Handmade with Soul

In this day and age of mass produced, fast paced, bigger is better it can sometimes feel like everything is cookie cutter. Sometimes it's easy to forget how things were not too long ago. Stronger and more efficient systems are praised. Youth and modernity worshipped. But what about the beauty of taking your time? Of making things with love and using skills passed down from one generation to the next. Maybe it doesn't make a difference you say, but I say it does. I say it does because things made by hand with time and care without the use of mass producing machines and computers who have no heart and emotions, carry with them the care and energy of the people that made them. Things made by hand have soul. This bag from Calleen Cordero is just that. Beautiful and handmade with soul. Each piece is handmade from start to finish from cutting the leather to sewing it to adorning it with metal detailing. These bags are of the highest quality, made in the USA and carefully crafted with skills that have been passed down for generations and it shows!

Channeling Aztec Art

If you are open to meeting new people, trying new things, listening as well as talking than every day can be a learning experience and things you once found scary can become beautiful. I recently met a Mexican artist who explained to me how important skulls were to the Aztec culture. They were symbols of the relationship between life and death and were found throughout Aztec culture. When the Spaniards came to Mexico they were not too hot for the native culture but the Aztecs found ways to preserve the art, religion and practices in different ways and to this day El dia de Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is still celebrated. After learning this I associate skulls in jewelry and art as a symbol of resiliance, determination, human beauty, culture and the dichotomy of life and death as well as personal growth. This black wood bead bracelet with silver skull reminds me of that whenever I wear it.

Chi-Town Inspiration

So, I think that fashion is a beautiful thing. To me it's beautiful because it is a form of expression. What you choose to put on your body, what jewelry you choose to adorn yourself with, where you choose to spend your money and on what is an expression of who you are. Your likes and dislikes and who you want to present to the world. Every day we are influenced by the people around us and the experiences we go through. For this reason, my hometown, Chicago, has played a major role in how I dress, my taste in fashion and what I buy for the store and from the store. My favorite piece of the season is a cement and silver ring by Hadas Shaham. Hadas Shaham makes all jewelry by hand in Tel aviv. Like any major world city, Tel Aviv can be fast paced, harsh and beautiful all at once. That's how I feel about Chicago. In any big city there are days when you see the ugly in people, you long for nature and maybe a simpler life. On good days there is no other place you would rather be. The food, the nightlife, the skyline, the people all look rosy. This ring reminds me of all of that and why I love Chicago. Its architectural feel, hard cement mixed with delicate silver design, empty and full spaces. Every time I wear this ring not only do I look down and love how its beauty and uniqueness add to my outfit I feel inspired by how it reminds me of Chicago, my hometown!

Love, Peace and Music Never Go Out of Style

As the crowd settled down, the sounds of the guitar strings being strummed and plucked came out clear and crisp. The crowd swayed and sang, first quietly full of nostalgia and then slowly, louder, "Naaa, naaa na na na na naaaaa, na na na naaaaa, heeeey Juuude" 40,000 voices of different generations, ethinicities and lifestyles sang together full of happiness and for a moment everyone shared that song and that feeling.

Last night I went to the Paul McCartney concert with my dad. As I stood there feeling the excitement of the crowd and watching a man who has left his mark on the world through his music, I imagined what it might have been like to have been at a Beatles concert when they were young. While I can only imagine what that would have been like, last night I experienced how music can bring people together and how no matter what generation you are from, peace, love and music never go out of style. As an homage to that I am featuring the Chan Luu multi stone beaded necklace. It is full of beautiful earthy colors from different semi precious stones. This can be worn as a necklace wrapped two or three times, tied or just one long strand or even as a bracelet. It kind of has the good earthy vibes of peace and love a la hippie style but it is timeless and chic and easy to wear. Wearing things that remind you of good memories and the best things in life like Love, Peace and Music, never goes out of style!



-The Next Door Girl