Hazy Day Studio

     I'd like to take a moment to make the case for vintage.  I love it!  Y'all know that, but I just can't help but plead it's virtues.  Vintage has patina, age, life...good vintage gets so much better with age.  Metals mellow and take on the look of a well loved piece.  The "flaws" of an old or handmade piece give it depth, life...personality!
     I am talking about good vintage here.  Which does not have to be "fine" jewelry.  So many of the old costume pieces are freakin' amazing.  The design, the detail, the size...the look of so much more.  Vintage is typically well made, often handcrafted by a skilled artisan or a popular designer.  Companies like Mazer Bros., Boucher, Miriam Haskell, and designers like Chanel, Schiaparelli, KJL, Nettie Rosentein...they created beautiful things from common materials. 
     There is the freshness of a piece from the hands of a hopeful beginner.  Even old plastic pieces with no attribution, like Bakelite and lucite, are fantastic.  So don't over look that little plastic bug pin, it just could be a Lea Stein!
     Take a minute to look through the pages of a fashion magazine and you will start to notice that, for the most part, everything new is old again.  I can't tell you how many times I have turned the page to spot something designer that looks a heck of a lot like something vintage.  And to think, that for a fraction of the price, you can usually find the original! 
     One of the flat out best reasons to choose vintage is just that...cost.  More often than not, you get more for your money.  Believe that one in today's market.  The metal content can be higher grade.  The stones are bigger, older, and of higher quality.  And the thing has lasted this long...it has staying power!  Now collectibility has to be factored in...rarity, artistry, and attribution can and do drive those prices upward, but the range is limitless.
     Eco consciousness!!!  Is there a better way to recycle?  Humbly speaking, absolutely not!  Often, vintage pieces need very little to no altering to just slip on.  And even better so many vintage bits...those broken chains, mismatched earrings, buttons...all of it can be reworked, upcycled into something new and exciting.

     Now, not that I want a run on vintage pieces.  I don't want to create too much competition, but I do want to share just how wonderful vintage can be.  I love old jewelry, old furniture, vintage artwork, clothes...you name it, besides socks and underwear, and I have an affinity for it.  So take a moment the next time you need a great accessory and look to the past.  You will be rewarded with something unique, timeless, well made, and amazing!!!!!