Collecting: Costume Jewelry

Guest Blogger: Christene Barberich, Editorial Director of Refinery29, and eBay scavenger

I inherited my fixation with old costume jewelry from my grandmother. She had piles of it -- necklaces, chokers, pendants, beads, you name it -- hanging on every spare hook, doorknob, and bedpost, dripping from every available surface in her tiny apartment.

Just a few of Christene's treasures

She loved all kinds of jewelry equally: the big, in-your-face, awesomely fake kind, and real-deal jewels. Although I found all those baubles wildly embarrassing when I was a kid, as a grown woman, I'm even worse (read: more eccentric) with costume jewelry than she was. I'm lucky enough to have all of her best pieces -- a triple-strand of hot pink walnut-sized beads and a collection of bejeweled crucifixes that would make Madonna proud. I'm still on the hunt, though, and on thrifting adventures I always head to the big glass case in the front of a store. This is where all the best and most beautiful cast-offs are and where most people forget to look, even when they're checking out. My favorite vintage finds of late include a white- and gold-beaded necklace that is strung to resemble cascading raindrops ($3) and a long, thick ropey chain with three fishing lure-style guppies on the end ($5). From a fashion perspective, I'm a minimalist, but I think that's why my weakness for audacious, outrageous jewelry works: One piece can transform even my most basic white T-shirt. And like grandma, my spoils are displayed throughout my apartment, hanging here and there. I think she'd be proud.

Comments

[sguyot]

The mannequin head is a terrific way to store your jewelry, not only is it a fun "display" but it keeps your necklaces etc untangled and in order !

[meg]

I love that mannequin head. Might have to look on eBay for one myself...

[Patia]

I love the idea of using vivid jewelry to brighten up a totally black outfit.