If you haven't already made a move to get mom a gift, now's definitely the time. Last week we talked about classic jewelry gifts, so this week I'm highlighting some fashion-forward pieces that are sure to sweep any stylish mom off her feet. Again, I'm going high and low just to show that fashion comes at all prices.

Earrings:

Chandeliers are back in vogue once again and the movement really makes your face and eyes pop. Try:
--S. Aufrichtig 18k Yellow Gold Peridot Lace Drop Earrings for a more subtle look or
--Paul Morelli 18k White Gold Blue Topaz Drop Earrings for an edgier gift.

Bracelets:

Bold cuffs are THE statement on the runway this year. Try:
--M+J Savitt Sterling Silver Teardrop Wide Crystal Cuff Bracelet for a rock-chic mom or
--Sterling Silver 18k Yellow Gold Rose Cut Diamond Vintage-Inspired Hinged Bangle Bracelet for a lady who loves ethnic-inspired vintage pieces.

Brooches:

While they may seem old-school, brooches are actually very versatile. Stylish ladies pin them to coat lapels or even handbags. Try:
--Vintage 1940's 14k Green & Rose Gold Woven Pin for a woman who has understated style or
--14k Yellow Gold Diamond Black Enamel Opal Brooch for a mom with a flair for the dramatic.

Click here to shop our full selection of jewelry!

Make Mom's Day

At Portero, we celebrate Mother's Day a bit early for two reasons. One, so we can remind you to get shopping before it's too late, and two, so you have some extra time to look through all of our great gift-giving options. We're focusing on jewelry, and I wanted to give you just a few tips about choosing a present that will stand the test of time. I'll hit the four major jewelry categories and then give you a couple of perfect examples from our inventory.

Earrings:

A simple diamond or pearl drop will never go out of style. Although studs are always a good bet as well, I prefer drops because they give the face that added bit of sparkle and they're usually a little more unique than a standard pair of studs.

1. Jeri Cohen 18k White Gold Pave Diamond South Sea Pearl Earrings
2. Stephen Webster 18k Yellow Gold Diamond Mini Attention Seeker Drop Earrings

Bracelets:

You can never go wrong with thin diamond bangle. They look great stacked (there's your present for next year, too!) and they also look great mixed-and-matched with other bracelets.

1. Gem Platinum 18k White Gold 0.67 ctw Diamond Bangle Bracelet
2. M+J Savitt 18k White Gold 0.54 ctw Diamond Hinged Bangle Bracelet

Rings:

Every woman needs at least one chunky, fun cocktail ring in a bright color. Look through her closet to see what shades she prefers, and then go big and bold!

1. Elizabeth Showers 18k Yellow Gold Rose de France Cocktail Ring sz 6.75
2. Ewa Solarska Large 18k Yellow Gold Lemon Quartz Diamond Cocktail Ring sz 6

Necklaces:

Long chains have been in style for years, and they're not going away anytime soon. These are pieces that can be worn to the office and then out at night--the kind of versatility a mom truly needs.

1. M+J Savitt Gold Plated Smoky Quartz Chain Necklace
2. David Yurman Sterling Silver 18k Gold Carnelian Bijoux Chain Necklace

Tuesday Eye Candy: Monique Péan

I've been meaning to fill you in on an event I attending on April 7 here in NYC. Young designer Monique Péan was not only showcasing her jewelry, but celebrating her Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award with an evening supporting Charity: Water.

First we'll talk about the jewels, and then about the fantastic charity portion of the night. Péan's creations are first and foremost very chic, but just as important are her ideals when it comes to manufacturing. Each piece is made of environmentally sustainable materials and conflict-free diamonds, and she works closely with different cultures to pay homage to their native artwork. For example, her Bering Collection is born from a collaboration with Alaska Native Eskimos and uses local materials and recycled gold to create one-of-a-kind jewelry.

I was really taken with the jewelry (sported by lovely models, above and below). The scale is perfect for today's fixation on statement jewelry, and the colors--although sometimes bold--seemed to act as neutrals because they are straight from the earth.

The other exciting part of the night was the designer's alliance with Charity: Water. This wonderful non-profit organization brings clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. To raise even more money for the cause, Péan had set up a small catwalk in the middle of the gallery space. For each guest who walked across the catwalk carrying large yellow water jugs, Péan donated $20 to Charity: Water. Pretty fantastic, no?

Behind the Bag: Custom JPG Birkin

(From the Journal of The Bag Lady)

I am standing on line clutching my golden ticket, only instead of caramels and lollipops I'm waiting to enter the Hermes pre-sample sale for editors and special customers lucky enough to score the coveted invite. It's a hot, sticky day and the line is snaking around the corner onto 6th Avenue and is filled with beautiful women and a few well-heeled gentlemen wearing all their finery. It seems--maybe subconsciously--these shoppers feel the need to wear all of their Hermes accessories at once to show how in-the-know they already are.

I, on the other hand, felt short, sweaty and inappropriately dressed in my jeans, polo shirt and carrying my Gucci tote from three seasons ago. Suddenly, my eye caught sight of the most stunning, tall young girl who I assumed was a model. She was on line with her equally stunning man, who I'm sure was there simply to carry her spoils to the register once she found and grabbed all the greatest scarves, totes and other major finds at the sale. But the most compelling detail of her outfit had me mesmerized: her handbag.

This girl was standing there carrying a JPG Hermes shoulder Birkin in blue toile with black leather trim. It was so casual and chic at the same time, and at that moment, I knew exactly what I wanted. Maybe I'd never be 5'9" and have long, blonde, silky hair, but I could try to find that bag and feel just as beautiful as she looked on that summer day.

When I returned home from the sale that afternoon, I started to do my research and found that I had impeccable taste. The bag of my dreams was very special: Only a handful were made and were no longer available. John Paul Gaultier had only produced that bag for Hermes for two years and only now were they becoming available again. I have been dreaming about that bag ever since, and now Portero has snagged one--and in pristine condition no less!

Bid now on this Hermes Brand New Rare Custom Made Blue Sapphire Potamus Toile & Black Box Calf Leather JPG Birkin Bag.

--The Bag Lady

Introducing: Behind the Bag

First, I'm excited to bring you even more investment handbags on today's Part 2 homepage. I am LOVING the featured Louis Vuitton Limited Edition Monogram Mirror Argent Silver Speedy 35 Bag--it almost looks like liquid and the metallic silver is just right for spring/summer.

In other handbag news...

Our blog is growing via the hugely talented Sandi Marx, aka “The Bag Lady”, who will be joining us to relate personal stories and the inside scoop about bags featured on Portero.

Sandi is a maven on all things clutch, tote and carryall. Over the past few years she has cultivated relationships with fashion editors and stylists to learn what is truly desirable in the world of handbags–she’s less interested in passing fads. In demand as a freelance humorist and blogger (she’s appeared on television discussing everything from "How to be an Ivory Girl" for an Ivory soap campaign to motherhood tips on a women's cable network show), she still finds time to help friends pair the right shoe with the right bag for special occasions.

When you spy a “Behind the Bag” post (stay tuned for one shortly!), know that it will give you interesting background and facts about some of our most desired handbags. Sandi will be pulling pages directly from her journals to get you excited about our best sellers as well as rare and collectible pieces.

Welcome, Sandi!

Coveted: Loewe Calle Ostrich bag

Sometimes we score a bag that is so new and so wanted that I have to give it a special shout-out. Today we have a Limited Edition Loewe Calle Ostrich bag, and it's in an amazing shade of peacock blue. If you haven't seen it before, that could be because it was just launched for Spring '09. If you have seen it, it's probably because it's recently been toted on the arm of one of the world's most fashion-savvy women: Victoria Beckham.

Below, you can see Posh with the oversized tote on a couple of different days earlier this year. The Calle would make a ridiculously chic carry-on bag (it could certainly fit the essentials and then some!), and the large handles make it easy to carry over the arm or shoulder.

These bags were made in a very limited edition by Loewe--a Spanish accessories label under the creative direction of Stuart Vevers, formerly of Mulberry. This is one designer you are going to see a lot more 'it' bags from, so it would pay to get in at the start of his new venture.

Click right here to see the just-launched Loewe Calle Ostrich bag.

Leaves of Change

The World Gold Council is just about to launch a wonderful online charity auction and I had to spread the news. From April 20-May 7, 12 leaf-inspired jewels will be up for auction to support a number of fantastic causes. To make the event even more interesting, the WGC partnered with 12 great celebrities who actually designed these jewels with the help of some very talented designers (See Rachael Ray's 18-karat rose and yellow gold maple leaf pendant by Katey Brunini above). In fact, here's the list:

Christina Applegate - Right Action for Women
Whoopi Goldberg - Ronald McDonald House Charities
Marcia Gay Harden - Waterkeeper Alliance
Samantha Harris - Jewelers for Children
Eric McCormack - Project Angel Food
Debra Messing - Youth Aids
Chris Noth ("Mr Big") - Make-A-Wish Foundation
Lena Olin - Hope For Henry
Rachael Ray - Yum-o!
Susan Sarandon - Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
Brooke Shields - Jewelers for Children
Pauletta & Denzel Washington - Jewelers for Children

I was happy to see that many of the celebrities chose to design for Jewelers for Children, an industry-supported project. Jewelers For Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated more than $ 30 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through our charity partners St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association.

To check out all of the stars, learn more about their causes and see their finished jewelry and sketches, click right here.

How to Buy an Investment Handbag

We're excited to bring you another in our series of How To guides for investment pieces-and this week it's handbags. We're talking about totes that stand the test of time and brands that are chic by nature. To make shopping easier, we've put together a list of terms, a short and sweet checklist, and even a list of models that will never go out of style.

Whether you're worried about resale or just want to make sure to purchase a bag that you'll want to wear for years to come, Portero has you covered.

Click right here to see our brand new How to Buy and Investment Handbag page.

And click below to start saving on Investment Bags:

Smart Splurges
Rare and Collectible
Future Heirlooms

What I'm Loving: Enamel jewelry from B-Side

I went up to Bergdorf Goodman late last week to visit my friend Dana Chin (pictured above), one half of the jewelry duo that creates B-Side by Ken & Dana and BYLU. Along with his creative partner Ken Leung, he is making some of the most fun and funky jewelry out there.

I was particularly excited to see the B-Side pieces because it's the company's brand new lower-priced fashion line--perfect for this economy. Instead of using high-end precious metals and gemstones, this collection really relies on materials like silver, brass and enamel. According to Dana, the line was inspired by two specific 1980s hallmarks: graffiti and the hip-hop cultural movement.

I think that both graffiti and will enamel go mainstream in accessories this year. Although enameling is a very old art form, it's often relegated to fine jewelry created with painstaking detail. The enamel process undertaken by B-Side is much more free-form and youthful and really captures a mix of urban living and modern art.

For some great enamel options on Portero (there are tons!), click right here. And definitely check out the brand new pieces from B-Side below!

Christina Aguilera for Stephen Webster

I just got off the phone with my good friend and brilliant jewelry designer Stephen Webster and remembered I needed to show you the preview of his new ad campaign with Christina Aguilera. This is the second time the songstress and designer have paired up to shoot ads for Webster's jewelry, and the results are great. The bold silver cuffs are right on target for the Jumbo Jewels we talked about last week and I love Christina's toned-down makeup.

If you want to see a short clip from the shoot, click on the video below.



Portero is lucky to have a gorgeous selection of Webster's Rock 'n' Roll jewels. In fact, some of his biggest fans include Elton John, Madonna, Pink and Mickey Rourke. (While I'm no celebrity, I too love his work. In fact, I am especially lucky because my fiance worked with Webster to custom design my engagement ring!)

To shop Portero's selection of Stephen Webster, click right here.

3 Day Fabergé Egg Event!

With Spring in bloom (well, at least in theory, although maybe not in practice) and Easter right around the corner, it's the perfect time for us to have a special Fabergé jewelry event featuring some very special Egg-themed pieces. This sale is only 3 days and features limited edition rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings that are no longer being sold in stores.

If you don't know much about the legacy of Fabergé, here's a quick primer:


Renowned jeweler and goldsmith Carl Fabergé was commissioned to create the first Fabergé Egg art piece in 1885 by Czar Alexander II of Russia. This custom egg made of precious metals, enamel and gemstones (see above) was to be an Easter gift for the Czar's wife. The Empress Maria was so taken with the surprise that she appointed Fabergé to the court as a supplier and asked that an Egg be made each year going forward.

105 of these "Imperial Eggs" were made in all through 1917. If you look through the many photos available online, you'll notice that the eggs became more and more elaborate and intricate throughout the years. For example, take a look at the Bouquet of the Lilies Clock Egg from 1899, below.


We've put together a fabulous collection of limited edition and collectible pieces from the house of Fabergé, and they're only available through Friday at 3pm. These are jewels in the grand tradition of the company that feature exquisite enameling set in 18-karat gold. These special pieces are sure to go fast, so don't hesitate on something you love.

Shop the Fabergé sale!