Well you never know what the next “New Look” will be.

 

If you follow the latest fashion magazines, then beads and shells are IN right

now folks. Archaeological records show that people made and used

beads as long as 5,000 years ago and I think shells have been around even longer. But sometimes it takes a while for the fashion gods to catch on.  But honestly, who has never come back from a tropical vacation without a little beading – if not in your hair, then at least on your arm.  Every summer I never fail to pull out all my shell and beaded jewelery – and there are tons.

Big shells from Hawaii on roped necklaces, beaded rasta bracelets from Jamaica, beaded sandals, belts and even a headband (I’ll have to check to find out if I can wear that now) from Brazil,

and intricate beaded Masai jewelry from none other than Masai Mara in Kenya, Africa. This is what surpised me the most.  I’ve never seen anyone other than the exotic Masai tribe themselves (in Africa because they don’t travel) flaunting their Masia jewelery anywhere outside of Africa. While I’m on the subject, I just won’t believe it if their wedding neckpieces and headdresses  ever come in fashion here in North America!

Anyway, I’ve worn my Masai pieces (mostly bangles & a few chokers) on occasion because each piece takes hours upon hours of intricate  handiwork which I appreciate but never saw anyone else wearing.  And while almost no one has ever complimented me (except for Chelsea Handler – even more to my surprise) on my sophisticated assortment, I just saw a whole whack load of them in my favorite most up-to-date fashion magazine for a whole whack load more money than what I paid for mine.

Not only that, I came thisclose to giving away a great pair of beaded (hardly worn) sandals. Good thing I opened up that magazine!  So now I will with full abandon be flaunting my acquisitions from all these exotic locales which in the past seemed outdated once home.  This summer I’ll be pulling out all the stops in beaded and shell accessories.  I hope we have an exxxtra looong summer!

How about you – are you planning to GO archaeoLOGICAL too?