Outfit for a Wednesday: African Accessory

Straying from my typical consignment and vintage shopping haunts, I discovered this necklace in the corner of a small boutique in Stellenbosch, South Africa; an array of earthen-toned stones and natural materials, this piece adds a refreshing variety to my costume collection of garishly posturing gold and opaque bakelite. Though a spectrum of soft browns, this necklace is wonderfully textured and the weight of it alone seems to exude a powerful opulence. Some of the stones are polished smooth, pristine, while others are raw, as though freshly plucked from some cavern. It is unlike anything else I own, unique, and so, very superficially, embodies the experience I had in South Africa. When I was younger, I was foolishly actively repulsed by pairing what I deemed to be two neutrals; black and navy, or black and brown, or brown and navy, was some type of carnal sartorial sin. Now, particularly with warmer, lighter navy blues, partnered with either black or chocolate brown, I indulge in the joys of crazed chromatics. Yesterday, I chose a new casually silken DKNY navy sweater as the background for this sentimental statement piece.

While in Stellenbosch, lazily strolling on a late Saturday afternoon before heading to a fantastically decadent dinner at Rust en Vrede winery, we were a bit disappointed and surprised to learn that most of the quaint and darling shops were closed. Persevering, I still managed to find a number of trinkets and was able to sufficiently stimulate the local economy. 

For a completely international and exotic appeal, I also wore this thick cream bakelite bangle, a treasure miraculously cheaply salvaged at the old Marché aux Puce St. Ouen north of Paris. This is the easiest and most versatile bracelet I own, though, that may be a statement that depends on my mood; my bracelet portfolio runs quite deep.