Ladies
Company: Alex & Ani
Featured Item: Hep Cat Expandable Wire Bangle Set, $148
Alex & Ani is an eco-friendly jewelry company that puts a new twist on traditional charm bracelets. (They also carry rings, necklaces, and earrings.) You can order their fabulous pre-made bangle sets online, or you can pop into one of their stores or authorized retailers and buy individual bracelets to create your own set.
My cousin and I poked around their store in Newport, RI this past summer and had a blast. They have hundreds of different charms to put on the bangles (1 charm per bangle) and the bangles come in various metals and finishes. The one above happens to be my favorite because I tend to wear simple jewelry and black goes with everything.
The set featured above is priced at $148, however individual bangles with a charm start at just $28.
Gents
Company: David Donahue
Featured Item: Silver Cufflinks, $95
For some reason (it could be my love of all things preppy) I have recently become obsessed with cuff links and I feel that every guy should own a nice set. These days, you can find cuff links in any department store in various colors and designs – from cuff links shaped like golf balls, to ones emblazoned with your guy’s favorite team logo.
To start, though, every guy should have a simple pair of silver or black cuff links. The pair featured above are simple, but the textured trim keeps them from being boring.
Note: The David Donahue website is currently being redesigned, but it does provide a list of retailers so you can order in person or online. (The ones above are available at Nordstrom.)