Friendship bracelets are making a comeback and I love it! Wrists layered with brightly-colored strands of thread bring up such fond memories of hours spent weaving with friends on the porch or on long car rides to my grandparent’s house.

I first spotted the trend while on my trip to Madrid, Spain. My sister and I got matching friendship bracelets in El Buen Retiro, Madrid’s Central Park, and I got a red and yellow one from a souvenir shop in La Plaza Mayor in order to cheer on the Spanish World Cup team and commemorate our trip.

Since I have been home, I have spotted them being sold by a street vendor at the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets, a kiosk in the Prudential Center Mall and both Madewell and Stel’s on the last block of Newbury St.

Friendship bracelets look best in brightly-colored groups. When worn this way, not only do they stand out better, but they are also more apt to have a color in them to coordinate with your outfit. Also, the addition of another texture or material can add further visual interest. Look for friendship bracelets with charms, metal chains or links – Madewell and Stel’s both carried examples of this. Finally, if you can find friendship bracelets made of leather, then you have officially hit the jackpot. You’ve got the look, plus the durability or leather. And if you do, please let me know. I passed up some in Spain and I seriously regret it…

~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around