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I'm Obsessed With... Bracelets And Bangles

BOSTON (CBS) - It took some time for me to figure out that I was a bangle girl. I didn't think I was obsessed with them. The fact that I would buy them almost compulsively should have given me a heads up. When I travel instead of purchasing t-shirts, I come home with a bangle or bracelet.

Though each one is dear to me and has a special story to tell, I try not to pay more than $20 for a bangle.

There is the square clear Lucite bangle I snagged at an antique fair. I purchased a few in a bright lime green and tangerine color at an Indian gift store, Khajana, in Harvard Square. Mint Julep in Harvard Square and Brookline have them in wonderful patterns. One of my favorite shops, Salmagundi in Jamaica Plain seems to have bangles for people from all walks of life. Oh, and I should mention that thrift stores are the perfect place to go to snag them for a few dollars.

On a particularly gray and crisply cold day one winter, I pulled together an outfit of a wool skirt, turtleneck, thick tights, and boots—all in black. One look in the mirror told me exactly what I already knew. I looked like I was getting ready to go to a funeral not to brunch with well-loved friends. To jazz up the outfit, I went to my bureau and started piling on one bracelet after another on my left arm until I got the desired effect. I ended up with the Lucite bangle and a wooden bangle from Guatemala, sandwiched between the two tangerine bracelets I mentioned earlier.

Another look in the mirror revealed that I was almost there---but not quite. I then took a moss green velvet ribbon and slipped on about 5 bracelets in various sizes. Once I got the desired effect, I tied a clumsy knot and slipped my new necklace over my neck as the designer Dries van Noten had done in one of his runway collections. Once I put the necklace on, I knew I was done. My outfit was so much snazzier and smarter than before.

Sure, fitting my wrists through my coat was a bit tough, however, the dash of color the bracelets brought to my outfit buoyed my spirits. Even now, I always wear at least one bracelet or bangle. They always seem to bring the right amount of charm and sass (if not both) to my outfits.

Here are my favorite places to go in Boston when I'm thinking of picking up a new bracelet:

Twentieth Century Ltd Goods
73 Charles St
Boston, MA

Mint Julep
6 Church St
Cambridge, MA
and
1302 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA

Salmagundi
765 Centre Street
Boston, MA 02130

Martini blogs on the Boston fashion scene at BeyondBostonChic.com. She goes in search of the latest trends and snaps shots of men and women around the city who really understand style.

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