Rock some colour on your wrists
Stackable bracelets adapt to any outfit
Now you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their wrists.
Chunky beaded bracelets are the latest trend in statement jewelry, popping up in a kaleidoscope of colours at a number of local boutiques across the city and beyond.
Step into Shades of Grey Boutique, 10116 124th St., Twisted Sisters, 2305 111th St., or Who Cares? Wear, 11222 Jasper Ave., for example, and your eye will certainly catch the pearly pebbles glimmering behind a glass case.
Online vendors of trendy jewelry confirm the bracelets are gaining traction in their merchandising worlds.
Sandra Paetsch of Orange Avocado Jewelry at orangeavocado.ca says these bracelets are becoming popular because they’re easy to wear and offer personalization. In addition to the spectrum of colour choices and styling options, the stretchy bracelets feature little dangling charms. Plus they’re fun — you could say wearing them can be like playing jewelry Jenga.
“They can adapt to any personality and any outfit,” Paetsch says. “People are getting to be totally bold with their jewelry. And you don’t necessarily have to be a bold personality to wear all the stackable bracelets.
“I think it’s just people being adventurous and making it their own style. You can be bold and choose bigger beads and stack tons. Or if you’re more of a subtle personality, you can still stack but you might want to choose smaller beads and maybe neutral colours with a pop of colour.”
Paetsch’s bracelets stun in a variety of different colours and semi-precious stones such as agate, jade, river stone and turquoise. She first started making them as part of her jewelry collection after noticing the trend in fashion magazines over the last couple of years.
Paetsch says our current obsession with brightly coloured clothing spawned the wrist wrappers, becoming popular with fashion-forward individuals hungry to tailor their already fluorescent wardrobe with a statement accessory.
Kristen Mackie of Eliasz and Ella Jewelry at eliaszandella.com says customers ranging from 18 to 65 rock their bracelets because they’re both trendy and easy to wear. For those hesitant about mixing colour into their wardrobes, many choose to slip on four or five bright bangles with a neutral dress for an instant pop. They can also spice up a simple T-shirt and jeans.
“We notice a lot of people who buy two bracelets and the next week two more,” Mackie says. “Stacking is huge. Maybe they’ll buy a stack that we’ve showcased on a social media site.”
Both Paetsch and Mackie say there are many ways to wear the bracelets. You could choose a few in various shades of blue, breakup a couple of the same colour with a pop of white, or simply stack on a whole rainbow. The possibilities are endless.
Mackie also says the charms speak to people. Some will choose a passport charm if they travel, or a camera if they’re a photographer. But heart charms seem to be the biggest seller, especially for those being given as gifts.
“They add a focal point,” Paetsch says. “I think people will choose a certain pendant that reminds them of something.”
edmontonjournal. com Keep up with the latest style trends by reading Amanda Ash and Marta Gold’s blog , The New Black, at edmontonjournal.com/ blogs.