Like my mom, I fell in love with Southwestern and Native American jewelry years before I was ever able to visit New Mexico. Studying anthropology in school, I took as many classes in Native American culture and art as I could, and spent countless hours reading about the legacies of craftsmanship passed down and honed over generations. I even learned how to replicate some Native American crafts, like Plains style bead work. (It was incredibly time consuming and tedious, but I was very proud of the results.) I was especially taken with the silversmiths of the Southwest, and intrigued by the way in which early railroad tourism through the Southwest introduced Native American jewelry to the rest of the country.
As a result of this infatuation, I spent quite a bit of time in my post-college years combing thrift stores for turquoise jewelry and used cowboy boots. If you’ve ever attempted to do this in Pennsylvania, Illinois or Louisiana (all of my stomping grounds), you’ll know this is no easy task. It wasn’t until my mom started inviting me along on her Southwest excursions that my thrifting began to bear fruit. Every trip I’ve taken to Santa Fe, I find one special pair of used boots, and make a couple additions to my growing jewelry assemblage.
Though my Southwestern jewelry collection is by no means as large or as impressive as my mom’s (and it must be acknowledged here that she is a very generous lender), it is just as beloved and carefully curated.
In keeping with my standard monochrome and neutral palette, you’ll notice that almost all of my pieces are sterling silver with white and black stones, and just the occasional turquoise for a splash of color. My personal favorite, though, is the speckled White Buffalo Turquoise. This white stone with black flecks comes from only one mine in Nevada, and I love the way each stone is uniquely patterned.
The mix of tones is strategic; this way, all of my pieces can be worn together, and they compliment all of my clothing. Because Southwestern jewelry is my go-to for everyday wear, I choose pieces with a slightly streamlined, minimalist aesthetic but that retain a distinct Southwest flair.
I prefer to buy my pieces directly from the artisans on the Plaza- there is something very special about choosing a ring, and having the artist explain to you their inspiration for the piece as they were making it just the day before. I also love to shop in Carolyn’s outlet boutique— especially after touring her factory, and seeing a very different mode of production from the Native artists, but one that is still hand crafted and made in America! (Once again, stay tuned for much more about Carolyn and her designs in an upcoming feature Portrait.)
And for my boots, Kowboyz is a necessary stop on every trip to Santa Fe – a used cowboy boot and accessory store. There, beautifully made boots line every wall. It’s a difficult task narrowing down the choices to one perfect pair, but in the end there is always a boot that fits just right.