Tagged: Zoe Coste

One Dress, 27 Looks: #15 If You Like Pina Colada

 

If you have half a brain and are into champagne then you definitely need at least one good tropical look.  I stumbled upon turbans somewhat serendipitously.  There was one point in our relationship where my husband was somewhat fixated with “the problem” of, “What are you going to do with your hair when you get old?!?!?!  You’re not allowed to cut it short and perm it!”  It’s quite a conundrum.  At some point in one’s life, a woman ceases to be able to get away with a giant mane tumbling halfway down her back, it just looks grubby.  The common solution is to chop off your hair into a soccer-mom bob or go way short to a pixie or poodle cut, neither of which I find particularly appealing.  Imagine my relief when I learned how to turban!  I will be armed with a wardrobe full of whimsical scarves by the time my geriatric years roll around.

While there are many ways to tie a turban, I find this one to require the least amount of fabric and it really could not be simpler.

Look #15 below complete with a super easy turban tutorial.

Dress, Vivienne Westwood

T-shirt, J. Crew

Scarf (worn as a turban), Etro

Wedges, Elizabeth and James

Earrings, vintage Zoe Coste

Necklace, vintage Hobe

One Dress, 27 Looks: #15 If You Like Pina Colada

One Dress, 27 Looks: #15 If You Like Pina Colada

 

Photos from left to right, top to bottom.

Step 1: Cradle your head in a long scarf.

Step 2: Bring the two ends of the scarf around to the front of your head and cross them so that it forms an “X” in front.

Step 3: Tie the ends of the scarf securely in the back.

Step 4: Pull the top layer of the scarf on the left side up to cover the left side of your head.    Repeat on the right side.  The two sides should overlap a tiny bit at the top so none of your hair peeks through.  Secure with a safety-pin if necessary, I find I don’t really need to.

One Dress, 27 Looks: #15 If You Like Pina Colada

One Dress, 27 Looks: #15 If You Like Pina Colada

Turban Tip: HUGE earrings complete the look.  The turban together with chunky earrings frame your face and it’s a little bit of accessory magic.  Not sure if you can pull off a turban?  Try one on using the Turbanizer.  You’re welcome.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

 

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One Dress, 27 Looks: # 17 How to Wear Gold Without Looking Gauche 1 Dress, 27 Outfits: Look #2 Art Deco One Dress, 27 Looks: # 14 Orthopedic Kerfuffle One Dress, 27 Looks: #19 Waxing Demure-ish Premature Summer Drama One Dress, 27 Looks: #7 The Long and Short of it One Dress, 27 Looks: # 8 CrowdJewel Decadent Darlings Jewelry Contest fur hatAccessorizing for the Cold

One Dress, 27 Looks: #7 The Long and Short of it

 

I generally don’t wear short skirts.  In fact, I am of the firm belief that if you are over a certain age, over a certain BMI (this certainly isn’t a weight issue, it’s because curvy girls look more voluptuous and while twiggy over yonder can wear a belt as a skirt and barely raise an eyebrow, we curvy girls flash an ankle and develop a stalker following.  Skin looks sluttier on curvy girls so put some thought into how far you want to go.) or your knee skin has over 1/2 cm of slack, you’re better off with a pencil skirt.  However, I do acknowledge that some DMD darlings DO rock the itty bitty minis (and rock it well) so I wanted to incorporate a look for them using the same black dress.

Look #7:

Black Dress by Viv Westwood

Denim Jacket from Zara

Earrings from Fallon

Necklace Vintage Zoe Coste

Bracelets Spike bangles from Fallon

Sunnies Ray-ban

 

One Dress, 27 Looks: #7 The Long and Short of it

One Dress, 27 Looks: #7 The Long and Short of it

 

A little tip, if your legs need a little airbrushing, pick up nude fishnets!  They are a complete revelation!  The most flattering stockings you could possibly wear but because they’re fishnets you won’t feel like grandma.  I wear Wolford Twenties Tights in Honey.  They will change your life.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

 

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One Dress, 27 Looks: # 11 and 12 Day to Evening One Dress, 27 Looks: #16 Safari Chic One Dress, 27 Looks: # 17 How to Wear Gold Without Looking Gauche Vintage 80′s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee One Dress, 27 Looks: Look #4 Workin It One Dress, 27 Looks: Look #6 Truman Capote Would be Proud JZP’s Iris Apfel Challenge: 1 Black Dress, 27 Different Outfits One Dress, 27 Looks: Look #5 Flamenco

Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim

 

Ohhh don’t you just hate those days when you wake up and have absolutely no idea what to put on?  It makes it totally impossible to write a jewelry blog–gets chilly.  There are days when my jewelry inspires the outfit but today is not one of those days.  I think I will have to work backwards.  It doesn’t help that a lucite necklace I ordered on eBay stinks of old lady perfume (note to self: plastic absorbs odors–this is common knowledge in the culinary world, one would never store coffee in a plastic container, but for some reason I failed to make the connection to jewelry) and while that was going to be my starting point, it’s giving me a sinus headache and I shall have to return it.

So, lets reverse the process.  Since denim shirts are all the rage this spring (I can guarantee you that every other person will be sporting a denim shirt at Coachella this weekend), lets use that as our backdrop.  How would I style a denim shirt?  Oh let me count the ways!

1. Sweet Simplicity–If you’re going minimalist, wear gold.  Denim is in the cool color family so a silver necklace is really not going to pop.  A yellow gold necklace plays off the contrast against the cool tone of the shirt.  This is also why blondes look AMAZING in denim shirts!

Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim
Jean & Alex Elephant necklace in 20k yellow gold.

2. Boho Gold- For a little more oomph, try layering two gold necklaces.  When going for a boho look, I like to mix it up with one short and one long.  Make sure the two are roughly equal in heft and boldness though, if one necklace outdoes the other by a lot it’s just going to look a little random.

Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim
Vintage long fish and bells necklace that picked up in an antique store in Seoul and an old J. Crew Egyptian revival necklace.

3. Mondrian Mod Diamonds and Glass–inspiration for this combination came from a Beth Lipman sculpture at the Modrian SoHo.  The look of diamonds and glass is very decadent yet minimalist and modern at the same time.  Like, “Oh yes, I just rolled out of bed in my diamonds and glass baubles” (DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, shards of glass in the bed = never a good idea).  Little tip here, if you’re going to pair diamonds with glass, make sure the diamonds are faux!  Real diamonds will scratch the bejesus out of glass!  I never thought I would hear myself say wear faux diamonds over real, but this is an exception.

Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim
Beth Lipman sculpture, Mondrian SoHo, NYC.
Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim
Givenchy faux diamond necklace worn here with a Sent Venetian glass necklace.

4. Neck arthritis–Of course we will brave the possibility of arthritis of the neck in the name of fashion and glamour!  Unlike the gold layering above, I chose three pieces one just a tad longer than the other to get a GIANT bib effect here.  Remember lesson from yesterday, choose a metal color theme and stick to it add eye candy by incorporating textures and other materials.  Silver is my color theme here, so I use the colorful hearts on the Zoe Coste necklace and the rhinestones to add interest.  Addition of a gold necklace here would look messy.

Layering Necklaces: Four Looks for Denim
Vintage Zoe Coste hearts and stars necklace worn with a J.Crew necklace (the long one) and another random sparkly necklace I picked up in Korea.

Well there you have it.  Which one will you be rocking this weekend?

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

 

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Vintage 80′s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee

 

Oh my.  I had quite a weekend.  Hence my silence for 2 days straight.  I apologize my darlings, but I got a little carried away with a pair of vintage Zoe Coste earrings from the 1980s.  I adorned myself with these spectacular starburst beauties on Friday night and thus began a weekend of debauchery.

Vintage 80s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee
Vintage Zoe Coste star burst ear clips, circa 1980s.

Zoe Coste was a French costume jewelry designer who began her career in Europe in the 70′s and later moved to New York and then expanded to other cities.  Her older pieces are signed “Zoe Coste Made in France” and the newer ones are usually signed “Design Zoe Coste, MOD DEP ” in a little circular emblem on the back.  Ms. Coste passed away in 2007 in Cannes but her pieces continue to be very au courant and have remained highly collectible.

Vintage 80s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee
Example of a newer Zoe Coste signature.

The pieces that I own are 80′s glamour at its best and when I put on my starburst earrings or this heart and stars necklace of hers I can’t help but want to rock out.  How did this put me out of commission for 2 days you ask?  Well, it was girls night, I was channeling Jem and the Holograms with these earrings, a killer pair of 5 inch snake-skin platform stilettos and danced the night away, as we do.  Saturday I woke up with a sprained toe, yup, T-O-E and still managed to hobble to a boozy brunch in order to rehash the prior nights events and get a good amount of the giggles out of my system.  After sobering up from brunch during Mission Impossible 2, I was suffering hangover-induced vertigo and had to check out.  Note to self: do not watch action movies unless you’re 100%–regardless of how well you *think* you feel after a night out.

Vintage 80s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee
Vintage Zoe Coste hearts and stars necklace, circa 1980's.

Sunday, the 80′s revival continued and The Hubby and I went ROLLER-SKATING, well, he had roller blades but I was rocking my white roller-skates like a CHAMP despite my sprained toe and skinned knee from Friday night.  Neither one of us had rolled anywhere for at least 15 years.  Needless to say, a lap around the lake and an hour later we were hobbling home, my skates hanging around my neck and a freshly skinned knee to show for it. . .same knee as Friday. . .again (I shall spare you pictures of battle wounds).

The moral of the story my dears?  Jewelry will inspire you to great lengths but make sure you know what you’re in for.  At the ripe age of 31 I ask myself: Is this behavior absurd for my age?  Not quite.  Is it beyond reproach though?  Not quite. . .

Ahh, I love the smell of Tiger Balm in the morning.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

p.s. I actually do own a pair of earrings EXACTLY like Jem’s see picture below.

Vintage 80s Revival Earrings, a Sprained Toe and a Skinned Knee
Vintage Joseph Mazer ear clips. aka my Jem and the Holograms earrings. Methinks I may need to give myself a bit of recovery time before I rock these beauties, who knows what adventures they will inspire.

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I’m Not Old, I’m Vintage Costume Jewelry!

To collective dismay of my father and husband (my father because he would rather I wore “real jewelry” and my husband because I’ve found yet another exy thing to “collect”), I’ve recently begun hoarding curating vintage designer costume jewelry (“VDC”).  By now you know that I do not discriminate against jewelry–if it’s beautiful and shiny I’ll take it!  I love vintage costume jewelry (sometimes more than new costume jewelry) because the quality is just so much better as a whole than costume jewelry made today.  VDC was often made with the same techniques as fine jewelry and most of it was made by hand whereas today most costume jewelry is made by machine.  I sometimes bemoan industrialization for exactly this reason—where is the art-factor when its made in an assembly line? Grrrr.  Exy and exclusive is always better than mass market.

First, a little history.  Costume jewelry was born out of necessity.  Towards the end of World War I, metals were in short supply and even if you could afford precious stones during wartime you probably valued your life and wouldn’t go around buying or wearing precious jewelry; so designers had to improvise with other materials.  Coco Chanel was one of the first designers to make costume jewelry out of non-precious materials such as glass, bakelite, gold-plated metals, etc.  Soon costume jewelry started trending and it’s been with us ever since.

If you follow fashion at all, you would have realized that designer costume jewelry is back in a big way.  Thanks Lehman Bros and leveraged debt!  No shame in it at all.  Actually, I’ve realized that vintage costume jewelry from certain designers have actually gone up in value.  So I am of the opinion that if you enjoy it and you share in my belief that “more is more,” go ahead and invest in some excellent quality pieces for your collection.  Don’t start hallucinating about moth balls and crocheted doilies!  Not all vintage jewelry looks like it fell out of grandma’s dentures cabinet.  Here are two pair of earrings from my personal collection that I absolutely swoon over.  Funky, hip and totally au courant.

Im Not Old, Im Vintage Costume Jewelry!
Hobé foxtail clip-on earrings, JZP’s personal collection.
Im Not Old, Im Vintage Costume Jewelry!
Hollycraft rhinestone and seed pearl earrings from 1951, JZP’s personal collection.

Of the vintage costume jewelry houses of the 20th Century, here is a small list of the ones I am most fond of (judging by design, quality, and whimsy):

Coco Chanel

Elsa Schiaparelli

Miriam Haskell

Hobé

Hollycraft

Trifari (aka Crown Trifari, KTF Trifari)

Mazer Bros.

Jomaz (by Joseph Mazer of the Mazer Bros.)

Vendome

Joseff of Hollywood

Kramer

Gripoix

Ciner

Lisner

Eisenberg

Stanley Hagler

Weiss

Zoe Coste (from the 80′s because remember: Everything before 1993 is considered vintage)

Marcel Boucher

Larry Vrba

How do you know if its authentic?  How much should you pay for it? Where do you get it?  Ahhh, my darlings, those are topics for another post.  Until then. . .

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

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