It wouldn’t be unfair to say that for the most part when I get dressed, I like to keep it pretty simple. Easy color schemes, not very much into layering. I don’t really wear extravagant makeup but my rings? That’s where I maximize. Because for goodness gracious, not everything in style or design should be so damn minimal.
I wasn’t always the biggest into jewelry, especially not with rings but over the last few years it just seems to have progressed. And it’s without a doubt become my signature and collecting very special silver rings has become a keen passion of mine.
I remember the first time I started wearing more than one on one hand, it was right after I came back from the Vatican. In one of the gift shops, I found this awesome faux gold prayer ring with Pope Benedict’s face in the middle (it was an oval decal of sorts). It was amazing and felt spiritual when I wore it. I would wear it with one of my favorite vintage gold ring with a jade stone. Yet, as the years went on, I started layering more. When my pope ring broke, I went to Catholic and religious stores to find something similar. I’d find a comparable prayer ring in silver that sent my imagination into a tizzy of what I could do with it.
But then I met Nnennaya, this incredible woman who was selling African masks and ancient jewelry from Nigeria. One day, fate would have it that I would stumble upon her stall in the antiques flea one day while cruising down 25th street. We sat together and spoke about family, love and past lives for what seemed to be hours. I walked away that day with an amazing silver ankh ring – which symbolized eternal life. And I still go to speak with and buy my rings from Nnennaya to this day.
Everything changed since that day and I’ve been on the quest to find rings that complement the rings that I buy from Nnennaya. They serve me with my own distinctive look but also have such great energy when I wear them. So now, I get some of them from street vendors or thrift stores or even the e-comm site du jour, just as long the energy feels right to add to my collection. I tend to like a very ancient, worn-in, ethnic or tribal feel to each and every one that I wear. They make me feel powerful and protected, kind of like a warrior of sorts. Brave even. Well, brave enough to share the real story behind my rings on every finger. Because let’s face it, with everything, there is always something more than what meets the eye – in style and in our every day encounters.
How about you? Do you have a piece of jewelry or clothing that holds a deep meaning to you that you never want to take it off? I’d love for you to share! Leave me a comment below or tweet me at @lalalopez.