Blog Page 2 - OhSoFitting

Gift Ideas: For The Woman Who Wants To Make A Statement

Hi there!

If you have a friend who thrives from the attention of others and gets joy from making people’s heads turn, our bold Chunky Choker Chain Necklace will help her make the statement she wants to make.

This chunky oval link choker in large matte gold plated links will suit any outfit and will make her more confident than she already is!

She can also grace our Hammered Silver Disc Necklace, Matte Hammered Silver Square Charm Bracelet, Statement Earrings, Natural Pearl & Matte Gold Stretch Bracelet, and Matte Gold Drop Earrings!

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,

Merrie

1 - Chunky Choker Chain Necklace

2 - Hammered Silver Disc Necklace

3 - Matte Hammered Silver Square Charm Bracelet

4 - Statement Earrings

5 - Natural Pearl & Matte Gold Stretch Bracelet

6 - Matte Gold Drop Earrings

Gift Ideas: For The Nature Lover

Hi there,

We all have that someone in our life who is always walking in the woods or watching birds from the window.

While everyone of us appreciate nature, this one has a deep love for it and spends most of her time exploring the great outdoors.

This holiday, give her a fashionable companion during these trips with our Black Flower Drop Earrings, Black Pearl & Amethyst Bracelet, Quartz Necklace and Pendant Necklace.

Because of her outdoors-y spirit, she keeps her outfit comfy and simple as possible but this pair of earrings, necklaces and bracelet will surely make her look like the most stylish outdoor gal out there!

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,

Merrie

1 - Black Flower Drop Earrings

2 - Black Pearl & Amethyst Bracelet

3 - Quartz Necklace

4 - Pendant Necklace

Gift Ideas: For The Busy Woman

Hi there,

We all know someone who's always hurrying somewhere and got something going on.

They are the on-the-go busy woman of our lives and when it comes to picking a gift for them, you need something that will work with her busy schedule.

Our super chic Matte Black Mixed Metal Kite Chain Necklace has a way of catching anyone’s attention that’s perfect for a busy woman who can’t be bothered to think of her outfit!

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,

Merrie

Gift Ideas: For MOM

Hi there,

We all grew up receiving the best present from our mothers, and now, it’s time to give back.

She is the reason we are who we are today, and she stuck with us even through our rebellious years!

When it comes to picking presents for our moms, give her something that she can use everyday, so she will always remember how much she means to you.

Treat the most special woman of your life with a classic and elegant piece of jewelry like our Gold Hammered Disc Drop Earrings, Gold Pearl Drop Earrings, and Gold Marquise Drop Pearl Earrings.

This pair of minimalist earrings is perfect for her everyday work and everyday play! No matter what your mom’s style is, I can guarantee that this dainty pair will elevate her look.

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,

Merrie

1 - Gold Hammered Disc Drop Earrings

2 - Gold Pearl Drop Earrings

3 - Gold Marquise Drop Pearl Earrings

The Three Most Flattering Necklace Lengths For YOU

Hi there,

You've heard about how necklaces can elevate an outfit and complete one's look. When it comes to the style and design of necklaces, you have your own taste and preferences, but when it comes to choosing the necklace length, that's where it can get tricky— especially when you're presented with a lot of options! Choosing a necklace length can be a challenging, so let's start with the 3 lengths I know will look great on YOU.

Here are three necklace lengths that you should definetly have in your wardrobe:

16 inches

This necklace length is a classic that sits right on your clavicle. It's especially popular now if you want to look extra stylish and put together during Zoom calls! 16" necklaces sit closely against the base of the throat and look attractive on almost any kind of garment neckline, but especially with sweetheart and v-neck necklines. Tip: If you have a wider neck, you'll get the same look from an 18 inch length.

24 inches

24 inch necklaces, known as a matinee length, fall perfectly around the collarbone and bust. This necklace length is ideal for wearing with business attire as its detail and style can give your formal clothes a much-needed extra oomph! This multitasker also works with your laidback outfits like a crew-neck top. I recommend pairing it with a fairly simple top without much pattern or decoration, as you don't want to make the necklace unnoticeable. If you tend to go for a minimalist style of dressing, this necklace length will work great at breaking up large blocks of solid colors.

33 inches

A 33" necklace falls under the necklace length called the Opera style. These necklaces sit below the breast area and are perfect finishing touches for tops with high necklines. However, if your bust size is on the larger size, you might want to consider ordering your necklace in custom length so that it will fall under your bust instead of on top of it. (Tip: try 36 or 38 inches.) Aside from the fact that this dramatic length can elongate a round face, 33" necklaces can also be the finishing touch for your evening wear and long gowns.

Necklaces are a great fashion investment. While you should also consider neck size, face shape, and style when choosing necklaces, trust me when I say that you can rarely go wrong with 16", 24" and 33"! These three flattering necklace lengths are all available here at Oh So Fitting, but once you're ready to explore, I also offer custom necklace lengths! Don't hesitate to send me a message, and let's find the perfect necklace for you.

P.S. Leave a comment and let me know your favorite necklace length!

Where to get Jewelry Repaired

Hi There!

I get asked all the time where to get jewelry repaired. There are lots of options, depending on the complexity of the repair, so I thought I'd put together a post on it:

1. Ask a Local Artisan

If it's something simple, like a broken chain or a jump ring that's re-opened, then I would consider asking your friendly neighborhood jewelry artist. If there is a jeweler at your neighborhood farmer's market that you frequent, I would politely ask her if that's something she can do for you. You can offer to pay, although I doubt she'll accept it. I do it all the time and don't mind. Especially if you can leave it with me for a couple hours while you shop, then I can usually find the time to make a quick fix between sales.

2. Yelp! a Jewelry Repair Shop

This is what I'd do if #1 isn't an option, or if you have beads that need to be restrung or rewoven. Type 'jewelry repair' into Yelp and go with one that has the highest reviews. If you are in Atlanta, I've used The ColorstonesATL before I became a jewelry artist and had good results.

3. Ask the Person/ Company Who Made It

This is true whether you bought it from an art festival or at Nordstrom. I promise that as an artist, we want you to wear your jewelry! If something breaks, regardless of whether it broke or was broken by accident, the creator has a plan for fixing it. Most stores do too! Before I became an artist, I had a pair of earrings from Nordstrom that I wore every chance I could. When I finally looked at them, I realized they had begun to tarnish and were missing some of the crystals. I went to the store to try to buy a new pair, but they had been discontinued. However, Nordstrom was able to send them back to the company to be refurbished, and they came back good as new! (I especially recommend this option if you have metal that is broken or a missing stone, because these repairs will likely require a metalsmith who can do saudering.)

4. Go to a Watch & Jewelry Repair Shop at the Mall

In Atlanta's malls, we have a chain called Fast Fix that will fix your jewelry while you shop. You can look in your local mall's directory under 'services' or 'jewelry', and I'm sure your's will have one too. I would use them to take out a watch link or add a small stone that's fallen out of a ring. You can also go to them for simple fixes like a broken chain or jump ring.

Let me know your favorite places to get jewelry fixed!

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,

Merrie

Noir Chic Collection Inspiration

There are 2 things I love about minimalist design:

Simple shapes
Simple color options

Geometric designs and the basic pairing of glack and gold, for example, work great together because they’re neutral, easy to wear, and they contrast well. Which means you don’t need a lot of effort to look fantastic!

Introducing the Noir Chic Collection!

Here’s the gist:

Black and gold, geometric inspired designs that will work with all the pieces in your wardrobe. Which means you’re ready in minutes. Each piece is lightweight and hypoallergenic so you’ll feel comfortable all day long.

As a busy professional, I know how hard it is to look fabulous, QUICKLY, as you run to your job (at home or outside of it). I got tired of the hard way, so I created something more flexible for you.

And the Noir Chic Collection is limited edition, and they’re expected to sell out quick, so grab your geometric piece of minimalist style today!

Stay Healthy and Beautiful,
Merrie

P.S. (by the way, the Mixed Metal Kite Chain Necklace is probably the one I’m most excited to share with you. Let me know what you think in the comment section.)

Phthalate-Free Cleaning Supplies (Great for People with Sensitive Skin & Noses too!)

Hi again!

So, I've recently learned another reason why you want to avoid synthetic fragrances, even if you don't have sensitive skin or allergies: Phthalates are contained in all synthetic fragrances. They are an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to diabetes, birth defects and sexual defects, (see this article from the Huffington Post for more details.) They are the reason you buy BPA-free water bottles and the reason why I can hear my mom's disapproving glare on my shoulder whenever I'm being lazy and consider heating up food in a plastic container. Those are all ways Phthalates get into our lives. (Sad face)

FYI...my oldest sister is rolling her eyes as I write this post. She's a chemist who works for the EPA and she's apparently been telling me about Phthalates for years, but I've only recently started "listening". So, I guess my other tip of the day is "Listen to your older sisters!...sometimes...when you can stand it...(younger sisters: you know exactly what I'm talking about...everything they say should be tested...especially if you have two of them)".

Aaaaanyway, cutting out synthetic frangrances is a great way to start reducing Phthalates in your life. I've blogged a lot about fragrance free skin care products, so I thought I would talk about a category we don't think about much: our household products. We spend at least an hour each day doing dishes, laundry, dusting, etc....think about how much synthetic fragrace you are breathing in. Yuck! Take a look at my list and don't forget to leave me your favorites in the comments!

Products:

Everspring

An inexpensive brand sold at target. They have fragrance-free versions and ones that are only scented with essential oils!! They also use 100% recyclable containers and do not test on animals. Their line includes:

hand soap
dish soap
laundry detergent
cleaning wipes

Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation seems to be the blend the best of both of the other brands! They don't use synthetic fragrances and have a fragrance free line. They have the most complete line of products. They get great reviews on Target and are affordably priced.

hand soap
dish soap
laundry detergent (incl. packs)
cleaning wipes
laundry stain remover
toilet bowl cleaner
dishwasher soap (incl. packs)
fabric softener
wood cleaner

Babyganics

A brand for infants, but it is also hypoallergenic, fragrance- free and dermatologist tested. However, since it is geared toward the very young, it's the highest priced brand on this list. However, their line gets GREAT reviews! It includes:

hand soap
dish soap
laundry detergent
cleaning wipes
multi-surface spray
hand sanitizer

What's your favorite natural or hypoallergenic household brand? Leave it in the comments, please.

Top 3 Jewelry Hacks for Bracelets

Hi There!

You work hard for your money, right? (Especially in these times.) Plus, it's difficult to find a piece of jewelry that you love, so once you do, you want to wear it, right? So, I want to share 3 Jewelry Hacks for Bracelets, so you can get the most out of your jewelry collection:

How to stop a Stretch Bracelet from breaking?
Ever pulled a stretch bracelet over your hand and had the elastic pop and the beads go scattering? You are putting it on the wrong way! You want to think of the beads as little wheels and roll it over your hand. See this video for an example.
Why are you getting Rashes under your bracelets & watches?
Sigh, it never stops for those of us with sensitive skin, does it? I used to get this under watches or thick bangles. This can be caused by an allergic reaction to the metal, but also because water gets trapped underneath it when you wash your hands. The water gets trapped against your skin, it creates a moist environment, your skin gets irritated and BAM! suddenly you basically have diaper rash on your arm! (Eew, I know!) Here's what you can do:

Buy stainless steel bracelets/watches, or ones that are are nickel-free.
Buy beaded bracelets instead of thick metal bracelets or cuffs, so there is less space for water to get trapped.
Take your bracelets/ watch off at night, or switch them to a different hand every morning.
Look for watch bands made out of stainless steel mesh instead of leather or (god-forbid!) rubber/ plastic. The mesh will allow any trapped water to evaporate.
If you do wind up with a rash, don't wear the item for a while and use diaper cream or hydro-cortisone cream to treat it. It should clear up in a day or two, but if not then go see your friendly neighborhood Dermatologist.

How to keep Bangles from Slipping off your wrists?
Do you have tiny wrists like me? Or small hands? Ever looked enviously at a woman dressed in Boho-chic, with her armload of bangles? Ahh..I too have the same problem. The rest of me can gain weight, but bangles still slide off my hand like I'm a child playing dress up. However, all is not lost! I wish I had know about this as a teenager:

Take a cue from Indian women...they know their bangles! (I'm talking about Southern Asia.) They buy bangles for little girls, pre-teens, adult women, etc., etc. Therefore they have to come in a million sizes and you can find gorgeous styles! Ones made of colored glass (lovely!) or metal. I was gifted a set from a friend, so I've never bought them but I would google "sized Indian Bangles" and look at the different styles.
Looking for a cheaper option? Interestingly, I've seen different sized bangle sets in Old Navy and Target! They have them in small, medium and large. They aren't going to last a lifetime, but if you are just looking for a cute accessory, why not?

Stay Healthy & Beautiful!

- Merrie

P.S. What's your favorite jewelry hack? Leave it in the comment section, so others can benefit!

My Favorite Affordable Hypo-allergenic Skin Care Products

Hi,

All of you know that I insisted on using hyopallergenic components when I began Oh, So Fitting due to my own sensitive skin. Well, my troubles don't end with nickel and they became really bad in my late 20s. I was working in Phoenix, AZ at the time and I can honestly say that I seemed genetically engineered to react to everything in the state! It's the only time in my life when I had an allergist and dermatologist within 5 minutes of my house, and I visited them like I was Catholic and they were the Pope. It was nearly always mass at their office.

The first time I visited my allergist with a swollen face, swollen eyes and skin that had been itching for days, he said "Look, you've got to stop using ANYTHING that isn't hypoallergenic. That includes your lotion, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner. Anything that can get on your hands can get on your face. Anything that goes on your hair will get on your face, so stop using everything!"

He then handed me a sample of a super, hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner. I glanced up at his mostly bald head and at his few wisps of waving hair and sighed. None of these products are going to work, I knew. (I have really, thick curly hair and a ton of it!) The shampoo turned out to be as strong as dish detergent, which was bad, but I could work with it. (I still use it sometimes even now). However, the conditioner was basically opaque, water. My thick, curly hair laughed at it. It taunted the conditioner; called it names. Had my hair and this conditioner been kids, my hair would have pushed it down on the playground and not even bothered to steal it's lunch. Thus began my hunt for hypoallergenic replacements for everything in my house.

The things I look out for are:

lanolin, because it's a common irritant and I'm allergic to it. (It's found in a lot of beauty products and comes from sheep wool.)
perfume's, scents and dyes, because you don't know what's in them.

Here's my list of skincare products:

Body Lotion: Vanicreme is a great option for those with very sensitive skin. It comes in a light and heavy version. However, I'm currently loving target's unscented body lotion. It's their generic Up & Up brand so the price is great. I add a little coconut or olive oil to it and it's perfect.
Hand Lotion: this one's tricky unless you want to constantly have to refill a travel size bottle all the time. I've done that before with Vanicreme because it doesn't come in a travel version, but target's unscented body lotion does. I stock up on those so I always have one handy in my purse.
Chapsticks: Be careful here. They (the Illuminati, the Russians, big business, I don't know who?) love putting lanolin in chapstick, so read the ingredients carefully. I personally just buy small tubes petroleum jelly. It also comes in a purse size version. You can find them in the baby section or chapstick aisle. It's hypoallergenic and only contains one ingredient.
Hand soap: This took some searching for, because you use so much of it everyday (or maybe I'm a germaphobe) and it's very tempting to get one that smells nice. I've found generic baby wash to be a great option. It's cheap, you can find it anywhere and it's geared towards those with sensitive skin: babies. You can also even find some with gentle scents.
Face Lotion & Sunscreen: I'd stick to Neutrogena or Target's knock off brand. They are hypoallergenic and come in a million formulas. Whether you have oily or dry skin, or need a low or high SPF - Neutrogena will have a formula for you!
Face Soap: I just use generic, baby wash. The same one that I use for my hands.
Body Soap: Either generic baby wash or Target's unscented bar soap. Dove's is great too, but I think you are paying for the branding.
Deodorant: Almay's clear gel sensitive skin is my favorite, because it doesn't leave a reside. If you prefer a solid, try Dove for sensitive skin, and Vanicream.

Whew! That was a lot! Now, I'd like you to share. What are your favorite hypoallergenic skincare products?

Learn about my hypoallergenic jewelry line here. Signup for VIP Club.

This mistake is ruining your jewelry...

I remember this necklace I had in high school: it was short, silver plated and had a nice, satin finish. It also had little stars with crystals hanging from it. I loved this necklace and basically lived in it for several weeks. I showered in it, exercised in it. I never took it off! (It was also summer in GA at the time.)

A few weeks later I started to notice it was warm under some parts of the necklace. Then I noticed that those spots started to burn. I took the necklace off, raced to the retailer. Laid it down like an injured patient on the countertop and asked her how to fix it. She pointed to several spots that had started to discolor and explained that the plating had worn off and I was probably having an allergic reaction to the base metal underneath.

She explained what I could do to avoid this and since it was my favorite necklace, I bit the bullet and bought another. So, here's what you can do to avoid my costly mistake:

- Don't shower in metal jewelry!

- Don't exercise in metal jewelry!

- Take it off at night so it can dry!

The reason why this is important is the same reason why water eats through rock: it will naturally erode metal. Once it mixes with the salts in your skin it becomes a chemical even more toxic to metal and will erode it even quicker.

Therefore:

Yep, if you are going to be at an all day (or even half-day) in the sticky, GA heat, avoid wearing plated metal jewelry. You may not notice the damage immediately, because everyone has different skin chemistry or the plating may be thicker on some pieces, but you are definelty shortening it's life. Besides, chain necklaces just get uncomfortable in the humidity.

Now, all Oh, So Fitting chains have an anti-tarnish coating, so they will last a lot longer than those without it, but you should still keep this in mind for all your metal jewelry.

Stay Healthy & Beautiful,
Merrie

How to Look Great on Webcam

Hi Ladies,

I don't know if you know, but I'm also in grad school, and I'm a distance education student. This means that I've been worrying about how to look decent on a web cam long before the Coronavirus hit! I have to do a lot of professional presentations for my degree, so I can't just look like someone who lives in sweatpants (even though sometimes it's true...lol). Here are my top tips:

* Makeup: you want to look polished, but not overdone. I'd focus on a tinted moisturizer, filled in eyebrows and lipstick/ gloss. Remember that your makeup always looks lighter on camera, so you can go a little heavier than usual. I'd also go for actual colors, versus a nude lipstick. Cameras will not pick up on subtle looks!

* Jewelry: aahh...you knew I'd get there eventually. Take a look at any female newscaster and you'll see that they always wear at least a pair of earrings on air. (Except Rachel Maddow, who rocks those awesome, bold glasses and needs no other accessories!). It's because earrings draw attention to your face, and if you get ones that are small and non-distracting, you'll look un-intenionally polished and professional. Below are some of my favorites from my new line.

* Clothing: pick a blouse in a flattering color. I would stay away from white or black because they can cause the camera to wash out or throw shadows on your face.

* More: don't worry about finding a blank wall in your house to sit in front of. Instead, change your virtual background. This allows you to upload a picture that your meeting software will use to replace your background. It's easy to do. On Zoom, follow these instructions. If you use another web conference provider, just google "how to change virtual background with xxx".

Also try to center your webcam at your eye level, instead of above or below your head. The former can make it look like you have a shiny patch on your forehead (from the ceiling light), and the later will make it look like you are a giant.

How to Store your Jewelry

Hi Ladies,

As you can probably guess, I own a lot of jewelry! Even before I started making it, I loved buying it. Every season I would pick out new pieces. Then take them home and look sadly at my dresser that always overflowed with jewelry. Finally, I would force myself to figure out what to donate, so I'd have space for the new. Usually the keepers were put in a zip lock bag, over which I said a little prayer, and forgot about them for a year. When I pulled them out the following I was always "surprised" by a jumble of tangled and tarnished jewelry.

As a professional, I can't do that now. I haven't the time or patience to untangle and/ or clean every piece of jewelry each year. So, I’m disciplining myself to store each piece properly, so they are ready for use the next year. Therefore, what I'll focus on in this article are ways to keep your jewelry tangle free and away from moisture. (As you may know from talking to me, humidity is the #1 cause of damage to metal jewelry.) Enjoy!

When storing your jewelry at the end of the season, use anti-tarnish strips or bags to keep out the moisture.

If anything looks dirty, clean it with a jewelry cloth first.

Store necklaces in small zip lock bags with the chain held in place by the zipper. (see photo) This keeps the chains from getting tangled.

Store dangling earrings in individual bags to avoid having to sift through a mess of wires when you want to find something.

You can buy individual anti tarnish bags cheaply or buy small zip lock bags and insert an anti-tarnish strip in each (another inexpensive option).

Then place everything in an anti-tarnish jewelry box. Or make your own by buying a plastic box and line it with anti-tarnish cloth.

Place the box in a dark place and let your jewelry hibernate until the next year. You can just relax!

How to pick the best earrings to complement your eye color

Hi Ladies,

Here's a fun post! Have you ever noticed that the right hair color can bring out your eyes? Well, I've noticed the same thing with statement earrings! Earrings are great at this because they are already near your eyes. Wearing the right pop of color near your face can literally put the focus where it should be: your peepers! I've put together this handy guide to help. Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Blue Eyes:

Gray Eyes:

Brown Eyes:

Green Eyes: