Let's talk jewelry for a minute. A unique shining, shimmering piece can transform a girl. A great necklace can take a look from boring to bravo in seconds. Chandelier earrings, bangle bracelets, diamond studs, fake, real, you name it, I love it... and I probably own it in several styles.
I have a particular weakness for jewelry which started when I was young. As a grade schooler I was enamored by those neon yellow charm necklaces - I even bought a space shuttle charm to wear in honor of the Challenger after it exploded. As a teenager, I spent hours digging in my mom's private jewelry drawer and in her small silver heart-shaped box filled with earrings when she wasn't looking. I started buying my own jewelry in high school, and I amassed a ton of cheap plastic things that looked, well, cheap and plastic. But as an adult my taste has become more sophisticated; I'm always in search of the perfect piece to wear to complement my outfits, and now I have my own jewelry drawer filled with little boxes that I can rifle through when no one's looking.
The problem, of course, is that real jewelry is expensive. A cocktail ring can easily run $50 at Macy's. A heavy steel cuff? Forget about it. Out of my price league.
So how have I created such a great jewelry collection on a budget? Buying jewelry, I've found, is all about creativity and care. I don't buy those expensive trendy pieces that everyone from J. Crew to Banana is showing at their ever-expanding jewelry counters. True budget aficionados do a little more digging... and end up owning a lot more indispensable pieces that they love.
Here are my tips for creating a budget friendly jewelry collection that your friends will envy:
1) Collect family heirlooms. My most beloved piece of all time came from my great aunt's jewelry box. It's a sterling silver cuff that was created in Pennsylvania in the 1960's and looks like one continuous piece of thick silver twisted around my wrist. I get more compliments on it than anything, and I didn't pay a dime for it. I actually don't know how I ended up with the piece, because most of her pricey stuff (and she had a TON of that) was given away or sold after she died. Only her "costume" jewelry remained in a box for Goodwill, which was where I found the silver cuff.
Aside from the obvious benefit of laying claim to free stuff, family jewelry is important to me because it provides a connection to previous generations. The fact that my aunt and I had the same taste, despite the fact that I never really knew her trendy style, is a thought that stays with me. I'm reminded of her every time I wear the bracelet.
2) Search for vintage. I frequent consignment shops and local antique stores for estate jewelry. Sometimes you can get really interesting pieces there, or you can find pieces that are easy to transform. For instance, I bought a really pretty antique silver ring that looks like leaves from a resale shop in a nearby suburb. It was probably $5 because it was missing the main stone. I wore it anyway, and later realized I had the perfect pearl to place in its center. Voila! New vintage jewelry.
3) Make your own, or find someone to do it for you. A friend of mine's mom used to create jewelry from pictures. So if you saw a beaded necklace you liked, she made a replica for you that only cost the price of the stones. There are bead shops that specialize in this sort of thing, like Bead in Hand in Oak Park, Ill. I have a bunch of beads and stones at home that will someday be made into masterpieces when I have time... I just haven't had the chance to do it yet. It's a project for a rainy day.
4) Buy wholesale, and buy local. When I was in Albuquerque, I bought a bunch of turquoise jewelry (earrings, necklace and bracelet) wholesale from a turquoise store. It was ridiculously cheap. I don't know what other kind of gem wholesale stores there are, but that was like finding an oasis in the desert for me. I highly recommend. The other key point her is to buy local. I get lots of cool pieces from open air markets and arts festivals when I travel - the pieces are cheap and they serve as souvenirs. Plus, they always allow me to share a great travel story whenever I wear them.
5) Buy trends cheap. Let's say a few years ago you wanted some big colorful plastic or wooden beads. Where would you go? If you said H&M, you'd be right. If you said any place that would charge you more than $10, you'd be wrong. It makes no sense to spend money on items you'll only wear for one season. I don't do it often, but when I'm buying trends I shop mostly at Target, H&M and Old Navy. Anything more isn't worth it!
6) Ask for moderately priced gifts. My final point is sort of a cheat. I'm usually all about purchasing my own stuff and not depending on anyone to support my lifestyle, but I have found that asking for moderately-priced jewelry from my parents and boyfriend for my birthday or Christmas typically results in some cool stuff (they ALWAYS ask me to do a list anyway). I love having those items as a special bond between the giver and receiver - made even sweeter when the giver purchases something that perfectly shows he/she gets your style. And I'm not talking gold and diamonds here, any little sparkly thing usually does the trick.
Plus, saving your impulses throughout the year by window shopping to select your next gift suggestion might actually prevent you from making any crazy unaffordable decisions.
I could go on about jewelry but I'd risk sounding super obsessive and TOTALLY boring the males (done and done, I bet). Nah, they're off making their brackets today anyway... this one was for the girls.
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