Jewelry Cleaning Advice from WhoWhatWear.com

Thursday, July, 11, 2013 We’ve heard all of the old wives’ tales when it comes to at-home remedies for cleaning jewelry--toothpaste supposedly shines your diamonds, ketchup helps polish silver, and a bit of beer will enhance gold's luster. Knowing what actually works and what doesn’t is a trial and error process we’d rather avoid, which is why we’ve asked jewelry designer and 2013 CFDA Award nominee Irene Neuwirth for her expert advice on the matter. . Continue reading for all of her tips and tricks to keep your favorite precious stones and costume bijoux looking their best! Caring For Softer Stones (emeralds, opals, garnets, pearls, coral, turquoise, jade, onyx, malachite, and amber) While Neuwirth likes a soft toothbrush--think of it as your best cleaning assistant--to get in between prongs and settings, she also recommends a chamois cloth to help polish and shine. To scrub away dust, dirt, oil, and rust, use a toothbrush with mild soap--according to Neuwirth, basic hand soap will do the trick--then rinse in soapy warm tap water and pat dry with a towel. Caring For Harder Stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies) “Ultrasonic cleaning devices are great, especially for jewelry that has been heavily worn over an extended period of time,” Neuwirth says. (Note: an ultrasonic system uses high-frequency pressure sound waves to agitate water and remove contamination embedded on the surfaces of jewelry.) She suggests using the ultrasonic for 5-10 minutes (depending on cleanliness) and following up with a toothbrush dipped in warm cleaning solution to get the hard-to-reach surfaces. We like Sharper Image’s Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner ($60). Caring For Metals (gold, platinum, silver) ​Dish soap and warm water works best on metals. The Lavender Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap ($8) by Mrs. Meyers is our favorite because it’s gentle and smells good too! Neuwirth also points out that metals are completely safe in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Shift Dresses: The Perfect Style for Every Woman

Shift Dresses: The Perfect Style for Every Woman from Yahoo Finding the perfect dress is a daunting task, but we set out on a mission to find one style that's universally flattering on every woman from size 2 to 20. After scouring endless silhouettes, colors, and fabric, we reached out to Nikki Pennie, celebrity stylist and style council member for David's Bridal, who told us the shift dress is the ideal frock for ladies of all ages, shapes, and sizes. "The shift dress is so timeless and classic," says Pennie, who thinks Jackie Onassis put the style on the map. "If you get the right one it should skim your body and cleverly hide the parts you don't want to emphasize like the waist, hips, or bum. The stiffness doesn't grab your body the way other styles do. Instead it gives that slimming, vertical line that elongates any figure and makes you feel comfortable." Not only is the shift dress universally flattering, Pennie says it's a no-brainer for any occasion. "If you have an office job it's something you can wear to work with flats and then to a dinner with heels and a jacket. And you can just as easily wear it with girlfriends on a weekend." We got Pennie's tips on selecting the best shift dresses and how to style them. Read on to find your perfect match. By Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor

Photo by: Bloomingdale's For the most versatile look, stick to neutral solid colors Pennie's favorite shifts are cream for summer, chic navy, or black, which she feels is the most flattering. "It goes with everything, it's timeless, and it's something you'll have in your wardrobe forever," says Pennie, who also advises against prints. "They can add inches on to your shape." (Anne Klein Shift Dress, $89,

Photo by: Debenhams If you're tall, any hemline will do Pennie does love the midi length, though. "This fall season there's a new longer length we're seeing a lot that hits between the knee and ankle. It's elegant and chic." (Damsel in a Dress Colette Coral Shift Dress, $98.12, debenhams.com) Check out Yahoo for more styles. Add a scarf, some funky jewelry or a blazer for a savvy look.