5 Places To Find Cool Jewelry IRL
Because you're not like the other girls!
I’ve talked about my love for accessories on here countless times, but I do not think I’ve ever shared where I shop to find unique pieces. I always received a lot of compliments on my jewelry, and it always gives me a sense of pride since I’ve been curating my collection for years.
I often get asked where I get my jewelry, and every time I’m asked, I mention a different place, and that place is rarely online (however, you can definitely find some cute pieces online, more on that coming soon:) ).
I know many people who are starting their collections aren’t sure where to go to find interesting pieces, so they opt for popular brands. However, I’m happy to share where to find something that doesn’t make you look just like everyone else. ~Since you’re not like other girls.~
These are not specific places to shop, although if you’d like a list of ~ specific ~ stores, please let me know in the comments. I know you can certainly find these places whenever and wherever you are.
Family
This is kind of an obvious one, but I do understand that not everyone’s family has pieces to hand down. Personally, a lot of my jewelry collection comes from my grandmother. She's always looking through her pieces and giving me ones she thinks I would like. My mom also wears jewelry and has a fun collection, and sometimes lets me borrow or steal things.
Antique Shops
I grew up going antiquing, so a lot of my collection is from antique stores! If you want pieces that you know no one is going to have, this is a great spot to look. Some of my favorite pieces of all time are items that I found while shopping at an antique shop. P.S. If you're going to grab something at an antique shop, I would make sure to find a way to cleanse it, so no bad juju follows you home once you've taken it.
Flea Markets
I’m sure there is some kind of marketplace near you to check out. You might have to do some research, but there’s nothing like walking through a flea market. You never know what you could find, whether you’re looking for rings or maybe art for your home.
My neighborhood has been having quite a few street fairs lately, and I’ve had really good luck finding cool and interesting pieces at them. My current favorite piece is a star-shaped ring that I picked up at a street fair in May.
Thrift Stores
Personally, I’ve had better luck at antique shops, but many curated thrift stores have amazing selections of jewelry. I know a lot of curated shops in NYC have thrifted pieces, but they also have some locally made gems at an affordable price. However, your local Goodwill might surprise you with some of the pieces you can find.
Craft Shows / Markets
If you want something truly special, check if your city or town has any craft shows coming up. I love attending these events and getting inspired. I always end up falling in love with items like this. In NYC, there are a lot of incredible holiday markets, and even this summer, Bryant Park hosted an amazing marketplace. This is where you’re gonna want to go for cool and trendy pieces, where you can also meet the artists. This is one of the holiday markets!
I'm not sure about other cities, but in New York, we have a ton of small and local pop-up markets, which are another spot where I find a lot of amazing jewelry and home goods.
One of the most famous NYC markets is the Artist and Flea Market, which has several locations. At the Chelsea one, I got myself a custom spoon ring made!
One of my college friends introduced me to the Sugarloaf Craft Festival when we were in college, and let me tell you, attending that show changed everything. Sadly, the organization no longer exists, but I’ve gotten so many jewelry pieces and mugs from it! I also got my most complimented jacket ( a reworked black denim jacket with pink/white material) from the show many moons ago.
I’ve been missing craft shows, and recently I checked out the Renegade Craft show (They have events throughout the country), and I fell in love with a ton of items. I limited myself, but I wish I had unlimited funds so that I could spend my money on these small and locally owned businesses. If you haven’t seen it already, I plan on sharing a small business haul in the future.
If you’re looking for more ~ accessory ~ content from me, you can also find me on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Where is your favorite place to get jewelry? Let me know in the comments below!