050. There and back again.

After a prolonged leave of absence (blame law school. BLAME IT!), I have returned, because I can't stay away any longer (and I am on break!). I went into an Anthropologie for the first time in over two months. I was crazed, it was an explosion of lights, texture, drama, I have missed clothes so badly, it is almost painful.

For some reason, I have saved a lot of links to jewelry, which is surprising because I wear so little of it. I thought I'd create a post memorializing my fascination with things I actually have very low motivation to buy.



CatBirdNYC.com
Digby & Iona 14-point Stag Ring, $210

I was thinking what fun it would be to name jewelry like this. I'd title this ring "Stag Party." Ha ha...okay, I'll stop.



Refinery29Shops.com
In God We Trust ID Bracelet with Lion Charm, $40

This is so reasonably priced, and yet so cute. I've had this on my wishlist for the longest time. It can be worn with so many different outfits.



BonaDrag.com
Stephanie Simek pussy willow earrings, $125

I adore jewelry made out of plants, or fashioned after plants.

Bona Drag is one of my favorite online boutiques these days. They have the most interesting things. I bought a Knox NYC bag from their website, and they did such a wonderful job packaging it--special tissue paper and their own mix CD (for free, of course). I only wish they carried more items; their selection is very small.


BonaDrag.com
Made Her Think double band chain ring, $336

Another Bona Drag item. I love that the rings are chained together.



PixieMarket.com
Daydream Nation gold spill necklace, $139

This is a very creative concept. Finally, someone getting metaphorically sloppy with gold. Kind of a metaphor for the American economy right now...

How ironic that none of these items are currently on sale. I reaped the benefits of some really amazing sales yesterday (J.Crew rainboots? Marked down from $88 to $14). It leads me to wonder, how insane will the sales be in January? After all, the mark-downs have only begun. Anticipation!

043. The Unbearable Lightness of Pearls.

Stock image (Audrey Hepburn)

I am not the type of person who wears heavy bangles, dangling necklaces, or earrings that drag your earlobe down. I feel weighed down by solid metal jewelry, and rings and necklaces often bother my skin. I prefer simplicity over complexity, and lightness over heaviness.

I've been thinking lately that perhaps what my ensembles have been missing is jewelry. It doesn't need to be complicated or excessive. Often when an outfit doesn't look right it's because it's missing that key element—that one thing that pulls it all together. You need diamond earrings to glitz up the LBD, heavy amulet-like crosses to make an all-black outfit goth, an enormous wooden cuff bracelet to enhance the boho vibe of your peasant blouse. You need pearls to turn any outfit, wild or conservative, into an instant classic.


Cultured pearl necklace
As legend would have it, pearls begin their life as an irritating grit of sand, which the oyster encases in layers upon layers of a glossy substance. This technically isn't true - the impetus for a pearl's conception is typically organic matter - but I am still reminded of the tendency of people to conceal perceived flaws by placing a veneer of beauty over them. I am thinking not only of excellent dental work but of artists who have constructed masterpieces inspired by some hidden pain. The ugliest things can be transformed into objects of beauty. I am also thinking that attractive but twisted female villains would do well to wear pearls as a symbol of their true nature. Or if you prefer to be less metaphoric, pearls are a straightforward symbol for elegance.

All of this thinking has caused me to conduct some research. The site Pearl Necklace Jewelry (catchy, I know) offers what seems to be the best price available on the Web. The pearls are apparently sold at wholesale price and the clasps and/or studs are 14K gold (good for me, since my ears are very sensitive). Purchases can be made with PayPal and security is managed by VeriSign. Shipping is free worldwide (sweet) and they do provide a guarantee that the pearls are genuine.

This reminds me, I need to do just as thorough a check-up on all the sites I buy from...

Here are a few pearls (ha) from this website:


Black pearl necklace


Akoya pearl necklace


Freshwater pearl necklace


Pink pearl necklace

I think what appeals to me about pearls is the type of color: smoky hues, dusky rose, warm charcoal. Everything is muted and subtle and soft. And pearls have a contoured, organic shape, no jagged edges or lines.

In conclusion, you can't go wrong with pearl jewelry - it's never gaudy or untasteful.

I must do more posts about jewelry! The last one I did was for that combination jewel-pearl ring from ShopAdele.com, and that was back in the fall.

008. The Preciousss, we wants it...

Matches.com
Looking to get your hands on the One Ring? Sick of battling orcs and Uruk-Hai for that little piece of gold? Want a safer alternative that won't drain your energy as soon as you start approaching a mountain?

Turns out Sauron wasn't quite as original as he thought. Matches offers Nicolas Ghesquière's version for £775.

In my opinion, Net-A-Porter hasn't got anything over this UK-based store. They've got a zoom function, a little "Recently Viewed" area, an amazing lookbook -- you name it. Even though overseas shipping is presumably heinous, if you're going to be paying £775 for a few measly hoops of metal, hey, no biggie. Go for it!

And seriously, you saw something on the catwalk you liked? It's here. Talk about temptation. I'm writhing right about now.