fashion forward
Corene Painter, 32, jewelry designer
How would you describe your personal style?
“I guess I’d describe it as kind of funky, kind of vintage. But modern, too. And most people wouldn’t think it, but when I get dressed, I try to be as comfortable as possible.”
You own Home Grown Bead & Candle Shoppe (
hgbeadandcandle.com). When did you start making your own jewelry?
“I started probably in late grade school. Back then, I’d make jewelry out of seed beads – tiny glass beads – and use my dad’s fishing line to string them. And I’d make friendship pins for your tennis shoes, of course. It was the ’80s.”
What kind of jewelry have you been making lately?
“Lately, I’ve been making a lot of bracelets. But generally, I really try to find unusual and limited beads – not the kind you’re going to find everywhere. I’ve been using a lot of Peruvian pink opal lately. I like the different shapes, the different impurities that run through it. I ordered a few of them from a supplier of mine and after I saw them, I ordered as many as they would let me.”
Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?
“I made a necklace out of paintbrush jasper. It’s a stone, a semi-precious stone. But I just like the roughness of the bead. And it’s kind of elegant because it’s a choker.”
Where do you like to shop for clothes?
“I do a lot of thrift shopping. That’s where I get most of my purses and bags. But – and I don’t know how fashionable it is – I love Target. Target is like thrift shopping for me, though, because I’ll find something I like and go back in two weeks when it’s on clearance. I also like St. Vincent de Paul and the Dupont-area Goodwill because it seems like a lot of people donate, but not many actually shop there.”
What are your wardrobe staples?
“I love to wear dresses. Dresses and skirts. And knee high socks – just because it gets cold and I hate pantyhose and tights. For a while I wore what I called my Amish lady socks. I’d gotten them at a farm grocery store in Shipshewana. And they were perfect – they hit right at the knee, and they looked like a sweater, a cable knit.”
Where do you find inspiration for your jewelry?
“This is going to sound really cheesy, but I subscribe to Home & Garden, just because I like the colors they use. I’ll flip through that and look for palettes. But I’ve been studying color for a while now, so I’ll use color wheels to find complementary colors or triads. You end up with colors you wouldn’t think would look good together, but they do. Brown mixed with turquoise and carnelian. That looks nice.”
Stores and manufacturers always try to court kids during the all-important back-to-school season, but now that engagement means interactivity, not a flier with coupons or a catalog full of children.