- Apr0420150Barbara Schwartz
Spring into Sunshine with Vintage Yellows
inRead moreSpring is here, so why not add some long-awaited sunshine to your spring/summer wardrobe? A tone of yellow called Custard, one of the top 10 colors for women’s clothing this season, has been described as “soft and mellow warmth and full of good feelings”. Because yellow is one of those…
- Mar152015Barbara Schwartz
Plunge into Spring with Vintage Aquamarine
inRead moreBased on their survey of fashion designers, Pantone has named Aquamarine, a watery shade of blue, “the lead color for women for the Spring/Summer 2015 season”. They suggest pairing this color with other blues and greens in the top 10. Vintage costume jewelry offers the opportunity to accessorize with aquamarine,…
- Feb022015Barbara Schwartz
Something Old, Something New
inRead moreThis familiar rhyme that has been embraced by generations of brides is also applicable to pairing vintage costume jewelry with today’s fashions. Many women see a vintage piece that appeals to them but hesitate to buy it because they ask: “What would I wear it with?”. The question applies to…
- Jan122015Barbara Schwartz
Seeing Red!
inRead moreRed is a bold, warm color that is associated with our most intense emotions – love and anger – and with objects of power and desire – such as fast cars and roses. With Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away and the news that a shade of red called…
- Nov302014Barbara Schwartz
Wearing Statement Earrings
inRead moreStyle expert Deborah Boland (www.fabulousafter40.com) recently included big earrings in her list of “7 Fall Accessories to Look Fabulous after 40”. She advises pairing “large dangly earrings with everything from a tee and jeans to a cocktail dress! They’ll draw eyes towards your face and add some decadence to any…
- Apr212014Barbara Schwartz
How to Wear Vintage Costume Jewelry
inRead moreDo you shy away from vintage pieces because you are unsure of how to coordinate them with today’s fashions? Style expert Deborah Boland has just posted my article “How to Wear Vintage Costume Jewelry“ on her Fabulous after 40 website. The article shows this 1950s necklace from the TruFaux Jewels collection…
- Mar312014Barbara Schwartz
Wearing Blue Hues
inRead moreThe editors at NET-A-PORTER, one of my favorite fashion websites, recently posted an article entitled Work it: Inject a little fashion savvy into your corporate closet. The article includes suggestions for office attire to suit three situations: the working lunch, after-hours drinks, and the boardroom. This article inspired me to…
- Dec022013Barbara Schwartz
Dress Up Your Little Black Dress with Schiaparelli Jewels
inRead moreYou may already know that Maison Schiaparelli, the house of French couturier Elsa Schiaparelli, re-opened in July at its former address, 21 Place Vendôme, and that Marco Zanini, the new creative director, will premiere his first collection in January during couture week in Paris. With the Schiaparelli name in the…
- Nov212013Barbara Schwartz
Dress Up Your Little Black Dress with Costume Jewelry
inRead moreAlthough black has been a fashion staple for decades (if not centuries), the fashion world credited Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel with originating the little black dress in the 1920s. In the October 1, 1926 issue of Vogue, an article entitled “The Debut of the Winter Mode” describes a “black crêpe de…
- Oct142013Barbara Schwartz
1940s Glamour & Vintage Costume Jewelry
inRead moreFashionistas already know that 1940s glamour is back in style. The lady-like silhouette emphasized for fall and winter 2013 was inspired by Christian Dior’s New Look collection in 1947. It was a return to femininity that had disappeared earlier that decade when war shortages resulted in austere-looking women’s attire: slim,…
- Sep172013Barbara Schwartz
Art Deco Chic: Wearing Amethyst with Brown
inRead moreOne of the readers of my last article (Art Deco Chic: Wearing Amethyst with Today’s Trends) posted this comment: “I love putting those purples with chocolate brown”. She inspired me to create some outfits with dark brown paired with amethyst jewelry, to illustrate a lovely color combination that doesn’t always…
- Aug212013Barbara Schwartz
Art Deco Chic: Wearing Amethyst with Today’s Trends
inRead moreWith all of the attention brought to the Art Deco style by Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, fashionistas craved the flapper clothing and opulent Tiffany jewels worn in the film by Carey Mulligan and Elizabeth Debicki (the tall, dark-haired, athletic Jordan Baker character). The glamorous look of the 1920s dominated…