Laura James Jewelry wins “Best of the Best”!

A huge thanks for all of the votes…Laura James Jewelry was just voted Best Online Shopping at the 2011 annual Best of the Best Awards by Charlotte Magazine!

…”Trying on gems inLaura James Jewelry’s cozy boutique on East Boulevard is such a treat and it’s easy to forget how lucky Charlotte shoppers are to have Miss James running her nationally renowned jewelry design operation here. But before you start feeling bad for out-of-town jewel lovers who can’t stop in whenever they please, check out www.LauraJamesJewelry.com. Gorgeous photos of her newest covetable designs are added almost daily and there are occasional web-only, one-day sales of deeply discounted items.”

– Charlotte Magazine

2010 Most Popular Piece of Jewelry

Plenty of people ask us “what piece of jewelry is everyone buying this year?” when they come into the Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique. Now that 2010 is coming to a close, we can officially say which piece has taken top honors.

Aside from the plethora of one of a kind Vintage necklaces we sell as quickly as I can make them, I would have to say that the next most popular piece would be our Vintage Cocktail Rings. One of the biggest reasons is because…they are adjustable, so one size fits all! You can gift them without worrying if they are going to fit as well as change them from index to your pinkie (if you are really brave) finger.

Vintage stones are used in all of the Laura James Jewelry Cocktail Rings and range from smaller stones to very large “drool over me” stones (in shapes from round to oval to pear to rectangle to marquis to…square!). Rings have long been a fave of mine, so I will always have plenty to choose from online and in store. The best part is that most of them are one of a kind…so you don’t have to worry about seeing your new bauble on your best friend.

To shop our Cocktail Rings online at http://www.laurajamesjewelry.com, click here…and hurry. The one of a kind rings will always go first!

NYC Editorial Suite Update!

Ok, so to give you all an update on my recent trip to NYC (see earlier blog below) to showcase Laura James Jewelry to the many fantastic editors and writers for the likes of InStyle, O, Elle, Marie Claire publications, the trip was a huge success! The Editorial Suite at the Bryant Park Hotel is a wonderful opportunity for the editors to see and touch the jewelry in person- which always makes a difference as opposed to merely seeing photos online or flipping through books of photos. It is also important to meet the editors face to face, especially if your name is your brand!

All of the editors were as usual decked out in the latest trends from head to toe- which is always intimidating, however they are nothing but nice and full of compliments which takes the edge off. Many times they will pull jewelry on site for upcoming features and rapidly take photos of the lines that they like for future issues. Laura James Jewelry received great attention and we are excited with fingers crossed to see what happens this year!

Cheers!

Laura James

 

OMG..Gossip Girl Glam “War at the Roses”

 

A fashion and glam filled episode only  befitting B’s 20th Birthday Celebration with fashionable cameos made by Super Stylist Rachel Zoe, Elle’s Creative Director Joe Zee and Fashion Designer Cynthia Rowley!  With Blair’s fashion designer mom Eleanor Waldorf back in town for the celebration who wouldn’t believe these fashion powerhouses wouldn’t be at her party!  Believe it or not they were all stunning in last nights episode so they all made our Gossip Girl Glam List for the Week!

Glam Looks We Loved from Last Nights Episode:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Cynthia Rowley, in Cynthia Rowley

*Glam look put together by Stylist Rachel Zoe! Multiple Cocktail Rings all worn on the same hand…How Amaz-Ing!!Rachel Zoe

* All the Ladies of the Waldorf House are looking Glam in their dresses and beautiful jewelry! A rare sight of Dorota not in her uniform so we are loving her short party dress and beautiful statement wreath necklace.

*Loving crimson red dress on Blair! It’s gorgeous and attention grabbing which is a perfect choice for celebrating your 20th Birthday!  Also dying for her Statement Single Drop Earrings. They are gorgeous adding to her look without taking away from the glam statement of her dress! Perfect Jewelry Choice!!

*Welcome home Eleanor and loving the statement you are making with this look opting for Statement Earrings and Stacked Jeweled Cuff Bracelets great way to put an on trend spin on a more traditional look!!!

*And last but not least we spotlight Serena’s Statement Necklace! Great look for “S” the girl who is to never be upstaged by her best friend Blair, apparently not even on Blair’s Birthday!  Statement Necklaces are a perfect way to change up your look and be noticed just like Serena!

Until next week know you can always look just as glam as anyone in their Statement Jewelry on Gossip Girl  with a visit to Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or by visiting us online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com

 

PHOTO CREDIT: GIOVANNI RUFINO/ THE CW ©2010 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style “Tomorrowland”

Wow, what a season finale! Never saw Don’s engagement to Megan coming however his engagement did play right into our hands from a vintage style perspective for who doesn’t love a vintage engagement ring or a ring that has a story behind it. And what a story this vintage ring holds seeing that it was the engagement ring given to Anna by Dick a.k.a Don Draper many years ago!  Perhaps it’s just me but I love finding a piece of vintage jewelry that you know was treasured by its previous owner and I have no doubt that Anna’s engagement ring was a piece of jewelry she treasured and that held special meaning to her. This belief comes from earlier in the season when we were given a glimpse into Don’s past and he visited Anna in California their interaction with one another alone made it most apparent that they held special places in one another’s past as well as a place in each others heart. So thank you to the writers of Mad Men for the plot twist that gave us an opportunity to highlight such a meaningful piece of vintage jewelry and Dick/Don’s past!

For your very own treasured pieces of vintage jewelry visit Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com

Photos Courtesy of AMC

OMG…Gossip Girl Glam “Goodbye Columbia”

From Blair’s simple and chic charm necklace to Serena’s more daring and bold retro gold 3 tiered statement necklace this episode highlighted the girls’ stellar fashion and the staying power of the statement necklace trend not only on Gossip Girl but in the real world as well.

Make your own standout statement with Necklaces of all kind from Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com

PHOTO CREDIT: GIOVANNI RUFINO/ THE CW ©2010 THE CW NETWORK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style “Blowing Smoke”

Everyone was blowing smoke, enough to create a smoke screen leaving us trying to peer through to see what’s to come in the season finale!This episode provided serious vintage style throughout that left me Mad for Midge’s Vintage Artsy Layered Necklace,Sally’s simple Locket Necklace & Faye’s Statement Stud Earrings!These jewelry styles are as vast and different as the characters the ladies play on Mad Men.I love the range in jewelry it proves there truly is a jewelry choice that is perfect for every woman and young lady regardless of her personal style!

For all your vintage jewelry needs or a special first jewelry gift for a young lady or little girl in your life visit Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or online at www.laurajames.jewelry.com!

Photos Courtesy of AMC

OMG Gossip Girl Glam “Taste of Eva”

 

 

Just a “Taste of Eva” was more than enough for Blair on this week’s episode of Gossip Girl… has Blair gone too far this time exposing Eva’s past? Has Blair lost Chuck forever?  I sure hope not! With the way things went down last night I bet Eva wishes she kept that gorgeous Cartier watch Chuck gave her (but hindsight’s 20/20). And yes I know she’s a do-gooder and gave it up to help someone else (which I completely respect but you do have to admit it was an amazing watch)! Before I get sidetracked again lets give it up for the Statement Necklace, which is spotlighted in this episode of Gossip Girl. Statement Necklaces were seen being worn by both Serena and Juliet… and both necklaces made the girls dresses look that much more amazing at the Chuck Bass rooftop charity event.  A Statement Necklace is always a great choice for making an entrance into a room or making your presence known at a party! So in closing… thank you Gossip Girl for exposing us to Eva’s past and to the power of the Statement Necklace this week. Until next week keep Gossip Girl Glam with vintage jewelry from Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com.

By Lil Springer

Photos Courtesy of:GIOVANNI RUFINO/ THE CW ©2010 THE CW NETWORK

Mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style “Chinese Wall”

 

As always, Monday lends itself as a time to reflect on the vintage style showcased on “Mad Men”. This week we were mad for Peggy and her Pearl Earrings and single strand Pearl Necklace. It appeared the wardrobe director was having a little fun with Peggy’s look this week by putting her in pearls (which are often thought to be a jewel for the prim and proper) since in recent episodes we have come to find out Peggy’s behavior is neither prim or proper (thank you for the irony)!

Though not photographed in this weeks photos on AMC… I was also mad for the big chunky gold tone cocktail ring and chunky cuff bracelet worn by Jane, Roger’s wife, towards the end of the episode (when she is showing him the hard bound copies of his memoir).

So until next week… stay mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style with vintage jewelry from Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or visit us online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com

By Lil Springer

Photos Courtesy of AMC

Mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style

As you probably already know we here at Laura James Jewelry are Mad for Mad Men’s Vintage Style so how excited were we when last week digging through her vintage treasure chest  Laura found a vintage steno pen just like the one worn by Joan Holloway almost weekly on Mad Men.  Laura has put the pen on an amazing ball chain so it hangs long for daily or statement wear just like Joan’s Necklace. Now you too can channel Joan Holloway in your Fall Jewelry looks by stopping in Laura James Jewelry Studio Boutique in historic Dilworth in Charlotte, NC or visiting us online at www.laurajamesjewelry.com.  But hurry because it is a one of kind so once it is gone its gone!

-Lil Springer

Photos Courtesy of AMC & Laura James Jewelry