jewelry

Gracey on: Brooch Clusters

by Gracey on April 25, 2013 · 21 comments

Lately I’ve been loving wearing clusters of brooches or pins on my outfits; you can see some of my looks here and here. However, I have to admit that it was, at first, sort of intimidating deciding how to put the pins together. I have good news though. Through vigorous trial and error and dedicated application of the scientific principle, I’ve determined some fool proof* groupings and am here to share them with you!

First things first though. While I still love the impact of a single, shiny pin, three shiny pins are thrice as nice. For my tastes, three pins is the ideal number. Anything more looks like you’re the colonel in a fake but glittery army. And a mere two brooches look as though you forgot something. Like your third brooch.

Now, without further ado, here are some three-pin groups that I like.

On the Open Sea

Brooch Cluster # 1 - gold boat, rhinestone feather as wave & rhinestone starburst as sun

Create a brooch picture with a  gold boat, rhinestone feather as a wave & rhinestone cluster as the sun.

 

Pastel Study

Enamel, plastic & rhinestone toucan, rhinestone & enamel circle & rhinestone flower.

You’ll be spring-ready with a pastel, multimedia toucan, rhinestone & enamel circle and a blue rhinestone flower.

 

On the Dark Side

Black/clear rhinestone, green cabochon & clear floral arc pins.

You don’t have to go bright; this group has a black/clear rhinestone piece, green cabochon piece & a clear floral arc pin.

 

Rhinestone Cowboy

Sparkle cluster - double rhinestone, floral arc & starburst.

Your time to shine?  How about pairing a double rhinestone pin, floral arc & a cluster all in clear?

 

Go for the Gold

Double flower pin, bee and rooster.

Not a fan of the shiny-shine?  Try a matte gold cluster, here with a bee, double-flower and a rooster.

 

The Thing With Feathers

Pastel toucan, clear rhinestone feather & blue rhinestone flower.

Hope is, and so is this cluster with the toucan pin, the feather and a blue flower.

 

Organic

Pearl & rhinestone wheat sheaf, rhinestone leaf & rhinestone feather.

Organic shapes (wheat, leaf and feather) make up this pearl and rhinestone cluster.

 

Insect Life

Large rhinestone bee, green rhinestone butterfly & pearl fly.

For the entomologist in every woman; a multicolored rhinestone pin, green butterfly and pearl-bodied fly.

 

One Sweet Pair

Mother-of-pearl sweetheart pin & double butterfly-flower rhinestone pin.

This sweet grouping pairs a mother-of-pearl sweetheart pin & a double butterfly-flower rhinestone pin.  Yes, that’s right, this last group only has two pins, instead of three; because rules are made to be broken.

So, what do you think?  Do you wear multiple brooches? Are any of these groupings something you’d  try?

xoxo,

Gracey

*And by fool-proof, I mean they’ll probably work.  Most likely.

P. S. If  brooch clusters are on your list to try, and you’re looking for pins, you can find them easily and cheaply on Etsy and eBay, in thrift stores and at garage sales.

_ _ _ _ _

Already Pretty contributor Gracey hails from from Fashion for Giants. She’s essentially your average blogger, except that she’s taller than average (six foot) and bigger than average (size 14). She also likes to think that she’s more amusing than average, but that could just be vanity. In addition to being tall and plus-sized (and possibly hilarious), she’s also a thrift store shopper, a vintage lover, an Oregonian, and a bike commuter.

Likes: Gracey likes to shop, to blog, and to terrify her co-workers with brightly colored outfits.

Dislikes: Robot uprisings, too-short skirts, and leggings as pants.

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This Week I Love …

by Sally on April 3, 2013 · 6 comments

… Veronica Riley Martens.

Here’s a jewelry designer and Etsy vendor who has been in my favorites list for over THREE YEARS and yet I haven’t made a purchase. I blame it on the fact that I’m typically in love with at least three pieces at at time and can’t narrow it down to one. Her designs are bold, graphic, fun, and playful. Right up my alley.

Veronica is based in Chicago and I’ve seen her work in boutiques in the Chicago ‘burbs (Asinamali) and even here in the Twin Cities area (La Rue Marche). Of her designs she says, “Most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind statement necklaces made from tagua nuts. Tagua nuts are eco-friendly, organic nuts that come from palm trees in the rainforest. The nuts are dried, sliced/cut into various shapes and dyed. I then combine different textures, colors, shapes and sizes to create unique, mosaic, one-of-a-kind creations. I also use other natural and organic materials, such as recycled paper, bone, horn and wood.”

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Shades of Blue and Green – $75

Mixed Color Tagua Nut Necklace – $95

Red Tagua Necklace – $58

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Black Red Gray Necklace – $38

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Long Necklace with Fringe – $46

Her pieces are chunky and modern, but so sophisticated. I just adore her aesthetic. Veronica says she’s got plenty of bracelets and earrings but not enough time to list them, so drop her a note if you’re interested!

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How to Train Yourself to Accessorize

by Sally on February 8, 2013 · 36 comments

how to train yourself to accessorize

The vast majority of my style consult clients have great clothes and fabulous ideas for outfit assembly. The vast majority of my style consult clients also struggle with jewelry and accessories. I’ve had so many of them say, “Oh, I don’t really wear jewelry. I don’t even own any!” Only to haul out unworn and forgotten stashes of necklaces, bangles, and earrings. Others say, “I love scarves on other people, but just can’t figure them out for me.” A few scarf tie tutorials later, and they’re back in the game. I spend a lot of time illustrating how jewelry and accessories make outfits feel more complete, finished, and polished. And then I try to reinforce the importance of incorporating them into daily dressing rituals.

But if you’ve never been big into jewels and accessories, how do you begin working them into your outfits? How can you train yourself to accessorize?

Jewelry

Start with jewelry. Even if you don’t think you have any, you probably do. Check your stores and see what you can find. Even a simple chain necklace or pair of hoop earrings can change the feeling of an outfit. Really! If you’ve worn the same studs every day for years or never bother with bracelets, set a schedule: Incorporate jewelry into your outfits on Tuesdays and Thursdays to start. If your wrists are bare, try to slip on a bracelet or watch. If you’ve got an open neckline, try a necklace. Keep it up for a few weeks. Once you’re in the habit, add a few more days or switch to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Soon, your eye will begin to see jewelry-shaped spaces in your outfits and long to fill them!

Scarves

In my experience, most women own scarves. They see them worn by others, love how they look, buy ‘em, get ‘em home, and realize they have no idea how to deploy them in actual outfits. Does this describe you? Well, sadly, the only way to give those scarves some wearable love is to suss out which ties work for you. And that means some research and experimentation. Let’s research first:

Cruise through some of those links and see what strikes your fancy. What styles and sizes of scarves do you own and love? Which techniques are, therefore, relevant? Now the tough part: You’ve got to set aside a bit of time to try them out. Throw on jeans and a black shirt, stand in front of the mirror, and see what works in practice. Try to identify at least three scarf ties that make sense, work with your collection, and complement your personal style. Once you’ve got those under your belt, you’ll find yourself more inclined to scarf it up. Because you’ll know how.

Belts

I’ve got an entire post on breaking into belting, and highly recommend it if you’re just getting started. The big takeaway? You likely need to start by figuring out which PLACEMENT works for your figure, then which WIDTH of belt you like best. So start with a scarf: Put on a fairly loose dress or tunic, and try belting it with a scarf at various spots on your bod. Hips, wearing waist, natural waist, and close your bust like an empire waistline. See what looks best. Then try making the scarf wide like an obi belt and see how that looks. Fold it so it’s the width of a pants belt. Roll it tight as you can so it’s skinny. See which width is most flattering. You may find that multiple combinations look good – skinny at your natural waist, wide up by your bust, medium at your wearing waist. But this little exercise will get you on the right track. How should you implement belts?

Hosiery

Hosiery season is coming to an end for many of us, but it still bears addressing. In my opinion, the three easiest ways to incorporate tights into outfits are as follows: If you’re doing separates, match your top and tights colors to create continuity. And/or make sure the color of your tights is repeated elsewhere in your outfit, be it in a belt, scarf, or piece of jewelry or within the pattern of a garment. And/or let tights make a stand-alone statement of their own by making them the lone colorful or patterned element in an ensemble. (More tights-deploying advice here and here.) Just having a few tights templates can make incorporating them into regular wear seem less daunting.

There are brooches and hats and loads of other accessories to be considered, but I view these as the Big Four. They’re accessories that stymie the majority of women, but can be fun and beneficial to deploy. Hope these tips have been helpful! I’d love to hear yours, too: How would you recommend that someone who has avoided jewelry and accessories begin to incorporate them into regular wear?

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Necklaces and Necklines Revisited

by Sally on December 19, 2012 · 9 comments

Waaaaay back in 2009, I cooked up this tutorial on pairing necklaces and necklines. And, looking back, I still agree with virtually everything I wrote. However, since this is a question that comes up fairly often I figured it was worth revisiting and discussing.

As I said back in the day, I believe that a necklace should ideally:

  1. NOT compete with the neckline of your top
  2. Fill the visible neck/chest area
  3. Or, in the case of closed necklines, create contrast

Let’s start with a scoopneck for our first example:

Simple neckline, simple necklace. This pairing adheres to the criteria listed above – necklace and neckline aren’t fighting each other and the necklace fills the space. Notice, too, that the scoopneck and chain mirror each others’ shapes. A pendant would have created a v-shape, but this unadorned chain is rounded just like the visible neckline. (Secondary, but something to consider.)

But it’s not essential that a necklace sit above the neckline on the exposed skin.

Here’s the same dress and cardigan configuration, with a longer, chunkier necklace. Since the strands dip well below the dress neckline, this pairing looks intentional. If they were a few inches shorter and instead hit right where the neckline begins, they’d be fighting each other awkwardly. If you’re going to wear a necklace that hits below your neckline, make sure it hits WELL below.

Extremely long strands – the kind that hit at navel level – work with most necklines. Since they dip so far below the exposed neck and collarbone area, there’s no fighting and no real reason to consider shape mirroring.

Here’s a pairing that doesn’t quite work, in my opinion. The neckline is fairly deep and more v-shaped than round. The doubled-up chain is round so it doesn’t fit into the space well, and short so it doesn’t FILL the space well either. Not a tragedy, but not ideal either.

Here are some examples of necklaces that mirror and fill their necklines:

Pendants work well in pointed or v-necklines, while strands fit beautifully into rounded or scoop necklines. Ideally, there should be about an inch of distance between the bottom of the necklace and the top of the neckline. Any more distance, and the neckline won’t look full, as shown above. Any less and you might pick a neckline fight. Again, a good way to avoid such conflict is to pair your longer strands with higher necklines.

In the older tutorial, I examined options for button-front shirts and suggested long strands, small pendants, and bibs.

I somehow failed to mention that a necklace can be a very subtle addition to a button-front outfit. Here’s that same plain chain, just peeking out from the collar of the shirt. This allows for bigger earrings and/or cuffed sleeves and loads of bracelets. Great options, since getting a necklace and a shirt collar to agree can be challenging.

Finally, if you’re going truly huge many of these guidelines may be useless. For myself, I prefer that the chain element of a giant necklace fall above the exposed neck and collarbone area, while the bulk of the piece rest below, as shown here. If the metal plates of this necklace were to peek up above the black tank neckline, that would look like a fight to me. Since they rest on the solid black space, they look intentional.

Again, the older tutorial includes many more photos and examples, so I recommend taking a peek! But I hope some of these were helpful as well.

Do you have any personal guidelines for pairing necklaces and necklines? Do these suggestions resonate with you? Any other resources on this topic you’d care to recommend?

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Useful Jewels

by Sally on November 12, 2012 · 27 comments

I’m a jewelry-hound. Happy to admit it. Much of my jewelry is picked up from thrift and antique stores for dirt cheap, some of it is self-made, and lots of pieces have been purchased over the years from artisans and craftspeople. But even the cheapie pieces from Target make me happy because I’ve learned that, for me, jewelry is what makes my outfits feel complete. And I love having lots of options on-hand.

I’ve also learned that there are certain styles of jewelry that appeal to my eye but don’t work for my lifestyle. Like many women who work at a computer, bangle bracelets just irritate me. Shoulder-duster earrings are such fun to look at, but even with my short ‘do I feel self-conscious and perpetually at risk of catching them on something and injuring my tender lobes. Choker necklaces make me feel … well … like I’m choking. But there are also some real workhorses in my jewelry box.

Stretch bracelets

I adore bracelets, especially since I prefer 3/4 or cuffed sleeves and feel a bit naked without some kind of wrist candy. But as I mentioned above, bangles are a bother and although I love wraps and a few link/clasp styles, stretch bracelets are my absolute favorites. I adore stretch sets like the silver ones shown above, but also keep my eyes peeled for semi-precious and pearl versions. Stretch bracelets sound like accessories for playtime, but there are lots of sophisticated iterations for us grown-up gals.

Stud earrings

With short hair, I find that my tendency to wear chunky, eye-catching necklaces means that large, dangly earrings often look like overkill. It’s too much big jewelry in one area for my taste. So I’ve been collecting various types of stud earrings, which help complete my looks without competing with other jewelry. Bigger studs like these pyramids are fun, but I also love dichroic glass and Moissanite/CZ studs.

Chain necklaces

Bold, bright, colorful necklaces always attract my eye, but it’s my simple chains that get the most wear. Long, short, chunky, and delicate they play nicely with just about everything in my wardrobe.

Classic watches

Every time I get a Sundance catalog, I drool over the duotone Tokyobay watches. I love the idea of a pink watch face on a red watch band. But I know for a fact that I would wear such a watch approximately never. After years of living watch-free, I’m just recently beginning to wear them again and find that my classic, pared-down watches are marvelously versatile.

Metal earrings

Earrings can be a great way to add a little pop of color to outfits, and I do love my bright baubles. But, once again, it’s the plain metal ones that get the most wear and feel the most useful. Shape and size can vary greatly, as shown here in three of my favorite pairs, but the common factor is that they’re all plain silver.

Related post

What are YOUR jewelrybox workhorses? Any of them overlap with mine?

**Disclosure: Actions you take from the hyperlinks within this blog post may yield commissions for alreadypretty.com. See Already Pretty’s disclosure statement for more details.

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Reader Request: Finding Quality Accessories

by Sally on November 1, 2012 · 18 comments

Natalie put this request into the suggestion box:

I have seen you cover this a little but, but I would love to see some more ideas on where to get QUALITY accessories. I love the leather belts and scarves you feature, but I never find them at thrift stores, and they cost a fortune at department stores. I would love to see some of your strategies on when and where to shop for them.

Weeellll, there’s no easy answer to this one, I’m afraid. I’ve been thrifting, Etsying, DIYing, antiquing, art fair-ing, and otherwise collecting my accessories for many, many years, culling and evaluating as I go. I have some marvelous stuff now, but I’ve had some utter crap over the years, too. And it’s taken me a while to train my eye. I’m happy to share a few tips for sourcing and spotting quality accessories, but definitely hope you’ll share more suggestions in the comments, too!

If thrift fails you, try consignment

The Twin Cities thrift environment is really, truly fabulous. I’m a lucky gal in that respect. But I understand that many towns, cities, and areas either lack thrift entirely or offer meagre pickings. If thrift has failed you AND you’re in a locale where consignment shops are available, try them out. You won’t find $0.25 silk scarves or $1 belts – prices will be slightly higher – but you may still encounter quality, used goods at affordable prices. Why buy used accessories at prices that rival Target’s when you could buy new FROM Target? Because a quality used item will endure better than an affordable but cheaply made one. And how an item has aged and worn after a previous owners’ use may give you a preview of how it’ll hold up as you begin to use it.

Support artisans

If you’re on a truly tight budget, this option may not pan out for certain accessories. Handmade, unique, artisan-crafted accessories are almost guaranteed to be better quality than mass-manufactured, so shopping local art fairs, boutiques, and open studios in addition to trolling sites like Etsy and Big Cartel will give you access to a better class of goods than you’ll find at mall stores. Additionally, buying from the person who made an accessory means you can contact that person if you have questions or concerns. I’ve never met a craftsperson who was unwilling to talk with a customer post-purchase about anything related to the product. Again, buying handmade goods can be pricey … but you’re getting superior quality and craftsmanship.

Consider antique fairs, malls, and stores

OK, buying decades-old, cracked leather belts from antique stores might be a bad plan. But many antiques vendors and dealers stock items that are relatively new, including scarves, hats, jewelry, handbags, watches, belt buckles, and loads more. Again, this is a case of observing how a used item has fared against previous wear and tear to predict how it’ll do in the future. While it’s not universally true that older, vintage items are better made, many of them were crafted from better quality materials in a time before “fast fashion” even existed.

In terms of spotting quality pieces in person? I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but much of the time I go with the “heavier is better” philosophy. I KNOW. But I’m just being honest. I know from experience that heavy leather belts, thick silk scarves, and other accessories with some heft to them last longer and take abuse better. Both in person and online I check material content and am more apt to purchase real leather and pure wool than synthetics. And, finally, unless I can handle an accessory myself I make sure to purchase from vendors who accept returns.

Related post:

I’d love to hear some other suggestions for resources and tactics for tracking down quality accessories! How do you spot quality? What are your favorite resources for good accessories, both new and used? Do you have luck at thrift, consignment, or antique stores? Online? Share links, if you’ve got ‘em!

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Reader Request: Highlighting Your Face Without Earrings

by Sally on October 3, 2012 · 12 comments

Reader Jenni threw this one into the suggestion box:

the next time you post about jewelry, could you share some thoughts for drawing attention to the face for those of us who can’t wear earrings? i may be in the minority here, but my ears have been terribly allergic for years (i’ve tried it all).

So I’m gonna assume that Jenni’s ears are sensitive enough that clip-ons won’t work either. So we’re going 100% earring-free here, friends. Let’s see what we can come up with.

Printed scarves

Yes, I am totally wearing earrings in the photo above. YOU CAUGHT ME. However, the main attraction is that floral infinity scarf, isn’t it? The busy but regular pattern, its proximity to my face, and the fact that it’s being worn with a solid dress in a darker hue all mean that the eye will be drawn upward toward my face. Printed scarves worn relatively close to the neck provide a great way to bring the observing eye into the facial realm.

Bold makeup

My guess is that Jenni was mostly thinking of accessories and clothes, but there are loads of other ways to keep the focus on your face. Bright or dark lipstick, smoky eye makeup, and flattering blush all help attract attention to your complexion. If bright eyeliner and false lashes feel too bold, stick to lip color. Find a shade that’s flattering but noticeable, and wear it proudly.

Hairstyles and hair ornaments

Another non-accessory option! Intricate braids, eye-catching updos, fun or colorful barrettes, fascinators, and headbands all grab attention. Especially if the rest of your outfit is relatively plain, any of these options will bring the observing eye upward.

Statement necklaces

Now, obviously a giant, funky necklace is going to bring attention to your neck and collarbone … but that’s within range of your face. (Right? Double checking … yep. Mere inches away.) Don’t feel like you need to go choker in order to bring the party up higher on your frame. In my opinion, any statement necklace will do the trick.

Chic eyeglasses

Naturally, this suggestion only applies to those of you who WEAR glasses, but a great pair of specs is one of the best ways to show off your gorgeous visage. I’m a fan of colorful frames myself, since they appear modern and bold, but even neutrals and metallics in interesting and modern shapes. (Here’s an older post about finding great glasses, with a link to advice from Angie at You Look Fab.)

What other suggestions do you have for Jenni? How would you draw the observing eye to your face if earrings were simply not an option?

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Power Clothes

by Sally on September 25, 2012 · 30 comments

Fashion, clothing, and style are often portrayed as frivolous interests. Wasteful of time, energy, and money. Vain and self-absorbed. Unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Which is downright hilarious when you consider how important clothing has been to human culture over time. Clothing has served as a medium for self-expression, a way to quietly rebel, and a means of delineating power structures. Now, I’m no historian and I’m sure some of you ARE historians, so I encourage you to add further evidence in the comments. But from a non-historian’s brain come the following examples: Throughout many cultures, royalty and nobility will show rank and wealth by wearing certain colors, materials, and garments. Judges and clergy wear robes to indicate authority and set the tone in courtrooms and places of worship. Athletes associate with their chosen sports through accessory, shoe, and clothing choices.

Some of these examples show how clothing can support or subtly enforce classism, and clothing’s links to power aren’t all positive or admirable. But there are many ways that modern people – especially women – can utilize clothing to summon and broadcast personal power. Here are a few examples of clothing and dressing techniques that I’ve seen used to evoke various forms of personal power.

SUITS

Although many women have celebrated the decline of the suit as required business-wear, others continue to celebrate it as a source of reliable, instantly palpable personal power. Suits have long been the uniform of powerful men, and it could certainly be argued that the power women derive from wearing suits is borrowed from a system that encourages us to look and behave in masculine ways. But it could also be argued that women’s suits are their own class of garment, and that cashing in on a style that has commanded respect and attention for decades – and making it our own – is a marvelous subversion. Most women I know avoid suits for daily wear, but rely on them for occasions that require a show of confidence, maturity, and power. A suit that fits and looks smart makes its wearer appear undeniably in command.

BOOTS

There’s a reason the song is titled, “These BOOTS Are Made for Walkin’.” Certain styles are treacherously high and difficult to wear, but even heeled boots tend to be more stable and walkable than their pump and sandal counterparts. Shoes that look cool and sexy yet root their wearer to the stable ground allow for the subtle power of stylish confidence and the pragmatic power of physical stability. There’s something undeniably mythic about boots, something rough and raw that seeps up into the wearer.

LEATHER

Those of you who abstain for ethical/personal reasons may disagree, but I think it’s possible that many people view wearers of leather garments as “tough” because in the distant past, you had to kill something yourself before you could wear it. Gross but true. Leather is primal. It calls forth ancient power that we can harness for our own uses. Even leather look-alikes can make their wearers appear mysterious, edgy, and not-to-be-trifled-with.

JEWELRY

So, crowns. They’re pretty much the ultimate wearable symbol of power. Diamonds and precious gems are still used to subtly convey the power of wealth in many cultures. But other more common types of jewelry can convey personal power, too. Pendants come in every imaginable shape, and adorning your neck with a skull, a religious icon, or a fierce animal can imbue you with power. Cuff bracelets can call up images of ancient Goddesses. (And Wonder Woman.) And, perhaps more importantly, jewelry can hold personal and emotional significance, which means that merely wearing it can buoy and empower you.

COLOR

If you’re headed to a meeting or party or event in which you’ll be confronting an enemy or bully or competitor, you’re unlikely to wear seafoam or peach. Red evokes passion and fire, black evokes ferocity, gray evokes detachment and coolness, blue evokes calm levelheadedness. Simply selecting a garment in a shade that resonates with your personal power can amp up the power that you broadcast.

Clothes that make you feel present in your body, strong, even invincible are incredibly valuable tools to have in your possession. They can be your armor or your scepter, your shield or your sword. Power clothes can help you locate and direct your own power, then radiate that power outward from within. Those who declare the world of fashion, clothing, and style to be silly, wasteful, and pointless are dismissing a potential source of strength, a resource for crafting a perceived self, a means of expressing confidence. Our clothes can be imbued with power, and they can imbue us with power, too.

What are your power clothes? Are they certain styles, materials, or colors? How did you discover them? Have they changed over time? Do you utilize suits, boots, leather, or any of the other items on this list to help you feel centered or strong? Feel free, too, to share any other historic examples of how clothing has supported or figured into power structures over time!

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