This seems to be a regular occurrence for me. There are just so many stunning pieces of jewelry that have survived the ages and would be very wearable even today.

Some pieces that give a nod to ancient times that I have found in my recent wanders of the Internet:

Above: Gwendolen Brass Necklace at Lulus.com

Above: Connect The Dots Cuff at Lulus.com

Above: Argonauts Ring at Lulus.com

Above: Huntress Necklace at Lulus.com

Above: Lelania Daisy Bone Earrings at Lulus.com

Above: Queen Isis Necklace by Lulus.com

Above: Renaissance Ring in Silver or Gold at Lulus.com

I found all the above at Lulus.com which means you won’t have to spend a lot of money to add a bit of history to your jewelry box, though you can find many expensive pieces on various sites and in stores. I always go for affordable offerings when trying out a style in case it is not to my liking. Lulus.com and Forever 21 are great stores to purchase affordable accessories to try a trend or start your own.

So, the next time you wander a museum or see a piece of jewelry in a history book that you would love to wear, search the Internet or wander the stores. You may see something that reminds you of the piece!

Wear a little bit of history.

I am one of those fashion-loving women who adores taking risks and wearing things that others don’t dare to wear. I have learned that while wearing a strange bracelet or pair of shoes may draw comments like ‘That is SO weird”, I may start a fashion trend in my local area. You have to be a bit daring from time to time or else life is boring. At least I think so.

You don’t have to go overboard and dress like a runway model but you can take one item of clothing or accessory and make it a stand-out in your outfit. Be daring but not reach the “scary zone” of dressing different head to toe.

You can wear a funky necklace when wearing a very simple outfit:

Above: Knick Knacks Necklace at Francescas Collections

Or you can wear a really bold ring:

Above:Dannijo Andi Ring at shopbop.com

Wear a pair of eye-catching shoes:

Above: “Marina” black embossed leather wedges by Rock & Republic at Bluefly.com

Or wear a interesting blouse:

Above: “Jonas” cut-out shoulder tie blouse by Mike & Chris at Bluefly.com

You don’t have to go to overboard, just take a little bit of a chance. Sure, some people will call what you are wearing “weird” but, you may be the woman who starts a new trend. Don’t let the worry of negative comments by others stop you from having fun with fashion.

At the warmer end of the spectrum, you’ll find citrines, orange garnets (also known as spessartites) and gorgeous orange sapphires. Fulfill your heart’s desire with a sun-kissed orange sapphire heart pendant that is as affordable as it is stunning.

Should you want to highlight the earthier shades of the palette, look for smokey quartz, tiger’s eye or mocha-colored diamonds. My suggestion: a fabulously regal smokey quartz, citrine and diamond cocktail ring that is sure to showcase your flair for high fashion.

Finally, if you want to infuse your wardrobe with a hint of green, try olive quartz or peridot jewelry designs. These delicate briolette-cut peridot dangle earrings are the perfect choice for a subtle splash of color.

Brace yourselves, though, because the fall 2009 jewelry trends don’t end with these classic fall colors. Oh, may the jewelry gods have mercy on your stylish souls: there is much, much more to come. Stay tuned for trend #2…

Summer fashions are seeing flamboyant shades of orange, peach, coral, red and pink. So set your flashy wardrobe ablaze with bright gemstones that complement the palette. Light up your next night out with an orange sapphire, rhodolite and diamond ring:

And a pair of orange garnet and diamond earrings:

Or if you want to infuse your summer style with a bohemian appeal, wrap your wrist in a trendy red coral bangle bracelet by jewelry designer Andrea Barna:

Make a bold fashion statement with vibrant jewelry designs, all the while capturing the essence of what summertime should really be like: sun-kissed and sensational!

Pretty jewelry is a girl’s best friend and just waiting for you to discover it.

Be it for the neck:

Above: Three Stone Necklace by Kenneth Jay Lane

Above: Dipped Agate Necklace at Lulus.com

Above: Daisy Sprig Necklace at Lulus.com

Or on the wrist:

Above: Lady Luck Charm Bracelet at Lulus.com

Above: Black Stone Bracelet by Kenneth Jay Lane

Shining on your fingers:

Above: Blushing Orchid Ring at Tradewinds Imports

Above: Mexico Sterling Turquoise Stone Ring at Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection

Or dangling from your ears:

Above: Gypsy Sun Earrings by Erickson Beamon

Above: Florida Keys Earrings at Francesca’s Collections

It’s time to put away those gloves, stash those scarves, and hang up those woolie hats. Time to put on something pretty and embrace spring.

I am a lover of huge rings with very noticeable design. It thrills the accessory lover in me and makes me break out those rings that have been hanging out in my jewelry box waiting to see the light of day.

It ’s easy way to make a statement with a large ring without layering on tons of jewelry and also there are so many different styles to choose from. I am in ring heaven!

Some recent finds of mine:

Above: A ring I had to order because it looked very similar to rings I had seen while in NYC that were a lot more expensive. It is my birthday soon and I wanted to treat myself. Since the ring is only $18.00 at Francesca’s Collections, it would not be too expensive for me to add to my jewelry box.

Above: Another ring at Francesca’s Collections that is $18.00 and it is similar to the huge, floral, rings that I have been seeing everywhere in stores.

Above: This ring is only $24.00 at Francesca’s Collections and it simple yet stands out. It would look great on the hand while not being too funky in style.

Above: This large ring by mark at Avon looks really primitive yet cool. I own it in the silver and it doesn’t snag tights, clothes, random furniture material, like a lot of large rings do because of it not having sharp edges. It is also only $14.00 which is a nice price for a ring this large.

Above: Another great, larger, ring at Lulu’s Fashion Lounge. This ring is only $8.00 and would really stand out on the hand when you wear it with the right outfit.

Lulu’s is always a great source for trendy jewelry because it is so inexpensive to indulge in accessorizing your wardrobe by shopping their site. It doesn’t drain the bank account too badly and you don’t feel you are wasting money on a trend that may not suit you.

Above: A more expensive ring at $72.00 from shopbop.com. I am loving the large stone which is resin cabochon and mimics turquoise which is one of my favorite stones used in jewelry. It is also simple enough to transcend one season and be worn far into the future.

Above: A fun, bold, frog design, ring form shopbop.com that costs $48.00. It is the sort of ring you have to have a bit of gust to wear since it will be noticed due to it’s size and design. It also is 18k gold plated so definitely is not costume jewelry.

These are only a few of the large ring finds I have stumbled across online. There are many more, in many different price categories, out there to be found, swooned over, and bought.

So what are you waiting for? Break out those large rings, maybe add a few new to your jewelry collection, and wear them proudly!

A cozy, slouchy fancy designer maxi-cardigan is an indulgence for sure, but this Stella McCartney stone-colored sweater made of heavy cotton mixes nautical with High Street. The white twill tape forms a cool hipster crucifix in the back, while the toggle-type closures look slick open or loose. Throw it on over cargo pants for a mad dash through the airport, or toss on over your fanciest black trousers. Either way, the $1345 knit is a knockout.

Jill Platner is a surfer, sculptor and one of the hottest jewelry designers around these day. Lenny Kravitz proudly loops one of her black corded chokers around his neck, and Mandy Moore stacks rows of the organic bracelets up and down her arm — each one a sculptural masterpiece. Jill’s pieces are not cheap — this dazzling “Sprout” bracelet runs $815, but the cord is made of gortex and the silver is all but bullet-proof. Wear it while you swim, sleep shower and sprint — just as Jill would herself.

This summer, keep things simple. Wear white, white, white every day and notch it up with this mother-of pearl oversized ring. Its easy, elegant spirit is as seductive as a soft summer night. Pair with a sleek white linen tank dress or jeans and billowy peasant blouse. It’s a stand-alone accessory worth every penny of its $325 price tag.

This Rusty Blue Necklace by MARIE FLY FLY is a great example of vintage meets modern. The speckled Czech glass beads combined with the industrial look of the hammered copper hoop and chain really pop…and at just $34, they’re a steal!

Isn’t this clutch sweet?! This is by MOSEY who’s tag line is: “Recycled, Reconstructed, Re-loved,” so you can’t beat that. This Araucana Pocket Clutch is made of soft, felted, boiled wool with a vintage button. Check out the sweet surprise on the back: egg shaped cotton appliqués in a vintage calico print….too cute. This piece measures 6” x 5” and is a mere $22!

It must be my wee bit o’ Scottish blood that draws me to the kilt. There’s nothing sexier than a lad in a kilt, but why can’t the lassies get in on the action? Well, we can if you wear this vintage kilt pin! This would look great as a fastener for a hand knit wrap or scarf. This pin is made of steel wire and vintage beads by SUPERFAY.

These little beauties by FOUNDLING feature a couple of vintage Lucite and faceted stones with a delicate brass chain connected to a cool brass ring (check them out up close) for $25.

This fun “>ring by THE BROKEN PLATE is actually handcrafted from…you guessed it, a broken plate. The vintage 70’s silver adjustable ring setting completes the look.

These super-duper-cute baby hair clips made by DETAILS just make me smile! The Monogram clip on the left and the personalized one on the right are entirely hand-sewn. It’s no surprise then that they use only high quality wool felt on these beauties! Their entire collection for babies and toddlers is a must see!

You can check out all of these designers and more on Etsy, my go-to international boutique for all things indie!

This stunning wooden briefcase is designed by Japanese designer Takumi Shimamura. I love wood-accented accessories, but I have NEVER seen a briefcase made out of wood, let alone so sleek, modern and one-of-a-kind! This talented industrial designer used an ecological, thinned Japanese cedar with a water- repellant finish. It’s large and wide enough to accommodate most laptops, has sturdy canvas edges, double zippers, and inner pockets. These are hand crafted in Japan and each one is as unique as is the cedar tree it came from, and for $299.99, it stacks up nicely with more traditional versions.

The next company I want to introduce you to is as clever as their slogan: Craft meets Technology. Dbclay is a company from Portland, Oregon that creates unique wallets called pocket art. They are true innovators in the design world. Db developed a custom textile and a proprietary printing technique that takes conceptual art and photographs and transfers it onto their eco-friendly Tope fabric. Tope is strong, durable and water resistant ,and is the only product of its kind on the entire planet! How many companies large or small can say that? Cool and eco-friendly, now that’s a combo I can live with!

This ode to the 70’s design is actually a copy of an old wooden box transferred onto their Tope fabric.

I also love the Madras model, particularly the contrast of the gold wheat against the blue horizon in this photo series.

CYBEROPTIX TieLab hails from a top-floor studio in downtown Detroit. Their designs reflect their environment and background in industrial/electronica music. The founder, Bethany Shorb, created the costumes for Skinny Puppy’s 2004 world tour and is a performer herself. Their aim is to take the ‘old establishment’ tie and turn it into a subversive anti-establishment one, and I think they’ve definitely succeeded! Cyberoptix uses eco-friendly waterbased inks on their 100% silk charmeuse and microfiber ties, like their best-selling Exhaust Pipes design.

In this design, they took a Victorian skeleton key and repeated it into a tartan design….genius!

Another company that creates sublime, hipster ties is Sovereign Beck. Their designs aren’t for the faint-of-heart and definitely speak for themselves:

The Beetles design on the left and the Overlap design on your right, both sell for $90.

22designstudio is composed of a group of young designers from Taiwan. This masculine ring is one in a series made of cement and stainless steel. These young artists use environment, texture and human behavior as their design inspiration. The exterior was drawn freehand by the designer. The rough uneven cement outside is a great counter-balance to the smooth stainless on the inside.

I hope these pieces are either inspiration or motivation to look outside the box when it comes time to add an accessory or two to your wardrobe (or to help your guy update his look). Happy Hunting!