Falls looks From my Costume Jewerly Archive, Bargains Galore!

Over the years, I've amassed a great collection of fashion accessories and jewelry without even trying.  When I have time, I make my own, and look for inspiration everywhere, including museum gift shops, yard sales, hardware stores, fishing and sporting goods stores, antique stores, etc.  I look for bargains and tiny things to use.   Also, I look at big box stores and department stores, and even men's departments for hankies, ties, belts, tie tacs, watches, even cuff links. Your imagination is the limit, and these original, bargain looks are in this Fall.  Review Iris Apfel's looks and ideas for more inspiration.  Apfel has said that she gets as big a thrill from a great $3 bracelet as from a $300 bracelet!!

From Villager, 1990s, comes this metal and enamel bee in great colors for fall.  It was a bargain at
$9 then.  It was originally around $25, from Kohl's.  To promote bees, leave a teaspoon of
sugar water in your yard.

This long rope of multicolored faux pearls cost under $4 around 25 years ago.  It may actually be
a Party City or Dollar Store find, can't quite remember.  You get the classic look of pearls that will coordinate with
any color in your wardrobe.

Probably from the former Bergner's comes something I found in school for just a couple dollars.
It is resin with a leather cord, but is meant to look like carved stone or dinosaur bone.  The design is tribal, and goes great
with today's looks.

This great bird necklace cost under $10.  It is a knockoff of more expensive examples from Sak's and other similar
stores.  It resembles a thunderbird, and goes great with any southwestern ensembles and denim. Paired with black,
it can go out for the evening.

This handmade back to school necklace also dates to the early 90s.  It only cost $3 at  a thrift store, but
the price belies the work that's gone into it.  It is very detailed, and the charms are iconic of schools and teachers.  It looks great with denim, or any other school outfit.  If you are a teacher like me, you will get an A+ from you pupils, big and small,
for wearing it.  Kids love it when you dress up for them; they used to flock around my Mom  when she wore her charm bracelet, just to admire and count the charms.

80s example of hand painted beads of ceramic, accented with beads made of seeds and wood. About $1 from a flea market

This is  late 80s, faux bone and real brass mask.  I love figural brass like this, and have other examples with
the Ashanti fertility doll and Pre-Columbian replicas.   This cost around $15 new, and was sort of a
pricey addition to my jewelry collection in 1986.  Great with batik prints, woven Navajo and Peruvian designs, or gauze cotton.

Faience and cork necklace, probably 70s.  A flea market find.

Twisted faux pearls in grey and pink.  Did you catch the early 2000s Pearls Exhibit at Chicago's
Museum of Natural History?  These look wonderful with the blush colors still around for fall, and with other rose gold jewelry still hot.  These cost under $5 in the 80s, and are still elegant and relevant.

Large bead is an estate sale find, around $5.  Other beads came to me from the four corners of the globe,
one or a few at a time.  Some are trade beads. Most are old.  I love this with animal prints, or even tweedy looks, cashmere, denim, etc.

Silver good luck charm from China, I think, with Patina, on a red cord.  From San Francisco,
80s, cost under $5.  Delicate, and looks well mixed with other jewelry.

Miniature drum on a cord of leather.  60s to 70s, maybe earlier.  These were standard items at
western souvenir stands, and only cost a dollar or two.  I have a nice collection of these, along with Native American beaded jewelry, especially earrings.  25 years ago, I hit a huge sale of earrings at the Mesquawki Casino gift shop.  They make a nice collection in themselves, but are also wearable.

Vintage ceramic Christmas necklace complete with popcorn, under $3.  You don't need a Christmas sweater, though I love them, too! Just wear this against a black turtleneck or black velvet Tee .  Also hand made and assembled and a steal at under $3.

C. 40s-60s lasso style necklace, $2 or under from a flea market or estate sale, early 90s when I bought it.

Assemblage of Mardi Gras beads; fun to mix with gold and silver chains or beaded necklaces on weekend outfits or holidays occasions.  You can still find handfuls for a dollar or two, but these are vintage.

For about $.50 at a yard sale, I found this Trifari/Monet style necklace.

Classic beads from a liquidation center store, around $2.50.

More Mardi Gras and classic plastic, less than $.50 a strand.

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Vintage earrings and a brooch.  The brass carrots were $5 from an Art Gallery, 90s.  Brooch is a $.25 yard sale find.  Enamel earrings are from a church sale, about a dime. Bought during the 80s.

Yard sale wedding cake and Murano glass beads. Under $3 at a yard sale.  This is a real collectible.

Close up of wedding cake bead.

Great 80s necklace of a cat; these are made of sawdust!  $2.

Halloween necklace metal and resin, on sale for about $1.50.

Vintage beaded and loomed friend bracelet.  Yard sale find; $.25.  Don't know what the letters mean.  Don't overlook yards sales; I've found Chico's jewelry there for under $1, gold and silver pieces very cheap, Lia Sofia, antique gutta percha and jet, other antique jewelry, bead, rhinestone brooches, rings, you name it!

Close up of a light up Halloween neck tie.  It looks great as is, too Love men's ties; I have lots of silk and vintage holiday examples, and my late Dad's. Without Dad, I have to rely on my husband or what is pre-tied, or I use them as belts.  I have bow tie, too, and some slip beaded examples for girls. You can still wear a long gold chain over them, or invest in your own fun collection of tie tac and clips, or even a small pin or button.

Silk souvenir scarf in keeping with this year's global fashion theme.  This was under $.50 at a yard sale.  Find them at The Discovery Shops, Goodwill, etc.  Walgreen's and the Dollar Stores have terrific examples.  Holiday example look great with any outfit and dress up even a nice pair of jeans.  You don't have to spend a fortune, and Amazon and Ebay have nice, reasonable examples.