Costume Jewelry
From LoveToKnow Jewelry
Sparkling gems as big as an almond are beautiful, but costly! To get the look of beautiful gems without the cost, women have long turned to costume jewelry. It is also frequently referred to as fashion jewelry. Made from inexpensive materials in fun shapes and colors, costume jewelry allows jewelry lovers to adorn themselves with beautiful jewels without breaking the bank. The low price tag makes it possible to collect a wide variety of costume jewels for different outfits, moods, and looks. Also, it's easier to follow trends with costume jewelry, since you're not paying much money for a piece that is hot now but will be out of style next year.
Traditional Costume Jewelry
Jewelry makers have traditionally used glass and "paste" stones to mimic the more costly genuine stones in fine jewelry. The aim of this type of jewelry was to create pieces that looked as close to the real thing as possible but were more accessible to those without much money to spend on jewels.
Coco Chanel
Costume jewelry was given a boost when famous Parisian fashion designer Coco Chanel began designing costume jewelry to be worn with her popular, and costly, clothing. Chanel and her chief rival, Elsa Schiaparelli, promoted fun designs that were obviously fake and allowed the wearer to express herself. The fact that the materials were inexpensive allowed jewelry makers to experiment more and create wilder designs than they had up to this point. These jewels were not just for those who couldn't afford the real thing, though - women at all economic levels enjoyed showing off their costume jewels.
Materials Used
Fashion jewelry is made from a variety of different, low-cost materials, including plastic, rubber, glass, metals, synthetic gems, shell, crystal, and more.
Vintage Costume Jewelry
Unlike with fine jewelery, when a buyer purchases costume jewelry she rarely intends for it to be a keepsake. Nevertheless, many fashion jewelry lovers enjoy collecting vintage jewelry from decades past and antique shops are full of attractive costume pieces. Some of the most popular styles are:
- Art Deco - This style was the rage in the 1920s and 1930s. Modern, geometric shapes were typical of this style, and popular colors were black, white and gray.
- Retro - This period extended from the 30s to around 1950, and was characterized by elegant, glamourous jewelry with a bit of Hollywood glitz.
- Art Modern - This style came to the fore in the post World War II years until around 1960. This type of jewelry was was quieter and more classic than the retro style.
Half the fun of collecting vintage jewelry is hunting it down! Vintage jewelry can be found at antique malls, antique shops, auction houses, websites, eBay, yard sales, your mom's or grandma's jewelry box, and thrift stores.
Designer Jewelry
Like Coco Chanel so long ago, many famous fashion designers and design houses create elaborate eye catching fashion jewelry pieces to coordinate with their fashion collections. In addition, there are several brand name jewelry houses, like Monet or 1928, that hire skilled artists to design their fashion jewelry lines. Another type of designer jewelry is made by small designers that sell their styles to gift shops and jewelry stores.
Where to Buy
The beautiful thing about costume jewelry is that there is so much of it and it is so easy to find. For styles that are fun and fashionable, try department stores like Target and Kohl's or shops that focus on accessories, like Claire's. For designer jewelry, check the higher end stores like Macy's and Dillard's or that particular designer's store. Arts and crafts fairs are a great source for one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Still can't find what you're looking for? Head down to your local crafts store and learn how to make your own!
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