She Has the PowerThe jewelry that New...

She Has the Power

The jewelry that New York-based artist Kazuko Oshma creates is more than art; it’s a spiritual outpouring of the power within the uncut semi-precious stones and herself. She holds each of the chunky pieces in her hands for up to a day, or until she feels she’s infused it with her innate healing powers, says Kevin Dyson, manager of Barneys New York in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa. The store has carried Oshma’s one-of-a-kind line exclusively since 1987. Her “healing sculptures” feature raw rocks of ruby, aquamarine, quartz and Baroque pearls wrapped in 22-karat gold wire. Each signed piece sells for $200 to $1,500.

Heads Up

Head-to-toe dressing entails getting a proper ‘do, and the direction is up at this time of year, says stylist Rick Breco of Furioso Salon in Laguna Beach. “It’s crossed over from something women in their late 30s to 50s used to do, to a lot of the 20-year-old set now coming in for French twists. They’re looking for something exciting, fun--not necessarily glamorous.” Even younger women are going for barrel curls and clusters piled on top. For twists, the ideal length is just at the shoulder; curls work better for anything longer, he adds.

Soft Shoe

From the malls to this column, the dominant trend du jour is velvet. Combining it with the top footwear silhouette of the season--the boot--was a shoe-in. “With the holidays, customers are looking to velvet more,” says Quang Vu, manager of Sacha London in Costa Mesa. A Two Lips granny lace-up ($79) comes in shorn ruby, coal and dark cognac pile. Vu sees velvet extending beyond the winter months. “In spring, too, these boots will go beautifully with long retro dresses.”

Short Cuts

Loose-fitting clothes are a given in snowboarding, which requires easy maneuverability, but all that extra fabric can be a drag when it comes to tucking pants into boots. Well aware of this, Mike Snyder designed a three-quarter-length short made of the same spongy warm fabric used as insulation under waterproof shells. Snyder, co-owner of snowboard gear company Burning Snow in Newport Beach, adds that the short is “comfortable enough to wear home” after a day in the mountains. It’s available in taupe, navy, black and burgundy ($39).