Archive: Popsicle

6.23.2009


image name
image name
Sweltering temperatures are fast approaching for most of us, as June is coming to an end. Everyone beats the heat in their own way. Some of us grab a towel and head for the pool or beach, some seek shelter inside with the AC going, and some of us grab a sweet something from the freezer. If that last one is you then this charm is going to be a must-have.

Looking at these pictures now that I've uploaded them, I realize I should have used flash for this charm because what I'm showing you does the charm no justice. The translucent colors are vibrant and gorgeous. They have definitely captured that light and sugary feeling of a popsicle. The pave crystals are placed nicely and evenly on both sides (you might not be able to tell but each picture is of a different side!). Again my biggest complaint here is that they're just set within the plastic and will most likely fall out if enough (which is never much at all) force is applied.

The little gold bar with Juicy printed on it is a nice final detail. It reminds me of the classic popsicles that came with a joke on one side of the stick and the punch line on the other. Of course you had to eat the popsicle to see the answer, but I think that was half the fun of having the popsicle anyway. There is also a red, white, and blue version which is very patriotic and unfortunately not yet part of my collection. I passed on it because I figured one version was good enough but regretted it later on. One day!

Price: 35.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0747

Archive: Palm Tree

6.19.2009


image nameimage name
Palm trees make one of the most beautiful sounds when the wind really picks up and blows them around. Combine that with afternoon waves at the beach and I'm set to nap in the sun.

This palm tree charm is pretty true to life. The coloring is great; although the trunk is actually gold and not brown it flows very nicely with the shiny green leaves. I'm also crazy about the way that the entire piece was sculpted; the detail is phenomenal and the top layer of leaves spin freely atop the rest of the charm. Little beads are attached in an effort to symbolize what I can only assume are coconuts.

Overall this piece is very simplistic and breezy, much like the beaches palm trees frequently line. A new version of the palm tree has since been released; it has quite a bit more gold coloring, pave stones, and pearl coconuts. I didn't pick that one up because I felt it was too flashy for a palm tree, if that makes any sense. It is very pretty in its own right but I'm good with the original for now.

Price: 45.00*
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0215

*This charm was produced prior to Juicy adding descriptive names to the bottom of their charm boxes. This is the code given on the box that the charm was in, but does not necessarily mean that this is the correct name, price and YJRU code for the Palm Tree charm.

Limited Edition: Beach Bag

6.16.2009


image nameimage name
I don't know about the rest of you, but summer is in full swing here. To be fair, it's usually always like summer in Hawaii but you can really feel the sun kicking it up a notch by the time the end of May rolls around. So out come my beach-specific flip flops, roll-up bamboo mats, sunscreen, and of course a bag to tote it all around in!

This tiny tote was a Neiman Marcus exclusive, which made its debut when they were offering the Charm of the Month club last year. Luckily for those of us who didn't want to pay $300 for the set (some of the charms were pretty bland and not worth it) the idea seemed to fizzle out quickly and the charms were put up for sale individually. I grabbed a couple and this bag was among them.

Usually Juicy's bag charms hold little appeal for me, but I really really love this one. It's very simplistic and the colors are gorgeous. I'm not sure what the little white roll inside of the bag is supposed to be -- my best guess is a towel. The main piece of the bag is a translucent pink color which reminds me of jelly beach bags that are perfect for tossing in the sand. Spring green handles move freely on the bag and keep it attached to the clasp. Juicy's logo is printed on the front side of the bag and Love G & P is printed on the back. A very small but key detail is the traditional heart J tag; this is on most of Juicy's real handbags and is adorably mimicked here on the charm. If you have a summer-themed bracelet or necklace set going this charm would be a perfect addition as it fits right in with tropical drinks, sunglasses, and scuba flippers. Looking at it makes me wish I were at the beach right now!

LE Tag Year: 2008
Price: 38.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU1727
Misc: Neiman Marcus exclusive charm; NM logo is on reverse side of LE tag.

Archive: Blue Rubber Duckie

6.15.2009


image nameimage name
image name
Once again, I am showing off my geeky love for rubber duckies. Those little yellow fellows happen to be magnets that spend a good deal of time guarding my bathroom shelf. I still have my fingers crossed that Juicy will put out a traditional yellow duck charm one of these days.

Like its pink sister, this blue duck isn't truly blue; it's more of a deep turquoise and you can see that there's quite a bit of green influence. Nonetheless it's a beautiful color and seems to have held up better over time than the pink. My feelings on this duckie charm are pretty much the same as the other one, with one startling exception: the details are silver, not gold!

Yes, his eyes, beak, hair, and logo detail are all done up in silver. Does this go better with blue? Maybe. But it still looks a little strange to have the silver accents mixed in with the gold clasp. Apart from that I have no complaints. I love rubber duckies and I think Juicy did a nice job with the two (so far) that they have produced.

Price: $40.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0854

Archive: Cupcake

6.14.2009


image nameimage nameimage name
It must have been fate when I pulled this charm off my shelf, given that I spent most of Thursday baking cupcakes like there was no tomorrow.

So, meet what I am pretty sure is the first cupcake charm Juicy ever put out. The frosting color is a little bland in comparison to other colors that they have since come out with (pink, lavender) but the cherry is a very fantastic and unbelievably small detail. "LOVE G&P" is printed across the top in black lettering, and the Juicy logo is stamped onto the bottom of the cupcake (not pictured). Open this tiny sweet treat up to reveal another Juicy logo and unfortunately nothing else.

I don't often see this version for sale anymore, but I would guess that's because the newer colored cupcakes are easier to get. I'm really not a fan of the pastel yellow frosting, which has an almost green tint to it under certain lighting. I also think the cherry is a little out of place, but it s a very iconic Juicy symbol so I can see how it wound up there. Juicy has re-done this cupcake several times in different colors but has never changed the overall style. I think most of us would like to see a new cupcake with tall whipped up frosting with sprinkles, or even a candle. Cupcakes are HUGE and are loved and adored by many. If Juicy were to revamp this charm I think it could be quite phenomenal.

Price: 40.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0564

Archive: Ice Cream Cone/Gelato

6.11.2009


image name
image nameimage nameimage name
Last summer I was fortunate enough to spend almost two weeks cruising the Mediterranean, stoping in Rome, Venice, Athens, Mykonos, and Split. Every stop was vastly different from the previous; the archiecture was never the same, the people were never the same, and the shopping was definitely different everywhere! The only constant throughout the entire trip was gelato. Dozens and dozens of gelato stands.

I will admit that I have not always loved this charm. It's chunky and large, and I usually prefer dainty and detailed pieces. However, after having seen real Italian gelato I have to say that they pretty much nailed it. The colors are smooth and creamy and the green and brown scoops look like they've just barely started to melt. Now, I've never seen a pave cherry on top of any dessert I've ever ordered but I wouldn't complain if I did.

The sun outside wasn't cooperating with me when I took the pictures, so I did have to use flash. That made the colors seem a little brighter than they are in real life, but they're still pretty close. The bronze (pink?) scoop is pretty true to life and is one of the most unusual colors I think I've ever seen Juicy use.

Even though the bottom of the box is tagged as "Ice Cream Cone" there is printing around the rim that reads "Juicy Gelato." If you're searching for it on eBay you might try searching for gelato first, because ice cream cone will yield many more useless results (two more ice cream cones have since come out, plus an ice cream cup and the silver ice cream cone is on its way).

Price: 45.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0764

Stash: Cherries (Pink Pave)

6.09.2009


image nameimage nameimage name
GASP! I began to find myself in a panic last week when my Juicy store said they didn't have the new pink cherries charm in and pretty much didn't know what I was talking about. They hadn't appeared on any of the websites yet, and although a few tPFers had already scored them I couldn't hunt them down if my life depended upon it. So I called some more and tracked down one single pair at Nordstrom's and had them put on hold.

When I went to pick them up today there was actually a second pair out on display so I scooped it up and am still debating what to do with it. Little E doesn't care much for cherries so I doubt she'd love it (even if she is a big fan of the sparklies). For now it will just have to join my second whale in charm limbo.

I'm absolutely smitten with just about everything, from the dual-toned green leaves and the deep, luscious pinks and almost purples that are used on the cherries themselves. The first picture was taken out in direct sunlight, so you can see the dimension and brilliance of the stones (even if they are just plain old rhinestones/crystals I think Juicy uses a good quality and mounts them nicely). The other two pictures were taken inside, with natural daylight. Juicy's iconic banner is strung across the larger cherry in such a subtle manner that it isn't noticeable unless you're either looking for it or happen to be fairly close.

What else do I love? For one, that it's a gold charm and not silver. I have nothing against silver and often prefer white gold pieces when it comes to fine jewelry. But for this charm I think the gold suits it perfectly, especially on the stems. I also like that both stems and the leaves are all freely connected by jump rings, meaning that they will swing and hang as they please.

Now, for my double edged sword. The crystals have a glaze over them, which is especially detectable around the top of the charm. You can feel the smoothness the best at this point, and it seems to thin out the further you go down the cherry (the settings are easier to feel). On one hand, I'm ecstatic about the glaze because I will have no reservations about actually wearing the charm. On the other hand, the glaze kills a little bit of the dazzle from the crystals. It's not enough to be upset over, but you can note a visible difference between this charm and other pave charms (such as the pineapple) that are not glazed.

This charm appeared on Nordstrom's website today -- actually, as soon as I came back from shopping. Go figure! S&CO is rumored to be getting them in soon, and SBB promised a new charm shipment sometime this month. If you can hold out and grab them at a discount that'd be great! However, given how hard it was to locate these to begin with you may want to get one while you can find it. I have no doubt that this charm will go fast and resell for a higher than retail price once it's out of stores. I would wait awhile to take your chances on eBay, though, as fakes were coming out of Hong Kong quite awhile before this was actually released by Juicy. If you do find one on eBay that you think is the real deal, don't hesitate to ask for pictures of the barcode tag to verify the YJRU code.


Price: $52.00 MSRP
Box: Brown/Pink
Code: YJRU3075
Season: Summer 2009
From: Nordstrom's
Misc.: Made in China, not intended for children under 12.

Limited Edition: Nutcracker

6.07.2009


image nameimage nameimage name
I had originally wanted to hold off on posting my LE holiday charms until closer to December. But the collector in me knows that these will probably start appearing on eBay by September or October, so I hope you hunters will be properly armed with information before you seek them out.

This little guy is and will always be one of my absolute favorites. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so perhaps that's why I'm so enamored with all of the holiday charms. It could also be that this guy is just TOO cute!

Let's start with the face. The eyes and nose are dainty, but the handlebar mustache is exquisite. Golden fringe lines the back of his head, beneath his very tall and proper hat. Now how about the uniform? Perfect, perfect, perfect! His festive red coat is trimmed with golden accents -- I think the thin little belt and buckle are my favorite. White pants and black boots finish off the outfit but another important detail lurks around the back: the "nutcracker" lever! Unfortunately it doesn't move (which I suppose is good since technically this charm has no mouth), but I still think it's great that it was included.

The Nutcracker's limbs do move, although the legs are very limited in their range. The arms are hinged together so they move at the same time and height, but note that they will not swing backward.

Now the bad news. Prepare yourself and start saving your pennies now, because this little guy has had a very high resell value ever since he could no longer be found in stores. Set up a saved search on eBay and don't wait until December, because the price will only increase exponentially as it gets closer to the holidays.

LE Tag Year: 2006
Price: 45.00
Box: Gold/Pink
Code: YJRU0927

Archive: Nesting Doll


image nameimage nameimage name
Gone are the days when this little cutie would fetch hundreds of dollars on eBay. Not because it isn't loved or still longed for, but because Juicy re-released this charm last year. Note that the information I will list at the bottom with the YJRU and price pertain only to the original release, which came in the black and blue box.

I like this charm, and I think that the face is one of my favorite features. The eyes and lips have a great amount of detail, and the amount of hair they added is perfect. What I'm not so crazy about, though, is that the doll opens up to reveal.. absolutely nothing. The hallmark of a Russian Nesting Doll is that, well, they nest! The biggest doll is always home to a family of smaller ones that neatly fit inside of one another, until you get to the smallest one of all. Having this charm totally empty inside is a bit of a let down, especially since we've seen Juicy add very small pieces to the insides of charms (such as the piece of candy inside the Pinata charm).

The Nesting Doll charm is sizable; it comes in at well over an inch tall and has a significant amount of weight to it. It might be too heavy to wear on a fine chain, but will be just fine for a starter bracelet or the charm catcher necklace.

Price: 60.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0832

Diversion: Fortune Necklace

6.06.2009

This little necklace and box set is quickly climbing its way to the top of my wish list.

In case you missed it, Juicy released hinged cupcake boxes that came with either a pair of earrings or a necklace awhile back. They didn't exactly fly off the shelves, but they went quick enough that resellers on eBay made a tidy profit once they could no longer be found.

Will the same thing happen with these new fortune cookie boxes and necklaces? Not sure, but I'm definitely liking them. I especially like that each fortune cookie comes with a different fortune necklace. Here's a rundown of what they are:

Fortune Royalty (pink, pictured above): "You Will Always Be Surrounded By Royalty."

Fortune Fairest (blue, not pictured): "You Are The Fairest."

Fortune Don't Know (white, not pictured): "You Don't Know What You Got 'Til It's Gone."

Fortune Lighten Up (yellow, not pictured): "Lighten Up Be Juicy."

Note that the Royalty and Lighten Up sets are gold, while the Fairest and Don't Know sets are silver. I'm definitely going to need at least one, if not two. At $68 a pop I will definitely have to be choosy about which ones, though. You can see pictures of the other colors on the New Arrivals page at NeimanMarcus.com.

Diversion: Bow Bracelet

This popped up on the New Arrivals page at Neiman Marcus. I was intrigued, but to tell you the truth it looks better from far away (or, in this case, I guess smaller)

The colors -- or lack thereof -- are rather dull and the textures of the ribbon leave something to be desired. Still, I'm intrigued and wonder what this will look like in person and on the wrist.

Asking price is $78, which I find to be rather ridiculous. Even starter bracelets don't cost that much and have a more versatile purpose. If I do end up liking this when I see it in person I'll be searching for it at a sizable discount.

On The Horizon: Notebook

Joanne's wishes have been answered! How lucky is she, that Juicy nailed it on the head - a notebook with a writing instrument attached!

It is cute, although it looks like the spirals seriously outweigh the actual notebook itself. I'm really curious to see how the inside of the book looks, and a closeup of the pen/pencil. It'd be awesome if Juicy added a few pages to the inside that flip (like the Look Book and Diary), but I'm thinking I may be hoping for too much with that one.

$: 52.00
Where: Pre-order from JuicyCouture.com
Buyin' or Eyein'?: Eyein' until I can see it in person.
Plus One?: Nope
Misc.: late Summer 09 - listed ship date is 07/15.

On The Horizon: Silver Soccer Ball

This charm has got everything except the "borrowed" part from the whole "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" line. Old would be the style - a pink soccer ball in gold was released some time back and is still available on a few select websites. The new bit would be that it's a re-release, dressed up in silver. And the blue? Well, I hope that's obvious.

Again, I'm not wild about soccer so this is a pass for me. It's great for you soccer fans though, since now you will have a choice between both metal colors and blue and pink.

$: 38.00
Where: Pre-order from JuicyCouture.com
Buyin' or Eyein'?: Eyein'
Plus One?: Nope
Misc.: late Summer 09 - listed ship date is 07/15.

On The Horizon: Football Helmet

Ready! Set! Hike!

The only sport I'm really a fan of is ice hockey, but I have to give props to Juicy for trying to include their more athletic fans. This helmet will make a nice addition to the LE Football that was released some time ago. Note that this charm is also LE so you might want to scoop it up whenever you get the chance. The football didn't sell out immediately, but very few (if any at all) made it to the outlets.

Again, it would have been nice if Juicy had included other views of this charm on their website. Hopefully it looks just as realistic from the front as it does from the side.

$: 48.00
Where: Pre-order from JuicyCouture.com
Buyin' or Eyein'?: Eyein'
Plus One?: Nope
Misc.: late Summer 09 - listed ship date is 07/15.

On The Horizon: Pink Crown

Color me surprised, but I'm excited about this one! I've passed on the previous crown charms (and if I can recall correctly they are the large pearl one, the red-stone one, and the tiny tiara/ring inside of a case), but the cheery colors of this one have got me interested.

It's no secret that I like pink, but I'm really liking the way they combined the turquoise and blue colored stones. I do wish they had photos from another angle, or at least a back and front view. I guess I'll just have to wait until it comes out.

It's available for pre-order on Neiman's website and you can get free shipping on any purchase with the code NMSHIP.

$: 52.00
Where: Pre-order from NeimanMarcus.com
Buyin' or Eyein'?: Buyin'!
Plus One?: Probably not.
Misc.: Fall 09 - listed ship date is 09/11.

On The Horizon: Silver Ice Cream Cone

Well, there's not much to say or rave over for this one. It has already been released in gold, and can still be found in most regular boutiques and department stores. If you're trying to expand your silver collection this would be a good one to start with.

It's up for pre-order at Neiman's, and you can get free shipping on any item right now with the code NMSHIP.




$: 48.00
Where: Pre-order from NeimanMarcus.com
Buyin' or Eyein'?: Eyein', already have the gold version.
Plus One?: Nope
Misc.: Fall 09 - listed ship date is 09/11.

Archive: Ballet Shoes


image nameimage name
Quite possibly one of the most underrated charms, I believe. Maybe because this one has been available for years, or maybe because ballet is a narrow interest. Personally, I did seven years of jazz, ballet, and tap before giving it up (ironically enough, I wanted nothing to do with the en pointe shoes).

These shoes are far less intimidating than the real deal, which have wood in the toes (ouch!). The baby pink enamel is incredibly elegant and smooth, which is interrupted only by the pave crystals that outline the edges. The ribbon seems like overkill at first, and can get a little unwieldy as it is looped through both shoes and the jump ring attached to the clasp. This means that the shoes have no real movement; they sit/hang pretty much the way you see them in the first photo. The bottom of the slippers hold a little more detail - I love the petite stitching near the toes! Juicy is printed on each one, just in case you forgot for a second. ;)

I can see how this charm isn't for everyone. The shoe charms aren't really my thing to begin with, but I picked these up a long while ago because I loved ballet so much when I took it. I sometimes wonder if I should have tried en pointe before writing it off but this charm gets me close enough to not wonder too much.

Price: 50.00
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0746

Charm Candy: Private Sale

6.05.2009


image name
image name

First, I apologize for the drop off in posts again. Hopefully I will have the ballet slippers, a few new pre-order charms, and maybe a specially LE holiday charm profile up later today. Until then, I wanted to announce that CC is looking for a new home for three charms that have already been profiled.

If you are interested in either the Pave Lips, or original Look Book then you're in luck - both are ready to go out the door, in their original box with foam stuffing. I am advertising them here before I head to Bonanzle or eBay. You can send your highest offer to charmcandyblog@gmail.com. TPF members will receive free shipping, so long as you can provide me with an ACTIVE tpf ID that has posted on the thread more than 10 times. Descriptions of each charm are in their individual posts; use the label tags to find them. Everything is absolutely, no doubt about it 100% authentic. ALL OFFERS will be kept private, and I will remove this post if I can find a new home for all of them.

Stash: Carousel Horse

6.01.2009


image nameimage name

image nameimage name
Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe it's just the horrific week I've had. Either way, this charm screams EPIC FAIL! to me.

I kept hoping, with fingers crossed, that when this showed up and I could see it up close I would be pleasantly surprised. No such luck. It might be easier to talk about what isn't wrong with this charm, but I will outline my complaints anyway.

1. The colors. Red and blue?? Everything Juicy touches has practically been drowned in feminine colors and frilly fanciness. The first photo gives the illusion of a turquoise and coral scheme, which I might even take over the real deal. I think the primary color choices are terrible, especially paired with gold. (Red, yellow, blue.. never very appealing unless you're craving Hot Dog On A Stick.)

2. The eyes. Why the creepy slanty eyes, Juicy? Horses have gorgeous, large eyes and you've pulled it off before with the pegasus, deer charms, and rocking horses. So what gives? Felt too lazy to do anything more than a quick line on each side? It really lends a menacing look to the horse.

3. The saddle. It seems that someone found a Bedazzler and went overboard. I normally love Juicy's detailed crystal work but this just looks sloppy and tacky.

4. The ears. They're practically nonexistent.

5. The mane. Most carousels that I have been on or seen feature animals that are sculpted in some sort of action pose. So why not fan out the hair and give it some life? A wild, blowing mane could have really added some much needed pop to this piece.

6. The missing pole. This isn't such a big deal to me, but I know it is to a lot of you out there. You refuse to buy it without the traditional pole in the center and I don't blame you. After all, the pole is what most identifies it as a carousel horse, isn't it?

Am I returning it? Sadly, no. I pre-ordered during Bloomingdale's F&F so I managed to get it at a decent discount (plus there is no Bloomie's in Hawaii so returning it could become a pain). I grew up with a room stuffed full of carousel horses, so I'm keeping it for sentimental purposes rather than aesthetic ones. I am supremely disappointed in it, though. This charm could have been so much more, and definitely could have been on the same popularity level as the Panda had they put more thought into it. I'll take a premature leap and label this one the biggest downer of the summer.

Price: $58.00 MSRP
Box: Brown/Pink
Code: YJRU2989
Season: Summer 2009
From: Bloomingdales.com
Misc.: Made in China, not intended for children under 12.

Archive: Sunglasses


image nameimage name

image nameimage name
Ehhhhh. I have thought many times about selling these, but the resale value typically barely comes close to original retail. Therefore, they still have a home with me for now. They're cute, and I think they'd be perfect for either someone who really wants them, or someone younger than myself.

I'm not sure why I don't love them, but I think a big contributing factor are the amber lenses. (Really.. how often do amber and hot pink combinations exist harmoniously?) I'm also not a big fan of the chunky legs that suddenly taper off into tiny stems. The "Juicy" logo on the outside of the left leg makes that side feel heavy, and seems unnecessary. A sweet little detail, however, are the gold plates on the insides of the legs - the right one reads "Juicy" while the left one says "American Princess."


Price: 40.00*
Box: Black/Blue
Code: YJRU0692*

*This charm was produced prior to Juicy adding descriptive names to the bottom of their charm boxes. This is the code given on the box that the charm was in, but does not necessarily mean that this is the correct name and YJRU code for the Sunglasses charm.
 
Charm Candy. Citrus Pink Blogger Theme Design By LawnyDesignz Powered by Blogger