Choked Up

Remember in the 90's when chokers were popular, especially those velvet ones with the different charms you could put on them?

Well, chokers are BACK!

Not necessarily velvet fabric strips, but tying things close to the neck is definitely a great way to accessorize as the temperature starts cooling down. I've actually started tying neck scarfs this way just because I'm so excited about this trend that I'm willing to endure the sweat in 106 degree weather.

But start collecting beautiful ribbons and fabric. You can also find some cool chokers at H&M right now if you prefer a less DIY approach.

Photos: Martina Satoriaova, We Heart It, Society of Les, Society of Les

Make Pie Not War Giveaway

Alana Little has picked the coolest name I've ever seen for a jewelry company - Make Pie Not War. SO AWESOME! Her creations are just as creative and memorable. Each necklace, earring and ring is handmade with love by Alana.

Formerly a corporate accountant, Alana quit her day job in 2007 to pursue her passion for jewelry and founded Make Pie Not War. Her risk has paid off, and since her debut she has been featured in Lucky Magazine and MarthaStewart.com, not to mention several other notable publications.

I hope to one day meet Alana in person because she seems so fun and light-hearted. I'm sure you'll love her creations just as much as I do. Each piece is completely unique, and her pricing is really affordable.  AND.....

You can WIN a handmade necklace courtesy of Alana this week!

Alana has selected BLACK Vintage Crystal Goodness to be given away to one lucky blog reader.

The necklace includes a delicate gold chain, with Swarovski crystal rondelles, big black faceted beads and calfskin leather bows. It's a necklace that can be worn with ANYthing (picture below with Alana as the model).

So, how do you enter? You can enter up to two times by...

1. Visit Make Pie Not War's Etsy site and leave a comment in this blog post with your name, city and which Make Pie Not War item is your favorite.

2. Become a fan of Make Pie Not War on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall with this message, "Thank you for the giveaway on AVE Styles' blog!"

The contest starts today, September 14, 2010 at 12:00pm and ends on September 21, 2010 at 12:00pm. The winner will be announced via Twitter and notified via email.

Good luck!

Fall 2010 Trends - Chunky Necklaces

I attended my first Fashion Group International Arizona Chapter (FGI) meeting tonight. The focus of the meeting was the 2010 Fall fashion trends report. We viewed a short film showcasing the common threads seen on the runway, and then FGI picked the top ten things that will translate to the market.

I'm going to post my favorite trends as the week goes on, and my first pick is the chunky necklace.

Ladies, start packing up those long, dainty necklaces. Big statement pieces have taken over. Here are some examples...