Romping Around
Call me old fashioned, but I think rompers are for babies. Even Kim Kardashian can’t seem to pull one off and that girl could rock a burlap sack. So, what’s the deal with the big push behind them?
Speaking of Kim, she also blogged about how to get a recent look that she wore to an event for less.
While these bracelets are a little on the pricey side of things, they are so cute. Also, I’ve seen bright watches on women for the past few days, and I think they are adorable. I’m not even a watch fan and I might go get one.
Also, good jewelery is not so easy to come by. There’s Charlie, who my grandmother has gone to for years, but she loves costume jewelery and I only really go to him for repairs. There’s the obvious big names, but what about something different and relatively affordable? A friend of mine has launched her own website including her designs. They are definitely worth checking out. And, according to her website, she’ll be in AC in October if you want to check out the designs in person.
Naturally adorned
I saw these wood circles from Adorn Natural at the Art Star Craft Bazaar a couple of weeks ago, and I was seriously impressed. I loooove how there’s so many contrasts between the sterile aluminum/salvaged wood, perfect modern circles/chaotic wood grain, organic/inorganic, etc. all going on in this one little piece of jewelry. Or belt buckle:
The makers are a married couple, who also had some really beautiful furniture for more than I could think of affording, and their wearable pieces are all made from recycled or salvaged wood. From their mission statement:
Alexandra Snook and Edward Way are designers and makers of modern adornments, furniture and accessories. Their works blend a modern sensibility with a deep understanding of the intrinsic value of wood as a material. They met while studying furniture design and construction at Purchase College, and over the last nine years have developed designs that speak to both contemporary and traditional sensibilities.
If you missed them at Art Star, the Adorn Natural etsy site is here.
Evil monkeys and ghosts and evil Amish, oh my!
Man, there was a lot of stuff going on this weekend! The City Paper trunk show, the Italian Market Festival, the Kensington Sculpture Derby, the Piazza opening, a big flea at 22nd and Chestnut… it was one of those delightful summer weekends where you can buy funnel cake on every corner and open-container laws are put aside. I only made it to the sculpture derby and Italian Market (and got one of those awesome sunburns where you can see where your necklace was), but I took some pictures in case you missed the derby for one of the myriad things competing for your attention Saturday.
Firstly: I got these yellow owl earrings for $9 at the Trenton Arts Festival from Gretchen Diehl of Birdqueen Designs, and already I’ve gotten more compliments on them from random store clerks and church ladies than every other pair of earrings I own combined. She makes some really nice stuff with a very distinctive look, and it’s extremely affordable. She had this amazing, huge stag necklace with the antlers reaching up to your collarbone that I didn’t end up getting it as I don’t usually have any occasion (or the wardrobe) to wear something that dramatic. But if you like drama, keep checking out her store to see if she posts it.
And now, start your human-powered engines:
Erin Go BRAAAGHhhhhh uh hey sorry about your shoes bro
There’s an Irish bar a block from my house on my route to the subway, so for the last couple of weekends I’ve been dodging screeching verge-of-vom co-eds dressed in green every other time I leave the house.
There’s just something about St. Patrick’s Day that’s so goddamn pathetic (at least, the parts that are ferried into my life via the Erin Express). The lightweight dudes that smell like vomit before 2pm. The embarrassing Irish-themed pick-up lines. The green Cat-in-the-Hat hats. The girls wearing the totally sexy green costumes, about 20% of whom look good in them and 80% of whom looked good in them four years and 25 pounds ago but are squeezing into them anyway, because hey, it’s St. Patrick’s Day!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favor of large crowds and public drinking. I just prefer it to be caused by some sort of event. Election night? Awesome! The Phillies stuff? Awesome, except for how my friend got his car flipped (but it was all OK, he had riot insurance). St. Patrick’s Day never seems like a celebration, just a yearly excuse for all the people I disliked in high school to take over the city for a day, binge drink and wear blinky lights.
That said, I still think this silver-plated shamrock necklace by Philly-area etsy seller briguysgirls is really beautiful.
Change Your Rolodex
Heads up, Philly: Fantastic local jewelry designers Anna Bario and Page Neal have renamed their line. Formerly Rust Belt, the new line is now called Bario-Neal Jewelry. Known for using reclaimed precious metals, ethically-sourced stones and low-impact, environmentally conscious practices, you can find their pieces at Arcadia and Vagabond boutiques. And bonus: One percent of all Bario-Neal profits are donated to the Association for Responsible Mining. We’ve got big love for these ladies and their eco-friendly, ethical designs. See more—including shots of their a-ma-zing commitment bands—after the jump.
Heavens to Etsy: Election Edition
Mad love goes out to polkadotpancake over on Etsy. This decoupaged key chain featuring our soon-to-be Commander-in-Chief is on sale for $5 More of their merch after the jump.
This ring, featuring Diego Rivera’s “El Vendedor de Alcatraces,” comes with an adjustable band for easy resizing. Don’t get it wet, though. This decoupage project is only sealed with Modge Podge.
Totally digging these green Army men earrings. Only eight bucks!
Web tricks
Lovely, feminine and still oozing with creativity, the Philly native retailer Anthropologie continues to supply fashions that are a great balance of DIY and couture.
They’ve taken that great attitude to their website and are up to some cool new tricks. Take a gander at the “ADORNED” section. This season’s favorite accessories are not just highlighted in a photo spread. Fufill your voyeurism fetish and see a video loop of models tricked out in florescent eyeshadow and teased manes flaunting Anthro’s latest pieces. It’s beautiful, creepy (the models don’t move!), and captivating and nothing I’ve seen from other retail sites. Check it out.
Lust: Tatty Devine + Rob Ryan necklaces
I’ve been talking about my love for Rob Ryan’s amazing paper cut-outs for a while now.
Lo and behold, I swing on over to check out the latest at UK’s Tatty Devine (after seeing Laura Marling last night at the chapel, it’s cute UK day here in my heart), and TD is offering necklaces inspired by Rob Ryan designs. Oh shit!
Don’t wear the same bird/plane necklace as everyone else (like I do, guiltily but IlikeditwhenIgotitandhadn’tseenityet,man!) I tried to get this amazing dinosaur necklace last year but they were sold out during the summer and I’m just not into necklaces over turtlenecks.
But isn’t it great? Next spring.
Swing Girl necklace now on sale for 20 pounds! Buy it before that means like $100!
Rob Ryan’s Other Planets Can Not Be as Beautiful as this One.
Go to Rob Ryan’s Etsy shop here to see more of his amazing artwork.
If you dig that, check out Philly’s own Joe B.’s amazing delicate noir cut-outs. Less p/optimistic–the birds are likely crows or vultures, not little lovebirds and sparrows–so there’s a bird for every kind.
25% off Emily Amey Jewelry
Our neighbor to the north, Brooklyn, is home to jewelry designer Emily Amey. Her creations are always lovely but especially worth noting today as everything is 25% off with coupon code DCEMILY!
Take a gander at her website and you’ll see that her pieces are very organic in shape, evoking visions of beaches and sealife. Totally affordable in sterling silver and indulgently luxuriuos in 14k gold, her jewelry has a wide array of fans. From pages Lucky Magazine to the wrist of Lindsey Lohan, Emily Amey is getting noticed!
I’m especially interested in her custom pieces. This is a great alternative to the boresome Tiffany engagement ring.
Heavens to Etsy
Half Philadelphian, half Brooklyner, the sisterly team of Amber and Heather Zezeck are full force wit and kitsch. Or, more specifically, they “make jewelry with a sprinkle of sophistication, a dash of irony and a heaping teaspoon of street cred.” (Brookadelphia.com)
Their handmade, lasercut acrylic creations bring the tongue-in-cheek right to your neckline. Check out these jewelry one-liners:
Are you a step above the rest? Then cough up the cash and commission a custom piece (starting at $75). Life’s too short; wear that inside joke on the outside.