It’s going to be a weird holiday, this much we know. While I usually find myself searching for the most festive attire this time of year, I can’t seem to summon the urge to wear anything without a stretchy waistband. And that’s OK—I snagged a great sweatsuit that will look just lovely with a bit of jewelry and maybe a hair accessory.
As I yearn for things to be comfortable this holiday season, I’ve found myself reflecting on Christmases of the past: what I wore, what I ate, the top holiday song of that year (though is it ever by anyone other than Mariah Carey?). It seems weird to focus on things like clothing and jewelry, but attire has always been a massive hallmark of the holidays for me.
And I got to thinking back to when I was really young—like, ’N Sync posters covering my walls young—and I randomly remembered this pair of jingle bell earrings that I was obsessed with one holiday. And in this moment I’m finding such comfort in their memory, these cheap, festive tokens that made Christmas just a little more special. I wore them everywhere: to school, to the annual holiday craft fair I loved visiting with my grandmother, to family gatherings.
There were others like them. Red and green ribbons, snowmen, snowflakes. Not particularly the most sophisticated of sorts, but they were special, nonetheless.
Having the great fortune to be a member of this industry has conditioned me—given me the privilege—to expect more from my jewelry. No longer can I simply go to Claire’s (can anyone?) for that pair of jinglyjangly danglers; rather, I hope for jewelry much less disposable, much more thoughtfully crafted.
You won’t sound like a four-horse sleigh everywhere you go (I really do miss those jingle bell earrings, apparently), but pieces like these will certainly have you feeling festive this holiday season, something everyone could probably use. But what’s better, styles like these aren’t strictly seasonal; though they touch on certain themes of the holiday—red and green, snowflakes or stars, bells—you wouldn’t find yourself putting them away after you ring in the new year.
It’s the perfect bit of festive fun as the holiday comes at us quicker than you could dash through the snow.
Top: Earrings in 18k yellow gold with green onyx, red jade, ruby, tsavorite, and 0.33 ct. t.w. diamonds, $2,800; Zaabel
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