Choosing Classics Like a Pro
Chistmas and the holidays can be such a fun time to wear those themed peices that we have collected over the years. I still have many of the earrings that my mother gave me over the years. My favorites are the ones she gave me in 9th grade, a pair of gold toned bows that have 3 mm pearls in the center. I love to wear them to church and to family gatherings. Part of what makes them such a great wear is that they are made of traditional elements like gold metal and pearls. While trends can be cool, they can also be dismissed as fast as they come, and as savy gift givers we want to get it right when buying jewelry. The above bracelet is one of my hot sellers this year for charms designs. It is full of the classic Christmas theme. Below however is an example of what in my opinion was a bit of an old holiday design that missed the boat in terms of a classic.
The mid ninties saw a rush of mixed media jewelry that was rather gawdy and the trend so far has not resurfaced. Still being seen however is glass pearls, freshwater pearls, acrylic beads that were well made that are singles. Enamel charms that were smaller in size are also still in demand. (1980's were a bad decade for things that were too big where charms are concerned.) That is mostly my opinion, but I have been a designer for a while now and part of the trade is knowing what your people want to wear and why. I also deal in vintage and have learned a lot about trends from days gone by.
Here are some tips for choosing holiday pieces that are potentially "forever"gifts.
First know the kinds of metal that your gift recipient wears. If you buy gold and your "giftee" only wears silvers, it is likely to not be worn other than once or twice, if at all.
Next know sizes. If something is too big or too small for the neck or wrists that puts a damper on how often a peice is worn. - Not all pieces can be extended. Same is true for ears - find out if they should be hoops, dangles, or posts. I have some aunts that prefer everything to be designed with lever backs because they are more comfortable.
Also consider sizes of stones. Women in particular have a comfort level with bead and stone sizes. Too big or small becomes a comfort issue and is often a deal breaker in piece selection for many people. Even if the trends are large many dainty ladies will not budge.
Color combinations - red and gold, green and gold, red silver ect, can all be used through out the year.. once you mix red and green your piece will most likely be in a box 11 months out of the year. A tip from a friend of mine is that she often recommends that customers choose colors that person wears regulary and then find a way to add Christmas to either the box it comes in or to the piece. One example is that a silver and blue wearing person can have items in silver and blue, that may not have any themed beads, but rather have silver and blue snowflakes on the box. The person still associates the gift with received at Christmas, but can wear the gift year round, because there are no snow flakes on the bracelet. To add Christmas to the piece you can select Christmas charms that come on a lobster clasp and change them as the season change.
Materials. Plastic beads, cheap acrylics, low grade metals, odd shapes, also an issue, - just don't... People will wear old jewlery, if it is classic vinatge that says quality. I know women who are in thier sixties and seventies who are still wearing thier classics. Think Sara Coventry, Napier, ect. Pieces that were well made even though they did not cost a fortune. Ebay and Etsy have Christmas vintage that is selling for big bucks because people want quality. Plastic with seams showing, as well as aged looking acrylic or flaking metals almost always get the toss out, even when sentimental value is there, because they cannot be really worn anymore. Joy in jewelry is in the wearing!
Materials. Stay away from anything with cords that will fray. Another note about materials that are cloth like is when they become dirty, they almost always cannot be cleaned. Sometimes they will stretch when wet and others have a wax coating that feels yucky to the touch when they are just a few years old.
Last but not least, remember that whatever you choose think about the person and their habits. People who play sports tend to wear either dainty, or no jewelry at all because it hinders activity. People who have to dress for work often prefer simple and uncomplicated pieces, because the companies of today often have strict dress codes. Also know that sometimes we are just going to miss the boat comepletely and being gracious enough to include a gift receipt can allow the person to be 100% percent happy every time.
I hope you found this article helpful! Have a great holiday season, Josie - Owner - Artist J Dalton Beads. Find me on Facebook or Click here to go directly to my store Thanks!
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