Leave it to Dia to eliminate the guesswork from your holiday shopping. Keeping in mind women’s various tastes and needs, we’ve concocted guides for five different types of Dia women.  From glamor queens to solace seekers, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our list of exceptional gifts for the woman who…

…has almost everything
Fill that last open space in an enviably well-stocked jewelry box with a stunning piece of statement jewelry. A dinner-plate sized cocktail ring or dangling Art Deco-inspired chandelier earrings from Bounkit, or a handmade Onzy necklace from Madame Reve are sure to take the place of honor.

…dreams of a spa retreat
How does she multitask? Let us count the ways: work, school runs, grocery shopping, keeping in touch with loved ones and so much more… Nurture the busiest woman in your life with in-home spa products from Green Bar. Just don’t expect the bath to be free anytime soon…

…is finished with LBDs
Another little black dress? Please. This woman – you know who she is – is ready for something a touch more dramatic, a sartorial flourish that’s sure to silence any room she enters. For the grandes dames and divas in your life, look to Georges Chakra and his show-stopping red gowns. Exuberant, explosive and inimitable – just like her.

…is planning her next beach holiday
In December, when it’s cold enough that the memory of sunshine on skin seems impossibly far off, there are few things more warming than planning a beach holiday. Stuff a Sarah’s Bag Day Bag with a pair of embroidered Liwan sandals and an OYE monokini. The only thing left to add? A plane ticket.

…relishes being noticed
A wallflower, she’s not. Taking as her style guides figures such as Rihanna, MIA and Nicki Minaj, she’s sure to appreciate anything original, bright and bold. A Mia Jafari scarf and a few stacks of colorful Amrita Singh bangles will become daily staples in no time.

Find all of these items – and maybe even a piece for yourself

Make that fingers, actually. What could be more luxurious, when everything wrist to ankle is out of sight, than adorning your hands with ornate cocktail rings? Hands are, of course, among our most expressive tools. Loading up two, three, even four fingers on each hand with rock candy rings matches the scale of fall’s dramatically proportioned fashions.

Better yet, the dark velvet skirts and soft silken blouses act as backdrops – theater curtains, if you will – to the faceted gleam of Bounkit’s smoky topaz and citrine ring and Amrita Singh’s Maharani and Victorian cocktail designs, all worn in a row. So go on, drape your body in maxi-dresses and –skirts – and cast a spell with your hands.

Ah, fall! The gusts of cooler winds carry the promise of colder weather to come and the thrill of the new. New season, that is. For a few weeks, at least, legs may remain bare, but thoughts are turning from so many flimsy chiffons toward stronger stuff: camels, shearlings, tweeds and wools!

One of the best ways to bring a hint of autumnal richness to any wardrobe is through embroidery. The depth and complexity of skilful embroidery instantly dresses up and almost winterizes outfits, referencing as it does the opulence of European opera houses, the Russian ballet and warm, inviting, cushion-strewn tea rooms the world over.

It’s a lesson taught by the late Alexander McQueen, who made use of embroidery all the way up to his final A/W 2010 collection. There, the golden Byzantine whorls are one stamp of elegant excess among many, with heavy ruched satin, feathered coats and multi-layered chiffon coats completing the picture.

To wear embroidery well in a more everyday context, select one decorated item and let your other garments fall in line behind this focal point. Imagine an all-black outfit capped with Madame Reve’s layered Onzy bib necklace, or wearing an electric blue dress and pashmina with a pair of bright Liwan sandals (note: try this before the November gales!).

If you’re concerned that the look harkens too far back in time for your tastes, look to Mia Jafari for a modern update. Her “digi-broidery” melds ancient Perisan embroidery techniques with modern, pop culture-referential designs, full of jewelled birds and Louboutins.

Or, for a more irreverent take on embroidery-slash-embellishment, consider Sarah’s Bag’s Classic 1001 Safety-pin Clutch, which makes artful use of the useful seamstress’s tool. True, you might take a bit longer at the metal detectors, but go on—they’ll be dazzled!

Thank goodness, then, for Georges Chakra, who has delivered with his Edition by Georges Chakra fall collection just the garments we envision. It’s almost as though, after a summer frolicking in clothes that are merely “fun”, we get to go back to school… with the perfect little frock rather than a new pouch of sharpened pencils.

His structured gabardine dresses have all of the seriousness required by modern life with none of the staidness—detail like crushed satin and gabardine bows sees to that. A master of cut, Chakra can make even the most masculine elements seem fresh and intended to glorify a woman’s curves.

Take his reversed tuxedo dress. The black-crepe frock has an ingenious collar that channels lapels from that most formal men’s suit, and a collar that continues down the back. But the shape is completely feminine, with sleeves stop just past the elbow, inviting the wearer to don a pair of elbow-length gloves.

And the gray lamé wool tank dress makes a flirty piece out of a material that might be basic in anyone else’s hands (gray wool?). The body-conscious cut appears plain from the front, with its nude panels in the shoulder straps the only adornment, but the wearer turns around to reveal darling and daring cut-outs finished with black satin bows. Better yet, all it requires to become office-ready is a structured black blazer.

The weather may still be warm, but these dresses put us in mind of chilly nights. After all, the best part of going back to school? Back to school shopping, naturally.

Click here to see the new collection

You’ve heard the “rules”: no white after Labor Day, no socks with sandals, don’t wear double denim, etc.. To that, we say: please see Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty, the Christian Dior and Marni spring/summer 2010 shows, and Alexa Chung.

We don’t follow the so-called rules. That’s one of the reasons our jewelry boxes overflow the way they do—diamonds are forever, and semiprecious stones are trans-seasonal, darling.

That said, a few of our rocks just seem more right for sunshine than for snow or rain.

Think turquoise. Meant to be worn against tanned skin, even thinking of a favorite turquoise necklace conjures the smell of sunscreen. As end-of-summer party invitations start to roll in, look to Bounkit’s turquoise cuff or Amrita Singh’s chandelier earrings, all best worn with a white linen dress.

And then there are the typically sunny colors: yellow, orange, coral red and swimming pool teal. Wear Zena Baroudi’s Lucky Silver Hand Necklace before temperatures cool.

Better yet, why not wear them all at once? Summer is a time for color and excess—go on, pile on those bangles… even if all you’re accessorizing is an OYE monokini.

Ever since Miucca Prada presented a spring/summer collection inspired by chandeliers, designers have been enamored with things that dangle, sparkle and reflect. Think of Marni’s bronze disc-embellished tunics, Dolce & Gabbana’s over-embroidered lace and plenty of metallic layering at Louis Vuitton.

The embellishment trend has resonated with Dia editors as well. Georges Chakra completes his perfect cocktail dresses with bejeweled necklines and shoulder straps, while Karen Karam gives a glittering edge to one of her black lace and chiffon frocks.

For a subtler take, look to Ronald’s black chiffon shirt with matte silver discs at the neckline. Or amp up your basic white tee and jeans with artfully embroidered Liwan sandals—an office favorite.

Check out this week’s top finds.

For proof, consider all of the harem- and dhoti-style trousers you’ve seen in stores over recent months. Prints and shapes reminiscent of the souk and styles worn by adventurous backpackers have been elevated with luxe fabrics, materials and finishes.

The designer credited with igniting the trend is Dries Van Noten, a Belgian known for his wonderful work with print. His Spring/Summer 2010 show included a riot of bright prints splashed and clashed over loosely draped trousers and jackets. He presented his souk-style trousers with heavy, beaded necklaces and chunky bangles of the sort you might pick up on a Zanzibar jaunt.

Since then, we’ve seen high street stores full of pieces making use of Middle Eastern inspiration. Tap into the global trend by blending unexpected wardrobe elements, mixing designer pieces with items you found on your last holiday.

Why not wear a raspberry kaftan over grey harem trousers, accessorizing with a stack of Amrita Singh thread-wrapped bangles and brightly embroidered Liwan sandals? Or a Calm gold bouchara kaftan with wooden bangles from Guatemala and that multi-strand shell necklace you found in a beachside shop in Indonesia?

The possibilities are endless. Go on — be a style nomad!

At the forefront of this trend is OYE. Twin sisters and designers Ayca and Zeynep Sadikoglu bring a fashion-forward eye to their exciting new swimwear brand, which offers one-pieces with sexy cut-outs and beaded detail.

For those in search of less outlandish tan lines, look no further than Spicy June. These bikinis are available in more than a dozen different colours and patterns, so you can mix and match your way to swimwear perfection.

Now, if only we could guarantee some sunshine…

Check out the selection here

Bounkit’s amethyst and lapis ring seems almost totemic, appearing as though it might just possess the ability to instantly cool its lucky wearer. Same for the line’s turquoise and peridot shell earrings, perfect for would-be mermaids.

Wear pieces like Zena Baroudi’s blue glass necklace with a simple linen shift. Blues and aquamarines look best on a crisp white backdrop–look to the Greek Isles for proof of this minimalist color combination’s potential.

Go on — clad yourself in colors of the ocean.