Sunday, June 2, 2013

What I Wore Sunday, Volume 13 (Pearls, Pearls, Pearls!)

Hi there, FLAP-ers!
For Mass this morning, I wore something I've already posted on this link-up; so instead of showing you my outfit, I'm just going to show you what I wore around my neck.  It's a vintage plastic "Pop-it Bead" pearl necklace.  I saw one recently in an antiques shop for about $15 and thought it was sort of neat (because I never met a string of pearls I didn't like).  I resisted, however, because I already have plenty of pearl necklaces.  But then on Friday, as I was dropping off a small box of donated items at Goodwill, I saw this lovely necklace, exactly like the one I'd just seen at the antiques shop, hanging near the register...for $1.99.  Cha-ching.  (How hard is it to get out of Goodwill without buying something, I ask you.  Or is it just me?)
My "new" pearls at their full length of  @19", with all the beads in use.

Here's the history behind this type of faux pearl necklace, information which I found on-line (and edited a bit) after making my purchase:

Vintage Accessories: Pop-it Beads
Pop-it Beads are made of plastic, Lucite, Celluloid, or Polythene, and they snap together to create necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They are also called ‘Pop Beads,' ‘Snap Beads,’ or ‘Snap-it Beads.’ Production of Pop-it Beads began in the early 1950s as a cheaper alternative to real gems and pearls. These plastic versions gave women with tighter budgets the ability to indulge in an ‘expensive’ look which they could find at the ‘Five and Dime’ store. Unsurprisingly, these plastic beads became extremely popular during the decade with teenagers and much older ladies
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The standard length was usually 50-60-inch-long strands, and the wearer could alternate between designs and customize them. For instance, they could pop them apart to create necklaces, bracelets, and even belts. The possibilities were endless.
 As you can see, you can just pop the necklace apart and commence customizing.

How many times do you wish you could change the length of your necklace, depending on the neckline of the top you're wearing?  With Pop-it Beads, that's a snap to do.
Here's the necklace with 2 beads removed; at @18", it's ever-so-slightly shorter .

Now here it is with 6 beads removed so that it's @16", or about choker-length.

This Goodwill string of pearls is surprisingly real-looking (and even gives the illusion that there is a knot between each pearl).  I just love it--and I'm sure I'll love it even more as I get older, my hands get more arthritic, and it gets even harder than it is now to fiddle with those impossible necklace clasps!

Before I go, one more thing: the "Five and Dime" store...is anyone who's reading this old enough to remember what those are, like yours truly?  I guess I'm about as vintage as Pop-it Beads.

And by the way: speaking of a string of Pearls (with a capital P), some of the newest beads that have been added to our family necklace are celebrating a birthday today.  MY TWIN GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE TWO!  Happy Birthday to my identical little darlings. Grammy already has pearl Rosary bracelets put away for you two, to give you on the day you receive your First Holy Communion.  Pearls for Pearls...that's my motto!

And although we won't be able to be there to celebrate with the birthday girls in person, our visit with them later today will look something like this (except the little cuties on the screen will be toddler-sized, with a good bit more hair):
Thank goodness for Skype!

Now head on over to Emily and Kendra's Fine Linen and Purple for more fashion gems.  :)

Postscript (9:00 p.m.):
I'm joining the gals over at Camp Patton, too, for Grace's new link-up called "Sunday Best." I was enjoying some of the posts there, but thinking it was not for an empty-nester like me. It seemed as though it was strictly for young moms who could not only show you what they wore to Mass, but could also report the Mass behavior grades of their small children.  I just re-read Grace's post, however, and realized that she's inviting everyone to the party. (Thanks, Grace!)  So head on over to the Camp and check out the cute fashions (and cute kids!).

13 comments:

  1. Wow...Pop-it beads...I used to play with those all the time as a kid. Mine were these pastel colors...pink, blue, white, pastel green, etc.

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    1. I'm kind of surprised I didn't have any as a kid. My mom must have had some of these (she was a teenager during the 50's). So I'm "playing" with them now--and I really love them! I never would have believed that plastic pearls could look so real.

      Thanks for stopping by, Amelia. :)

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    2. YES! Me too, Amelia!

      Happy birthday to the twins, Laura!

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    3. Thanks! We got to watch them open their gifts from us on Skype--dolls and a miniature pack 'n play. They were adorable. They were most enthralled with the cards!

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  2. I love the necklace and the flexibility! Very nice! And I can never find anything in Goodwill...ever! Not sure what my problem is.

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    1. It's hit or miss...but boy, sometimes I hit the jackpot. :)

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    1. I know, right? I have lots of pearls (some real, including hand-me-downs from my grandma, and some fake)...but these are my new favorites.

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  4. Pearls are so classy and elegant, like you. Your skin is glowing...must have been that romantic business trip?

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    1. Ha ha! If I look glowing, I think it's from the sweat--it's about 90 degrees here today. But thank you, you're so nice.

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  5. YOU ARE THE BEST!! I am smiling from ear-to-ear at this post! I had a string of pink pearl pop beads that I shared with my sister when we were little. We thought they were soooo glamorous!!

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  6. I love the Pop-it beads info! I remember playing with them, too. You look great with the black and pearls, always so classy. And $1.99?!

    Happy Birthday to your granddaughters!

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  7. Happy Birthday to your girls! Early June birthdays are the best, in my opinion :) And how fun that they will be getting pearls for their First Communion. How appropriate!

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