WHAT JEWELRY TO WEAR ON YOUR FIRST JOB INTERVIEW
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY
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This is a Don't...... unless you work at the MAC counter. |
The first thing you should do is make sure all visible tattoos are covered; hopefully, you don’t have any on your face. The second thing to do is remove your nose ring, your lip ring, your chin ring, your eyebrow ring, your tongue ring, your ear cartilage ring, your nipple ring, your hoo-ha ring; just remove all your head and body jewelry before you meet the HR representative. The key is to not make noise as you move. You know what--don’t even wear earrings, just to be safe.
If you are interviewing anywhere remotely connected to the corporate arena, please do the following to put together an easy universal look that will work for most job interviews: purchase the best black or navy suit you can afford (pants or skirt - it doesn't matter), along with a tailored blouse or top (white is best) as well as black shoes with a reasonable heel - nothing hoochy mamma. If you're wearing pants, don’t forget a nice belt with a silver buckle--nothing with chains, sheriff badges, antlers or sequins on it--just a plain silver buckle…kind of like the Pilgrims but smaller. You can wear pantyhose, or not; however, if you're wearing a skirt be sure to shave and moisturize your legs. I'll never forget the woman I once interviewed for a sales job who didn't wear stockings and had not shaved her legs. I couldn't stop looking at her caveman leg stubble. She was unforgettable...and not in a good way.
Splurge and get a manicure. Ask to have your nails cut shorter. Get Essie’s Limo-Scene on your nails. It’s pale pink, natural looking, and looks like a French manicure but lasts longer. I hope you already know you shouldn’t have talons. Check your nose for boogers and your teeth for spinach. Sounds silly, but it's mortifying to make these discoveries after the interview is over.
Your make-up should be simple as well: no Joker-Mouth lipstick. Just a little foundation, a small amount of blush, and mascara. Chanel makes a nice lip gloss, #87, that's a pale pink. Put this on after you've used Lancôme's "Ideal" lip liner and it defines your face but looks natural.
If your hair is long make sure you've had a recent cut and be sure to get a touch up if your roots are showing. This is not the time for weasel nest hair – no Amy Winehouse (RIP) or Lily Munster do's. Get a bob if your hair is on the shorter side, or wear a ponytail if it’s longer…the simpler the better.
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Lagos Caviar Fluted Bracelet $395 |
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Lagos Caviar Luxe Bracelet $395 |
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Lagos Caviar Bracelet $395 |
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Lagos Caviar Bar Bracelet $395 |
Now…down to the jewelry. In this case, it’s much better to underdress than overdo. Maybe a silver bracelet, like one of the Lagos Caviar bracelets. There are four designs, and they are relatively inexpensive and extremely wearable at all times, even after your interview. You should wear a watch on your other wrist. I know the younger generation uses their cell phones to tell time, but guess what: you’re killing the watch business. Please buy a nice watch. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but a watch on one’s wrist has been a style standard for eons. If I were living in the Stone Age, I would have strapped a sundial on my arm – that’s how important I feel a watch is. Plus, it’s considered rude to take out your cell phone anytime during the interview process; it’s much easier to look at a watch instead, and your interviewer won't think you're checking your messages. As a matter of fact, be sure to turn your cell phone off. Now, go look for that watch you got as a graduation gift and see if it still works.
If you promise to remove all hardware, you could wear pearl studs, diamond studs, or small silver or gold hoops in your ears if you have them. If you don’t have a discreet earring, don’t wear any. This is not the time for your Gypsy La Straga or Jersey Shore jewelry. Go small or not at all.
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This is a Do - almost everywhere. |
All this being said, if you are interviewing outside of the corporate world, you could ramp it up a notch or two, but don’t go crazy. Once you have the job, check out the people who have the job you aspire to. Their appearance can give you an idea of what’s acceptable and what’s not. Remember that boring saying, “first impressions count”? Guess what...they still do.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY
Everybody wears their jewelry in different ways. Some people are lucky enough to have a ton of it and cycle through their many favorites, so most of what they own doesn’t show much wear. Others have only a few pieces and wear them all the time, including to bed, in the shower and even during sexy time. Sorry, but this type of wear eventually causes stink vibrations to emanate off your jewelry that others can sense. Some women pride themselves on wearing a particular pendant every day. “I NEVER take this off”, she brags. Well, guess what? Every time you shower with that thing on, soapy skin-flaked water falls down on it and clogs up every prong, and dirt filled crusty layers coat the stone as if you were cultivating your own pearl...and I can see it from where I'm standing. I feel a Rosann Rosannadanna skit coming on to fully describe how gross it is to wear something constantly and never clean it. It’s OK to wear your favorites over and over again as long as you clean them from time to time… and here are some tips on what you need to buy to keep your baubles looking their best, and how to do it. It’s not hard, just invest in the following…
Polishing Cloth - a really good one. Not the little ones that come along with your jewelry purchase, they are worthless. You need an industrial strength polishing cloth, like the kind you would use to clean your silverware or your Grandmother’s antique sterling silver teapot. Sabrina Silver makes a good one and it’s available at Amazon for $6.99. This cloth is large (12” x 15”), and can be used on silver and gold and does a great job. It is double sided with the inside used for removing tarnish and dirt and the outside for polishing when you’re done. You can feel the abrasive material on the inside – that’s the side to use for the first cleaning. As you clean your jewelry, the cloth will turn black. This is not entirely your personal schoovatch coming off, but rather tarnish and oxidation as well. You can continue to use these cloths for a very long time (save your manicure and use rubber gloves while polishing). Do not wash the cloth. When you can’t feel the abrasive any longer it’s time to throw it away and buy a new one.
Dish Soap, Hot Water and Baby Toothbrush – if you have silver, gold, or silver and gold jewelry that has lost its shine because it’s picked up your body oils after a lot of wear, just make a mixture of liquid dish soap (I like Dawn because it cuts grease-even ours) and hot water. Dip your jewelry and let it soak for about 5-10 minutes and then use a soft baby toothbrush to clean in between any grooves. Place your soapy jewelry in a strainer and rinse under hot tap water. Pour the wet jewelry out on a few paper towels to air dry. After it’s dry, use your polishing cloth to finish it off. Your jewelry should sparkle and feel very clean. It’s good to do this a few times if you are wearing your jewelry a lot, especially during the summer. Body oils and creams, perspiration and perfume cling to the metals and form a film. If you wonder why you’re getting zits on the side of your face or on your chest, it’s probably because your earrings or pendants are dirty, so for God’s sake, clean them once in a while.
You can use this method to clean your diamond jewelry as well as your color stones. If your jewelry has a stone that is accessible and you can see the entire thing from the underside of your ring, you can actually use this process to clean it. Just use your little brush to clean under the stone and rinse as usual. Use a Q-tip to dry the underside of the stone. If your ring is closed underneath and you can’t see the stone, you may have to have it professionally refurbished. Check with the store where you purchased your jewelry to see if they provide this service.
Baby Shampoo - You can actually use a very mild shampoo (like baby shampoo) to clean very dirty pearls. Place your pearls in knee high pantyhose if you can find one anywhere (who wears them anymore?) Slowly swish your pearls back and forth through the sudsy water. Swish back and forth in clear water to rinse off the soap and lay them out on a few layers of paper towel to air dry. Check the silk thread used to string your pearls. If you see lots of space between the pearls, you may need to have them re-strung. Ask your local jeweler if they do this or if they can recommend someone who does. Remember to treat your pearls right – they should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Wipe them gently with a soft cotton cloth when you take them off each time and they won’t get so gross again. This is another good reason to rip your husband’s underwear off his body– they make the best rags.
FYI - I’m not a big fan of ultra-sonic cleaners in the hands of people that don't know what they can do. Ever since I witnessed an emerald disintegrate in one, I’m afraid of them. There isn’t much you can’t clean with a strong detergent, a mild detergent, hot water and a toothbrush, and this way, you won’t destroy any of your jewelry in the process.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR JEWELRY IS STOLEN
You arrive home after a nice evening out with friends and you find your backdoor wide open. “Oh my god, did you leave that door open you idiot” you yell at your husband. But as you enter your home, you realize something isn’t right. In your bedroom, you find your bed has been disturbed. What's going on? Where are my pillow cases? Things are thrown about the room and the top drawer of your bureau is on the floor. You slowly realize what has happened…that's where you've always kept your good jewelry - right there in the top drawer, rather than in a locked box or a safe where it should be…and now it’s all gone and you want to throw up.
A theft like this takes less than ten minutes. It’s so quick you wouldn’t believe it if you saw it happen. Backdoor kicked in, run upstairs to bedroom, remove pillow cases, go directly to woman’s bureau and stuff cases with jewelry that is right there (like it always is), run out back door. Jewelry is small, easily transported and easily pawned. It means nothing to the thieves, but when you realize every piece of jewelry you own is gone, including your Grandmother’s wedding ring, you are crushed.
Family heirlooms can never be replaced, but hopefully, your most important pieces were insured so you can start to rebuild your jewelry wardrobe. If you’re lucky enough to have a homeowner’s policy that includes $5,000 in blanket coverage for lost or stolen jewelry, take that money and here’s what you can buy.
You need a good watch. Buy the best you can afford – a Michele Deco is fashionable and won’t break the bank… and you won’t have to use the sun to tell time anymore.
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Michele Deco Watch, 16mm New Deco Stainless Steel Bracelet ($250) and Deco 16mm Stainless Steel Watch Head with Diamond Dial ($425). FYI-Michele watches are often sold in two pieces so be sure to price accordingly. |
Buy a good pair of gold hoops. I think yellow gold is the classic color to buy. If you have extra money you can purchase a pair of white gold hoops as well, but yellow gold hoops are the classic and where you should make the investment. I still have mine from high school.
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Roberto Coin18K Yellow Gold Hoop Earrings, 1 ¼” diameter, $520 |
Pearl studs are feminine and stand the test of time. Buy Mikimoto if you can and, if you’re over 30, buy at least 7.5- 8mm in size. Anything smaller will look like you have boogers on your ears, especially if you have long hair. They must be at least 8mm to be seen, even if you pull your hair back.
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Mikimoto Akoya Pearl Studs, 7.5-8 mm. White or yellow gold, $730 |
David Yurman Bracelet: It seems everybody has one, but that’s OK, join the cult. You get a lot of look for your money and wearing one tells your friends you’ve arrived. Buy a 7mm Onyx Color Classic Bracelet. And, remember you are an adult…the 7mm size is the middle size…not too big and not too small, and, onyx will go with everything you wear, plus it’s one of the cheapest stones he has available.
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David Yurman Onyx 7mm Color Classics Bracelet, $595. |
A diamond solitaire pendant is the type of necklace you can wear all the time and never take off (this way you will never lose it). It would look nice with your pearl studs and Michele watch. H, VS2 is excellent quality for a diamond pendant.
Blue Nile .50 ct., H, VS2, diamond solitaire pendant, $2475. |
Speaking of insurance... depending on how much jewelry you have, you may want to do the following:
Check your homeowner’s policy to see if you have any coverage for "unscheduled" jewelry that is lost or stolen. Some policies offer minimal coverage ($2,500-5,000) for the loss of unscheduled pieces (not listed and insured individually), and some policies offer nothing. Check yours.
Appraise, schedule and insure your most expensive and sentimental pieces. This is called an insurance rider and you pay extra for it. Big ticket diamond items like your engagement and wedding rings, tennis bracelets, studs, or antique diamond pins, etc….anything that exceeds the minimum coverage your policy provides should be covered separately if you can afford it . Consider listing any other important items where the replacement value is more than you can handle out of pocket, or where you feel the need to be compensated for an appraised amount. Scheduled jewelry is expensive so don’t list (and pay) for anything you can easily replace out of your personal budget.
If insurance is too expensive, buy a good safe and use it. Lowe's has a good, fireproof safe with a digital combination that is easy to use. If possible, have a handyman permanently attach your safe to the closet shelf or floor so thieves cannot simply walk away with it (however, some of these safes are very heavy already and not easy to walk away with). Then, be religious about securing your things when you are not using them. I’ve met many people over the years who learned this lesson the hard way. You can’t believe how careful people become with their new jewelry after they’ve lost all their old jewelry.
Men: Let me just say it’s OK to arrive at my counter breathless and wearing your hospital ID bracelet. It’s really OK. It helps us pick you out in the crowd. You think you have a lot of time to prepare for just the right push present. Those nine looonnng months of endless talking with your wife about names, colors, cribs, carseats, etc....she talked so damn much you can't believe she never told you what type of gift she wanted. But this is one time when you are on your own. You must reach deep within yourself and try to find something really meaningful to give to her that will represent all the hard work she just did. Not just the pregnancy - but the actual delivery. Remember, you just saw her turn into something superhuman (maybe even sub-human), so don't you think you should have thought a little more seriously about what to give her once you were all back from the delivery room?  |
| Actual woman in labor. |
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| .30 tcw 14K white gold solitaire pendant on sale at Bloomingdale's for $1500. |
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| 1.0 tcw. 14K white gold diamond studs on sale at Bloomingdale's for $2700. |
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| Just think, if you were Michelle Dugger you could have disco balls hanging off your head by now if you were working the trade up policy. |
Because I know how expensive babies are and I’m not trying to bust your budget, I think a nice idea is to buy a piece of jewelry with the birthstone of your newborn. If, say, you had a child born in June, a strand of pearls or a pair of pearl studs would be a great gift. Every time your wife puts her pearls on, she will be reminded of your new baby…how sweet. She probably won't even look at those pearls during your children's adolescent years, but she will wear them again after your kids leave for college.
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| 7x7.5mm Cultured Pearl Strand on sale at Bloomingdale's for $1100. |
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| 7x7.5mm Akoya pearl stud on sale at Bloomingdale's for $110. |
David Yurman is a designer jeweler that offers many birthstone options in earrings, pendants and rings and is a go-to vendor for push gifts because of price point and variety. Yurman's “Petite Albion” collection, in particular, is very popular in our store. This collection is available in many birthstone colors at David Yurman Boutiques, as well as higher end stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's. For example:
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| David Yurman Petite Albion Amethyst and Diamond earrings $1100 for those babies born in February. Available online at David Yurman. |
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| David Yurman Petite Albion Blue Topaz pendant $625 for your December baby. Available online at David Yurman. |
Regardless of what you buy the new mom, she will probably love it, and this is one gift she shouldn't return. Remembering this lifetime event with a piece of jewelry really helps to keep that exorcist thing from returning, especially when all those sleepless nights start her head a' spinning (360 degrees around).
