Add a favorite pair of jeans, throw in a wear-everywhere blouse, include a pencil skirt for good measure, then combine those staple pieces with other interchangeable elements, and you’ll have the perfect day to night, work to weekend wardrobe. Now, imagine being able to do the exact same thing with your fine jewelry.

TARA (The Artisan Row Accessories) has made that dream a reality for fine jewelry lovers everywhere. With designs inspired by founder and CEO Annette Lasala Spillane’s childhood in the Philippines, you get to have fun mixing and matching pieces to make your own personalized creations while subtly paying homage to her Southeast Asian roots. Both convertible and stackable, TARA jewelry is designed to stand alone or be built upon in whatever way your heart desires. And with materials like 14k gold, black and grey diamonds, opals, and mother of pearl, you’ll be taken aback by the quality of the materials and the artisan-made craftsmanship.

When asked where her inspiration for starting the business came from, Spillane replied, “The idea came to me while I was packing for a move and then realizing I had amassed a very embarrassing amount of jewelry that I had to throw out. I knew why I bought all the trendy and throwaway pieces–I couldn’t afford to buy anything else,” she said, “But the reality is, the older you get, you want better quality things.” So, rather than waste money on fast fashion jewelry purchases, Spillane asked herself, “What if women were given the ability to build up to their dream jewelry wardrobe?”

With the capacity to buy something small now and add on higher-end pieces as your budget allows, TARA has given individuals the chance to curate a sustainable, fashionable, heirloom-quality jewelry collection that can, fundamentally, be adapted for any occasion. It comes with a price point that can accommodate most budgets, $148 for the Cassie earring (my personal fave) to $4,086 for the Signals fine jewelry combo package, especially if you don’t waste any dough on those cheap $8 throw-aways.

Basically, you begin with an earring, ring, or necklace as your base, and stack them with what TARA refers to as danglers. Rings convert to earrings, studs become chandeliers, danglers form delicate bracelets, and chokers become lariats in the blink of an eye. And what’s beautiful is that the pendant hanging from your choker can become the asymmetric dangler that hangs from your stud. Then, you have the power to extend it even further by connecting yet another one of TARA’s delicate additions for a truly spectacular statement earring.

“I am inspired by architecture and art,” declared Spillane, “But sometimes it’s an interaction with someone, or a feeling I get. The last collection was inspired by a conversation with a friend about our childhood in the Philippines–days that moved in slow motion and in bright saturated color, uninterrupted play, immersion in nature, analog toys. That’s why you can find jackstones and hibiscus flowers, we used to make bubble solution out of crushed hibiscus flowers, in our last collection.”

Evidently so, TARA’s abstract examination of modern art and architecture strings collections together so well, that they essentially become one grand, cohesive idea. The fluidly is such that you’d never guess where one piece ends and the other begins, making both the concept and execution something acutely special.

Timelessness and utility is just as important as aesthetic when it comes to sustainability and longevity. Fortunately, Spillane put a great deal of thought into the implementation of this feature, as well. “I think that there are familiar themes that make the designs [sic] classic and timeless–like round shapes and long lines,” but beyond that is her attention to personalization because of the interchangeability. “They’re worthwhile because you can always have something so unique and personal to you. I know customers who have the same TARA pieces, but they almost always wear them so different from each other. There’s an immediate point of differentiation when you have at least 3 to 4 pieces to play with,” says Spillane.

And when asked about the ease in which TARA fine jewelry can be built and customized, Spillane replied, “It’s actually very easy. We’ve created a solution on the website that will let you build combinations in the comfort of your bedroom, pants optional.” And who doesn’t love that kind of freedom when shopping for jewelry?

“Women have told me that it’s been very addicting to try out different combinations. I don’t think that there are bad combinations–there are just ones that are more universally favored than others.” In other words, you can’t mess this process up, even if you tried. So, please, for the love of beautiful jewelry, go create the personalized masterpiece you’ve always dreamt of wearing.

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The post TARA: Makers of Buildable Fine Jewelry That Grows With You appeared first on EcoSalon.

Gone are the days when you find your rings in the cereal box and your necklaces were made of candy. Take care of your jewelry collection and it will last a lifetime.

Whether your jewelry collection is full of priceless (not very likely), or not so priceless pieces, you have put a lot of time, effort, and money into creating it, so treat it well.

Odds are that your jewelry collection is a mixture of special pieces that have been gifted to you by family and friends, special pieces you have purchased for yourself, and plenty of trendy costume jewelry thrown into the mix. No matter the case, your jewelry collection deserves to be stored and cared for properly. Please do not toss all your treasured baubles on your bureau top and not expect them to suffer the consequences.

Jewelry Collection Care and Storage

The most impactful way to make certain that your jewelry collection holds up is to store it well.

Storage Tips

• Make certain to store strung necklaces and bracelets (like pearls) flat and do not hang them. Hanging can weaken the strands as well as stretch them out.
• Do hang chain necklaces where possible to avoid tangling, which can lead to breakage.
• Silver and gold are best stored in a closed case to keep tarnishing and other grime at bay.

DIY Cleaning

DIY jewelry cleaning tips abound on the Internet, but according to the expert gemologists  at Jewelers Mutual, there’s a lot of bad advice out there about how best to clean jewelry at home. Their advice is to keep the process simple by using dish soap, warm water, and a brand new baby toothbrush to clean away buildup from your favorite pieces.

DIY Jewelry Cases

If you don’t already have a case in which to store your jewelry collection, you can scour yard sales and estate sales for a find–or make one yourself. Here are some DIY tutorials to drool over.

• DIY Standing Ikea Hack
• DIY Chest Into a Jewelry Case
• DIY Tiffany Inspired Jewelry Case

Travel Tips

Extra care is needed when traveling and this is one of life’s experiences from which jewelry can really suffer.

• Obviously, if you are flying, pack your jewelry in your carry-on luggage.
• If you must check luggage, plan on only take those pieces that you absolutely need. If the worst happens and the airport loses a bag, you don’t want to lose your entire collection at once!
• Use care when packing jewelry. The best solution is to use a roll organizer. You can purchase one or make one yourself.

Related on EcoSalon

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The post Jewelry Collection Care, Storage and Travel Tips Every Bauble Lover Needs appeared first on EcoSalon.

The invitations are pouring in, and Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner, which means it’s time to don your happiest holiday party outfits as you set out to celebrate the season with family and friends.

This year, though, you don’t have to sacrifice style for compassion because we’ve rounded up three of the hottest cruelty-free holiday party outfits that, unless you share the details (which we totally hope you do), no one will ever know the difference between what we’ve chosen and a designer outfit you’d by from a department store.

Whether you’re attending a Christmas cocktail party, the annual office shindig, or ringing in the New Year with your besties, we’ve got an outfit for every occasion. Many of the designers featured are kind to animals and the planet, which is a great way to end the year if you ask us – by consciously including the welfare of our furry friends and natural resources in your thoughts as you embark on a new beginning full of positive vibes.

The remaining holiday events are just around the corner, so let’s get started!

1. Golden Girl

The outfit pictured here is perfect for the modern woman who wishes to celebrate in style, and could easily go from the office to a variety of holiday occasions. The simplicity of the black and white palette really allows the golden accessories to shine. Its neutrality also lends a lot of versatility and offers the ability to play with the addition of color, whether in the shell top, shoes, or the jewelry and clutch it’s paired with. Wear this to cocktail hour, dinner, the company Christmas party, a New Year’s Eve party, and so much more.

The booties keep this outfit from looking too stuffy, while the bold black and white stripes lend a contemporary and whimsical vibe to an otherwise plain pencil skirt.

Clockwise from the top: Relux Sustainable Jacket $82.68; Nama Brass Fringe Necklace $180; Vegan Dance Card Gold Clutch $28; Vegan Dannie by Beyond Skin Bootie $199.99; Fair + True Sustainable Skirt $82.68; Skunkfunk Organic Cotton Vest Top $20.06.

2. Posh Print-cess 

Whoever said that holiday party outfits are relegated to the typical red, green, black, gold, and silver was so wrong. And we’re here to prove it. This gorgeous blue floral and botanical print jacket adds such a sophisticated yet unpretentious vibe to this ensemble. Layered simply with a flowing black tank, grey pants, and wedge boots, this is an outfit that might already be somewhere in your closet, you just haven’t realized it yet. Wear this to a tree decorating party, holiday gift exchange, night out with friends, or a homey dinner party.

The key to any great party outfit is to accessorize smartly, which we’ve done here with the mock mother of pearl clutch and the fluffy, face framing and eye-catching feather earrings.

Clockwise from the top: Fair + True Floral Print Blazer $66.14; Flock Together White Feather Earrings $15; Vegan Of the Pearl-essence Silver Lucite Clutch $46; Vegan Tamara Covered Wedge Bootie $139.99; Komodo Fair Trade Herringbone Trousers $77.17; Go Green M by M Sustainable Eco Vest $30.87.

3. Silvery Siren 

Again, there’s no reason to shy away from color when it comes to dressing for holiday parties. This stunning pink lace dress is a show stopper. With the black velvety pumps and festive accessories, you’ve got a winning combination. To really bring this look into the winter weather season, and keep your legs warm, be sure to layer a pair of black tights underneath this dress and pair it with your favorite coat. Wear this to a New Year’s Eve soiree, formal brunch, company holiday party, dinner, drinks, and so much more.

The jewelry and clutch are what really elevate this dress to party status level by adding some much needed sparkle, shine, and texture.

Clockwise from the top: Fair + True Fair Trade Square Shoulder Lace Dress $82.68; Astute Courtier Silver Rhinestone Earrings $11; Vegan Destined for the Arena Beaded Clutch $52; Vegan Margaret Velvet Pumps $99.99; Rotating Prism Silver Rhinestone Necklace $28.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our holiday party outfits post filled with beautiful eco-friendly and cruelty-free finds. What did you think about our choices? Any big holiday plans this year – what will you be wearing? Let us know on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Blue Shoes via Shutterstock

The post 3 Holiday Party Outfits That Will Help You Rock the Night Away appeared first on EcoSalon.