New Year’s Eve Party Dresses I Like

As we sit home with 4 inches of snow on the ground today, I’m browsing online at Macy’s party dresses pretending I'm selecting one to wear to a fancy New Year’s Eve party.

I like the silver sequin bowes against a velvet black fabric on this top image, but after looking for it online, the dress seems to be this liquid shimmering one, which is too long for my liking and not as classic in appearance as it would be against a black velvet fabric. So initially catching my eye, it didn’t make my list.

Below are 5 dresses that did --

Why did I select these 5 styles over other choices? Because I would wish to move and have fun at the gathering, not fuss with dress length (yards of material I could trip over) or cleavage (nothing too low, revealing or unstable). Also nothing too short so I wouldn’t need to worry about where and how I sat. Classy with a bit of comfort and freedom to move around the party room spearheaded my selections!

With the 1st 4 dresses I wouldn’t have to carry a shaw either, but likely would just in case the room was not warm enough. 

Finally forget about open toe shoes in the winter months. I’ve never liked the look in winter, nor the possibility of having cold toes. I’d pair my party dress with pretty block heels for comfort.

Adorn the green dress with a tennis necklace and bracelet. Hey, we’re still dreaming aren’t we?

What are your thoughts and do you have a favorite style to wear to a dressy (though short of a gala) New Year’s Eve gathering?

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Let’s Discuss Effy Jewelry

Effy on its website and Macys

Effy sells its jewelry on its own website, by appointment at its headquarters in New York’s diamond district and at major retailers like Macy’s, Saks 5th Avenue, Belk, JC Penny and Nordstrom Rack. They also set up international boutiques on cruise ships where I suggest you don’t make impulse buys on big ticket items you may regret later!

Effy has an eye for beautiful design on commercial grade fine jewelry. Customers are not buying or paying for top-grade or heirloom quality diamonds, sapphires, rubies or emeralds. You do get real nature-grown or lab-grown gemstones and real 14k gold at reasonable costs that people with jobs can save up for to purchase. Certainly not cheap, but mid-priced fine jewelry.

You’ll get the most attractive prices at Macy’s and Belk as these two department stores frequently offer the best promotions. You can put a piece of jewelry on a wish list, then wait for the higher discounts of 25% - 30% off -- the ideal time to ponce!

Two causes increased the price of jewelry in recent years: The price of gold rose, and the Trump tariffs put a tax on diamonds. 

Consider lab-grown gemstones if you want gemstones bigger than 2 carats because the price of over 2 carats increases exponentially. Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically, and optically the same as earth-grown gemstones. They cost less partly because presently people will pay more for natural-grown gemstones. In the future with wider acceptance, this will likely change, and well-known jewelers have began setting their collections in gemstones of both origins. Never buy jewelry for its resale value as jewelry is a luxury buy and not a true investment. Usually we lose money by reselling jewelry.

Along with 14k gold, Effy sets some of its jewelry in 18k gold and with gemstones over 2 carats for high rollers with deep pockets. In mid November Effy annually has a trunk show at Macy’s Herald Square featuring its higher priced biggest gemstones. I attended one year, and it was fun trying them on! I advise customers to shop mindfully at such special events. Don’t break the bank because large, gorgeous gemstones are sparkling in your face!

Bracelets, earrings and rings cost less. Necklaces tend to be the most expensive piece in a set because more gold and/or gemstones are used to make it. On a budget, you can usually buy the earrings and matching ring for less than the cost of a necklace. You’ll get just as much if not more joy out of wearing the sparklers that fit your budget!

Finally, if you buy classic pieces that are versatile, you can wear them daily ... and to fancy galas. Signiture pieces tend to stay in a box. After you splurge on a luxury item like jewelry, you should get a burst of endorphins every time you look at it on your neck, wrist, finger, or ears. Get your money’s worth by tossing out the box and wearing any jewelry you buy!

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The Oriental Circlet Tiara

The Oriental Circlet Tiara in the British Royal Collection was created by royal jeweler, Garrard, for Queen Victoria in 1853 under the direction of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, who had a magnificent eye for design. Over Queen Victoria’s reign, Prince Albert designed many jewels for his wife and daughters. The Oriental Circlet Tiara is an Indian-inspired design of lotus flowers and Mughal arches.

Originally it was set in opals with 2,600 diamonds forming a complete circle before it was altered in 1858 to make the small space in the back. When Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law, Queen Alexandra (Princess Alix of Denmark), inherited the tiara in 1901, she replaced the opals with Burmese rubies that had been given to Queen Victoria in the 1870s by the ruler of Nepal. Queen Alexandra only wore the tiara once in public on a state visit to Germany.

The Oriental Circlet Tiara wasn’t seen again until the reign of King George VI. His Queen Consort, Elizabeth, wore it in 1936 and thereafter on many occasions. It became one of her favorite jewels paired with a gorgeous ruby and diamond neckless and dangling ruby earrings. When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952 she let the Queen Mother continue wearing the tiara. I can’t help thinking, wow what a huge collection of jewelry the British royal family has, as we can see QE II wears an entirely different ruby necklace and earrings than her mother wore with the tiara. The rubies in both sets are spectacular!

After the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II only wore The Oriental Circlet Tiara one time ... on a trip to Malta in 2005.

Twenty years later on December 3, 2025, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, stepped out wearing The Oriental Circlet Tiara to the German State Dinner held at Windsor Castle. It was only the 5th tiara from the Royal Collection, Catherine has worn, and she looked dazzling as always.

Photo: Getty. The other photos are everywhere on the web.

Kate, as we Americans affectionately call her, was a tad more understated in the jewelry she paired with The Oriental Circlet Tiara, but I bet Prince William would tell us that Catherine, herself, was the main jewel in the crown that evening!

Oh, I’d love to spend the day with her and maybe she’d be good-hearted enough to show me all of those beautiful tiaras so rich in British history. Let’s pretend she would, then get permission for me to try a few on! Which are your favorites?

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Ovico Wearable Cashmere Scarf

I spotted a wearable 100% cashmere wrap from Ovico Scarves that I’d be thrilled to find under my Christmas tree. It makes a fabulous gift and without a doubt is an investment wardrobe piece that will be worn for years to come.

Made of superfine 100% Mongolian cashmere for its exquisite softness and smoothness, it’s perfect for travel, casual wear or formal wear.

What makes this piece so desirable is its versatility. It is knitted with armholes! Yet due to the softness, lightness and fluidity of pure cashmere you could still tie it around your neck or wear it just like a regular scarf without armholes.

My dilemma would be selecting one color. Black to go with everything? Or fuchsia, cornflower blue, navy, or rose because they are so beautiful? There are 15 colors in all. I can understand splurging to get more than one color, yet as an under buyer, I’d try to stop at one wearable wrap. But ... perhaps next year, I’d add another color. 

How about you? Are you tempted too? Maybe we need to buy ourselves a holiday gift? A cashmere scarf with armholes is so practical and ingenious!

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Among My Favorite Leggings Are Old Navy’s PowerSoft

Over the years I’ve compiled 2 Best Leggings Roundups. Apparel gets discontinued, and yet my October 14, 2021 blog is still relevent. The leggings on that list are available and haven’t changed much. With Black Friday approaching I'll add another leggings option to grab on promotion. I know Old Navy well enough to know they'll go on sale for 50% off at under $20 a pair! Black Friday is always a best day to save on basics.

There are variations in style such as leg length and pockets or no pockets. This style even comes in a pair of shorts. I buy the High-Waisted PowerSoft Full-Length Pocket Leggings - The PowerSoft material is a light compression, smooth, sweat-wicking fabric. They never feel rough or stratchy on my skin. They have an attractive, snug, yet not too tight fit. Yes, you  can buy them without pockets, but why would you? The pockets don’t take away from a smooth appearance. I slide my apartment keys inside to go down to my mailbox hands-free. I also machine wash these PowerSoft leggings, but tend to hang dry them. 

For a polished casual-smart look, pair them with a t-shirt and cardigan or blazer. You never have to look sloppy even when just hanging around the house. Stock up during the Black Friday sales! You’re wear them 3/4 of the year.

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The 3 Other Precious Gemstones In The Raw

Recently I wrote a blog about raw rubies before they are cut, polished and turned into jewelry. Today I’m posting images of the 3 other precious gemstones in the raw. When we visualize gemstones, mostly we see them as the sparklers they become after craftsmen and jewelers get their hands on them like the above Harry Winston diamond ring. Not how them start or grow in nature, but how they are finished, right? So let's look at a few images of gemstones as they are found in nature.

I. Diamonds are a single element. Formula: C. A diamond is an allotrope of the element carbon. Its structure is a rigid three-dimensional lattice where each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement. A diamond’s atoms are arranged in a crystal structure called a diamond cubic. The gemstone rates a 10 on Mohs Hardness Scale. BTW: Graphite, charcoal, and diamond are all allotropes of the element carbon.

⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧

The Aga Khan Emerald brooch and the Chalk Emerald ring

II. Emeralds - are beryls, a mineral. Its formula, Be3Al2(SiO3)6, is colored green by trace amounts of chromium or sometimes vanadium. On Mohs Hardness Scale emeralds rate an 8. They were formed under the most violent of geologic conditions, which is why less than 1% of the world’s emeralds are eye clean. Unlike diamonds, inclusions and surface breaking fissures called  jardins are common and accepted in emerads. 

⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧ ๋࣭ ⭑✧⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧

The Swedish royal family's Leuchtenberg Sapphire tiara and an unheated Kashmir 9.38 sapphire ring sold by Christie’s

III. Sapphires - are a variety of the mineral corundum. Its formula, α-Al2O3 consists of the elements aluminum oxide with trace amounts of iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. Sapphires register a 9 on Mohs Hardness scale. Blue is the most in demand color. When sapphires are yellow, orange, purple, pink, or green they are called fancy sapphires. When corundrms are red, they are rubies, not sapphires.

Gemstones take millions of years for the Earth to produce, or nowadays they can be grown in a lab, but it takes the artistry of human hands to turn these majestic crystals, beryls, and corundums into gorgeous pieces of jewelry. The next time you see a gemstone think of its journey and how many hands went into crafting it into a thing of beauty.

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