Big Bag Rescue
Jun 8th, 2010 by admin
I am the proud owner of two new, gigantic handbags that I really didn’t need. How could I resist them, when this season has brought back jumbo bags with zippers, detailing and colors that would defeat even the most budget-conscious girl?
The biggest downside of my new lovelies is that they don’t have a whole lot of shape when all they carry is my wallet and cell phone and so they create even more than the standard pressure to fill them with things I don’t really need on the go: an extra compact and some lipsticks I never wear, a light sweater even though it’s 80 degrees outside, and of course jewelry.
Now picture it in a tiny, crumpled up ball.
We’re all guilty of this: as the work day starts to wrap up, the temptation to yank off those earrings gets stronger and stronger. That necklace clasp is starting to bother you just a little too much, and the sound your bracelets make on your desk is no longer cute, but a distracting reminder of how long you have to sit there while the sun is shining. Finally you succumb and those jewels invariably land in your overstuffed, never-seen-the-light-of-day handbag.
A week later you find the chains in a nightmarish tangle, a bend in your ear hooks that will never be the same, and you’re pretty sure you’re missing a charm from your favorite bracelet.
Aright, we’re bad people and a menace to good jewelry everywhere, so what can be done? That habit sure isn’t going away, so here are some preventive measures so you never have to pull out the tweezers before accessorizing ever again.
The Jewelry Roll
A staple in your mother’s traveling bag, we modern gals have tended to neglect this little lifesaver. They come in sizes soft and small enough to fit in bags and the best kinds have little clips and latches so that you can keep delicate chains separated.
The Mint Box
Never lose another stud by adding an empty mint box to your bag. Make sure your earrings go in there and there alone and you’re saved. Want something a little prettier? Try a vintage cigarette case or a fabric-covered tampon case. Find something so adorable you that you’ll look forward to pulling it out of your bag to show off. If you hate the rattling sound of earrings in the tin, layer a little tissue paper or felt along the bottom.
Zip Locks
Far less romantic, but one of the cheapest jewel-saving options: a couple of zip lock bags will provide a safe zone for your bracelets and necklaces. Easily tangled styles can be stored with the clasp zipped into the top so that they don’t have the opportunity to mingle into an unrecognizable mass.
The Cell Phone Pouch
When was the last time you actually put your cell phone in that pouch? You may as well get some use out of it, so use a needle to punch a few small holes (don’t do this to your Vuitton!) Earring posts can be hooked through the holes, with the chandelier parts safely nestled in the pouch.
Be good to your jewelry and enjoy it for decades to come!
What great ideas! Thanks for posting this—I can’t wait to find me a cute tin to put my jewels in!