You may know Finola Hughes as Anna Devane of "General Hospital", or perhaps you are an avid viewer of "How Do I Look?" on the Style Network, where she has been the show's host since 2004. Finola has an amazing sense of style, which has carried over into her own jewelry line, which is sold on QVC (Visit Their Website).
Her jewelry collection features beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. The pieces feature sterling silver, 14K gold, gemstones and crystals. The jewelry has an antique look with a modern appeal. Finola Hughes Jewelry is not only beautiful, it's also very affordable. Prices range from $16 to just over $100.
I had the opportunity to talk with the Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress about her jewelry, accessories and more.
How did you decide to start your own jewelry line?
I have been interested in fashion and jewelry for as long as I can remember. My style began to form while shopping in thrift stores as a child in London, and walking through the Portobello Road Antiques Market with my mother on Saturdays. I’ve done a lot of traveling, and always find new and different pieces in the various places I visit.
With my interest in fashion and my position as the host of Style Network’s "How Do I Look?" creating my own jewelry line seemed like a logical next step – it’s something I love, and enjoy sharing with others. I’ve found inspiration for my line from great jewelry finds over the years and some of the jewelry I was left by my Mother – she was a big collector of vintage pieces. I always try to strike a balance between fashion and refined elegance – with my jewelry line and in my own personal style.
What's one statement piece of jewelry that is versatile enough that a woman could wear it for both casual and formal occasions?
No question, diamond studs. They are classic and feminine, and add the right amount of elegance to any ensemble.
What jewelry trend right now do you think will stick around for a while?
I think the global trend will stick for a while – I’ve seen more and more ethnic-inspired pieces over the years so it seems to be a sustaining trend. With everyone "going green" and turning their focus to the environment, eco-friendly pieces with a "green," recycled feel will definitely stay around.
How are the women chosen who are featured on "How Do I Look?"
We accept nominations for friends and family members through the show’s Web site at MyStyle.com. We are looking for people who are completely out of style, but who think their outrageous fashion looks great – the more unique the look, and resistant to change their style, the better!
Surprisingly, we also receive many online submissions through Craigslist. We ask that submissions include details about the person’s life story and how a makeover would impact their future. We take into consideration the personality and background of each nominee since we go to great lengths on the show to help hold a proverbial mirror up to the guests’ lives in more ways than just fashion.
What accessory advice could you offer to moms who want to look chic and hip without dressing like a teenager?
As a mom myself, I know how important it is for us to find ways to stay youthful, yet age-appropriate. Moms can make fashion meet function, while not looking like we stole something from our teenage daughter’s closet. First of all, ditch anything cropped, including t-shirts, sweatshirts and cardigans – moms should not be bearing midriffs. You want to wear well-tailored tops that accentuate your body in a classy way.
Also, go easy on pastel-colored items, since these tend to look too "girly" and cutesy. Instead, wear pieces in sophisticated and rich colors like chocolate, navy and deep purple. My favorite youthful tip is to update your eyewear to avoid looking like a granny – if you’re over 40 make sure you are using a progressive lens to ditch bifocal lines and look trendy. I just switched from "readers" to Varilux with Crizal lenses, which help me see near, far and everything in between while still looking fashionable and chic!
Thank you very much for your time.
Certainly, my pleasure.
