And now for your BLAZER dancers...at Carl Greve's Bridgeport store

Guess who is decked out in all things sparkly at our Carl Greve Bridgeport store this evening?

Yep, that's right. The Blazer dancers are here for Guys' Night Out to help the guys find just the right gift. They stopped by Carl Greve's Bridgeport store and next thing you know designer jewelry from the likes of Ippolita, Roberto Coin, and John Hardy just happened to find its way on the dancers.

If I could give my father anything from Carl Greve this holiday season it would be...

“ My dad is has always carried his cash separate from his wallet. A new money clip with his initials engraved on it would be perfect.”
–Cheyenne, Agency Creative Director

Kali money clip by John Hardy. Price: $350

If I could give my father anything from Carl Greve this holiday season it would be...

“He has been wearing the same pair of cufflinks for as long as I can remember. I would love to update his look with something a little more stylish.”
– Ty, Controller

Black and blue sapphire Naga cufflinks by John Hardy. Price: $1,795

If I could give my mother anything from Carl Greve this holiday season...

“My mom wears a lot of family heirlooms, I would love to introduce her to a more modern piece.”
- Dawn, Designer


Batu Bamboo ring by John Hardy. Price: $695

Carl Greve Style Profile - Nu Hinton

Occupation: Sales Associate, Carl Greve Bridgeport Village

Style Icon: Coco Chanel

Describe your personal style: Feminine, classic, elegant.

Favorite designers: Elie Tahari, Jil Sander and Hugo Boss for suits.

Which Fashion Week shows would you most like to attend: Max Mara and Chanel.

What can be found in your jewelry wardrobe? My watches, my wedding ring, pinkie rings, right hands rings, and lots and lots of bracelets and necklaces for layering. Everyday is a new combination.

Appasionata necklaces and locket pendants by Roberto Coin. Prices vary.

When you travel, what type of jewelry do you pack: Simple bands, a pair of large hoop earrings, and one timepiece (usually with dual time zones).

Breitling Chronograph Cockpit with diamond bezel and mother of pearl dial. Price available upon request.

I never break this fashion rule: No white shoes after Labor Day (or really anytime), except for my Gucci 4-inch heel sandals in the summer.

I always break this fashion rule: I like to wear my leather shorts with a tweed blazer. I don’t know if that is a fashion rule or not, but I never see anyone in Portland with that combo.

Most underrated item in a woman’s wardrobe: A nice camisole. You don’t even hear that word anymore… ladies just reach for a tank top. A camisole is so much more elegant and feminine.

Most underrated item in a man’s wardrobe: Cufflinks. Men make the mistake of thinking that cufflinks are only worn when they “dress up” or wear a suit. That is just not the case. They look fantastic worn with jeans and a nice crisp white shirt, untucked to help balance it out. That look is so handsome.

18k white gold with diamonds Eros cufflinks by NIKOS Jewels. Price: $2,895

Favorite restaurant: Oba -- they have great martinis.

Favorite vacation destination: Shasta for house boating.

What do you build your daily look around: My mood dictates what I wear. For example: conservative = suit, feisty = cheetah print, sexy = leather, relaxed = slacks and a sweater set, etc.

Your next must-have item from Carl Greve: 34mm Rolex Pearlmaster in yellow gold and a three-row Hearts On Fire eternity band.

18k white gold and diamonds triple row eternity ring by Hearts On Fire. Price: $22,600

Best Carl Greve moment: A couple came in to look at engagement rings. It was pretty clear that she fell in love with one particular engagement ring by Judith Conway. Her boyfriend slipped us his credit card and motioned for us to ring it up, he then dropped to one knee and proposed to her right on the spot. She screamed and began to cry. All of us in the store also teared up, and then promptly popped a bottle of champagne to toast the proposal. She said “Yes!” of course.

When I was in high school I wore: Bobby socks with pompoms and pleated skirts. It was the uniform of the private French high school that I attended in Vietnam.

Favorite movie: Dr. Zhivago

Best style advice you have ever given: Every woman should own a pair of diamond stud earrings, preferably 2 carats (one in each ear). This is a requisite before you dive into bigger fashion jewelry. And don’t wait, you certainly don’t have to be in a relationship to have them either!

18k white gold three-prong diamond studs by Hearts On Fire. Price dependent on total diamond weight.

Never caught wearing: Colorful hosiery.

I splurge on: Bracelets, necklaces, and shoes. My motto is “The more the merrier.”

Sterling silver bracelets by John Hardy. Price varies.

I feel best wearing: A pair of Gucci shoes (I can work a 12-hour day in them no problem!)

Most cherished item: My wedding ring has the most meaning.

Favorite scent: Oriental lilies

Oriental lilies.

Off the cuff, continued

The only thing better than wearing one of these fabulously large cuff bracelets by John Hardy, is wearing TWO of these fabulously large cuff bracelets by John Hardy. One on each wrist, à la a modern day Coco Chanel. Sterling Silver Big Kali cuff bracelet by John Hardy. Price $1,195.

Off the cuff

Sterling silver, yellow gold hammered oval, with white sapphires, Kick cuff bracelet by John Hardy. Price: $2,000

Carl Greve Style Profile- Mark Schneider

Name: Mark V. Schneider

Occupation: General Manager, Carl Greve Downtown

Style icons: Dwayne Johnson

Cities you’ve lived in: Miami; New York City (that’s my hometown, east side Manhattan); Rome; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (my father was the governor of the Virgin Islands in the 90's); Stuttgart, Germany; and of course Portland, Oregon.

Describe your personal style: crisp and classic with a touch of modern

Best sartorial advice for men/women: Fit is everything. Fit determines how you will carry yourself.

Favorite items of clothing: A well made suit. I have about 23 suits in my wardrobe. As soon as they begin to show signs of wear from dry cleaning they are retired and replaced.

What do you build your daily outfits around? Suit, shirt, tie… in that order.

I feel best wearing: Canali or Hugo Boss suits

Never caught wearing: peg-legged jeans

I never break this fashion rule: You will never find me wearing white socks with a suit.

I always break this fashion rule: Typically, different styles of shirt collars are supposed to be paired with different styles of tie knots. Not for me, I prefer the v-taper of a Windsor knot no matter what type of collar I am wearing.

Favorite shoes (suits, sport, everyday): Ferragamo dress shoes with suits, Nike shoes for sports and excercise, and Ferragamo driving loafers for everyday.

Do you shine your own shoes: Yes, daily. Once a month I have them professionally maintained.

Cufflinks, pocket squares, suspenders or all the above: Definitely cufflinks, I think these John Hardy black and blue sapphire cufflinks are very sharp.

Most underrated item in a man’s wardrobe: Belts. Most men don’t know how to coordinate their belt with their shoes. At a minimum, try and color coordinate.

Your next “must have” purchase: A Harley-Davidson, specifically the V-Rod. It is considered to be the muscle bike of the Harley-Davidson line.

I splurge on: Fine dining and timepieces.

Favorite Portland restaurant: Andina

Favorite timepiece in your collection: A Patek Philippe given to me by my grandfather. It is a Calatrava from the 40’s.

Dream timepiece to add to your collection: Patek Philippe complication with calendar, the 5140J to be exact.

Best Carl Greve moment: Designing a diamond pendant using a guest’s diamond that was part of an old necklace that she rarely wore. We worked together to create a stunning necklace, one that garners compliments whenever she wears it.

Favorite vacation spot: Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands. It is peaceful and quiet. Only 150 people live there, including Virgin Atlantic owner, Richard Branson, who owns a small island that is part of Virgin Gorda.

Favorite scent: Issey Miyake cologne

Guilty pleasure: I listen to Ludacris when I am driving by myself.

Sports: Martial Arts, and I played football in college at Syracuse.

When I was in high school I wore: A black leather bomber jacket

How to stack John Hardy's Bamboo Rings

John Hardy's sterling silver bamboo stackable bands

with pave diamonds.

Option One: Stack 3-5 rings on one finger.

Option Two: Stack 4 rings on one finger and one ring on the finger directly next to it. This is an edgy way to wear multiple rings in an unusual way.

Option Three: Mix and match the sterling silver bamboo rings with the diamond pave version.

John Hardy's sterling silver bamboo stackable band, retail: $125; with pave diamonds, retail: $295.00

I dream of Bali

Maybe it is because the we are getting a taste of the sunshine and that reminds us of vacations and more specifically, of Bali… but we can’t get enough of John Hardy’s Naga Collection. It works on the days when we are craving an all gold look, and it also works on the days when we are sporting an all silver look. In fact, we are finding that this collection goes with just about everything… business attire, weekend dresses, denim, and most importantly it goes with a vacation wardrobe perfectly.