I love a big earring or necklace moment for the holidays — the easiest way to transform a casual crewneck sweater and jeans into a full-on festive look. Below, a few of my favorite pieces:
THESE MIGNONNE GAVIGANS ARE TO DIE FOR
THIS VELVET-AND-PEARL NECKLACE IS MAJOR
OWN AND ADORE THESE BEADED BOWS
THESE STARS WOULD BE FUN FOR NYE
AT THE TOP OF MY WISHLIST — SPARKLY RDRS
GOLD FLOWER STUDS OR RESIN WHITE FLOWERS GO WITH EVERYTHING
THIS PEARL NECKLACE WITH THE ELEGANT BLACK RIBBON TIE!
Or, let the clothing do the work for you — I’m a huge fan of pieces with embellishments built-in! A few favorites:
THIS JEWEL-BUTTON PUFFER (<<SWOON)
Finally, a couple of other glitzy accessories for your consideration:
THESE $30 PEARL MULES! (A GLAM HOUSE SLIPPER IF I EVER DID SEE ONE!)
P.S.
Let me preface this comment by saying that my intention is not to judge you or anyone for style choices. I hope it’s ok to share this perspective…
Sometime ago I had ordered a couple of pairs of Mignonne Gavigan earrings — it was the “Madeline” style, I believe — I was in a rut and wanted to try something different/outside of my style comfort zone. But as soon as I tried them on, the first thing I felt was: cultural appropriation. They promptly went back (although I kept the ones that were more floral in theme). Now I can’t “unsee” it anytime I browse MG items that have feathers or such themes in the design. Has anyone else? That said, I don’t know the designer’s personal/cultural background… and I can’t judge the intent behind the creation/design of these items.
But perhaps this warrants the question to be applied to a broader context — is it fair to say that cultural appropriation happens in many other things, be it art, fashion, food, etc…? For example, I love Indian-style (as in South Asian) block print designs, and have loved them even before I married my Indian husband — and I do have them in my wardrobe especially since we’ve taken trips to India and have been able to purchase a few block-printed items from there.
I’ve been thinking about this for a while since I had bought and returned those MG earrings that made me uncomfortable when I tried them on. Where do we draw the line? IS there a line? Is it about who benefits, and who are oppressed or marginalized as a result? But what about products that have an “ethnic” (I cringe, as that term has once been applied to me, but for lack of a better term) feel to them, but that are made by skilled artisans who are honing their craft and handing it down to apprentices/the next generation so that these elements of their culture are not lost? What if they are paid a fair wage, and make these items in safe and sanitary labor conditions? Or what if the purchase of such items benefit people from those otherwise marginalized groups as the purchase can fund needs such as clean water or health care or education or…?
All this to say, I don’t have an answer… and I know that this was not the context of your post at all, so I hope I’m not going too far here. But I’d love to know what you and other readers think, in case anyone has had similar musings (and not necessarily related to the item you shared). I’m hoping to have a more informed/more sensitive perspective on the topic.
Hi Mia — Contrarian opinions WELCOME. Always. Especially when presented as thoughtfully and civilly as done here.
I can appreciate your reaction, and I can say that there have also been times I’ve tried certain items on or contemplated purchasing something for my home and then felt uneasy for one reason or another — and I’ve always felt best heeding that voice and returning/replacing the item. I don’t know where to draw the line either…
Thanks for sharing this perspective.
xx
Mia, I love what you wrote here — both the content and your inquisitive, measured tone. Thank you for making me think about this! I especially loved your third paragraph, where you mused about products that are made ethically and give back to the communities whose traditions they showcase. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and it’s so gratifying to know there are others who feel the same way.
Also, Jen, I always appreciate the thoughtful way you respond to criticism, however gentle it may be. It’s honestly kind of rare to see in the blog world, at least as far as I can tell! Just wanted to say that I appreciate your thoughtfulness as well. xx
Thank you, Jen, for welcoming contrarian perspectives so graciously!
I thought about what I wrote for a long time before and after I posted. I still don’t know the answer, but I like what you said about heeding those feelings of unease. Not knowing where the line is drawn on whether “borrowing” a style is respectful or offensive/oppressive (Because how do we know, really? Unless we ask a member of that group…?), I’d rather err on the side of caution.
And thank you, MK, for your thoughts too. Like you said, it’s a relief knowing I’m not alone in thinking this way.
Discussions like these are one of my top reasons for loving the Internet 😉 Thank you, Jen, for creating space for it!
Of course! One thing I LOVE about so many of the regular commenters here on Magpie is that several of you will leave comments and then come back and reply to those comments with amendments/additional thoughts later. I love that about you all — so many open-minded, curious, reflective women on this platform. Keep the observations coming…!
LOVING the Simone Rocha necklace! #wishlisted
What is it about pearls that I love so much, other than the fact that the pearl is my birthstone and I’ve amassed quite a collection over the years? Ha!
xx
GIRL, me too on the Rocha front and the pearl front. All the fronts. XXX
Hi there! Do you have an Amazon shop page? A lot of my other favorite bloggers do, and you have so many great finds that it would be good to pursue them all in one place.
Hi Megan! I do not but thanks for the feedback — will look into this! xx