etsy vs. urban outfitters: the smackdown

Ah, Urban Outfitters. Treasure trove of hipster wares. Mecca of ironic graphic tees and neon plastic wayfarers. Purveyor of accessories that make you say, “Ooh, I love that!” and then, “Wait a second, that necklace is $40?” and finally, “Couldn’t I just… make that?”

oh, i’m blushing! soft, dusty, peachy pinks for spring

You can ask anyone in my family–I’m not really big on the color pink. I always associate it with baby showers, cheesy Hallmark cards, and those awful Juicy Couture velour sweatpants. But I love the way couturiers like Chanel use muted shades of pink and peach to create looks that are feminine, but not “girly.” I discovered my ideal shade of pink when my sister was planning her wedding–she isn’t that much of a pink girl either, but loved the worn ballet slipper shade of the Sahara rose. And on this particularly drab February morning (it’s 38 degrees and raining here in Atlanta), these blush hues make me seriously yearn for spring.

etsy vs. banana republic: the smackdown

is this petite rose ring from banana republic or etsy? read on..

Before there was Etsy, I often drooled over the jewelry and accessories at Banana Republic. They always seemed so spot-on with trends (without seeming like they were jumping bandwagons left and right). But their prices are a little steep. I was marveling over their spring accessories (as soon as MLK day is over, I’m usually drooling over colorful scarves and bright jewels) when it hit me: Etsy sellers are so much more inventive than this. Oh, and their pieces aren’t marked up 60%. But mostly, they’re more inventive.

craving color: turquoise jewelry

Right now, it’s sleeting in Atlanta. I’m thirsting for color, but the whole city is grey. Luckily for us, spring is just around the corner (or so I’d like to think… then again, it did snow in March last year).

Turquoise is something that can be worn so many different ways… but above all, it’s gorgeous on just about every complexion (and especially my whiter-than-whiteness). I love a pretty turquoise-and-gold earring, but some of these Etsy sellers really flex the color’s versatility. Enjoy a few of my favorites.