Triangle Tribes Pendant

It wasn’t so long ago that I’d stricken reading fiction from my timepass repertoire. I saw no need for flights of fancy and, instead, preferred to lose myself in pages of dense history and theory. I made my foray back into the land of make believe slowly, first though memoir, then short stories. Eventually, I nabbed a copy of Invitation to a Beheading—a book I’d become interested in thanks to Azar Nafisi’s gushing about the notorious Russian American novelist Vladimir Nabokov in Reading Lolita in Tehran—and completely mended my formerly incurious relationship by means of poetic prose, witty alliteration, and intentional linguistic foolery.

Now, wordplay makes me giggle, and there’s no better site for wordplay than in the places where it's unexpected. Case in point: Israeli designer Irit Schneor’s fashion jewelry shop, In-d-pendant. Aside from the allusions to strength and self-sustainability from a woman-owned business, the name also holds within it an anti-corporate sentiment. Top that off with multifunctional, utilitarian design (Schneor’s accessories are both a necklace and a glasses holder), and methinks Schneor is a woman after my own heart.

Speaking of hearts, directly above mine is where the Triangle Tribes Pendant falls on my chest, though the length is somewhat adjustable given the two inches of chain past the rolo links that sits opposite the lobster clasp closure. The pendant has a sturdiness that effortlessly supported both pair of my glasses while I went about my day. On the whole, I found this sterling silver necklace to be impeccably crafted with a smart aesthetic.

For those who prefer something a bit more mod, the Bubbles Pendant might suit your fancy. Or if dainty is more your thing, you’ll find several options from which to choose on In-d-pendant.com. There are even options for the more masculine among us.

No longer will cheap strings be attached to this farsighted fashionista’s eye wear. Now I can appreciate a good book in style.

Review by Mandy Van Deven

Pink Everyday Wool Beret

I’ve never been a hat person, but I’ve always admired those individuals who know how to accessorize their look to create a unique fashion statement. Whether through the expert use of scarves, hats, or jewelry, these people seem to have arrived on the planet with the fashionista gene. Maybe that’s why the pink wool beret caught my eye on the list of items for review. At the time I requested the beret to review, we were still in the midst of winter in the Midwest, and the beret looked both practical and inspired all at the same time.

When my beret arrived in the mail, it was packaged in plastic, and the pink color combined with the jaunty beret style seemed to signify that spring couldn’t be far off. I felt a burst of artistic joie de vivre when I tried the hat on since berets have long been associated with artists and artistic endeavors. I was somewhat disappointed to discover that I am still not a hat person (at least when it comes to berets)—the style just didn’t suit my face—but I did check out the website for Cover Your Hair and discovered that they sell a whole range of items ranging from hats to headbands, bandannas to scarves, snoods to turbans, and hair accessories.

This is one of those online shopping sites that are just fun to browse, and if you’re watching your pennies, none of these items will make a big dent in your wallet. Cover Your Hair is also a site to bookmark if you know someone who has experienced hair loss from chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. I remember helping my mom pick out a wig after she lost her hair due to chemo (thankfully it all grew back and thicker than before), but a site like this offers alternative options for dealing with short-term or permanent hair loss.

Review by Gita Tewari

Studded Stone Pony Holder

One morning, I was getting ready for school. The top of my dresser was cluttered with various hair products: hair ties, rubber bands, barrettes, and one large "jaw" clip. I was attempting to put my thick, naturally curly hair into a pony tail. First, I tried a rubber band. It was only big enough to wrap around my hair once. The hair tie wrapped twice, but it wouldn't be secure enough to hold through the school day. The barrettes couldn't close; they would only shut over a few strands, barely holding anything back. My last resort was the enormous "jaw" clip that looked like a big shark's mouth.

With some struggle, I was able to get my hair into the clip. Suddenly, I felt a looseness on the back of my head. I heard a small cracking noise against the wall behind me. When I felt my head, pieces of the big jaw clip crumbled into my hand. My enormous hair had not only broken the clip, but literally exploded it, throwing a piece against the wall. I'm only telling this story to illustrate the fact that I have very little esteem in hair products. For other people's hair, I'm sure they work just fine. However, I've basically given up.

And so, I was pleasantly surprised by the Studded Stone Pony Holder from Cover Your Hair. The first thing to catch my eye was the big silver star with multicolored jewels embedded in it. It's big, but thin and light, not heavy like I imagined it would be. I can barely feel it on my head. My favorite thing about this pony holder is that there are two bands on it instead of one. This helps keep my hair back and secure. Also, the bands are big, stretchy, and covered in a fabric material that won't snag your hair. I was relieved that the pony holder stretched wide enough to hold my hair. It's not too loose, nor too tight, but most importantly, it feels secure enough to get through my nine-hour work day.

Once properly fastened, the Studded Stone Pony Holder created a very cute, curved ponytail with a gorgeous star on top. This product is great for creating a last-minute, glamorous ponytail, or very pretty in a more time-consuming, up-do hairstyle.

Review by Jacquie Piasta