Costume Jewelry From The 1960's and 1970's

Sarah Coventry, Napier, Avon, and Kenneth Jay Lane (Yes, Kenneth Lane who has designed for Madonna, Princess Di, Sarah Jessica Parker and former first lady Barbara Bush)- are just a few of the popular costume jewerly designers of 1960's and 1970's. 

Sarah Coventry wasn't an in house designer brand. The company didn't sell in department stores but offered the line to the mid century woman at parties like you have for Tupperware. That does not mean the quality of their product was any less than you would find in a department store costume jewelry department. I distinctly remember my mom going to at least one of these parties as a child. I used to gaze at the colorful pieces she bought while they lay in their pillowy bed of cotton in its original box. Also, Sarah Coventry wasn't the name of the founder, it was the name of his granddaghter. 

Here are some pictures of my favorite pieces.

Napier, although having been around a lot longer in the costume jewelry business, changed things up a bit in the 60s and 70s. They began working primarily with 14k gold and simplifying their look. They did long chains, smal stud, hoop and dangle earrings and of all things; diaper pins. Napier is still in buisiness today, however, the pieces are unmarked and usually sold on Napier brand cards at jewelry counters like the ones found at Kohl's.

Avon jewelry is what I remember most in the 70's. Probably because it was MY first jewelry. I had the cutest character shaped plastic brooches filled with a vaseline like substance that was scented. Scents included peppermint, gingerbread and apple- just to name a few. 

My mother bought a lot of Avon jewelry, I don't know if it was the appeal of shopping at home or the styles that were offered. I found a couple of pictures of the actual pieces she owned.

Kenneth Jay Lane is another costume jewelry designer that still produces today. He has been designing for over 50 years. He is known for his statement pieces and the most glamorous women have been known to wear them.

Replicas of Barbara Bush's 3 tired pearl necklace seen here is being offered by the Danbury Mint.

Kenneth is also popular for recreating the most famous sapphire ring in modern history- Princess Di's engagement ring. His simiulated sapphire and rhinestone ring sells on QVC for $39.99.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing a Kenneth Jay Lane tourquoise and pearl brooch,

There is an autobiography published called Faking It. I would love to read up on all the encounters he had with Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn. Check it out if you want to find out more about Kenneth Jay Lane.

New Romantics: Never Old To Me

Nothing new is ever new but re-designed; a re-used idea. When you mention mens' double breasted suit coats worn with short wide ties and fedoras; you might recognize it at as The Swing Era or Post War fashion. My generation (makes me sound so old when I say "my generation"!) was the start of The New Romantics.

Remember Adam Ant? Duran Duran? Specifically, Simon Le Bon or A Flock Of Seagulls? (A-FOS) as I always called them. These guys are perfect examples of The New Romantic look. I still have a huge crush on Simon!

He even sings about New Romantics in this song!

I think one of the reasons I am such an Anglophile is the influence of the fashion, music, traditions and such. I mean, in the 60s, American girls wanted to copy the Carnaby Street look. In the 70s, American kids ripped their t shirts and put safety pins on their clothes like the London punks and the 80s brought the New Romantic fashion from across the pond via music videos. I was immediately attracted to these "dandy" boys with make-up and swashbuckling shirts. I, myself, remember wearing ruffled, high collared blouses with puffy sleeves and military styled buttons in a "7" pattern. Long silk scarves, a carry over from the glam era, and pirate or pixie style boots were also worn by me and my peers.

Another popular figure in the 80s wearing New Romantic look was Princess Di.

The original New Romantics were writers and musicians of the 19th Century AKA Neo-romantisicim. Some names of this movement you might have heard of: Louis Carroll, Rudyard Kipling and Yeats.

Normally I don't follow trends - even though I am aware of some of the current aspects. I have seen elements of my youth resurfacing in stores. I walked into Target the other day and I needed to keep my sunglasses on because the young girls' department is closest to the entrance and it was filled with bright neon colored tops, skirts, sweaters and hats! This was not a favorite look of mine in the 80s and most definitely does not qualify as new romantic style.