Boutique Earrings

Boutique Earrings

More than two hundred boutiques and galleries, as well as several high-end Department Stores, carried my jewelry line during my career. The biggest selling item ever for me was earrings. I created hundreds of styles, such as those pictured here with clip backs and lots of dangles. The color was a selling point, as well as design. I created styles in denim, animal print, lime green, and every color combination one can think of. Customers still ask the boutiques for earrings in this style, but they are challenging to find because designers create those little wire through the ear styles that look great on most younger women and not so great on most mature women.

If you decide to create these earrings, here are a few tips to remember. Clip backs with cushions are a must. Create an interesting button top with filigree or other looped findings as a base. Add an uneven number of dangles that graduate from the center to the shortest on the outside. (I've added as many as eleven rows of dangles on one earring. They sold to the first person who saw them.) Always use small jump rings to attach dangles so that the strand has motion and will hang straight. Adding a chain as part of a few of the strands keeps the design from becoming too bulky. Use long beads and flatter spacer beads, rondelles, and bi-cones to have variety and interest in the design. Pops of color can come from large seed beads.

Look at the color combinations in the stores you sell to. If there is a trendy jacket that combines silver and gray, make some earrings that would look great with that jacket.

Now that I am in my mid-fifties, I understand perfectly why women my age look for button earrings with or without dangles. We like to hide those earlobes that may be stretched a bit. It's always nice to find a dangling pair of earrings to wear with simple necklines. It draws attention away from a neck that may not be as smooth as it was a few years ago.

I was recently speaking with the owner of one of the boutiques that bought a lot of my work when I was still designing. The owner and staff told me that they have many customers who want this type of earring, but they can rarely find them. The owner said she looks on Etsy for them! She sells the earrings in her shop for $75 and up.

Don't miss out on a great customer because you don't have any of these earrings to offer. Make a few and see what happens. The feedback you get will tell you if you are on the right track. Always watch for body language and what people actually say as they are looking at your work. When someone smiles and picks up a piece to study it, make a mental note. Even though they may not buy the piece, it brought a positive reaction.

Have a great summer!

You Are Not Alone

One of the best things about turning fifty-five was finding the confidence to dress to please me again. My earlier corporate wardrobe was influenced by my peers, meetings, and the fashion industry I worked in until my early forties. 

Later in life, experiences and being self-employed took their toll on my appearance. I gained weight and lost social skills from spending many years working almost around the clock and being alone most of the time. I had become a sloppy dresser who tried to hide all the things I didn't like about my new body. While I knew a great deal about my industry, I had lost touch with fashion trends and even what was right for my now not so great body. 

Many women have a similar experience when their children become adults and go out on their own. You've spent so many years devoted to them, you may have lost your "self" in the process. If you are also newly single during this time, the journey becomes even more confusing and overwhelming. You are not alone! You will survive this, and you will be stronger. 

Getting dressed without added stress might not seem very important at this time in your life, but I know from experience it is. I was someone who stood in her closet in tears and exhausted from trying on clothes for a special event, only to become more frustrated with every discarded piece. I can tell you it makes the difference in showing up and participating in life or staying home and eating ice cream alone.

Today's anything goes fashion trends don't even work for some young toned bodies, so they aren't likely to flatter those of us who have had our fiftieth birthday party either.

Some of the hot trends we might not want to try are stacked platform high-heeled shoes with ankle bands. Honestly, I can't think of any reason for anyone to consider these, but here is an extreme example for you. High skinny heels tend to make our calves look even thicker. Walking in high heels isn't easy. If you must wear them, be confident in your stride and wear cushioned insoles to help with the pain. When your feet hurt...everyone can tell at a glance.

Another trend that isn't right for most of us is the tiny top with skinny or no straps. Anything that shows too much of our upper arms and waistline may not be a good look for us. Tops are essential to your total look. Spend most of your clothing budget on nice blouses, jackets, and lightweight cardigans worn open with a great fitting tank top to reveal only part of your body. I love the variety that comes from owning pieces that work together to create many looks rather than dresses. Prints and patterns are very limiting and memorable. Try solids in colors that flatter your skin tone and can be worn together.

Accessories will allow you to dress up or down that great white shirt and black pants for any occasion in life. You really don't need a lot of clothes.

Great for the evening!

Out to Lunch!

Strictly Business

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