RI Beauty Expert: Weekend Jewelry

RI Beauty Expert: Weekend Jewelry

At one time, nearly every Providence family worked in the jewelry industry and fortunately, Rhode Island still holds the legacy with all its fine jewelry stores still dotting our towns and villages. But what if your outfit calls for less commitment, more weekend? You’ll want pieces of high quality costume jewelry. Check out these unique Providence shops that carry just the thing to make your casual spring outfits stand out.

Homestyle

This great design store preaches form, function, and quality as equal partners in the biz. Everything, including their adorable Barbie Shoe bracelet is handcrafted. You’ll wear a real honest-to-goodness Barbie shoe on a pretty elastic band. Choose wedding colors for your bridesmaids or buy one for your shoe obsessed BFF. For girls who loved Barbie. 229 Westminster St. Providence.

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Shoppe Pioneer

This singular shop has the Native American look that goes so well with your comfy weekend jeans. Their hand-stitched and beaded necklaces are conversation starters with pride of artistry behind them. Look for southwestern style turquoise pieces too which pop against the plain old white t-shirt and jean jacket. You can still love your Chanel pearls by weekday but indulge your earthy vibe on the weekends. 253 South Main St. Providence

Mother Mystic

Don’t overlook this spiritual apothecary with its unusual crystal jewelry. Especially lovely are the mesmerizing amber necklaces which look stunning next to sun-kissed skin. This shop swings to the gothic if you crave mysterious occult pieces for Friday night club-hopping but the beautiful patina on their vintage sterling bracelets really shine. Buy a wrist-load for soft spring nights by the outdoor fire pit. 179 Dean St. Providence

Studio Hop

Fortunate are we to have the Rhode Island School of Design crank out art graduates who go on and create the gorgeous handcrafted jewelry you will find here. Their letterpress necklaces are truly singular. Choose one in your initial and it comes with red sealing wax for stamping your personal insignia on special love letters. Or picture your new sundress with a vintage glass bauble in a hue to match. For more traditional styles, check out their antique-looking stone pieces and pretty silk bracelets made from pearling string. Everything here is created with American artisanal pride. 810 Hope St. Providence

Craftland

Browse here for fanciful enamel bracelets in a myriad of spring-fresh colors. Their carefully curated selection also includes Double Leaf earrings of swirling silver or gold toned spheres with beads, all handmade with an artist’s vision for sculptural form. The iridescence of their peridot zirconia ring softens the cool industrial band. All uncommon – all beautiful. 212 Westminster St. Providence.

Donna Macdonald is a freelance writer who enjoys covering topics of interest to women, especially fragrance, style, beauty. She has also written marketing material for a women's book that hit the New York Times Bestseller list and netted her an up close and personal discussion on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Donna currently writes her own personal blog, alovelyinconsequence.blogspot.com where she also writes about issues close to a woman's heart. Donna believes that when a woman finds beauty in the world, she will find beauty in herself.