Rings and Things

Today's entry is from guest writer, my most excellent friend, (who you may recognize) and fashion confidant, Kimberly. As she mentions below, Kim is in the process of starting up her own business which will showcase some pretty exceptional pieces of vintage jewelry. I really want her to get up and running soon, but I am also pretty concerned about those repercussions on my pocketbook. I may have a little problem. 

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I am dropping in on Something New to chat about some of the amazing options out there for engagement rings and jewelry for your big day. First, I need to give a shout out to Refinery 29 who did this amazing post on unique engagement rings. I love that they covered a lot of different price points since pretty does not always need to cost more than your car. This ring, for example, from Charm and Chain that is a steal at $70.00, but feminine and drool worthy too.

Hello, Beautiful! 

Since this blog focuses on sustainability in the bridal industry, I'll also mention this incredible gorgeous conflict-free diamond from Barney’s New York. It's a little on the pricey side but has a wonderfully unique and earthy look.

Yes please!

My favorite ring from this post actually is worth more than my car…. thank goodness I am already married so I can keep my drool-face to a minimum. But now you will have to decide which is more important: the mortgage payment or this sexy ring right here. I am not even going to post an image for fear you may run off and spend your life savings this very instant. I can’t have that on my conscience…follow the link at your financial peril!

A very good sustainable option for many couples is to buy vintage or antique jewelry. You can find some really unique and beautiful pieces that both of you will love at a price that helps you get that open bar you were hoping for. One site with a great selection, whether you are looking for a diamond or not, is WestonJewelry.com. Can you believe that all of the rings below are under $1,000? True story. 

Get a closer look at these sexy rings here, here, and here, oh… and here.

That doesn’t just go for engagement rings, either. If you want to do affordable vintage on your wedding day (or Tuesday) costume jewelry is the way to go. It is unique, timeless, and sparkles. Who doesn't love that? This may be cliché but one of the best places I have found to find good vintage pieces is on, that's right, E-bay. There are a lot of sellers, a wide selection, and the inventory is always changing. If you are looking for pretty things that will not break the bank, Coro is a brand that was in business from 1901-1979 that is reliably gorgeous. Also, if you are looking for a matching set, try adding the phrases “Parure” (matching set with several pieces), or “Demi Parure” (small matching set) to your search. Below are just example sets that I found today… who knows what baubles will be there when you search (Can you tell that I love silver and blue?).

My other favorite brand is Schiaparelli, as in Elsa Schiaparelli, from the 1940’s-1970’s. She was a fashion designer with a bold and innovative look. The jewelry is on the pricier side, but each piece is a show stopper. And the jewelry was built to stand the test of time; you will rarely find one that is nicked or missing a stone, which also makes them great investments. Below are some of my faves.

Look at those watermelon stones. Yum!

And this one belongs on a Greek Goddess… or me. You know, whatever.

There are too many great designers and companies to get to in one post but I encourage you to explore! Look for things that you like and sellers with positive ratings and you can find some really great pieces. A lot of vintage is also unsigned, where the company or designer has left no stamp or identifying mark, which makes them less valuable in the market but it also brings the price down for those of us with champagne tastes and PBR budgets.

Lastly, my personal opinion, is that the most meaningful (not to mention free) vintage you can wear on your wedding day is something borrowed from a loved one. When my Mom was pregnant, her brother passed away, and my Dad gave her a gold and diamond cross to remember him by. She wears it every day and she gave it to me to wear for my wedding. It was amazing because it so personal, and although it was not a 1940’s Schiaparelli, it was more beautiful because it meant so much. And that, my friends, is why I love vintage jewelry. Almost all jewelry tells a story about love, whether it was given out of love, purchased to wear on a date, or passed down from generation to generation. 

Ok, enough with the mushy stuff! Look for more updates on happenings in jewelry in the next few months as I launch, To Vivian, With Love, a small business for curating and sharing the love of vintage jewelry! 

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Kim, did you really use PBR in a metaphor??  That is why I love you. Tik tok, girlfriend.

Updates from Kimberly at To Vivian with Love will be available as soon as I can get my hands on them!

Up and Coming

I am so excited; I almost cannot contain myself.

As you know, I am in the process of building my wedding gown business.  The past two years have been a steady but slow process where I primarily focused on a few custom pieces.

What you did not necessarily know (or, maybe you did…) is that during that time, I have also been working on my prêt-a-porter line of wedding dresses. This has taken me so much longer than I had expected, but it’s all about to be worth it. On Saturday, February 5^th, I will be debuting my line of ready to wear bridal dresses at the Pardon Fashion show at The Raw Deal in Menomonie, WI.  That felt so good, I think I’ll type it again. I’m debuting my collection ready-to-wear bridal at the Pardon Fashion show on Saturday, February 5^th, 2011.

The Pardon Fashion Show: A Feral Affair is open to the public and is sure to be a grand spectacle!  The show is produced by the lovely Raine Nimmer and Lindsey Baker who have already cut their teeth on the first Pardon Fashion Show, back in February 2010.   This year boasts more models and more designers, including Minneapolis based Adrienne Yancy who will be showing her 30+ piece collection before she flies off to the east coast for a little thing we like to call New York Fashion Week!  The show starts at 8:00 and doors open at 6:30.  If you’re planning on attending, I’d get there early because it’s going to be a packed house!

Then, two weeks later on Sunday February 20^th from noon to four o’clock,  I’ll be taking part in The Menomonie Wedding Fair.  This will be my first convention all by myself!  I know, I’m growing up so fast! If you or anyone you know is planning a wedding in the near future, this event is definitely worth checking out. There will be a cornucopia of local bridal vendors for everything from cakes and photography to music and travel agencies.  I haven’t nailed it down yet, but I am hoping to offer a special deal to any individuals who sign up for regular e-mail updates at the convention!  It’ll be my little way of saying thank you for stopping my booth and letting me talk your ear off.

Yes, she's always this gorgeous. 

And finally, sometime in the near future the always fabulous Leah Dunbar will be shooting the photography for my ETSY.com store with my lovely model, Melissa, pictured above. This is maybe the biggest step of them all and quite possibly the one I am most excited about!  Having my ready-to-wear line of dresses available for sale on the internet will be the culmination of over two years of hard work and planning. I know it will mean an entirely new slew of challenges, but they are ones I have been working towards for a long time. I am very excited to offer my vision of wedding attire to women looking for Something New!


Melissa's photo taken by Emily Gerbig.