Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A Strategic Plan for Your Jewelry? How to Wear Exactly the Right Jewelry for your Body Type

Strategic Jewelry Planning? Get the Right Look Every Time

You've heard about dressing for your body type, right? Well, fashionistas claim that wearing jewelry strategically, based on your body type, can play a major role in what features (and dare we say flaws) you choose to highlight or minimize.

The type of jewelry you wear and how you place it on your body can accent or downplay your features. Here are some suggestions:

Long necklaces add length to a short neck and bring attention away from the hips and to the front and center of your body. Long necklaces include strands of pearls or other beaded necklaces, layered chains, and beautiful vintage lariat style necklaces. Layer them for a hip modern look to lengthen and slim your torso.   Here are a couple to try:

Vintage Pearl Lariat
Repurposed Chandelier Lariat

Mid-chest bibs, large focal point statement necklaces, and big chandelier earrings say "look at my face" rather than drawing attention to your middle. These sparklers bring the focus upward to the bust and face and can do wonders for emphasizing eyes, lips, and chest. Try these sparklers:

Pearl Statement Necklace

Vintage Repurposed Necklace

Chain & Rhinestone Recycled Choker
Large Vintage Earrings

Sparkly cuffs, stacks of dangle bracelets, and large statement cocktail rings draw the eyes to the wrists and hands instead of those less than toned upper arms (for some of us, anyway). Wearing these pieces with sleeveless tops or strapless dresses can be a great trick to draw attention away from the un-ripped bicep! Check out these statement rings or layer some vintage bracelets for a great look:

Chunky Pearl Vintage Charm Bracelet

Vintage Rhinestone Wrap Bracelet

Vintage Glam Pearl Statement Ring

Jewelry as strategy? You bet. With a few of these tricks in your jewelry box, you can wear your gems strategically to accent your best features everyday.   If you're looking for modern vintage jewelry to complement your wardrobe, visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/dabchickvintagegems

Friday, November 19, 2010

Five Essentials to Update Your Jewelry Box

     With these five essential elements, you can transform tired and worn costume or vintage jewelry into fabulous new creations:

1.  Courage!  It takes courage to tear up old jewelry, especially sentimental pieces.  Rule of thumb:  If it gives you heartburn, don't do it.  Go to a thrift store and find something cool without the sentiment attached to it.


Basic Jewelry Tools
2.  Tools and Techniques.  I use three tools over and over:  good wire cutters, long nose pliers and round nose pliers.  With a small investment in tools, you can do a lot of creative damage!  Once you invest in the tools, learn a few simple techniques like how to open and close a jump ring and how to loop wire.  You Tube is a great source for learning basic wire jewelry techniques.  Check out this video:  YouTube - Looping Method For Wire Wrapping


Jump Rings
3.  Jump rings.  Jump rings come in a variety of sizes, thickness and materials.  I use 7 mm jump rings most often to attach charms, brooches, pins and chain.  I use sterling silver and gold filled jump rings for most projects, but you may want to use less expensive silver tone or gold tone jump rings, depending upon the value of the piece.


4.  Head pins and eye pins.  I'm lumping these two items into one category.  You can use wire head pins and eye pins to restring jewelry, create earrings from old beads, attach brooches to chain, and much, much more.  Often I'll take a an old vintage double or triple strand necklace and restring the beads vertically using new head and eye pins.

Vintage chain

5.  Chain.  Old or new, chain can be used to refashion jewelry into major statement pieces.  I buy chain by the yard at jewelry supply stores, but sometimes I'll hit the clearance aisle at Kohls or Target to pick up chain.  I disregard the pendants and beads, since I'm primarily looking for quality chain, and fastenings.

With a small investment in a few tools and techniques, you can transform your jewelry into new, sparkling treasures like these: