Reader, recently I’ve been delving back into my collection of jewelry. There are few feelings as exciting as donning the perfect pair of statement earrings or a bold necklace. Since I’m not a certified “baller” (I don’t have oodles of spending money), I’ve become somewhat savvy at finding good jewelry at an affordable price, whether it’s online or in person.
A quick disclaimer — all of these stores have what I see as mid-range prices. There are certainly stores that sell jewelry for very low prices, but I’ve found that it’s a better investment of money to spend more on a product that will last longer and overall have better quality.
In person, there are several stores that I have as my go-to when the jewelry purchasing mood hits. One of them is the wannabe boutique Francesca’s. Fun fact: when I first shopped at a Francesca’s at my local mall, I really thought it was a one-of-a-kind boutique. My heart was crushed when I found out it was simply another conglomerate vying for my fashion-loving dollar, but over time the cute styles and decent sales of the store won me over, and I’ve moved past my grief. Francesca’s has a solid collection of metal-toned jewelry (I’m talking gold, silver, and copper), along with some other trendy options. They all have the same laid-back boho chic style. Francesca’s is a good place to start finding out what your jewelry preferences are, because not only does it have a good mix of delicate and statement jewelry, but you can try on the jewelry in-store to immediately see how it looks.
Another in-person store I like shopping at is Express, my go-to place for interview clothes. The jewelry at Express reflects the types of clothes it sells. Express does have some trendy jewelry, but the majority of the jewelry is metal-toned or crystal. The jewelry is also varied — Express has a selection of classic jewelry styles to choose from, which are the pieces that will always be in style and go well with most outfits. It also has trendy pieces to choose from as well. Almost all of the jewelry at Express comes in four colors — gold, silver, white, or black — so it’s a good place to find that office bling.
In my opinion, online jewelry shopping is more in the realm of the experienced jewelry-shopper. Shopping online can be hard because it requires some experience to know how certain colors or styles would look on you. My absolute favorite site to shop for jewelry is Baublebar. Baublebar is not for the faint of heart, but I find it to be the number one place to get the trendiest jewelry. The site is chock-full of bold, fun, and eye-catching jewelry. The site is pricey — in fact, I’ve never bought anything from there full price. But all its pieces are high-quality and delivered on time.
Another online store I enjoy is Tobi, known for its party clothes — if you need a cute outfit for going out or a formal, Tobi is a great place to peruse. Tobi also has a great selection of party jewelry. Its selection of jewelry is chic, slinky, and young, and Tobi also has some out-of-the-box options like body jewelry, flash tattoos, or hair accessories. Its customer service is great, and new styles are constantly coming in so you’ll have plenty to choose from.
I know that jewelry isn’t for everyone, but it’s an easy way for me to get excited about my outfit or pump up my self-esteem for the day to come. So if you’d like to delve into the world of jewelry, or if you’d just like some new places to shop, I hope these options serve you well.
