jewelry is more than an accessory

my grandmother was gifted at accessorizing.  she collected amazing costume jewelry, hats, shoes and gloves.  she was the first at a sale and last to leave.  my mother didn’t learn much from her, so she didn’t pass that on to me.  i’m making up for lost time.  <grin>

john brana who is one of my favorite designers had this to say on his facebook page today.  he expresses my thoughts and feelings about jewelry.  and his work inspires me to be better as a  new jewelry designer.

Whether you care or not, you make an impression every time you bump into someone different or see an old acquaintance. Research shows that in the first 30 seconds, an attitude is formed based upon your appearance. Your jewelry and what it brings to light about your character is part of that consciousness. If you want to project a certain vision, either individually or professionally, using your jewelry is a very useful way to do it. Here are some helpful pointers to get you started:

Stand Out from the Crowd

Treat yourself to a truely amazing one-of-a-kind piece of custom made jewelry. For instance, a custom piece of hand made jewelry designed by an artiste will really make you stand out. With a unique piece of art jewelry, you will be astonished at how often you get compliments and stand out from the rest of the crowd. Select the right design to reflect your personality. Different designs enhance certain personalities. Dazzlingly colored designs usually evoke a enjoyable, overenthusiastic, warm personality; Modern designed jewelry usually evokes an artsy personality; Ethnic jewelry usually evokes a bohemian or free spirit personality.

Pull Together Colors

Blue Obsidian Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Earrings

 

The easiest way to be sure to color synchronize your outfits is to buy matching jewelry sets whenever possible or financially feasible. This ensures you will always have something to match your outfit. A synchronized outfit communicates a well prepared, meticulous, and professional person with great taste and a flair for fashion. Having a blend of nicely harmonized colors does not mean that your jewelry has to be the same color as your outfit, but it does have to be part of a harmonized set of colors that blend nicely together.

Never thought jewelry was that essential? Statement jewelry is a part of you that guides your hidden style, your beliefs, actions, yearnings, place in life, line of work and status. It makes you feel good about yourself when you marvel at it in the mirror. Whenever you look at your one-of-a-kind jewelry, it gives you warmth inside when you recall where you acquired it or why you have it. Handcrafted designer jewelry makes a affirmative statement about you every time you wear it, and whenever you recieve or buy something new, it is a remembrance of that event in your life.

©2009 Handcrafted Fine Jewelry Blog by John S. Brana. All Rights Reserved.

looking for a deal?

early on in the web i signed up for Daily Candy to get interesting daily products.  now there’s a ton of sites and companies that offer daily sales.  some are better than others.  but i LOVE a few of them and enjoy looking at their offerings.  some of them offer things i’d never wear, while others have a great variety.  here’s a list of a few sites.

www.thetopsecret.com

www.editorscloset.com At Editors’ Closet, you will find a great selection of high end products, including apparel, accessories, jewelry, watches and children’s products, all backed by warranties and service you should expect.

www.ruelala.com for great designer sales every day!

www.hautelook.com more great designer sales!

www.ideeli.com and the hits keep coming!

www.gilt.com this is one of my favorite designer sale sites.  I like the diversity of products and unique designers.

where does style come from?

Just like how we get our views and ideas about life, we get our sense of style from internal creativity, our culture, our families, friends and from the information we take in through reading.

I may not be a fashionista…well, I KNOW I’m not a fashionista…but I love how clothes and accessories can make me feel about myself.  My mother never really appreciated how I felt about dressing myself, but she gave me freedom to do what I needed to do.

One Easter holiday outfit is something I’ve always wondered how she didn’t send me out to work in the fields.  My sister had won a dinner for the family at a high end restaurant at a time when eating out was truly a special occasion.  My mother gave me money and told me to go buy my spring outfit for the event.  Typically she took me to stores, bought me a dress and shoes, and any needed accessories.  This particular year she was either working or testing me.  Not sure which, and I’m not sure if she considered me to pass or fail.

It was a heady thing back then…purchasing my own clothes.  Allowing my sense of color, need for texture and an even greater need to express myself to come together in one great meeting…oh the thrill of the chase!

Spending a few hours at Neshaminy Mall after school searching out the perfect outfit was exhilarating.  My mom worked at Fashion Bug but I preferred The Limited and other shops.  Finally, something caught my eye.  (keep in mind this was the late 60’s) A bright orange corduroy set of overalls.  Big pocket on the front, copper strap adjusters, bell bottoms in crisp but soft fabric.  Yeah baby!  Throw in a long sleeve white shirt and you’ve got a going out to dinner for Easter Sunday fashion statement.

Don’t turn up your nose.  It looked hip at the time.  In spite of the stares at the restaurant, I’m thankful to my parents for letting me express myself at the age of 11.