Welcome to the Party!

Great news for all you savvy social networkers: you can now follow Portero on both Twitter and Facebook! Although we already keep you up to date with our blog (which will still be up and running), you can also get insights to smarter shopping via two new outlets run by our staff.

If you're not already a member of Facebook, now may just be the time to sign up. Besides connecting with old friends and the community around you, you can also join the Portero page and be kept up to date on all of our new promotions, homepage themes and spectacular sales.

Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time. Short thoughts and new information will be posted by our staff throughout the day, so it takes no time at all to stay informed. Also, Twitter is a great way to chat with us so we can stay connected to learn more about our customers. This isn't a one way channel--we want it to be engaging and interactive so we can hear your views on things, too. Want to see a specific brand that we aren't yet featuring? Want to say thanks for a great purchase? Shoot us a message and let us know!

Want to get started? Click below to follow us!

Facebook

Twitter

Find Your Inner Fashionista

It’s not possible to leave the house without fabulous handbag in tow. There is nothing like a burst of color, a structured classic, or a sexy-chic exotic skin to magnify your brilliance. The options are endless and accessibility of luxury bags has become a bit easier as of late. Today, we are taking a look at some of the most adored, high-fashion bag brands as well as some of the hottest tends spotted recently at New York Fall 2009 Fashion Week and Pre-Fall Collections. The overall tone of the season was futuristic femme. Sharp lines, oversized shoulders, and a variety of bubble and geometric shaped bags tore up the scene.

Balenciaga:
Most famous for it’s line of motorcycle-inspired handbags, Balenciaga has found itself at the top of almost every fashionista’s wish list. With “downtown glamour” & avant garde design, their fan-base is broad & passionate. Balenciaga’s 2009 Pre-Fall collection included big fur cuffs, high-waisted combat pants, and sheer French blouses. We will be seeing quite a few oversized bubble and quilted leather bags, minimalistic suede totes, buttery-leather ladylike top handle bags, and big flat round and squared clutches. Click here to view Balenciaga bags.

Chloe:
Chloe, the leader and first designer of luxury Prêt-à-Porter, can be recognized through a meticulous attention to detail seen in the masterful craftsmanship given to each design. Chloe’s Pre-Fall collection boasted high waisted carrot leg pants, sharp shoulders with jewels and grommets, bow detail (of course), and plaid lined blanket style capes. Bags in drag included the ever-loved oversized heavy-duty totes in patent & metallic leathers with big hardware, sleek leather doctor bags, and metal work adorned clutches. Click here to view Chloe bags.

Marc Jacobs:
Marc Jacobs has built a rep for creating cutting edge designs that transform into wearable works of art. On the runway in New York this past week, he flaunted a perfect combination of futuristic wear, 80’s lines, and itty-bitty flower patterns on silks. Bags were loud with heavy quilted satins, velvets, and patents rocking massive embellishments of jewels, beads, and stones. Clutches were big, and sharp and sleek A-frame bags slithered down the runway. Click here to view Marc Jacobs bags.

Bottega Veneta:
Bottega Veneta is the industry leader for timeless beautiful hand-woven leather goods - bags, belts, and shoes boasting clean lines, the softest Intreciatto woven leathers, and a classic palette. For their fabulous Pre-Fall 2009 collection, Bottega graced us with large 3-D looking structured bags (including the Tornabuoni bag), a few varieties of classic intrecciato totes, and accordion clutches in pale lavenders, grays, and wines. Click here to view Bottega Veneta bags.

Oscar Madness

I'm blogging to to you live from India right now (I'm attending a jewelry show; more on that later) where I'm watching the Oscars live at 11am. It's actually lovely to watch the ceremony from the very country that Slumdog Millionaire was made--the excitement here is certainly palpable.

But what's important here is the "awards" for best dressed, not for films. This year's red carpet was actually awash in white; certainly the color of the year. Many women went for shimmery silver tones as an accent and there are a large array of beautiful gowns to take a look at that fall under this category.

Below are some of my favorites (including Best Supporting Actress winner Penelope Cruz) and what they chose to wear.


Penelope Cruz in vintage Dior.


Marisa Tomei in Versace and Van Cleef and Arpels jewels.


Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive.


Sarah Jessica Parker in Dior Haute Couture and Fred Leighton jewels.


Jennifer Aniston in Valentino and Chopard jewels.

Images via Just Jared

Deck the Walls

This week we are featuring the imaginative art works of Spanish Catalan surrealist painter, Salvador Dali. Known for being eccentric & unusual behavior, Dali has been an inspiration to art collectors and artists alike.

Dali's talents extended far beyond painting & sketching. He also had a passion for fashion & luxury. During his career, Dali designed sets for theaters, interiors of fashion boutiques and even designed jewelry. His bold styles and over the top antics were summed up in his own words: "My love of everything that is gilded and excessive, my passion for luxury and my love of oriental clothes".

One of his most enigmatic pieces is "the persistence of memory" which he did in 1931. In this particular work, perhaps more than in others, Dali's use of symbolism suggests Einstein's theory that time is relative and not fixed. It is now owned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

You can still enjoy a piece of Dali in your own home today. Portero has an amazing selection of Dali's etchings, paintings, lithographs & more.

See the collection Here:

See Salvador Dali Artwork

See All Art

We're having a SALE!

If you're like me, you'll accept any excuse for a sale. So let's start celebrating presidents past by shopping smartly at Portero. With auction starting prices already up to 85% off retail, taking another 10% off the top sweetens the deal even further. Here's all the details:

10% Off Your Order: Saturday 12/14 through Monday 2/16 @ 11:50 PM ET.
You must enter Promo code FEBTEN at checkout.

There's only three days to shop the sale, so get started by clicking right here.

Terms & Conditions:
** 10% OFF PROMOTION - Offer applies on all auctions and "Buy Now" purchases closed and paid for from Saturday, 2/14/09 - 2/16/09 at 11:59PM ET. Must use promo code: FEBTEN at checkout. All Hermes Birkin handbags are excluded from this offer. Cannot be combined with any other promo code.

Time to Make a Memory

Many people think the gifts we give (especially for a holiday like Valentine's) need to be innately 'romantic.' I disagree. Sometimes a practical gift is much more appreciated: It will probably last longer and get far more use. That's exactly why we're featuring some beautiful timepieces on this week's homepage in the days leading up to V-Day. These are all beautifully crafted watches that will last a lifetime, and even better, all of the auction starting prices (except for one) are under $2,000. Want more? These are brand names that are up to 71% off of retail, a perfect cost-conscious gift for this struggling economy.

If you haven't purchased that gift for him or her yet, now is certainly the time to start shopping. If you order today and ship via our overnight service, you'll have the perfect present at home and wrapped and ready to go by Saturday.

If I had my choice, I would wish for this Cartier Santos Stainless Steel 18k Yellow Gold Automatic Women's Watch. At 63% off of retail, it's an amazing deal. Plus, the mix of white and yellow gold makes it the perfect compliment to any jewelry.

For the guys, I'm a huge fan of this Bell & Ross Vintage 120 Chronograph Stainless Steel Quartz Men's Watch. I love the simplicity of the brand aesthetic, and that it's both classic and modern at the same time. Plus, it's not too fancy and not too casual--it can handle both business and pleasure.

To start browsing our specially-curated collection, click below:

Timepieces for Him
Timepieces for Her

Sweet Treats

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and Portero is really the perfect place to shop. Low auction starting prices mean that even if your budget is a bit smaller than in years past, we have a huge selection of pieces that won't break the bank. Speaking of affordable goodies, we're excited to premiere our brand new collection from fashion darlings M+J Savitt. Here's some info on the company:

Started by Janis Savitt with her sisters Michelle and Wynne, the business was actually born in Savitt's bedroom while she was still living at home and going to college. The premise has always been the mix of jewelry and fashion, and the designers have said that accessories should be "wearable, luxurious, feminine, timeless and new-looking." While the ultra-glam high-end of the line can be mighty pricey, we have managed to obtain a mix of pieces that bridge fun and glamour.

If you're hoping to find a gift that only looks like you spent a million bucks, try one of the statement necklaces. Oversized neck pieces were all the rage on the runway this year, and choices like this M+J Savitt Gold Plated Onyx Bead Necklace or this M+J Savitt Vermeil Tiger's Eye Bead Chain 3-row Necklace are totally on target for spring.

If you're looking for a jewel that has love written all over it, click over to our selection of Haute Couture Hearts. While some of the pieces are quite literal, like this Ewa Solarska 18k Yellow Gold 0.87 ctw Diamond Heart Necklace, others, like this H.Stern 18k Yellow Gold Diamond 3-Row Heart Band Ring, are more discreet.

3 Ladies: The Look for Less

I was just perusing some images from the premiere of He's Just Not that Into You held last night in Hollywood, and I think there's some good lessons to be learned from the leading ladies. It's quite a cast, and each woman chose a dramatically different look for the red carpet. One thing they all mastered, though, is restraint. Let's take a closer look:


Jennifer Aniston dressed in signature black, this time choosing a figure-hugging pantsuit by Burberry. This look is classic Aniston--she's rarely flashy, and she picks simple silhouettes and then adds jewelry for extra sparkle. For this premiere, she wore yellow gold necklaces of varying lengths, from a thin choker to long chain links.

The key here is to mix-and-match your necklace styles but keep them all in the same color gold. Here are some great options that would look fantastic together:
--SeidenGang 74 Grams 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Hammered Oval Link Necklace
--Boucheron 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Padlock Pendant Necklace
--18k Yellow Gold Diamond Slice Chain Necklace


Scarlett Johansson was about a million miles from Aniston in an über-romantic strapless, full-length floral gown. (She also went for pin-straight dark locks, a far cry from her normal Hollywood bombshell routine.) She chose minimal jewelry, a smart move with such a bold pattern, and her main accessory was a Zorab rubelite tourmaline flower ring set in rose gold with diamonds.

A bold cocktail ring can be the perfect finishing touch for a dress that is too overwhelming for a necklace or bracelets. I personally like a chunky faceted stone for evening events because it sparkles more than a cabochon will. Try these on for size:
--JewelMak 14k Yellow Gold 21.49 ctw Smoky Quartz Diamond Cocktail Ring sz 6.5
--David Yurman Sterling Silver Large Blue Topaz Diamond Cocktail Ring sz 6


Drew Barrymore channeled retro glamour in her sweet cocktail-length dress with a satin bow bodice. Again, she kept it simple with just pave diamond knot earrings and an oversized clutch with rhinestone buckle.

To keep it old school, I suggest going with some vintage-looking button earrings with a bit of shine. Like these:
--Chanel Gold Plated Metallic Gold Stone Camellia Clip-On Earrings
--Henry Dunay Brushed 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Drop Clip-On Earrings
And for the bag?
--Gucci Black Sparkle Gold Buckle Large Clutch

Voila!

Images via Just Jared

Superbowl Jewelry?

No, I'm not talking about those blinged-out rings that the winners take home--I'm actually referring to the baubles worn by the pre-show entertainment. Both Jennifer Hudson (who looked and sounded gorgeous) and Faith Hill embraced the beauty of yellow gold and made bold statements with their jewelry. JHud (above) particularly shined in oversized twisted hoops and a selection of mix-and-match bangles. (I also loved her hair and makeup: Perfectly polished but not at all overdone.)

To mimic her look, pick up these Stephen Webster 19.8 grams 18k Yellow Gold Top Kat Hoop Earrings and start a collection of bangles with this Temple St. Clair 18k Yellow Gold Granulated Cylinder Bangle Bracelet.


Faith Hill, who sang America the Beautiful, also looked great. I liked her bold earring choice that featured gold fringe and a large cabochon gemstone. Having a drop earring with a lot of movement is a must--it really flatters the face and twinkles when you move. These Talisman Unlimited 18k Yellow Gold Champagne Quartz Canopy Drop Earrings are just one option. If you're looking for an earring with a lovely cabochon, I recommend these Cathy Carmendy 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Moonstone Drop Earrings.

If you still haven't warmed up to yellow gold, now is really the time. The metal looks amazing with colored gemstones, and the rich tones of 18- and 22-karat gold has the ability to look both very modern and antique at the same time. If you want to explore more about gold jewelry, click over to the World Gold Council's site.

Images via Just Jared