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…
The Weeks in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what’s been on the blog lately. There aren’t as many posts as usual because I’ve been distracted by the scary political situation in the U.S. Monday, Nov. 7: I wrote about catcalls, consent, and rape culture. Tuesday, Nov. 8: I was so excited to vote! Saturday, Nov. 12: I’m…
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…
This Is an Actual Emergency
When I was a child, I was afraid of tests of the Emergency Broadcasting System. They were so shocking. One minute, I’d be enjoying Morgan Freeman’s performance as Vincent the Vegetable Vampire on The Electric Company. The next minute, my innocent eardrums would be assaulted by the ominous whine of the Attention Signal. Before remote…
A Symbol of Safety
You’re safe with me. More styles soon.
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
Have you voted yet today? I was at my polling location at the 6 a.m. opening time after — literally — no sleep at all. Zero minutes of sleep! Done! #ivoted #vote #electionday2016 #noprotestvotesplease #nastywomenvote #nastywomengetshitdone A photo posted by Wendy Brandes (@wendybrandes) on Nov 8, 2016 at 3:55am PST I was standing in the…
Catcalls and Consent
One good thing came out of this year’s horrible presidential campaign: Women are speaking openly about how we are treated in the workplace and public spaces. It’s not that we never did before, of course. The @everydaysexism account on Twitter was started in March 2012. You can read thousands of personal stories there (though they…
The Weeks in Review
In case you missed it, here’s what’s been on the blog recently. Monday, Oct. 24: Suffragette jewelry. Wednesday, Oct. 26: RIP, Pete Burns. (Plus the non-story of Patient Zero.) Thursday, Oct. 27: We were Devo. Monday, Oct. 31: We are Bananarama. Tuesday, Nov. 1: Miley Cyrus, please call me about your engagement ring. Wednesday, Nov….
Throwback Thursday: Who’s Got the Button?
In 2014, Marie Kondo wrote the book on decluttering. Literally. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Fans are devoted to Kondo’s “KonMari” method for organizing their homes. You will not find Kondo’s book perched in my extensive bookshelves. If you look…
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…