As Spring days slowly transition into Summer (very slowly, it seems!), a whirlwind of galas and charitable balls descend upon New York City. Last week, one such function was held to benefit an organization that does incredible work on behalf of disadvantaged women in the city. Beautifying them by providing interview clothing and confidence, Bottomless Closet’s comprehensive program celebrated 17 years of women helping women last Monday.

At Bottomless Closet’s 12^th Annual Spring Luncheon Rosanna Scotto of Good Day New York and Bridget van Kralingen of IBM were both honored with the 1^st Annual Transformation Award for their work on behalf of women in the workforce. Keynote speaker Lynn Povich inspired attendees with her first hand retelling of the landmark class action suit that she and 45 other young women participated in against Newsweek to change the workplace for women as we know it now (check out her book on the subject: The Good Girls Revolt). And most touching of all, clients of Bottomless Closet spoke about the impact the organization has had on their lives.

At Doyle & Doyle we know firsthand the transformative power of a smart shoe or perfectly placed brooch, so we choose a few of our favorite accessories, perfect for a posh luncheon or big day at the office.

A Victorian Coral Earring & Pin Set and beautiful Victorian Etruscan Revival Coral Bracelet

Victorian Moonstone Drop Earrings and Late Victorian Opal & Diamond Festoon Necklace

Vintage Diamond Flower Brooch and Antique Victorian Pearl Flower Pin

Do you have a “power piece” you wear for good luck or confidence on a big day? Tell us in the comments!

All photos by David M. Land

For those of you who weren’t with us, we hope you had a truly beautiful Mother’s Day with your loved ones. Just as we hope that some of our favorite inspirational mothers, featured below with their beautiful children, did as well. Take a gander at the handpicked pieces we would choose for each woman were we so lucky to have them as our own mothers, and tell us in the comments – how did you celebrate your mothers this holiday?

For the funny bossy lady with serious pin-up potential Tina Fey (have you seen her 2009 Vanity Fair cover?!) pictured with daughter Alice (inspiration for “A Mother’s Prayer for our Daughter” which we plan to recite over our own children’s bed at night every evening until they are 30) we’d choose this antique sapphire & diamond crescent pin.

For earth mother Bjork pictured here with her colorful daughter Isadora, we’d choose an Arts & Crafts ring shaped around an organic carved jade Buddha to help awaken her limitless creative genius.

For glamorous Meryl Streep we’d choose this Vintage Coral charm bracelet with an Italian horn, Buddha, pig and stylized fruits to represent her three beautiful daughters Mamie, Grace and Louisa. We’ll let her choose which charm represents which child, though we hear daughter Mamie is a real peach on stage in performances such as Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

In celebration of Vera Wang’s arresting, accomplished daughters (one attending Harvard, the other University of Pennsylvania) we’d choose these vintage diamond clip earrings in a modified plume design which would be at home with any of her glam gowns.

And last, but certainly not least, the First Lady Michelle Obama. An inspiration to the entire nation, the First Lady has helped to push important legislation while acting as a role model to two sweet young ladies, Sasha and Malia. For the First Mom, we’d pick a creative take on her favorite accessory, a strand of pearls, this Art Nouveau Pearl pendant.

Though the exhibit itself has received mixed reviews so far, we know one curated collection of objects that is sure to please – our handpicked selection of Doyle & Doyle bijoux inspired by the style stars, models, and Hollywood A-listers who walked the red carpet at the annual fete to celebrate the Costume Institute exhibit Punk: Chaos to Couture.

As curator Andrew Bolton explained, “Punk endures today because it reflects our longing for a time when originality and creativity were celebrated, a time when fashion was provocative and confrontational. And, above all, a time when fashion championed the individual and self-expression.” Below, some of our best handpicked pieces to bring the couture to the chaos of the faux-hawks, safety pins and deconstructed style pieces you’ll be rocking once you see this show. 

Kerry Washington was a gothic vixen in Vera Wang with bold statement rings layered over her opera length leather gloves. Get the look with our Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond ring centering a giant cabochon stone with 36 single cut diamonds in platinum.

We loved Greta Gerwig’s vampiric palor (are her canines looking a little long to anyone else?) and dramatic black gown with layers of striking strands. We’ll add just one more, a Victorian snake necklace set with chrysoberyls, rubies & rose cut diamonds.

Ashley Olsen once again demonstrated unerring taste with her choice of this Vintage Dior Couture gown. Inspired by the sparkling florals popping through an electric orange sheer overlay, we’d top-off this showstopping number with our equally bold Victorian Earrings 

We tip our hats to singer Miguel who’s lapel adorned with a cluster of pins was definitely a step beyond many of his male counterparts in attendance. We would have taken it maybe one step further with a Victorian Braided Hair Mourning Pin to add that DIY bricolage look.

In our humble opinions, no one was more punk rock than January Jones Monday night who went for a fearlessly androgynous face – practically bare apart from birds of prey eye makeup –  slick black Chanel Couture gown and hardly a gemstone in sight. We would just slip one perfectly blood red Vintage Carnelian Enamel Ring on to the former Ms. Draper’s hot little hand.

While Emilia Clarke strikes fear into the heart of her enemies as Khaleesi on HBO’s Game of Thrones, in this Jessica Rabbit-esque Ralph Lauren she could use a little toughening up to achieve true punk status. Slipping our Victorian Tiger’s claw pendant around her neck would definitely bring that “Mother of Dragons” fire to her look.

Christina Ricci slayed in one of Vivienne Westwood’s (the mother of punk fashion) tartan gowns, but her blingy diamond bangle left us craving some danger in her accessories. We say keep the bangle (hey, if you got it!) and wrap this Diamond & Ruby Snake Bracelet slyly around the base for a surprising bite.

Did we miss any of your favorite looks from Monday’s Met Gala? What is your ultimate punk rock accessory and how do you mix it up with your high end pieces? Tell us in the comments! 

Inspired by these enterprising brides and a unique local event that both contributes to sustainability and works to solve Vancouver’s homeless problem, we’ve curated some of our own favorite vintage bridal bargains from around the web – along with an engagement ring of the week that will surely become an heirloom for future generations to discover. 

From local consignment shops to the vast catalogs of online retailers like Etsy & Ruby Lane, there are many gowns (or even patterns, should you have the know how) that can give you big day impact without your budget taking a big hit. We love these vintage 60′s gown patterns, cream colored empire waist 70′s frock, and sweet 1940′s white silk chiffon gown with soustache embroidery for pocket friendly wedding dress looks that will leave brides who spend three times as much wishing they had a fraction of your savvy.

Harness the devil may care attitude of the 1920′s by piecing together a mismatched set of vintage glassware and cocktail accoutrement from your local flea market. Coupes, highballs and tumblers in assorted sizes,  shapes and colors will bring a charm and ethereal lightness to your reception.

If you’re planning on an outdoor affair, a pop of color via retro wrought iron rentals or incredible kitschy scores like this midcentury terrarium blow-up ottoman (out of this world!) will bring your guests comfort and conversation as they try to figure out where in the world you found such gems.

We cannot even begin to catalogue the vintage accessories available for bridal style accents from all of the most elegant of eras available online… but we can share some  of our favorites! Like these glimmering, glittering vintage clutches, incredible 1930′s wedding day silver pumps and the sweet dove grey patent leather heels topped with perfect bows. Oh accessories, you complete us.

And the best wedding day accessory of them all is no doubt the piece that you will treasure on your wedding day and beyond – like an Heirloom by Doyle & Doyle engagement ring that is anything but expected and has all the hallmarks of an instant classic. Centering a round gemstone in rose cut black diamond, moonstone cabochon, peridot, or ruby set in a scalloped bezel with scrolling patterned band, this ring is an incredible value sure to continue to grow in value over time. Tell us, where are you finding the most “pinspirational” bridal accessories? Do you have an invaluable source for vintage treasures on the web?

Some of our favorite style setters and the haute haunts whose doors they darken call Gastown home, and today we’re taking a tour through the places these creators of what’s been called the “urban woodsman” look go for inspiration, as well as curating some complementary accessory looks.

Inventory Stockroom is the 900-square-foot storefront HQ of arbiters of global cool, Inventory Magazine. A living, breathing manifestation of the pages of their expertly curated tome, you can get a sneak peek into what will be featured in upcoming issues while you explore the shop’s clothing, accessories, and objects created by a variety of designers and craftsmen from around the world.

An important element in a finely tuned life where commitment to craftsmanship is central, Revolver serves up a rotating selection of the finest regional coffee roasts to Gastown’s well-heeled. Ask the knowledgeable baristas for a made to order recommendation and enjoy it in this sun-filled cafe.

Gastown’s Dutil is the home for premiere denim supply offering more than 2,000 pairs of high-end, hard to find jeans. Their singular focus means they have the ability to procure such rarely seen denim delights as Japan’s Momotaro and San Francisco’s Tellason, alongside essential staples like A.P.C., Rag & Bone and Canada’s own Naked & Famous.

Old Faithful Shop is a modern-day wonder emporium specializing in uncommon furnishings – stocking everything from glass terrariums to vintage cage lamps to Chemex three-cup hourglass coffeemakers. A special treat is their fragrant, locally made house soap brand, Staples & Sundries.

If you prefer to create your own handcrafted wonders, then Dressew Supply is a one-stop shop for all sorts of craftsman, packed to the rafters with a huge selection of fabrics, notions, craft supplies, costume pieces, yarn, sewing tools and more. Be sure to check-out their year round costume stock.

In the know locals are hip to the fact that there are more then delicious chicken on ciabatta and meatballs with Sambal hot sauce to be found at Gastown’s favorite sandwich shop, Meat & Bread. Chase this quick bites with sandwich of a sweeter sort, of the bacon-maple ice-cream variety. 

Top your day off in this effervescent nabe with craft-cocktails at former music hall The Diamond’s secret speakeasy (please report back if you can find it!) and bask in the chill vibes and delicious flavors of this beloved local watering hole.

Punch up the natural, earthy, low-key tailored looks that Vancouverites like Milliner Jessica Fortin are known for with a bright pop of Victorian bijoux. Try a matching set of Victorian Carved Coral Bacchante & Amphora Necklace and Earrings paired with our Late Victorian Jade Ring in homage to Gastown’s beautiful homes.

Does your favorite Spring time city have a signature style? Tell us in the comments, what looks and accessories are delighting the sartorial savvy in your neck of the woods?

HuffPost Weddings: What are some of the biggest bridal trends you’re seeing right now?

Jenny Packham: “Downton Abbey”! I’ve been completely overwhelmed by the amount of times I’ve heard [brides mention it]. I think with bridal fashion, it moves very slowly … so I always enjoy the bridal because it means I can take a style like [from my evening gown collection] and say, “Oh, I can perfect this and take it into bridal” and perhaps it will sell for a few years. We came into the American market about three or four years ago, and then we set up our own office about a year and a half ago, and we’ve seen a massive increase in sales, and I think things like “Downton Abbey” happen and they sort of shift [bridal fashion] along a little bit.

Jenny Packham: I remember there was a time when everybody had to wear sleeves and then all of a sudden it was strapless. It took a few years to come in, and then it’s just been there for so long! It’s really nice that we’re selling dresses with sleeves again — it opens up what you can design. I’m seeing much slimmer silhouettes, more sleeves, higher necks, which is lovely.

Inspired by Ms. Packham’s insights and her stunning collection, we handpicked this lovely Victorian sapphire and diamond engagement ring of the week with Birmingham English Hallmarks. The criss-cross grouping of four stones in a slightly asymmetrical 18k gold setting would be such a lovely complement to our favorite of Miss Packaham’s Spring/Summer gowns, which reflects some of the elegant trends she’s predicting for 2014.

Were you following along with Oscar, Vera, and Marchesa during the 2014 previews? What were your favorite bridal style trends? Tell us in the comments!

In it’s next incarnation, Shoreditch was a predominantly industrial working class area, mainly home to large immigrant populations right up until the early 1990’s when the neighborhood’s gritty, urban landscapes began a transformation. Reimagined as creative spaces, galleries, shops, restaurants and bars, with countless buildings serving as canvasses for world famous graffiti artists like Banksy, it has become a new center for culture in London. And following close behind the explosion of culture came a new type of industry; digital entrepreneurs like Last.fm, Dopplr and Songkick now hold court at the Old Street Roundabout, or Silicon Roundabout, as it has come to be known.

Its influx of young professionals alongside an eclectic mix of artists, designers and makers of all sorts coupled with a bevy of shopping, cuisine, nightlife, art and entertainment make Shoreditch the place to see and be seen for those in the know in London. Below, a few of our favorite places to visit and what to wear if you’re lucky enough to live or visit Shoreditch in the Spring time!

SHOPPING

What was once Old Truman Brewery has been transformed into a hive of creative East London’s revolutionary arts and media quarter, complete with independent shops, galleries, markets, bars.

At Spitalfields Market, push past the hub bub to the best bit of the market sheltered in a striking Victorian market hall where you’ll find fashion grads peddling their newly stitched wares, eccentric curio vendors and fresh-from-farm country folk hawking organic snacks.

Boxpark is constructed of stripped and refitted shipping containers filled with a mix of fashion and lifestyle brands, galleries, cafes and restaurants that puts creativity and fashion back where they belong, on the street.

Columbia Road has had several names over the centuries, but the run of Victorian shops still there today were built during the 1860’s. On Sundays a flower market takes over, complementing the wide range of unusual shops with vibrant colors.

ENTERTAINMENT

Beers.Lambert Contemporary is an art gallery at the core of the vibrant East-Central art scene with an exhibition program dedicated to the exploration of relevant issues through progressive, contemporary art.

Housed in the Aubin & Wills concept store, the Aubin Cinema is an intimate 47-seat theatre with velvet chairs and sofas featuring the latest mainstream and art house films, complete with a subterranean bar. If you’re up for theater of a different sort, checkout Dennis Severs’ House which captures, in a series of evocative snapshots, 18th century life as experienced by a family of Huguenot silk weavers. Each individual room has been transformed into evocative tableaux vivants designed to draw the visitor into another world and another all-encompassing experience. Think of it as a candlelit Sleep No More. 

DINING

Make sure you’re properly fueled for a full day of shopping by stopping in at one of the neighborhoods many simple yet elegant eateries.  Café Albion is a pared-down space serving up organic, hearty portions of British “caff” classics complete with clever design touches and old-school menu choices. St John Bread & Wine is a quaint nose to tail restaurant with a counter selling fresh breads, cakes and a collection of carefully sourced wines so you can take a loaf or bottle on the road if you’re hot to get back to the deal hunting. 

NIGHTLIFE

What better way to top off a successful day of shopping or a show then with a cocktail at one of Shoreditch’s most swish cocktail bars? Try Beach Blanket Babylon, a world renowned bar housed in an old Victorian warehouse, complete with restaurant, cocktail lounge and dance floor. Or head over to Loungelover, a sensuous space complete with top-notch cocktail list and baroque ambiance throughout it’s succession of themed rooms created to give guests a different experience every time they visit.

STYLE:

And what does one wear during a day spent hunting for deals along Columbia Road before catching an immersive theater experience topped off with cocktails at Loungelover? Something eclectic and at home amongst the movers and shakers of this rough edged enclave, like our Vintage Coral Charm Bracelet, Art Deco Carnelian & Onyx Bracelet or Victorian Black Onyx Bracelet.

What’s your favorite city to visit in the Springtime? Is there a must have piece you never travel to said locale without? Tell us about it in the comments!

Our Art Deco Engagement Ring of the week is inspired by the effortless elegance of just a handful of our favorite French countryside weddings (because, really, how does one pick a favorite from scores of favorites?). This romantic ring centering an Old European cut diamond in octagonal mount with filigree shoulders fashioned in platinum embodies everything we love about French glamour.

Below, the five elements to recreate your own quintessential French Countryside wedding – whether you’re in Provence or Providence!

While French countryside weddings have a casual, rustic grace, always present is a careful elegance, even in the simplest of affairs. Follow in the footsteps of these brides with covertures over hay bales or garlands in signature French fabrics like toile.

Even on a hillside in Alsace, French brides wear heels and look fabulous. A sprig of fresh wildflowers in a chignon or vintage Juliet cap veils top off these deceptively simple bridal looks.

And the flair for style doesn’t end at the bride – we love how these wedding guests have fun with their attire, incorporating the whimsy and loveliness of the surroundings into their semi formal frocks.

A fantastically outfitted table is de rigueur for this nation of food lovers. Overflowing with farm fresh cheeses, crusty bread, and intense French wines, these tables are a thoughtful mix of rustic burlap runners, antique dinner ware and freshly cut wildflowers gathered in pitchers, jam jars or patinaed antique vases.

And while French Countryside ceremonies are relaxed and down to earth, the receptions are every bit as fabulous as the fetes the French are famous for – complete with joyous dance, impassioned tête-à-tête in shadowy corners, and lots of hearty joie de vivre.

Would you have a destination wedding? What’s your dream locale? Tell us in the comments!

Photos sourced from: Style Me Pretty Snippet & Ink Once Wed 100 Layer Cake and Claire Eliza

Fans of contemporary French cinema will recognize the colorful concrete banks of this canal, originally commissioned by Napoleon to link to the Canal de l’Ourq and bring fresh water to the city, from movies such as Amelie and Paris Je’Taime.

Not unlike our own Williamsburg, over the past decade Canal Saint-Martin has experienced a cultural evolution of sorts, shifting from an enclave comprised largely of working class laborers and immigrants, to the center of all things bobo (“Bohemian Bourgeois” – the Parisian hipster) for the city’s artists, students and well heeled tastemakers. They come for the unconventional boutiques on rue de Mareseille, cafes like Chez Prune and nightclubs like Le Gibus lining the waterfront, and keep coming back for the quaint iron footbridges and charming picnic spots along Quai de Jemmapes.

And just as the cinema has long been enchanted by Canal St-Martin, the people of the 10^th love their cinema. Boasting twin theaters astride both sides of the canal, MK2 offers “an all-in-one night out” according to Time Out, complete with multiscreens, restaurants, waterfront cafes, and two-person “love seats”. Cinephiles who prefer a private love seat can pop in to Potemkine and pick-up anything from “Fellini classics to rare experimental films by Stan Brakhage, and docu-dramas by Peter Watkins” recommends Time Out. If you’re lucky enough to be in Canal Saint-Martin as Spring transitions into summer, you’ll also have the option of strolling to Parc de Villette for an evening at the Cinema en Plein Air (outdoor cinema).

We’d love to spend a night at the historic Hotel du Nord, a magical place immortalized by a 1935 film of the same name directed by Marcel Carne and set almost entirely inside the hotel’s walls. Once a home for the many workers and sailors docking along the canal in the late 1800’s, in 2005 it was transformed into a 1930’s style brasserie in homage to the arrondissement and the film baring its name.

Now complete with “red velour booths parquet floors, heavy zinc bar countertops and a cozy terrace fronting the canal,” as well as a library on the far side of the restaurant, according to Untapped Cities, it is the perfect place to spend a romantic evening bubbling over with Champagne and conversation worthy of Parisian café society. The only thing more sparkling than our conversation would surely be our bobo-worthy art nouveau accessories.

If you’d like to learn more about our Art Nouveau Lion Bracelet, Opal & Rose Cut Diamond Ring, Pearl & Diamond Ring and Pearl Pendant you can see them in greater detail on the website, or call to speak with one of our expert sales associates. And tell us in the comments, what Spring-time escapes are you planning? What must have accessories will you be sure to pack?

Did you miss our first first Spring-time cities tour? Catch-up on with the Seattle city & style guide, as well as a tour through some of Seattle‘s most lush and reclaimed wedding venues.

Rainbow photo from Dangerous Enough, Canal Photo from Airbnb’s incredible Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood guide.

A private backyard, the Landa Farm, Swiftwater Cellars & Kubota Gardens

Who could imagine a more rich backdrop, as Brian Smale describes for the Smithsonian, than the “mountains (that) rise up to 14,000 feet above the sea. (The) magnificent, rain-drenched forests, treeless desert lands, glacial lakes, some 3,000 kinds of native plants and hundreds of islands in Puget Sound”?

Chihuly Glass & Garden, Heronswood Botanical Gardens, Castiron Studios & Robinson House

It’s this duality of an intrinsically magnificent natural setting combined with the rough edges of transformed but once hardscrabble urban metropolis that inspired our pick for Engagement Ring of the Week. The shape of our Victorian double snake ring resembles the Taoist symbol of the Yin and the Yang, set in 18k gold with a sapphire and a diamond as the eyes of interlocked figures, the symbol of complementary (not, as commonly mistaken, opposing) forces joined to create a stronger whole.

We think these interwoven figures reminiscent of the Taijitu symbol make a powerful statement as an engagement ring – not only because of the nontraditional engagement ring style, but because they represent creating a whole that is greater than its parts. Our Victorian double snake engagement ring is an inspired choice for the Seattle bride to be, or any bride to be who embodies that same singularly individualist spirit preparing to cross that threshold of togetherness and interconnectivity.

Matthews Estate & Beachfront Wedding

What do you think is the most important when choosing a wedding venue in your local city? The aesthetics or amenities? Tell us in the comments!

Photo Credits: One Love Photo; Chantal Andrea; McConnell Photo; Shane Macomber; Sarah Rhoads