Charm School

I was reminiscing with my mom over the weekend about goofy things I used to collect as a kid. My favorite things, from about 3 years old until fourth grade, were those plastic charms from vending machines that you were supposed wear on plastic chain necklaces (remember, this was the 80s). I had a shoebox full of them, and I cherished them so much that I never wanted to actually wear them for fear of loosing them!

I’m a little older now, but I still have a love of charms, and I know I’m not the only one. The lovely ladies at Yaya's are huge charm fans, and they can help you mix and match from a selection of designers to create your own unique piece. This month's featured jewelry designers are Pandora, Brighton, Pilgrim, and Debra Sheperd.

Pilgrim Jewellery was founded in the 1980s in Denmark. It is one of the fastest-growing international jewelry and accessory brands, with products made from pearls, resins, beads, wood, semi-precious stones, silver and 14K gold. Shop online and see the whole collection here.

Originally founded in 1982 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Pandora is now one of the world’s top charm and jewelry companies, with their products being sold in 18 countries. Pandora’s line is designed in Denmark and hand made in Thailand from sterling silver and 14K gold. While you can only buy Pandora in-store, you can check out their website here.

Brighton was founded in 1991 with a single collection of belts, but today carries a complete line of women’s accessories. Each piece is designed with a defining detail that gives it special meaning, like a love note engraved on a bracelet or a photo frame on a handbag. Brighton is not available online, but you can check out their current collection here, then stop by the store to find your perfect piece.

Debra Shepherd designed her first pair of earrings in 1972, but soon packed it away and forgot about it. After years working as an art director and designer, she and her daughter found that pair of earrings in 2002 and were inspired to launch a jewelry line. Today, her line is found in 21 countries with tons of loyal followers, including Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan. See the Debra Shepherd collection here.

After browsing the sites above, stop by Yaya's right away to pick out your favorite pieces and design a piece of jewelry as unique as you are.