LFW: LONDON LOOKS

London Fashion Week is under way, and although there a still a few days left, we thought we'd share our most loved looks thus far!

BURBERRY PRORSUM: Christopher Bailey brought the vintage details with his latest collection for Burberry. It was the feminine touches, including peplums, which caught our eyes immediately. The show culminated in a fabulous rainstorm with the models holding the brand's iconic umbrellas for the final walk through- FAB-U-LOUS. 

ERDEM: Erdem Moralioglu paired seemingly contrasting fabrics (i.e. rubber and lace- who would have thought...) for his Fall 2012 collection. Using fuchsia and chartreuse with neutral accents the collection was lady-like in it's execution but with an edge that we've come to expect from LFW. 

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON: For his Fall 2012 collection, Matthew Williamson stayed true to his roots by showing an amazing collection of cocktail gowns. However, it was the mint colored suit which immediately grabbed our attention walking down the runway- love love love!

Only a few days left of London Fashion Week- can't wait to see what fabulous fashions tomorrow will bring! Check out the shows this season on Style.com!

Which LFW show left you on the edge of your seat? Tweet us @jhadleyjewelry

PRESIDENTIAL GEMS: FIRST LADY'S MOST PRIZED BAUBLES

Happy President's Day!! Hope everyone enjoyed their three day weekend! Today we want to celebrate the jewels given by our Presidents to a few of our first ladies.

Jackie Kennedy: Style icon, Jackie Kennedy, was largely known for clean lines and simple style. She wore very little jewelry during her reign as first lady. Her most iconic piece of jewelry was her Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring from John F. Kennedy. Jackie's 2.84 carat emerald stone was set next to a 2.88 carat diamond. 

Eleanor Roosevelt: Franklin Roosevelt purchased a 3.4 carat cushion-cut diamond ring from Tiffany for his future wife, Eleanor. Her diamond ring was set in gold with platinum and diamond accents. Eleanor's ring was largely responsible for setting the trend of raising the diamond above the band to allow for light to catch the stone from all angles. 

Michelle Obama: Although the current first lady has shared little information about her engagement ring, she has shared the story of how our President proposed. After months of claiming he was not interested in the institution of marriage, he surprised her with a small box on her dessert plate after a romantic dinner. His proposal speech... "That kind of shuts you up, doesn't it?".

FRIDAY FAVS: PRESIDENT'S DAY

President's Day is Monday, which for many of you, means a three day weekend! No patriotic plans yet? We've picked our favorite things to do around NYC!

Favorite Restaurant: In the heart of midtown, lies a hisorical gem of a restaurant, Keens. Open since 1885, this steakhouse is notorious for their mutton chops and famous clientele. Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, have dined here as well as Einstein... if it's good enough for some of the most influential people in history then count us in! Book early, we have a feeling reservations will fill up quickly this President's Day.

Favorite Activity: Ghosts of President's past may be discovered by the Ghost Doctors at Grand Central Terminal. Join them as they lead a tour throughout the station Saturday night. On your tour you'll learn not only the legends of Grand Central, but how to use the tools to hunt your own ghosts. Book your tickets here... if you dare...

Favorite Monument: Millions pass by the Statue of Liberty on a daily basis, but how many New Yorkers take the time to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island? This weekend, show your patriotism by grabbing a friend and a camera

 and playing tourist while taking the ferry into the New York Harbor (fanny-packs optional). Have ancestors who came through the island? Search for their names on the Wall of Honor. Hours are extended over President's Day weekend- books your tickets here.

Favorite Sale: It comes twice a year, which frankly is about all our credit cards can handle, the Barney's sample sale will delight even the most seasoned fashionista. If you're already missing Fashion Week, we suggest heading to W 17th street to score some seriously amazing (up to 75% off) designer deals! Happy Shopping!!

Favorite Presidential Quote: "The possibility that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."

Happy President's Day! Tweet us your long weekend plans @jhadleyjewelry

WHAT TO DO IN NYC ON VALENTINE’S DAY: 

Happy Valentine's Day!! I hope everyone has someone to share this special day with whether it's a significant other or a good friend. If the holiday has snuck up on you... which it always seems to do... and you don't have plans yet J/Hadley is here to help with our top picks in NYC for V-Day!

Baby Cakes: If you're in the mood for something sweet, head down (or up) to BabyCakes on Broome Street. This NYC gem will satisfy even the sweetest tooth with their heart shaped chocolate chip cookie cake. Bonus- this vegan bakery is refined sugar, soy and gluten free so don't feel guilty about having that extra piece... 

Please don’t tell: Don’t tell them we told, but seriously, it’s too good not to mention. Go to Please Don’t Tell to be transported back to the 1920’s when Speakeasies were king. This quiet bar is the perfect place to sip gourmet cocktails in a cozy booth.

MTA Missed Connections Love in Transit Party: Locked eyes on the Subway with a handsome stranger never to see each other again? You're not alone... in fact, the MTA has created an event to commemorate all the missed connections. This V-Day, head toBrooklyn for the Love in Transit Party at the MTA museum. There will be a poetry reading based on Craigslist "missed connections" posts, live music and of course a photo booth.

Romance Under the Stars: For an evening of star gazing in the city, head to the Hayden Planetarium space theater on 81st Street. Your admission includes an open bar and appetizers from 6:30-9pm. Lay under the stars with your date as you listen to some of the greatest love stories of all time. 

Empire State Building: For the film buffs, recreate the iconic scene from the movie “An Affair to Remember”… or “Sleepless in Seattle”… by meeting your sweetheart at the top of the Empire State Building. What could possibly be more romantic?

What will you do this Valentine's Day? Send us pics of your favorite V-Day spot @jhadleyjewelry

GRAMMY LOOKS FOR LESS

Did you guys catch the Grammy's last night? So many great moments- from Nicki's strange outfit choice to Jennifer Hudson's emotional tribute to the late Whitney Houston.

Carrie Underwood looked radiant in a shimmering white Gomez-Gracia dress. Her tear drop shaped earrings were the perfect accent to her outfit. These art deco inspired earrings by Johnathan Arndt featured pave and champagne diamonds set in white gold. 

Katy Perry looked surprisingly demure, aside from the cerulean hair, in a powder blue sequin dress on the Red Carpet. Her Norman Silverman three drop ascher cut diamond earrings were stunning. 

Bad gal, Rihanna, played up her sex appeal with a plunging Georgio Armani gown. She accented it perfectly with gold jewelry. We were particularly intrigued by Rihanna's Neil Lane snake ring. 

How to get the look with J/Hadley...

Get Carrie's look with our moonstone tear drop earrings.
Similar in shape, the J/Hadley gems are a fraction of the cost!

J/Hadley's pave diamond three drop oval earrings are reminiscent of Katy's Grammy's look. These jewels are certainly celebrity approved- Gabrielle Union wore them to her premiere of Think Like a Man last week. 

We love snakes as much as the next girl.. on our jewels that is.
To get Rihanna's look, try J/Hadley's modern pave diamond
snake ring with ruby eyes. 

FRIDAY FAVORITES: VALENTINE'S DAY

Going solo this Valentine’s Day? Fear not- we’ve compiled a list of our favorite V-Day things for the single ladies!

Favorite Book Reads:

The Lucky One is the story of a young Marine who finds a picture of a woman while overseas and experiences an immediate streak of luck. After his tour is up, he travels to find this mysterious woman. We won't spoil it for you, but knowing Nicholas Sparks’ novels, a romantic love story is sure to follow. We think the world would be a better place if every man took some inspiration from Nicholas Sparks’ characters. Bonus- The book is being made into a movie starring Zac Efron...

Favorite Chick Flicks:

You’re not alone this Valentine's Day- you’ve got Ryan, Jake and Justin to keep you company. Grab a gal pal and head to your nearest RedBox for some rom-com therapy. Some of our favorites include: The Notebook, Love and Other Drugs, and Friends with Benefits.

Favorite Valentine's Treat:

Although we think chocolate is wonderful, on such a special occasion, we think it's acceptable to indulge in some not so typical sweets. We are in love with macrons from LaDuree- they are to die for! The ones pictured are grapefruit with vanilla, but feel free to try every flavor... you can't go wrong! 

Favorite Gem Stone:

Looking for love? Add some moonstone to your ensemble! Legend has it that Moonstone will bring new love to those that seek it. It can also awaken passion and help you to find your hearts desire.. even if you don’t know what it is yet! Still lusting after your ex? Moonstone is said to have the ability to reunite lovers. All that from one stone… You can count us in!

 

Favorite Gift:

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love- so give a gift to the person you love the most… yourself! We suggest a mani-pedi with your best friend or even a spa day. If you're in NYC head to Mzia Shiman's Spa on 59th street! Dubbed the "Skin Whisperer" by Allure, she has single-handedly transformed our skin! While you're there, don't forget to pick up the Declore skin cream we mentioned last Friday!

Did we miss any of your Valentine's Favorites? Tweet us @jhadleyjewelry

Valentine's Day by jhadleyjewelry 

Sassy: Maje Zipper Dress, $440, Camilla Skovgaard Black Bootie, J/Hadley Two Drop Ruby Earrings, J/Hadley Pave Diamond Chain Link Necklace. Sweet: Zac Posen Pleated Satin Dress, Christian Louboutin Patent Leather Pumps, J/Hadley Fire Opal Earrings, J/Hadley Pave Diamond Bangle.


Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, so it's time to plan our outfits- what will you wear out with your sweetheart on the 14th? Is your style going to be sassy or sweet for this Valentine's Day? Tweet your responses @jhadleyjewelry 

HIGH FASHION HIGH JEWELS

Last night we went to Sotheby’s for Fashion Group International’s High Fashion High Jewels event. While there, we were lucky enough to get a preview of the Important Jewels auction which features an estimated total of $68 million worth of jewels that spans over 170 years of jewelry history. We were in awe of the collection that they were able to curate- everything from a five carat fancy orangy pink diamond to a gorgeous emerald cut tanzanite ring (almost 30 carats!!!)… which we couldn’t resist trying on.

The second part of the night featured three panelists from Chanel, Verdura, and Bergdorf Goodman. Each of them agreed that CAD and digitizing design could lead to the demise of unique artisan jewelry. Verdura president, Nico Landrigan, said it was our duty as designers and consumers to preserve the art of jewelry design by paying more for products with a unique design perspective.

What do you think? Would you be willing to spend more for a finely designed piece or are you more focused on price when you purchase fine jewels?

INCREDIBLE INDIA

I wish that every trip I took to India was as magical as the one above, but alas, not every trip consists of hippie pants and elephant rides. My normal surroundings look more like scenes from Slumdog Millionaire. For instance, this picture of the local fish market in the bay of Mumbai is my normal view from the taxi on the way to work. Not what you'd expect, right?

In the past three years I have been to India a total of 13 times. Yes.... THIRTEEN! The first seven trips were during the first six months I started my business. So while it sounds like a lot, it's mainly because the first six months I was scrambling trying to figure out what the heck I was doing! Since then, I don't have to go quite as often, but I do try to take an average of 1 to 2 trips a year. 

By this January I had my trip down: use my Priority Pass to fly through airport security, pop an Ambien for the 18 hour flight, make a beeline through customs, and then hop in my pre-scheduled car service to the Taj Hotel.

Then the work begins. This time I was in town solely to work on my summer and fall collections. For seven days I sat in an office maybe, MAYBE half the size of a freshman dorm room. Every day my manufacturer and I inspected the stones we are using to create J/Hadley's one-of-a-kind pieces.  I absolutely love the thrill of sourcing the most unique stones. To me, the type of stone speaks volumes about the quality of the jewelry, so we work like crazy to find the best, most affordable stones out there!

(one sample of what you'll see this Spring)

After the stones are selected and inspected, I do a rough sketch of each piece and direct how each stone is to be set. While it's fun, it is also exhausting! I always thought using brain power was to solve math problems and translate French phrases was tiring... but no. Thirty minutes of designing was the equivalent of taking the SATs! Each piece can cause anxiety, knowing that someone may or may not purchase this piece based on what is done in this tiny workroom. So each piece is labored over and carefully planned.

After the seven days of designing, I put my tired self back on a plane to NYC. And now, I'm stuck in limbo, waiting. It takes approximately six weeks for each piece to be polished, hand set, and then packed and shipped to our main office in New York. From there, the real fun begins! I can't wait to show you all the pieces we've been working so hard on..... so stay tuned for a Spring/Summer preview. 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

It's that time again- can't believe how quickly this week has flown by! Here are our Friday Favorites from the web this week!

Favorite Beauty Product

Is this windy weather leaving your face feeling dry? We've got the solution for you- Decleor Aroma Night cream will help you "save face"  this winter. It's a cost effective version of the ever popular La Mer cream. While you can find it at various spas, we found ours at Mzia Shiman's.

Favorite Website

One of our favorite websites is LearnVest.com. This site is stocked full of useful information that normal female-oriented websites don't touch on: finances! In this article LearnVest addresses the importance of the office space, which is something we are currently working on! We are still getting used to our new office/showroom space and are desperate for great decor advice! Any suggestions?

On our current to-purchase list: cool parsons work table, large mirror (for trying on bling of course!), cork boards to post our inspiration of the day, filing cabinets, and new artwork!

Favorite Magazine Feature

Glamour featured Amanda Seyfried on their March Cover showcasing a new look for the magazine as well. The retro inspired photo-shoot shows off Amanda's sexy side. Amanda dished with Glamour on her famous ex beaus, competition with other young starlets, and even her issues with anxiety. Full disclosure, we are completely biased because Amanda is wearing our pave diamond tear drop earrings in the photo of her on page 287!

Favorite team to win the Super Bowl

The office is buzzing with talk of the Super Bowl this Sunday- Giants vs Patriots this Sunday! For once, we're in disagreement over our favorite to team to win. Who are you rooting for this weekend?

Favorite New Gem

Spring arrivals are in- and we're digging the bright colors! We are obsessed with these orange sapphire three drop earrings with a pave diamond border. Fashion week is coming up, and these will definitely be making an appearance on one of the J/Hadley girls at the shows. 

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!! Enjoy your Superbowl parties- tweet us pics @jhadleyjewelry! 

WHERE WE WEAR OUR J/HADLEY JEWELS: PR MEETINGS IN THE CITY

PR meetings are a great excuse to pile on our favorite jewels from the spring collection! We're obsessed with the pave diamond chain link bracelet- so chic! 

After the jewels, the next best part of this look is the lack of coat in February! Mother nature has been so nice to NYC this winter! 

Tweet us @jhadleyjewelry and tell us where you wear your favorite gems!

(Jewelry featured: JB-90, $9,500 pave diamond chain link bracelet, J-623, $315 pyrite necklace with small pave diamond tear drop, J-1045, $2,450 rose cut diamond and pave diamond cross pendant, JB-41, $1,800 rhodium and pave diamond oval earrings with oval cut out. Clothing: Cream knit sweater-Free People, Brown Knit Vest-Anthropologie, Leather Boots-Balenciaga, Bag- Chanel, Sunglasses-Oliver Peoples)