All Beauty

As a fashion columnist, style blogger and jewelry buyer, it’s my job to know what’s hot each season, and what’s destined for storage (or Goodwill). The fall 2007 season is no exception, and it promises to be an exciting one fashion-wise. I’ve talked with accessories editors, walked endlessly around wholesale jewelry shows in New York, scoured fall’s top fashion magazines, and read dozens of influential fashion blogs. The result? A wealth of information that I’ve distilled down to five must-have jewelry looks for fall. Some trends, like pearls, are carryovers from other seasons that are still going strong. If you don’t already own pearl jewelry, invest in some decent pieces; when it comes to the classics, you can’t go wrong buying quality jewelry. Others trends are new, which means you can have fun shopping for and experimenting with different styles—but don’t spend a fortune unless the trend has major staying power or you absolutely love it.

Grab your Birkin bag, your charge cards, and follow me:

Chunky, bold pieces: Big hardware and bold finishings are all the rage for jewelry this fall. Statement-making pieces, such as oversize cocktail rings, cuffs with metallic details, chunky Lucite bracelets, necklaces with feathers, enamel brooches and gobstopper-size mother-of-pearl necklaces, all complement key fall 2007 looks, including menswear-inspired fashions, bold, geometric prints and patent leather. A word of caution: Splurge here only when the piece in question is jewelry you can’t live without. Pieces with big personalities aren’t always in style, and the feather look certainly won’t have major staying power. Keep in mind that for every designer jewelry style with a Rodeo Drive price tag, there are plenty of high-quality affordable pieces that are just as pretty.

Jeweled watches: A watch with ultra-feminine details, like diamonds or pearls on the face or a delicate wristband, is a terrific contrast to the season’s tailored menswear look. The juxtaposition of the masculine with the feminine—a slim watch with a man’s tuxedo jacket, say, is very sexy. But avoid pairing a menswear-inspired look with a man’s watch. Too much of a good thing is overkill. And spend wisely here: There are many excellent watches that will set you back thousands—fine if you can afford the investment—but you can also get a durable pearl watch or CZ-encrusted watch for under $100.

Long chain and pearl necklaces: One style that hasn’t lost its appeal due to its unerring ability to ratchet any outfit up a notch is the layered necklace trend. All over the runways and fashion magazines, long chains with gemstones or pearls, when paired with shorter pendants or pearl strands, draw the eye up and down the outfit and really pull a look together. Experiment with different lengths, depending on your stature and your outfit’s details; multiple length chains go especially well with fall’s paper bag waists and drop waists but not so great with fussy necklines (some of this season’s styles sport big, floppy bows at the neck). Consider adding at least one chain with pearls or a strand of pearls. This fall, the pulled together, ladylike look is back with a vengeance. Think gloves, hats and tailored silhouettes—all pearl-friendly styles.

Stackable bangles: Wide or thin, silver or gold, the more bangles you can stack on your arms, the better. For interest, pair different sizes and different metals or materials (Lucite and wood cuffs are hot), with contrasting shapes and styles, like thin silver or gold. If you can’t get away with wearing stackable bangles, (the jangles get on your co-workers’ nerves, for example) a single bold cuff is a sexy alternative. Patent leather and gemstone styles are popular right now. You can spend a lot or a little here: Cuffs and bangles go in and out of style, but have enough staying power to warrant collecting them for future trends.

Big hoop earrings: Chances are, you already have a pair of oversize hoop earrings in your jewelry box. If so, it’s time to break them out. Big hoop earrings are great with fall’s geometric patterns; they’re about the only jewelry you can wear that won’t compete or overpower some of today’s bold styles. If you’re going to rock out with the season’s little black leather jacket or patent leather look, plain silver or gold hoop earrings keep the look simple. Simple hoops are also great when the rest of your outfit sports this season’s feather, fringe or fur detailing. If you’re going a little more subtle in your outfit, hoops with gemstones look sweet and add interest. Carnelian hoops, aventurine hoops and pearl hoops are feminine and fun. The sky’s the limit here; you can get hoops for as little as a few bucks, or you can spend thousands. Just make sure they’re not too heavy or your piercings will get irreparably stretched out. Ouch!

Now that you know what look is hot this fall, go forth and shop! But keep in mind that some styles have gone the way of ‘80s legwarmers. These looks are over. Give them away or store them in the event of a future comeback:
• Skull jewelry
• Pendants with the wearer’s initials
• Oversize chain jewelry with designer logos (aka “bling”)
• Stackable rubber bangles

A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America’s Graduate Pearls program, Amy Drescher is a fashion writer and accessories buyer for http://www.moonriverpearls.com. She welcomes your questions. Reach her at adrescher@moonriverpearls.com for personal recommendations.

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Acne affects as much as 80% of teenagers and others in their early twenties, while most get out with only a few minor acne scars, some even without any at all; there is also a notable percentage that suffers from acne scars.

There are two types of skin problems caused by acne that can be recognized as acne scars, one is the red pigmentation that appears after acne has healed. These contrary to popular belief, are not scars, rather, these are post-inflammatory lesions which occurs as the acne heals, and these can be present for up to 6-12 months. If however the pigmentation that you see lasts longer than the said period, you may be facing acne scars.

Acne scars come from connective tissue that the body uses to repair damage done to a certain area. Together with antibodies and white blood cells, they work together to heal the wound. After the healing process, you are left with a scar.

Acne scars can develop as long as acne is present, so one good form of prevention is actually preventing acne. However, Acne scars can also be prevented even with the presence of acne. This is done by facilitating the healing of the acne, the faster it heals, the shallower the acne scar will be, making it easier to treat, or may need no treatment at all.

There are two dermatologically tested ways to facilitate the healing of acne, one is the use of Tretinoin, it’s a form of vitamin A, which speeds up the skin’s healing and renovation process shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing Acne scars.

The other treatment used by most dermatologists for Acne scar prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHA’s and Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHA’s. These help the skins remodeling process, with the right concentration and proper application; these can also prevent acne scars.

Without the complicated chemicals and difficult dermatological treatments, you can also help prevent acne scars by treating your skin righteously. Avoid sun exposure, this can cause even more skin damage and may hamper the healing process of your skin. Wear sunscreen that has SPF 15 or higher. Picking at scabs never helped either. Never pick on acne as it heals; it interferes with the healing process and might worsen the resulting acne scar.

Of course, not even the most rigorous person can prevent acne scar, with the stress of everyday life, facial and other skin problems are really hard to avoid, there are however treatments available for acne scars, here are some of them.

Dermal Fillers Collagen or other fillers are injected into the acne scar to raise is just a bit, so that it will be the same level as your skin, these treatments aren’t permanent though. They mostly last 3-6 months and you’ll need additional injections after that.

Punch Excision This method is effective for some types of scars. It includes the surgical tool that matches the size of the scar; it can be compared to a cookie dough cutter. This tool cuts the scar out and the remaining wound is then sewed back together. The resulting scar will be unnoticeable, but if it is, it’ll be easier for laser resurfacing to treat it. Other types of this treatment include the use of skin grafts.

Laser resurfacing is a very popular and fast treatment for acne scars. Laser resurfacing basically works by burning a measure upper layer of the skin, and then letting it heal, leaving a newer looking skin. However, care must be taken after the procedure; the correct post operative procedure determines the success of the operation.

Kirsten Hawkins is a freelance writer specializing in skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. Visit http://www.acnesolution411.com/ for more information on acne and acne treatments.

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