Here are my top 3 earrings for staying on trend and looking stylish for summer!

Butterfly Garden Brass Earrings – We Dream In Colour, $270

These are not your mother’s hoop earrings. Gone are the days of delicate little silver circles being the epitome of bold earware. And bamboo hoops, despite numerous attempts to resuscitate them, are dead as well. The brass hoop however, is alive and well, and this is a trend I love. The great thing about these earrings is that you can play up an outfit with a floral pattern or bring some playfulness to a monochromatic outfit. As I mentioned in a former article, brass earrings are most ideal when they incorporate sterling silver or surgical steel where your ear might touch. The Butterfly Garden Brass Earrings are no exception, and have sterling silver posts. These earrings get an A+ for not having to choose between beauty and practicality. Also save 30% by ordering them from this link!

Salento Black Earrings – Bibi Marini, $270

These moody, witchy earrings put me in the mind of lunar eclipses and starry nights. I could see myself wearing these and roaming a beautiful gothic cathedral. The Salento Black Earrings contain sterling silver posts, 24k gold plated brass and interestingly enough, silk thread. I love the way the black crystals sparkle, it really adds a level of animation and sophistication to earrings that could otherwise be entirely metallic. These are true day-to-night earrings, in that, you could play them up for a casual brunch or wear them to a nightclub. These earrings are true headturners and will make a darkly romantic impression for summer.

Kinetic Petal Doré Earrings – Anissa Kermiche, $305

Is it odd that these earrings make me think of genealogy? The Kinetic Petal Doré Earrings remind me of a family tree, if you happened to come from a long line of carelessly perfect looking flower petals. They look vaguely molecular and also put me in the mind of chemical compounds. If I could use just one word to describe these earrings it would be futuristic. These earrings are on a whole other level. I love the way the 18k gold plated brass petals hang like a mobile above a baby’s crib. These fresh and contemporary looking earrings will definitely make you catch someone’s eye. 

Which of these three pairs of earrings would you get to liven up your wardrobe? Are you feeling the florals or eyeing the moody hoops? Let me know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Anissa Kermiche, Moda Operandi, Bibi Marini

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These Alaia heels have everything that you would want in a shoe. They’re a beautiful color and they’re minimal while still having a bit of personality. These sandals can be dressed up or down and I have the earring pairings that will help you do either!

Here are my top picks for beautiful earring pairings to compliment these cute Alaia suede sandals.

Stick Agate Drop Earrings – Betsey Bensen, $247

What I like about these earrings is the ability to take your outfit in an entirely different direction. The seller describes the color scheme as a “milky mix of lavender and white with a few touches of rust.” The rust color, in my opinion, is very complementary to the dusty pink in the suede sandals. The elongated shape of the earrings seems classy and demure. I also like that these earrings are bordered in sterling silver because that ties in with the metallic studs on the sandals. I would wear these earrings with a lavender miniskirt and a white peasant blouse for an airy bohemian vibe.

Enchanted Hoop Earrings – Lele Sadoughi, $198

Every girl remembers the iconic line from Mean Girls: “On Wednesdays, we wear pink!” If those words were somehow made into a pair of earrings, these would be the earrings. I’ve been daydreaming about these hoops for a while now, so of course I wanted to share them! The hand swirled acetate  reminds me of marble because of how creamy and streaky it is. I love how the earrings almost seem ombre or transitional, the way they go from pink to off-white. Pairing these earrings with the studded Alaia sandals, you could transform the whole concept of your outfit from muted to bright and playful. I would pair these earrings with a pastel pink dress and matte silver nail polish, for a super feminine and cheeky look.

Coral and Blue Lagoon Crystal Earrings – Les Néréides Paris, $198

Blue isn’t the obvious choice for a pair of dusty pink Alaia sandals. But taking a look at these earrings and the bright and sultry pops of orange, aren’t they kind of adorable? These earrings make a statement in more than one way. With the silver studs on the sandals and the yellow gold plating on the earrings, this is a fun and bold way to mix metals. I also love the small floral details at the base of the earrings which have the tiniest little mauve flower buds. The knotted leather strap on the Alaia sandals are vaguely nautical to me and I feel like these earrings with the clear burst of coral and blue bring that theme full circle. I would wear these earrings with a breezy sundress and a pair of cute sunglasses.

Which pair was your favorite pairing with the Alaia sandals? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Pave Eye Sweet Leaf Crown Inlay Necklace – Jacquie Aiche

I really like this necklace. The eye reminds me of the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, which were prominently displayed on a billboard in Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby.” Many people analyzed the work and thought maybe the eyes symbolized the eyes of God, overlooking the valley of ashes.

I can’t tell you Jacquie Aiche’s exact intent was when she was crafting this necklace but I love the pave white diamond detail and I love the metal choice of yellow gold. Also it’s pretty quirky that the eye looks pretty serene and it’s bordered with marijuana leaves. Sans the leaves, you can get a necklace that is pretty similar for thousands less. Jacquie Aiche’s necklace is priced at $6750 but this Evil Eye Necklace is only $30.

Evil Eye Necklace – BlissBelleDesigns

This necklace is being sold for over $6500 less than the original Jacquie Aiche piece. The evil eye necklace can be purchased with a 16, 18, or 20 inch chain. All of the metal hardware (chain included) are 14k gold filled. For just $30, this necklace is extremely reasonably priced. It will add a mysterious vibe to your otufit without you wondering how all of your money went mysteriously missing.

Star Duster Earrings – Colette

What I love about these earrings is the color scheme, the silver and the black together. (If you want this particular pair, you have to select “Multi-Colored Gold.”) These earrings are set with 3 carats worth of conflict-free black and white diamonds. 

I’ve always really liked things that look a bit sci-fi and futuristic, so these earrings really caught my eye. They actually reminded me of an old Disney movie, “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.” I remember in that movie the characters were living on some spaceship and had these gray metallic outfits. So that same gray and “living in the galaxy” sort of vibe is what I got from these earrings. They’re actually from Colette’s signature Galaxia collection. They’re priced at $22,500, which is a year’s tuition at some universities and the cost of a decent car. However, I found a pair that I think really echo the color scheme and the same extraterrestrial energy and they cost phenomenally less.

Tickle II Long Earrings – Karolina Bik

The Tickle II Long Earrings are a beautiful alternative to the Star Duster Earrings. And I think they would be just as fitting on the ears of a heroine in a sci-fi movie. You get the same gray and black tones and the same dangle style that will allow for movement. (In order to get this exact color scheme you have to select “top:silver/bottom:black” in the dropdown menu.) These affordable earrings are priced at a cool $100 and will leave you with your college tuition money still in your account.

Would you wear these jewelry dupes? Do you like these wallet-friendly alternatives better than the originals? Let me know in the comments below!

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When I saw these sandals, the first thing that popped into my head was “ugly cute.” With surgical precision, someone extracted the puffiness of the Michelin Man and the uniform scales of a snake and took it upon themselves to create a leather sandal that looked both cartoonish and reptilian. 

These stilettos come in almost every color you can think of, from “Car Blue” to “Tapioca.” The shade that caught my eye however was “Paprika.” And I’m not going to lie after staring at these shoes for a full minute I was intrigued. How could someone pull off this autumnal orange in spring and how would they accessorize? Carnelian is the first thing that popped into my head but it’s definitely not the only complimentary orange stone that could pair with these shoes. Here are my top picks to pair with the BV Curve Sandals.

Agate and Diamond Earrings – Yvonne Leon

I love the gentle curvature of these earrings, they remind me of the two halves of a yin and yang symbol. These earrings are tiny but they pack a punch, they are completely saturated with the “paprika” color that the mule sandals have. These earrings are for when your outfit is already flamboyant and you just want a little pop of color to tie things in. I would wear these earrings as an extension of a monochromatic outfit. Like if I wanted to feel like a real life Powerpuff girl and save the city of Townsville or if I was channeling my inner Velma Dinkley. These earrings are priced at $550.

Ama Arch Phoenix Earrings – Misa Jewelry

I love these earrings because of the uniqueness of the smoky quartz and pink tourmaline. I think that these shoes are so bright that your accessories don’t have to be too “on the nose.” These earrings are within the same sunset hued color palette and I think they would accentuate the sandals nicely by bringing some variance. I would wear these earrings if I was wearing a dress that was pink or a muted tone. I see these earrings adding a bit of class to a flowy bohemian outfit like a white peasant blouse and a nice floral miniskirt. These earrings are the highest on the list, with a $620 price point.

Orange Quartz Monochrome Collection Silver Earrings – Pradera Irama

I love how these earrings could take your outfit in an entirely different direction. The carved orange smoke quartz makes them so unique. I feel like these earrings have a historical look despite being quite modern. Between the orange color of the sandals and the orange quartz, I would absolutely pair these earrings with a high-end outfit for date night. I see these earrings adding a stylish touch to an outfit that’s lacy or silky. I could even see these earrings paired with a nice orange leather pencil skirt. These earrings are my favorite out of the three and are priced at a cool $529. 

What do you think of the BV Curve Sandals in “Paprika”? If they caught your eye, you can pre-order the sandals here. Which earrings would you wear with them? Let me know if you think there’s a pair of earrings that would match better in the comments below!

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However, I’m coming back to you with some truly stunning jewelry picks in a metal that I haven’t really talked about. Let’s talk about brass!

Brass is an intimidating metal, if you let it be. And what I mean by that is, I think everyone has heard the rumor (or clearly substantiated claims) that brass jewelry can turn your skin green.

The trick here is to make sure that if you buy a pair of earrings they have sterling silver at the point that’s actually going to be touching your skin.

Prism Earrings – Alchemilla

One thing about me is that I self-identify as a geek. I really like throwback cartoons. These earrings remind me of the show “Rainbow Brite,” but in the absolute best way. As an adult (something I’m still shocked that I am?) I really like wearing things that bring me back to positive moments in my childhood, so wearing a shimmery lavender eyeshadow because when I was in Sephora it reminded me of Courage from “Courage the Cowardly Dog” isn’t outrageous and probably should be expected from me. Anyway, as I mentioned before, brass earrings should have a sterling silver base and these earrings meet that criteria with their hypoallergenic sterling silver posts. One thing I really like about these earrings is how it comes in several different colors and you even have the option to get them with no beads at all. My favorite shade is “Chameleon” but I also am a fan of the unbeaded version. I would pair these earrings with a bohemian style outfit as a statement piece and I would also wear them to work, they’re super versatile. Priced at $130, they’re a complete steal.

Fringe Theory Earrings – Lingua Nigra

I initially didn’t have anything to say about these earrings because they left me speechless. I wish I could just drop the mic and just be like “these earrings, enough said.” But alas, I feel compelled to talk about them. At $148, the pricepoint is amazing for the level of detail. These earrings are giving me Gustav Klimt vibes with a touch of witchiness. These earrings also come with sterling silver posts and backs. I love that the designer plated these brass earrings in 22kt gold to make them look that much more elegant and spellbinding. These earrings look like they know how to brew potions and have a book of incantations on standby. They’re glamourous and they’re the perfect fusion of dangle and stationary. What’s also cool is that they have a matching necklace if you really want to turn heads. Lately, I’ve been really into the idea of matching sets and I think I want to add both the earrings and the necklace to my personal collection. Keep your eyes peeled for these earrings on my Instagram feed!

Out of these two pairs of earrings, which pair is your favorite? Are you emboldened to mix metals and add some brass into your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Lingua Nigra, Alchemilla

The post Titillating and Transfixing Brass Earrings Under $150 appeared first on handfulofmia.

We all like to look good. In a way, dressing and accessorizing is akin to storytelling because we are showing the world who we are through our corresponding costumes. But who says that buying jewelry has to be phenomenally expensive? 

In our current culture where we like to wear a different outfit each time we post on social media, it’s simply not sustainable to buy a new piece of jewelry every time you feel like posting on IG. And that’s especially true if you’re paying the full retail price for every piece of jewelry that you buy.

With that being said, ‘fast fashion’ (the trend where runway fashion looks are very quickly replicated and sold for a fraction of the cost) is leaking into the jewelry industry. With new emerging technologies and a shorter attention span from customers, there is a clear drive to get jewelry on the market drastically faster and cheaper than was previously done. 

Recently, it came to my attention from a “Patriot Act” episode that fast fashion is actually bad for the environment because of the inevitable waste it produces. 

Jewelry is generally seen as an investment because of its longevity and durability. With the expense, you are also supposed to get quality. The trade-off, of course, is that you have fewer jewelry pieces to pair with outfits. 

Contrastingly, if you get a multitude of jewelry crafted with ‘fast fashion’ techniques, you will have more jewelry but a higher likelihood of cheap materials or crappy craftsmanship. 

So at this point, you might be asking: well, what am I supposed to do? I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. 

A more pocket-friendly and sustainable way of acquiring jewelry is actually getting it secondhand. Before you recoil in disgust, there are actually some pretty cool websites where you can get jewelry that has been double-checked for quality before it’s even posted. A brand that I have had my eye on is Oscar De La Renta. I really love their floral jewelry but I’m not in love with their prices. Here are two examples of their jewelry that are heavily discounted. 

Oscar De La Renta Crystal Bow Collar Necklace

The cool thing about TheRealReal is that their jewelry comes with a valuation report where you can view the condition of the item and the estimated retail cost. This Oscar De La Renta necklace was valued at $950 but is being sold for $138. I love the antiqued floral look of this necklace and I think it’s versatile enough to pair with many outfits while still being a statement necklace.

Oscar De La Renta Gold Toned Necklace

ThredUP is another site where you can find luxury consignment jewelry. They also offer interest-free payments with Affirm, if you would prefer to buy a piece gradually. This Oscar De La Renta necklace was valued at $650 but is being sold for $108. I love the gold color of this necklace as well as the corkscrew detail in the front. I feel this would be lovely paired with a nice navy blue blazer for an office-appropriate and stylish look.

Oscar De La Renta Signed Earrings

Poshmark is my final suggestion as a marketplace for finding beautiful secondhand jewelry. You can contact the sellers personally and sometimes they are even open to bartering or sending you additional photos of the item. These earrings were originally $500 but are being sold for just $85. I love the pave crystal touches on the moon and stars and I like the contrast between the roundness of the pearls and the angularity of the stars. 

These are 3 of my favorite picks for second-hand jewelry that can complement just about any fashion-forward wardrobe. Let me know what you think in the comments, would you buy pre-owned jewelry?

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One painting that was powerful not only in sheer size but also in the subject and the detail was The Moorish Chief. If you haven’t seen it in person, I highly recommend going to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to check it out for yourself. 

A stellar painting draws the eye and so does a dazzling piece of jewelry. Here are my favorite jewelry items that put me in mind of iconic paintings!

1. Mosaic V Pendant – Emilie Shapiro Contemporary Metals

On her website, Emilie Shapiro describes this necklace as “primitive yet modern.” In that way, this piece evokes not only the colors of Alex Colville’s Pacific but also the tone. Violence and contemplation are as old as human civilization. However, the way that humans have warred against others and themselves has changed with time. This necklace reminds me of the ocean, and it is definitely the aquamarines set in sculptural brass that give it that vibe. Also, the curvature of the brass pendant puts me in the mind of waves and movement. This necklace is as beautiful and complex as Colville’s Pacific and wearing it would give you an air of mystery. Also, it is priced very well at $220.

2. Technicolor Rainbow Earrings – Roxanne Assoulin

There’s something about Impressionism that just makes me feel like I’ve experienced colors in a new way. The color composition of these earrings puts me in mind of Monet’s Water Lilies. You can say whatever you want about Monet but he was a man that loved beautiful things. Monet was a great admirer of nature and he even planted water lilies as well as painting them. The peace and serenity of a still pond littered with sunlight and pink blossoms is captured in these earrings. The lime green, coral and turquoise hues of the Swarovski crystals have natural elegance and refinement that really elevate the earrings. Wear these earrings for a stylistic piece that will remind you of an idyllic French garden. These earrings are also priced at $220.

3. White Opalite and Miyuki Beaded Earrings – Miguel Ases

It may seem eclectic to pair a pair of earrings that feature Japanese Miyuki beads with a European painting like Eduard Charlemont’s The Moorish Chief. But honestly, these earrings shine with the same ochre tones and lustrous whites that really made me fall in love with Charlemont’s color palette. Everything from the femininity of the beadwork to the way these ornate earrings hung from their 14k gold filled ear wires made me smile. Charlemont made the subject of his painting so lifelike and commanding. The richness of the white opalite contrasted with the glow of the gold makes these earrings a strong statement piece. Adorn yourself with these earrings to radiate a quiet dignity and confidence. These earrings are the lowest of the bunch, priced at $180.

Let me know your thoughts below in the comments! Do you draw the same parallels between the paintings and the jewelry or is it a stretch?

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I thought to myself, gemstones come in so many yummy and luscious colors, just like fruit. Why not write a fabulous article on my favorite earrings that look decadent enough to eat. So here it is, a curated fruit bowl of my top 3 craveable earrings to sink your teeth into! And the best part, everything is under $100.

1. Peach Moonstone Herringbone Cluster Dangle Earrings

$34
Anne Vaughan Original Jewelry

These stunning earrings are from Anne Vaughan’s Cascade Collection. I love how they seamlessly transition from the delicate peach moonstone to the delectable blue kyanite. Peach moonstone is best known for its feminine healing properties. It may be small but it packs a punch, stimulating sensuality, transmuting negative energy, aiding in your menstrual cycle and even amplifying clairvoyance. Kyanite, on the other hand, is known as an ideal stone for meditation because of its ability to align all of your chakras and promote self-examination. These earrings will promote self-alignment and style and are pretty enough to put on a parfait.

2. Pomegranate Design Earrings

$95
Yoruk Collection

What I love about these earrings is how upfront they are. These gold plated pomegranate earrings are shaped exactly like the fruit and they’re oxidized for a unique historical character. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they’re absolutely covered in juicy red garnets. Garnets get their name from the Latin word “Garanatus” which means “pomegranate seed” or “seed-like.” And the same way pomegranates are rich in vitamins, garnets are rich in properties like increasing fertility, devotion and cheerfulness. Bid your blues goodbye with a side of sparkle, and possibly…a baby. If you adore these baubles, take a look at the matching bracelet and necklace.

3. Ethiopian Opal Lemon Quartz Tassel Earrings

$98
Dolittle Jewelry New York

These earrings put me in mind of whipped lemon mousse on fine china. The shape of these earrings and the way the briolettes are clustered together reminds me of ripe hanging fruit. The gold-filled chain could easily be the branch of a lemon tree, drooping under the weight of all that precious lemon quartz. The opals add just the right amount of mystic flair, perfect for adding a touch of romance to an otherwise monochromatic outfit. Opals have both beauty and brains and are meant to aid in memory, loyalty, and even creativity. Lemon quartz, the star of the show, is said to amplify clarity, abundance, and positivity. Wear these sunny yellow earrings for a cheerful boost and an aura of serenity.

Let me know your thoughts below in the comments! Would you wear these treasures?

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