Come with me on this Beauty Bundle shopping trip

 

The email subject line said: Beauty Bundle SOS

Hi Brenda,
How are you? I am loving your Instagram and Facebook postings these days.

I have a project I am hoping you can help me with, please. My accessory situation (mainly jewelry) needs help. I realized a few months ago that it’s the thing that hangs me up most when I am trying to get out the door to the office, or out to dinner, or packing for a trip. I think I need a few beauty bundles that can be my go-tos. Not sure how we’d approach it … trip to Bess’s store? Mall? Both? I am open to ideas. Please let me know. Thanks!

Sallie

Nothing sounded more fun!

We set a date and I asked some pre-shopping questions. I wanted to know if anything had changed style-wise.

Sallie said, “My style is pretty much the same, maybe a little more fashion-forward sometimes (playing up the ‘funky’ in my ‘funky elegance’ style recipe).” Good to know!

She said, “I’ve been trying to upgrade my jewelry. I am not really a fine jewelry sort of person so I’m trying to find higher end costume jewelry instead because that’s what I actually wear.”

She told me her husband, Rob, had bought a very pretty moss necklace for her from Studio Collections Jewelry in Sonoma. She wanted to work with it so she’d wear it more. She said, “I’d like to end up with several jewelry bundles.”

I have a couple of connections to artists who make jewelry so I asked Sallie if it was okay to bring things to show her that might fit the look she was going for. She was game. We decided we’d meet at Nordstrom, Corte Madera.

Our first step: editing

 

We started in a dressing room. Sallie brought me her jewels and we did an edit, just like in clothes! Just like in clothes, there were pieces that were too worn looking; items that she’d had for a while that were ready to be replaced and brought up a notch or two in terms of quality; and items that just weren’t “her” anymore.

Our edit left us with (from front to back on the picture of the wooden shelf above) her “home” wear necklaces; in the middle is a white necklace that we’ll find pieces for once the summer selection comes in; the ones in the back are ones that Sallie is moving away from or won’t use much. I’m guessing that after this Beauty Bundle shopping appointment, she may even be ready to recycle the back row, but for now, she’s keeping them.

Finding the first Beauty Bundle in her own collection

 

 

Sometimes there’s a Beauty Bundle that’s living just under our noses. In Sallie’s case I found this silver bundle out of the things she brought with her. Every time she wears this Ippolita necklace she can grab the silver earrings and bracelet (by Simon Sebbag) and she’ll look pulled together. One down!

The rose gold Beauty Bundle is new

 

 

This rose gold bundle consists of all new pieces. I brought the Sol Sisters rose gold/crystal spheres necklace with me. The minute she tried on the necklace, it said YES! The color was great. It was interesting and simple at the same time, really lightweight, and easy to wear. To build a bundle around it I headed straight to Nordstrom’s rose gold jewelry section where I found the ring and bracelet which are airy just like the necklace. This whole Beauty Bundle looks very modern and clean. I can imagine her wearing it a lot in spring/summer over white and tan. Yet it’s very glamorous over black and lovely over burgundy. Two Beauty Bundles so far!

Creating the burgundy Beauty Bundle

 

 

 

This burgundy Beauty Bundle showcases a double layered pendant. It has a brown marcasite tassel with freshwater pearls, also by the Sol Sisters. This necklace is amazing on Sallie with her coloring. The colors just glow on her. I tried different companions for this necklace but I came back to using the rose gold pieces we’d gathered for the rose gold Beauty Bundle. This necklace is such a standalone piece that it didn’t need much else. The rose gold ring, bracelet and earrings are doing really well in the supporting role. Three Beauty Bundles in the bag!

Finding companions for the moss aquamarine Beauty Bundle

 

This is the necklace her husband bought for her (above) from Studio Collections Jewelry. Her birthstone is Aquamarine. Do you recognize the shape of the ring and the bracelet? Yes, you do! They are the same as the rose gold. Sallie feels bracelet-challenged so to have the same one in two metal colors was just plain smart. I love how the detail in the earrings are delicate like the necklace is. Very chic! All the pieces aside from the necklace are from Nordstrom. Four Beauty Bundles and counting!

Black and gold Beauty Bundle

 

This Beauty Bundle layers two separate necklaces by a private designer we work with from time to time named Brea. They can be worn separately but Sallie was interested in doing more layering and these work well together. The pendant necklace is black spinel and pyrite with a quartz pendant. The circle chain is gold fill and rhodium. The earring choices, ring, and bracelet are from Nordstrom. Are we at five? Yup, five Beauty Bundles!

Topaz and gold Beauty Bundle

 

 

Here we’re working with two pieces that Sallie already owns: the topaz pendant necklace and the gold and topaz chain. I layered these two necklaces together, added the ring and bracelet in gold and then gave her two earring choices. You might wonder how the gold and black earring got into this mix but actually it fades out and blends with the topaz when you’re standing there in person. Do you see how much mixing and matching we’ve been doing? I really didn’t know it would turn out that way but very glad it did! Okay, that’s six Beauty Bundles. Everyone was happy.

Post shopping thoughts and an email

This shopping trip took two hours or so. It was a challenge putting all the pieces together for each of these Beauty Bundles. It was like a mental zigsaw puzzle. I needed to focus on building them one-at-a-time. I expected we’d be visiting a few different stores in order to get it all done but in the end between what she already had, the jewelry sources I brought with me, and the well-priced pieces from Nordstrom, we were able to accomplish it all in one place.

Here’s what Sallie had to say in an email after the shopping trip.

As you know, one of my goals for our session was to build jewelry bundles that make it easy for me to get out the door for work (often at 5 am) and pack for travel. I took a business trip this week and brought some of the pieces along. It make packing so easy!

I love that we picked things that are a bit fashion-forward (for me anyway).  Part of my job as a management consultant involves helping my clients to move forward in key areas of their business and I think how I dress needs to reflect that. Also, I love how visually interesting the pieces are. If I am presenting in front of a client all day it gives people something interesting to look at :).

If you have pieces of jewelry that don’t seem to get worn and you don’t know way, consider taking the time to create a Beauty Bundle around that piece. Invest a little time and money and there will be ease galore in your future.

I hope that by seeing all these different bundles that it gives you confidence to work with pieces until you’ve got a completed a Beauty Bundle. Do you have something you’re ready to work on? Do share your experiences with Beauty Bundles, okay? Thanks!