KiraKira Jewelry

I love jewelry. I am a fanatical believer in in the power of jewelry to transform your entire look, to make or break your outfit. You can take the simplest basics and pop on an amazing accessory and suddenly your look is fresh, unique, intrinsically stylish. We've seen the results of this time and time again - I lent Sutton the Eddie Borgo scorpion necklace a couple of weeks ago to jazz up a plain black top she was wearing and people literally stopped her on the street all day to comment on the piece. That being said, both of us are super picky about jewelry, because after a while, when you shop it so much, it all starts to look the same. We have a few go-to designers, and are constantly going to markets and pop-ups searching for our next favorite, but they all blur together. That's why we were so excited to find KiraKira Jewelry.

I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like KiraKira. It's bold yet delicate, stand-out yet utterly feminine, unique yet easy to wear everyday. It's insanely beautifully crafted and ever so intricately detailed. It just glitters and catches the light so perfectly, without ever being over the top. There are three main themes going on that I am personally obsessed with and am pretty confident you will be, too. There is a whole group of sea-inspired jewelry, then there is a group of Marakesh-inspired pieces (with designs that are reminiscent of striking Moroccan tiles and architecture), and of course the geological wonders, the geode and agate-encrusted jewelry. And to hear the designer, Suz Somersall, talk about her inspiration really makes these different aesthetics all the more special and covetable. As far as the oceanic pieces, Somersall really wanted to bring nature to life. And she succeeded. The most intricate of details gives every piece texture and a sense of realistic and understated yet stylized grace. She designed the pieces to really interact with the wearer - earrings that curve in toward the jaw line to complement the face, a starfish cuff that wraps around the arm as if it's part of you. Somersall took a different yet equally artistic approach with the Moroccan-influenced pieces. She took the inspiration from the graphic surroundings of Marakech and simplified everything, stripping patterns down to their bare essentials. The result is a collection of eye-catching, exotic patterns that are somehow simultaneously bold in their minimalism.

We stopped by KiraKira's pop-up at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park. The market is up until January 6th and I have one word of advice for you: Go. This is your holiday shopping, AND your shopping for yourself after you receive money from Grandma or whoever else for the holidays. Feast your eyes on the beautifully shimmering pieces, laid out in these wonderfully curated arrangements. There's something for everyone, which brings me to another exciting factor of KiraKira, one that I have never found with any other jewelry line, ever. The price range is vast and expansive, so no matter what you're in the market for, it's there. It's so amazing to find a line that has custom-made, stone-encrusted solid gold pieces for $1,000 and up that also has gold-plated sterling silver pieces as low as $50. How is that possible? I don't know, because you don't ask questions when something is that good. So, KiraKira Jewelry can be your line when you are going to make that ultimate splurge and elevate your jewelry box with a treasure-forever investment piece, and it can also be your line when you just want to go shopping and pick up your new favorite accessory - on, you know, a Tuesday. No special occasions required.

And it gets even better - seriously. If you go to the KiraKira pop-up at Bryant Park (closer to the 42nd Street side, parallel to 42nd) and mention Sobbing On Fifth, you will receive 20% off. And if you don't live in New York, you can still take advantage of this so-good deal - enter promo code SOBBINGONFIFTH at checkout on KiraKira's website. 20% off prices that are already incredible, all to get yourself something that will never go out of style and will always transform your outfits.

 

Handbags & Hugs,

 

Astor

What We're Wearing

Winter will reek havoc on your skin and I'm not okay with that. I am great about moisturizing my face quite religiously. But it doesn't stop there. I also exfoliate - does only moisturizing your skin get rid of dullness? I think not and I will share my magic secret. Today and all winter I use Tatcha's Rice Enzyme Powder. It comes in Classic, Gentle and Deep so you are sure to find one that will work for your specific skin type. Dewy, beautiful skin? Yes, thank you.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

This Proenza Schouler spiral tee is one of my all-time favorite I'm-lazy-but-don't-want-to-look-like-crap staples. But I've been way overdoing my pleated leather skirt so I reached fort his Eryn Brinie boucle skirt. This skirt doesn't get a lot of wear simply because it's a bit hard to pair with a lot of tops and sweaters, but today I said right match be damned. So, what we have here is a print/pattern/texture clash if you will. I think it's working - I'm sure you'll let me know in the comments if you disagree? Plus, I'm happy I got to top it all off with my scary vintage tribal mask necklace, which I loved watching visibly freak out the man in front of me on the 6 train this morning.

 

Handbags & Hugs,

Astor

November Starbox

I am a star (in my own head) so I needed to check out Starbox, the monthly subscription box from Starlooks. I recently received the November box and wanted to share my goodies. As you know from past posts I have a serious obsession with monthly beauty boxes. This one did not let me down. Starlooks is a company with their own makeup line and for $15 a month they send you three to four FULL SIZE pieces from makeup to hair products to accessories. All made by Starlooks. Don't worry if you're a newbie beauty girl; you have me and the Starlooks website, which will give you beauty tips on your new products.

 

The actual box is different each month; November was a leopard print. Every box comes with mystic quartz crystals. Their cute idea: collect them and place them in a jar for your makeup brushes.

 

The first thing I noticed was the 3 in 1 mascara guide/applicator. As you know (I truly hope), mascara is the last step for your eye makeup. Is there anything more devastating than perfecting eye shadow and applying mascara to have your eye lashes transfer the wet mascara to your eyelid? Didn't think so. Use this applicator to hold your lashes in place while applying mascara to keep it on your lashes where it belongs. The other side of the tool does the same for your tiny lower lashes.

This box included their Tender Gloss Lipstick in nude. I was very happy with this product; a gloss and a lipstick in one is one of my favorites; easy to apply and lasts a long time, no needless reapplying with this. I also love how moisturizing this product is.
 

Finally, I was sent an eyeshadow palette with four colors. I, of course, dropped it and cracked one of the shadows. Not to worry, they didn't seem to spill at all and it is in a flat surface. This palette made the perfect brown smokey eye.

Need to know:

The website has tips, tricks and tutorials for their products

They have a point program; buy products and rack up points to use on your next purchase and save money! (Every dollar spent = 1 point. Get 100 points and save $10 on your next purchase. )

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Gift Guide: Boyfriend

Your boyfriend...who else puts up with your temper tantrums? The boy who buys you everything that you have put on your personal shopping list deserves something nice from you, as well. Time to make him wear and use what you want him to.

$20 Acca Kappa Shave Foam

www.shopaccakappa.com

If your boyfriend is anything like mine, then you know he does not like shaving. Well, too bad for him, there are times that a clean face is a necessity. He also probably does not take care of his skin the way he should; shaving, moisturizer, etc. This shaving cream will do all of that and nourish and sooth with aloe vera, palm oil and jojoba oil. I suggest giving him lots of kisses to train him to enjoy shaving. (A bit manipulative but totally worth it.)

$34.00 Acca Kappa Military Style Hair Brush

www.shopaccakappa.com

Now that his face is kissably smooth he may think he is ready to head out the door - negative. Why do men hate brushing their hair? I love it and it a favorite time for me. Give him this brush and he may like it more, the pure boar bristles will stimulate his hair shaft. With its manly packaging he won't feel like he is brushing his hair with a Barbie doll comb.

$8 Bio Toothbrush

www.shopaccakappa.com

Does anyone else's boyfriend not change their toothbrush every three months? Is it not normal for me to have an alert in my iPhone to remind me? Anyway, I am a firm believer in toothbrush changing. This is a perfect stocking stuffer. And you can feel good about yourself stuffing these in stockings; made of a natural substance, its degrading time is compared to an oak leaf.

 So grab a cute box and create the perfect boyfriend grooming kit with all three of these!

$300 Nixon The Chronicle SS Watch

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/nixon-the-chronicle-ss-watch-48-1-4mm?ID=572230&CategoryID=1000066&LinkType=#fn=BRAND%3DVictorinox

So now he is looking great from the neck up, but he may still need a bit of fashion work. Nixon is the ultimate watch brand for any guy in the know - or at least any guy with a girlfriend in the know, like yourself. Put this on his wrist and watch him morph from geek to chic.

There's almost nothing more essential for everyone's wardrobe than sunglasses, so you might as well treat him to a stylish pair. Go for intrinsically cool brand, Oliver Peoples, and for this super classic tortoiseshell - $350 at Neiman Marcus. 

Whether your guy is already dapper or you want him to be, he needs a handsome bowtie. A handsome one, I repeat, not some novelty one, not a crazy one - a low-key but stylish one will suit every guy's look. And I highly recommend this beautiful one from Lanvin, for $155 on MrPorter.com. It has a bit of texture, knitted from silk, but is totally understated. And the deep shade of navy is a snap to work into any outfit. This accessory will instantly elevate your boyfriend's look, no matter the occasion.

If you want to give him the gift that keeps on giving, give him a gift that literally keeps on giving. Sign up for the Craft Beer Club and every month, he'll get a surprise package of new and tasty craft beers. It will expand his beer-based horizons and hello, he'll get free beer every month. Could you BE a better girlfriend? He'll be reminded every month just how much you care. It's $37.75 a month, and the best part is you can choose however many months you want to do, or just pay as you go and stop when you're done being nice. Just kidding!

Handbags, Hugs & Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Astor and Sutton