Stiletto Jewelry Pointers
Part 1 of 2

Stiletto earrings are not new. The long, skinny and flattering style provides a lot of eye-catching movement and help create the illusion of a long, graceful neck. However, as with many things, it often takes a celebrity trendsetter and hot new designer to make a particular style really popular. So this year may well be the year of stiletto jewelry.

Jason Wu, the Taiwanese born, New York based designer wowed many with the one shoulder dress he created for Michelle Obama to wear at the Inaugration ball (picture by dbking). As you can see, the First Lady accessorized with long stiletto earrings. The diamond drop earrings (and bracelet) were from LA's Loree Rodkin and matched the sparkly gown.

Needless to say, the meteoric rise of Jason Wu in the fashion world has made him a designer to watch. Last month, this young designer unveiled his Fall 2009 collection. His designs are simple, fresh and definitely wearable. His collection also featured his take on stiletto jewelry. He used varying lengths of silver and gold metal strips embellished with crystals or granulations to match his fashion designs. The collar style necklaces made for bold accessories. The stiletto earrings were all sets of three long metallic strips.

Jason Wu - Runway - Fall 09 MBFW Jason Wu - Runway - Fall 09 MBFW

Inspired? Stiletto earrings are easy to make. You could extend the length of dangle earrings with several wire wrapped links like Michele Obama's earrings above. At their simplest, stiletto earrings are merely long straight wires or chains with accent beads at the end. Use 20G wire like my jeweler's brass earrings with hand forged ear wires (below left). Any thinner and the wire could easily bend. If you only have thinner wire available, try hammering them to work harden them which also gives them a slightly different look as my blue crystal earrings below. If you're ambitious, put several dangles on a neckwire for your own designer look!



Need some help? The design shown on the left is by Catherine Hodge and is available as a tutorial from Beading Daily (free). The coiled wire design not only makes for good coiling practice but that long wire is thus stronger and less bendable.

Beader Designs #: 478-479

For more tutorials check out my Jewelry Making Tips

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