Happy New Year! I am in Reykjavík, Iceland, continuing my big birthday celebration with MrB and a few friends. I wouldn’t normally choose to wear snow boots with this fringed, suede skirt … A post shared by Wendy Brandes (@wendybrandes) on Dec 31, 2017 at 5:50pm PST … but I didn’t mind sacrificing style for…
Slow-Fashion Year in Review: What Wendy Wore in 2017
To bring 2017 to a close, I’m taking a look back at 12 “What Wendy Wore” highlights, with an emphasis on slow fashion. Click the photos for the original posts. January began with all gold everything, as I rang in 2017 in a gold gown first worn in 2004. This time, I added a crown….
Year in Review: Jewels of the Month for 2017
At the end of the year, I tend to feel like I didn’t do as many new designs as I wanted to … via GIPHY … so it’s good to take a look back and appreciate everything that has been accomplished! While my Jewel of the Month posts usually feature my newest designs, I also…
Throwback Thursday: Eryn Wearing Something Borrowed
My right-hand woman Eryn got engaged in this February and married in September. I previously mentioned that Eryn had her eyes on my opal lariat necklace for her big “something borrowed” jewelry, but wound up selecting a different design. Here’s a belated photo of her mom helping her with my one-of-a-kind Selene moonstone necklace. When…
Wednesday’s Video: Year in Review and a Birthday
After blogging for 10 years, I finally got around to launching my Wendy Brandes Jewelry YouTube channel in April! Here are a few of the year’s most significant videos, including the first one, which was actually recycled from something I’d done for the JCK jewelry trade show in 2016. More entertaining, in my opinion, was…
Back to the ’80s With Jessie’s Girl
I surprised my family by asking to celebrate my big birthday on Saturday with a glamorous 5 p.m. dinner at Bareburger. What can I say? There were two little kids attending, and I enjoy The Standard burger, medium well. In reality, I was just getting warmed up for a midnight show by ’80s cover band…
Merry Christmas From the Obamas
For years, on December 25, I’d recycle my “Merry Titmas!” post from 2008. In 2016, sadly, I interrupted that tradition to mourn the death of George Michael. This year is even more tragic, as a man unqualified to clean my cats’ litter boxes — let alone be president — assassinates truth and justice on a…
The Week in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what was on the blog this week. Monday, December 18: If you don’t get the jewelry of your dreams this holiday season, go to Steve Quick Jeweler in Chicago and treat yourself to my 18K gold Agrippina poison ring. It’s the only one of that style that I have…
A Birthday, Gifs, and the Wisdom of Sonny Rollins
It’s officially Dec. 23, 2017 (New York time), so it’s my birthday. I’m now halfway to … via GIPHY Holy shit! via GIPHY I remember the surprise party we had for my father’s 50th birthday like it was yesterday, but it was in 1989. I had recently turned 21 and I thought, “Wow, this age…
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in the Press
Thank you to the people and publications who mentioned my work in the past few weeks. Amy Elliott of JCK included me in her “Jewelry Holiday Gift Guide, Naughty Edition,” declaring that my NSFW necklace in sterling silver is perfect for the friend who sends filthy emails. InStore Magazine’s December issue said that my pearl-and-tsavorite…