When planning your fresh look for the coming warm weather season, you will want to see these hot, new statement necklaces for Spring 2013.  Here are the latest trends to be looking for:

• Pastels -- The soft yet vibrant look of modern pastel beaded necklaces are at the top of Spring 2013's must-have list. Think juicy margarita green and spicy salmon.  These fresh looks are the perfect seasoning to your featherweight sheer silk chiffons, organza and mousseline that form the foundation for your 2013 spring wardrobe.
• Florals --  Silver floral necklaces are eye-catching and oh-so-feminine!  The perfect contrast for the back-to-basic black and white palette that Mark Jacobs, Jill Sanders and others put on the runways during Fashion Week.
• Pearls and ruffles -- The fashion world is bringing back the ruffle this season in a big way!  Pearls offer the perfect finishing touch to this throw-back, sexy look.
• The Far East Trend -- Eastern influences are still moving and shaking the Spring 2013 fashion trends. Kimonos, soft flowing fabric and contrasting angled silhouettes are accessorized best with long, exotic necklaces, clean lines and organic jewelry.

As a recent issue of Vogue said, “the statement necklace is back, ladies – We hear you, did it ever really go away?”

Wearing bold, chunky statement jewelry is not governed by strict fashion rules and convention, so let your personality be your guide.  Lean a bit more to a conservative wardrobe? One colorful, impressive statement necklace can add a bit of sizzle to your look without compromising your core style.

Find yourself wearing the same earrings all the time? Mix it up with long, dangly chandelier earrings and a wide cuff bracelet and watch your attitude soar!

Dramatic statement jewelry is the perfect finishing touch for everything from bridal, formal wear and cocktail dresses -- to your most comfortable t-shirt and jeans. Here are five tips on how to make sizzling fashion jewelry work best for your look:

    1.  For long, shoulder-grazing statement earrings go for a simple, open neckline. Wear your hair up or behind your ears. And rather than pairing those impressive earrings with a large, dramatic statement necklace, balance the fashion palette with a bold bracelet or exotic statement rings.

    2.  Want to wear a long necklace, something similar to our (shown right) Anya Statement Necklace? Try pairing it with a beltless look.

    3.  Don’t hide that wide cuff statement bracelet! Wear short or three-quarter length sleeves. Sweeten the look with long chandelier statement earrings.

    4.  A plunging neckline will tend to compete with a large statement necklace. It might be a better idea to go with long earrings or a stack of bracelets. For the simple neckline, bring out the heavy artillery: a bold, glamorous statement necklace paired with a dramatic, chunky ring. With this look, keep the earrings small and elegant, or go without.

    5.  For a daring, boho chic look, you can wear your favorite chunky necklace with bold patterns, florals and stripes – but classic tops, simple necklines and dresses in solid or muted colors will make that extravagant necklace really pop and present a more refined, timeless style.

Keep these tips in mind, but remember statement jewelry is simply another colorful brush used in the art of dressing well. You are the artist, and you know there are no rules. As French composer Claude Debussy said, “Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.”

It is the age of consumer empowerment. As a customer, you now have more leverage in a retail transaction than ever before. With the influence of social media at their fingertips, consumers have effectively railed against overbearing bank fees on Facebook, guided consumer brands in product development on Pinterest and transformed the level of customer service into a real-time 24/7 standard on Twitter. With the power of our keyboards and smart phones, we are pinning our favorites and panning our frustrations.

It is truly a buyer’s market.

Here at StrikingFire, we relish the interaction. Rarely a day goes by that we don’t get a good idea or a helpful suggestion from a customer that helps steer the course of our success.

Shopping for quality fashion jewelry can be particularly daunting. Especially online. While it is so convenient to shop for high fashion jewelry on the Internet, you must peel back many layers of clutter to find true fashion jewelry value. There are so many questions to answer: who am I buying this chunky statement necklace from, and how reliable are they? Are these gorgeous chandelier earrings really as nice as they appear on the website, and what if I have to return them? How long will it take to ship my new statement bracelet, and will I get it in time for my dinner date next week?

We try to supply all of these answers before you make your first purchase of bold statement jewelry from StrikingFire.com. And for the answer that you can’t readily find, our toll-free number is on every single page of the website so that you can easily call to get the information you need. And we are absolutely manic about replying to emails as quickly as possible.

We crave feedback. Join us on Facebook or Twitter. Add a comment, thought or suggestion to our Conversations blog. Leave an honest product review. We are open, accessible and eager to hear from you.

After all, you are the empowered consumer.

(Shown above right: the Cabo coral statement bracelet, now $28 with free shipping.)

Sociologists claim that men are the “hunters” and women the “gatherers”. So why does it seem that men don’t like to shop? It is actually the ultimate hunt: for a bargain, for a hidden treasure, for something unique and beautiful – a true “find”. We just don’t want to walk down the street and see another woman wearing the same thing, do we?

This idea of a “find” is part of the strategy for StrikingFire.com. And why it may be a bit frustrating sometimes to stumble onto our site, discover that perfect big, chunky necklace, trendy statement bracelet, unique, exotic ring or fabulous pair of earrings… just to learn that they are out of stock.

We carry a limited quantity of fashion-forward, yet classic statement jewelry. Some items we replenish in a short amount of time, other pieces last only a few days – or even a few hours -- never to be re-stocked.

Consider the Otemanu Turquoise Statement Necklace: A bold, tropical statement necklace with eight exquisite strands dripping with turquoise and burnished gold beads, with just a hint of kiwi, and further embellished with varying sizes of textured burnished gold coins. This large, on-trend statement necklace sold out in record time, was re-stocked a short time later and quickly sold out again.  The design has now been retired.  A impressive, though short shelf-life!

And the Bella Golden Statement Earrings (shown above right) sold out in less than an hour when they debuted. These gorgeous golden chandelier earrings feature crystal stones that gleam with every turn of your head. We have regularly re-stocked this item to maintain its availability.

Unfortunately, some of us came late to the hunt. Others however, are smiling with the pleasure of “the find.”

“Chunky” statement necklaces come in many forms, and sometimes chunky can mean just, well…big. But chunky, in its purest and most refined incarnation, can transform a necklace beyond a rough, raw, organic state to an impressive, bold, yet refined statement.

We offer as evidence the the Daina Statement Necklace (right).  An impressive piece that defines “chunky” in a truly original manner -- at fashion's most exquisite level.

The Daina Statement Necklace ($32.00) is a long and dramatic mix of stone, beads and chains. Bold, hammered matte gold links and clusters of gold and iridescent beads add understated allure.  A single, offset polished stone completes the striking organic look.

Just one definition of a chunky statement necklace that takes accessories from mere fashion to a unique art form.

There is a star of the CBS comedy series 2 Broke Girls that gets quite a bit of camera-time, never has any lines, but generates a lot of fan attention.

It’s a necklace.

Specifically the bold pearl statement necklace worn by the character Caroline Channing, as portrayed by Beth Behrs. The series has won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy, but the pearl necklace worn by Channing, the “trust-fund queen”, now down-on-her-luck waitress, has become a real fashion jewelry sensation.

The pearl statement necklace is the subject of thousands of Google searches. Pinterest fans pine for it. Do-it-yourself fashion mavens have crafted their own knock-offs of the popular necklace, spending hours assembling the components and delicately stringing together large pearl beads on gold chains, in an effort to replicate the glamorous accessory.

Finally, an affordable version of this bold necklace is now available. The aptly named “Caroline Pearl Statement Necklace”, inspired by the original, is fashioned with dozens of simulated beige pearls dripping from two layered, interlocked gold chains. The 17" necklace has a 2.5" extender with lobster claw closure.

StrikingFire.com is happy to offer the Caroline Pearl Statement Necklace for only $32, and as always, with free shipping.

InStyle magazine asked its readers what was their biggest jewelry weakness.  The results: 47% said earrings were their biggest jewelry weakness. Makes sense. Earrings are the perfect final touch to any outfit. No argument on that one. Necklaces ranked second with 26% of the vote, followed by watches (8%) and brooches (1%).

We have to think that additional results just weren’t mentioned in their brief synopsis, but most of the published results do seem reasonable. Our takeaway: we’ll be expanding our selection of bold, uncommon statement earrings…and who knows? Maybe it’s time to offer some StrikingFire fashion watches, too. What do you think?

In the meantime, we’ve launched our own “biggest jewelry weakness” poll on our Facebook page. Be sure to vote!

Ever want to finish your look with a bit of an edge? Perhaps sharpen those female curves a bit? Look for high fashion jewelry with a bit of “snarl.”

Our example above shows exactly what we’re talking about. First, the arm full of bangles is all in striking black and gold, and the look is definitely a bit on the edge, but still with a luxe refinement. We begin with the spiked bangle on the far left (Stella Bangle Bracelet, $19.99). Tuff. Somebody’s been baaaaad. The wide cuff next to it with the gold studs makes you feel even a wee bit naughtier (Isabel Bangle Bracelet, $24.99). And the interlocking link bangle on the end seems to hint that someone is out of the cage and on the prowl (Chloe Bangle Bracelet, $17.99).

All in all, the world sees this adorned arm and realizes you must be a handful.

But to remain a Woman of Mystery, this fashion jewelry statement finishes with two seemingly incongruent rings. The Bronze Statement Ring ($14.95) seems to underscore the bold, “hit-me-with-your-best-shot” motif, while the colorful, playful Ladybug Ring ($18.99) leaves them curious and wanting more.

You are a woman hard to define. Just like you like it.

The Internet has become the shopping method of choice for so many people, but it seems so often you have to wade through a lot of noise to determine the real value of a potential purchase.

There is a popular fashion accessory website, recently sold to a large television shopping network, which has a one-price policy on most of its merchandise. The catch is, you sign up for membership and then choose one item every month to purchase. So, that ring you’re considering, that bracelet…or necklace – your choice – can be purchased for $29.99. Sounds like a good deal, right? It’s just a gimmick.

Think about it. There is simply no way that a large variety of fashion jewelry can all be had for the same price. Sure, $29.99 might be a very favorable price for a quality statement necklace, but for the ring that caught your eye? Perhaps a more reasonable price would be ten dollars less. And that one-price deal may be a way over-priced deal on that bracelet they suggest you buy. In this case, the gimmick – one price for everything – could be a real roadblock to true value.

When our company started selling jewelry five years ago, frankly we were surprised at the traditional retail mark-up. We decided from the beginning that we would rather make a good wholesale purchase on quality fashion jewelry, take a fair profit, top that off with free shipping (plus no sales tax in 49 states) and leave the gimmicks to someone else.

At Striking Fire, you don’t have to sign up for a membership, commit to a mandatory monthly purchase, or jump through hoops to find high fashion statement jewelry at remarkable prices. While other online jewelry retailers shout for your attention with game-on gimmicks, we are more than satisfied to quietly offer outstanding value each and every day.

(Shown above right: Ebony Triple Drop Statement Earrings. $14.99...not $29.99.)

It looks like fashionistas will be doing the Tangerine Tango well into fall of 2012 and beyond.

Each season, Pantone, a provider of professional color standards for the design industries, surveys fashion designers for feedback on prominent color trends. The resulting PANTONE Fashion Color Report features a forecast of the top 10 colors for designers' use of color in their upcoming fall collections.

"By playing to consumers' practical side with versatile neutrals, and boosting their confidence with bold, spirited hues, this skillfully balanced palette has something for everyone," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

The top colors for women's fashion for fall 2012 are (shown above, top row, from left to right):

• French Roast
• Honey Gold
• Pink Flambé
• Tangerine Tango
• Ultramarine Green

(second row, from left to right):

• Bright Chartreuse
• Olympian Blue
• Titanium
• Rhapsody
• Rose Smoke

Here are the details for each fashion hue, as described by the poetic Pantone color experts:

As the season transitions from the heat of summer, Bright Chartreuse, a vital yellow-green, pays homage to a typical spring shade and creates a bridge into the cooling days of fall. Reminiscent of bright green foliage, it provides a perfect accent to every color in the palette.

Like the name implies, Pink Flambé is a delicious, vibrant pink with a bit of heat to it. Pair it with vivacious and enticing Tangerine Tango for an ongoing retro feeling. Or, to bring a calming element to the mix, combine these vibrant warm tones with Ultramarine Green, a deep, cooling blue-green. Ethereal Rhapsody is a grayed-down purple that also encourages comfort and serenity with its quiet, muted tone.

Honey Gold, a mellow, burnished yellow, suggests the soft-muted tones of sunlight to brighten a fall day. Pair it with sensible and strong Olympian Blue, a patriotic blue that will surely make its way into fall and winter athletic apparel.

Rich and robust, French Roast is a tasty, sophisticated hue that is a great alternative to the black and charcoal basics typically worn in the fall. Other staple neutrals include elegant and versatile Titanium, the quintessential cool gray, and Rose Smoke, a veiled rose tone that pairs well with Rhapsody and Titanium.

(Shown above right: Emma Earrings, in Tangerine Tango. $17.99)