Vintage Rhinestones Are a Girl's Best Friend!

Party time is here and those gorgeous gowns need a little "ice" to set them off. The most creative rhinestone designs can be discovered in vintage collections. The rhinestone can be as glittery as a diamond and since all of us can afford it, has become the easiest way to accessorize our sexiest formal wear. Rhinestones are molded glass crystals which are cut and highly polished and sometimes backed with a gold or silver foil to increase brilliance.. Rhinestones can be clear like a diamond or colored to simulate all of the precious and semiprecious gems. Rhinestones were first produced for French royalty in the 1700s when carriage travel was dangerous and road robberies were common. Known as "paste", rhinestone jewelry became the choice for royal public appearances and travel wear for the rich. The early 1900s brought a refined process for machine glass cutting and by 1920, Coco Chanel introduced the idea of costume jewelry to the world. By the 1930s, Europe had suffered so many famines and wars that many talented jewelers fled to America where there was plenty of design work available in the costume jewelry companies. By the 1950s, costume jewelry became a huge fashion trend which is still going strong.
V neck, square neck, and sweetheart strapless gowns look great with choker,bib and pendant style rhinestone necklaces. The brilliance of rhinestones actually lighten up the face and make the eyes shine. Drop earrings or button rhinestone earrings that lie close to the face are effective if the hair is off the face. This year, simple gowns of all colors are set off by large rhinestone brooches at the waist and the shoulder. Fashionistas will be putting rhinestone brooches in their hair, on their clutches and even on wrist ribbons instead of corsages! Shop online for vintage rhinestone jewelry at www.vintagecouturejewelry.com .
"Square cut or pear shape,
these rocks don't loose their shape ...
vintage rhinestones are a girl's best friend!"
PatraB