Seahorsing Around

Remember that time I coveted that unicorn pin I should have saved for today? Linking to that is going to ruin the effect of what I am about to show you, but I don't care. Have a look:

It's a seahorse! Made out of a bunch of crazy gemstones! And gold! I like it, okay? It's super pretty, and seahorses are really cool. And it's wearing a crown. This seahorse is so fancy it has been crowned King of the Ocean. I like fancy seahorses in crowns. And I want to wear one on my person. But only for a few seconds and then I want to put it somewhere safe because holy cow. I don't know how people who aren't rich only in their imaginations survive; I'm sad for the rest of the day if I drop a slice of pizza on the ground.

Buy through Tiffany & Co. for $54,000.

Image via Tiffany & Co.

Maureen

Greenery

Estate jewelry is the best, am I right? For example, check out these babies:

Although I love my own birthstone, the emerald, the peridot is also an amazing gem. These are set off nicely by the diamonds (but what ISN'T set off nicely by diamonds?), and their size makes them a great conversation starter as well as the perfect pair of earrings to wear with a classy black ballgown at, say, the Academy Awards. Not a frequenter of the award-show circuit? Not to worry! I'm sure they would look good at any formal function.

Buy through Shreve, Crump & Low for $19,500.00.

Image via Shreve, Crump & Low.

-Cate-

Color Me Pewter

Though I rarely wear bracelets, I do enjoy coming across a good cuff from time to time. Right now, I'm coveting this pewter model from Patina:

Its sleek lines fit well into my personal aesthetic, and no one ever suffered from adding a little bit of shine to their outfit, am I right? I'm thinking it would go best with a little black dress, or maybe a little purple one?

Buy through Patina for $24.00.

Image via Patina.

-Cate-

Icy Goodness

I'm a pretty big fan of Alexis Bittar's jewelry. His designs are a little whacked out and a little perfect. For winter, I'm especially fond of his frosted tapered bangles:

Because they come in a variety of colors, you can match your wrist candy to any holiday outfit, and because they have an icy look about them while still offering a pop of blue/red/purple/what have you, they are great for those snowy nights when you want to have fun but fit in with your surroundings. My favorite is the lavender; what's yours?

Buy through Nordstrom for $65.00 each.

Image via Nordstrom.

-Cate-

PS Merry Christmas, and a Happy (Belated) Hanukkah, plus any other applicable holiday greetings!

Cate's Fantasy Christmas Wishlist 2012

Cate's Fantasy Christmas Wishlist 2012 by cateismilesaway

This year, I covet so many things, which is nothing unusual. A Fastback would be nice, along with an Alexander McQueen clutch and Brian Atwood shoes, a Ports 1961 dress, a Tiffany bangle, Alexis Bittar earrings, Tresor eau de parfum, Deborah Lippmann nail lacquer in Superstar, and--the best of all--Tom Hiddleston. Pretty please?

Images via Polyvore.

 

-Cate-

The What We Covet Holiday Gift Guide 2012, Part 8: The Teenage Girl

I took it upon myself to scour my vast resources for a gift that appealed to both teenage girls and boys, only to realize it was exponentially easier to simply find one gift for each.

Most teenage girls have at least some fascination with shiny or sparkly things. I happen to be at the extreme end, and am utterly fascinated by shiny or sparkly things. Cate and I have come to the conclusion that I was a magpie in a past life, but no matter.

The point is, most teenage girls have at least a handful of pieces of jewelry they treasure, no matter the source. The problem lies in having a decently stylish place to properly store such baubles. Any number of mesh earring holders can be had at places such as Claire's, but otherwise the options seem either too grownup (cherry or other dark wood, tall and multi-drawered) or too little girlish (with Disney Princesses all over them). What's a properly stylish/funky/fashion-conscious girl to store her jewelry in?

Urban Outfitters offers a selection of jewelry boxes that look like they came right off of your grandmother's dresser or your funky aunt's chest of drawers.

Above are my options in small and medium sizes. Sufficiently ornate, with a neat vintage curio air about them. The Teenage Girl on your list will probably hide her pleasure behind her surprise that you know about Urban Outfitters.

Buy through Urban Outfitters for $39-49.

 Images via Urban Outfitters.
~Bonnie~

Magnification

Once in awhile, I find something in my searching that both amuses and confuses me. This time around, it's a charming magnifying necklace from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store:

Is it jewelry? Is it an accessory? I HAVE NO IDEA! Either way, it's pretty genius--a lovely thing to wear, and also super-useful. It would be perfect for Maureen, I think, or anyone else who might dream of being the best librarian ever. Who would you nominate?

Buy through the Met Store for $75.00.

Image via the Met Store.

-Cate-

Stop Ribbing Me

Halloween is coming up, and that means it's time for me to think about all the spooky things I can't have for various reasons. Today, it was a toss-up between a bat necklace and this:

I think it's obvious why the rib cage conquered the bat: rhinestones! No, but seriously, it's cute, and how often do you see non-gross anatomical jewelry, anyway? The best part is that it's a great thing to wear on Halloween when you want to be spirited but not get decked out in a costume. Or if you're Maureen, you'd probably wear it every day, and that's cool, too!

Buy through Plasticland for $28.00.

Image via Plasticland.

-Cate-

Beyond the Grave

Since it's October, I'm thinking a great deal about Halloween, which is my favorite holiday. But how to accessorize in such a way that I won't jeopardize my office job? Here's a trinket that might help me or you overcome that obstacle:

At first glance, people will assume you're wearing a run-of-the-mill cuff bracelet. But then you see the truth--that there's a mini Ouija board on your wrist. Maybe you can use it to contact your dearly departed loved ones during your lunch break, or just bask in the fact that you mixed up your outfit in a semi-spooky way. What do you think?

Buy through UniqueArtPendants on Etsy for $28.00.

Image via Etsy.

-Cate-

It's-a Me, Mario!

Fact: I'm not exactly known for my video game skills. One time in college, while sitting in on a multi-player game of Call of Duty, the three guys I was with declared that they could always tell where I was, because I was standing in one spot, spraying bullets everywhere and getting killed every 90 seconds. (True story.) But I do appreciate video games, and every once in awhile, I will play the original Super Mario Brothers 3 on my brother's old-school NES. Actually, my friend James and I had a conversation about Mario himself the other day.

Cate: So if you're Mario, who's Luigi?

James: Luigi is Luigi, Mario is Mario, I am me, and you are you.

Cate: Thanks for clearing that up. If I ever forget who I am, I'll refer to this text.

Philosophical observations aside, that chat got me thinking about the primary colors in the Mario design--how cheerful they are, and how evocative the game is of my childhood. So it was dumb luck when I found an awesome Mario-styled bag on Etsy:

Though I don't personally carry cross-body bags or flat pack designs, I do covet the conversion of Mario the Plumber into a geometric fun-time accessory. Somehow, I see a nerdy girl integrating this bag into a Halloween costume in the near future!

Buy through CosmoCow Design on Etsy for $35.99.

Image via Etsy.

-Cate-

PS I had the most wonderful package in the mail over the weekend: a necklace from Senba Designs! My latest necklace is a lariat-style one with a wire-wrapped piece of Okinawan sea glass as a pendant. I love it, and I thank Lisa for taking the time to make it for me!

Sail Away

I have been in the mother of all funks lately (which, thankfully has nothing to do with my mother), due largely to some unfortunate fatigue issues. While I've been able to do some general things, such as laundry, blogging, and re-watching Alias start to finish--I regret nothing--few things have been able to make me smile, because it takes so much effort to move those muscles. But! This one awesome event did take place, which I mentioned briefly about a week and a half ago: Lisa, a super-awesome friend of What We Covet, had a showing of her work during a RAW event, and I was lucky enough to attend! Of course, we're very glad she got some exposure there, but we wanted to up the ante a little bit by sharing one of her pieces, because both Maureen and I covet her work to a borderline-unacceptable degree.

Having said that, get a load of this:

The shell on this necklace came from Okinawa in Lisa's home country of Japan, so not only is she sharing her artistry, but also a piece of her own history. I'm drawn to the necklace as a whole because it's such a reflection of the ocean: from the beads reminiscent of sea glass to the tiny, delicate seahorse, to the draping of the chains which so evokes the ropes and nets on ships, everything gently calls out, summertime. As autumn approaches each year, I try to hold onto the warmth in the air as long as possible, and this necklace makes me think it might be possible to do so a bit longer.

Moreover, one of the benefits of wearing Lisa's pieces--other than looking awesome, obvs--is that she uses ethically-sourced materials, including recycled metals and fair-trade origami papers. Bonus: all of her work is reasonably priced, so you won't break the bank when buying from her, and you also get to support someone who makes unique, lovely things!

Buy through Senba Designs' Etsy page for $35.00.

Image via Senba Designs at Etsy.

-Cate-

Snow Falling on Jewels

I've been looking for a new jewelry box for some time, and while I've had no success for myself, I wanted to share this lovely item with you:

It's like something out of the snowflake scene in The Nutcracker. Since it's still hot where I live, the idea of snow appeals greatly to me right now. Too bad this bit of winter can't help me with my earrings and necklaces!

Buy through Anthropologie for $58.00.

Image via Anthropologie.

-Cate-

PS Speaking of jewelry, our friend Lisa of Senba Designs had a showcase on Wednesday, and we're so happy for her! If you've never seen her jewelry, go to her Etsy page right now and take a look; it's all lovely and eco-friendly!

Sweet As Honey

Faithful readers may have noticed that I'm a little, um, self-centered? But I do have my moments (and because I'm self-centered, I like to point out those moments). Like today, as I bring you the Hope necklace from Same Sky:

Same Sky is an organization that helps HIV-positive female genocide survivors in Africa earn a living through their handiwork. I can't think of a better reason to support a retailer, and since their products are available in an array of colors, anyone can find something suited to his or her taste. I chose this yellow necklace because it's versatile and looks like a ray of hope--just like the women who crafted it. Check out Same Sky today; if nothing else, you'll be inspired by their mission.

Buy through Same Sky for $395.00.

Image via Same Sky.

-Cate-

"I'm Walking Into Spiderwebs"

Things I understand on an intellectual level: it's still August, and Halloween is more than two months off. Things I don't care about: the fact that Halloween is more than two months off. Why don't I care? Because of this totally insane-o piece of body jewelry:

I mean, really: who's saying you can't wear this some other time? Or that it's too early to plan your costume? Besides, I need someone to buy this so I can live vicariously through his/her adventures. Any takers?

Buy through GirlProps for $119.99.

Image via GirlProps.

-Cate-

A Rosy Outlook

Few jewelry things fascinate me as much as rose gold. What is it? (Short answer: gold + copper + silver = rose gold.) Why is it so pretty? (Because, to me, yellow gold is not awesome, but white gold isn't enough sometimes.) Why don't more designers use it? (I HAVE NO IDEA.) Here's a nice example of how one jewelry company puts it to good use:

The irregularity of the bangles really allows the rose gold to shine (no pun intended). And because of the less-than-usual shade, these will add a punch to any outfit, particularly of the cocktail variety. If only I had some reason to wear them myself!

Buy a set of five through Gorjana for $132.00.

Image via Gorjana.

-Cate-

PS If you're looking for something extra-vibrant, check out Tiffany's Rubedo line, which is a proprietary alloy designed to, as they say on their website, reflect "the rose luminescence of a sunrise." It's really stunning, and I recommend at least glancing at it to see how rose gold appears at its finest.

Owl Be Right There

I'm a big fan of owls.  They're silent, deadly hunters, but they never show up to a party all covered in blood.  They're classy.  I like a classy critter.  Also, they hang around the goddess Athena a lot, so you know they have good judgement.

So of course I want to wear them on my ears!

These barn owl earrings are made by Jabebo, which is a word whose meaning I don't know, and they are made out of recycled cereal boxes.  So they're green!  And they're these itty-bitty little pictures with all those owly details you love.

Buy a pair through Jabebo Earrings for $15.00.  (It's not a very high-tech site, but you'll figure it out.)

Image via Jabebo.

Toodles!

Maureen

Pharaoh-ly Wonderful

Do you ever just feel like dressing up all Egyptian-like? It happens to me all the time, so it's natural that I'm drawn to this lovely necklace: 

Is it an accurate reproduction of an ancient Egyptian piece? I have no idea. But the turquoise and gold combination is so great that I can almost imagine myself on the banks of the Nile, watching the crocodiles and dreaming of pharaohs. 

Buy through the Detroit Institute of Arts museum shop for $155.00.

Image via the Detroit Institute of Arts.

-Cate-

Broken Brilliance

If there's one thing I love more than any other, it's clean lines. But sometimes I find something so great I can't pass it up, clean lines or not, and this week, it's the Reed Krakoff Punk Bangle:

There's something perfect about the destruction here: purposeful, and just this side of overdone. It calls to mind Lisbeth Salander as brought to life by Rooney Mara, and that's a reference I can live with. Check it out today!

Buy through Reek Krakoff for $895.00.

Image via Reed Krakoff.

-Cate-

Heigh-Ho

I grew up in what you might call a Disney household. My father is a huge fan of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, as well as the Seven Dwarfs. So it's only natural that I found myself drawn to this Disney Couture Seven Dwarfs necklace:

Though it's ultimately not my style--too gold--I do appreciate the whimsy behind this necklace, and I think it's a must-have for any girl who loved Snow White growing up, or who still enjoys watching that gentle princess take care of the men who took her in and the animals around them.

Buy through ASOS for $105.64.

Image via ASOS.

-Cate-

Wedging

I can never resist a good wedge shoe. For me, they provide more stability. Some people don't like the look of them, but I don't care, not even one bit. And here's a great example of a wedge I would enjoy rocking:

The height! The lace! The sheer boldness of it all! I'd like to pair them with black tights and a cute cocktail dress. How would you wear them?

Buy through ModCloth for $106.99.

Image via ModCloth.

-Cate-

PS Our friend Lisa who runs Senba Designs (remember these earrings?) has just opened her Etsy shop. Please check it out and support her work!