Since J.Lo’s heyday in the spotlight, the term “bling”
has been synonymous with sparkling, usually golden, jewelry encrusted with a diamond or two — or 50. However,
with spring and summer styles revolving around muted earth tones, and with the resurgence of eco-fashion,
jewelry designers have caught the eco-bug and created some great pieces for your bling collection.
Mai McKemy, the designer behind Woodland Belle, said in a
past interview that she has “always loved details,” and certainly expresses that love in her intricate
pieces. Just as the name of her brand would suggest, McKemy’s jewelry has a woodland theme and features
designs like hairpins in the shape of twigs, and a bottled robin’s nest necklace, made with genuine, tiny
twigs “added to the nest for realism” that are a precious reminder of childhood dioramas. The tiny woodland
terrarium golden stag ring, which is quite possibly the pièce de résistance of the collection, would
be the perfect finishing touch to any ensemble. McKemy has also been featured in Real Simple
magazine.
In the realm of things that are real simple, there’s the back-to-basics design of the W-Watch by Casio. A collaborative design by Saint48 media and PRPLMNT, it’s a
raw, nature-loving take on the classic Casio digital watch.
Its frame is made from wood, and comes in two different colours — perfect for any plaid-wearing “manly
man.”
For a more eclectic style, there’s a jewelry collection by New York-based designer Erica Weiner. A world-traveler and philanthropist, Weiner’s designs are
often vintage-inspired and aren’t usually found in your typical accessory store. Brass rings made from
19th-century wax seals, unique cufflinks, and even assorted memorabilia from as far back in the
day as the Second World War would make great gifts or personal treasures. She’s also got pen nib pendants,
rings that look like feathers wrapped around your finger and tiny brass beads cast from the five vertebrae of
a snake — a piece that’s sure to get a conversation going. With jewelry like this, you can wear your
eccentricities on your sleeve, neck or finger.•
Photos by
Polyvore
