I didn’t get my ears pierced until I was fifteen years old. It wasn’t so much that I was scared, but that I wasn’t allowed to. So, when I finally got to wear them, I wore the biggest, most obnoxious ones imaginable. They were total ear spoilers. I wish I could say that I never owned wooden hand painted parrot earrings, but that would be a lie. I was living in Florida at the time and apparently I wanted to blend right in with a cliché. It got to the point where I had so many decorations on my ears that one day I’d had enough and cleaned house. I gave all my dangly, cheap, over-the-top earrings away in a zip lock bag to the Salvation Army. Somewhere out there, someone is walking around like a living, breathing Claire’s boutique. After the purge, I kept my ears naked for years and re-learned what looks good on an earlobe. Recently I’ve started to consider decorating them again. And I’m not going back to the parade float look. I want small, simple studs that say, “I’m making up for the fact my face has no makeup and my hair is in a knot tied with old panty hose.” Something like the following:

clockwise, l-r: PAMELA LOVE SILVER SMALL CRYSTAL STUD EARRINGS, $290.00, Opening Ceremony; NOEMI KLEIN ROCK STUD EARRING, $85.00, Farfetch; HEIRLOOM BY DOYLE & DOYLE GROSGRAIN BOW EARRINGS, $425.00, Doyle & Doyle; ELIZABETH AND JAMES NILE ROUND WHITE TOPAZ STUD EARRINGS, $95.00, Bloomingdale’s.

Hoop earrings add a major glam factor to any outfit. We love the idea that a simple embellished hoop can be an attention-grabber. We scoured Beso to find the shiniest and prettiest earrings for you, so you can rest easy, and nab a pair of these asap.

clockwise l-r: Sorrelli “Snow Bunny” Crystal Hoops, $60.92 available at endless; Belle Noel Plated Nugget Hoops, $48.00 available at Pink Mascara; Juicy Couture Wanderlust Hoops, $46.40 available at Zappos; Wendy Mink Turquoise Hoops, $80.00 available at bird; Fragments Rhinestone Hoops, $60.00 available at Last Call by NM; Wendy Mink Small Nugget Hoops, $50.00 available at Wendy Mink Jewelry.

- Staci from HandbagReport.com

Shopping for jewelry should be just as fun as shopping for shoes and handbags.  Aside from seasonal trends, start incorporating jewelry that expresses your individuality and tells a story.  There are more fun and whimsical shapes and designs than ever before!  The great thing about jewelry is that you can never have too much. Take a look in your jewelry box and figure out what’s missing.  Update your collection with items that inspire you.  Below are pieces that remind me of something I love, and also reflect my personal style.

1.  kate spade Coral Reef Pearl Star Ring, $75.00 at Bloomingdales

Kate Spade New York Coral Reef Pearl Star Ring

2.  Wildthings Large Alligator Pin, $136.49 at Amazon

Wildthings Large Alligator Pin

3.  Tarina Tarantino Crystal Pave Heart Necklace, Black, $120 at The Giant Peach

Tarina Tarantino Crystal Pave Heart Necklace

4.  Lauren by Ralph Lauren “L’Hermitage” Textured Snake Earrings with Briolette Drop, $38.00 at Bloomingdales

Lauren by Ralph Lauren "L'Hermitage" Textured Snake Earrings with Briolette Drop

5.  Tory Burch Maggie Cuff, $225.00 at Tory Burch

Tory Burch Maggie Cuff

Found yourself searching for a present at the last-minute?  Whether this is your first time in this predicament or you always procrastinate, this year we are here to help you out.  

These are our top picks for last-minute gifts under $50:

Capelli Convertible Mittens

Winter accessories with some flair.

Scarves, gloves and hats are classic Christmas gifts, but choose something trendy to make your gift a hit. A ruffled scarf, beret hat or flip-top mittens will please any fashionista.  These Capelli mittens from Boscov’s are a steal at just $8!  While these Jacob Ash mittens, suitable for gadget loving guys who need bare fingertips, are under $15 at Sierra Trading Post.

 

Jewelry.

Cute earrings or bracelets are an easy gift idea for a girl whose style you are familiar with.  Rachel Roy offers some earrings that will appeal to a girl who prefers classic style as well as more boho-chic items.  Try these simple bow earrings, for the girl who appreciates the understated or any of the hoop styles for someone with a more daring style.  Check out these ultra-affordable bracelets from Forever 21.  At less than $6, they make a great stocking stuffer. 

 

 

Minnetonka Fluffy Slippers

Cute comfy slippers.

 These Minnetonka slippers rival UGGs in their comfort and style, but they win the shopping battle hands down because they are so much more affordable.

 These adorable Minnetonka Fluffy Slippers are under $30 at DSW.  

 

 

Converse Sneakers.

Have someone on your list who lives in their sneakers?  A new pair of Converse sneakers may be the perfect gift.  Great for a boyfriend or son who loves his Converse sneakers but has totally worn them out, you can find most of the classic styles for around $40.  Shopping for a girl?  These raspberry and aqua Converse sneakers are on sale for just $30!  You’ll have to do some stealth size checking, but it’ll be worth it to see him throw out that old ratty pair.

Spa-Worthy Treats

Jack Black Lip Balms and Skin Care Sets are a great stocking stuffer for guys.  The lip balm is matte, moisturizing and just $7.  The Clean and Cool Body Basics Set is $49 and includes a hand cream, body wash, dedorant and body lotion. 

Holiday Hostess Set, $20

Philosophy is my favorite line for treating women to delicious bath and body bliss. Get an adorable pre-packaged holiday set of Cinnamon Buns products or the fruitier Health Bar Cocktail set, $20 and $40, respectively.

Chan Luu Gold Leaf Earrings

How do you make a simple black dress look fresh and on trend?  It’s all about the accessories.  A plain black dress is a blank canvas that you can accessorize to fit any trend.  There is a reason that the little black dress is an essential.  It’s timeless.

How should you accessorize right now?

Here are 3 ways:

Balmain Red Buckle Boots

An amazing pair of shoes.  Very bright, embellished shoes need to be paired with something simple and dark-colored that won’t compete with them.  An LBD is the perfect companion for a pair of purple or red boots and black tights.  These Balmain boots are the perfect example.  With shoes this hot, you can get away with a simpler dress.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Studded Belt

A fabulous belt.  There are so many different kinds of belts available, and each can give your dress a very different look. Go with a skinny belt for a romantic, understated look.  Try a bright color or animal print for a little more impact.  To really emphasize your waist, wear a wide belt, like this studded belt from Michael Kors.

Kenneth Jay Lane Necklace

Jewelry.  A statement necklace and/or bracelets will work better with a simple dress than something that is over-embellished.  A necklace like this Kenneth Jay Lane one can be paired with some plain silver bangles. A bib necklace like this one from The Limited should be worn without other jewelry.  You can also choose to pair some long earrings with bracelets.  We like the gold leaf earrings, above, from Chan Luu.  They’d be the perfect boho-chic companion to a skinny gold belt.

Nanette Lepore's Divinity Dress

With party season upon us, it is time to start putting together outfits for the different get-togethers and events we have planned.  The holiday season gives us a chance to really dress up and express our style.

This season, I’m loving outfits that are a little bit pretty and a little bit punk.  Leather and lace, studs and ruffles, the juxtaposition of frilly and fierce is what takes an outfit from ordinary to spectacular.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Studded Clutch

This studded clutch from BCBGMAXAZRIA is the perfect complement to a pretty ruffled dress like Nanette Lepore’s Divinity Dress.  This Alexis Bittar Scaled Cuff will give your outfit some extra kick.

A lace dress and leather OTK boots will keep you warm and stylish.  We like Diane von Furstenberg’s Hasina Dress. The super-short hemline is sure to look good with even the tallest OTK boots (you should always show a little skin).  Wear this outfit with some Han Cholo Spike Earrings for a little extra edge.

One of the best parts of mixing these two styles is that you can stay true to each other.  Wear your lace dress with strappy sandals for a wedding in the spring or your OTK boots and studded purse with skinny dark jeans and a tank on a Saturday night out.  In this economy, it pays to have clothes that multitask!