Handbag Secrets of a Busy Gal

We just returned from our trip to Los Angeles where we attended BeautyCon 2013. Our days were packed with events, meetings, and fun, but with little time to stop and rest. Our secret for quickly transitioning from work to play? We double bag it.

I throw all my everyday essentials into my clutch. Then I make sure I bring my clutch inside my tote bag. When I've got a full day, double bagging it saves me so much time.

 

Often times I’ll carry my iPad/books/lunch/water bottle to and from work. When I need a cute bag that can carry all my work stuff, I turn to the Charlotte Tote. Holly Scott's leather bags are exceptionally well-constructed and uber cute! Navy is such a great neutral color and a fun alternative to black.
 

Generally when I run to get lunch or grab a coffee, I know this clutch is all I need. The color combination also makes this clutch perfectly classy for an evening out. I love being able to run home, quickly change and know that everything I need for the night is already in my clutch.

This clutch by Holly Scott is also available in navy and nude. Both are perfect for fall!

What are your tips for staying organized on those crazy busy days? Let us know in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Join Our Weekly VIP Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

Choose Your Own Color Bracelets

Need ideas on how to style that new dress? Take a cue from Florida-based blogger Kristin and accessorize with custom bracelets by Stephanie Hoffmann Designs. We love how she paired Light Jade and Gold bracelets to play up her coral chevron dress!

 
Kristin of Living in Color Print

Bead Color Options

Our vintage bar bracelets have been quite popular. We offer them as a single bracelet or a set of six. They're handbeaded in San Francisco, California and are available in a variety of beautiful colors. Here are some of our most popular options:

Custom Patterns

Have another idea you want to try? Let us know! We created this custom pattern for our lovely customer from our most recent show

Magnetic Clasps

We use durable lobster clasps for these bracelets, but we also offer magnetic clasps for easier wear. Just let us know in the Notes section of your order if you'd prefer magnetic clasps.

Nancy of Adore to Adorn

What color combinations would work best for your outfit? Let us know in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Join Our Weekly VIP Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

Wicked Whites After Labor Day

We've all grown up hearing that we aren't supposed to wear white after labor day. However, Californians rarely follow this rule. In San Francisco, our summers start in September so we just don't pack away our whites! Here are a few of our favorite ways to wear white after labor day!

 

White As Outer Wear

Accent your outfit with an off-white blazer or jacket. We are currently coveting the moto-jackets we are seeing everywhere. We love when these edgy jackets are paired with an ultra feminine dress or blouse.

Layering White Jewelry:

Layering delicate jewelry is one of our favorite trends right now.  Accessorize by mixing in hues of white jewelry like the Jennifer and Marie bracelets by Thesis of Alexandria with your other staple jewelry pieces. We like these bracelets on their own, but they create an even bigger statement when worn with others!

White Nail Accents:

Get a manicure in a white hue or go bold with a polka dot mani. These are surprisingly easy to do at home. Our favorite combination is mixing a dark fall hue like OPI Lost on Lombard with bright white polka dots. We recommend you find a good YouTube tutorial and get painting. Speaking of YouTube, be sure to subscribe to our UniqueIndie channel!

Killer White Denim:

You might have to pack away your cute white eyelet top, but your white denim jeans can stay. Create a perfect fall-appropriate ensemble by wearing your jeans with an oversized sweater and brown booties. The dynamic look will inspire others to look for their white jeans, too!

Are you a stickler for the "No White After Labor Day" fashion rule? What's your favorite way to wear white?

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Bloggers Killing It In #UniqueIndie

Fashion blogs are now our go-to resource to spot new trends and see how to style them.

We have been incredibly lucky to receive a tremendous amount of support from the fashion blogging community. It's exciting to see bloggers style our jewelry in ways we'd never think of ourselves!


The impeccable KatwalkSF

Pictures

In this week's post, we show you how bloggers from all over California style #UniqueIndie jewelry. You can also shop the featured pieces and check out the original blog posts. We'll let these photos speak for themselves. Check out our Facebook Gallery.

Posts

Check out the posts from our blogger friends here:
The Weekend Diary
Putting Me Together - 1
Putting Me Together - 2
Love Olia - 1
Love Olia - 2
KatwalkSF
Adore to Adorn - 1
Adore to Adorn - 2
Do you have favorite fashion blogs to visit? We'd love to hear about them in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order! Follow @UniqueIndie

7 Overnight Flight Essentials

We've been taking advantage of this gorgeous summer and trying to travel whenever we get the chance. We climbed Multnomah Falls in Portland, laid on the beach in San Diego, danced to live blues in Chicago, and are gearing up for our upcoming weekend roadtrip.

At this point in our travel career, we've finally mastered the art of the overnight flight. Today, we're going to share our 7 Essentials for Overnight Flights.

Comfort
Ever notice the flight is chillier than expected? A large scarf or wrap is great for keeping comfortable. You can also use it to cover your nose/eyes or as a makeshift pillow. As tempting as it is to bring a neck pillow, we just can't bear the thought of having to carry it. Be sure to bring your ear plugs when you want to drown out noise and your Ipod Shuffle when you want to hear your favorite tunes.

Hygiene
We are obsessed with Yes To Facial Towelettes. They cleanse and hydrate so that you're skin is clean and moisturized, too. We have sensitive skin so we tested this out a week before and it worked great for us. Our other beauty recommendation is Colgate Wisps-- disposable toothbrushes that don't require any water. We were skeptical at first, but it's incredible how clean they make your mouth feel. The towelettes and disposable toothbrushes make it so much easier to wash up than the portable in the sky.

Sustenance
Airplane food never seems to be enough. Just in case we get hungry, we always try to bring a granola or protein bar with us. Have you tried the bars by 18 Rabbits? They're an organic, delicious snack that doesn't taste like a candy bar. And of course, we always bring an empty Bobble Bottle to fill up once we get past security. It saves us from paying $7 for a bottle of water while waiting to board our flight. 

What do you always bring with you when you travel? We'd love to know in the comments below!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!

Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order! We are trying out Amazon Affiliates so if you see links from Amazon, please note that they're tied to our Amazon Affiliates program.

Our Renegade Weekend

Renegade Craft Fair is one of our favorite events of the year!

Although we end up shopping way more than planned, we leave with the most amazing greeting cards, natural beauty products, and (of course) jewelry! We joined Stephanie Hoffmann Designs at the fair this past weekend and had a blast meeting all the shoppers and fellow vendors. A BIG thank you to Sierra, Ahrhan, and Audrey for helping us out at the show! Thanks to all our friends who came out! Sarah from The Weekend Diary left with one of Stephanie's newest styles: the single spike necklace!

 

 The Wishbone Necklaces were also a popular choice with shoppers. We love the color combos!

 

 Our final mission was creating a custom order for these lovely bar bracelets in blue! Who knew electric blue and antique brass would make such a striking statement?

 

Random cuteness from the show: crocheted strawberries and hunky dolls!



Photo via Renegade Craft Fair



Photo via Renegade Craft Fair

Thanks again to all those who helped and came out! We have a few more shows planned this year and will be sure to keep you all informed.

Do you have a favorite local craft fair/show? This is one of our favorite things to do while traveling so please let us know in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Cool Off With Temporary Markdowns

Okay, sorry that title doesn't make the most sense.

These markdowns on Kendra Renee's handcrafted beauties are so exciting and we wanted to let you know because they'll only be available for a short period of time. We're down to only one more curved silver necklace in stock so jump on it. Kendra Renee's ability to create elegant wearables are perfect for casual summer days.

Here at #UniqueIndie HQ, we're busy working on a few articles to show you guys how to easily throw together a fashionable and simple summer get-together-- so stayed tuned. We've also added new jewelry designs and will be working on a longer-term project to revamp the website. We had a great response to our recent bracelet give away so we'll have to do another one soon.

 In the meantime, shop our limited-time markdowns!

Which piece would you wear most often? Let us know in the comments below.

For more style features, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order.

Six Summer Weekend Essentials

The west coast has been absolutely beautiful these past few weeks. We love soaking up the weather and having our meals outdoors! We've rounded up a few of our must-haves for optimal summer enjoyment:

A light scarf is perfect for adding color to your outfit in the daytime and providing a bit of warmth in the evening. We love how using a crossbody bag allows you to go handsfree. The Kate Satchel by Holly Scott is perfect for a concert, festival, or happy hour. P.S. It's also on sale! We also recommend trying some fun sunglasses in a different shape or different color. We love the interesting, yet neutral color of these Warby Parker sunnies.

There's nothing better than tying your hair into a ponytail or bun on a hot summer day. These Midnight Keshi Pearl earrings by Kendra Renee will breezily punch up your look. While spending so much time in the sun, don't forget to hydrate. We're using the reusable Bobble BPA Free Water Bottle that comes with its own filter. It has come in handy so many times- especially while traveling. For our skin, we love this compact with SPF 50 from Physician's Formula. It's great for protecting your skin when you're out all day and can't apply sunscreen.

Did we miss anything? Let us know what summer essentials we should add to our list! For more style features, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order.

This week we're experimenting with Amazon's Affiliate program. This means if we recommend a product from Amazon, we receive a commission if you purchase through our link. Please note that we only included links to products we support. In this case, we own both the water bottle and the compact!

Naturals Collection: Limited Edition Jewelry by Iacua Designs

We're so excited to introduce our Naturals Collection. A line of limited-edition jewelry cast from nature by Iacua Designs. The two sisters behind Iacua Designs use found objects to cast and polish into beautiful and delicate pendants. These necklaces are the perfect addition to your summer outfits. They're light to wear, but made with the highest quality sterling silver and brass.

They also make a wonderful gift and are sure to delight the nature appreciating gals in your life. Only 20 of each pendant are available. Claim your nature-inspired pendant here.

What do you think about our natured inspired collection? Let us know in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

What is Rhodium? Never heard of it!

Turns out this oddly named metal is a rare and expensive member of the Platinum family. Rhodium plating is common with wedding bands and other jewelry because Rhodium is particularly brilliant and durable.

Pictured above: Fire bracelet, Moda bracelet

Why is Sterling Silver jewelry so popular?

Silver alone is too soft of a metal for jewelry. This is why sterling silver is the dominant form of silver jewelry. It's an alloy of silver and a small percentage of a base metal to create strength.

Oxidized? That just means that the silver has been darkened to achieve a blackened appearance.

Pictured above: Sterling Silver Scalloped Ring - Oxidized, Sterling Silver Scalloped Ring

What in the world is Vermeil?

Pronounced vehr-MAY, gold vermeil is a form of gold plating that uses only precious metals. Here's an example of Gold Vermeil earrings using 24k gold and sterling silver. The gold and sterling silver are fused such that it prevents flaking and chipping of the gold.

White Gold and Rose Gold

An alloy composed of yellow gold and a white metal to add strength and durability. Contrary to popular belief, the white color you see is a result of Rhodium plating. Rose gold is an alloy composed of yellow gold and copper. Copper gives it that pink and rose coloring.

Pictured above: 14k Rose Gold Ring, 14k White Gold Ring

Are we missing any metals used in contemporary jewelry today? Let us know in the comments!

To keep up to date with our articles, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Photos from happy customers

We've received a few photos from our customers wearing their pieces and we just had to share them with you. We think they've done a great job styling these pieces. What do you think?

These customers show us three different ways to wear unique jewelry:

1) Blogger Lucy, from Daily Disguise, wears two April Reno jewelry pieces and makes it work with a simply colored ensemble of black and red. The red lipstick also makes a great final touch.
2) Lindy shows us an image of the Fire bracelet she purchased. This piece is perfect to transition from a busy work day to a fancy dinner night.
3) We absolutely love how Margaret has layered her Stephanie Hoffmann beaded necklace with another tribal inspired necklace. Since Stephanie's necklaces are adjustable, the pairing worked out beautifully.

Well done, ladies! Send your photos wearing Unique Indie jewelry to hello@uniqueindie.com or tag us on Instagram or Twitter with #uniqueindie!

Which styling is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

For more style features, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Ornate Cuff Bracelets by April Reno

April Reno's bauble jewelry pieces are Unique Indie customer favorites.

Each bauble can make a statement on its own and is so much fun to dress up. These statement pieces are great for casual wear when paired with a simple outfit, but are also perfect to dress up for a hot date.

When you pick up an April Reno bracelet or necklace, you'll immediately notice the quality of the piece. The large stones in the Aurora bracelet above are custom cut for this design. This particular bracelet also has small Swarovski crystals to give it additional shine. We love that you can see inspiration from 1920s Art Deco and French Architecture come through in each of these jewelry pieces.

Our customers love April Reno Jewelry! Here are some of the styles we're loving right now:

Note that there are only a few left of these pieces. We've already sold out of a few styles and once they're sold out they're gone for good!

Which piece is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

For more style features, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter! Subscribers receive free shipping on their next order!

Unique Gifts: Graduation Gift Ideas For Every Grad

A big congratulations to the Class of 2013!

As we’re doing our own search for grad gifts, we decided to compile a gift guide. Each of the pieces below are handcrafted with love by Unique Indie designers. Since each piece is created with the finest materials, your gift will be sure to last a lifetime.

Here are a few unique gift ideas to congratulate the graduates in your life:


We love Lauren Engel’s sea star necklace and the Iacua sea creature pendant. Both pieces are intricate and detailed, yet look even more elegant when worn. The hand-threaded sea star necklace adds the perfect pop of magenta. Kendra Renee’s sterling silver Axle earrings are created so that the discs can rotate around the central axle. The hammered texture of these earrings make these a show-stopper for any outfit.



Meet Storm the Reindeer kitty! This precious pendant was created from a vintage german toy and is perfect for the whimsical girl. Fine art lovers will appreciate Kelly Nedderman’s Drop Lens earrings. Kelly uses textiles she creates herself and vintage lenses to create these elegant earrings. The color lover will surely love Raissa Bump’s vintage beaded dangle earrings. The hand-twisted silver wire and czech glass beads result in earrings that are both playful and versatile.



For our Business graduate, we leaned towards pieces that are convertible from work to play. Iacua’s white gold twig ring is an amazing piece that any girl would treasure for a lifetime. Paulina Carcach’s handcrafted leather handbag is perfect for bringing to work and going out to Happy Hour. Finally, you can never go wrong with pearls. These handcrafted silver and pearl earrings from Kendra Renee are a definite treasure and go perfectly with any ensemble day or night!

What will you be gifting this graduation? Let us know in the comments!
For more articles and style tips, be sure to join our newsletter. You’ll receive a coupon for Free Shipping on your next purchase!

Collar Necklace: How To Easily Rock A Collar Necklace

Collar necklaces have been all over the runways and fashion blogosophere. They make beautiful statement pieces and can transform your look from relaxed to warrior-chic. We especially love this emerald and silver beaded version constructed from a vintage neckpiece. This piece is incredibly versatile and looks great with anything from a simple white t-shirt to a printed dress.

Our gorgeous model, Jami!

On Jami, we styled the emerald and silver collar necklace with a navy sweater and let the necklace shine.

Designer Stephanie Hoffmann's beaded pieces are a favorite among San Francisco jewelry lovers. She uses traditional Native American bead-weaving techniques to create modern and edgy pieces. For a behind-the-scenes look at how Stephanie Hoffmann gets it done, check out her Unique Indie interview.

Other pieces in Black, Emerald, Turquoise, and Aztec.

Have you tried the collar/bib necklace style? Let us know how you'd wear it in the comments below! A big thank you to the amazing Andre Nguyen for the photographs!

For more articles and style tips, be sure to join our newsletter. You’ll receive a coupon for Free Shipping on your next purchase!

We'd like to hit 500 Likes on Facebook by the end of this month. When we hit it, we're planning to run our first giveaway! You can help us out by Liking and Sharing our Facebook page. Thank you!

How To Wear A Chambray Shirt

Chambray is everywhere this season. Styling a chambray shirt can be tricky, but we have realized it can become one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe. Here are few of our favorite ways to style the chambray button down:

1] Festive Florals + Delicate Necklace

Stand out by styling chambray with floral printed jeans and your best riding boots. Balance out your attention-grabbing jeans with simple accessories. The branch necklace by Iacua Designs stands out without overpowering your entire outfit. It's cast in sterling silver from a willow branch picked up in the designer's backyard.

2] Texas Tuxedo + Bright Clutch

If the jeans are dark enough, a chambray shirt and jeans can actually look great together! We recommend adding a bit of color, such as this bold orange clutch from Holly Scott.

3] Striped Sensation + Stacked Bracelets

Most people layer a collared shirt under another clothing item, but we have found that this jean shirt also works well when worn over a t-shirt. Feel free to leave the shirt unbuttoned on top of striped t-shirt for a relaxed style. Try this style with layered bracelets like a few different colors of the Marie bracelet by Thesis of Alexandria.

4] Simple Sweater + Bold Earrings

Layers are essential in San Francisco and a chambray shirt layers perfectly. Pair a simple, bright sweater with neutral jeans and classic jewelry. We are smitten with Kendra Renee's vermeil earring collection!

5] Summer Shorts + Colorpop Necklace

On a warm day, pair your chambray with a white pair of jean shorts, sandals, and this neon lights beaded necklace by Stephanie Hoffmann designs. The neon coral accents in this necklace will provide your outfit with a boost of color. This outfit is perfect for summer lazy park days under the sun!

This post has been brought to you by our beautiful intern, Sierra! Make-up by the wonderful Kim of KSB Design.

Are you into the Chambray shirt trend? How do you wear it? Let us know in the comments!

For more articles and style tips, be sure to join our newsletter. You'll receive a coupon for Free Shipping on your next purchase!

1920s Fashion - Great Gatsby Style in 30 Minutes

By now you’ve probably heard that The Great Gatsby movie is coming out this weekend. All the media hints that the movie will have plenty of glamour and decadence. Don’t you wish you could experience one of these fabulous parties for yourself?

This week, we were inspired to create a 1920s look based on The Great Gatsby. Whether you’re an East Egger or West Egger, this look only takes 30 minutes and anyone can pull it off. All you need is a shift dress and the right accessories.

Let’s start at the top. 1920s fashion is marked by gorgeous hair accessories. We love this headband by Tilt Adornments— it's hand-sewn from vintage beads and perfect for a special occasion. We tied the headband over curled hair that was pinned in the back to create a short bob effect. We then went with a darker lipstick to add a little drama.

If you don’t happen to have a 1920s styled frock, choose a shift dress that is less cinched at the waist. For our jewelry, we chose vintage inspired pieces designed by April Reno.

These pieces are available exclusively on Unique Indie and also happen to be inspired by 1920s Art Deco.

We chose the longer Sara necklace to elongate our model’s figure and added the timeless Bernadin statement bracelet in Rhodium.

Be sure to top the look off with a faux fur and champagne. Now you’re ready to party like its 1929!

How would you do 1920s fashion? Let us know in the comments!

For more articles and style tips, be sure to join our newsletter. You'll receive a coupon for Free Shipping on your next purchase!