Costume Jewelry Aide

Bib necklaces have indeed evolved over the years. The style was made famous by Elizabeth Taylor who was known as a trendsetter in the use of non-traditional jewelry design. While bib necklaces were once considered extravagant due to the number of precious stones, the new designs have caught on rather lately to the costume jewelry genre.

The trend includes design inspired by different regions, countries and cultures. Various materials are now used that can include wood, shells, leather, stones, and plastics among others. Truth be told, many jewelry aficionados even create their own bib necklaces from non-traditional, everyday materials such as felt, ribbons, and plastic.

Another attraction to costume bib necklaces is its adaptability to various type occasions. Depending on the style, one can use it from day to evening wear. By default, these necklaces are adaptable to any body type due to its short length. Its adaptability is refreshing as it can be worn with a simple outfit or can have a glamorous and dramatic effect in more formal occasions.
Below are a few tips provided by experts when using a costume jewelry bib necklace. By following these nuggets of advice, you can rely on your getting the best effects of your bib necklace.

Wear Your Bib  Necklace like a collar

A bib necklace should sit right over the neckline of the top. Whether you are wearing a shirt or dress the bib should complement the top line of the garment. A curved neckline accentuates both the necklace and the dress. Bib necklaces tend to overpower a straight or boxed neckline. Having said that, bib necklaces work well with strapless and low necklines.

Bib Necklaces are “statements”

Bib necklaces are large and dramatic. That is the style and most were designed that way to maintain the effect. Don’t be overly dramatic by over accessorizing. Keep everything else minimal to sustain the attention.

Personalize

These necklaces create instant visual impact. Use and design them as an artistic expression of your personality. Ribbons and felt provide a very lady like impression. Triangular stones give you a “Cleopatra” demeanor. Stones and studs say you are a tough girl. Shells and edgy stones give one an outdoors and casual look. The point is to provide a dramatic whilst providing a more personalized effect.

Bib necklaces have indeed evolved in the recent past in western fashion. Costume necklaces have retained the versatility, drama, and beauty of its more traditional predecessors while enhancing creativity of both jewelers and users.

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Though many people love costume jewelry for its style, there are many people that love to collect costume jewelry. These collectors are not looking for the type of jewelry you can buy in a boutique though. They are looking for highly valued vintage costume jewelry.

As the name suggests, vintage costume jewelry is not something that was manufactured yesterday. These are pieces that date all the way back to the 1920′s. Pieces that were made by designers such as Eisenberg, Hobe, Coro, Weiss and more. These designers creased some of the most highly sought after necklaces, bracelets, and rings in the costume jewelry industry.

If you have an aspiration to start your own collection of vintage costume jewelry, then you need to learn the basics of how to identify a piece that has some potential value. Being able to separate these types of pieces out of great-looking but worthless pieces is the key to amassing a great collection.

The first thing you need to know about determining a piece’s value is to see if the item is signed or unsigned. That mean if the designer has his name on it or not. If you find a vintage ring with the designer’s name on it, then it is a signed piece. Conversely, if no name can be found, the piece is unsigned.

Starting out, you only want to buy items that are signed. This is a far safer way to collect until you can get a feel for the value of a piece based on the design. Certain designers will always command a higher price. When you’re out shopping for vintage costume jewelry, watch for names like Coro, Eisenburg, Trifari, Barclay, Danecraft, Weiss, Kramer, Bogoff and Monet.

The last 5 on that list, Danecraft, Weiss, Kramer, Bogoff and Monet, can usually be purchased inexpensively. However, they all have active markets. This means that your special find at a flea market could net you a nice sum if you decide to sell the piece.

The other important thing you need to look at when finding pieces to collect is the condition of the jewelry. As with all collectables and antiques, the fewer blemishes a piece of vintage costume jewelry has, the better. Watch for things like missing stones, discoloration of the metal, excessive scratches or any other signs of abuse. However, you don’t have to be overly picky.

Next time you have a free weekend, head out to your nearest flea market or estate sale and see if you can find you very first pieces for your vintage costume jewelry collection.

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Costume jewelry is incredibly popular right now. Everyone from celebrities to your mom is wearing it right now. Many people love it because it comes in all shapes and sized and is cheap compared to “real” jewelry. Since it is so cheap, you can afford to have jewelry for all kinds of outfits and occasions.

Costume jewelry or “fashion jewelry” got its start in the 1920′s and 1930′s. In this time period jewelry designer started making pieces to match specific outfits. It was made out of cheap materials like non-precious metals and glass. People bought it to match what was in style and then threw it in the bottom of the drawer once that outfit went out of style.

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