Mail Bag: Brooch The Subject

For every negative message or tweet I receive 100 positive ones. The haters are out there and I never usually respond to them but this time (for me) I wanted to.

I received a few tweets recently regarding my Evolution Rewind Ring collection. The woman accused me of "destroying vintage jewelry" and ranted on and on until I had to block her. I rarely block people either because I'm always open to a healthy debate or growth through constructive criticism. This person just didn't get it.

It is hard in 140 character or less to define WHY I created my ring line and HOW the pieces are chosen. Thankfully I have a blog.

WHY? The brooch over the years has been an accessory or a piece of jewelry that was widely worn and styled by women of all age ranges and classes. I have read that it is one of the oldest pieces of jewelry, dated back to the Bronze Age when pins were a popular adornment for clothing.

In recent years it has not garnered a lot of attention. From where I sit "modern day" women sparsely style these pieces. Fashion and trends are cyclical in nature; what was old always comes back around in a new form. For some reason, I have yet to see a contemporary spin on Re-Styling the brooch in a modern way with any consistency.

People do wear them, like myself, the odd celeb and fashionista but it is not a style staple, like a cuff or cocktail ring. When discussing the topic with other women the words "matronly" or dowdy" have been thrown around. I personally think they are a chic accessory with styling possibilities only limited by your imagination!

I wanted to bring back the brooch in a contemporary way via unique cocktail rings.

In my travels I found it difficult to find the authentic Vintage cocktail rings that I liked so I thought merging the two elements would be fabulous: Evolution Rewind was born. The rings are also reaching a new demographic of women who may not otherwise brooched the subject.

HOW:  Each brooch is hand selected by myself and all of the REWIND pieces are one of a kind. Some of the brooches have broken pins/backs and otherwise would not be functional. I have rescued these pieces from flea markets, old auntie's drawers as well as amazing Vintage jewelry collectors/dealers. Some are procured and created using amazing pieces from ladies personal collections.

I personally feel that Re-Styling these pieces is RESPECTING fashion's past and Vintage jewelry. A modern nod to the craftsmen and designers of days gone by. The pieces are too beautiful to sit in a thrift store or a drawer. The metals, stones and designs should be worn and given a new life. 

I still style brooches as they were intended (turbans, hats, lapel, bags, scarves, etc) but I have also made them Eco-Chic and Re-Styled them on the fingers of Fab fashionistas all over the world.

Bring the brooch back and Re-Style them in these ways: 

HAIR

A Large Modern Scarf

At the waist for evening (or day)

Double Duty: Oscar de la Renta brooches the band & sweater!

DIY Brooch belt - using a large brooch and vintage printed scarf. Adds a new look to the plain dotted dress. See more HERE

The lapel X 2

The Brooch Bouquet

 On a hat or beret

 Worn at the neckline for Day or Night

 Multiple Brooch Details at neckline of a dress or blazer.

Turban

Trim out a neckline on a solid color

An Evolution Vintage Brooch on a clutch!
(Thanks the Creative CjBlue for this)

Even the men can get in on this. A Fabulous brooch adds an extra something to a
traditional necktie.

How do YOU brooch the subject and style this accessory?

Stroller Derby

Pregnancy, childbirth and raising children is not what it used to be. I'm very happy to report that women and the human race as a whole have at least evolved to being to celebrate pregnancy, pregnant shapes and motherhood. We have come a long way baby from the smocked hidden days of the 1960's and before. It was a great cover up that has thankfully fallen by the wayside for bearing it all in a celebration of the baby bump. A BIG thank you to Demi Moore for bearing it all for the Cover of Vanity Fair (shot by Annie Leibovitz in 1991) magazine while pregnant with daughter Scout LaRue. It sparked controversy at the time but has since become a symbol (to me) of female empowerment.

In fact, pregnant with my first daughter Kaleigh Rain I had a nude maternity photo shoot done. I enjoyed every minute of it both in protest of conservative, generic maternity shoots and in pure celebration of my current state.

Since Demi many magazines have jumped on the baby bandwagon featuring both nude and non-nude celebrities mothers-to-be on their covers and in the pages of their magazines. I find the female form, while pregnant to be this beautiful juxtaposition of elements; so beautiful, strong, fragile, powerful and vulnerable. It is a wonderful state of being which ends in the "pain with a purpose" stage that would bring ANY MAN to his knees! BRAVO LADIES!

The great divide between celebrity and non-celebrity has been bridged via reproduction. We literally have common ground with the women that are idolized, revered and followed. Pregnancy and childbirth brings a human quality to these women that cannot be felt through the pages of a magazine or through the television. We all have the same struggles of morning sickness, weight gain, labor, delivery (in all it's forms), shitty diapers, barf and all of the other wonderful things that come with motherhood. I don’t drive a Bentley or carry a Birkin but I efficiently change diapers and could hold my own in a stroller derby with these women any day of the week!

HA HA!

The celebrity mothers are also inspirational as Chic mammas who have snubbed the track pant and make being pregnant a fashion statement all in its own.

Here are some of my favorite fashionable mammas in various states of motherhood. (CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE!!!)

An honorable mention must be made to the MAJOR MAMMA of 3 Kimora Lee Simmons Hounsou for keeping it real with her fans a posting a photo of her in the hospital in labor to her twitter account and announcing the following (Via @OfficialKimora)

"It's time !! No turning back! At hospital in labor right now!!"

"Having contractions now! Ooo- wee! It's like WHOA!"

She also documented the birth of her son Kenzo Lee in a Style Network special and in an episode of "Kimora Life in the Fab Lane" that chronicled her journey from hospital arrival in labor to his delivery. A very intimate look from the outside. Thank you Kimora for sharing that special time with the world.

The moral of my blog is that keeping in line with the trend setting mammas I am announcing my own reproductive news. My husband David and I are expecting our second child in the spring!!

My news comes on the heels of 2 of my favorite ladies: P!NK and Rachel Zoe who both announced this week that they are also expecting.

P!NK made her announcement on the Ellen show AND tweeted this to her followes: "ok tweethearts: here's my own personal official whatever...... Carey Hart knocked me up and i don't know how to tell my dad. what do i say?"

She also tweeted this WISH: "My wish for this pregnancy, besides a healthy happy baby, is for the paparazzi to LEAVE US ALONE and let me gain my weight in PEACE"

Rachel Zoe ROCKS a Gianfranco Ferre gown and a baby bump! She tweets this yesterday: "Hey everyone! I want to officially confirm to my loyal friends and followers that I am pregnant!..."

Bravo mamma’s to be! Hang on for the craziest, life transforming ride. A real motherhood metamorphosis.