Today, Saks Fifth Avenue at Waterside Shops is hosting an event to benefit the American Cancer Society. 10 percent of the proceeds from all David Yurman jewelry will go to the foundation. But the best news is that jewelry designer David Yurman is making a personal appearance from 2 – 4 p.m. Prior to the event, Yurman told Gulfshore Life about his personal ties to the American Cancer Society and three gifts to get to delight without fail.

Q. This event is to benefit the American Cancer Society, is this an important organization to you personally?
I lost my sister to cancer. I lost some friends to cancer and I believe there is a cure for cancer. I believe the way is through research and it’s more than research. To have an organization that aggregates so much of the experience, gives you support and says, ‘You know, 300,000 people a year have cancer and you’re going to get through this.’ It gives you hope. Makes the quality of your life better and anything I can do to support quality of life being better is a pleasure. It makes the selling process richer.

Q. When you create a piece, what is the process behind it, and how do you turn inspiration into a wearable piece of art?
I design all the pieces, that’s the unifying element. I design what I want, when I want, how I want. And once I say that then I have to actually design what my wife is interested in, what my son feels, what the merchandiser feels. The feeling always is that the creative part is from something that strikes me. I go, ‘Wow, that’d be great to make that.’ This is 30 years as a business, but it’s probably almost 50 years in making sculpture, jewelry, sculpture, jewelry. And it’s constant. I’ve got to turn it off rather than turn it on. It’s an evolution. What you’re seeing is like one giant art project. And it keeps on going and keeps on going. And I do have a lot of influence mostly my wife and I, we design together. I’m here–other than for the American Cancer Society–because I touch my customer. I see what they see what they like. That all feeds into the process.

How do you pick what accessories best go with an outfit?
I don’t. My accessories are very simple. I wear jewelry every day. A watch, two bracelets, a couple of string things that mean something personal to me and kind of a Romanesque ring I made years ago. If I don’t have it I feel I’m not in balance. I wear this all the time, since high school. I wear sentimental things. The choice is so personal.

Q. This holiday season what is on your ‘Must Get List’ for your wife?
She has hundreds of scarves, but it means that she is constantly replenishing them. I’ll do a day in SoHo, I might even travel through Saks. It’s fun shopping at Saks in the holiday season. It is very festive and full of energy. I’m a New Yorker, I grew up in the city on Long Island. So, the Saks shopping experience goes back to when I was knee high.

Q. What is on your ‘Wish List’ this year?
Right now, I might pick the Cognac watch because there is only 200 of them in the world. There are four editions totaling about 200 hundred. I’d get the rose gold, cognac colored face and there’s a little surprise gift that I know is attached to it but I can’t mention because it wouldn’t be a surprise. It’s a magnificent watch. It is pure luxury. You can buy a Timex, it’ll tell time. You can buy Swatch, it’ll tell time. But this is about luxury it’s not about telling time. It’ about have the craftsmanship of hundreds of years that got to this perfection of a wrist watch. I love the watch. I love the look of it. I like the history of it.

Q. For men out there who have no idea what to get their wife. What are some classic pieces that would always work?
Our cable bracelet is a staple. There’s a pendent called Albion; it’s cushion shaped pendant and a ring. I cannot imagine that you would ever find your wife saying, ‘Oh, I don’t like this. Could you take it back?’ It’s almost 100 percent guarantee of non-return. In fact, Saks told me, ‘You are the least returned gift of ours.’ Least returned gift is David Yurman, it’s like 1 percent, 1.5 percent return. I’d say the most iconic is the cushion shape silver ice. We kind of invented, 10 – 12 years ago, putting silver into diamonds. So, I’d go and look for silver ice, look for the Albion and look for a cable bracelet. You can’t go wrong. And they’re collectibles. So, you can get it next year or for the birthdays and anniversary. Yurman is an easy answer.

Be Bronzed

No doubt about it—summer is officially in full swing. Which means the bathing suits and minimal cover-ups are in full swing. Which means tan gams are now on the top of the priority list. Skin cancer, however, is never cute, so here’s our roster of tried-and-true products for getting the best tan on Vanderbilt Beach—the safe way. And they’re all available locally, so you can be well on your way to a bronze glow overnight.

Soleil Tan de Chanel – If you find powder bronzers too heavy for the summer swelter, Chanel’s cream-gel bronzer offers a more natural, dewy finish. Need more coverage? Use it as a base under your normal foundation. $48 at Saks Fifth Avenue.




 

Clarins Delectable Self-Tanning Mousse SPF 15 – Continuing on our search for lightweight products to beat the heat, self tanners don’t get any lighter than this whipped variety from Clarins. It’s enriched with vitamin E and safflower extract and—best of all—SPF 15. $42 at Sephora, Coconut Point, or La Femme Perfumery, downtown Naples.

 

Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder – When it comes to bronzers, orange is the enemy. No one looks natural with orange skin. Though the name “terracotta” might imply otherwise, there’s nothing orange about this bronzer from Guerlain. It comes in five different shades to match your undertones, and this one, too, is enriched with vitamin E (fights free radicals) and hyaluronic acid. A pricy powder pick at $48, but oh-so worth it. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue.
 

St. Tropez “Wash Off” Instant Glow Body Lotion – Sometimes you need a tan and you need it quick. There’s no time to get sprayed, no time to apply and let sit overnight. St. Tropez is an industry favorite for its tanning products, and this “Wash Off” Instant Glow lotion is just that; it gives you a natural-looking tan immediately, and it comes right off in the shower (not on your clothes). $18 at Nordstrom, Waterside Shops (or $15 for the face lotion version).

Have any best-kept self-tanning secrets? Share with your fellow beach bunnies by leaving a comment below.