Brooklyn-born and bred designer Alexis Bittar has been designing jewelry for over 20 years. He began his illustrious career by selling on the streets of New York City in the early 1980s. Bittar sold his handcrafted pieces from a wooden foldout table on St. Mark's Place and in Soho, NYC. Shortly after, Bittar's creations were recognized by fashion retailers worldwide, propelling the artist into the world of international museums, department stores, and luxury boutiques alike. To this day, Bittar's three costume collections are designed in Brooklyn, New York. In 2010, the self-taught designer was lauded by the CFDA, receiving the Accessories Designer of the Year award. In 2013, he received the award for Brand of the Year by the Accessories Council. Bittar's insatiable thirst for innovation drives him to search the world for unique materials. All of the stones found in Bittar's collections are custom cut and set in his custom designed metalwork, which provide the foundations for his creations. The punk youth and urban thread resonates throughout Bittar's collections—often layering juxtaposing eras, such as 1980s and sculptural deco imagery. Bittar's diverse aesthetic and unique point of view enables him to remain at the cutting edge of culture, design, and craftsmanship while abiding by his core beliefs of quality and innovation. Bittar's diverse celebrity following further reflects the designer's reach. He continues to change the world's perception of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, cuffs, and rings by celebrating wearable art. With his designs, Bittar lauds individualism, embracing imperfections, and rejecting the mundane and ordinary.
In a world where luxury seems to be going away, Neiman Marcus is one of the few companies that still does luxury right – especially with brands like Alexis Bittar. Blending together great sales and high-end fashion, shopping at Neiman Marcus, even if it is just online, is an experience. You’ll have access to some of the highest end designers and with Alexis Bittar, there is nowhere else you’ll want to shop. Even better, you’ll find something for everyone – from a teenager to your mom to a newborn baby. They have one of the widest selections on the internet for Alexis Bittar and other well-known names. Of course, you can also expect some surprises.
Most importantly, Neiman Marcus sometimes gets exclusives from Alexis Bittar where you can’t find the item anywhere but either in a Neiman Marcus or online. You have to be quick, however.
SHOP NOW ALEXIS BITTAR at NEIMAN MARCUS
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Every year, dozens of “new and amazing” beauty and makeup products are introduced onto the market. And every year, more than half of them fall by the weigh-side and are forgotten in months. Depending on the money behind the launch campaigns, they may have made you believe you absolutely, positively, could not live without forking over your hard-earned money to snap up their latest and greatest product…but that doesn’t mean you’ve ever bought the product again. Thankfully though, there are many products out there worthy of purchase, over and over. These are the classics. The “Holy Grail” makeup must-haves. Maybe your Mom introduced you to a few of them. Maybe you will introduce a few to young girls in your life. Either way, we found 20 true keepers…and here are the first 5!
- CND Stickey Base Coat – Those of us who constantly have to wage the war of peeling and chipping nail polish have experimented with every way possible to keep that polish on longer. Every base coat claims to help get the job done, but only one has ever really done so. This one. The tint might not be perfect for nude and sheer colors, but for every other color, it’s a definite go-to.
- Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque – Perhaps you remember this from your Mom’s (or even your Grandma’s) bathroom cabinet? Yep, it’s been around that long. Not only is it one of the most inexpensive beauty products you could hope for, but the mint and clay help to squash oil, nix shine, and clear out pores beautifully. Best yet, your skin won’t feel overly dry afterwards.
- Crest Whitestrips – Thanks to these little miracle strips, we’ve long said goodbye to harsh and messy bleach trays, as well as super-expensive dentist whitening visits. White teeth and a smile are always your two best ways to make a lovely statement every time you walk in the room. In just 30 minutes, your pearly whites will be even whiter. Perfect.
- LORAC ‘Front of the Line PRO’ Liquid Eye Liner – It’s ok to admit it if you’re not great with applying liquid eyeliner. It takes a skilled hand and lots of practice. That’s why this product made the must-have list. Since its introduction, it’s made those classy cat eyes and winged flicks flawless for us…the perfect blend of liquid liner and controlled applicator (bye-bye thin little brush).
- Maybelline Great Lash Mascara – The green and pink bottle is downright iconic! It’s inexpensive, found in every drugstore, and gives you long, defined lashes every time. If you are partial to more voluminous lashes, you can even use this mascara in a classic runway trick: Apply one coat of mascara, then using a Q-tip or a clean mascara wand, dredge each side of the lashes with a light coating of baby powder, then apply a second coat of mascara…and voilà!
Stay tuned for more from our list of 20 Beauty and Makeup Must-Haves!
You have never been afraid of trying new styles and trends. After all, you know better than to judge any outfit from how it looks on the hanger. The only problem is, once you’ve tried on that fierce top and you’ve fallen in love with it, how do you know what type of jewelry will compliment it, not distract from it? Matching a necklace to a neckline is all about creating a visually similar line. Fashion is a balancing act, with all the little individual pieces coming together to bring out the best in you, so let’s take a look at winning top/jewelry combos that will be guaranteed to hit all the right notes!
First, consider the occasion. You need to figure out if your chosen jewelry is not only appropriate for the neckline of your top, but also for where you plan on going. You may find that your great Grandma’s pearl and diamond necklace looks amazing with that top…but is it really practical for a weekend trip to the zoo with your 3 year old nephew who loves to grab things and pull them until they break? Probably not.
Once you decide the occasion, you can move on to the fun stuff…accessorizing!
Type of top: Turtleneck
Perfect jewelry for it: A longer chain or pendant, or layers of those
Reason: If you wear a shorter necklace it will tend to make your neck look shorter and thicker.
Type of top: Crew
Perfect jewelry for it: Bib or collar necklace
Reason: The length will hit right at the neckline of the shirt and mimic its shape, making it look aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Type of top: Scoop
Perfect jewelry for it: Shorter chains and pendants with some bulk and width to them, like a chandelier bib necklace
Reason: The scoop will expose a little more skin, providing a blank canvas for your necklace. A necklace with more bulk to it will also help to keep you from appearing over exposed.
Type of top: Strapless
Perfect jewelry for it: Choker or short pendant
Reason: Adds visual interest and splits the attention so all the focus won’t be on your cleavage.
Type of top: One shoulder/Asymmetrical
Perfect jewelry for it: There are two camps of opinions here. Some say avoid a necklace altogether and go with long, dangling earrings, while some say wear a necklace that is asymmetrical in design itself.
Reason: Most tend to let the top speak for itself and opt for earrings. Reason being, the neckline of an asymmetrical top is visually interesting enough, and not overly revealing, so it can stand on its own.
Type of top: Collard button-up
Perfect jewelry for it: Short pendant
Reason: If you keep the necklace above the area where the buttons meet, you can avoid a messy look. The shorter, dangling pendant can still be seen, and mimics the shape created by the top, which is visually appealing.
Type of top: V-neck
Perfect jewelry for it: V-shaped dangling pendants or chandelier necklaces
Reason: You can safely add a v-shaped necklace that falls about an inch above the neckline of the top. This will mimic the shape of the neckline and elongate the look of your torso.
Type of top: Square
Perfect jewelry for it: Square or angular pendants
Reason: The straight lines of angular pendants will compliment the neckline of the top, adding even more visual interest.
Type of top: Cowl
Perfect jewelry for it: A short pendant or opt for earrings instead
Reason: A cowl neckline already has a lot going on with the folds of material, so a necklace might make it look too messy. It’s safer to stick with longer earrings.
Type of top: Sweetheart
Perfect jewelry for it: Longer drop pendant, Y-shape, lariat, or delicate v-shaped bib
Reason: The sweetheart neckline is one of the most popular shapes for wedding dresses. While you can pull off a shorter, simple necklace (like a single strand of pearls), you might instead want a necklace with a drop pendant…something to mimic the downward point of the neckline.
Want to really push your fashion forward without having to buy a new wardrobe? One of the best ways to do that is to pick a new trend that you want to follow and add some great accessories and key pieces that will pump up the rest of your clothing options.
One of the best trends to stick with is the metallics trend – while metallics have never really gone out of style, there are times when they become more popular and with the return of metallic lipsticks, that time is now.
Here are a few ways to add metallics to your wardrobe this season:
Shine From The Feet
Aren’t brave enough to wear an entire metallic outfit? Start from the feet up. Wearing a bit of shine on your feet helps you to feel put together and a little funky without going over the edge. The great thing about shoes is that you can do whatever you want with them, because there is a chance that most people won’t see them.
Metallic sneakers make a great option to increase that fashion of a casual outfit. They are just funky enough to make you feel a little bit better about your jeans and t-shirt or even your leggings. Make sure you don’t scuff them up too much and always wear appropriate undergarments if you wear them with a skirt or dress – they are reflective.
On the other hand, you can go metallic with a great pair of heels. Everyone woman should own a pair of sturdy metallic heels – they will heighten any LBD, any skirt, and even a pantsuit. Make sure they are sturdy and that they have a good quality material on them – otherwise they can look a bit trashy.
Keep Warm
Metallic coats are warmer than other types of coats because they attract the sunlight – especially that strong winter sunlight. Now, when selecting a metallic coat, you don’t want to go with something that looks like vinyl. Instead, you want to choose a coat that has just a little bit of shimmer in it.
Push the Limits
Every woman needs a skirt or two that makes her feel like an absolute beauty. A metallic skirt in a crinkle pattern is very on-trend right now and will always be a classic look. Whether you want to dress it up with a cute top or dress it down with a t-shirt and sneakers, it will always look amazing.
Make sure to get a steamer or take it to a dry cleaner, however, as these often get a bit wrinkled due to the material most designers use for metallic skirts.
Of Course, Lipstick
Of course, the reason we are all talking about metallics again is because metallic lipsticks are back on the market. Once again, it is very easy to go wrong with metallic lipsticks. Buy from a brand that you know and always carry around a pocket mirror to reapply if need be. There are different types of metallics, including glitters, liquids, and even matte metallics. Your best bet? Start with a fantastic metallic nude lipstick and work from there.
Don’t be afraid to shine and get ready for the glitz and the glam of every season.
