Think BIG this Fall! This season is still about “statement” pieces. Take a peek at your vintage jewelry collection and look for big, bold, colorful and shiny jewellery. Also, look for ways that you can stack and layer your vintage baubles. For example, you might throw several different bracelet styles on your wrist all at once. Mix and match for a daring and creative look.

Jewelry that works this Fall season can be found from any vintage era. However, you are more likely to find big jewellery that falls in line with this season’s fashion scene when you look to the Retro and Art Deco periods. Great colors and geometric shapes can be found from these periods.

So, I did a bit of hunting and found some vintage pieces that would be perfect this season.

First, take a look at this great vintage necklace from NouveauMotley’s Shop.  I love this necklace because it has color and it’s big enough to be bold but it’s not so big that it can’t be worn by the average woman.  Another great thing about this piece is that it has a price that is reasonable and not out of reach.

Second, check out this fabulous necklace from Adin’s.  It is simply exquisite!  Like the Art Deco piece above, this necklace has color and is bold.  It also comes with a matching bracelet.  And, yes…it is definitely much more expensive than the first necklace.  But, if you are lucky enough to have the extra funds, this would be an excellent purchase this Fall.  And, this vintage item will last well beyond a lifetime. If you want to learn more about this vintage jewellery, CLICK HERE

First, think about how often you and your special guy head out for a night on the town. Is it once a month or once every decade? It may be that you can count the number of times you’ve been out to a formal function with your partner on one hand. If you’ve been with your spouse or boyfriend for a long time and you rarely get dressed up and attend formal events then vintage cufflinks may not be the best gift choice. A woman can wear vintage earrings, bracelets, and other vintage pieces with just about anything. However, these days men rarely wear cufflinks except on formal occasions. So, if you and your man hardly ever get dressed up then chances are your money would be better spent on something other than vintage cufflinks. Perhaps a vintage necklace to go with your new dress?

Second, even if you and your partner attend a lot of formal functions, you have to consider your man’s style preferences. Some men really have a sophisticated style of dress. Such men pay attention to detail and enjoy adding fine touches to their wardrobe. Other men prefer to keep things a little more simple. Such men may have a style that is a bit more rugged and they may not enjoy having to fumble around with vintage cufflinks when getting dressed to go out. One easy way to determine this is to look in your guy’s closet. Does he actually own a shirt that is made to be worn with cufflinks? If not, you might wish to have a quick chat with him about whether he has a desire to add cufflinks and the necessary shirts to his wardrobe.

Third, let’s say you’ve determined that your man would really enjoy some vintage cufflinks and that he has a use for them. How do you choose which type of cufflinks to buy for him? This is the hard part because there are so many choices available in the vintage market. If your partner is into more ornamental cufflinks then you will likely find something that meets his taste by looking for cufflinks made around the turn of the century in the early 1900′s. These vintage pieces will generally be more intricate in design but also costlier than those made a few years later in the 1920′s. If your man prefers a sleeker more masculine design then look for links made around the 1920′s. These vintage cufflinks have the advantage of being less expensive than those from the turn of the century. Another option is to choose items made a little later in the 1930′s or so. These are from the Art Deco period and generally have geometric shapes and strong lines. Unfortunately, they tend to be pricier than those made in the 1920′s.

Arts and Crafts (1894-1923):  During this period designers created pieces with intricate craftmanship.  Designs were simple and the jewelry was colorful.

Art Nouveau (1890-1915):  This period began with French designers and American designers quickly followed them. These pieces often contain graceful flower designs, dragonflies, and other insects.

Edwardian (1901-1910):  After Queen Victoria died this period began.  These pieces are very decorative and most often have an elaborate and lavish feel to them.  The vintage jewelry created during this era contained an abundance of pearls and diamonds often accented with rubies, emeralds and other gemstones. accents.

Art Deco (1910-1930):  The pieces made in this period contained many geometric shapes and contrasting bright colors.  Japanese, Egyptian, and African themed jewelry became popular.  At the same time many bakelite and celluloid pieces were created by designers during this era.

Retro (1940s – to about 1980):  This period was inspired somewhat by Hollywood.  So, the pieces were often big!  The jewelry was very elaborate and colorful.  It generally was gold and was created with a large variety of gemstones.    Charm bracelets became favored during this time.

You should be aware that the time periods set forth above for each period are fluid and flexible.  In other words, even the experts in this field disagree somewhat regarding when each era begins and ends.  But the discrepancies are relatively minor and only vary by 5-15 years at most.