Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Book Club: Shopping Under the Influence

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I was determined to get back into my royal lady book posts today, but I seem to have misplaced the Empress Wu novel that I was working on. Plus, I’m feeling a bit flu-ish, which has sapped me of the energy necessary to tear through the house on a mad search for Empress Wu, especially when I have a very bad feeling that I put that book in a “safe place.”

Instead of Wu, I’m giving you the list of the books I ordered from Amazon a week ago while I was mildly intoxicated. I was surprised but generally pleased when they showed up. I admit to having no recollection as to why I was so interested in Clara Bow that night.

Style icon and book subject Clara Bow

Separately, if you are searching for Mary Boleyn or Anne Boleyn, as so many of you are because of The Other Boleyn Girl, I have three Anne Boleyn posts:

If you’re looking for an inexpensive Anne Boleyn initial necklace, you can now order my $300 sterling silver version by contacting me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com. Here is a photo of the luxurious 18k gold and diamond interpretation of an Anne Boleyn necklace:

Boleyn necklace in 18K yellow and rose gold and diamonds
© Wendy Brandes 2007-2008
(Photo by John Muggenborg)

With the silver version, you don’t get any diamonds, of course. Still, truth be told, my letter (the necklace is available in any letter, and all letters get a crown) is much more graceful than the original, which was quite clunky.

Anne Boleyn had to settle for clunky in the 1500s.
You don’t!

Here’s a photo of me wearing my Anne Boleyn necklace so you can get an idea of the size. Of the necklace, I mean, not of me!

From 2006

If you want to ask me about the necklace, you can contact me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.

UPDATED TO ADD: The sterling silver version of the necklace, without any stones, is $300.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Bunny, lately I’ve really been focusing on biographies/historical novels. I like feeling that I’m reading something useful.

  4. Hey WendyB! I’m glad that you stopped by Black Tennis Pro’s today, giving me the opportunity to visit your site. Fab!! Girl you look great in the pic, hot dress, hot necklace!

    Great site! Have a wonderful day 🙂

  6. argh posted without finishing… what a doofus I am!

    I mean… apart from the Clara Bow book and I can highly recommend them all..

    By the way, I love that the neckline of your top!

  7. Lovely necklace and lovely dress, mamacita! I have an initial K necklace I never wear mainly because it looks like a prop from “Boogie Nights”. ’70s fonts are really not cool…

  8. Lovely necklace and lovely dress, mamacita! I have an initial K necklace I never wear mainly because it looks like a prop from “Boogie Nights”. ’70s fonts are really not cool…

  9. Lovely necklace and lovely dress, mamacita! I have an initial K necklace I never wear mainly because it looks like a prop from “Boogie Nights”. ’70s fonts are really not cool…

  10. Thank you, Susie! I am so behind in my reading. Ugh. That dress is a Leger but rather unusual, with a velvet corset-like top and a flowy bottom, rather than tight all the way down. I wore it to the premiere of Marie Antoinette. I figured my beheaded-queen necklace was close enough.
    Guv’ner, I trust you’ll let me know when you’re ready to splurge on a new necklace!

  11. I asked my stylist to make me look like Clara Bow for the latest haircut. Such a beautiful, tragic figure she was.

  12. holy crap, you reminded me i joined a bloody book club.

    how do you get to read all this stuff? i have a feeling your IQ is WAY higher than mine… either that or i’m not on the proper medication.
    😉

  13. I used to read books, but these days, my attention span is so short, I can barely finish a 3-panel Bazooka Joe comic.

  14. Jennine, proper medication is the key to getting anything done in life. I must need mine adjusted because I haven’t read anything in weeks. I’ve felt either too sick, too tired or too sick and tired.
    PAD, that’s nothing, I’m having trouble with a one-panel Far Side.
    123Val, let’s see!

  16. I am reading “Come Back” by Claire Fontaine for this month’s book club. It is AMAZING.

  17. Your necklace is very beautiful!!!I love the jewellery from that period, it’s great that you’re inspired by it. I also love Philippa Gregory, I’ve read about four of her books, I’m so excited they’re making a movie. I hope they don’t reduce an interesting historical period to a swathe of fabric like they did of Marie Antoinette, as one South African film critic said. I adore midieval fiction, anything from 1100’s to 1600’s but it has to be well researched not the boddice ripper crap that you get. I like Sharon Penman and I’ve just discovered Elizabeth Chadwick.

  18. damn, and i was looking for something inexpensive. now i can never settle. i have loved that necklace since i saw your catalog! it is stunning!!!

  21. I want to read those books so bad. Preferably while wearing the necklace, but until I make my millions I’ll just express my nerd-dom through the books 🙂

  22. Please post about the Clara Bow–she fascinates me, but I need pre-approval before reading any biographies.

  24. Ugly Betty Viewers: You are correct. Betty wears an inexpensive and very literal replica of the Anne Boleyn pendant. I was working on my piece before the show started and people kept asking me why I wanted to do my own variation, rather than the exact same piece as in the painting. Once Ugly Betty came out, they understood! Anyone can do an exact copy, so it’s important to make any idea, no matter how old, your own!

    Bitterbabe, I have it but haven’t read it yet.

    IYF: Yes ma’am!

  26. I read Clara Bow’s biography and discovered how awesome she was. I like to think we look similar and she seemed really free for the time she lived.
    She had way more “gentlemen friends” than I ever did though.