You could always find the classic faux-tortoise sunglasses – those never really went out of fashion…

image: Bergdorf Goodman

Prada faux-tortoise sunglasses, with burgundy lenses and engraved logo detail.

But there are a lot more interesting options for the classic mottled brown print these days – you can find jewelry:

image: Nordstrom

Marc by Marc Jacobs oval faux-tortoise resin bangle bracelets, with brass and glass accents.

How about a faux-tortoiseshell watch?

image: Neiman Marcus

This one is by Michael Kors and features a chocolate brown Mother-of-pearl face with gold-tone accents on an acrylic body and strap.

I must admit, it’s the faux-tortoise shoes that really get me excited!

image: Bergdorf Goodman

Several designers have used faux-tortoiseshell in their shoe designs, but this particular pair is Manolo Blahnik’s “Campari” patent Mary Jane.

Yummy!

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Fabulous Faux Tortoiseshell

Then you definitely need to check out the amazing work from Orijyn!

“Orijyn has been working with rural weavers far from the big markets, to develop products incorporating their particular weaving skills and traditions. In this way, women can earn much needed money and still stay in their communities with their families.

In 2006, Orijyn began teaching sustainable business practices with PADETC, a school in Laos, and began working with groups of weavers in the villages of Vientiane Province. We assisted them with technical and marketing guidance for product improvement, business start-up development, as well as small loans to expand their production.”

The silk shawls and wraps are made using locally-grown silk worms, raised by the villagers – ensuring that as much of the work is done in the village as possible.  The silk is harvested, hand-dyed and hand-spun – meaning that every scarf or wrap is unique.  Traditional Laotian patterns are used to weave the fabric, giving the finished accessories a rich look.

Their scarves are available in a rainbow of lovely colors – this one is a mix of burgundy and espresso shades called “Ikat On The End“:

The wraps are larger than the scarves and come in some unique variations, including this “Rainbow” ikat-dyed wrap:

images: Orijyn

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Luscious Silk for a Good Cause

Their clothing, accessories and jewelry features the lyrics from some of the most famous rock songs from musicians like the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna and more.

They create unique necklaces and bracelets, using metal and leather, all featuring different song lyrics.  You can get a braided leather necklace with an engraved metal guitar pick or an embossed leather cuff bracelet with a fragment of a song printed on it.

Here are two of my favorite picks:

“All You Need Is Love” hinged cuff bracelet, with black leather and silver-tone letters.  Also available in the multi-set shown belown:

“Give Peace a Chance” bangle bracelet set.  Each bracelet has different fragments from the song, with the center bracelet reading “Give peace a chance” and the two outer bracelets featuring additional lyrics.

images: Lyric Culture

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Lyric Culture Jewelry

• Portero is offering 10% off their entire site and free shipping & insurance on purchases over $1000 on Cyber Monday.
• Everything is on sale for 25% off on Black Friday at OneStopPlus.  If you shop on Cyber Monday, you’ll get free shipping on your order.
• You can save up to 90% off at Beyond The Rack with the invite code “BTRACCESS” on Cyber Monday.  If you spend at least $50 on Cyber Monday, you’ll receive a free Janie Besner scarf, which has a retail value of $40.
• If you need the perfect little black dress for all those holiday parties, then check out eDressMe’s LBD department – it’s on sale for 30% off on Black Friday.  You can save 30% site-wide on Cyber Monday with the code “CYBERMONDAY”.
• If you spend $100 at viv & ingrid you can save 30% off your order with the code “holiday09″.
• BettyLouJewels will be on sale for 20% off site-wide on Black Friday & Cyber Monday.
• MyJewelryBox is offering 25% off their entire site from November 27th through until December 3rd – just enter the code “Black25″ at the checkout.
• Amazon has a special Black Friday sale page – but you need to wait until tomorrow to see the deals!
• Apple has a one-day shopping event on Black Friday – but like Amazon, you’ll need to wait until the 27th to see the deals.
• Zappos has a unique deal for Black Friday – any time between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can visit them online, join their VIP club for free and get lifetime free shipping!
• If you spend $40 or more at Spreadshirt, you can save 25% off your order OR you can get free shipping Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
• You can save 25% off your purchase on Black Friday at Charlotte Russe.  On Saturday and Sunday it’s buy one item, get the second at 50% off.  As well as saving 25% off on Cyber Monday, if you spend $60 or more, you’ll get free shipping.
• If you shop at Torrid before noon on Black Friday, you’ll save $25 off every $75 you spend.
• Save 10% off the cool jewelry at ScoshaNYC by entering the code “CROWN” at checkout.

image: Stock.xchg

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Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals!

The pieces are being sold to benefit the Rosa Spier House, home for retired musicians, artists and academics.  The house gives them a safe, secure place to live out their retirement while still providing support for their creative endeavors.

Some of the spectacular pieces available include:

*  DISCO BALL TOP – Small mirror squares are assembled as a top. Realisation Time:
45 hours.

* ELASTIC JACKET – A plaiting of elastic bands creates a jacket. Realisation Time: 29 hours

* WEDDING DRESS – A gown made with three vintage wedding dresses. Realisation Time: 37 hours
* WIGS JACKET – Brown wigs used to create a fur jacket. Realisation Time: 51 hours
* VINTAGE HAND PAINTED OIL CANVASES AS A DRESS – Three vintage painted oil canvases of varying subjects and periods, softened and coated in plastic form a dress. Realisation Time: 35 hours
* RECORD DRESS – A crepe de chine dress decorated with 33 and 45 rpm records. Realisation Time: 33 hours
* TINSEL AS FUR – Tinsel used as fur to create a coat or a jacket. Realisation Time: 31 hours

How often do you come across a jacket that takes 51 hours to make – and that’s 51 hours of hand sewing, no machine work involved!

images: Yoox

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One of a Kind Maison Martin Margiela

Unfortunately, the rainforest is under increasing danger from loggers, farmers and big business these days.  Huge chunks of forest are being cut down every day – but there is something you can do to help.

“Plant a Billion Trees” is a cooperative effort with the Nature Conservancy to raise funds to reforest the Atlantic forest of Brazil.  The Atlantic forest is one of the most damaged areas of the rainforest – the end goal is to plant a billion (that’s right, a billion) new trees to help repair some of the damage.

The makers of “Brazilets” bracelets have pledged to donate 20% of the profits from the sales of the jewelry to the Billion Trees effort.

So what are Brazilets?

Brazilets are a tradition, dating back more than 200 years.  They’re soft, printed pieces of ribbon that are believed to grant wishes.  You tie one around your wrist, using three knots.  When the ribbon finally wears off, your wish will be granted!

They’re available in a rainbow of colors, either individually or as a “wish pack”.

image: Brazilets

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Plant Trees With Jewelry?

People are flying, driving and bussing all over the place – getting home for the holidays, taking a much-needed vacation and of course, there’s always business travel!

If you need some new luggage for your next trip, you might want to check out Halsea.  They make stylish, modern travel accessories for both women and men.  Their luggage, bags and totes are made from canvas or water-resistant laminated canvas, trimmed with leather accents.

Here are a few picks from their different collections:

Large roller duffle from the “Little Harbor” collection.  The duffle is made from laminated canvas with leather trim and is available in your choice of “kelp” (shown here) or coffee colors.

Large splash-proof laminated canvas tote from the “China Cove” collection, shown in salt water blue print.

Printed canvas sunglasses case from the “Crescent Bay” collection, sand with pink and marigold seahorses shown.

images: Halsea

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Stylish Travel Accessories from Halsea

Her classic earring designs are perfect for complementing your outfit – never overwhelming it.  Her work does have an interesting twist though…

From conflict-free stones to exclusively recycled precious metals, every earring is designed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible.

Here’s what they do to make sure:

• All of the 14kt and 18kt gold is from recycled sources.
• The diamonds used aren’t mined from the earth – did you know that 250 tons of earth must be mined to produce one carat of diamond?
• All gemstones used are certified Fair Trade.
• The designs are all manufactured in the USA – in Los Angeles to be exact.

Let’s take a look at some of the lovely pieces you can wear guilt-free:

“Bee Mine” chandelier earrings, made from 14kt yellow gold.

14kt yellow gold “Rebekah’s Flower” large hoop earrings.

14kt gold “Canary Tear Drop Fleur de Lis“.

images: Rebekah Green

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Clean, Classic & Eco-Friendly Jewelry

Winners of “A Festive Affair at Calvin Klein” can win a $500 gift card to CalvinKlein.com.  So how do you get in on the fashionable fun?

It’s time to get creative and put together your most interesting Polyvore collage, featuring Calvin Klein clothes, jewelry and accessories.  The stylists want to see sleek, stylish outfits – with a festive flair of course!

Specially selected collages will be featured daily on Calvin Klein’s facebook page.

One first prize winner will receive a $500 gift card.
Two second prize winners will both receive a $300 gift card
Two third prize winners will both receive a $100 gift card.

Here are a few sample collages to get your creative juices flowing… but hurry, because the contest ends on November 30th!

Kevin Carrigan – the Global Creative Director for ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein and Calvin Klein Jeans has some advice and encouragement for everyone entering the contest:

“Be creative and really personalize the look – it’s all about weaving in the iconic Calvin Klein aesthetic and keep it sexy, youthful, and modern.  Mix and match fabrics, textures, and layering pieces to keep it interesting and fresh.

The return of the jacket should be a big focus — it’s a great piece to transition any look from day to night, and he especially loves pairing a great jacket with a dress and sexy shoe.   Kevin thinks that value and pieces with versatility are key, so pieces that can do double-duty and are easily transitioned from day to night are key.”

images: Calvin Klein & Polyvore

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Calvin Klein & Polyvore Team Up

Perhaps Bobby Trendy missed the memo for red carpet head wear guidelines?

Or was he trying to out-gaga Lady Gaga?

In any case, his… hat?  Hair accessory?  Head wear?  Is a lesson in how not to do red carpet hats…

image: Zuma Press

There are so many lovely choices out there for formal hats, headbands and fascinators.  Just because one celebrity has gone to the extreme, doesn’t mean you need to be intimidated by the thought of trying out something new for a holiday party.

Let’s just avoid that particular hat though…

image: Feather Brain

This lined peacock feather headband pairs the ease of a headband with the charming 20s feel of a fascinator.

image: Forever 21

Forever 21’s demure veil headband is made with a lady-like dotted mesh cap and accented with sheer ribbon and irridescent feathers.

image: Shop Bop

This sequin and lace accented fedora by Eugenia Kim would make a great accent for a less-formal and more party! kind of evening.

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Regrettable Headwear on the AMA Red Carpet