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January 29, 2013

How I store, and why I love, bangle bracelets

If you've been following this blog for any length of time (or really, odds are, if you've even seen just one or two of my vintage outfit posts), you've probably picked up on the fact that I adore, and very often wear, bangle bracelets.


Vintage bangle bracelet mosaic

{Photos of four of my ensembles that included multiple bangles being worn at the same time.}



Amongst us vintage loving lasses, I'm scarcely alone in this adoration (bloggers such as Solanah, Fleur, and Laurence, to name just three have often included swoon-worthily beautiful bangle as part of their outfits, too.), and thought it was high time I devoted a post unto itself to this particular passion.

Bangle bracelets have been in use for thousands of years, with the earliest versions being created from materials such as shell, gold, bronze, copper, silver, ivory, jade, wood, and soft (carve-able) stone. They can range from a very simple hollow ring that slips over the wearer's wrist to a intricately detailed work of art made from precious metals and jewels. Most however, when we're talking about mid-twentieth century vintage bangles, are less ornate or expensive, but to those who love them dearly, certainly no less beautiful.

Bangles have seen their popularity wax and wane over the centuries and more recent decades alike, but they're certainly never fallen out of vogue completely (they are, to my mind, one of the principle bracelets styles and I don't think they'll ever go the way of the dinosaur). They were especially popular during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, with the 1940s in particular seeing the a surge in the number of bangle fans.






{An illustrated Doris Dodson Juniors Original fashion ad from 1946 showing a young woman sporting two bangle bracelets. Image source.}



As a child of the 80s (a decade in which bangles were definitely a much loved fashion accessory), I think I've always adored this classic bracelet style, especially once I began seeing vintage photos and movies in which women were sporting anywhere from one to ten or more of these beautiful accessories when I was a little girl.

In my teen years, when I began to wearing vintage clothes, bangles were one of the first pieces of jewelry I reached for, as many of them (especially those from the mid-twentieth century) are completely nickel-free (a must for those like me who have a severe allergy to this commonplace metal).

In fact, I make it no secret that part of the reason I wear bangles so often is for this very reason. There are literally thousands upon thousands of bangle bracelets out there (be they modern or vintage) that are made from materials other than metal. In terms of the those from the 1930s-50s, some of the most commonly used materials were Bakelite, resin, acrylic, celluloid, lucite, other plastics, and wood (with metal bangles being more common during the 20s, 30s and 50s).

Though a few of my bangles date from pre-1960 times, most are more modern (or relatively so), selected because they had a classic, vintage appropriate look. Unlike many of us vintage wearing gals, I do not have  big collection of Bakelite bangles. In fact, it wasn't until just a few days ago (long after the photos for this post had been take) that I received (as an incredibly kind gift from a fellow vintage loving friend) my first Bakelite bracelets (thank you again so much, dear lady, if you're reading this).

The market for all Bakelite pieces - bangles very much included - has skyrocketed in recent years, and though stories still surface of folks finding them for a song, such is rarely the case any more. This means that buying Bakelite is often an investment for many of us, and its cost is the reason why up until this month, I'd never owned any jewelry made out of this classic material.

If Bakelite really floats your boat (and rightfully so if it does!), be sure to brush on some of the most highly recommended tips on how to correctly identify true Bakelite, such as those put forth in excellent posts such as this one by Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage.

I've certainly rubbed my fair share of vintage  pieces over the years at thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets, but again, have yet to come across any true Bakelite, and don't consider myself to be a seasoned veteran well it comes to handling this material - yet! (If you have amassed a collection of vintage Bakelite and would like to know how to polish it and help restore some of the lustre that may have been lost over the years to your pieces, definitely swing by the post Solanah from Vixen Vintage wrote on that very subject last year.)

Most of my bangle bracelets are made from some form of plastic/acrylic or resin, with a smaller percentage being wood, fabric, metal, or some other material. Over the years I've intentionally worked at building up a rainbow of bangles so that I would have one or more on hand to go with the vast majority of garments in my vintage wardrobe. I've also tried to stick to sizes, shapes, and styles that have a very vintage appropriate look to them, so as to easily integrate both old and new bracelets together in the same stack.


Jessica Cangiano turquoise and white 1950s dress, garden vintage photo shoot, image 12


While you certainly don't have to, and I don't always, often times a big part of the fun of wearing bangles is stacking them up in multiples on one or both of your wrists at the same time. You can have a blast matching, or alternatively, clashing the colours of your bangles with your outfit, playing around with fun colour combinations, and getting to really enjoy your collection on an ongoing basis.

Bangles were particularly popular during the 1940s (in part because of the fact that so many metals were rationed for war use and thus not available for the jewelry market, whereas the use of many plastics - some of which were fairly new to the scene - were not restricted and therefore could be used to make bangles and other types of costume jewelry), and were sported by Hollywood stars (just think of Carmen Miranda's wrists jangling under tall stacks of beads and bangles), fashion models, and everyday women alike.

I wear bangles as part of both my 1940s and 50s outfits, though do (naturally enough) find I'm especially drawn to them when sporting forties fashions. It can be painful for me from a medical standpoint to have a lot of weight or pressure on almost any part of my body, so I don't usually stack tons of bangles on each arm, but I do like to put together combinations of about two to six or so at a time, and adore seeing it when others who don't have to keep this point in mind load their arms up almost to the elbows with stunning stacks of bangles.

If you're new to collecting and/or wearing bangles, don't feel you you absolutely have to rush out and spend hundreds of dollars on Bakelite or other high priced options right away (though of course you can, if your budget permits).

I'd suggest combing through local second hand, thrift, and consignment shops, as well as turning to online sources such as etsy and eBay for a potential plethora of vintage bangles at all kinds of price points. Yard sales and flea markets, too, can be terrific places to unearth vintage and modern bangles alike - and often at very good prices (I've paid as little as ten cents a piece for wood and plastic bangles from such sources a few times over the years).

It may be helpful to start with a few fairly neutral hues that will go with a lot of your wardrobe and then expand your colour collection as time goes on. Black, brown (root beer, if we're talking Bakelite), butterscotch, "apple juice" (a relatively transparent shade of dark, warm yellow), grey, navy blue, dark green, red, amber, ivory, cream and white are versatile colours that will likely match or compliment a lot of pieces in your closet.

Often times carved, faceted, uniquely shaped, embellished, or otherwise fancier bangles can cost more (especially if shopping online or at a vintage store), but such pieces are usually immensely lovely and can really be the piece that end up being the star of your whole outfit, so you may feel they're well worth the sticker prices they often command.

Once you've started collecting bangles, you'll likely find yourself wondering how to store them. I sort and store my collection, sorted by colour, in quilted vintage lingerie boxes. An idea I picked up from a charming little consignment store in Calgary that I often visited while living there during my late teens.

(Interestingly - great vintage loving minds think alike, one might say - this is the same approach that Solanah takes for her beguilingly lovely collection, too.)



How to store vintage bangle bracelets_2


How to store vintage bangle bracelets_1


How to store vintage bangle bracelets_3


This method allows me to easily see my collection at a glance, takes relatively little space to store (I keep my lingerie boxes of bangles on one of the two dressers in our bedroom), and makes finding the exact bracelet I need a complete and total snap.

Over the years I've picked up vintage lingerie boxes (I have a couple unused ones waiting in the wings to accommodate my collection as it continues to grow over time) at thrift stores and online (eBay and etsy), and recommend those sources if this storage method appeals to you, too.


Five other possible ideas for storing your vintage bangles include:

-Hanging them on the pegs of a wall mounted hat rack (only do this with bangles that you're certain will not break should they happen to slip off and hit the floor).

-Sliding them onto upright paper towel holders (some styles of single hat vintage hat stands can also work in much the same way).

-Using jewelry store style circular bracelet displays.

-Slipping them into the pockets of a hanging, divided shoe, jewelry or craft supply holder.

-Corralling a few at a time in decorative bowls, boxes, small trays, etc and displaying them around your bedroom, bathroom, vanity top, or other areas of your house.


Bangles are fun, easy to come by (over the years I've even found some at modern mall stores such as Claire's, H&M, and Forever 21 - the later of which is where the cinnabar looking bangle in the photo mosaic earlier in this post came from), and thoroughly fantastic way to inject a great hit of vintage style into your outfits.

They're one of my all-time favourite accessories thanks not only to fact that so many styles are nickel-free, but also because they're often lightweight (on a per bangle basis), available at all manner of price points, super easy to wear, can be dressed up or down to your heart's content, and are a joy to build a rainbow of over the years.


Vintage navy blue outfit with eye glasses brooch, Chronically Vintage, image 7


I'm sometimes asked by those just starting out with wearing mid-century vintage fashions what some of the best accessories for them to begin adding to their wardrobe are, and amongst those I list, bangles are always included.

They work on every body type, add a jolt of style and colour to vintage ensembles, can be partnered with other kinds of bracelets at the same time, and are just plain fun to stack on your wrist and listen to their tell-tale clanking and jingling throughout the day.

65 comments:

  1. I really would love to wear bangles, but my hand is so small that they slip immediately from my wrist :< I haven't found any suitable yet. But your collection is marvellous, so many beautiful colours!

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    1. Hi Sara, thank you for your comment. As I was mentioning in reply to Bunny here, I have small hands and wrists, too, and sometimes find that bangles are too big for me as well. I'd suggest shopping for vintage ones (which are sometimes a touch smaller) and looking for children/teenager sized bangles, as they are generally smaller. Another tip is to end your stack (so the bangle closest to your hand) with one that isn't too big for you and use it as a stopper for others behind it which might otherwise have slipped off due to being too large.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. maybe try some of those lovely lucite clamper bracelets? Sometimes you can find pretty good deals on Rubylane or etsy :)

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  2. I love the look of bangles and I´d love to wear them... but almost all of them are too large on me and just fall off... I have an awesome thrifted brass bangle that I just wish i could wear!

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    1. Hi Nadja, thank you very much for your comment. It's interesting to see how many people are saying similar things to you here. As I mentioned to Sara and Bunny in my replies to them, I have small hands and wrists, too, but have been able to find a number of bangles that fit me well (without slipping off too easily) over the years. On top of the ideas I mentioned to them, I'd suggest trying plastic bangles, as they're sometimes more snug than metal ones.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I have large hands (size 9, guess if I can find gloves that fit) but very slender, I can literally form a ring with the thumb and middle finger on one hand, and easily slip my other hand through that ring... So the only bangles that fit me are kid sizes, and mostly plastic... and plastic is just so not my thing! :( I have found some alternatives though, bracelets that look like bangles but can be thightened around the wrist! :) They are few and far between but I have a couple of nice ones!

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    3. I see, it sounds like you have elegantly lovely hands - redolent of Queen Elizabeth the First. One suggestion would be to see if there are any local East Indian or Middle Eastern clothing shops in your area, as they often sell tons of bangles, including some in children's sizes, which might work well for you. If you can't get them locally, than perhaps buying them online (from a site such as this one http://bangleemporium.com) would be a good idea.

      ♥ Jessica

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    4. Thanks for the tip, and the link! I´ll look into that! :)

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    5. You're very welcome. Always happy to try and help a fellow vintage fan track down anything.

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. I like how you stored your bangles. I always like it to organize things after their colour. Honestly organizing is a favourite activity of me. It calms me down and gives me the "pretended" self-assurance that I have everything in my life under control. Unfortunately there are always rooms and heaps that aren't organized at all. Besides who can tell that he has his life under control. There are so much things you don't have any influence on them. Well, these are my thoughts about organizing. Do you think I'm weird?

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    1. Thank you very much, dear lady. I don't think you're weird in the slightest. In fact, I've always been a big cleaner (house cleaner) and organizer for the very same reason. It stretches back to my early childhood when I knew that doing those two things could give me a small, temporary sense of order in an otherwise (often) very chaotic and dysfunctional world. To this day, the more stressed I m about something, the cleaner my house is, so I totally understand what you mean.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I share your passion for bangles and have enjoyed seeing them on your wrists. Bakelite are, of course, the holy grail but, as you note, they're becoming expensive collectibles and moving out of reach of the ordinary gal.

    I wear bangles often but my selection is severely limited by the fact that my hands are large (huge compared to the average woman) so few fit me. Since there's no elasticity in them, most can't get onto my arm. But let's not dwell on a negative. I like your method of storing/displaying them: it's smart and attractive. Mine lie jumbled in the bottom of a drawer which makes picking them out harder than it should be. Another lesson from the master!

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    1. Hi Ally, thank you very much for your comment. Bakelite is such a holy grail item, I completely agree with your take on that. It's awesome that you enjoy wearing bangles, too. Indeed, sometimes they can be tricky for those with larger (or conversely, smaller) hands and wrists. Have you ever tried vintage (or modern, but they're a style that was a bit more common in decades past) clamper style bracelets?

      These are are a style of bangle that has a hinge that snaps close once the bangle is on, so that you have more room when putting them on. As they pretty always have metal on them, I don't have any in personal collection to show you, but etsy or eBay should offer up tons of appealing examples. Perhaps clampers would be a good bet for your wrist size.

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Very cute post, I have two bangle bracelets, funny hugh?

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    1. Hi Trina, I think that for those who aren't allergic to nickle and can thus wear any type of jewelry they want, it's not strange at all to only have a couple of bangles or even none at all. I love them to pieces though and think that even if I could wear whatever type of jewelry I wanted, I'd still have just as big of a bangle collection.

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Great info- you've inspired me to put on a couple of mine, even though I'm just in a (vintage) plaid shirt and jeans. I display mine the same way, and have been lucky to find quite a few bakelite ones at thrift stores. They ARE out there!

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  7. Thanks for this post and liking to the other informative posts! I love bangles as well and wear them constantly. I have two Bakelite pieces (a golden yellow and a swirled green w/ yellow) which I ADORE and wear with way too many of my outfits. I usually turn up my nose when I test thrift store bangles and find that they are not Bakelite, but you're totally right, if it looks Bakelite-ish I should just go ahead and buy it. After all, it achieves the same look!

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  8. Lovely post Jessica. I have started collecting bangle and have had some hits and misses. I have a wide palm so it's really hard to find bangles online that fit me. I'd love to add more Bakelite to my collection but can't see myself paying $40 for something that may not fit me. I'd rather buy Bakelite earrings and accessories.

    I used my long necked kitty statues to hold my bangles. I often feel like I don't have enough space to store my items. If it were up to me I would have my own dressing room and make it vintage decor. One can dream.

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    1. Hi dear Mariela, thank you very much for your comment. I've had some hits and misses over the years, too, as I have fairly small hands and wrists. Older bangles, I tend to find, are cut smaller than ones from the 80s onwards, so they're usually a safer bet for me.

      One thing that I was suggesting to another person (Shybiker) here in the comments, is for those with wider hands and/or wrists, clamper style bangles might be a good option (as they are wider before being done up and thus easier to get on and off larger sized hands and wrists).

      I share your dream of having a dedicated vintage filled dressing room soooo much! A dressing room/walk in closet room would be amongst the first things in put in my fantasy dream house.

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I actually thought using a vintage hat stand would be a perfect place to store bangles. However I only own one. Thrifted and non-vintage for sure. But it's a cream thick bangle that goes with so many different outfits.

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    1. That's a great idea, Sean! I've seen it done before and it looks soooo cute! I don't have any hat stands myself, or else I'd probably designate one for this fun purpose as well.

      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Whe I was in my teens till my early twenties I used to wear lots of bangles. I quited wearing them during university where I had to do a lot of fieldwork, it was impractical and they would get dirty or damaged. When I got my degree I started wearing them occasially, but not as much as I used to. Another reason is that I don't as many anymore because of the fire we had.

    To conclude, I love bangles, they really can take a outfit to a next level!

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  11. I use stocking holders for all sorts of things, including jewelry and scarves! They are so wonderful!

    And one day you'll come across a piece of Bakelite one day!!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. Hi sweet Janey, thank you very much for your comment. Vintage stocking holders are the best! I've sourced most of mine online over the years, and always keep my eyes peeled whether I'm browsing the web or at second hand/thrift shops for more to keep in the wings for when I fill up the ones that I already have. I bet your collection of such holders and everything in them is absolutely marvelous!

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. I can totally see why you love bangles. The 80's def had a lot of influence on me too hehe I love your collection especially the colors! I don't think bangles are going to be a main part of my accessories collection only bc my wrists and hands are so small that it actually feel uncomfortable wearing them, kwim? xox

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    1. Hi sweet Bunny, thank you for your comment. I have very small wrists and hands, too (people often tell me my hands look child-size, but I think they're just in keeping with my overall petite stature), and have sometimes passed up certain bangles because they slid right off when I put them! Most don't though, thankfully! If you can wear other types of jewelry (aka, don't have a nickle allergy like me) then, I wouldn't fret if bangles are uncomfortable for you.

      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Very lovely assortment of bangles! I love them and only have a couple right now, but Im ever on the lookout for more to add to my collection. None of mine are bakelite either and Im sure thats a luxury that will have to wait for me.

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  14. I absolutely love bangles too & like you am severley nickel allergic which makes them just perfect:) however I am only 5'3" & averagely sized but my hands are broad. This weekend I bought from our local antique centre a prettily coloured pale green bangle, got it home, put it on then had a real battle to get it off! So always try before you buy if you are so cursed as me, or get a measurement as it can be disappointing to buy something you love that doesn't fit! It's such a shame. Jessica if you have got narrow hands let me know and I will send it to you! X

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    1. Hi Phil, thank you very much for your comment. I'm sorry to hear that you also suffer from a severe nickel allergy. Isn't amazing, isn't it, how many places this pesky metal pops up (from bra straps to shoe buckles, the buttons on jeans to costume jewelry).

      I'm petite (5'2") myself as well and have fairly small hands and wrists. Some bangles I've tried on over the years have been too big, but more often than not, most have fit fairly well.

      I'm immensely touched by your offer of the green bangle that didn't fit you quite right. I'd love to have it, thank you very much. Please email me (chronicallyvintage [at] gmail [.] com) anytime to chat more about this.


      ♥ Jessica

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  15. What a fabulous collection you have emassed! I particularly love the clear one with the flowers in it. I tend to collect mostly modern reproductions-like you- because they are easy to come by and I can buy four or five for the price of an original.I love the way you have stored them in the stocking boxes, they look so chic and organised...great tips. xx Shauna

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Shauna. I love that we share the same thrifty spirit when it comes to bangle shopping. That floral one is amongst my favourites, too, and as is one of my most recent bangle acquisitions (bought online).

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. What a great way to store bangles. Mine are overflowing in one of my dressing table drawers. I would love to show off my bakelite in one of these quilted boxes, but it seems as if Australia didn't have these around in the 50's.

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    1. Hi dear gal, thank you very much for your comment. I think that these existed back in the day here in Canada, but I've not found many while thrifting or yard saling. I've bought most of mine (not that I have a huge collection) online, particularly from etsy. Shipping can be a bit steep due to their size, but they're so lovely and practical that I don't mind looking at them as a bit of an investment piece.

      ♥ Jessica

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  17. Cute idea for displaying!I use to run across those boxes quite often but of course now that I'm on the hunt for them for myself I can't seem to find them.

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    1. Thank you, honey! True, there used to be more of these kinds of quilted storage boxes up this way 10-15 years ago, too, but now years can pass between when I find a new one in person. As such, I've acquired most of mine online (chiefly from etsy), but even there one isn't encountering as many as a few years ago. I hope you're able to track some more down - let me know if you'd ever like me to send (email) any listings I spot your way.

      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Great post. I adore bangles...but I just can't wear them. They drive me completely batty! I love them on everyone else though and wish I could tolerate them as they are just so pretty.

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  19. What a timely post, as I have been searching for bangles and bakelite brooches for the last couple of months. You always have the best accessories and your style is so inspiring. Thanks for the tips!

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Hannah. I love knowing when something I post about is topical to one of my reader's own lives. I wish you tons and tons of luck in your search for Bakelite brooches and bangles!

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Tuppence got me hooked on bangles, so I have a modest collection going. I store them on a charming thread rack my father made for me. It's a wooden plaque shaped like a house, with big nails nailed in at an angle for the thread spools. I used to use it for its intended purpose, until I read how damaging dust and sun are to thread. So now my bangles live on it.

    My skin only tolerates 14k gold jewelry (although my husband has his suspicions about that), so no fun earrings (even hypoallergenic ones bother me a little), but I can wear plastic bracelets with abandon! Very hard to type on my laptop with them though, so sometimes you'll find them on my desk. Ha!

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    1. Hi sweet Jeanne, I adore your bangle storage idea! Oooohh, you've got me longing for a classic wooden spool rack now so that I can follow your lead. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for next yard sale season.

      It's not terribly uncommon for someone to not be able to tolerate almost any (or even any, point blank) metals. Most golds below 14K contain a small percentage of nickel, but nickel is certainly not the only metal that can bother a person's skin (any metal in theory can do just that). Have you ever tried rhodium before? If nickel is the culprit (or one of the culprits), it may be a good choice, as it's nickel-free (as are most brasses, bronzes, sterling silvers, niobiums, and coppers).

      Thank you very much for your comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. What a great storage idea! I love the look of bangles but tend to find anything around my wrists gets annoying after about 5 minutes (including my watch which I carry in my pocket half the time), but I may have to give them another try :) I love how you have a whole rainbow of bangles!

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    1. Thank you very much, honey. Have you tried wearing your bracelets atop your gloves and/or sleeves? Sometimes this can help lessen that "I'm consciously aware there's something on my wrist" feeling.

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. What a collection of bracelets you have. :) Love the colours of them. I have the same feeling as Kate, I like the look of braclets but I can get really frustrated having them on. I have the same feeling with necklaces. Don't really know why. :)

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  23. I love bangles. I love the feel of them and the sound of them as the clank around on my wrist. Sometimes I wear strings of pearls around my wrists. Nice to know I'm in such stylish company :)

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  24. oh, my! I simply adore your bracelet collection; unfortunatly, here in Brazil is almost impossible to find bangles like those ones :/

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    1. Thank you very much, honey. I've bought a number of my bangles online before (especially from etsy and eBay) as they can be hard to find here sometimes, too (especially if you want ones that aren't overtly 1980s looking). I highly recommend both these sites for bangle shopping.

      ♥ Jessica

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  25. I love bangles, and store mine piled high in a big glass bowl! This makes for easy access, however I often forget about the ones that are hidden underneath. I have contemplated the kitchen roll holder idea, but I think I would get fed up of constantly having to remove bangles to get to the ones at the bottom...I like the idea of storing them in quilted boxes - neat, tidy and easy access!

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  26. Bracelets are my favorite jewelry to wear. I have a bunch of bangles (my love of them comes from the eighties). They are a great alternative to those rubber jelly bracelets that I fancy myself too grown up to wear these days. :)
    I also like to wrap extra long beaded necklaces around my wrists and wear them as bracelets.
    Great storage ideas! All my bangles are tossed in a box with my gloves right now. They don't fit it the hanging sorter I use for my other jewelry.
    Cheers,
    L A
    http://ravishing-ruby.blogspot.com/

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  27. Yeah, I'm still on the lookout for bangles. I'm glad I'm not the only vintage lover that doesn't own a bunch of bakelite! I was beginning to think everyone had a Solanah-like collection of it!
    So I have very tiny wrists and hands (apparently), and I find that a lot of bangles are just too big and slip off my hand. Do you know of any solutions for that? Just look for tinier bracelets, I suppose?

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    1. Hi sweet gal, thank you for your comment. I have fairly tiny hand and wrists myself, too. One thing that can help sometimes is to find one (or more) bangles that do fit and wear it (or them) closest to your hand. Place (slightly) larger bangles behind it, using the larger one as a stopper of sorts, so that the bigger ones don't slid off.

      Wearing your bangles over top of your sleeves and/or gloves can also help anchor them in place better.

      ♥ Jessica

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  28. What a pretty rainbow of bracelets! I'm so terrible about buying accessories of any kind. I always want to, but never really know where to start, get overwhelmed, and then give up without buying anything. I think because accessories don't tend to be linked with a specific outfit like buying a top or a skirt or something. I need to give it another shot though. I feel like my outfits always fall a little flat because I don't usually have any accessories for that final pop of interest.

    The Fabulous Mrs. Wing

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal. I can totally see where you're coming from. I'd suggest starting with accessories in basic hues and styles that will go with almost anything. Say like pearls, black and white bangles, and simple crystal and/or rhinestone pieces - they'll become the LBDs of your accessory world in no time at all.


      ♥ Jessica

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  29. Now it's My turn to say "nice collection"..wow so pretty :) I have like 3 bracelets lol. I have recently realized that Bakelite as much as I adore it, will only be a once a year purchase due to cost, but I have seen the beauty in non bakelite as well and looking forward to filling up my jewelery box. I also love your suggestions on how to store, will be making a note of this as well. Thanks for another awesome blog post.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear lady. Great minds! I was thinking this week that, baring if I chanced upon any affordable Bakelite while thrifting or yard saling (hasn't happened yet, but one never knows), I would probably treat myself to the purchase of a genuine Bakelite piece once or twice a year from here on out. It's cool that we both thinking of taking this approach.


      ♥ Jessica

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  30. What a wonderful post Jessica! I absolutely adore the rose carved bangle in the deep salmon pink in your mosaic photo and the warm hues you combined with it are stunning! I have a modest collection of bangles that I keep in the center drawer of my beaten-up but well-loved Forties dressing table. I do need to find a better storage option though, as they are quickly filling up the space. Thank you so much for the suggestion! As always, your post was informative, well-written and beautifully illustrated with photographs.

    xo Elle

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    1. What a wonderfully nice comment, thank you very much, dear Elle. I love that you store your bangles in a 1940s dresser. I've always thought it would be so fun to have a whole dresser or classic wardrobe to dedicate just to storing accessories.

      ♥ Jessica

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  31. wow this is quite an impressive collection of beautiful bangles, you have them in all colors the rainbow offers! really amazing and a perfect way to store them!
    kiss,mary
    http://www.maryloucinnamon.com/

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  32. Oh, I love bangle bracelets! So far, I only have a stack of cheap, thin silver ones, and I need to collect some wooden and colorful ones, too. I'll be scouting out some yard sales soon.
    Great idea for storage, too!

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  33. After many years of longing my husband gave me my first bakelite clasp bracelet last year and I adore it. It's dark green and carved beautifully. It's a work of art really and I keep in on my bedside table as I love just to look at it. I'd love to get some more but as you say the price can be prohibitive. Till then I'll just wear this one at every opportunity. I must say your impressive organisational are giving me the nudge I need to sort out my other bracelets.
    Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
    Michelle :)

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    1. Massive brownie points for your sweet husband! I love roses and sweets as much as the next lass, but I for one would take Bakelite over either of them any day of the week! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  34. I love the look of armfuls of bangles and have tried it but can't get used to it on myself, I think it's the constant clacking of them hitting each other! Also I have quite big hands and very skinny wrists, so I'm not sure they suit me. I have a few vintage bracelets I bought in second hand shops years ago, or that were given to me, and I love to wear them when I remember to put one or two on. I also have a lot of elasticated bead or pearl bracelets which sit tight to my wrist and as they're broad they cover up the boniness, so I think they're more flattering for me. It's interesting to read all the comments here Jessica, and see how we all have different problems and preferences even when it comes to something like bracelets and bangles. xx

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  35. Is that what those boxes are... Lingerie boxes? I have a couple that were my Nana's and never knew. I knew it was for something vintage vanity.

    tess

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    1. Hi Tess, thank you very much for your comment. Yes, they were originally designed to house things like stockings and smaller lingerie items (as well as hankies). They work great for that purpose of course, but bangle storage is my very favourite use for them. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  36. This post is worthy of appreciation, looking forward to more exciting! swarovski kristallwelten

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