Neo-Victorian gothic, retro glamour, and punk rock wedding accessories from Blue Velvet Heart

Etsy shop Blue Velvet Heart sells retro, punky, bright and funky accessories that are sure to excite any bride planning an alternative wedding. The moment designer Jill Connell showed me her designs,  I just knew they were a perfect fit for Poptastic Bride! They’re fun, kawaii, and quirky – with just the right amount of “romantic” – and are definitely special finishing touches to make your wedding your own. Take a look at these beauties:

Dangle Earrings with Black and Silver Heart, Distressed Avocado Green Bead and Acrylic Pink Bow

Gothic Lolita Gold-Plated Cameo Bracelet with Plum Purple Skeleton Cameo and Electric Pink Resin Flowers

Preppy Resin Choker with Glittery Plaid Heart and Pink and Purple Turquoise Pearls

Jill shares how she got started in making Blue Velvet Heart accessories:

I’ve had the urge to stand out and distinguish myself with accessories for as long as I can remember.  My Mom tells a great story about my getting in trouble in preschool for giving myself (and a couple classmates) haircuts and dye jobs with safety scissors and Kool-Aid. In high school, I was so bored with the options available at the mall for teenagers that I made earrings, hairpieces and bracelets for myself with things I found at the craft store-and the hardware store, too.   Courtney Love was a huge style influence on me in the mid-90s and when I create something for my Etsy shop, I sometimes still think about how it would look on her. I’ve never gotten over my early-in-life love of animal prints, pink and all things sparkly!

Parsons School of Design (where I studied art at the undergraduate level) inspired me further and I started making more and more accessories for myself. It took years  of encouragement from friends but I finally decided to start selling my designs last year. I think there is a real niche out there of women who want accessories with a slightly retro, slightly goth/punky vibe. I don’t make anything that i wouldn’t wear myself, although some items have a hard time making it into my store because I want to keep them so bad.

(This is off-topic but it turns out that Jill and I were both  studying at Parsons’ lower Manhattan campus at EXACTLY the same time back in the late ’90s! *cue music It’s a Small World After All* )

Gothic Black Filigree Ring with Purple Heart

Headband Pink Puffy Mirror Glittery Lace Heart Applique

Glittery Blue Fancy Burlesque Sequin Flower and Feather Clip

Looking at her work, I immediately thought that the cuffs and necklaces would mesh well with a punk rock or rock and roll wedding theme but I asked her anyway about what type of bride she designs for:

I think my designs definitely appeal to the bride who is looking for a different kind of elegant for her big day.  There are absolutely elements of traditional wedding garb in my designs-a lot of the chokers feature lace and pastel colors and I’ve recently gotten very into working with filigree metal stampings.  I like to mix it up and add what I like to call a “retro tough” element to my pieces though, mixing some curb chain or skull charms with the lace or add a big leopard print heart pendant to a string of red pearls.  The bride who wants something fancy but wouldn’t dream of wearing a white dress and a simple string of pearls wears Blue Velvet Heart accessories at her wedding. Right now, I am designing for a fall wedding where the bride is wearing a white dress, getting married in a church but wants to update the traditional wedding day “look” with my filigree bracelets and multi-layered chokers. The bride who wants a retro glamour themed wedding or a wild and raucous punk rock affair can find all that she needs to complete her outfit at Blue Velvet Heart.

Three items from her store Jill thinks anti-cookiecutter brides will love are:

Pink Heart and Lace Pearl Chain Choker

This is a really versatile piece that can be a gorgeous wedding day accent, combining elegant ribbon, lace and pearls to complete the brides outfit.  This is a great piece because it is something the bride can wear with jeans and a tee OR that perfect LBD for years to come after the wedding.  This can be custom made to mach the bridal bouquet or coordinated with bridesmaids’ dresses.

Scarlet Red Cameo on Silver Filigree Cuff Bracelet with Matching Aluminum Roses Gothic Jewelry

The filigree setting and rose embellishments are such a cute (and customizable !) combination.  I’m designing a custom order for a Fall wedding right now where these are being given as bridesmaids gifts and will be worn during the wedding to match striking black and pink dresses.

Baroque Style Diamond Colored Dangle Earrings

These are another terrific and versatile accessory that can be worn long after the wedding day has ended.  For the bride who wants a bit of a Neo Victorian, gothic and pin up flair to her wedding, these earrings are just the thing.

See more at Blue Velvet Heart (they’re having a sale right now so better make a dash for it!)

Tags: fashion, funky fashion jewelry, hair accessories, handmade, jewelry, punk rock, rock and roll wedding