My friend Nettie is a mermaid - Nettie Kent Jewelry

Photography -  Betsy Blundell  {Nettie and I took the ones of Betsey in them...of course :)}

Nettie Kent (above image) is the closest I've ever come to meeting a real, live mermaid - her hair, her beauty and her spirit just don't belong on land. Besides the fins (and thank God she doesn't have fins right?  where are mermaid's pee-holes?!) she is the real deal. Growing up on Martha's Vineyard, Nettie's backyard was the ocean.  Her line, Nettie Kent Jewelry, is a bit like wearing a beautiful jewelry version of the ocean: slices of sand on your fingers, gorgeous sea foam on your wrists, whispering sand dune grass dangling from your ears. Srsly. All her pieces are made from two of my most favorite materials - brass and leather. Nettie, who worked for Philip Crangi, has designed a line that is so on point it is truly difficult to decide which piece(s) to purchase.  It's no wonder Nettie has already received attention from trendsetting moguls like Agyness Deyn.  What better way to celebrate Nettie's line than to do a shoot at the beach with our friend and photographer Betsy Blundell, getting to wear all the jewelry!  We took these shots a few weeks back at Ft. Tilden.  And man, as I sit here writing this, cuddled up under a comforter with the sniffles,  it makes me nostalgic for summer already.  I think I'll go call my mermaid friend Nettie and have her take me with her back to the ocean…

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Verameat: jewelry for the twisted little kid in all of us

A few weeks back my friend Claire took me to the East Village flagship store opening of her favorite jeweler Verameat , located on East 9th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. I have always admired Claire's Verameat jewelry- there is something so raw, and yet irreverent and silly, about the hand hanging from her neck and her sterling silver knuckle ring made from the mold of a set of teeth.  The artist behind the line, Vera Balyura, was at the store opening and we got to chatting. She informed me that this denture-type design was made from actual molds of her own, uniquely vampire-like, teeth.  

There were so many different, whimsical, yet comical, yet horrifying charms to choose from: little cowboys shooting guns, airplanes, french bulldog heads, sea creatures, and the list goes on.  I walked away having purchased a Wolf charm necklace- 14K gold fill over gold brass - and I have gotten countless compliments on it since.  There is something for the twisted little kid in all of us from Verameat's line and I'll definitely be returning for more.

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I Die Friday: When '90's Winona Wasn't Cray Cray

'90s Winona {minus the hair}

Low Luv x Erin Wasson Thunderbird Cuff 

Low Luv x Erin Wasson Skeleton Thunderbird Necklace

Wasn't '90s Winona so amazeballs before she became a Cray Cray Klepto??? Her earrings are so fly!   The turquoise and silver Native American jewelry vibe is currently making a huge comeback thanks, in no small part, to the influence of Erin Wasson x Low Lov Jewelry (see this and this). 

Before I was born my parents lived on an Indian Reservation.  My mother passed on a lot of turquoise, silver and beaded jewelry to me but my '90's kid self wore the jewelry constantly and lost most of it. FAIL! God I'm mad at my irresponsible '90s  kid self right now!  Anyways, thank goodness '90s Winona's hair in this picture has NOT made a comeback. But, whatever, 90's Winona, who cares about your awful hair? You were PERFECT to me. Tweet

I Die Friday: things I want so badly it might kill me

 

Sonia Rykiel, striped top

Acne Push Belt, red

Flutter by Jill Golden, Duncan Necklace

Rag & Bone Maxi Desert Skirt

River Island, Sofina Ankle Western Boots

Illesteva Lenox sunnies, tortoise

Raffia Cowgirl Hat, REI

 A little interpretive take on the red, white and blue theme that's going on all over the blogosphere right now. I think it goes hand and hand with the country Western theme that's also pretty popular, so I threw in some western elements like these short boots and a feminine cowboy hat.  I'm actually really purchasing these short boots- I finally decided on a pair! They're on the way in the mail right now. Pretty excited. Happy I Die Friday!    

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Southern Design brought to NYC: sustainable and green

 Mickey Lynn Jewelry

 Amoena Lingerie

Smart Glass Art 

Suzeseams, milliner

 

Fashionable Notes, reusable maket bags

Moo Moo Designs

 

Sushistyle

Mark Edge Jewelry

Amy Bubes Jewelry

Yesterday I attended an event hosted by Southern Designer Collections.  The annual event  presents a very selct group of southern designers to New York City media, stylists, and industry insiders. I was excited to be invited as I have soft spot in my heart for all things Southern since I did my undergraduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (see this and this).

Yesterday I was very impressed by the high level of design and craftsmanship but I was even more impressed by the huge focus on sustainability in much of the work.  It looks like Southern designers have fully embraced the concept of "green," perhaps even more so than New York designers.  Kathleen Plate designs all her "Smart Glass Art" using recycled glass, Mark Edge designs using only reclaimed metals, and Juan Hernandez of Moo Moo Designs uses all "green" materials, dyes and finishes- including the use of gorgeous animal hides and horns sourced only from animals that have already been used for meat.  Not to mention Fashionable Notes, a cute and reusable market totes line in lovely sherbet colors.

On another note, I'm completely flipping out about Amoena Lingerie.  Get this: beautiful lingerie for the full busted woman. Yes, I said 'beautiful'. They even have sizes for smaller rib cages.  I am a 32DD and, since puberty, it has been like looking for a needle in a haystack to find a supportive bra that is also pretty.  Ladies like me know that it is next to impossible to find a bra that keeps everything in place but doesn't look like a bra you stole from your grandmother's underwear drawer.  Our choices are pretty much limited to bras that look like parachutes held up by 5 inch thick bungee straps.  Believe me, Victoria's secret bras don't cut it- their straps are too thin and their bras are just not made for women who have large breasts.  Breasts that are real anyways, where the laws of gravity apply. With large fake breasts, bra type doesn't really matter. They stand on command.   Anyways, the Amoeba bras are gorgeous and also use a hi tech fabric that regulates your body temperature- cooling you when you need it and transferring heat back to you when you're cold.  AMAZING!  I am just upset that I can't get my hands on one of these bras before August- that's when they hit retail stores. 

Enough about breasts, I also must add mention the other designers. Sushistyle, a really cool little company where all the designs are inspired by sushi!  I loved their furniture especially and would love to get my hands on one of these pieces when I move into my new place in October- so fun, sleek, cute and modern!  And Amy Bubes Jewelry was very pretty,  all one of a kind, hand crafted aregentium sterling silver where no two pieces are alike.  Amy and I shared our love for combining silver and gold jewelry together. So there you have it, it is jeweler confirmed: mixing gold and silver jewelry is ALLOWED. Mickey Lynn  Jewelry was very 'on trend'- employing the use of crystals galore.  Absolutely gorgeous.  And Finally, Suzeseams had unique handcrafted millinery.  Southern women just know how to do hats! 

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Pigging Out and Craft Shopping in Charleston, SC

 Heels: vintage Etienne Aigner

Jeans: Gap jeggings

Shirt: thrift
China Jewelry(image 6): China Baroque

The two  non-negotiable activities when you visit Charleston, SC are eating a truck load of fried foods and gooey treats, like those praline cookies in the 2nd image, and also going craft shopping.  The first image is of the plate I ordered our last night of vacation at the Cru Cafe.  It is fried chicken stuffed with mozzarella, over potatoes Au gratin- WHAT?!?!!  

There was a lot of jewelery that caught my eye and, me being the animal print fanatic that I am, I had to get that leopard ring. So cute, don't you think?   Also, look at all the jewelry made of china (?!) above.  Loved it!  I'm usually not usually attracted to sweet or overly feminine accessories but these were too pretty to pass up.  The company will actually use your old china to make things for you.  Neato!   I went to college in the south (Emory University) and have really fond memories whenever I return.  Do you all have any fun stories or memories about Charleston or visiting the South in general? 

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Vibrancy Yo

Images (from top):

First: Tastelologie

Second: Emerson Made, Kimchi Pants

Third: Carianne Moore

Fourth: Erin Flannery Illustration

Sixth: Sea of Shoes

Today's post is all about vibrant colors. I love them and they love me.  Actually they don't love me. They don't even like me much.  I'm a little too pale to pull them off but if you have ANY sort of melanin in your skin you should totally rock that shit. They are where it's at this spring/summer season- especially awesome pinks and reds.

Side note: Watch out! I'm going to be getting a nice camera soon with my tax return money and I might start taking pics of myself and posting them on the blog.  I need a boyfriend photographer to take my pictures like the cooler fashion bloggers.

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