Crushin' on Coro Costume Jewelry
My office attire consists mostly of pieces that I bought at Talbots (I try to mix and match as much as possible, as sometimes wearing a matching suit feels a bit staid). Lately I've been thinking I need to add a few necklaces to my wardrobe. I have a good deal of very nice Navajo (southwest) silver and turquoise jewelry, but it doesn't mesh well with my corporate threads. I find myself wearing a very delicate little diamond pendant on a very thin chain that belonged to my grandmother, and while it has sentimental value it lacks "punch." I am very drawn to the Coro line of costume jewelry. I think most of it was produced in the 50s-60s (maybe into the 70s as well?), and it's just so darn cheap (I mean, VERY cheap on eBay) and cheerful! I am admittedly not the best - in fact, a little bit self-conscious - about wearing "statement" necklaces, but I also think I want to try. And perhaps adding a few of these pieces to my suits will help. OR -- do you think "cheap and cheerful" actually CHEAPENS a corporate look? See, I told you - I'm not entirely confident about accessories.
This is pretty similar to my usual workplace wear (I know - big yawn):
I own this Coro necklace and wear it often:
I am totally crushing on these:
This one just makes me happy to look at, even in photos:
Of course, these are all "gold tone" or "silver tone", but the fact that they've survived nicely from mid-century is a good sign, no?
Comments (102)
l pinkmountain
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThe elderly matron in me is attracted to this necklace. I love the color! Then again, pretty much anything that's rose gold continues to turn my head. (The original price on the earrings was a whopping $2.)
Related Discussions
What is "costume" jewelry?
Comments (9)Costume jewelry is inexpensive but "fashionable"...not gold filled, not semi precious stones unless they are in "gold toned" settings. Costume jewelry is from companies like Coro, Monet and some of the Krementz line....as well as other unnamed faux gem makers. Most "junk" jewelry is costume, but all costume jewelry isn't junk....See MoreShopping "Anxiety"- any one else?
Comments (36)Yesterday morning, as I got dressed and was putting on my gold chain necklace that I ALWAYS wear, I heard something "clink" on the floor in front of my dressing table. I looked down and there was a tiny piece of gold there. I realized it had come from my gold chain necklace. I went ahead and put on the necklace. BAD decision as last night, I could not remove it - that tiny piece was part of the clasp. So, I slept in my necklace. Today, I took it to a nearby jewelry store. I knew they had their own henchmen there - none of that "we'll have to send this out and it will take 3 weeks stuff". I had not been in this store in 3-4 years and was shocked at how low the inventory was and how pedestrian it also was. It used to have a lot of really beautiful, often unusual fine jewelry. No more. One of the henchmen is the owners son and I asked him about the small inventory. He said they do mainly repairs and re-settings these days - women are no longer buying fine jewelry. I was stunned until I thought for a bit and realized I should not have been surprised. About 10 years ago, I was asked by a woman I knew who owned a small jewelry store that carried lots of high end fine jewelry, to come help her at a small trunk show at out town's most expensive ladies clothing boutique. We sat there for 4 hours and did not sell one single thing!! I told my friend that this was not their customer. This customer liked "showy" clothes with lots of details - lots going on with these clothes. Jewelry requires simple, plain clothes that allow the jewelry to shine. Well, today, not only do women prefer "showy" clothes if they actually bother to dress up (yes, they still DO dress up for Derby here!), but most often today, women are dressed casually to the point of it being rather "careless". Just what jewelry goes with Lulu Lemon work-out clothes? Work clothes? Pretty casual these days - even lady executives no longer wear beautifully tailored suits and dresses for work. With "casual", a simple necklace, a bracelet (maybe - some people have trouble typing on the computer while wearing one), perhaps a ring (again, some have trouble typing) and perhaps earrings (always having to take on off to talk on the phone). When women go out to dinner at night, it's "dressy casual" with more emphasis on the "casual" than the "dressy" part. Church? If they go, it's either VERY casual or dressy casual. When I went to church Easter Sunday, one woman greeted me and said she was hoping I would be there as she always looked forward to see what lovely brooch I would be wearing. These days, the Queen and I are about the only ones who wear brooches anymore - occasionally the Duchess of Cambridge, but pretty rarely. So yet another "pretty" thing that has gone the way of the Dodo bird. I wonder what my DD will do with my jewelry? Will she actually wear it or sell it? I only have one granddaughter and her mother and maternal grandmother have tons of jewelry, much far nicer than mine. And then there are the three grandsons. It rather breaks my heart to think that probably no one will even want my lovely jewelry, lovingly collected over the past 50+ years - some even earlier gifts from my parents. I hate change......See MoreSelling vintage costume jewelry?
Comments (20)Trifari and Coro are two brands that sell briskly on eBay and Etsy, also. Don't discount the value of the jewelry just because it appears to be plastic. Search "vintage jewelry" with key words that describe your pieces. Other popular terms are "Pegasus," "thermoset," "jelly belly," "confetti," "fire," "parure,"and "moon-glow" in conjunction with the brand names. Carol ETA: added fire and parure to key search words....See MoreAre there any nice online jewelry sites?
Comments (16)In fact, there are a lot of sites that offer pretty good costume jewelry, but I have often had to return jewelry because of discrepancies with the photos on the site. But I have a very reliable site, which I can safely recommend to you - smgl.org. I have ordered several times, and I was satisfied. In addition, the jewelry is made of silver, and it is much longer wearing jewelry than that of different alloys, which sometimes leave marks on the skin...See More
sheesh
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agoI dunno ... I was reminded of Lovey Howell, but the color is so luscious that I think I'm beyond caring if the necklace initially struck me as matronly.
Anyway, she was cute. Dontcha think?sheesh
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agosheesh
5 years ago
Fun2BHere
5 years agol pinkmountain
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThe love of fine costume jewelry I don't think is matronly, but it is a look that some like and can pull off and some don't. I've loved it since I was young, my Mom loved it, and think my grandmother loved it too, so it spans generations. My cousin loves it and so do her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. She even bejewels her phone! I .always gravitate to the sparkly counters in the department store, but at this point I am mostly maxed out on the stuff, more than I could ever wear. My best friend loves it so much she makes it as a hobby! We've had some fun reworking some of my Mom's old necklaces
Sadly, I think I am actually TOO matronly to pull off these inherited earrings anymore. Someday hopefully I will find the right boho chic to give them to! I may have to sublimate my love for them by getting a pair matching pendant lamps for over my kitchen island . . . (just kidding, I don't have a kitchen island).
salonva
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agoPinkmountain, those earrings are sooooo fab! I can see them worn by a 1960s-era woman with a bouffant-y little flip hairstyle. (Think Marlo Thomas in That Girl!) You should wear them!
Salonva, I was actually looking at that very auction not long ago! Love those triple-strand pieces, and that one is especially pretty. I bought this piece today ... really wanted some pinky/blushy/lilacy pearly beads, and I like how the amber-colored spacer beads keep the look from being too-TOO sweet.
This is a lot of fun, isn't it? Thanks so much for enjoying the plethora of pretties out there with me!IdaClaire
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThese colors ... ::sigh:: Reminds me of Christmas tree baubles I grew up with in the 60s. Hmmm ... I DO have a blue suit ...
And vintage Napier ... ::double, triple, quadruple sigh::
Sueb20
5 years ago
tartanmeup
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agosealavender
5 years agotartanmeup
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agosealavender
5 years agoBad lighting, but bling acquired after the holidays on sale at Talbot's, IdaClaire.
IdaClaire
5 years ago
just_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoIda, look what you’ve done lol.
I have several items in my cart but can’t decide. Nothing is expensive and they do go with my more casual lifestyle. But, I don’t really need them...decisions decisions
The next three down are Swedish 60’s & 70’s.
I don’t know why but I seem to have a fascination for cameos lately.
This is an inexpensive one so I probably will not order without being able to see it in person. I will keep my eye out in the thrift’s though.
catticusmockingbird
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years ago
jill302
5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI think I bought this pendant. I put an offer in and got an automatic invoice for offer amount and paid. I never received anything from seller saying the offer was excepted. Does anyone have experience with offer buying on RubyLane?
This will look snazzy in the V of my v-neck tops.
Sterling silver opal foil glass pendant.
Sueb20
5 years ago
gsciencechick
5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agolegomom23
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAm I strange to like this? It’s not something I would normally wear. Still, I’m thinking of those V-neck tops I’m buying. One is an orange-Ish linen. It’s big, 3 1/2”.
Too gaudy?
EDITED: It’s only $37 no shipping costs so I think I’ll go for it.
Have all you shoppers looked on Mercari? It seems like it’s much cheaper than other sites.
I also got this and it was only $33.00 plus $ 4.25 ship. This one is heavy sterling silver / cat eye and about two inches long.
IdaClaire
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoJT, I don't think it's gaudy. I like it! It's vibrant and spirited. The other piece is pretty too. Those pendants remind of somewhat of two Navajo made pendants of mine. I wear these often with casual outfits. They make a nice statement with a v-neck, and are also around 3.5 inches or so.
IdaClaire
5 years agosalonva
5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoIda, don’t ever do this again lol. This is my last purchase. I will wear this a lot. A year or so ago I bought a circular handmade polished wood pendant on Etsy that gets much use but it’s extremely casual as it hangs from a leather cord. I really like this one for casual dressy.
salonva
5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years ago
localeater
5 years agosalonva
5 years ago
neetsiepie
5 years agojust_terrilynn
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoUser
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobadgergal
5 years agoAfter my aunt passed away at the age of 91, one of her daughters in-law turned some of my aunt's many jewelry pieces into wall art. Here are 2 of the pictures that she made
salonva
5 years ago
mtnrdredux_gw
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoIdaClaire
5 years agol pinkmountain
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agosalonva
4 years ago
Fun2BHere