Coco knew her accessories: “It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure, ” she declared. As the fashion revolutionary who ushered in a modern era of dressing, pioneering the use of jersey knit and costume jewelry, she understood the value of a well-placed piece to accent a simple silhouette.
And yet there is timelessness to Blank Verse’s handmade jewelry pieces that predate even Mademoiselle Chanel herself. Representing a potpourri of decorative time periods, each one-of-a-kind piece is re-purposed from scraps of leather, surplus fabrics, buttons, beads and vintage lace, then beautifully recalibrated into the pure nowness that is eco-chic.
Blank Verse is obviously the name given to a form of poetry, but neither rhyme nor reason explains the enthralling nature of the upcycled jewelry collection by designers Jane Farrar and Laamie Young. Their materials are rummaged from family and friends, flea markets and vintage shops, and are handmade in the ladies’ sunny Santa Cruz studio.
In true eco-chic style (i.e. less is always more), let your accessories do the talking this spring. Pair a cuff from Blank Verse with your daily “I’ve got a planet to save” uniform of green-designed jeans and a tee, then notice if your entrances and exits start to take on a slower, more poetic nature.
Available at branchboutique.com.