brooch it up...

the piece that at one time...seemed to be in every ladies jewelry box...now...can be found in so many wonderful places...whether you are looking for a new piece...which many stores carry...or opt for something older...whether found in your own grandmothers jewelry box...an estate sale...thrift stores...or flea markets...the nice thing...is that you can really find some that suit your style...

so if you are all about color...go for the gusto...find it in a beautiful favorite color...or bursts of colors in one piece...is metallic more your speed?  gold, silver or bronze...take your pick...perhaps you are a pearl girl at heart...look for something like the picture below...

and what to do with these lovely pieces?  while a jeweled or metallic brooch can add instant glamour to a simple black top...don't stop there...add it to your coat...or dress...pin it to a simple clutch purse...for an instant update...

if you are already a brooch girl...share the way you wear them in the comments section...inspire others...

photo source

the classic trench...

awww...the classic trench...

it started life in the nineteenth century as a soldier's coat...two world wars imprinted the trench on our minds: we saw it in misty railroad stations...saying stoic good-byes...

bogart wore it best...he seemed to fill the familiar khaki shape...its military-style epaulets and separate back yoke...with just the right dose of tragic romance...

we can appreciate the nostalgia and practicality of a trench coat without requiring it to be long, beige, heavy, and lined...after all...we are not looking to lead an expedition to the south pole in it...the staple of office workers of the western world...those who invest in styles with removable linings may wear it three seasons a year...

the trench's classic style also lends itself beautifully to wild reinterpretation...it can be short and sexy...in a featherweight microfiber or a delicate silk...it can shock with color...be daring in leopard...or dramatic in gold...when it's worn luxuriously long...the trench will cloak all that it covers...so you need not worry about warring hem-lines or clashing with what's underneath...

i tend to lean on the side of reinterpretation...i do not own a khaki/tan standard trench...most likely never will...unless...of course...i have the fortunate opportunity to trip over a vintage burberry trench with its ever so beautiful plaid lining...such as i wrote about yesterday in the trenches

but until i stumble upon such an incredible find...i am pretty happy with the two trench coats that i own...here they are in all their glory...

silver metallic leopard print trench

gold metallic short trench coat

i did a little survey to see what others own...most seem to lean on the side of reinterpretation...

and most own more than one...

one female client owns two...one in zebra print & the other in bright red (how perfect for a grey gloomy day)

one friend owns three...black satin, silver, & gold metallic (yes, we like a lot of the same things)

another female client owns one...pumpkin orange (nice fall color)

my dad...classic khaki (you know if it was a burberry it would now be in my closet)

male client...classic khaki

and one of my twitter friends who sells vintage...sent me a picture of her favorite trench...a vintage peruzzi leather...but she admitted she has over 5 trench coats...why not?? they are so classic...

check out her picture below...but also...check out her vintage at joules etsy shop

joules modeling her vintage peruzzi leather trench

so how about you?? do you lean towards the more classic or reinterpretation?