[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]I[/dropcap]still have photos to share from Brussels, Ghent, and Amsterdam and reviews of three great getaway products, so I’m devoting this week to travel posts. And, what better way to get in the wanderlust spirit than with a pair of tropical earrings from Tory Burch’s spring 2015 runway show? The sculptural design captures the monkey’s playful spirit without sacrificing elegance. They’re now available for pre-order with an estimated ship date of Feb. 2015.
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]B[/dropcap]efore the days of unbridled Internet shopping (high schoolers and college kids have it good these days), I looked forward to visiting my Aunt Linda. She always had a stack of the best catalogs to pour over: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and, of course, UncommonGoods.
Founded in 1999, UncommonGoods was a mission-driven company before Toms and Warby Parker made it a popular business venture. The company was founded with the mission to provide “unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people.” Most of the available products are made in the U.S., half are made by hand, and a third incorporate recycled or upcycled materials. And now that e-commerce has made made significant leaps since the late ’90s, it’s even easier to find a unique, unexpected gift for yourself or others.
The jewelry on UncommonGoods stays true to the retailer’s roots with personalized items and handmade pieces you can’t find just anywhere. I’m most drawn to the astrology lockets handcrafted by artist Julie Nolan. A series of dots create constellations to subtly share your sign.
If you’re on the lookout for gift-giving ideas and the woman in your life isn’t won over by jewelry, UncommonGoods carries plenty of alternatives. Try a perfectly preserved dandelion poof paperweight for the romantic, the cutest baby booties for the mom-to-be, embroidered state pillows for the traveler, or dish towels with a convenient wine pairing cheat sheet for the gourmand. Take a peek at the full lineup here.
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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]B[/dropcap]efore I read the “About” section on Elizoebeth Jensen’s website, I kept summarizing her collection with two words: modern heirloom. So, you can imagine how smug I was to read that she “set out to create the perfect alchemy between everyday wearable, luxe jewelry and timeless collectible pieces.” I have no doubt you’ll treasure one of her designs for a lifetime, especially when the attention to detail in her delicate 14K designs is impeccable. Take, for instance, the arrowhead rings (my favorite) that expertly incorporate Art Deco designs into an undeniably feminine piece.
Shop It*: Bar Earrings with Stones, $585 | Arrowhead Ring with Sapphire and Black Diamond, $445 | Personalized Shield Crest Necklace, $285 | Apex Ring, $190 | Arrowhead Ring with Ruby and Champagne Diamond, $445 | Three Sisters Bezel Ring with Turquoise and Lapis Lazuli, $360 | Bezel Ring in Turquoise, $385 | Bar Necklace, $330
*All jewelry featured here is crafted from 14K gold.
Follow Elizoebeth Jensen: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Blog
You may have noticed me babbling about Julie Vos’ online sample sale yesterday on social media. It’s such a good opportunity to score a beautiful piece of gemstone jewelry (like the earrings above) for a song with plenty of time to wear it before summer transitions to fall. A couple of my favorite Julie Vos pieces are included in the sale: a three-tiered pair of crystal and sapphire blue earrings, an eye-catching chalcedony ring, and the unique gemstone ring I just added to my collection. Shop a few of my other favorites below, all coming in at under $100:
Heavily influenced by the shapes in Art Deco architecture, Karoline Bolt launched her namesake brand of covetable gems just this year. As a child, Karoline and her sisters would play dress up with their grandmother’s heirlooms and you’ll see that sentiment reflected in her jewelry: each piece is named after a family member and each piece repurposes items from the past with recycled metals. She uses locally sourced opals, turquoise and onyx set in either sterling silver, gold-plated brass or 14k gold, giving you an array of options—and price points—to find the perfect piece.
Shop It: Kaley Bracelet, $249 | Kenner Double Drop Earrings, $179 | Kimberly Ring, $299 | Kenner Necklace, $699 | Kenner Studs, $199 | Kaley Necklace, $229 | Kaley Studs, $199