Artistry meets jewelry - Yumi Chen’s Japanese kimono cloth bead bracelets

Talk about multi-talented! Yumi Chen is an accomplished concert violinist, professional pastry chef, and mathematician. In 2003, she redefined herself as a jewelry designer and entrepreneur, launching her online store at yumichen.com.

Although we all love our silver and leather bracelets, it’s not difficult to see why everyone’s buzzing about Yumi Chen’s stunning cloth beads bracelet collection! Her recent Chirimen (the ancient art of crafts made with handwoven Japanese cloth) line is heavily inspired by her Japanese heritage. But she’s added her own twist - combining exquisite Japanese kimono cloth beads with beautiful Swarovski crystals. “I instantly fell in love with chirimen and began searching for books and supplies about the subject,” Chen revealed to PrWeb in February of last year.

Let’s take a look at some of Chen’s latest creations from her Hibiscus Collection. All three are priced at only $70 USD!

Complete your everyday look with this gorgeous teal bracelet. Assorted aqua/teal Japanese kimono cloth beads are adorned with blue zircon Swarovski crystals and teal Swarovski pearls. Exquisite!

For a fabulous summer look, try this luscious mint and peach bracelet. Japanese kimono cloth beads mix and mingle with light peach Swarovski crystals and olive Swarovski pearls. Delicious - and my favorite!

Spice up your nightlife with this funky-chic black floral bracelet. Dramatic black floral Japanese kimono cloth beads are accented with jet black Swarovski crystals. Stunning!

For more totally unique bracelets, visit www.lusterforever.com and shop for leather bracelets and silver bracelets too!

Somewhere in the midst of blistering heat, the odd snowfall and plenty of rain, the first day of spring 2009 has come and gone, and designers have rolled out this season’s hot spring fashions! This year’s spring styles have a little something for everyone, so whether you’re the one who never leaves home without your make-up on, or you’re happiest in a pair of sweats, here’s our sneak peek at the good, the bad and the eighties and what’s going on this spring!

You probably don’t remember when Mom dressed you in rompers or onesies. This year, one piece shorts and pants sets are back in style! From Australian khaki to elegant white, designers are pairing these simple one piece designs with exotic jewelry accessories like silver and leather bracelets to create a one- of-a-kind fashion statement for spring 2009.

Harem Pants. Hey, everything else about the eighties is coming back. Why not? This year’s take on M.C. Hammer’s stage apparel features trim, fitted designs that resemble jodhpurs or Hessian pants more closely than “I Dream of Jeannie”, offering lightweight comfort for those desert summers.

The skinny pant returns as well –new, improved and skinnier than ever! If you loved the tight jeans of the ‘80’s, you’re going to love this spring’s skinny pants. There’s no limit to just how tight they’ll go, and in pretty pastel colors like turquoise, pink and yellow, and sewn in light silks and satins, they’re certain to beat the heat this spring and summer! Don’t forget to add a white leather bracelet!

‘Mamma Mia’ may have been the inspiration for this season’s Mediterranean casual ruffled sundresses in chiffons and silks. Paired with trendy jeweled sandals and Grecian-inspired fashion bracelets, these beat-the-heat dresses are a hip fashion statement for all ages.

What’s this season’s biggest fashion blunder? Capri pants or cutoffs worn with heels! It’s so yesterday, ladies - so trade ‘em in for sandals or ballerina flats, then don on a hip leather bracelet and be stylin’ for spring 2009!

For today’s hottest trends in jewelry accessories including silver and leather bracelets, visit www.lusterforever.com!

As Topshop celebrates its inaugural launch in New York City, the focus shifts from Kate Moss to the latest clothes, and more importantly, to the latest jewelry. While Topshop fans are lining up for key items in the Spring/Summer collection, everyone in London is gaga for Topshop’s new jewelry line. Sticking to their trademark bash colors and flamboyant sizes, bangles are in this season and at affordable prices that will please everyone! From gold bracelets to silver bracelets to beaded bracelets - the latest accessories are bangle bracelets!

What’s my personal fave? It’s this orange and pink bangle bracelet, ‘bang’ on with flirty colors! If you’re looking for a more subtle look, check out the collection of thin gold bangle bracelets below. Kate Moss, Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe have all been seen wearing them and at only £10, they’re a must-buy for any fashionista.

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Hermès is one of the world’s most famous fashion houses, renowned for their classic and unique cut and style. With over 30 stores globally, including Paris and New York, Hermès is the ultimate luxury brand, and its devotées include such fashion luminaries as Kate Moss, Madonna and Victoria Beckham.

Buying Hermès can be expensive, but for the lucky fashionistas who can afford to shop Hermès, we’ve found this season’s favorite jewelry accessory – bracelets! Whether it’s a sterling silver bracelet, a silver chain bracelet, a sterling silver charm bracelet or a genuine leather bracelet, Hermès has a fashion bracelet for you!

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A traditional, handcrafted Indian ankle bracelets.

If you’re walking down the street in the USA, and you see someone covered in jewelry from head to toe, you’ll probably think they’re strange, eccentric or maybe even a little odd. But if you’re in India, and you see that same person, you’d think they were perfectly normal. In India, you see, wearing copious amounts jewelry on as many body parts as possible is a status symbol. It shows marital status, financial status and even status in the eyes of the gods.

Indian ankle bracelets are still very much a trendy part of the complete Indian wardrobe. Let’s face it, today we’re a multi-ethnic society, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that our jewelry comes from all over the world! If you’re looking for the latest and greatest in Indian jewelry, the name of the game is silver bracelets, gold bracelets, and silver and gold ankle bracelets in opulent handcrafted styles, often embellished with richly colored gemstones.

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I was not feeling this at all. This is a horrible choice for Jessica Biel. Jessica as a wonder shape but this dress made her look boxy! Yes boxy is a word. Ok its a word in my head but a word none the less. Lmao! I love Prada but this was a bad choice. It ok Jessica you will get it right next year. Just remember that you are dating Justin Timberlake and that is never bad!

FREIDA PINTO looked absolutely fab in this John Galliano gown. I loved the embroidery. The original gown is completely see through, so I like that layers were added. Many may not agree with me, I think that this dress is lovely and unique! Wonderful choice Ms. Pinto.

Taraji P. Henson looks wonderful in this Roberto Cavalli. Taraji had an amazing statement necklace by Fred Leighton. This diamond flower necklace was made in the 19th century! Ms. Henson you get the award for best jewelry! Congrats and welcome to the fashion elite!

SARAH JESSICA PARKER is wearing a great Dior haute couture. I wasn’t impressed with this choice but it was not a bad one. I would love to see her in another silhouette.  I love Sarah Jessica Parker, she is a fashion icon. Yes I said it. I hope to see something new!

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Every fashionista around the globe had their eyes locked on one of the hottest bi-annual events, Paris fashion week 2008.  As usual top designers wooed us with their creative flair and seduced us with their new ideas for Spring 2009.  While the delightful joy of high couture is on everyone’s wish list for Christmas, what ready to wear look did the style setters leave us with for this up coming spring? (more…)

The runway at the 2008 Paris Fashion Week was full of dapper devils when Paul Smith’s models took the stage. The notoriously conservative but quirky line lived up to its reputation with skinny ties and trousers, tailored 3-piece suits, and plenty of pinstripes and tweed. The disheveled but still disarming models were to be expected, but Sir Smith still managed to pull off a few surprises with his cleverly chosen accessories: rope belts, rolled cuffs, saddle shoes, eye-popping primary-colored accents, and yes even some sunglasses. The Spring ‘09 Paul Smith collection is perfect for good boys and bad boys alike.

If you’re not quite ready to mix a plaid vest with tight tweed trousers, then try the fitted classics at French Connection. They’re not quite as daring, but they’re not quite as expensive either. If Paul Smith’s collection is for the eccentric artist, then Dior’s is for the punk rocker every mother fears her daughter will bring home. Dior’s Spring ‘09 line introduced a new kind of punk with basic black untailored separates paired with tight metallics, ultra-white high tops, and bright unorthodox accessories. 

Are you brave enough for the new Dior? 

If you’re still craving a more conventional punk look, then go with the classic high top Chucks that started it all. They’re still available at Converse.

At the 2008 Paris Fashion Week, there wasn’t a single Parisian beret in site, and yet Hermes‘ ready to wear line clearly suggested that hats will be back in 2009. From coy sun hats to true ten gallon cowboy hats, the heads of the Hermes models (and of the designer himself) were well covered to say the least. While we don’t recommend wearing multiple fringed, heeled, studded and tanned pieces at once, a well-shaped neutral hat could make a very strong statement paired with some of next season’s other, more conservative trends.  See the full line of Hermes’ 2009 head gear here: (more…)

Hollywood’s young talent continues to impress with a flair for fashion that’s beyond their years.

The boot craze has spread everywhere—even to the most eligible of the young men. That’s right fashion friends; even boys are wearing heels! And not just any boys either. From top to bottom the Jonas brothers are bringing fashion back to the XY chromosomed members of generation Y. While their skinny ties and tailored jeans are just good fashion sense, their ever-present heeled boots have got some stylists scratching their heads. Still, millions of screaming girls can’t be ignored; this trend clearly works for them. Whether it works for the rest of the male population has yet to be seen.