belt it out

There's nothing like a belt to add shape and sophistication to an outfit. A belt is a great way to accentuate the waist, and it can breathe new life into a shapeless shirt or dress. Not feelin' your bold jewellery today? Mix it up, or better yet, "belt it up," and make your belt the statement instead!

We are delighted by this dreamy fashion vignette. The belt is in its glory as the perfect centrepiece to such a charming outfit!

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

And voila: beauty and the belt! Cynthia is the doll of a customer who bought our "King of the Jungle" belt; you can hear it roar in its fierce juxtaposition to her garment's feminine fabrics and hues. We love pieces that add interest to a beautiful outfit, but we wouldn't expect anything less from the darling of Steel Oneself, an intriguing blog dedicated to Hamilton's visual culture, with an emphasis on style and fashion. 

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

Fun belts add a playful quality to an outfit or can be your pop of colour, such as our smooching butterfly and rainbow belts from the 80's.

 We can't resist the sheen and shine of chain belts. Another perk is that they can be adjusted to any size by hooking the closure at various points along the body--so whether you want high-waisted elegance or hip-shaking jewellery, both are a piece of (cup)cake! And we swear on Alice's teacup that we're not yanking your chain, adding one of these belts gives an instant BANG!

Even Betty digs chain belts!

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Call us dizzy or do these belts look like they were fastened in Wonderland? Be creative with your belts and try curious ways of loop-da-looping!

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Speaking of curious, finding belts in the most unusual of places is our cup of tea. Alicia has taken a men's polka dot neck tie and turned it into a fun-loving belt.

Photo Credit: Cynthia from Steel Oneself

So by all means...wrap it, cinch it, and belt out how much you love it! Skedaddle down to the art crawl and check out our collection on Friday, October 11th at 6:00 p.m. at 136 James Street North in front of H. Williams Jewellery.

cranked for collar clips

Cardigan clips, also called "sweater guards" or "sweater clips", were all the rage in the 1950s. Introduced as a way to "hold" lightweight sweaters in place over a woman's shoulders, they quickly became a fun and flirty fashion accessory.


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To our dismay, like many aspects of fashion, they eventually went out of style. What a drag! Fortunately, we are thanking our lucky stars because they are on the verge of a comeback! With the recent popularity of extraordinary collars (think spiked, bedazzled, sequinned), these hip little things hold their own and stand out from the crowd. We really dig the way they spice up a boring sweater and make an ordinary collar cool again.

  

We're huge "gleeks" when it comes to Emma Pillsbury's (actress Jayma Mays) fashion sense on the show, Glee. She adorns every sweater with a classy cardigan clip or a beautifully brilliant brooch to create a truly timeless style.

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They can also be seen on some of the mad women on Mad Men.

Whether you're watching your guy race for pinks, playing back seat bingo or hanging at a passion pit, collar clips will help keep you cozy in that cardigan.

Let's clue you in to how we wear the accessory that has us awestruck.

We are ga-ga over this sweater guard! The (de)vine leaf detail on our "Stone Fox" clip is certainly suited for a foxy lady.

If your searching for something a smidge more subtle, our "Golden Afternoon" cardigan clip is a mere mix of short and sweet, with shine and sass. 

Check out how we change our "Purdy in Pink" shirt from casual to cute.

These charming clips certainly have us cranked!

We flip for clips that create a cool collar.

 This ain't no fuddy-duddy fashion fling so be sure you get dibs on some of our cool cat collar clips and have a blast at our next pop-up:
Locke Street Festival at 333 Locke Street South September 7th from 10am-7pm.

Later, gators!

cameo appearance

Cameos are the objects of our affection. They are a type of jewelry with engravings of enchanting images of nature or charming figures of women and men (though men are rare). One of the many reasons why we are enamoured by cameos is that at a mere glance, you can be swept away to a more gracious era. In our eyes, they are simply the crème de la crème.

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Although cameos have been around since the Hellenic Age, they became a favourite during the Victorian Era where royalty could not live without their beloved cameos. The cameo is special because it transcends the whims of fashion- therefore remaining a timeless piece of jewelry! 

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 We literally fall in love over and over again with the carved motifs that embody these miniature masterpieces. Many of our cameos feature delicate portraits of elegant ladies, with beautiful upswept hairstyles and dreamy profiles.

Pay close attention blog readers: If you are in need of a gift idea for the ravishing lady on your arm, we daresay there couldn't be a more classic or romantic piece of jewelry to give your doe, your dear, your darling. I (Vanessa) have inherited a cameo ring and necklace that my father gave to my mother as a declaration of his love during their teenage years. I can't help but swoon over these petite sculptures accenting my finger and declate.

Don't fret, although this beauty has sold to a radiant lass, we have other vintage and vintage-inspired cameos in stock. Even in the absence of this necklace, we will never forget the detailed framework surrounding the portrait.

This cameo is 10 KT gold-plated and is one of our most alluring cameos because of its ample motif.

We also adore the ornate gold enveloping this cameo.

$20

The shorter hairstyle of this cameo gives a mid-century flair to this ring.
 

Once again, our cameo is embedded in such a divine setting.

$15

Reflecting the Victorians love of gardening, many cameos depict gorgeous floral arrangements, surely inspired by the finest flowers blossoming in secret gardens. The creamy relief against the dark background of this work of art is unique to our collection and is captivating indeed. As well, the fact that it can be adorned as a necklace or brooch is such a fabulous perk!

$10
 

The minty green background of this cameo necklace is refreshing.

$20

Our fetching cameo scarf clip is too good to be true!

$8

Our cameo praising wouldn't be complete without sharing these handmade cameo wall decorations. We are just smitten with this adorable pair and imagine them regally hanging in a quaint powder room or little girls room. 

pair for $8

 It is no surprise that cameos have been treasured for centuries. We can't help but notice how customers aplenty have been intrigued by the mystique and grace of the cameo. We will surely continue to hunt these artful pieces of jewelry for you and yours xo

mad tea party

How fitting that a mad tea party provided the perfect inspiration and backdrop for our dizzy alice photo shoot. Our philosophy reflects the essence of a mad tea party in that we believe style should have no pretentious rules or expectations but rather, exude freedom and fearlessness. We believe in mixing new and old pieces, experimenting with accessories, embracing individuality & mood - and of course having a ball along the way!

   

Our shoot was the stuff dreams are made of: we were submersed in a colourful frenzy with waltzing butterflies and tantalizing cupcakes from Bitten.

The pearls devoured the scene while nonsensical riddles were music to our ears.
One could say it was a darn right beautiful mess.

Our accessories mingled with our housewares to create much muchness. What could be muchier?

You may think we are raving mad and we would thank you for the compliment.

Our only hope is that our Cheshire grins are contagious. 

So put on your party hats...

...and don't be late for the art crawl on Friday, August 9th at 6:00 pm! xo

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Our photo shoot would not have been as enjoyable or successful

without a few special people helping us along the way:

Anna:

For this photo shoot we wanted a dramatic and playful look. Our makeup helped us get into character and feel as though we popped right out of Wonderland. Anna's talent, experience, and creativity allowed her to stray from her usual form of makeup application. Anna's speciality is classic bridal makeup as well as timeless makeup for any of life's significant events. Check out her website here to see some of her gorgeous work:

www.littleredlipstick.carbonmade.com

 

Travis:

Travis is an up-and-coming photographer who is a pleasure to work with. His eye for creativity is always mind-boggling. The perspectives he captures with the lens is like no other. We absolutely love working with Travis; his casual yet professional manner allows us to feel at ease in front of the camera. To contact Travis for your own photos, you can reach him by email:

travis.muise@gmail.com