Shh…

Dad & I sneakily working together to get some of mom’s ring resized so she can finally wear them…

recycling gold.

i posted these pictures on Instagram a little while ago, but never got around to elaborating about them.

i recently purchased two separate, unrelated vintage 14k yellow gold wedding bands: a plain thin one i planned to use as a stacking ring and this heavy (6 grams) man’s wedding ring. i intended to resize the latter and completely smooth out the exterior design. there was a date inside the band, which is very close to when my parents were married. it was my jeweler who noticed the ring was actually two-toned; he also convinced me to keep the original design.

i know there are a lot of new options, new designers and aesthetics for jewelry available now,  but i find older pieces to have so much character. there’s a story – and if you don’t know the story, there’s mystery. i like to try and save pieces from being melted down when i can, and really admire the artisans and designers who either restore or re-work these old treasures to give them a new life.

while antique or vintage wedding bands aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, i’ve noticed an increasing trend. there’s certainly an appropriate irony when an antique wedding band, a circle symbolizing eternity and never-ending love, is worn again and again, carrying that same message, instead of being melted into scrap…

*all images property of gloria c. and imunlisted.wordpress.com

nerdy, nerdy.

yup… pac-man.

"Pacman-esque Ring Series "by luckyduct.

*image property of lucyduct of etsy.com & rachelpfeffer.com.

pelayo reports mcqueen.

fashion blogosphere darling p. pelayo posted several photos of mcqueen‘s last collection, up close & personal.

see it here.

alexander mcqueen sweatshirt - photo by pelayo

alexander mcqueen knuckle ring - photo by pelayo

*all images property of p. pelayo.

jaw-dropping.

wow.

loving previously posted delfina delettrez‘s “globe ring” and the late alexander mcqueen‘s crystal-encrusted “angel wing shoe“.

delfina ring.

mcqueen shoe.

*images courtesy of delfina delettrez & alexander mcqueen via style.com.

“i got healed in the face, hard.”

sweet knuckle duster, it’s insane!

check out this bit o’ shine by artist debra baxter, complete with the tagline, “i am going to realign your chakras, mother f*****!”

whaaaaat...?!

that's. plain. crazy.

*images property of debrabaxter.com.

body armor.

remember that sterling armor ring i bought a few months ago?

well, looky here – jean paul gaultier couture spring/summer 2010 runway… i would wear these [armored pieces] out in a heartbeat.

gaultier couture s/s 2010: look #19

shoulder piece detail.

leg piece detail.

gaultier couture s/s2010: look #38

shoulder piece detail.

*images courtesy of style.com.

clever girl.

delfina, delfina.

at 22, italian jewelery designer delfina delettrez continues to delight with her unique, macabre designs.

some of her work has been featured in this blog before, but apparently there’s more from where those came from.

"delirium heart" ring - what's in the center? a crucifix.

another version of the "delirium heart" ring.

skeleton hand belt - worn three different ways.

white resin skull ring; diamond skulls ring; "secret hands" ring.

frog cuff bracelet; "finger" ring; skeleton hand necklace.

assorted jewelery designed for opening ceremony.

*original images courtesy of various sources, including but not limited to: style.com, notcouture.com, and couturelab.com; created images property of g.cheng & imunlisted.wordpress.com

dark winter days.

what is it about winter?

maybe it’s just me, but ever since the weather turned truly “wintry“, i’ve found myself wearing and buying a lot of black and other darkish accessories.

i recently bought a sterling skull ring and vintage celtic sterling armor ring. according to the seller of the latter, she’d bought it herself in scotland 10 years ago – while the mysterious past that accompanies most vintage items accounts for much of their charm, to know the history of one is just as charming. i also happened upon a pair of cut-out black suede lace-up wedges by deena & ozzy.

sterling skull ring & vintage celtic sterling armor ring.

deena & ozzy black suede wedge.

a few days ago, mandy and i were at the houston galleria, where we found ourselves ogling a girl’s accessories in neiman marcus – mandy had her eye on the girl’s black yves saint laurent “y” tote, and i was entranced by (and very jealous of) her asymetrically cut, distressed leather jacket. it reminded me immediately of rick owens‘ leather jacket from this f/w 2009 season. it retails for around $3,300.00 USD; the one pictured below [which is not mine] is currently for sale on ebay for $1,999.00 USD.

rick owens f/w 2009 leather jacket.

*center photo property of g.cheng & imunlisted.wordpress.com; all other photos property of their respective sellers.

in the mail.

sorry for the last few posts being a bit short on words.

as all students know, it’s getting close to finals time, and that means less time.

here are my two most recent purchases… can’t wait for them to get here!

vintage leather bustier (l) & vivienne westwood armor ring (r).

*photos property of item’s respective sellers.