Once When I Was
my interwebs:
Here is where I share my fashion and beauty inspiration, my daily life as a fashion stylist and personal style blog. I have a major obsession for accessories and love discovering new designers.
Photos all mine unless credited otherwise. If you see a photo and it is not credited please let me know the source so I can fix it. Thanks!
Links
Here is my Evil Eye round up on Well RoundedNY
For as long as I can remember my Nana Kitty, a Brit by way of Russia, has uttered the Yiddish phrase “kennahara,” roughly translated to “No Evil Eyes On You,” while tapping my head. Spanning from cultures as diverse as Ancient Greece, Sanskrit and Japan, this famed amulet represents the sentiment of blocking the stink-eye. And now it turns out one of the oldest talisman to ever be adorned is in vogue again. Here are some stylish ways to watch your back and ward off negativity.
Whit NY FW13
Detail with Lulu Frost jewelry.
Spots and lace.
Giambattista Valli Couture Spring ‘13
Lindsay Wixson
Details.
where did u find those gauge earring things? i love em(:
I think you mean the rock daisy earrings:
Just a few days left of holiday shopping and I am giving you a gift that gives back. Use my gift code, RALJENNIFER for a 25% off discount. You buy a lovely gift, you get a discount and proceeds go to the women who make the jewelry to get healthcare funding for their community.
Raven + Lily are creating new pieces of jewelry that are full of life and history. The stories that come with each unique necklace, earrings or bracelets are way beyond what I could dream up. The tassel earrings I am wearing are designed by Tiffany Kunz and handmade from melted bullet casings and recycled metals (brass, silver, copper) by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia. This is a piece from The Ethiopia Collection which, in addition to providing sustainable economic opportunities, Raven + Lily uses proceeds to fund healthcare and literacy programs for women and children in this community. I love knowing that when I am wearing these earrings there is a positive outcome created out of what was once a piece of metal with such negative purposes.
Diesel top (Similar).
Sissi flare jeans c/o GoldSign.
Wedges c/o Sole Society (Similar).
Belt c/o Bed|Stu.
Here is a holiday gift from me to you! For a limited time you can shop for jewelry from Raven + Lily and use my gift code, RALJENNIFER for a 25% off discount.
Not only are the pieces from Raven + Lily special and unique, they come with a great back story. Raven + Lily are creating new pieces of jewelry that are full of life and history. Each necklace, earrings or bracelet is handmade from melted bullet casings and recycled metals (brass, silver, copper) by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia. Raven + Lily uses proceeds of sales to fund healthcare and literacy programs for women and children in this community.
I am wearing the tassel earrings designed by Tiffany Kunz and this is a piece from The Ethiopia Collection. I love knowing that when I am wearing these earrings there is a positive outcome created out of what was once a piece of metal with such negative purposes.
I’m excited to share today’s Once When I Wore post because it allows me to help you help others. Just by shopping for holiday gifts! When Raven + Lily approached me to share my favorite picks for their holiday gift guide I was more than happy to lend a hand. We all know I love accessories. Not only are the pieces from Raven + Lily special and unique, they come with a great back story.
Raven + Lily are creating new pieces of jewelry that are full of life and history. The stories that come with each unique necklace, earrings or bracelets are way beyond what I could dream up. The tassel earrings I am wearing are designed by Tiffany Kunz and handmade from melted bullet casings and recycled metals (brass, silver, copper) by HIV-positive women in Ethiopia. This is a piece from The Ethiopia Collection which, in addition to providing sustainable economic opportunities, Raven + Lily uses proceeds to fund healthcare and literacy programs for women and children in this community. I love knowing that when I am wearing these earrings there is a positive outcome created out of what was once a piece of metal with such negative purposes.
Here comes the part where you come in… for the next 2 weeks you can use my gift code, RALJENNIFER for a 25% off discount. Everybody wins! You buy a gift, you get a discount and proceeds still get to the women who make the jewelry to get healthcare funding for their community.
Shopping, guilt free.
Are they rocks? Is it wood? Some sort of gemstones? I don’t know! What I do know is that I can’t stop thinking about these rings I tried on by Lydia Marcos during LA market week.
Balenciaga SS13
These rings are killing me. I’m reading the second Game Of Thrones book and everything I see relates.
I am getting used to this sunshine life. It’s the middle of November and I am wearing just a silk blouse, with my sleeves rolled up. Yeah, it’s nice. The roses in the courtyard don’t quit and the super-tall palm trees make me think of Muppets. Yes, always a kid at heart. Off to another lunch meeting, the blouse is on trend and a little bit punk-rock with the studded shoulders. Wide leg jeans are now easy to get away with since I am always wearing heels because driving is easy and I am not trudging through the subways anymore. I am getting used this. Slowly the homesickness fades.
Shop my style!
Zara silk printed and studded blouse. (Similar.)
Rebecca Minkoff chain collar. (Similar.)
Wide leg Jeans c/o J Brand.
Vintage braided belt. (Similar.)
Clutch purse c/o MeChar.
Want flower hair pins? OK.
You can’t tell but I have major platforms on. Get height.
I am a big believer in the power of charms and hidden messages. In God We Trust understands it as well. Since the beginning of the brand’s inception Shana has been etching out hearts with phrases like “let’s make out”, “balls to the wall” and “in it to win it”. It’s like being in a secret club, whenever I have run into another girl with a carved heart in the wobbly scrawl on her neck I know I am meeting a kindred spirit.
In it to win it.
Really f*ckin cute.
Balls to the wall.
Cage cuff.
Pippa cuff.
Once When I Was Wednesdays : Orchard Street, LES Edition
Once when I was living on Rivington Street in the LES in the 90’s there was a burgeoning scene in fashion brewing around the corner on Orchard Street. I basically spent my nights on Ludlow Street watching friend’s bands (ehem, Yeah,Yeah,Yeahs and Interpol) play at Luna Lounge and boozing it up at Max Fish & Motor City until the gates went down. But during the daytime I would spend a fair amount of time working, I mean shopping, I mean prepping for a shoot in the shops on Orchard. There was the avant-gard fashion pack smoking outside at 7even Boutique way before they moved to SOHO. I loved sitting on the bench at alife with all the cute skaters who then grew into full fledged sneaker aficionados. Next door was where the denim-heads sipped espresso at DDCLab. But my favorite spot to ogle the wares was a few doors down at Exhibitionist by Michael Spirito. I would visit with Sloan and Michael and hear all about which major pop or rock star was wearing the diamond encrusted collar or a spiky crystalized crown in the next video. Most of it was super luxury and one of a kind but there was always mini versions of day of the dead skulls and heart earrings.
I was pleased as punch to reconnect with the brand when I ran into Sloan at LA market. The collection is still as edgy and rock-n-roll as ever but with a glamourous vibe. Plus it’s so accessible! You can shop directly online. From top to bottom, L to R. Some styles are for next Spring so if they are not available I linked a similar style.
Charm Bangle.
Horn earrings.
Horn Rings.
Delicate Skull Cuff.
Geometric Cage Earrings.
Jeweled Statement Collar.
Shark tooth Necklace.
Filigree Earrings.
Cocktail Rings.
Wonder Woman Cuff.
Chandelier Earrings.
There is something that feels so warrior woman to me about these pieces from Lillian Crowe’s Silk Road collection. It could be the arrowheads. Or that the pyramids make me think about Cleopatra. Whatever the imagery is that spins in my brain when I try these talisman on it is empowering. Isn’t that the one of the best things about jewelry?
Top to Bottom, L to R:
Pyramid Necklace.
Arrowhead Necklace.
Arrowhead Rings.
Pyramid Ring.
Secret messages rule. I love codes and symbols. Naturally I was drawn to these cards by COATT. The stationary is letter-pressed in gold foil with Morse Code in different phrases. You can get Happy Birthday, Thank You and Congratulations. My favorite is the one in the lower left box that says Blah.Blah.Blah all over. If those options don’t fit your needs, there is a blank one where you mark out your own message in the imprinted dashes and dots.
How cute, right?! For all of you who want your own secret message but clearly can’t buy yourself a card, I mean, you could, but that would be weird; there is jewelry. (I threw you off with a stationary post, huh.) Get a new version of your nameplate, only now, no one except that really awesome science guy will get it!
Bones and Feathers
Here I go again, rambling on about another jewelry designer. But that’s ok, that’s what I am here for, right. (Please say yes, to validate my blogging existence.) If I see it and I love it; why wouldn’t I share it? Meet Bones and Feathers.
I got a chance to view the Spring ‘13 collection (in the blue boxes) that has an art deco influenced but balanced with an earthy sensibility filled with arrowheads and cosmic geometric patterns.
The Fall ‘12 pieces are a bit more literal to the brand name with vertebrae and bone castings and are available on their site. A major statement piece is the snake bone necklace. I especially loved the blue cylinder pieces with rattlesnake vertebrae bracelet (top left).
I was also pleased to hear that the jewelry is all made in LA. Since moving here from NY, I have to say, it is really refreshing to meet so many designers that are producing here in the US.
