The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series – Christmas Day

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Did I say yesterday’s pair of diamonds were my piece de resistance? Well, I may have to reconsider! How about these little babies? Flashing Christmas reindeers! A Poundland special. What more can I say?

It has been a lot of fun doing this year’s earrings series. And delving into my trinket box has been a real nostalgia trip in many cases. It’s made me realise just how much of my jewellery has either been given to me by my lovely family and friends, or bought somewhere on my travels and just how much pleasure this gives me. So I will continue to buy distinctive pieces on my trips – and hopefully the gorgeous gifts will keep on coming!

This project has also reawakened my enthusiasm for more adventurous earring wearing and next year I’m determined to bring a greater variety to my ear adornments. It’s been a blast. I think next year it might be time to go back to the shoes. I’ll just need to make sure I have enough new pairs to showcase (shoecase?) alongside some of my long-loved faves!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

 

 

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The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 12

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So here’s my piece de resistance – time to bring out the diamonds! These were my beautiful gift from my fiance for my 50th birthday last month. Needless to say, I love them. Who wouldn’t? Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and all that. Sparkly, elegant, indulgent, glamorous. I thought they made the perfect shiny spectacle for a glittering Christmas Eve with mulled wine and mince pies around the Christmas tree and later on a steely martini or two after the little one has gone to bed.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 11

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Almost there! While looking forward to Christmas I’m looking a long way back in time today with this colourful and quirky pair. There is something I find very appealing about the smooth glass balls combined with the angular, almost sci fi ‘leggy’ metal drops. They are whimsical to wear because they jingle as I move my head. I bought these in the night market in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand on my first solo long haul trip. A hasty calculation reveals this was almost 30 years ago! So these earrings have been with me a very long time. I have been neglecting them as it feels like many a year since I gave them an airing. Apart from a lost ‘leg’ on the right hand one they have stood the test of time pretty well.

The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 10

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These lovely, delicate hexagonal earrings match the Serenity statement necklace by jewellery designer Rachel Jackson. It was a delightful birthday gift from my friends Annie, Helen and Henri. Beautiful, chic and contemporary – just like them. Today I’m wearing a bold patterned top in a rich red wine and black colour, with a leopard skin style print, so I needed something minimalist as a contrast. These fit the bill perfectly and, as I’ve mentioned with other pairs, when wearing gift jewellery I get a warm glow when thinking about the giver(s). Not many pairs to go now – the daily choices are getting harder!

The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 9

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A lovely pair today. They were a bit difficult to photograph so I ended up sticking them in a lime … Anyway, they’re glinting ice blue crystals (actually described as Sahara blue by the designer), framed in irregular circles of silver. Last year I discovered a new favourite jewellery store in the Westfield shopping mall in San Francisco – Uno de 50. It turns out there’s a store in London too, and Paris and no doubt in many other global cities as well. Anyway, I treated myself to a chunky ‘statement necklace’ in the company’s ‘Fire & Ice’ series and these are the stud earrings that go with it. The wonderfully friendly (and hence, incredibly effectively salesman) young man working in the shop told me and the baby globetrotter that the designs were inspired by Iceland. Having been on a couple of trips there over the last few years and been enchanted by it, this was an added attraction. It felt as if I was meant to have this jewellery! 🙂

The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 8

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After a tasteful and subtle pair yesterday, it’s time to go wild today. These are for you, Richard Boyle! They are beaded and dangly and bold. While they look quite African, I think I actually bought them in Mexico. I have a black and white pair too, but I thought today called for full-on multicoloured joyfulness. While they are pretty long – they almost brush my shoulders! – they are light and so not too uncomfortable. This project is certainly helping me rediscover some of my long lost jewellery friends, as I haven’t worn them in years. Welcome back, magical Mexican adornments!

The Twelve Days of Christmas: The earrings series, day 7

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A very subtle and stylish pair today. It was tricky to take a decent pic of this pair – I ended up slotting them down the edge of our dining room table. They do look a little like cufflinks … These were a gift and I find their monochrome colour scheme and the Art eco geometric design super appealing. Nothing garish or blingy about these. They’re not likely to attract attention  (unlike my Day 5 pair, which drew several comments and a very curious pair of chubby baby hands when I first put them on) but they’re great to wear and add the finishing touch to any outfit. I’m working from home today so am in comfy jeans and a warm sweater; these give a slightly sharper edge to my look that reminds me it’s a work day not a weekend.