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Black Excellence

Black Excellence

From the moment we spoke the words, “no justice, no peace” we knew that a cultural and iconic revolution had begun. The calls for racial justice over the last 36 months prove that we, as a people of color, still have a long way to go. But change is happening, just look around. There is excellence emerging in communities of color throughout the nation. 

Beautiful black woman wearing silver necklace with black lives mattr and black excellence charms

We see black-owned businesses such as Ellis Isle Tea growing their customer base. We see companies such as CurlMix creating marketing campaigns tailored for people of color. We see more black faces on television and in film. We see excellence!  

Achieving excellence isn’t always easy. The road is often paved with barriers and obstacles, failure and frustration. Nobel Poet Laureate Maya Angelou spoke of it in her quintessential poem, “Still I Rise”:

“Out of huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear the tide.”

Black excellence charm bracelet with pink and green beads

Black excellence reinforces the “can do” spirit in every person of color. It lifts up our contributions to community and family, it creates a legacy for future generations. It tells the world that we are here and Black Lives Matter, Black Voices Matter and when we rise we create, Black Excellence.

This small token of remembrance celebrates you, celebrates the journey, and celebrates our Black Excellence.

Shop our Black Excellence Collection.

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Put Your Beads Back On!

Put Your Beads Back On!

In the early 1920s, as the world finally started recovering from WWI, and the Spanish Flu pandemic was coming to an end, glitz was in. Women started wearing furs, fringe, bright colors, flowers, spectacular hats, and beads – lots and lots of beads. 

Check out the style of Rose Nell Johnson (Deborah’s mom and Cerese’s grandmother) on the right; and Rose’s sister, Ora Bell Wilson, on the left. These ladies made it look effortless!

Two women dressed up in mink stoles and jewelry from the 1920s

The most influential social movement of that time was the Harlem Renaissance. African American culture wowed the entire world in a celebration of music, dance, art, fashion, theater, and literature. They sure did WOW with their style!

Why? Because everyone was ready for some joy after years of fighting and quarantine. They had been reminded that life was fleeting and that we need to celebrate it while we can.

Two photos of women from 1920s-1940s dressed up in their fancies

[Harlem Renaissance women from the 1920’s and 1940’s]

Sound familiar?

It’s time to put our beads back on. It’s time to pull out the colorful, the joyful, the bold, the fanciful, the clothing and jewelry that makes us smile and feel fierce every time we catch our reflection in the mirror. We may not be done with this pandemic yet, but it’s not too early to remember that life is sweet and should be celebrated. 

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Sweet Summer

Sweet Summer Trends

Soon enough it will be time to get out sweaters and boots, but for now, we have one more month of sweet, sweet summer.

Some of the biggest summer trends this year has been chains, charms, and beaded jewelry—whether it be anklets, bracelets, necklaces, chunky or delicate—they were on the rise. Keep it simple and layer your delicate chains with smaller beads, or go BIG and layer large pieces with bold designs (go big or stay home)! Any way you layer them, Summer allows for less clothing and more jewelry (oooh la la), so have fun with it.

smiling woman in bright yellow fuzzy textured tank top with strand of large colorful beads
black woman wearing pink tortoise framed sunglasses

Shades are always on trend (and can be worn year-round) and the cat-eye is a forever shape, and this season they are OVERSIZED!  They are hot this summer, with the surprise discovery that – unlike ovals and squares – they look good on every face shape. We love this pair from Vontelle.com.

Another hot, sweet summer trend you can indulge in all four seasons is beads. Beads of every size, shape, and color have been making news. Once again, Cerese D has your back, with great bead looks from understated to way, way over the top gorgeous!

woman wearing yellow dress and summer trendy white bead necklaces and bracelets

So come on – don’t wait until summer is over. Get out that fishnet tote, stack up your bracelets, throw on a great strand (or two, or three) of beads, and head outside wearing your spectacular cat-eye sunglasses. Fit in as much sun and fun as you can, because summer is fleeting, and those knee-high boots of yours are just tapping at the back of your closet, waiting to be let loose again.

  • woman in hot pink tank top with big bold jewelry in multiple bright colors

  • woman in white top basking in sun with long brown beaded layered necklace

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Camissentials

Camissentials

When it’s too hot out to wear more than your lightest cami in the coolest fabrics, don’t forget to layer on your favorite jewels to finish your look. This one-of-a-kind matching bracelet, earring, and necklace ensemble — featuring black onyx, resin, amber, capiz shell, aqua quartz — is one-of-a-kind and sold as a set (and it may be sold already – if you haven’t done so, sign up for notifications about new blog posts, and never miss a one-of-a-kind item again!). It makes a big, bold statement but is light enough to wear all day. 

Big looks like this one also work well with prints and mix and match surprisingly well with multi-color and big patterns. You do you! But do it soon – this one-of-a-kind set will be gone in no time.

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Summer Jewelry Wardrobe

Summer Jewelry Wardrobe

We love breaking out the warm weather clothes and getting into spring and summer, but we were surprised to find out that not everyone has jewelry for each season. So please take our word for it — there is nothing better than trading the winter jewelry box for the summer jewelry box! It’s like getting a whole new jewelry wardrobe! Sure, there are a few pieces that you’ll wear every season, every year, but some jewelry just goes better with your summer outfits.

Note: many of the pieces in this article were one-of-a-kinds, and may be sold already. If you haven’t already, sign up for notifications about new blog posts! Never miss a one-of-a-kind item again!

LIKE THESE CITRINE AND GLASS BEADS WITH SWAROVSKI DETAILS

Citrine is gorgeous and summery, like warm beads made of sunshine.  Perfect for layering over white, they dress up a casual outfit or add a playful note to a dressy outfit.


If you love wearig big looks, summer is a great time to do it. You can layer on as many strands as you want, add bold earrings and chunky bracelets – even on top of this season’s super cute ruffles and bows. With these light colors you can’t go over-the-top even if you try.

Go Bigger

When you break out those bold flower prints you might think you have to tone down the jewelry, but we say . . . go big. A dainty necklace or bracelet will get lost, but a bold layered look pulls it all together.


Make This Your Look

If you’re never quite sure which jewelry to wear with your big prints, stop worrying. Our advice is . . . go bigger. 

Bigger jewelry won’t overwhelm your favorite prints, and it will get noticed!

Less is Sometimes More


Ka Pow

We love the playful, sexy elegance of this look. Our bead strands accented with gold-plated beads in two simple layers with matching earrings added a big summer jewelry look without overpowering the outfit.

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