Since the 1980s, PNC Financial Services has released an annual Christmas Price Index, which tracks current costs of the goods and services that are the gifts given by the “true love” in the song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” I’ve always been amused by the way PNC calculates the costs because — let’s face it…
Jewelry
Wendy Brandes Jewelry on HTGAWM and Bella
While I’m working on my next big political post, I’ll share some good jewelry-business news from what turned out to be a surprisingly busy week. Singer Mary J. Blige guest-starred on last night’s episode of How to Get Away With Murder (one of Shonda Rhimes’s hit shows) and she did it while wearing my Bull…
A Symbol of Safety
You’re safe with me. More styles soon.
Jewels of the Month: More Emoji Earrings
The Unicode Consortium — aka Emoji Headquarters — is killing it lately! The consortium used to approve new emojis at such a glacial pace that I started designing my own emoji-like jewelry right along with pieces representing actual emoji. For instance, I created an emoji-like middle-finger earring in 2013. Two years later, Unicode announced a…
Miley Cyrus Needs an Engagement Ring Redesign
Last week, Miley Cyrus told talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres that she doesn’t like wearing her engagement ring because it’s not her style. I look like a fucking strawberry. #looklikemyfuckingmomdressedmethisam #prettysureihadthissamelookat6 A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Jan 18, 2016 at 7:07am PST I was like, “Um, hello, Miley!!!!!!!” One of my specialties is…
Jewelry From Suffragette City
Wham bam thank you Becky Stone of Diamonds in the Library for this myth-busting post about suffragette jewelry. It turns out that the oft-told story that suffragette-related jewelry in green, white, and violet stood for “Give Women the Vote” is just a story. Becky writes: “At least one of the most popular suffragette groups –…
Jewels of the Month: VOTE NASTY
The final presidential debate this week inspired me to put together a special stud-earring set, which I shared on Instagram. Do you follow me on Instagram? You should because that’s where I share spur-of-the-moment things like this — new designs, new combinations, and special sales. CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM. I only had…
Thrifty Wendy Brandes Jewelry on JCK Online
Thank you to Brittany Siminitz of jewelry trade publication JCK for including my hockey mask and chainsaw stud earrings in her recent post about Halloween jewelry. At $70, my earrings are the most budget-conscious on Brittany’s list! A mismatched pair like this looks great worn traditionally, with one earring on each lobe, but I think…
It’s Halloween Jewelry Time!
You know what I like about October? Halloween. And you know what I like about Halloween? It gives me an excuse to repost this gif starring my hockey mask and chainsaw earrings. (The gif was created by the fine folks at Spring, the Instagram-like shopping app.) The combination of a hockey mask and a chainsaw…
Kim Kardashian, Jewelry, and What’s Irreplaceable
The reports of the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris — with millions of dollars of jewelry stolen — reminded me of advice my late business partner used to give to customers. Always insure your jewelry, she would tell people who were nervous about getting a sizable diamond. If (“God forbid!” she’d exclaim) you’re…