I have a snitty comment to make. I’m just not into a lot of what passes for jewelry out there in Minister Land. It isn’t that homemade beaded items aren’t beautiful — they certainly can be. And so can sea glass pendants (although they mostly look to me like hunks of rock hanging around someone’s neck) and clay molded crosses and all sorts of feathered and woven hemp and other organic material.
What is often not working about the way clergy adorn themselves is a sense of style, proportion and elegance. It’s like, “Here, let me throw these meaningful items around my neck on a chain or into my ear and I’m all set.” This isn’t accessorizing, it’s using one’s body as a hanger.
The other day I met with a new staff member who has double-pierced ears. She was wearing two dangly earrings in one ear. No big deal, right? But the way the two earrings worked together was so gorgeous that I kept staring at them. As I recall, one earring was made of organic materials (feather?) and one was a shining gold disk. It was the perfect size and hanging at just the right length to set off the other earring. It was like a tiny art installation hanging off her head. I wasn’t distracted by the earrings but I was definitely enchanted by them. I thought, “Oh man, now I want a double piercing.” I don’t think I’ll get one, but she made me see the possibilities in having that extra real estate in which to add a little touch of extra beauty.
Accessorizing is an art form. You get better at it by trying different things, taking photos, treating yourself like an art installation. I understand that we don’t have time to do this every day, and so we rely on our signature pieces. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re mindlessly throwing on your pearl studs and your gold cross every day you’re missing an opportunity to communicate more interesting things about yourself beyond, “Hi, I’m your generic American Christian lady.”
So, pigeons, mix it up sometimes. Try new things. Don’t just throw a bunch of jewelry on your ears and neck and fingers and expect them to work for you. I can promise you that even the most casually tossed-together looking accessories have been carefully strategized and considered by any stylish person you know. Sure, some people just have the knack, but most beautifully put together people make an effort.
By posting these photos I am not suggesting that you engage in cultural appropriation and try to adorn yourself in traditional Hindu or Ghanaian way. I am suggesting that you think of the world’s grand tradition of accessorizing and compare it to most American’s generic, Gap-ified dullness and consider how much beauty is being lost in the world by our boringness.
This African man knows how to rock the multiple beaded strands thing.
Me mixing it up on a recent day of meetings in New York: mixing prints and adding rhinestones to a daytime outfit. Fail? Maybe! But I tried it and it was fun doing something new:
These jeweled collars are all the rage right now. You can find them for $30 and less at places like Forever21 and H & M:
So beautiful. The hat and the collar and the man:
A stunning riot of color, tradition and adornment. What are you own ethnic traditions?
Over a simple black tunic (you wouldn’t wear a sleeveless shirt to work, but the simplicity is the point here) this groovy plant necklace is surprisingly chic. Had she worn it with a poncho it would scream Hippie Goddess:
I keep seeing those beaded collar necklaces and wondering how one would possibly wear them… that photo looks great, but what if it doesn’t exactly line up with the neckline of your shirt? And would it stay there when you move? Anyone have real world experience with them?
I love your scarf! Where'd you get that one? [On the street in London. *sad trombone* - PB]You say “hippie goddess” like it’s a bad thing.
So I wore a (black) silk peony on my (black) clergy suit to convention yesterday. It looked good. Better when I buttoned up the jacket. I usually take them off and sometimes do the ponytail holder trick. I like the idea of making a faux empire waist. The only issue to report is that making the sign of the cross became complicated and creative. It was a BIG peony. [Ha ha! LOVE a big peony. I have a few big flowers. They’re fabulous on a suit. – PB]