Luxury Basics Issues For Women In Life

A chinese lion statue

Neiman-Marcus and the Downturn

Leslie September 24th, 2008

I just got back from a quick trip to Neimans to pick up some skin cream (Darphin) that was on a special.  Of course, I had a few spare minutes, so I circled around the first floor, with particular attention to the jewelry section, natch.  I am happy to report that there was an unbelievable amount of gorgeous jewelry there - looked to me like the department had expanded, yet again.  David Yurman had his own section of at least 6 cases, brimming with his signature stuff.  Steven Dweck’s star must be falling, since his once prominent place front and center, was now given to Ippolita.  Dweck was now in the back, with only two cases.  So it goes in the jewelry wars.

One thing that I noticed right away that wasn’t falling - prices.  I guess the sky’s the limit these days, for semi-precious jewelry.  I didn’t even make it to the back corner to look at the fine jewelry, I was too dizzy with sensory overload to have taken it in.  The styles, the colors of the stones, the gold (mostly) the gigantic Tahitian pearls, the big, the small….I tried to absorb it all.  One problem that I didn’t have today, was getting a close look at each counter.  It seemed like quite a while passed before I noticed another person in the whole department.  A man on his lunch break, likely on the hunt, though he didn’t look like today would be the day.  Things are very quiet.

With the economy in shambles and the election impending, it’s hard to concentrate on bling.  Still, there are many of us still lucky to be in the workforce, toiling away.  Once in a while, a little reward is necessary, to remind us that we still count, at least to ourselves.  We need to be prudent with our hard earned dollars, not waste them or throw them away on bling or things that don’t matter or that only last (or look good) for a season.

I noticed in the paper today that a woman was promoted to the CEO position of DuPont, a Fortune 100 corporation. Her picture showed her in a big black pearl necklace with matching black pearl earrings.  Classic, power jewelry that won’t need to be tossed next year, or any year.  It’s important to periodically be reminded that investments come in many forms.  By investing in your personal style, you are also communicating to others that you are intentional, that you are responsible and pay attention to both detail and your whole look.  In short, you are in control.  Others will sense your aura of authority and respond.

Something to keep in mind this season when shopping.   Luxury Basics……….work.

 

Tune in to my Series on Personal Style

Leslie September 18th, 2008

Segment 1 came out last week on YouTube and is getting some decent viewership.  We just added Segment 2 this afternoon, so if you have a spare 6 minutes and 50 seconds, you will be able to see the whole thing in one sitting!  More later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69W360IjBus.

Jumping in with Both Feet

Leslie September 11th, 2008

That’s what I did this morning when I sent out the link to my new interview series on YouTube, called Fashion Styling Secrets from Zane’s Sex Chronicles.  In the 4 segment series, I interview Moonglow, the talented Costume Designer from the series who did a really terrific job, given the usual constraints of budget and deadlines.  Luxury Basics (my jewelry) was prominently featured on two of the main characters in the series, which will air on Cinemax on October 10th.

Filming the series, which we did in a great new restaurant and bar, The Oak Room Bistro and Bar, managed by my friend Sean Murphy, was a lot of fun, considering we’re rank amateurs.  Of course, I could use voice lessons and acting lessons if I want to continue to have lunch in this town, but since this is my first go at it, I do admit to a wee bit of pleasure that it isn’t a total bomb. (Although if it was, I promised Moonglow that it would never see the light of day)

The funny thing about the Zane’s series is that, completely unprompted by me, Moonglow put my jewelry on the main character, who plays a CEO, and one of her best friends, who plays a doctor.  He was completely unaware that I am designing for the working and professional woman, (as well as the “professionally retired woman”) but I guess the jewelry spoke to him and guided him to the right necks, as it were.

This season will be a busy one for me, thankfully.  We’ll see how this first segment does and we will be releasing one per week leading up to the show.  I’m lucky to have Cheri Gerson working with me now in Marketing and Communications - so I will get getting the message out, finally, that Luxury Basics is ready and open for business.  That’s what this whole thing is about.  I have many other things going on in the pipeline, so stay tuned.  If you have a minute, tune in to my first performance.            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69W360IjBus 

  

Having Fun in TV Land

Leslie August 29th, 2008

Considering it’s still August, my life has suddenly shifted into the faster lane.  I have been keeping a few important developments under my hat, so to speak, but very shortly, next week, to be exact, I plan to break out Luxury Basics from its semi-obscure state.

As today’s title may suggest, it has to do with TV.  Let me not get ahead of myself.  First, I can tell about the fun I had last week at the filming of a pilot online celebrity show, produced by two quite talented and savvy guys - Michael Yakovchik and Marcelo Alvarez, of the up and coming production company, http://www.greytv.com/ with whom I have had the recent pleasure of working with on another project. (To be announced)  The star of this new show is Lauren Bergfeld, an adorable, infectiously happy young woman well connected in celebrity-land. 

Naturally, when I heard about the show, I offered to bring “a little something” for Lauren to wear with her debut outfit.  Actually, not knowing what she would select to wear, I brought a wide assortment (that I could barely lift!).  Once she settled on her look, her choice of jewelry was inspired.  I think she looked great! Hope you agree.

 

 

Dogging the Days in August

Leslie August 13th, 2008

No, it’s not my favorite month.  Beside the overall weather issues, which I try to dodge and deny, there seems to be a malaise that sets in with just about everyone I know.  The accumulated exhaustion of the beginning of the year that combines with the knowledge that it will all crank up again the day after Labor Day?  Maybe.  The fact that half of everyone you know is vacationing somewhere and the other half has their brain on vacation?  Maybe.  August has never really been known as a month of accomplishment, so trying to get something done is challenging, at best.

I have been working on a number of different projects, in the multi-tasking model, and hopefully, they will all start to come together - though setting an August deadline seems stupid, at best.

Soon I will be working on some creative initiatives designed to enlarge the general audience for my jewelry.  Along these lines, there has been some good news - my jewelry will be featured on an upcoming HBO series called, Zane’s Sex Chronicles, based on a popular book of the same name. 

There are more things happening in the wings that I will announce in early September, when the general population awakens from the August stupor.

In the meantime, enjoy the sleepwalk through the rest of the month and stay tuned.

My Model Bahia is a Contestant on “She’s Got the Look”

Leslie June 12th, 2008

I was thrilled to get an email from Bahia, the gorgeous dark haired model on my website, informing me that she was a contestant on the new show “She’s Got the Look.”  Essentially, the show is America’s Top Model for women over 35.  It debuted last Wednesday night on TV Land channel and the second segment was last night.  Out of thousands of women who tried out, Bahia was in the first cull of 20, then blew through to the top ten.

How I met Bahia is a small story in itself.  I was meeting a photographer for the first time at a local coffee shop in Beverly Hills.  I was bringing my jewelry and we were going to talk about a photo shoot for my website.  He brought his girlfriend.  Just as I was entering the door, I noticed sitting outside, Bahia, having a cup of coffee.  I was truly captivated by her natural beauty in repose.  I told the photographer and his girlfriend that the woman outside seemed to me, to be the essence of my jewelry designs and a beautiful representative of my company.   In short order, the photographer’s girlfriend walked out, introduced herself, popped the question and soon she was at our table, looking over my things.

We have kept in loose contact since the original photo shoot, going our separate ways.  At this juncture, though, I want to offer her all of the support that I can.  She’s not only a natural beauty, but a beautiful person as well.  I believe that her inner beauty shows through, both on camera and off.

Tune in next Wednesday night and follow the saga of these women contestants.  You know who I’m cheering for!!

Semi Precious Jewelry

Leslie June 4th, 2008

Semi Precious Jewelry is going to be a new area i intend to cover in upcoming blog postings. It will be very interesting to see the new trends developing out of India as they try to compete with the Italians. Stay tuned.

Coin Pearl Jewelry

Leslie April 29th, 2008

I am a pearl girl - anyone can tell that from visiting my webstore.  Pearls are natural, one of a kind and have a beautiful feel in your hands, like nothing else.  Although I have an affinity for most pearls, including the South Sea and baroque variety, there is a special place in my design heart for coin pearls.  To me, they are very cool.  They can be large or small and not quite round - but they look, well, counter- intuitive.  Pearls are supposed to be round or at least round-ish, right?  But here is something with the pearl luster but not the shape.  Somehow, it doesn’t bother me.  I love the design opportunities they offer, I love the fact that they are really real.

In June, I am hoping that my refreshed webstore will be finished and I will be showing a number of new designs, of course, a number of them with coin pearls of all colors and sizes and shapes.  Stay tuned. 

 

Gold Jewelry Never Goes Out of Style

Leslie April 29th, 2008

It is a lot more expensive to buy, we can all agree on that.  Still, the gold jewelry which you can find in my webstore is 14k, which means that it doesn’t fade or wear out like gold filled or gold vermeil.  Because the cost of gold has more than tripled in the past couple of years, many designers have substituted the lesser quality and charged the same price as what gold used to cost.  It’s really not right - since consumers aren’t really explained the difference.

Gold jewelry, when it is 14k, will last a lifetime.  Yes, it is expensive, but you won’t have to throw it away after a year or two.  Now, it’s an investment.  Because the price of gold has reached over $1000 per troy ounce, many women are taking their old gold jewelry that they don’t wear anymore (maybe their grandmother’s) and selling it for gold value.  You see, there is a residual benefit to owning something of value.  The other stuff, the gold filled, gold vermeil, etc.  is actually valued only for the design, and for as long as the gold veneer lasts.

Take a look at the modern pieces that I have in my webstore.  They could be handed down or melted down - either way! 

Wearing Thai Silver Jewelry

Leslie April 29th, 2008

This post and the next couple of posts are connected with reaching out to more people who are shopping on the web.  Many of you who are visiting my webstore may not be aware that I have many Collections now available, including a very beautiful and versatile Collection of Thai Silver designs.  I am in the process of remodeling my webstore to make it even better for navigation.

Just a word on Thai silver.  It’s hand made by a Hill tribe in Northern Thailand.  The silver itself is between 97 to 99% pure fine silver.  Sterling is 92.5% silver for comparison.  As a result, the Thai silver has more luster, doesn’t tarnish as quickly and it has a better heft.  All around, a beautiful look.

When you get back to my site, click on Product Line, then Thai Silver.

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