From PVC to crystal and blown glass, nothing says Summer like... Transparency! According to Vogue, PLASTIC Jewelry takes center stage this Summer:
A shell on a gold chain?! Absolutely. I can't wait to show you the stunners I unearthed in the sand on a recent beach trip. They are just begging to be worn long like this one in the middle:
Enjoy the Sun (wear screen!) and happy Summer!
xo-Laura
photo cred: Vogue
Love it or hate it, the Choker Necklace trend is back with a vengeance this year! All over the runways, but with some unique twists...
Lots of ideas there, but I prefer these delicate alternatives:
What's your preference? Not ready to take the dive, yet? I actually have several necklace options that can be worn as almost chokers in my latest MidCentury Necklace Collection... in case you want to gently jump on the bandwagon!
Enjoy :)
Laura
photos via pinterest
Found: a Jewelry traveller that I am in LOVE with! This studded mosaic zip case is at the top of my Wish List...
Gold studs, cream leather, AND anti-tarnish lining! Swoon. Now I just need to find a place to go...
*It's 25% off via Wayfair $111.99 (orig. $149) :)
Terrazzo is having a moment and I am beyond thrilled. To me the Midcentury mosaic wonder is basically jewelry for the home!
I first fell in love with the material as a young child in my Grandfather's home. It was a sprawling modern Asian style with Terrazzo floors. The metallics drew me in and I was surprised that there was a material that could make something as mundane as a floor sparkle.
What actually is Terrazzo? It's pieces of marble and granite suspended in concrete. Doesn't sound so sparkly, but the finished product can add as much color as a painting. It's a perfect way to artfully brighten up a room or give hint of shimmer to a high-traffic area, like a floor.
Here are a few examples...I even found a pair of Terrazzo Earrings!
Enjoy!
xx-Laura
Photos: Anthropologie table; Sevak Zargarian bowls; Etsy
Nothing refreshes me quite like a visit to the Ocean. Specifically, a very clear blue Ocean with sugar white sand! I frequent our family Florida retreat as much as I can, soaking up the relaxation and inspiration so that I can emerge fresh, renewed, and ready to tackle what's next. It's really the only way for me!
I loved pulling out my camera to capture this shot at Sunrise this morning. The mix of colors was just what I was hoping for. I am continually inspired by the Ocean and the Beach! It was also fun to vary from my normal Product photography to Landscape photography. It's always nice to try a new route :)...I am already counting down the minutes till the Harvest Moon tonight to see what I can capture!
Where's your Vacation State of Mind?
It all began with my Father, giving jewelry to my Mother and me to mark occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. He always picked out interesting pieces on his own- one of my favorites being a band of square channel set rubies for a birthday. I was used to seeing bands with round diamonds, so I especially loved that this was different. I think that began my quest for collecting jewelry.
I was lucky that we travelled as a family when Summertime came, and I began to seek out unique jewelry every new place we went. The thrill of the hunt for designs that I'd never seen before was always at the forefront of my brain, no matter where we went. I loved when I could take home something that was different and marked the occasion or place that we'd been. Everytime I wore it, I was instantly transported back to the place where I had found it, and got to relive the experience of where we had been.
Years later, and I still love to collect jewelry. It's absolutely the very first thing that I think about when a Birthday arises... but these days I seem to settle for more practical necessities. Not to mention, my life is becoming more streamlined and clutter-free...so if I am going to buy something, it's got to be pretty special. And who has time anymore for that kind of search?! Maybe one day soon I'll devote an ENTIRE AFTERNOON to searching solely for a new sparkler to add to my collection. That would be amazing. I mean, the odds that I would be able to just focus on that are... slim to none. Just too many other online distractions to click on to lead me astray -like my four year old needs new cowgirl boots...but maybe one day it'll happen. I sure do love the hunt!
xox-Laura
It's always interesting to me to see how a Jewelry Trend starts on the Runway as a fantasy and emerges later as a staple! Trends may come and go, but they often do find their way down the chain, eventually, and I am going to have fun seeing where these Jewelry trends pop up this year...
MINERAL JEWELRY
Agates, Druzy, Stalagmite Crystals...a Mineral Jewelry moment is my favorite trend! I have been juxtaposing shiny objects with a touch of these rough, organic minerals in my own jewelry collections since the beginning:
ARTY EARRINGS
Do you also love a big, bold statement earring?! This trend gives added leeway, so you can go out on a limb without a worry: 
DELICATE CHOKERS
Finally, we're downsizing those 3" chokers of yesteryear and trading Goth for Glam with these wispy, delicate options: 
STATEMENT NECKLACES
They're here (did they ever leave?!) and they pack a punch...especially with their Pendants:
Now, I can't leave out the UFO Jewelry trend! That's right, there is such a thing. Think TOTAL FANTASY when you see this extremely Avant-Garde jewelry:
That's a wrap for today! Now, quick, go through your own jewelry collection and see what's trending...or pick up a new piece or two. :)
xox-Laura James
photos courtesy of Vogue Magazine
