handmade bead jewelry | Beadbear's Blog

Lariats

July 27, 2012 beadbear Leave a comment

Lariats are my signature pieces. I design them with pearls or other gemstones. Lariats are an American jewelry invention. A lariat is a long usually single strand necklace, that does not have a clasp. Initially popular in the late 1800’s during the Art Nouveau Period, they reached their zenith during the Roaring 20’s. It was said that Zelda Fitzgerald had a pearl lariat that was one hundred feet long. They were testaments to the American belief that ”anything worth doing was worth overdoing”. Consequently, in the years that followed, they fell out of favor during the Great Depression. However, I believe that in moderation, they are the most versatile piece of jewelry a woman could possess. Initially, lariats were only a few feet long. However, if the length of the lariat equals the height of the wearer, it is the perfect length to be worn a variety of ways around the neck as well as around the waist. Depending upon how it is wrapped around the neck, an outfit can look casual, business-like or dressy. Consequently, a woman could conceivably wear here lariat from work to a cocktail party, and still be perfectly attired! If you halve it, and then slip the ends through the loop, and let them dangle to the right or the left, the look is quite sporty and casual. Wrapped twice around the neck and knotted in the middle you achieve a sophisticated image. Untied, and worn under the collar of a jacket, makes a powerful statement. Draped around the neck, and tied loosely below the bust, lends a dazzling appearance to an evening gown. Equally effective, is to drape it so that the ends fall down the back. A most alluring look with backless gowns and cocktail dresses. And of course, tied like a belt around the waist, elegant with a sweater dress, tied loosely and draped over the hips, is downright sexy; you’ll look like a goddess.

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: America, fashion, handmade bead jewelry, lariats, necklace, pearls

Fine Jewelers Advised to Avoid Beads

June 25, 2011 beadbear Leave a comment

Reply to GUEST EDITORIAL: BEAD-WARE!
http://news.centurionjewelry.com/articles/view/guest-editorial-bead-ware

I have successfully designed and sold fine bead jewelry FOR YEARS! I am highly amused by the retail jewelers that have come so late to the retail success that bead jewelry has enjoyed since the time of the Neanderthals.
You remind me of all those old European fuddy-duddy royals that sneered at Za Za Gabor when she married that Austrian noble. They were appalled that she wore with her lavish diamond necklace, bracelets and rings one of her lovely crystal and platinum beauty crowns when she was “presented” to them in the 60’s.
The problem for all those who march in lock step and buy the same items is REDUNDANCY. Your customers that like beads and wear them do not want to see the same damn thing everywhere they go. They are a more sophisticated and educated shopper than you obviously suppose.
What you fail to apprehend is that women and men who wear and enjoy bead jewelry also wear gold, platinum and silver. I know because many of them are MY customers, some of who have ten or more of my designs. They are very comfortable wearing both, either separately or at the same time.
Of course, I create exclusively one of a kind pieces, that are hand-knotted, with quality findings. Selling the identical items that everyone else has is a sure path to failure.
Further, in these difficult times, the savvy retailer has merchandise that appeals to all price points. Pam Danziger also observed that the affluent shoppers are shopping more at Target than Nordstrum’s.
I don’t mean to rip on you but this is the same attitude that keeps retails from using all marketing tools, including the internet and social media, as Scott Galloway stated so clearly at the GIA Symposium.

Beadbear
http://www.beadbear.com

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: handmade bead jewelry