Jewelry over 55

Check it out–a multi strand, gold and silver bracelet from J.James in Sonoma spotted by one of the Bellas last week while the three of us were doing one of the things we love doing the most: admiring clothes and jewlery.

And check out the closure? It’s magnetic! The two ends get just barely near each other and they’ve embraced. Like love at first sight.

 

This bracelet went from being admired to being purchased. Here it is mixed in with the bracelets Bella Marj was wearing already. A perfect blend, right?

Different bracelets with different textures all living in divine harmony. When I look at this bundle, I can’t imagine life before the new addition!

The ease with which this bracelet closed got me thinking. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve certainly taken note about how easily a necklace fastens…or doesn’t. We don’t all have dressers like characters living in the PBS series, Downton Abbey. We may have someone who will answer us if we call out, “Honey, can you help me with this?” But even if we do live with someone, they aren’t always around when we’re getting dressed.

If I am going to attach myself to a pro-fashion crusade, it might be curating a jewelry collection with easy closures so women over 55 can get them on and off with little to no effort. I wonder how many necklaces or bracelets are living in jewelry boxes not being worn because they are too hard to manage?

Last week I was helping a client who wanted to edit her wardrobe so her closet was more streamlined. “No one needs this many clothes,” she said. While reviewing pants, jackets, and tops we would come across something she wanted my ideas about how to wear it. Some things she’d never worn! So I got busy and created lots of new outfits and finished them from head-to-toe with shoes, outerwear, and accessories. She was delighted to see her “old” things arranged in a “new” way.

She’s a septuagenarian and this issue of closures came up. When I handed her a necklace to adorn the neck edge of one of her jackets, she had a bit of a hard time with it. “This necklacs is just not suited to my elder fingers,” she said.

Elder fingers. I loved that term. I think my fingers went from post-nubile to elder about 10 years ago. But my love of accessories and my desire to wear an outfit well-suited to my personality and style has never aged. Some of my clients are just waking up to their style in their fourth, fifth, sixth or even seventh decade. I want adornment to be easy for them!

Easy to manage jewelry. Anybody want to join this fashion revolution? Or is it an evolution? Have you had problems with your jewelry? What lines have you found to be elder fingers favorable? Please share!