VintageYard.com, today, announced the creation of their first ever advisory board – a focus group of VintageYard.com customers, designed to improve the company’s branding and services.

“As a company that makes constant efforts to improve its products and services, VintageYard.com understands that our best partners for improvement are our current and potential customers,” said CEO Ben Feldman.

VintageYard.com  invites its customers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers to participate in this focus group.  Qualified participants will receive a $100 credit towards a future purchase on VintageYard.com and 15% off all future sales.

Those interested should contact VintageYard.com’s publicist at Heather@headoverheelspr.com for further details

Many have grown to know VintageYard as one of the best online pockets for really cool vintage jewelry and vintage jewelry replicas as well—but unless you’re a vintage jewelry expert, you may not know that one of our most popular categories of vintage jewelry was actually birthed by the fashion of Los Angeles, particularly Hollywood.

Retro jewelry, as we’ve come to call it, generally encompasses a period between 1945 and 1960 where Hollywood screen actors and media moguls made a distinct variety of jewelry famous.  Categorized by use of colors, bold sizes, elaborate details and a slew of cocktail rings, charms, bracelets and watches, retro jewelry that was popular in the heyday of Hollywood glam is now as popular as ever in today’s fashion.

Vintage fashion has become a pretty hip trend, especially in the realm of vintage jewelry from the retro period.  Many of today’s red carpet stars are still sporting the fashions of the Tinsel Town of yesteryear by wearing vintage jewelry from that era or quality vintage replicas.

In an effort to have some fun spotting VintageYard pieces worn by today’s Hollywood stars, we’ll be posting a blog series about celebs in vintage jewelry—if we catch them on the streets of West LA, Hollywood or the Valley, be sure they’ll make it to our vintage jewelry blog!

Check out our first of hopefully a long series of posts where we caught Melissa Bacelar of Toxic Avenger IV and The American Dog Magazine fame…Melissa was having an awesome lunch at the famous Art’s Deli on Ventura Blvd when we spotted her sporting some of our retro fashion in a gold vintage ring!  Check it out and be sure to check back with our vintage jewelry blog soon for more buzz about vintage jewelry on the red carpet!

VintageYard.com is famous for vintage jewelry and vintage jewelry reproductions, so who are some famous people  wearing their pieces? At Art’s Deli on Ventura Blvd, Melissa Bacelar was seen dining with friend Belinda Bentley, both wearing VintageYard Jewelry.

Melissa is a T.V. and movie actress, a former scream queen in horror movies, and starred in a sequel to the cult classic Toxic Avenger, Toxic Avenger IV. She has recently begun publishing an advice column in The American Dog magazine, and is a famous pet communicator.

She currently has a website, offering photos of herself, and does interviews for horror fan magazines as well. Melissa Bacelar was sporting a gold vintage ring that holds a Chrysoprase gemstone. Her dining companion, Belinda, is a noted celebrity psychic advisor who has had several appearances on television.

There are many others wearing VintageYard Jewelry, as the vintage jewelry look gains popularity in modern fashion. Many reproductions are made from pieces that may not survive being worn, and are offered for a fraction of the cost of the original piece. Through VintageYard Jewelry, anyone can get look of vintage jewelry, no matter what era or price point you’re looking for.

Movie studio prop rooms have large collections of vintage jewelry and reproduction vintage jewelry, used in all sorts of movies and videos. The stars sometimes wear a signature piece for premiers and on promotional tours. Some of the vintage jewelry pieces are exact replicas of what was worn by a specific person being portrayed, such as Marie Antoinette or other noted historical figures.

Some of these movie prop vintage jewelry items find their way onto the market, through estate sales from people who have collected souvenirs while filming. These items can change hands several times, and end up in seemingly unlikely places. So you never really know the history of some items on the market, but that’s all part of the fun as well!

What could be cooler than an amazingly valuable piece of eye-catching vintage jewelry?  An amazingly valuable piece of eye-catching vintage jewelry that you got for free!

What could be cooler than an amazingly valuable piece of eye-catching vintage jewelry that you got for free? An amazingly valuable piece of eye-catching vintage jewelry that you got for free from a band of stuffed monkeys in petticoats playing full brass David Bowie covers!

While we can’t deliver the band of monkeys, we can definitely take care of the vintage jewelry part.  All you’ve got to do to win a gorgeous vintage ring of your very own is become a Facebook fan of VintageYard.com.

Once you do, simply post the link to your favorite VintageYard.com ring on your own Facebook page and finally, make a comment or post a link on the VintageYard fan page so we know that you did it!

After that, you’re automatically entered to win that very ring you post a link to! It really is that simple!

Post it, win it! It’s NOT just a clever name!

Winners will be selected on 10/29/10.  Contest is for rings up to a $150 dollar value. Winners who choose a ring valued over $150 in their link will win $150 credit towards the purchase of their favorite ring.

Vintage replicas are becoming much easier to find, and for style or vintage fashion statements, they’re okay to wear in place of an actual vintage item—especially if you’re concerned about the safety hazards of flaunting your real vintage fashion.

In many cases, the true vintage piece that is being copied would be prohibitively expensive. Most replicas are slightly more affordable, allowing several pieces to be used at once without breaking the bank, or even as compliments to your real vintage fashion pieces.

Whenever a look becomes popular, there will always be the companies that want to hurry and make as many as possible to cash in before the fad ends, making for better selection and prices for the average person.

And of course, vintage fashion like any other realm of fashion is subjective—the true value of the jewelry is determined by the owner, especially if it is something that will complete an outfit, or reflect your personality.

The practice of copying jewelry and using semi-precious stones in place of the real gems is not new, and to many, the look and feel of the jewelry to the wearer is the most important thing. Vintage fashion and vintage replicas display a wide variety of moods, from elegant and austere to fun and silly. No matter what style you choose, either true vintage fashion or replicas, you should ultimately be choosing to suit your taste and needs.

Vintage Fashion can mean many things, jewelry, clothing and accessories. Those things that everyone said would never go out of style, go in and out of style all the time. For each person, vintage can mean something different. Some will wear it to recycle it, giving the piece a whole new, updated, look. Still others wear it for the timeless elegance that can be created. Some just because it is fun and unique. Not all vintage fashion survives to this date, so a unique or unusual piece can be the cornerstone for many different outfits and looks. A seventies style top can be paired with fifties and sixties style jewelry, and eighties shoes, bags and belts. Combining the decades can be a very creative outlet when defining your own style.

Vintage fashions and accessories can be found at specialty boutiques, second hand shops, thrift stores, flea markets and local rummage sales. Always check the condition of the piece before purchasing, fasteners, seams, and buckles should be inspected for functionality and wear. Half the fun of having vintage fashion can be the hunt for the right piece, and the accessories to go with it.  A little black dress can be accessorized to create several looks from casual to business wear, so finding the right pieces is important for the entire look to come together.

When pairing up for outfits and a total look, big, bold jewelry with bright colors can look great with simple lines and colors of the clothing. Necklaces and bracelets can be combined and layered for a funky or dramatic effect. It’s all a matter of what look you are trying to achieve. Jewelry styles and colors range from simple gold bangles to huge, glitzy rhinestone rings and pendants.

http://www.vintageyard.com/rings/rococo-gold-vintage-ring-with-zircon-gemstone.html

Each piece has it’s own story and purpose in your collection, and using them to the best advantage is what wearing vintage fashions is all about.

The reasons may vary, but the general idea comes through. The styles, colors and history involved in a vintage piece have their own allure. Each one has its own history and takes on a personality all its own. When added to the right outfit, these vintage pieces can make the outfit stand out from the crowd.

Vintage jewelry can truly be one of a kind, and the hunt for these rare selections is half the fun of wearing them. From family treasure to flea market finds, these accessories are turning up everywhere, and all have a unique look not found in the jewelry departments of major shops. They range from the treasured cameo or brooch from a great-grandmother, to the funky styles mom just couldn’t part with from the seventies and eighties. All have their own appeal, and can go with so many of today’s fashions to truly make them your own. We wear vintage jewelry to show our mood -from funky to flirty -to be an individual, and to make our own fashion statement.

Many celebrities have taken to wearing vintage jewelry with designer outfits, giving these outfits an extra sparkle when the vintage pieces are chosen correctly. The key is to match the piece with the overall look for which you are aiming. Several pieces can be layered together for a truly dramatic effect, or a stunning, oversized piece can add pizzazz to a simple black dress.

Some vintage jewelry is worn because of the history attached to the item. Some famous person wore it, or someone you admired had it at one time. Other times it’s just fun to wear something you don’t see in stores, and others will ask you where you managed to find such an interesting piece.

The History and Background of Vintage Jewelry

History

Vintage jewelry styles traditionally were worn to reflect the eras and the different societies of the past. Often the vintage pieces that were worn depicted events that were prevalent during that specific time. Buying vintage jewelry is so much more interesting than contemporary fashion jewelry and often can be more sought out after as collectibles. The advantages of owning vintage jewelry are that typically it is better in workmanship and a higher quality of stones is used. Behind every vintage piece there is a story. Owning a piece of vintage jewelry is like being a part of the past and owning a piece of nostalgia.

Timeline

Vintage jewelry is a pretty broad category but it best describes jewelry created from 1920’s through the late 1980’s. Vintage jewelry has many ages and each period has its own name to identify the jewelry created during those years.

Georgian jewelry (1714-1837)

Georgian era jewelry is handmade, making the quality of each piece variable. Needless to say, Georgian jewelry is very rare. Often featuring nature-inspired designs such as leaves and birds, Georgian jewelry frequently includes precious stones.

Early Victorian, romantic jewelry (1837-1855)

Like jewelry of the Georgian era, early Victorian era jewelry features nature-inspired designs. Frequently, these designs would be delicately and intricately etched into gold. Lockets and brooches were popular everyday jewelry during the early Victorian era whereas colored gemstones and diamonds were worn during the evening.

Mid-Victorian, grand jewelry (1856-1880)

Because the Grand or Mid-Victorian era corresponded with the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, many jewelry pieces have solemn, grave designs. Known as mourning jewelry, the pieces feature heavy, dark stones. Jet, onyx, amethyst, and garnet are frequently found in jewelry from this period. The jewelry also became especially creative during this period. More colorful designs were born featuring shells, mosaics and colorful gemstones.

Late Victorian, aesthetic jewelry (1885-1900)

During the Late Victorian or Aesthetic period, jewelers used diamonds and feminine, bright gemstones such as sapphire, peridot and spinel. Star and crescent designs as well as elaborate hat pins were also popular. Some scholars believe the aesthetic era began sooner, in 1875, and ended as early as 1890.

Arts and crafts jewelry (1894-1923)

Due to the Industrial Revolution, many jewelry designers rebelled during the Arts and Crafts movement, returning to intricate jewelry designs and handmade craftsmanship. It was common for jewelry of this era to be simple in pattern, made of colorful, uncut stones. Designs during this period were simple and fun. Designers concentrated more on the workmanship of the jewelry piece.

Art Nouveau jewelry (1895-1915)

Designed by Rene Jules Lalique in France and other jewelers in America, Art Nouveau jewelry features natural designs such as flowers and butterflies. Vintage pieces from this time were made with graceful flower designs, dragon flies and many other insects were popular. This era you would find a big demand on vintage pendants. The designs for this period were created by a combination of French and American designers.

Edwardian jewelry (1901-1915)

The Edwardian period was born when Queen Victoria died and her son Edward became king. During this period, the jewelry contained an extravagant abundance of pearls and diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other gemstones that would accent the piece of jewelry, such as a vintage ring or vintage necklace.

Art Deco jewelry (1915-1935)

Influenced by African, Egyptian and Japanese themes, Art Deco jewelry is famous for its geometric designs, sharp lines, and bright colors. Bakelite, celluloid, enamel and doublets were used more frequently than previous eras. Necklaces were long and bracelets were worn many at a time. Amber and murano beads were worn as well as chokers. Highly polished metals were used for accessories, such as the collectible Whiting & Davis handbags. Designers refer to the “Deco” era as the time between the two world wars. During this period cultural themed jewelry started to become very popular.

Retro jewelry (1945-1980)

Vintage jewelry in this time period was inspired Inspired by Hollywood, Retro jewelry is colorful, bold and elaborates. Commonly worn were large cocktail rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and charm bracelets. A variety of gemstones were used for new creations and charm bracelets were the favored item of the era.

Fashion

Fashion in the history of social development has always played a big role. People have always used fashion to speak up against political views or to make a statement against current laws and news worthy events that were emotional for people at the time, and vintage jewelry was no exception. Before the ages of 1920 the jewelry used was intended to show economic status and family wealth. After World War I and II vintage jewelry started to take on a different meaning and often represented a common view of rebellion, hope and unity among the everyday working class citizen, no matter how old or young, rich or poor, nationality or race.