Bangle for Your Buck

Everyone says you're a real doll. But the moment your perfect sister walks in, they skipper right over you.

So what if she's got her PhD, worked as an astronaut and is now running for president? (All in four-inch stilettoes, of course.) She still won't let you crash at her Malibu beach house, drive her pink convertible, or raid her designer closet. You're this close to showing her what a bratz she's being.

Whoa. Don't do anything plastic.

First, take a deep breath. Now look at Kiki Beach, a new jewelry line by ki-ele designer Marylea Conrad.

Like ki-ele, Kiki Beach is feminine and beachy-chic with delicate touches of pearls, shells and charms. The big difference? Every piece in the collection costs less than $25.

So you can actually afford to stack your wrists with multiple silver bangles accented with puka shells and tumbled recycled glass. Or layer a long, gold non-tarnish wishing bone charm and turquoise bead necklace with a playful peace charm and cone shell necklace. Throw on a pair of recycled blue-clear glass hoop earrings and you'll have an effortless, refreshing look without raiding the piggy bank.

The Honolulu designer created Kiki Beach – a play on both her daughter's nickname and Oahu's famous south shore – to provide budget-friendly accessories without sacrificing style.

So you don't have to have, say, be a princess, to buy beautiful, elegant jewelry that even your bombshell of a sister would be envious of.

Talk about raising the bar(bie).

Kiki Beach by ki-ele, available at Town & Country Surf in Windward Mall, Pearlridge Center and International Marketplace in Waikiki. Photo Courtesy: Smile Passion by Giji Galang.