The Statement Necklace

Note: I just received an AdSense check from Google and have a bit of profit in my Etsy shop, so I'm thinking of treating myself to something nice. Otherwise, I would not be looking at jewelry. Isn't that sad but it's just not a necessity.

Lodge, $98.

I suddenly had a desire to buy myself some jewelry, especially a statement necklace, much like the ones I admire all the time at Totokaelo, all metal but simple in style. Something that would make a simple T and shorts combo look "artist" cool.

Copper Ladder, $40.

This feeling all came after I saw some old posts on Simple Lovely showing the jewelry that the author Joslyn owns. She is almost always wearing some fabulous necklace to go with her very cool clothes. This time, the necklace was by Laura Lombardi via the Pretty Mommy site. Checking out her items available there, her namesake site, and her Etsy shop these are the ones I just can't stop thinking about:

Spiked Fringe, $70. A real possibility

Mida, $110

Triangle Cascade, $115

Remigial, $200

Such a favorite, but oh...the price.

So an actual Lombardi is still a possibility because she does have some affordable pieces, but I still went searching the Internets for similar pieces and other artists who use these materials.

Here are two that I found:

New Grid by Nikki Koru, $39

Tribal Tubular, $29 on sale!

I should snatch this last one up now, right? Before I regret it like I regret missing out on this gem?

Sources (in order): Pretty Mommy, Laura Lombardi.com, Laura Lombardi at Etsy, Nomoikoru at Etsy, Banana Republic.com

More from Totokaelo

This online store, Totokaelo does the best job at curating the garments they sell. There's so much inspiration there. Here are some pieces that caught my eye:

Hope Carrie blouse $226 (on sale!)

The folded pleat at top of shoulder extends the shoulder line and forms a little shelf. This would be easy to imitate, just take a tuck in the fabric, right?

Zero & Maria Cornejo Eve Grace Dress

This is a side-draped skirt but I like the idea of taking a longer than desired exaggerated pencil skirt (much fuller at the top than normal) and shirring the skirt up the center front and back. Similar to this one but not with as much volume on the sides. This would be easily done with an already existing skirt or dress in your closet.

SAMMA Study in Balance necklace

At work, I came across some Butterfly clamp paperclips that I might use to fashion a similar necklace.

Wood Wood Kirstine Dress, Yohji Yamamoto Raglan Sleeve Knit Jacket

I love the look of this simple pale check dress with the dark navy over-clothes. Can you imagine how yummy that would be in flannel? Or really, any easy shift dress in a wool-like but washable flannel like these Woolies Flannels. Oh, how I want to buy loads of those one day.

Have You Tried?

Has anyone out there in the blogosphere tried to make this type of top?

Junya Watanabe Check Twist Top

Now this is the kind of pattern I want to see offered by the Big Four. Wildly shaped pattern pieces that form a fairly basic T-shirt shape when sewn. So how can we get Junya Watanabe to create some patterns for Vogue?

Who do we have to call?

Hot, right?

Images: Totokaelo

How I Want To Dress:

A.P.C. Jacket, You Must Create Top, Whyred Jeans, Isabel Marant Boots



You Must Create Gingham Placket Shirt


Can you see how cool that shirt is? It's not a button-down, it's not even a Henley. It is actually a collared pullover shirt with a deep fold in the center which is then buttoned to fit, creating a deep pleat in the bottom half. So, now, how cool is that?

Isabel Marant Scarf, A.P.C. Cardigan, Top, and Boots, Junya Wantanabe Skirt

Yes, it is the same outfit in both of those pictures. I love that convertible skirt. I want one. How do you think they did that?

These designers and clothes like these are available online at Impulse boutique in Seattle and online at Totokaelo (TOH-toh-KYE-oh). They have a great eye for clothing and I am now a fan of most of the designers they feature. There are a lot of more innovative and intricately interesting outfits on their site but right now I just want to feel comfortable in my skin and in my clothes, kind of nurture myself for a while and not bring a lot of attention to myself. These things would be just right. There is a smooth casual air to these clothes, a "there's nothing to stress about" vibe. They make me feel like I want to curl up in an armchair, drinking tea and reading a book, with my legs hanging over the arm. Maybe, in front of a fire? Oh, yeah. Good times.

In fact, I used to dress like this in college, though my comfy oversize cardigans and v-neck sweaters were mostly poly-cotton (or "pure" poly) and in male sizes from the local thrift store. My oversize collared shirts were awesome never-worn brushed gabardine men's shirts that felt like "buttah." I have no idea why they don't make those anymore. Men would love dress shirts again if they felt like those, I guarantee. I also wore men's blazers over everything; one was a great green and brown sharkskin that I wish I had kept a swatch of when it finally bit the dust.Along with the designers above, please also check out:

Rachel Comey
United Bamboo
Mayle Whyred

All Images: Totokaelo