Jun 04 2007
Simple Fashion Sense
I wear a lot of black. It is a versatile color that is easy to dress up or down. It also serves as a great base for a dramatic piece of jewelry, a colorful scarf, or some great shoes. In fact, red is one of the best colors to spice up a black ensemble, and I wear these two colors together often.
Today, I decided to pull out a little black number: a three-quarter length knit top with a knit skirt. Comfortable, easy, and relatively all-weather (it is cold in my office, and it is hot/rainy outside) and I wore my black glasses (my favorite frames, by far) and a special little necklace I just put together.
This necklace was inspired by the work of textile artist Anni Albers (who also did some jewelry pieces). I bought the jewelry kit at MoMA during my last trip to NYC, saving it specifically for the metallics month of Project Spectrum. It is simple - made with a plain metal beaded chain and silver bobby pins. Yet, it is pretty dramatic, like a sunburst… and it looks pretty smashing with black.
Simple jewelry appeals to me the most. I like clean lines and shapes. While I truly appreciate and respect the artistry in wearable beaded art, I often am the most happy with a chain and a few beads (or bobby pins, in this case).
**Interesting side note: I was intrigued where the term bobby pin actually came from, and my little search lead me to this Word Detective post, stating that bobby pins were so called after of the classic “bob” hairstyle that many women wore in the 1920s. The pins were used to curl the hair and keep it out of the face; thus “bobby pin” was coined.
What kind of jewelry do you like?
It looks great on you! I also love simple jewelry the best.
Ironically, about 25 or so years ago (when I was just a young thing like yourself), I needed a necklace to dress up what I was wearing to a party. I had no $$, but I did have one of those metal bead chain necklaces and a pile of shiny black bobby pins. Can you guess what I did with them? And people kept asking me “WHERE did you find that necklace?” It was a favourite piece for quite awhile. Now you’ve got me thinking about making one again. The wheel just keeps getting reinvented, doesn’t it?
love it!
this is great!
You look so cute with your glasses and new necklace! I like simple jewelry…I can’t wear anything too distracting in my line of work as an interpreter…but I like diamond stud earrings and I usually wear just my wedding band so it’s not too sparkly as my hands wave around!
Very cute jewelry! Looks great with the outfit. I will rarely wear jewelry but I do favor large rings, especially those bubble plastic rings…I don’t know why…but simplicity is key. I always try to put an outfit together but it only happens on special occasions, I’m way too lazy for all that. Shame really. I need to get my act together. Heh.
I like simple jewelry, also, but I want it to be something unusual. Don’t want to see it on everyone else.
i love those frames too. they look great against your blonde hair. and the necklace is great.
i rarely wear jewelery — not that i don’t like it, it just never occurs to me to wear it. i’m not great with accessorizing i’m afraid. but the kind of jewelery that does appeal tends to be fairly simple yet bold. i have big hands so i can wear big rings and bold bracelets. i rarely wear necklaces though. and what’s funny is that the earrings i wear tend to be small.
silver is my favorite metal though — even my engagement and wedding rings are white gold.
Lolly, that is really really cute! And handy if you need to pick a lock or put your hair up.
Swank *and* creative! I’m a big fan of simple silver pieces. I’m fortunate enough to have a friend who designs and makes jewelry using semi-precious stones and silver wire. Her pieces have an elegant, natural feel to me.
simple but stylish jewerly! You look lovely in your necklace, glasses and smile.
Very cute necklace!
It doesn’t get much simpler than that, huh? Very clever!
Me? I like silver jewelry best, something that gleams rather than glitters, something simpler rather than complex, something with curves rather than corners, but still, something a little different than everyone “else” is wearing . . . Craft shows are my favorite place to get jewelry these days!
What an interesting concept for the necklace! As a former art major and currently an occasional jewelry designer, it really appeals.
I wear a lot of clunky, chunky, dangly jewelry. Most of it is vintage inspired, or trend knock-offs. I make it all, can’t seem to bother with buying stuff when I know the quality of hand-made is so much better. I like bright colors, shiny, stones, glass… Not too picky, really.
Very cool necklace!
My relationship with jewelry is interesting–I don’t know that I really even took the time to cultivate my own jewelry sense; the ex wasn’t a huge fan so I sort of just never developed an interest. I occasionally wore things, but his lack of enthusiasm made me just not care. But now, I’m playing around with more things, exploring options, and totally falling for jewelry in a new way. I’m generally pretty conservative, opting for simple pieces with some punch.
Beautiful necklace Lolly. I too prefer things clean and simple. I like pearls. Many think they are old fashioned, but I like them. I also like silver. I try to avoid wearing pendants (though I love them) because I play around with any drops while talking, it’s kind of distracting.
That necklace is awesome.
I usually go for semi-gaudy chandelier earrings. The kind they sell for $5 or $6 at H&M. I don’t really have a huge budget for fancy clothes so I like the way sparkly earrings dress up my everyday uniform of jeans and a plan tank top.
A bobby pin necklace, huh? I must have a ton of those things rooting around, time to find a chain to string them on. I’d love to take a stab at making some jewelry, I have a few things on my wishlist that would probably be pretty easy to make with a little know-how.
Totally cool necklace. Nice job!
I don’t wear much jewelry. I have favorite pieces that i wear all the time and do not interchange very much. I always have on my white gold/emerald stud earrings and my sterling silver triqueta. During the Winter, i now change my necklace to a snowflake and i sometimes wear the new dangly snowflake earrings that Deb bought for me last Yule.
I have my sterling silver “wedding” band with the gold plated triangle on it and my white gold.emerald “engagement” ring. I only wear these when i go out of the house.
I have a few other pieces that were gifts…a simple heart locket, a sterling chuncky heart on a chain and some pieces that were my Grandma’s…probably Avon pieces. LOL!
I never knew that about the origin of the ‘bobby pin’ - cool!
As far as my taste in jewelry - I tend to be fairly simplistic. Simple sterling silver hoops earrings and chains with pendants. I wish I could go more bold and funky but it never seems to take.
Thanks for the info about the word bobby pin. Very creative and looks great with the black sweater and frames.
Great necklace!
I do love those frames.
I used to go for signature pieces of jewelry, wearing the same things all the time. Nowadays I mostly just wear my wedding ring. I do own jewelry that I love, all of it handmade or one-offs. Anything that not every single person on the street is wearing and very simple. I love clunky jewelry but I just can’t pull it off.
Most of my jewelry is Celtic in nature (my wedding band and a Celtic cross) are my usual jewelrey.
But, my favorite piece is a Lady in the Crescent Moon with a diamond star.
Other than her, simple stud earrings, my cross and my wedding band are about it.
that is so neat! what a innovative concept!!! I’m all for clean lines and minimal is better in jewlery - my engagement ring is my most favorite thing ever - a tension set diamond in titanium!
I love that necklace! I know where to find the ball chain, but how does it clasp?
Tee hee! LOVE THAT IDEA!!!! Must find silver bobby pins now. . . . . .
I wear clean lines for my necklaces and fairly simple, clean lines on my earrings HOWEVER, I love me some danglings charms or chunky bracelets. OR better yet, lots and lots of bangles that clink and clank as I move. I love it when my bracelets make noise.
I think it comes back to a childhood comfort. My mom always wore a set of gold bangles that would clink whenever she moved or talked (being hispanic, our hands are always moving!). Although I usually (90% + of the time) wear silver or white gold, I still love to hear my clinking.
BTW, my son will now sit and play with my bracelets (if my hands are ever still enough) to get them to clink as well. He says “Mom, I love to hear your jewelry. It let’s me know that you are near.” AAAAHHHH!
I’m kind of boring when it comes to jewelry. I wear it, but I wear pretty much the same pieces every day — my watch, the silver necklace and bracelet my fiance got me for my birthday last year, the silver bracelet my cousins got me for my college graduation, and a pair of stud earrings. All silver — I never wear gold. Occasionally I’ll mix it up and change one item, but other than that I’m pretty predictable. Does anyone else do that (wear the same thing every day)?
i love jewelry of all types. One day it is simple cahins with basic studs, the next chunky folk necklaces, and another with dangles and bangles!
When I was a baby I was fascinated with jewelry, in high school I wore so much I literally had the GDP of a small nation around my neck, in college I made jewelry for friends and almost sold it, and now collect special pieces.
Jewelry to me is one of the best accesories that really give a glimpse of your personality! I guess my is everchanging.
you would fit in here in nyc so well in that outfit! if you turned that smile upside down into a frown and went down to chelsea people would think you are a ny artist! the necklace is awesome! did you get any other kits like it at the moma?
Love the necklace. Very Cleopatra-ish.
I prefer very simple jewelry too. It makes life easier for me since I am a simple sort of gal.
I love it when your posts have questions. You’re a great writer, btw. Jewelry? It’s pearls, hands down. First it was Tahitian Pearls…I love all the beautiful hues that spanned from onyx black to silver grey; the peacock green is most spectacular. Then it was fascination with anything Mikimoto. Most recently, during our trip to Maui, I searched for Golden South Sea Pearls. What a beauty they are. My current quest is for the perfect Chocolate Tahitian Pearl. I’m really enjoying the PS2…thanks for hosting a colorful online project like this!
I like the necklace! I really like the look of simple jewelry, but I look better in pieces that aren’t too stark. I design and make wire-work and beaded jewelry, and designing for myself is pretty hard, trying to find the balance that flatters without looking too fussy.
Very striking indeed.
I love glass beads of all colors and shapes, I like big bold colorful beads.
Great ensemble!
Funky necklace! I love jewelry, period. I am often drawn to big and bold pieces, statement pieces. But I also love delicate little things. It’s hard to define my jewelry tastes, but I know it when I see it. I want something that looks like “me.” My favorite places to shop for jewelry: Rennaissance Faire, boutiques w/ handmade stuff and street fairs.
But sometimes I am seduced by a trend: in that case, I try to find a cheap version at Claires or Burlington Coat Factory.
Wow, that necklace is so cool! It looks great on you too! :0)
I am not much of a jewellery person but i am loving beads at the moment. Long beads- my favourite at the moment is a nice green colour, which of course, i wear with black. Can’t go wrong with black.
I love that they’re bobby pins! So understated and lovely. I wear earrings, mostly, and I like it when they’re not too heavy, and when they make noise. I’m easily amused. I don’t wear bracelets or rings much because I’m always using my hands, but for a necklace I prefer a single pendant on a simple chain. I like the chain to be mid-length so the pendant falls just below my collarbone. I like drawing attention there. ^_^
Love the necklace…very cool and modern. I’m letting my necklace marinade until I find the perfect arrangement. I love all kinds of jewelry, from simple and minimalistic to big beads, especially those made out of wood and seeds.
That necklace is so creative. I’m interested in seeing thr textile exhibit that went along with it.
Anyway. I have been tending today simple delicate jewelery. For everyday I have a thin silver chain, scrolly silver ring and tiny crystal studs. I bought a pair of earring from sulu design on etsy for a wedding I went to and they are so cute. I want to buy more, her blog is http://sulu-design.blogspot.com/
I LOVE that necklace with a seriously improper passion!
And it looks totally great on you. You’re right about the black. Very classy!
YOu asked an open question so of course I have to answer.
Jewelry: I love chunky jewelry, nothing too delicate, unless it’s a statment or something with sentimental value, but I also prefer it simple. I love semi-precious gem stones. All sorts. Especially Moonstone and Labradorite…And I love silver and white gold. And also I have a handmade necklace with green and black Czech glass beads and long torpedo shaped, cream coloured bone beads, strung onto string and secured at the back of the neck with a leather thong. It was made in a traditional style (albeit not traditional colours, though they did have several in traditional colours) by a craftsman in a Native American tribe on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. (I have the name of the tribe and the artist written down somewhere but I’d have to do some serious searching to find it). He was selling his jewelry in this tiny tourist information point on the northern end of the peninsual, not far from the Hoh Rainforest and some quite famous mountains. I saw his work and I immediately knew I had to have it but I didn’t have any money. I obsessed overnight (even made my husband stay in that town that night, just so I could buy a necklace when the man opened shop the next day). I should’ve bought 10 but they were expensive. I’ve worn that necklace so much I’ve had to make emergency repairs to it about 6 times. It’s a choker, and really simple, even though the beadwork is quite intricate, they’re big so it’s not too fussy. I LOVE it.
Um…I’m rambling.
Yay, it looks great. I too am all for the clean lines.
Brilliant necklace! And so simple too!