Juicy Couture charms include high styled pieces that most contemporary jewelry brands make -- but it's the explicitly childlike, naive charms that make up its most fun and sprightly inventory. The main source of inspiration for these items is modern culture: sports accessories, consumer products, familiar foods, all find their way into this segment after being reduced in size and reshaped to fit the designer's plan.

The pieces consist of metals, crystal, enamel, and plastic, and exhibit an unlimited range of colors and geometrical forms. There's definitely an "abracadabra" diminishing element here at work, the company playing the magician's role. Some of the charms simply replicate familiar everyday life objects, and may serve as a reminder of the wearer's favorite accessory. Let's categorize the assortment and examine the jewelry more closely:

• Sport accessories include balls, ski goggles, football helmets, trophies, swimming flippers, and more. There's usually a touch of pink somewhere, to balance what often perceived as a masculine domain with a color that's often perceived as feminine.

• Antiques include a series of 19th and 20th century references: a lighthouse, a carriage, a phone booth, a bus, an air balloon, a crown, various padlocks, and more.

• Shoes comprise, among others, sneakers, platforms, high heels, boots, and so on. These combine references to both sports and fashion.

• Sweets&Foods include various cakes and ice creams cones, dry snacks (popcorn, pretzels), and drinks such as glass of cocoa with bits of sugar floating on top. All in plastic&alloys of course.

• Animal charms venture into the cute territory, replicating unicorns, pandas, mice, carousel horses, and cats.

More traditional charms, such as the familiar piece sign, a horseshoe, hearts in various shapes and forms, display less playfulness, presenting classical elegance that would suit a more traditionally oriented audience.

Though not as festive, they represent an important aspect of Juicy Couture jewelry, and will be more suitable on dressy occasions.