I don’t know about you but every time I go shopping for clothes and accessories I end up at the jewelry counter. I am dazzled by sparkling this and shiny that but when I take a closer look, I am not as enchanted as I was a minute ago. Perhaps we are trained to like shiny things at first sight. However, I don’t want to fill up my jewelry collection with the stuff you see everywhere and on everyone. The same is true in most jewelry stores. I take a walk around the room and see what catches my eye and I see beautiful and expensive stones but I see nothing really interesting.

Most people want their pieces to be unique. Most would like them to be artistic and creative. Jewelry isn’t something to just have to have but something that expresses something about us. When I buy and really invest in a piece of jewelry, I am investing in a piece of art, something that I will pass down for generations and that will be special to each member of my family who wears it. Jewelry is a treasure. So why would I want to shell out a ton of money for something common and like everyone else’s?

In choosing jewelry always look for something exceptional and imaginative. I love going to craft fairs and artisan fairs to try to find just that special something. Now, with the World Wide Web, you can look for cool stuff right at home. Searching on-line is a start. Check local newspapers and alternative papers as well. You will always be able to find the more well known designers in your area as well as those up and coming. For example, you may know of Judith Ripka or other off-the-beaten trail jewelry makers like her that manage to be successful but not over-exposed. For 30 years Judith Ripka jewelry has won tremendous loyalty of those customers that cross her path. With a few boutique stores and products available on-line, she has won over many customers. People in the “know” enjoy all her pieces from Judith Ripka rings to pins to bangles. Judith Ripka 18k jewelry, as well as diamonds and semi precious stones, is not only glamorous but also tasteful. You won’t get the gaudy, ”Hey, look at me, I am showing off” stuff but you will enjoy very fine quality and naturally attention calling pieces.

What we wear on our bodies is an outward expression of who we are and what turns us on. Not just the style of our clothes or hair, but our jewelry also plays a part. In fact, jewelry as it is a more subtle part or our wardrobe, gives us an opportunity to really display our uniqueness. The gentle pendent or the striking ring adds to us just the right flare to accentuate our personalities. Jewelry is more than just something we throw on because it matches and it is more than flashing valuables at people. It is an art form.

Year in and year out styles and fashion come and go. In fact, every season there is something new to be obsessed with. Though this is certainly exciting for those of us who love new and original ideas, it is also lots of fun. However, most people don’t or can’t change every single thing in their closets and accessory box every time the wind changes. Imagine the craziness of doing that every season? It is great to update your wardrobe every so often and who doesn’t use retail therapy to cope with stress of daily life. However, when you are choosing the pieces of your collection that require a little more investment, you want them to be classics. Everyone has certain basics and foundational articles that define their character and style. In terms of jewelry, every woman has those special treasures that she wears when she really wants to convey her uniqueness and give her outward appearance that extra special touch.

With clothing, there are certain fundamentals that keep coming back and that rarely change. Part of their selection has to do with your comfort with your own style. I knew a woman whose classic outfit consisted of jeans and a white button down shirt. Initially that sounds boring but she would play with jean styles and cuts as well as shirt designs. Then her jewelry and accessories dressed things up or dressed things down depending on her mood or the occasion. Every person needs to decide what her staples are and then feel free to add the more interesting trends that appear each season. Items like knee high boots for example were huge in various parts of the 60s and 70s and continue to evolve in their frequent resurgences. This is an item that is worth investing in, as it never goes away.

In terms of jewelry, it can be a little harder or a little easier to choose classics depending on one thing...you. If you are one to get sick of something and lose it at the bottom of your jewelry box, you may be always chasing new trends every season. If you are a person who enjoys being really selective in your jewelry pieces then you want to always go with designers that have an ability to create truly lasting pieces. Judith Ripka inspired jewelry is one that comes to mind. Once you take a look at her artistry you’ll see why she has lasted so long in this cutthroat business. Though her collections continue to evolve as with the Judith Ripka Berge earrings and the Judith Ripka Loopty Loo her pieces never go "out of style" and her collections shine with adaptability to ever changing fashion trends. In this scenario, a woman with a firm grasp on her own taste and personal fashion makes her life easier when she finds an artist or jewelry designer that offers pieces that serve as classics. From Judith Ripka Bangles to rings and earrings, with a designer like her, you can find true fundamental pieces to accentuate and augment your own personal style while remaining "in".

It is true that is can be fun yet maddening to try to keep up with the latest and greatest styles. However, with a little self-awareness and familiarity with who is out there, you can find styles and designers to help you create your fashion foundation. This will allow you to keep a style all your own while extracting new and fabulous compliments as the seasons change.