembled a guide to a handful of jewelry that will lessen the ache you have for those candy colored Dior dresses.

We were so inspired by the fashion we saw on the runway during the couture shows that we decided to pull out some of our favorite jewelry designs to show you that couture isn’t really about the dress or the rest of the outfit; it’s about how you dress. Craving elegance at your next big party? Drop earrings are so chic and elegant that they add a dash of glamour to every outfit. The Arena CPH Barbie Silver Earrings, Melinda Maria Etched Triple Leaf Earrings, and Brian Danielle Diamond Long Earrings are perfect examples of earrings that will deliver on that promise. The Wendy Mink Telly Earrings have a truly spectacular design. While these aren’t typical drop earrings, the effect of a double hoops that suspend pastel semi-precious stones has quite simply stolen our breaths away.

Take inspiration from the Givenchy couture model above who paired her outfit with a sometimes forgotten or underplayed accessory, a headband. We forgot how fun it is to wear your jewelry in unexpected places. For a fun twist, pull your hair back into a messy bun and add the Blu Royalty Headband. Since you can choose between navy, black and teal, there’s no reason why you can’t start building your outfit from a headband. 

We found a good deal of cuff bracelets and pearls on the runway during the couture shows, which is great because we’re not ready to let go of these accessory staples. Jessica Elliot Silver Wrought Iron Cuff is so stunning! The innovative clover cutout design is so fabulous, and this cuff bracelet is the perfect width. Pair it with the Anna Beck Sterling Silver Large Basket Weave Drop Necklace to complete your outfit, but if  you’re loyal to gold jewelry or simply need a gold cuff bracelet for your next big occasion, look no further than another one of Jessica Elliot’s designs, the 18k gold vermeil clover cutout cuff.

We’ve been fans of the R.J. Graziano Long Pearl Chain simply because of its unusual eye-catching gold chain link design between the pearls.  The 36″ chain is the perfect length if you love to double your necklace strands. Pair the pearl necklace with the Pade Vavra Large Shell and Pearl Cluster Necklace for a stunning contrasting effect that will be unforgettable. Necklaces with a beautiful flawless pendant is one of today’s biggest fashion trends, and we feel the Brian Danielle Hammered Diamond Necklace is one of the trendiest and most versatile necklaces we carry. It’s one of those pieces that looks stunning under both sunlight and the streetlights. Even if you’ve limited yourself to simply gazing at couture creations from afar, there’s no reason why you can’t indulge yourself a little bit and acquire jewelry that would fit right in on the runway as well as at your next black tie party.

Runway and detail photos courtesy of Style.com

Tags: Anna Beck | Arena CPH | Blu | Brian Danielle | Jessica Elliot | Melinda Maria | Pade Vavra | R.J. Graziano | Runway | Wendy Mink