Chunky Jewelry and Other Trends We're Still Deciding On

We are very open-minded at Quintesse... for the most part.  We try to look at things that change without judging them too quickly.  This way we don't have to back peddle when we realize that we've changed our minds about something that we made a snap decision about earlier.  We find that snap judgments happen either because we thought we didn't like something just because we hadn't ever seen it before, or because we liked something just because it was shiny and new.  Mood and other factors effect our ability to reason upon first view and we see things in black and white.  Even when it's a Miu Miu dress.  It happens to us all.  This can be particularly hard when things are larger than usual, unusually colored, appear to be something different than they are, or are something we can't see ourselves using or doing.  Pretty much covers anything having to do with fashion, no?

In fashion, designers are people who make things that strike you as unusual.  That's their job.  Designers like Anya Hindmarch create change purses that look like candy, Gareth Pugh and Philip Treacy create hats that look like birds in cages, Monika Jarosz makes bracelets and bags out of invasive species, Kobi Levi created shoes that look like musical instruments and animals, and Franc Fernandez makes dresses that look like meat.  And it's not always the shock value that makes things unusual, it's also scale, color, perspective, texture and a host of other factors that leave the first impression.  So it can be really hard to make your brain slow down and absorb before making a "like" or "dislike" decision.  We are going to put it out there that we have gotten pretty good at squashing our first reactions in order to process.  Here are some things we have refrained from passing judgment on (and some we have).



Chunky Jewelry:  Left picture: We don't like the vast majority of this uber-scaled costume jewelry.  It seems almost purposefully designed to make the jewels look fake.  Most have no flash when light hits them and we gotta think that by now we have the technology to give a bit of sparkle to these giganto gems.  The colors are also generally poorly assembled unless you are willing to pay good money for a very high-quality piece (which we highly recommend).  Say "no" to the combination of big earrings and a big necklace unless you are going all-in and making your whole outfit obsessively out-there a la Iris Apfel.

Right: Make sure to scale big jewelry with your outfit.  Kate Moss, who arguably looks good in anything, makes this necklace work because the colors are slightly offset from her outfit and the fabric in her trench-styled top is simple.  No earrings helps create balance.


The Kardashians:  They could go back to living life in anonymity and we would be very happy. We think they are beautiful, but somewhat foolish and puppeted people. We know they have lives that people envy, which is why they have flourished, but enough already. They should stop designing.  Period.








Skinny Jeans:  When skinny jeans hit the scene we were initially repulsed. Why would anyone go back to the days of Jordache when you had to zip your fly using a coat hanger. Our founder avoided even trying these on until about three years ago when she took some family that had come to town shopping on Michigan Avenue. She bought three pairs. The stretchy fabrics make it so that the jeans move with you instead of fighting (or biting) you, so contrary to one of the reasons we resisted, they are quite comfy. The other reasons we avoided them for so long were, "I am too old for that level of shape hugging," and "This bod is not meant for those jeans." Wrong on both counts. Since you're only as old as you feel, we decided our attitudes were built on ageism and skinny-ism and we don't support "isms" of any kind here. We do applaud the acceptance of curvaceousness, and we respectfully ascribe this acceptance to the above, so get out there and do those jeans proud!


Yoga clothing: Nope. We have no idea how this became a "thing" and we are awaiting its demise.  We've, however, been waiting so long that we are now resigned to seeing men in it.  Sigh...

Everyday Dresses: Yep.


We particularly like the long sock look on the right.  Try this one Friday for date night.










Fringe, Faux Fur, and Feathers

We will give a hearty and enthusiastic YES to all three, but we qualify our "yes".  Fringe, faux fur, and feathers are awesome in sophisticated designs.  Their unruly use in ready-to-wear, however, is very hit and miss.

 Yes.







Yes.



















Yes.














Yes.  And, yes, this is an earing!























No. To all of the following.