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Houston's Hidden Gem - Uptown Diamond

Photos by Meredith Foley of This Lavender Life

Jewelry exclusively from Uptown Diamond
Ruby Necklace - 27.38ct Natural Rubellite in 18k white gold with 2.97ctw of diamonds, VS1 clarity, F color
Diamond Hoop Earrings - Set in 18k white gold with 3.54ctw of round diamonds, VS2 clarity, G color
Pearl Ring (my favorite piece!) - Set in 14k white gold with 12.50mm pearl with 3.55ctw of round diamonds, VS2 clarity, G color. This ring is a 1920's vintage designer ring, that was inspired by the flapper dresses. When the ring moves, the diamonds move and shake with it, just like the dresses did during the roaring 20's! It is a breathtaking piece! 

Happy Friday! What better way to kickoff the weekend, then talking about diamonds...big diamonds. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, and I definitely cannot agree more. 

I had the pleasure of visiting Uptown Diamond, and talking with the Principal Rick Antona, and President Grayland Noah, last month. To say I was wow'd when I left, would be putting it mildly. When I first entered their discrete location, all I could think of is that this is the best hidden gem in Houston. When you think diamonds, or even jewelry for that matter, what comes to mind? Large billboard advertisements, pushy store personal, an oversized store with a plethora of jewelry that doesn't quite fit the bill of what you were looking for, you'll get none of that at Uptown Diamond. 

Uptown Diamond is the epitome of the best man cave you've ever seen, mixed the most beautiful and unique jewelry. How's that for interesting? Sports paraphernalia line the walls floor to ceiling - jerseys, baseballs, helmets, championship rings (they do in fact make them for a number of collegiate teams, as well as professional teams), photos with the who's who - you name it, they have it, and it doesn't stop there. Scotch is conveniently located at the bar, flat screen TV's programmed to ESPN are whispering in the background, and of course there's a jewelry case effortlessly filled with stones of all shapes and sizes (the biggest ones were my favorite). It's a match made in heaven for both men, and women.  

That's only the beginning of what sets Uptown Diamond apart. They have a unique, hands on approach, that involves the buyer, start to finish, in the process of making their piece. Who wouldn't love to be involved in creating their engagement ring (!!!!), wedding band, push gift, or diamond tennis bracelet? The customer truly is their #1 priority. Uptown Diamond, takes pride in educating their customer. They want each and every customer, regardless of budget, to be happy with their purchase, and they approach each unique client with the same level of transparency. They want to teach you and help you understand what you're looking for, what you're getting, how to get the most value out of your money, and aid you in creating the piece of your dreams.  They also have a lifetime money back or upgrade guarantee, no questions asked. No other jeweler does that. 

A lot of jewelers have to outsource to larger companies, but not Uptown Diamond, everything is done 100% in house. They have certified gemologists and designers on hand, all of which have decades of experience in the industry. They have a 3D printer that creates a wax mold of the ring you design, so you can easily see exactly what you are getting. Want it bigger, need it smaller, want to make a few tweaks here and there - this lets you do exactly that. 

They recently published a book called, "The Perfect Diamond Buying Guide," which outlines all you need to know about buying diamonds. Inside it walks you through the entire process, teaches you about the Four C's (color, clarity, cut, carat), settings and styles, tips for buying, and so many more educational tools. If you and your significant other are in the market to get engaged, or if you just want to treat yourself to a little something special for making that bonus, this book is a must have. It's also a great stocking stuffer, or strategic gift for that man in your life to drop a subtle or not so subtle hint! Click here to get a free e-book copy. 

Schedule a visit to Uptown Diamond to see for yourself just how unassuming, and amazing this jeweler truly is! 

This post is sponsored by Uptown Diamond. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies we love at Ashley Nicole Style.

Double the Denim, Double the Fun

 

 Photos by Meredith Foley of This Lavender Life

Top ℅ | Jeans |  Shoes | Hat ℅ | Purse (on sale) ℅ | Necklace (5-in-1) ℅ | Earrings (under $50!!!) ℅

Has this week flown by, or what? I don't know if it's because I had company in town, and have been playing catch up, or because I'm hosting three events this week, but I have no idea where the time has gone. Plus, it's already November! I'm still waiting for it to finally feel like fall here in Houston, so I can bust out my denim, blanket scarves, and coats. With temperatures still in the mid-to-upper 80's, it's hard to stop dressing in flowy sundresses, and realize that winter is just around the corner. 

This embellished chambray top from a new favorite, Roberta Roller Rabbit, is a great transitional piece that you can wear all season long. Pair it with denim or white shorts in warmer months, and when temperatures dip, swap it out and mix it with your favorite pair of denim. Another great look would be leggings, a boyfriend jean jacket, and Converse tennis shoes, creating casual chic look. 

Mixing denim with denim has been a trend I've been trying to perfect the last few seasons, and it's actually really easy to pull off. Here are a few of my fool proof tips to help you achieve this ultra cool look.

-Don't go for a monochromatic look. Be sure to mix different shades of denim together (i.e. lighter washes, with darker washes). 

-Utilize washes/colors to flatter your body. Darker washes, have a slimming effect, somewhat like the color black, and flatter every size and shape. Lighter washes draw more attention, so pairing a lighter colored top, with a darker wash bottom is always a safe bet. 

-Stay away from anything too Western, unless you're going to the rodeo. 

-Distressed denim is all the rage right now. Consider pairing a distressed pair of jeans with a button-up chambray top to give it just the right amount of juxtaposition. 

-Add the right accessories. Think something along the lines of a bold purse, like this Vera Bradley one, or top it off with a great seasonally appropriate hat, like this one from Hat Attack (both pictured above). If you're dressing up your denim look, or dressing it down, make sure your accessories make sense and add to your look, not take away from it.

And that's all there is too it! If you have any tips on wearing this combo, I'd love to hear it!

If you're in the Houston area, be sure to join me this Saturday, November 5th from 2-4pm, at Macy's Memorial City for the opening of "Vera Bradly World of Macy's." This unique store within a store will be opening at select Macy's stores across the country, and will feature all the pieces you've grown to love, as well as specialty pieces, like the Sidesaddle Crossbody pictured below. I'll be talking about trends, gifts ideas for the upcoming holiday season, and sharing all my favorite pieces with you. Hope to see you there! For more details, click here. 

As always, be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on all things Ashley Nicole Style!