The Meaning of Pearls

Freshwater pearl necklace with Crystal Pave Ball
Monsieur Pamplemousse

Pearls are considered timeless, elegant, and often a staple of the sophisticated.   They're unique in that they come straight from the sea and do not require polishing to reveal their natural beauty.  At weddings, pearls are often a gift passed down from grandmothers to mothers to daughters to wear as they walk down the aisle. But why?  Pearls are one of the oldest jewels, often gifted to brides because of they symbolize purity,  innocence, and some say pearls prevent crying.  So how was the tradition started?  According to PearlOasis.com...

In the Rigveda, an ancient Hindu book dating back to 1000 B.C. Krishna, the preserver, brought forth pearls from the depths of the sea to give to his daughter on her wedding day. Thus started the tradition of giving pearls to the bride.

We often see pearls adorning the necks of women and clothing of men in paintings throughout history - Queens of England are some of the most popular subjects.  We all remember Anne Boleyn's pearl necklace with a dangling "B" (left), especially after it was replicated on the hit show The Tudors.  In fact, the Tudor Era of the 1500s, The American Gem Society calls the "pearl age." 


Queen Elizabeth II's even donned strands of creamy pearls worn when she wed Prince Phillip in the world's first ever white wedding gown.  There's also the famous painting that inspired The Girl with the Pearl Earring.  Check out this great article on pearls throughout history for more info, it also sheds light on how pearls became as popular as they are now:

The invention of the technique used to create cultured pearls made them more widely available and more affordable in the 20^th Century. Until then, large natural pearls were outrageously expensive and were worn only by the upper classes (although delicate seed pearls were much loved by women in the middle class). 

10mm white glass pearl and grey pearl necklace

Monsieur Pamplemousse

The pearl's long association with royalty has given them an aura of good taste and sophistication, and their widespread availability has made them a popular choice for jewelry making and wearing.  I love the look of pearls whether wrapped around the neck, worn on the ears, wrists, or even pinned into the hair.  It's hard to go wrong with pearls, especially if your occasion calls for a touch of sophistication.


How many pearl jewelry pieces do you own?


~Kirsten
Adapted from a piece originally written for "Everything but the Dress"

Accessorizing the Bridesmaid Dress

Photo from Ruffled Bridal Blog

Congratulations!

You're a bridesmaid in a wedding, the bride picked out a dress (or maybe let you pick your own?), and isn't buying you cheap, matching baubles to wear on her big day.  Hooray, but now you're tasked with selecting jewelry to wear with your bridesmaid dress.  How do you choose?  Follow our five tips for picking out the perfect jewelry to match your dress.

1.  Do what the bride says.  While you may have escaped getting a monogrammed necklace with your maiden name on it, you still do have to play by the rules.  If the bride asked you to only wear stud earrings or abstain from wearing a chunky necklace, you should comply.  It's not worth risking your friendship for an accessory.

2.  Pick something tasteful.  While you may be known for your collection of Lego jewelry or never seen without a skull and cross bones, it may not be the best choice on someones wedding day.  Think about what you liked on your wedding day or what you someday would want your bridesmaids to wear - if your favorite piece doesn't fit into that picture, skip it.

3.  When in doubt, match colors.  If you're unsure what color to wear, keep it simple and match the dress color.  Pink dress, wear colors in that family: magenta, rose pink, red, etc.  You can never go wrong with a simple chain necklace or earrings and colored gems - like the 14k gold filled necklace below, which dangles a Bordeaux coin pearl.

4.  Stick to two accessories.  While sometimes more IS more, at a wedding where you're not in the spotlight, it's best to stick to jewelry in moderation.  Pick a bracelet and earrings or necklace and earrings, not all three unless they're really subtle.  Let the bride have her moment.

5.  Wear what you love.  Don't forget weddings are supposed to be joyous occasions.  Wear jewelry you love and feel comfortable in as you'll be immortalized in photos for years to come.  Try on any new jewelry and wear it around the house for a while to make sure it feels comfortable and you're happy with your choice.

What jewelry are you wearing to your summer 2012 weddings?

~Kirsten

Jewelry and Shoe Pairings

Photo from Tampa Bay & Co.

We all know about wine pairings, but what about jewelry pairings?  For summer days when your shoes are in focus just as much as your jewelry, it's important to think about how they work together.  Here are some fun jewelry and shoe pairings that we love from the current collections of Monsieur Pamplemousse and current shoe collections.

BCBG Landee pump in Mojave pairs perfectly with the cut outs of this yellow/white fire agate necklaces.  The contrast between the angular cutouts of the shoe and the amorphous cutouts of the necklace make sure this pairing isn't too matchy matchy.

Embrace the sunny, Earthy nature of these Classic Yellow Crochet Toms by pairing it with an equally Earth-inspired fire agate cuff.  This pair is perfect for a concert in the park or street fair.

Echo the curve of the pretty lace bow on these Valentino Lace Pumps with roundness of this Mistura necklace.  Created with oxidized silver, gold tone, and gunmetal rings, it keeps these shoes from looking too frou-frou.

Fresh water pearls meet Badgley Mischka.  A perfect pairing of classics for brides.  You can say "I do" in style.

What would summer be without wedges?  Pair these poppy polka dots from BC Footwear with the round baubles of Alex's Czech glass and antique brass necklace.  Pop on both of these and you'll look perfect strolling through the local farmer's market.

How often do you match your jewelry to your shoes?
~Kirsten

What to Wear: 5 Tips for Wearing Jewelry with Swimsuits

Welcome to the first of a new series - What to Wear?  We'll take common accessorizing conundrums and help you through them.  First up - the swim suit!

Photo from Agendamag.com

Swim suits don't have to be bare!  If you're planning a day at the beach, a backyard pool party, or sipping cocktails poolside at a resort, throw on some jewelry with that swim suit!  You think about your sunglasses and footwear, so why not continue to accessorize.  Here are our top five tips for selecting your beach wear jewelry:

1.  Look for jewelry that is low maintenance and matches the feeling of your swim suit.  If your suit is all black class it up with something gold like this yellow/white fire agate necklace from Alex's new Mistura Collection.  Something with a little length is nice because it gives you the versatility to wear it long or short.

2.  Bracelets are a girl's, or a boy's, best friend.  Stacked bracelets that you can stash in your bag when its time to get your swim on are a must.  Stack them in odd numbers for the best look, 3, 5, or even 7 if they're small enough.  Choose contrasting colors to your suit for extra pop.  Above, orange and black acai berry seeds and turquoise beads on waxed cotton string with pave crystal balls.

3.  Make a layered statement.  If you want jewelry you can wear in the pool, opt for short pendant necklaces.  You can even wear two or three at a time if the lengths are complimentary.  Above, a simple silver chain holds an oxidized silver ring, currently available at Embellish Boutique.

4.  Keep the earrings simple.  The carefree feeling of beach season demands simple, unfussy earrings.  Leave the chandeliers for the after dinner party and put on a pair of short, simple stunners.  Studs are universally flattering, but drop earrings under 2" also look good.  I think these Chrosphase and hammered gold disks are perfect!

5.  Pick one or two, not all three.  Since you want to keep it casual don't wear earrings, necklaces, AND bracelets.  Just pick one or two and skip the third.  Bracelet stacks and a necklace, a long necklace and simple studs, or even just a pile of necklaces.  The possibilities are endless.  Above, two leather and fresh water pearl bracelets.

Don't forget to put sunscreen on at home (out of the sun application is most effective anyway) and let it dry before you add on your jewelry.  If you plan on doing serious swimming, it's best to take your jewelry off so the chlorine in pools doesn't tarnish your pieces.  Stash them in a cute jewelry roll in your beach bag.  Most important?  Just remember to have fun - it is supposed to be a day at the beach after all.

~Kirsten

Music and Art Meet Culture Fest

 Join us this Sunday at a special Chicago event: Music and Art Meet Culture Fest!  On Sunday, May 20, 2012 Monsieur Pamplemousse will be at this event with our collection of jewelry.  Stop by our table to see Alex's new "Mistura Collection" and grab a piece or two for yourself  The event promises to be a "mind blowing multi-sensory experience.  Shopping, live music, free drinks and bites, and even free glowsticks.  Open bar, free appetizers, and sweets from 6:15-7:15.

On Sunday, May 20, 2012, 5:00pm at Congress Theater
Address: 2135 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago , IL | Cost: $10 | $15 cash at the door


Sponsored by My Daily Escape and Myhabanero.com.  Buy Tickets and then let everyone know you're coming on facebook.