Le Garage is one of our favorite events and we are so excited for the next Le Garage event because it is right in our backyard! From January 28-29, you can snag some Sikara at the Austin Convention Center!

Le Garage is a great event that allows shoppers to support local business and save on them too! Tickets are $10 per person and available at the door!

Make sure you come out and see Sikara this weekend at Le Garage!

http://www.legaragesale.net/

Our Founder and Creative Director Mousumi Shaw is a proud graduate of Wharton-University of Pennsylvania and this Thursday, Sikara will be hosting more women of Wharton for an evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres and a private shopping experience at our 250 Newbury St location!

Tickets are $15 for Wharton Club members and $20 for non-members! The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM and should be fun from start to finish! Sikara hopes to see you there!

Today is the official start of Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year signifies a change in the atmosphere. 2012 is the year of the dragon and is said to bring prosperity for all. It is said to be the year to see your power grow both professionally and personally. So, let 2012 be the year you use the roar of the dragon to get closer to your dreams!

The dragon in the Chinese zodiac is a water sign and water has always been of great inspiration to Sikara. Our founder and CEO Mousumi Shaw has experienced the beautiful beaches of Mexico and explored the hidden waterfalls of India and used the experience to inspire Sikara’s design process. Here are some of our favorite water inspired pieces!

Yucatan Circle Ring, Mexico Collection, Amethyst stone shown here

Jog Waterfall Pendant, Jaipuri Collection (India), Pink Topaz & Amethyst stones shown here

Amazona River Cuff, Brazil

San Francisco football team, the 49ers are making big plays towards an appearance at this year’s Superbowl! A win against the New York Saints on Sunday helped propel them towards the championship. Sikara wants to wish the 49ers good luck! We are rooting for you!

We also have a special treat for our football fans out there, Sikara’s football cufflinks (pictured below)! These stylish cufflinks are a perfect birthday or Valentine’s Day for the football lover in your life! Show him you love him (almost) as much as he loves his favorite team!

The 2012 Golden Globes were held last night in Los Angeles with controversial host Ricky Gervais and a bevy of interesting winners across the board. Award show new comers Octavia Spencer and Jean Dujardin both took home the sought after statues. Plenty of more expected winners like Meryl Streep and Woody Allen  rounded out the list.

The real talk of Hollywood (and the world) this morning is not what happens during the awards show, but what happens before. What the stars wore, whether or not they wore it well and what it means for your fashion trends is what everyone is really dying to know! Sikara is here to tell you! The best thing about awards season fashion is the celebs showcase the best of trends from fall while simultaneously giving us fashion to look forward to come spring. Here are a few of our favorite trends from the red carpet and how you can get them at Sikara!

Red Carpet Look:

Angelina Jolie in Versace

Trend: Color Blocking, Seen here in 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Fall 2011 Collection:

Sikara Style: Two Stone Geometric Ring from our Indian Collection, shown here in Amethyst and Peridot

Red Carpet Look:

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci

Trend: Industrial Cutouts, shown here in Roland Mouret’s Spring 2012 Collection

Sikara Style: If you aren’t into showing off those abs, get the look with our Open Mexican Twist ring. We bet your fingers are pretty fit!

Red Carpet Look:

Best Supporting Actress Winner, Octavia Spencer

Trend: Pretty Pastels, shown here in Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2012 Collection

Sikara Style: Two Stone Non-Connect Ring from our Indian Collection

Red Carpet Look:

Selma Hayak in Gucci

Trend: Art Deco influence, shown here in Holly Fulton’s Fall 2011 Collection

Sikara Style: Art Deco Aztec Brushed Bracelet

Who were your Golden Globes red carpet favorites?

Sikara has exciting news for all of our wholesale fans and clients. This weekend, you can check out Sikara at Seattle Gift Show at Washington State Convention Center! Sikara has participated in gift shows in New York and San Francisco for the past few years and cannot wait to see what the Seattle market has to offer!

We will be one of many exhibitors showcasing for buyers from Macy’s, Looks and Seattle Art Museum among others! Click the link below to find out how to get tickets to the show! Check out Sikara in the Personal Style section, booth #1008!

http://www.seattlegiftshow.com/338/Registration.htm

http://www.seattlegiftshow.com/327/Show_Info.htm

Turban Ornament, 1750-1755

San Francisco’s renowned Asian Art Museum is highlighting the life and times of India’s greatest rulers. The exhibit is beautiful, eye-opening and will give patrons to the museum a peak into the decadence of India royals from the 1700’s to the 1940’s. Everything from accessories like diamond belts to gold thrones and art pieces created by Sanjay Patel make for an eclectic blend of art, both past and present. In addition to the exhibit, the museum’s gift shop will feature many India themed products, including Sikara’s Indian collection!

Diamond Belt, 1850-1900

The word “maharaja” means “great king” and brings to mind images of lavish royal lifestyles but the exhibit offers much more than that! The collection of hundreds of pieces tells the story of the qualities that these people embodied during their rule and the roles they played in shaping India. It also tells the story of the shift in roles for India’s “native Princes” after the British colonized India in the 1930’s.

India is a wealth of inspiration for Sikara and we are so excited to see this exhibition in San Francisco! Indian culture is rich with stories that need to be told!

Cartier Necklace, 1928

Here is a link for more info! http://www.asianart.org/maharaja/index.htm

Also, check out some of Sikara’s favorite pieces we would have loved to see on an India royal!

[Read more →]

The end of the year brings about everything from resolutions to revelations! It is a time to reflect and re-energize! Instead of looking back, Sikara wants you to think about moving forward into 2012 and bringing new light and energy into your life! From new ideas, fashion trends and events, there is a lot to see in 2012!

The era of new ideas spreading quickly is in full swing but 2012 will be the year that new ideas settle! One of Sikara’s favorite sites, the Huffington Post ran 18 Ideas from 2011 that can shape 2012! Here’s our top three!

Acclaimed author Brene Brown on Vulnerability

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/15/brene-brown-vulnerability_n_1150976.html?1323965500

Sheryl Sandberg on Women Leaders in 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/sheryl-sandberg-ted-talk_n_1145415.html?1323792262

Salman Khan on Using Video Technology to Re-Invent Education

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/video-learning_n_1167574.html?1324656689%22

Fashion constantly but the New Year usually brings a slew of new trends to fawn over! Sikara is all about color for 2012! Our favorites are funky pearls, graphic black and white and orange tones! What better way to get in on a trend than to start small with a sparkly new jewel? Check out these 2012 trend ready Sikara pieces to glamorously kick off your New Year!

From fun twists on classic shapes to pearls encased in silver, the pearl is making a comeback this season and Sikara has you covered!

Venetian Encased Pearl Ring, $225

If you’re feeling a bit more outrageous, try a  piece in Black Rutile Quartz! Graphic prints were all over the runways for spring and our edgy Art Deco Stone Ring will add plenty of bold adventure to your 2012 style!

Mini Faceted Vertical Drops, $115

Pantone has chosen orange as 2012’s ‘Color of the Year’. While, the bright hue can be a scary color to interject into your closet, 2012 is the year to throw all fashion fears aside! Start with the Bombay Eight Stone Bubble Ring, a favorite of Sikara staffer Vanessa and the perfect blend of flashy and fashion forward!

Bombay Eight Stone Bubble Ring, $225

Now that we have told you what you’ll be hearing about and wearing in 2012, we have to tell you what you’ll be watching and where you’ll be going too!

2012 is an Olympic year and not to be biased but Sikara has a favorite Olympian to watch! Earlier this year, we featured rower Ali Cox in our “Real Women, Real Style” segment on our blog and we cannot wait to see Ali take on London in 2012! Check out the link to our interview!

Ali Cox, Olympic Rower, Sikara Lover

http://blog.sikarajewelry.com/?p=1862

If you are not able to make the trip to London for the Olympics, here are some amazing events happening all year in Sikara cities Boston, SF and Austin!

http://www.boston.world-guides.com/events.html

http://www.san-francisco.world-guides.com/events.html

http://austineventsandfestivals.com/

Whatever your plans are for 2012, we hope that you’ll make sure Sikara is included!

Happy New Year!

We’re always curious to learn about other cultures and countries. and other cultures, and the ways that each celebrates holidays tells us a lot about the history and values of a particular place. Read on to find out more about the ways that Christmas and other religious holidays are celebrated in our Sikara & CO. featured countries!

Brazil- very similar to other Western European countries- nativities are prominent as are Christmas trees made of strands of electrical lights and fresh flowers. But don’t be alarmed if you see Santa in a silk attire while vistiing Brazil. It’s much warmer there so he doesn’t need the heavy fur-lined red coat and boots that we are used to seeing in the United States.

Mexico- Mexicans start celebrating the Christian holiday of Christmas as early as December 16^th! Although kids do await the arrival of St. Nicholas on Christmas Even, they also look forward to “el Ni-O dios” (The Holy Child) and the “Reyes Magos” (the three Wisemen) who bring gifts to good children as well. And it wouldn’t be a Mexican party without a piñata, which are also common at Christmas.

Italy- Italians love to celebrate Christmas so much that they start their celebrations 8 days before December 25^th and continue the festivities through January 6^th the day when Epiphany is celebrated in the predominantly Catholic country. As far as tradition goes, the Pope, who lives in the Vatican City, gives his blessing to the crowds that gather on Christmas day. Finally, should you see a kind, yet ugly witch riding a broomstick during your holiday stay in Italy, have no fear! Her name is Befana. The legend goes that she delayed her visit to the newborn Christ child and therefore has been looking for him ever since, leaving presents at homes should he be there.

Spain-Christmas is a very important holiday for the deeply Catholic Spain. On Christmas Eve, Nochebuena or “the Good Night” family members gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home.

India- The predominantly Hindu or Muslim country has no official celebration of Christmas, but as is the case in Western Christian countries, gift-giving ,tipping or giving “baksheesh,” charitable hand-outs to the poor, are common. Christians in Indian also partake in decorations using mango leaves to decorate houses and clay il burning lamps to illuminate the night.

Egypt- Egyptians Christians generally belong to the Coptic Orthodox church. The Coptic month leading to Christmas is called Kiahk. People sing special praise songs on Saturday nights before the Sunday Service.. Because of their Coptic Orthodoz calendar, Christmas Day isn’t celebrated until 7th January.

Today is the last day to snag some Sikara savings! We have given you eleven days of great deals on Sikara pieces! For our last day, we have a favorite Italian inspired piece.

Just a bit reminiscent of the drumsticks of those twelve drummer boys, these faceted black onyx mini drops are inspired by the architecture of the Coliseum and are a part of our Italian collection. As timeless as the classic Roman architecture, these black onyx earrings are a trusty must-have to perfectly pair with the staple little black dress or a more casual t-shirt and jeans look.

Enter DAY12 at checkout to receive 25% OFF these earrings today only!