Posts tagged Harvard Square

Get Your Chocolate Fix at STA Harvard Square with 20% off!

We’re making your afternoon a little sweeter!
Join us at STA Harvard Square on June 28th 3-7pm for our Afternoon Delights event.
Indulge in an afternoon pick-me-up with chocolate treats and 20% off your entire purchase!

Second Time Around
8 Eliot Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-491-7185
www.secondtimearound.net
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A TIMELINE OF TRINKETS: Jewelry Through the Decades

Every jewelry aficionado has at least one piece in their collection that stands out, be it for eye-catching glitz, overly ornate details, or understated simplicity.  But where do these pieces come from?  Heirlooms? Antique shops? Your local department store?  All jewelry, be they from yesterday or yesteryear, can be credited in design to certain eras.  Join us as we scour the cases at our Harvard Square location, hunting for pieces to help highlight the ongoing heyday of personal adornment!

Each groundbreaking design period had jewelry styles that are easy to identify, so let us begin with one of the earliest trends to break away from the mold of conservative cameos and basic gemstones…

ART NOUVEAU (all the rage: 1895-1915)

The graceful Art Nouveau period started with designers in France and those in America following suit. The most important characteristic of this kind of jewelry was its free-flowing nature. The whimsical lines found in Art Nouveau jewelry suggest the movement, passion, and youthful vigor in the new ideas of the turn of the century. At the heart of the Art Nouveau movement were nature motifs and fantastical elements such as fairies and wood creatures.

EXHIBIT A: Pieces in the style of Art Nouveau, ranging from $8 to $14

EDWARDIAN (all the rage: 1890-1920)

After the death of the UK’s Queen Victoria, the Edwardian era was ushered in when her son Edward took the throne. This was a lavish period with pearls and diamonds paired with emeralds, rubies and other gemstone accents. This era was proven to be a highly decorative and elaborate period, full of regal and bold components.

EXHIBIT B: Pieces in the Edwardian style, ranging from $6 to $16

ART DECO (all the rage: 1920-1935)

The period between the World Wars witnessed new interest in modernizing jewelry. Designers of the Art Deco period welcomed the clean lines of the machine age — forms inspired by nature or abstract sources followed geometric lines, a noticeable difference from both Edwardian and Art Nouveau jewelry.  In addition to the strong shapes, this was a period of contrasting bright colors.

Motifs of the Art Deco period included screw-back / clip-on earrings and Egyptian-esque jewelry (King Tut’s tomb was discovered in 1922). Themes of this era are still prevalent today — new diamond cuts were introduced to accentuate the geometric taste, including the emerald cut, triangle cut, trapeze cut, and marquis cut.

EXHIBIT C: Pieces in the style of Art Deco, ranging from $6 to $14

RETRO (all the rage: 1935-1950s)

Even before World War II, jewelry was changing. The Retro look was an infusion of old and new - utilizing the curves of Art Nouveau with the clean simple look of Art Deco, but in a scale not seen before. Big was beautiful when it comes to describing jewelry of the Retro period, elaborate and colorful with an array of gold and gemstones. It had Hollywood for its inspiration, so the retro jewelry was somewhat larger than life in style. This was also the period when charm bracelets became a favorite jewelry item.

EXHIBIT D: Retro-esque pieces, ranging from $6 to $16

CONTEMPORARY (all the rage: 1960s to present)

Jewelry in recent decades has come a long way. Plastics were introduced, which provided a huge outlet for new colors and styles. Price points decreased and everyone was now able to find an affordable style to suit them.  Bold, primary colors emerged, as did oversized cartoony shapes. This carried on well into the 1980s, but after the “massive consumption” years of the decade, less became more in the 1990s. The silhouette became neater as shoulder pads finally died and jewelry became non-existent or chic in its simplicity and barely-there quality. Floating necklaces were popular, as were simple studs for earrings.  Moving forward, the ’00s weren’t so much about any one trend — it actually relied heavily on past decades for inspiration. Add in leather cuffs, arm bands and cocktail rings, and you’ve got yourself a complete ensemble from the early 21st century.

EXHIBIT F: Contemporary pieces, ranging from $6 to $18

CURRENT (all the rage: now)

Because women have a need for newness in their style, fashion will continue to offer changes. Some trends are emerging in 2010, but they are subtle and cautious. Big, edgy and bold pieces are still significant; statement necklaces, large cocktail rings and massive bracelets remain important. What has emerged this year is that metal is playing a larger role in jewelry designs. Chains are among the most simple and ancient forms of jewelry, but designers are using them in elaborate and modern ways this season. Designs run the gamut, from delicate dangling gold earrings to bold bib-style necklaces, composed of dozens of strands of chains. The newest necklaces are mixtures of gold and silver, shiny and matte metals, often dressed up with crystals, charms, stones and pearls.

Judging from the variety of styles that can be found in the Harvard Square Second Time Around alone, one emerging trend is simply to mix it up.  Take a little Art Nouveau and toss in a little Deco, grab that Edwardian-esque set of earrings and contrast it with a dark chain necklace.  Blur the lines of yesterday and today… and where better to go than a one-stop shop over in Cambridge!

~Kim, Manager, Second Time Around Harvard Square

One Piece - 4 ways to wear!

Sure, a lot of stores have clothes, but only a few have developed a unique eye for creating stylish collections time and time again.  We here at Second Time Around spend our days poring over individual pieces, looking to pair them with cute complementary coordinates!  Along the way, we often find ourselves helping guests to see their new items in an even newer light.  Take, for example, this staple piece from Juicy Couture found at our Harvard Square location: a vibrant green short-sleeved button-down with a wide ruffle trim and Peter Pan collar (retail value: $158 / yours for $52!)

The Juicy Blouse

At first glance, it appears to be a very girly yet very basic top, easily paired with your favorite everyday denim and flats.  But all it takes is a little resourcefulness to maximize your new garment’s potential!  May we present to you, dear reader, a creative exercise in using the same piece for four entirely different outfits, all found in Harvard Square!

ENSEMBLE #1 – POLISHED & PROFESSIONAL

Polished Professional

For a more classic and conservative look, we took a timeless yet trendy Alexander Wang dress (yours for only $148) and placed the top underneath.  It’s hard to dress girly around the office, but this outfit rises to the challenge of finding the right professional accoutrement!  Shoe: Steven by Steve Madden — $36 / Bag: La Bagagerie — $78 / Necklace: $14.

ENSEMBLE #2 – FLIRTY & FEMININE

Flirty & Feminine

Spring is the time to bring a little smile to your wardrobe, and this array is no exception.  If you prefer a more flirty and feminine approach, try adding a splash of vintage chic!  Skirt: Trio — $24 / Scarf: Vintage — $12 / Belt: Vintage Dior — $32 / Bag: Vintage — $14 / Shoe: Steve Madden — $32.

ENSEMBLE #3 – BOHO CASUAL

Boho Casual

Ruffles have a subtle dress-up quality about them, so we paired our top with some casual everyday staples.  The final look has an edge about it that says you’re not afraid to add a little cute to your kit.  Skirt: Lucky Brand Denim — $26 / Undershirt: Kenzie — $16 / Bag: Christopher Kon — $62 / Shoe: Taryn Rose — $74 / Scarves: $12 each.

ENSEMBLE #4 – GLAMAZON

Glamazon

Every so often, a lady wants to glam it up a little after a long hard day making ends meet.  A wardrobe basic can easily transition into nightwear by the simple addition of alluring accessories!  Skirt: Silk Box — $28 / Belt: $12 / Bag: Stuart Weitzman = $132 / Shoe: Steve Madden = $32 / Necklaces: $14 each.

~ Kim, Harvard Square Store Manager, Second Time Around