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Jewels of the Month: Tolula in a Tiara and More

May 31, 2021 by WendyB

In 1985, I listened to British singer Belouis Some‘s song “Imagination” on repeat. Kids these days don’t appreciate the dedication it took to play a song obsessively back then! It was a delicate operation, what with lifting the turntable needle up from the vinyl record and moving it to that flat, grooveless space in between the songs, all the while praying that I wouldn’t scratch the record and create a skip in the tune forever. But I did that for my man Belouis, and 36 years later, I remember all the verses to that song. I just trip up on the song title and the chorus which, in my head, perpetually plays as, “Procrastination, could make a man of you. Procrastination, could make me love you too. Procrastination, is all I want from you.”

This song still slays me. Click for the so-very-’80s music video.

I can’t imagine why my special version of the song is stuck in my head while I’m writing a Jewel of the Month post at 10:30 p.m. on May 31. Hmmm. What a mystery! But I’m racing the clock to show some May love to model/DJ Tolula Adeyemi, who treated my Queen of Scots snake tiara to an Oscar night party in April.

Click to see on Tolula’s Instagram.

Tolula first wore my jewelry in 2012, including my Cleopatra statement earrings in silver.

My Cleopatra earrings. Click for 2012 post.

For the Oscars, the earrings had to match the 18K gold tiara, of course, so Tolula got the 18K gold and diamond version of the Cleopatras. Actually, even if the tiara hadn’t been involved, silver just won’t do for the Oscars!

All gold everything. Click to shop for the earrings and tiara on 1stdibs.

In both 2012 and 2021, Tolula was styled by Marian Kwei (formerly Kihogo), and good lord! How do the years fly by? I was sure this photo was taken, like, yesterday.

Me and Marian in 2012. Click for original post.

It was so good to re-connect with Marian this year. She’s wonderful to work with, plus I got a kick out of remembering the silver and amethyst ring I made her. Sometimes when I look at jewelry designs I haven’t seen in many years, I feel a little surprised to be thinking, “Oh, I did that? That’s pretty great”

Instagram will load in the frontend.

Marian wrote up Tolula’s whole Oscar night jewelry and apparel look for The Story, and absolutely showered my work with compliments in the process. I’m blushing, but grateful! (Oh, and there’s more to come from Marian.)

CLICK HERE TO READ MARIAN’S ARTICLE IN THE STORY.

As Marian points out, Tolula got the whole Wendy Brandes Jewelry package. I mean, how can you wear a tiara and earrings without rings?

Juana, Queen of Scots, and Borgia jewelry on Tolula.

Take a close look at the ring on the right side of the photo — that’s the jet-setting Borgia poison ring recently seen on television on The Blacklist.

CHECK OUT THE BORGIA RING ON THE BLACKLIST.

I’m starting to lose track of the Borgia’s travels. It was in New York City first, on the set of The Blacklist. Then it came home for a day or two before heading out to Los Angeles for Tolula’s Oscar party. It returned to New York only to fly back to L.A. almost immediately, to grace the hand of my gorgeous friend, legendary rapper Gangsta Boo.

INSTAGRAM WON’T LET ME BE GREAT AND EMBED, SO CLICK HERE TO SEE BOO’S RING.

The Borgia ring has logged way more air miles than I have since about 2018. Just for that, the Borgia should single-handedly (ha!) win the title of Jewel of the Month for May 2021, but a tiara is a TIARA. I hereby declare a tie. Both pieces are my Jewels of the Month, and they’re both available on 1stdibs and my website.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP.

The only question now is … can I convince DJ Tolula to add Belouis Some to her playlist? It’s past time for a Belouis comeback.

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Filed Under: 80s style, Arts & Entertainment, Fashion, featured jewel, Gangsta Boo, gold, jewel of the month, Jewelry, jewelry designer, lockets, music, pearls, poison rings Tagged With: belouis some, bridal tiara, marian kwei, the story, tiara, tolula adeyemi

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheila (of Ephemera) says

    June 1, 2021 at 1:20 pm

    Oh, that is some gorgeous jewelry there, Wendy! How awesome to see Tolula rocking your art at an Oscar party! I had a moment of glee when I spotted “my” Fulvia Ring on her too! But of course, they are just sisters – I wear mine to death. I’m sure I’ve worn both it and the lapis lazuli ring 1,000 times in the 10-15 years I’ve owned them, easily!

    Hope you and Mr. B are well – I’m still reading, even if I don’t always comment. Rock on, Wendy!

    • WendyB says

      June 9, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      I’m so happy that you still enjoy the rings and are still in the blogging world! We’re the OGs!

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

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