I saw these silver earrings while browsing at The Little Mahatma during the OTR/Gateway Celebration a few weeks ago. The shop is filled with “exquisite jewelry, folk art & artifacts from many exotic lands” per their webpage, and the place delivers as promised–the cases and shelves lining every inch of the store are filled with everything from dramatic bejeweled earrings from India to heavily decorated gold collars from Morocco. The cloying scent of nag champa permeated the entire space (as would be expected) and I was enchanted.

My ongoing obsession with Indian bridal jewelry was immediately revived, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the mystical silver earrings with the intriguing night-sky pattern for the next few days! Rather than suffer in silence like a tormented fashion martyr, I made my way back to The Little Mahatma and pounced on my prize.

Unable to wait to wear them (when do I ever wait?), I paired them with an H&M dress I bought years ago but have only worn once, a pair of short shorts I won’t be able to wear much longer if I keep eating the way I do, and the gray ugly-but-cool booties.

Dress (worn as top), H&M; shorts, Forever21; shoes, Jeffrey Campbell

I love the subtle chiming sound the earrings make when I shake my head and I’m happy I was able to support a local independent business. Don’t you just love when things work out for everyone?

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Casual Style: Lazy Sunday
What I Would Wear… if I had a British sugar daddy
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While browsing CincyChic one day, I came across the information for the Red Pink and Blue fashion show. Red Pink and Blue was developed by Candace of Art of the Spa to raise awareness and educate women about common women’s health issues–specifically heart health (red), breast health (pink), and diabetes (blue). A fashion show, you say? I’m there!

Fellow blogger Tina of Florida Girl Meets the Midwest and I decided to hit the event together. Amy, the Editor-in-Chief of Cincy Chic, was kind enough (and adorable in her long pink dress and matching earrings) to give us a behind-the-scenes tour!

Joalerie, mes amies
After plying us with some tasty pomegranate vino (thanks Amy!), Amy led us over to the gorgeous silver jewelry glinting in the sunlight at Lisa Robin Jewelry. I spoke to Lisa for a bit about her background in management and marketing consulting and experience in interior design, which means she’s got both the business and creative sides covered.

Believe it or not, Lisa’s signature design was inspired by a door she saw in Florence while on a trip to Italy last year! The combination of classic patterns forged in silver and accented with pale semi-precious stones gives off a subtly alluring medieval princess-meets-wood nymph vibe.  I’m already picturing multi-layered necklaces and bracelets worn with thigh high boots and clouds of lavender chiffon for fall. Think Isabel Marant meets Princess Aurora.

True Survivor
While we were standing there chatting, Amy introduced us to Jamie, a breast cancer survivor who would be modeling a custom-made dress in the show’s finale. Jamie owns Fusion Studio, a fitness and personal training studio in Newport and Jamie is buff. Seriously, I sucked in my stomach and silently vowed to do more push-ups after we talked about her amazing story (she was pregnant when she was diagnosed) of strength and survival.

Kiss and Makeup
We moved on to the makeup counter where the ladies from Saks were handing certificates for free consultations. I need to do that stat–I’ve promised myself that I’d learn out how to properly wear red lipstick without looking like a cracked-out circus clown.

So, ho.
We moved on to the “dressing room” where all of the models were hanging out and spoke to Amy Maynard of Soho, the local boutique providing the looks for the show. The shop itself has been around for 12 years, but former IT Consultant and restaurant manager Amy has only owned Soho for three months.

It’s actually a great story: she was in the shop trying to find an outfit to wear to the Chelsea Handler show, and overheard the former owner lamenting about selling the boutique. Amy immediately decided that she would buy Soho! She promptly put down the dress she was trying on and bought the entire shop instead! How cool is that?

Tina and I have already made plans to commandeer the boutique for a welcome-to-the-hood shopping party. I’ll keep you updated.

Do you need some more coochy?
Tina wanted to stop by the Pure Romance booth to say hi to Tisa, and the big “private dancer pole” box on the table caught my eye. Hmmmm…it is supposed to be good exercise (I heard)!  Tisa is funny and friendly and chatted us up about everything from pole dancing to her hometown in Florida.

Tina was musing about the viability of a Pure Romance bachelorette party (she’s getting married in September) when I overheard Tisa speaking to another customer:

“Oh, do you need some more coochy?”

Wide-eyed and open-mouthed, I gaped at Tina, trying not to panic. What? You can get more? How do you know you’re running out in the first place? How low is my supply?

Thankfully, it turns out Coochy is a body shaving cream that can be purchased via Tisa’s site, sexinthecincy.com. Whew! Had me worried there…

The show must go on (the bridge)
Finally, we headed over to the Purple People Bridge and sat down to watch the fashion show at the end of what has to be one of the best outdoor runways ever.  As the models sashayed down the looong catwalk (they were wearing heels, poor things!) we pointed out the pieces we liked and I tried to take pictures, but it was dark and the lighting on the bridge wasn’t really photo friendly.

Runway images by Kate Messer Photography

There were some really cute -pieces, though–I can definitely see wearing the black jumpsuit with an armful of bangles and dramatic gold earrings, hair pulled back in an assymetrical bun and a slash of deep coral lipstick. Very 80′s YSL. ETA: I just found out that the custom-made caftans the survivors wore are available on eBay!

After the show ended, we thanked Amy and met the darling Linda, the editor of Cincy Chic. There was an after party for the event at Havana Martini, but we were too pooped to attend. However, I will be there for the Past & Present fashion show coming up at the end of July!

Big thanks to everyone who participated in the show and supported not one, but three worthy causes!

Read these, too:
Runway Fashion: Cruise Control
Fashion Math
Wear it Now: Fall 2009

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