Iris Apfel, photo from Glamour Magazine

Photo from Marie Claire

Photo from JakandJil

Kate Lanphear shot by JakandJil

 Photo 1  from Style.com, Photo 2 from Shoplooks.com, Monica Rich Kosann charm bracelet, Photo 3 from In Detail, Photo 4 by Tommy Ton,

]]> http://www.mrkstyle.com/2011/12/street-style-the-charm-bracelet/feed/ 0 http://www.mrkstyle.com/2011/10/street-style-bold-necklaces/ http://www.mrkstyle.com/2011/10/street-style-bold-necklaces/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:58:59 +0000 RodKosann http://www.mrkstyle.com/?p=14918 More so than clothing it’s often jewelry that is handed down, given as a token of love or relationships and worn by a woman her entire lifetime no matter her age. And nothing stops us quite in our tracks like a woman in amazing jewelry. It’s not layers of bling that automatically impress, but the way she puts the pieces together, and of course the story behind them. This week, we noticed an ongoing trend in street style fashion: bold necklaces. This group of photographs show a variety of women who all wear statement necklaces in a different way. From our large sterling silver locket on celebrity mom Rebecca Gayheart, to a frosted choker over a printed sweater and Gwyneth Paltrow’s tough silver chain, all of these women use necklaces to turn a simple outfit into something much more exciting.

*Photos courtesy of The Sartorialist, Style.com, Celebrity Baby Scoop, and Denim Blog

*Photos 1 and 2 from NYMag.com, taken by Alessia Campostrini. Photos 3-5 courtesy of Style.com, taken by Tommy Ton. Photos 6-7 from Vogue.com, taken by Phil Oh.

Who: A Soho shopper

Where: Astor Place

What: Monica Rich Kosann silver chain-link bracelet, paired with a brass ring – carved out with an intricately detailed pattern – and Chanel Peridot nail polish. She also wears an Hermes bangle given to her by her mother, a vintage bakelite bangle from Pippin Vintage, and a woven friendship bracelet from her best friend. We love the skillful mix of silver and gold here – and the way the jewelry compliments her classically cool Alexander Wang bag.

Father, Mother, and Child Medallion. As usual, we are taken with personalized vintage pieces. The detailed portrait of a family on the front is only made more special by the engraving on the back: “I love you Leslie. 1968.”

Engraved Frame Amethyst Drop Earring. The engraved frame on these 14K gold earrings provides a nice balance for the Amethyst stone, which appears to have excellent clarity.

Victorian Etruscan Revival Lion Bracelet. Etruscan revival jewelry is inspired by archaeological finds unearthed at Pompei, making for a very distinct style. The pearl set engraved star in the center of the crossover lion heads makes a bit of a statement, without being overwhelming – which makes it great for layering with other pieces.

Rococco Revival Lognette. Were fascinated by this lognette. Though originally intended for holding spectacles in place, the vine-like pattern and in depth engraving on the large pendant make for a stunning necklace.

Antique Knights of Pythias Fob on Hairwatch Chain. This fob will most likely appeal to a more serious collector, but we thought it was too interesting not to include. The Order of the Knights of Pythias was an international fraternity founded in 1864, the principles of which were ‘Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence. The piece is priced at $350, which is a steal for a fob with such a rich history behind it.

*Photos courtesy of Doyle & Doyle. Doyle & Doyle is located at 189 Orchard St. in New York City.

More so than clothing it’s often jewelry that is handed down, given as a token of love or relationships and worn by a woman her entire lifetime no matter her age or size. And nothing stops us quite in our tracks like a woman in amazing jewelry. It’s not layers of bling that automatically impress, but the way she puts the pieces together, and of course the story behind them. Todays installment of Street Style features Publicist/Writer Victoria Alexander in a photo taken by Refinery29. Her bold mix of pieces from across the globe made us want to ask the key question: What is the story behind them?

Who: Victoria Alexander, Publicist/Writer

What: An eclectic mix of bracelets and cuffs collected from places all over the world.

Why we love it: The diversity of the collection, which includes pieces she has gathered from Mexico and India, invites conversation about the story behind each bracelet. When asked by Refinery29 if she had any tips for layering, Victoria replied “Wear color and Wear what you love.” We wholeheartedly agree.

Photo by Refinery29.

1930′s Art Deco Bakelite & Chrome Large Link Bracelet. We love the color of this unique Bakelite piece. Red is timeless but bold.

Victorian 15kt Gold Onyx and Enameled Earrings, ca 1880. We happen to love onyx (as you can tell from our recent Black and White Collection) and were truly enamored with the elegant sophistication of these statement earrings.

Victorian 14kt Love Knot Stick Pin Bracelet with Stones, ca 1880. We’re always taken with pieces that are both sentimental and beautiful. Each love knot has a different motif, some of which include stones such as ruby and opal.

Victorian 14kt Hard Stone Cameo & Natural Pearl Bracelet, ca 1880. This statement bracelet is stunning – a real collectors items. The website has a wonderful description of the history behind cameo carvings, which gives you a good sense of the history behind the piece.

Victorian Shiebler for Tiffany Sterling Homeric Coin Bracelet, ca 1880. Nine Homeric medallion coins make up this unusual bracelet, created by craftsman George W. Shiebler for Tiffany & Co. This is a real conversation piece.

Edwardian 14kt Gold & Platinum Locket with Snake, ca 1910. As usual, we had to include a locket from Brandt’s impeccable selection. We love the way the snake is crafted as though it is weaved through the locket. There is also a hand engraving on the back, which is hard for us to resist.

Art Deco 14kt Gold Diamond Engagement Ring 1.68ct. We don’t typically feature engagement rings, but Brandt has such a gorgeous collection we couldn’t help ourselves. Something about a vintage engagement ring feels very special and sentimental. The European cut and the floral engraving on the band are absolutely beautiful.

Victorian mesh bracelet with foxtail fringe and decorative buckle. We love the little details on the buckle of this bracelet, including the seed pearls and tiny arrows.

1934 Worlds Fair Buckle Bracelet. There is nothing better than jewelry that tells a story (and this bracelet does so quite literally).

1895 Victorian Floral Locket in British Sterling. Of course we had to include a locket. The contrast between the decorative floral and the linear overlay makes for a very unique piece.

1930′s Art Deco Fringe Necklace with Glass Pearl Currents and Brass Leaf Caps. This necklace screams 1930′s silent film star and is a real statement piece.

Victorian Style Buckle Cuff (circa 1939). Another beautiful cuff with a personalized engraving on the buckle.

1880′s Victorian Onyx Men’s Ring. This engraving in the onyx on this signet ring is inspiring. And the fact that it is mens makes it that much more interesting.

To view Pinguim Vintages’ Etsy shop, click here.

When it comes to reflections of the cultural zeitgest and trends, jewelry is hardly exempt. Nowhere is this more evident than in studying Victorian heirlooms.

This mid-19th century Victorian acorn charm, for example, is intricately woven out of human hair and then finished with gold-filled findings.

The Victorians were very sentimental, and had a penchant for using hair in their jewelry. Another example, mourning rings, had openings whereby the owner could stow relics of hair from their departed loved one. Hair-work, as it was called, was extremely popular in the U.S. in the 1860s and ’70s.

While this pastime seems bizarre and slightly morbid now, it gives us a sense of how a past generation harnessed memory and sentiment, always a telling cultural barometer. As far as recycling old trends, if you are able to get past the eerie factor of literally wearing another person’s hair, some of this jewelry is quite beautiful to look at—and that’s something that never goes out of style.

Photo: Erie Basin