Big Jewelry

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

One piece of advice my mom gave me since transitioning is that since I'm plus size I should avoid any kind of small delicate jewelry. She said that anything small would just be lost on me and not very visible.

With that in mind, today I bought this bracelet:

Textured metal hinge bracelet

It's big and chunky, just like me. Actually I love it because it's big and it's noticeable! I could wear a small delicate bracelet but you probably wouldn't even notice it on me. Heck I probably wouldn't even notice it on me.

Multi-task bonus: it can double as a paper weight!

Only slight problem is the one side where the hinge is, but you can just turn the bracelet so that's pointing down or on the inside of your arm.

Anyone else have experience with larger jewelry or noticed how the smaller items seem to be lost on you?

[Guest viv]

Lizzie,,,,I could not agree more . regardless of say clothes size

most of us have bigger bones * wrists* an example , so yeh,,

big jewelry and I dont know if its the latest fashion over here hun

but big stuff is being worn by most women. Love your bracelet .

viv ,,

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Beautiful bracelet! I am a big girl as well - and I found bracelets that fit at the large women clothing shops - no minows in there!

And look at your hands - if long and slender you can wear several rings AND a bracelet. The length of you nails plays a big part in that - the prettier your hands, the more you can bring attention to them.

Also - I wear the wide bands - maybe not so clunky - on both wrists. It really works well for me with cuffed shirts rolled up a time or two. Sexy

And if you are artsy-craftsy and have a color sense, you can wear several bracelets that are smaller but compliment each other. Don't mix the metals (gold, silver, copper) and make certain there is a theme (Left Hand as I type: woven wax black tie string bracelet with black beads woven in. - 1/2 wide silver welded wire and bead bracelet with three turquoise stones and black tarnish highlights - string bracelet with tiny pieces of turquoise, malachite and a few red coral beads) and (Right hand as I type: 1 1/4 wide silver tone cuff bracelet with small flattened chain detailing - and a super loose chain that almost looks like an ankle bracelet.) No rings.

Around my neck - medium size to slightly large turquoise bead necklaces. Fairly tight but not chocker style - with black and a few coral color added in - two separate necklaces - similar in design - but the upper one has a silver peace symbol as a small pendant. These coordinate with the bracelets.

Did I mention I wear these at work where I present male? One day I left them off and several people asked where my Indian jewelry was. I wear a long ponytail and have very dark hair. I wear white shirts with an open collar - so they show - and are dressy like i was wearing a bolo tie. People know I am 1/4 Native American - so I "push that." It explains my lack of fascial and body hair, and my high cheekbones. My therapist gave me the idea... it hides my 15 months of HRT.

Clunky Jewry is fabulous! Big department stores have 50% off sales too. And we bigger ladies can shop the clearence racks for earrings, big chains and sometimes bracelets with the chain closures. Hobby lobby has hardware for 'beading' which can be used to 'extend' some bracelets and necklaces. Walmart sells extender and magnetic clasps in the jewelry department (Donna Jean said her Walmart had them in the crafts area) The only probem was I could not find the magnetic clasps in silver tone,

LUCKY Brand jewelry has some fantastic clunks, dangly, full of charms necklaces and bracelets, but they are a bit pricey. Remember the better quality jewelry, ones that stay together and don't break, cost more. I found several brands I love and stay with.

Craft shows are a great source of bulky jewelry - EVERYONE seems into making beads now. And I search the antique booths for collectable vintage stuff - especially pins - which look GREAT on denim jackets. I even have a few I wear male mode because the fleur d'le is the symbol for the Saints football team. I also wear cloissone' pins because I collect them, and people know I do. Usually collectors pins, but sometimes I will sneak in a piece that is really fine jewelry. And the trashier the antiques booth or store, the better prices you can get. I bought a wire gold bracelet for $4. I had a craftsman who makes jewelry look at it, He said materials alone was over $200. JUNK SHOP - in a box! People thought it was a cheap gold tone type I guess.

And silver - you can learn to identify sterling from plate - plate from silver tone. I have a dipping jewry cleaner (Walmart carries them) and some of the dullest earrings and bracelets have turned into BEAUTIFUL peices when the tarnish is removed. Of course some end up as duds.

But like Lizzy McT says - if you are larger, and so many of us are, go for the big stuff - and it really looks good when upgrading blue jeans and a T-shirt! It is also sooooooo feminizing when done right.

For us MTF - jewelry and the right to wear it is OUR BIRTHRIGHT! AND selecting it is an art - and an aquired skill - almost like learning to apply make-up. It's a verrrrry feminine skill and it takes research to know the trends. Women's magazines help - but I like to research through the popular press magazines - the move stars and the famous glamour girls are EXPERTS with jewelry. Look at what the bigger women wear and see how they accessorize!

YIKES

A book - so sorry. I LOVE my jewelry.

Lizzy

[Guest ricka]

Gorgeous bracelet, Hon and very classy! I have always loved jewelry and enjoy wearing it. Same goes for earrings which add a bit of glamour to my look. I wear clips so am always on the lookout for a new pair---something like your bracelet would look stunning, but in gold. Elizabeth, I have a beautiful Navajo silver and turquoise ring I wear all the time. The workmenship is something else (squash blossom setting with a large natural turquoise stone.) I just bought a 36 ct. cut but unset peacock blue topaz stone. Am thinking of having it set to wear as a pennant. I have a friend who makes jewelry and she has made several pieces for me.

Ricka