Earrings by @xoBetseyJohnson

These are my favorite earrings in the whole world. I just wish they were real gold & diamonds -_-

Betsey Johnson makes a fun selection of accessories that are bound to liven up any outfit. I had to grab this pair because, first and foremast, it's leopard/cheetah/whatever print. I'll take any animal print, to be honest. Animal print has the fabulous characteristic of blending in (if it has to), but sticking out (if it needs to). Not to mention, I love all jewelry with crosses on it. So yea... for the most part, I wear these... frequently. People seem to think I have an endless supply of things to wear (I have a medium supply) but really, I just learn to wear a select amount of things that work well together. These earrings are a pair I always pack when I travel, in case I want to dress something up or make it #doper last minute. The stone on it also lets me combine it with other really gaudy, stone-filled pieces if I want to really shine. It's like a statement piece for my ears :)

Betsey earrings will run you anywhere from $25 - $50. Some pairs, though, might be extremely worth it. My cross earrings look as good on as they do in that picture. Betsey doesn't have an online shop anymore, but they do sell a lot of their jewelry through Macy's. You can also browse online sites like ShopyFly.com which will lead you through to other suppliers like Zappos.com -- who tends to have good sales & free shipping/returns.

Oh!!! & I'll also take any pair of earring with a clasp hook closure. These are the only earrings that stay on all through the nights you don't remember. If you want a pair that'll last you, making moves to keep them in your possession is key. These might also be a GREAT gift idea for a friend/girlfriend/sibling, whatever.

Have fun browsing!

ELLA <3

Night Outfit: Silver Spoon June Mixtape Release Party @ Katra

Dress: H&M

Feather Earrings: H&M

Cross earrings: Betsey Johnson

Watch: Skagen

Bracelets & Rings: Various, including Calvin Klein

Silver Necklace: Givenchy        

Purse: H&M

Shoes: Aldo

         Sometimes, the jewelry says it all because the dress won't  speak for itself. Whenever in doubt, I count on my accessories to create the outfit for me. I had no idea what to wear to Silver Spoon June's mixtape release party at Katra so I went for all black. All black works because no one knows if you've worn that dress out (whether you have or not). Most black dresses ultimately look the same until you get up close. If you want to make a statement with the "little black dress" opt for ones that have intricate details or tailoring that you can only see in person/up close. The dress I wore last night was a sweater night with see through patches. It can work well as a shirt if I put a tank underneath, but tonight I wore a slip to convert it into a slutty *cough* I mean, sexy dress ;) Look at the pics below to see the transformation. 

           I wanted to be low-key, but still stand out. So this was the perfect combination. I knew there'd be plenty other black dresses, but no accessories like mine. I also knew I was going out to a club and... I was more on business than anything else. So, I wanted to look like I wasn't supposed to be there. The bag I brought out was technically too big for the club, but... with a pair of flats, business cards galore and a clementine in case I got hungry, I needed room. It also gave me a...umm.. don't give a fuck vibe. Paired with the leather, open-toe clogs, I felt a little "rock star" coming on --and who gives a fuck less than rock stars? 

           As for the accessories, I piled them on.  I usually do, though. I like to mix gold and silver because it seems most people are afraid to. Also, I can never make up my mind so I wear both. The feather earrings were perfect in giving a soft touch to all the heavy metal (I'm such an effin rock star) I had on.  I also wore studded black belt you can't see in the photos simply because I felt I was too heavy on the top... meaning my outfit wasn't balance. Sometime your shoes do too much, or your earrings, or whatever. You have to balance the attention. Adding a belt allowed me to differentiate the top of my body from the bottom and provided that "hour-glass" curve we women of color tend to pride ourselves on :) Still, when I held my bag down by my waist, the bracelets and fringes from the bag helped with the overall balance of the outfit.

w/o accessories.

 W/ Accessories