Throughout the decades many people have turned to costume jewelry as a cheap and an inexpensive alternative to the real thing. It can come in many designs and is extremely flexibility making it a great and necessary addition to any fashionable wardrobe. Keep some pieces in your purse if you are rushing about and need to change from day to night outfits without returning home.

One of the good things about it is that, unlike precious jewels, it can be worn as a fashion item and changed whenever the mood takes you. Therefore if you get bored and fancy a change then you haven’t paid hundreds of dollars for it and so you can mix and match your jewels with your mood and outfit.

They can be bold and outrageous. You can buy large statement cocktail rings and tiaras which can add a splash of style to your outfit. If you feel like a more understated look then pair a costume necklace with a neutral outfit for some sparkle and shine. They are available in all colors and replicas of most jewels such as rubies, faux diamonds and pearls and emeralds.

So where can you find costume jewelry. It is available through many stores online and you can find vintage stores that specialize in these types of old pieces. You can stumble across some similar great treasures in antique stores and flea markets and they often have unique, one of a kind pieces that are a real find. Part of the interesting here is in looking for pieces.

This type of jewelry originated in the theater industry as it was used as a prop on both the stage and film set. Marilyn Monroe in the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes can be seen on stage throwing what appear to be diamonds from her wrists and into the audience, but these are probably a type of costume jewel designed to appear like diamonds.

Some pieces of costume jewelry can be very expensive, in particular the bolder pieces and those that require a lot of work and design. Many fashion labels have created their own vintage style pieces which are often expensive as are the antique items which vary in price. Your best bet is to research what you like and if there is any particular historical period you are interested in. The 1920s for example may have some decadent pieces that may cost more because they are collector’s items.

If you don’t have much money then you may be glad to shop for costume jewels and make sure it takes much of the stress out of losing an expensive and irreplaceable piece since you know you didn’t pay thousands for your jewels. You can have several jewels on at the same time and you can wear more for a bold and fun fashionable look.

Costume jewelry is usually worn for informal or fun occasions. There is an infinite number of styles, colors and designs for you to choose from. This is where you can have the most fun accessorizing any outfit. Even though some things are sometimes more trendy than others, there are really no rules as to what jewelry pieces you can wear. You are free to express your personality mood or your culture.

Costume jewelry has been very popular for many years. The Ancient Egyptians were known to have worn decorative bracelets and beaded necklaces. Cleopatra was probably the first woman to adorn herself in what we know today as costume jewelry.

Costume jewelry is generally known to be produced without the use of precious metals or gemstones. So you will pay a lot less for it than fine jewelry. It is often created with non-precious metals, sometimes gold or silver plated. There are various materials that are traditionally used to make beads, such as wood, amber, pottery, ceramic metals ivory and pearls. Today modern materials such as plastics, nylon and polycarbonate variants are also being used to make beads. Costume jewelry can be antique, period or contemporary.

As you may know, there are some people who cannot wear costume jewelry next to their skin. This is because of their sensitivity to the metals used. So if you are giving costume jewelry as a gift to a friend or loved one, you should make sure that they are not allergic to nickel or copper. This is especially important when it comes to pierced earrings.

To prevent tarnishing in costume jewelry, it should be cleaned on a regular basis. This is very simple to do with a mild soap and water. The jewelry should be soaked and then dried thoroughly before putting it away. You can also use anti- tarnish paper to wrap and store you jewelry for long periods of time. However, regular cleaning is the best defense against tarnishing.

Costume jewelry, unlike fine jewelry is meant to be fun rather than impressive. It should be a fashion accessory rather than an investment. Since you normally will not pay as much for costume jewelry as you would for fine jewelry, it’s alright to experiment with different colors and styles. If you become bored with it after a while, you won’t feel like you wasted a lot of money. So enjoy the freedom of expression with costume jewelry.