Store Appeal

The Rings of Me&Ro Jewelry

Store Appeal: 100% made in New York City, Me&Ro is the brainchild of Robin Renzi, who in 1991 ventured into the world of jewelry making because of her passion for communicating through jewelry and adorning the human body.  Known for stackable rings, hammered bangles, and hoops, Me&Ro jewelry not only focuses on aesthetic simplicity, but also the power jewelry has to express the human values of strength, love, and faith. Standing behind these principles, the brand prides itself upon using environmentally friendly materials such as recycled gold and silver, discontinuing the use of coral as it is damaging to marine life and using recycled packaging for shipping.

Our Vote: If you’ve seen the film, Eat, Pray, Love this summer, then you’ve seen the lovely works of Me&Ro jewelry on Julia Roberts. Anyone who loves jewelry, but has simplistic tastes, not to be overpowered by gemstones, baubles and loud colors, then this is the jewelry collection for you. These pieces are made from quality materials and have enough uniqueness about them that stones and colors are actually not missed.  

Our Favorites:

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me ro jewelry at Beso.com

Jacquie Aiche Organic Hand Crafted Jewelry

Store Appeal: While Jacquie Aiche may not be a household name in the world of fine jewelry, her ever-growing list of elite celebrity fans, such as Halle Berry, Ashlee & Jessica Simpson and Sheryl Crow, can vouch for the beauty of her rare, one-of-a-kind jewelry. From precious stones (more than just rubies and emeralds) to diamonds and gold, Jackie Aiche jewelry is founded on the principles that jewelry is personal and unique and therefore should not be mass-produced, as it takes away from the experience of wearing a fine piece of jewelry.

Our Vote: While it may seem some jewelry lines mimic the one before it, Jacquie Aiche strives to differentiate her collection from the rest. From square shaped gold bands with diamonds blazed along the edges, to monumental precious rocks like amethyst and turquoise in the raw, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any jewelry collection that’s quite as distinctive as Jacquie’s.

Our Favorites:

Brought to you by

jacquie aiche jewelry at Beso.com

All That Glitters Is… Gold Accessories

Take a look around – not only in the pages of fashion magazines, but also on the arms, necks and ears of the most stylish women everywhere, gold tone jewelry and gold accessories like gold bags and gold pins are all the rage.  From rusty bronzes to shimmering yellow tones, gold is making a quite the comeback and is giving its arch-rival, silver, a run for its money.

The warm metallic tones look great on every complexion, hair color and can be paired with a casual boho summer outfit to a night out on the town.

J. Crew Women’s Jewelry Collection

Store Appeal: Over the weekend, I served as an assistant on a photo shoot for a friend who’s a photographer. When the model brought her own beautiful jewelry to wear, we immediately asked where she got it from. I actually was not surprised at all that her extraordinary pieces came mostly from J. Crew. J. Crew has been around for several decades, yet their jewelry collection is making quite the splash among contemporary sophisticated women with varying tastes in jewelry, but one common denominator – quality pieces at affordable prices.

Our Vote: While the typical J. Crew customer can be identified by her collection of pearls and polka dots, J. Crew jewelry is anything but typical. From long strands of pearls intertwined with gold and gemstones, these pieces are classics that will look as modern today as they will 20 years from now. And with most pieces in the collection selling for under $100, you can’t afford to not own a slice of sophistication. 

Our Favorites:

1.)    J. Crew Pearl Cluster Bib Necklace – $100

2.)    J. Crew Crystal Pebble Earrings - $45

3.)    J. Crew Glass Tile Ring – $39.50

4.)    J. Crew Crystal Chain Grosgrain Bracelet – $68

GUESS Women’s Jewelry Collection

Store Appeal: Known primarily for their denim collections and iconic “G” print handbags, GUESS is actually a fashion collection for men and women, branching out of just denim and into the world of accessories and jewelry. Keeping in the tradition of their bombshell-bad girl ad campaigns, the GUESS jewelry line is made up on grungy rock-glam pieces that feature dark chains and stones, wrapped in intricate knots and lots of sexy bling. The Marciano brothers which started GUESS as a demin company in the 80s have expanded the brand beyond anyone’s wildest belief to include quality apparel and accessories at moderate price points.

Our Vote: Sometimes I’m apprehensive about buying jewelry from clothing companies because it’s not their specialty, but then I remind myself that I proudly own Forever 21 costume pieces, so why not spend a little more for better quality. The GUESS jewelry collection is fun, sexy and young, just like everything else from the brand. If you are at all into rock-glam, then you’ll definitely want to check out GUESS jewelry.

Our Favorites:
1. Guess Charm Bracelet, $159

2. Guess Logo Earrings, $33.70

3. Guess Gold Bracelet, $26

> shop more GUESS jewelry

Calypso St. Barth

 Store Appeal: What’s most likeable about Calypso is the simple fact that it’s chic beachwear for every day (well, almost every day). It’s very wearable and functional for weekend jaunts and errands or if you’re just looking for something comfortable to wear during warmer days when the idea of wearing clothes is just too uncomfortable to bear. Calypso is a fun brand, which is confirmed by the online store which features video lookbooks and “flicks” to get shoppers in the mood for fun in the sun. And like any good lifestyle brand, Calypso does not just do clothes, but shoes, purses, fragrances and even jewelry. While at first sight the ethereal beach bunny wear may look more suitable for a California girl [read: Cameron Diaz], rest assured these frocks are compatible with any glamazon’s warm-weather wardrobe.

Our Vote:  If I could choose anything to wear all summer long, it would be linen tunics and dresses in bold, yet calming colors that resonate with the season. Luckily we have Calypso! The line is a wee-bit pricey given its beachwear, but keep in mind the quality of the materials such as fine linen, cotton and silk. Possibly the greatest benefit to this line is just about everything matches every other piece in the collection – from shoes to shorts, jewelry to tops – this is truly the effortless chic beach style women have been seeking.

Our Favorites:

1.)    Samantha Shirt – $165

2.)    Boyfriend Capris – $225

3.)    Eugenia Dress – $95

4.)    Calypso Mandala Jumpsuit – $475

5.)    Ruvuma Ring – $195

DKNY Home – High Fashion Comes Home

Store Appeal:  Ever wanted your home furnishings to look as stylish and chic as your closet? Of course you do! And Donna Karan knows that! Since 2001, Donna Karan has been helping savvy fashionistas make the most out of their bed, bath and home décor through her domestic line, DKNYHome.com. Her philosophy is simple: “To me, the bedroom and bath are our inner sanctums, the places where you get to be truly be yourself. And just like your clothes, every piece should be multidimensional, expressive and a gift to give yourself.”

Our Vote: What’s most helpful about DKNYHome.com is the a la carte or pre-fixed menu offerings. When buying bedding, sometimes you may want just the sheets, sometime the entire collection. DKNYHome.com offers that ease to shoppers along with individual pricing or pricing for the entire collection.

Our Favorites:

1.)    DKNY Floral Garden Bedding Collection – $729.99

2.)    Donna Karan Liquid Silk Pillow Cases – $99

3.)    Lilac Shadow Bath Accessories – $119

J. Crew Collection – Where Glam Meets Preppy

Store Appeal: Known for its notoriously preppy selections, J. Crew is a mainstay among yuppies and hipsters alike, mainly for its classic New England frocks and high-end appeal. While the J. Crew Collection doesn’t deviate from their signature style, the glam aspect of the line does incorporate quite a bit of bling that would have the likes of Mariah Carey drooling. Described as couture-quality with to-die-for prices, the J. Crew Collection is quite versatile, particularly if you’re new to the brand. Founded in 1983 (lest we forget the modern prepster movement was born during this era), J. Crew has expanded past oxford shirts (and shoes) and chinos, into refined party dresses, structured purses, men’s suits and even wedding attire. The store’s new collection has a gentle appeal thinly veiled in nautical stripes and distressed denim shorts.

Our Vote: You may never know this by looking at the brick and mortar store, but J. Crew online is laden with tons of products. From sales to new arrivals, high-end new collections and popular basics. But if you’re not a J. Crew enthusiast, it can be rather daunting surfing through 20 pages of women’s tops alone! But I’m up for the challenge and I hope you are, too. Besides, if you’re like me and get a little nauseous from the sea of popped-collars, pearls and ribbon-clad ponytails that rule your local mall’s J. Crew every Saturday afternoon, then you might benefit from shopping online. And one amenity only found online is the “back by popular demand” section that highlights old favorites brought back…well you can figure the rest out.

Our Favorites:

1.)    J. Crew Impressionist Skirt – $110

2.)    Trapp Troubadour Sunglasses – $395

3.)    J. Crew Sequin Skirt – $398

Botkier Handbags & Shoes – Accessories with Downtown Edge

Store Appeal: I know what you might be thinking, with the Tory Burchs and Rebecca Minkoffs of the world, do we really need yet another contemporary-on-the-cusp-of-high-end designer handbag collection? But just like with Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff, Botkier offers something unique that sets it apart from the other brands it tends to be grouped in. The eponymous handbags, shoes and accessories line from New York fashion photographer, Monica Botkier, has made a splash on the celeb scene, worn by boho starlets such as Joy Bryant, Ashley Greene and Rachel Bilson. Each style of purse not only has detailed stitching and fun hardware or trendy zippers, but also comes with a fob of sorts. Such as the neutrals line which features an elephant shaped fob. Fans of designer shoes, but hate stilts (aka 5 inch heels), will love the sturdy, cone heels, as they are cutting edge without invoking a fear of falling over the edge of the sidewalk. The brand terms itself “downtown edge” and embodies “luxury through custom detailing, innovation and quality while focusing on functionality.” Quite possibly, Botkier is the answer to all of our fashion woes!

Our Vote: The store’s site is easily navigable and had great photos and will show you the available shoe sizes from a drop-down menu and lists the dimensions of each purse so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting! Plus, there’s a lot of great information about Monica and the brand as well as a blog all about Monica’s Musings which stretch out of the world of fashion and into the culture that breeds it. Because if you’re going to drop $500 on a purse, you want to know there’s a community to back you up!

Our Favorites:

1.)   Botkier Uma Satchel – $595

2.)   Botkier Howard Street Satchel – $575

3.)   Botkier Lula Sandals – $229

Alice + Olivia: Funky + Contemporary

Store Appeal: So if there’s one thing Alice + Olivia are good for – and known for – it’s their impeccable selection of party dresses. The youthful, contemporary line represents the “quirky style” of its founder, Stacey Bendet. In addition to the dresses, the line expands into tops, pants, jackets and even basics (read: white tees with a flair) and some accessories. A kids line and a charity tee selection makes this hipster fashionista brand quite likeable.

Our Vote: With over 60 dresses on their site to choose from, it’s a virtual closet of young Hollywood. Priced well between the $200s and $500s, it’s a great online destination to find that killer cocktail dress that most likely no one else in your circle will have. But probably what’s more entertaining that sifting through the well-stocked online showroom is the “4AM Finds” which truly represents that quirky nature Stacey confesses to have. These pieces include oddball frocks and accessories from other stores like Sephora and Amazon.com that not only make it a pleasure for the online shopper, but make the brand that much more…appealing!

Our Favorites:

1.)    Alice + Olivia Tabitha Dress – $198

2.)    Alice + Olivia Sydney Faux Wrap Dress – $368

3.)    Alice + Olivia CeliaVest – $264