My little Kalinger girl

Kalinger is one of my favorite vintage jewelry brands.  I recently discovered that it’s also a summer fruit drink in India.  Who knew?  Anyway, I’ve managed to collect a necklace and I believe 3 or 4 pairs of 1980s Kalinger earrings.  I say 3 or 4 because I’m still unpacking my jewelry from last year’s move, so I can’t be certain.  (I blogged about another pair of Kalingers in my collection from my apartment in Germany a couple years ago here.)

Kalinger is a French brand, its heyday having been in the 1980s, when brash, colorful costume jewelry was all the rage.  I seldomly see it in the U.S., though it’s somewhat popular among European collectors and thus, easier to find at vintage collectors shows in Europe.  Despite its popularity, however, it’s not easy to find information about the brand, in French or English.  Which surprises me because it’s always featured on global auction powerhouses 1stDibs and Etsy vintage.  It looks like I’ll have to do some more research.  Perhaps supplement my book collection on American vintage jewelry designers to include some Euro tomes.

{1980s vintage Kalinger earrings, bought in London}

{a look at the trademark, which appears on the back of both earrings}

{modeling my Kalinger earrings on Melrose Avenue }

These Kalinger earrings are a lot of fun to wear.  They’re big and bold, so they certainly add flair to any outfit.  But they’re clip-ons (as are all my Kalinger earrings), so I don’t have to worry about destroying my ears.  Even if my toddler daughter gets a hold of one!  I most recently wore them on shopping trip to Melrose Avenue with a women’s group I’m a part of here in the Conejo Valley.  It’s was an easy, casual day, so I threw on a white tee-shirt (part of my daily uniform these days), a J. Crew skirt, my favorite new Tom’s slip-ons and of course, my vintage Kalingers and presto, I’m out the door!

I think the pink wall (the side of the Paul Smith boutique) is just fun.  I see why it pops up in so many fashion shoots!

Hope you’re having fun with your jewelry, too!

Until next time,

-k.