Tag: Fashion

Black Excellence

Written on September 13, 2021.

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.

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 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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Woman in yellow dress wearing a large strand green beads

Put Your Beads Back On!

Written on September 7, 2021.

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!

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.

[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.

The CDJ Closet

Written on August 12, 2021.

THE CDJ CLOSET

If you suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), we have a cure for you! Pay close attention to your email inbox for when we send the announcement that the CDJ Closet is OPEN. Are you thinking “What the heck is the CDJ Closet?” We’re so glad you asked!

We created the Cerese D Jewelry (CDJ) Closet because we are constantly creating new designs and need to make room for new products. It’s just like cleaning out your own closet each season — you still have some GREAT stuff that fits in there, but you’re looking for fresh looks and you need to make room.

The Closet is the only place where loyal clients, (you know, the ones who actually “read” our emails), will have first access to AMAZING prices on CDJ’s gorgeous designs! Yes, you read that right. In the Closet you’ll find deals from 15-70% off! These are the lowest markdowns we offer on only the highest quality pieces.

How Does the Closet Work?

So glad you asked! First, sign-up for our “CDJ Closet” email notices here (make sure to add us to your contact list so we don’t end up in your SPAM folder). Second, watch your inbox for the announcement as to when the Closet door will open. Third, once you receive notice that the Closet is open, hurry over to the CDJ Closet to get your hands on the finest pieces at the BEST deals before someone else snatches them up. Lastly, click “Pay Now” and you’ll be so glad you did.

We’ve organized our Closet with care. You’ll find pieces from every part of our line, organized for easy shopping. While the closet is open you may even find us on Facebook Live showing off our favorite pieces, or showing off how great some of our pieces look on a real person! If you want to see a piece up close just ask-Cerese loves showing off our designs!

The CDJ Closet has no set schedule, so you never know when it will be, but we try for once a quarter. Each time the Closet opens you’ll find different styles available, so you’ll want to visit every time the door is open! The Closet door is only open for a few days and after it’s shut, no more deals until we reopen it again.

So the best way to never suffer from FOMO again, is:

Sign-up for CDJ Closet emails here
Watch your inbox for our announcements
Hurry to the CDJ Closet online
Get great deals on some fabulous pieces
Feel gorgeous wearing your CDJ designs

Don’t miss out and sign-up today!

woman in yellow top with turquoise bead necklaces

Sweet Summer

Written on August 9, 2021.

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.

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!

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.

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Camissentials

Written on February 13, 2021.

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.

Summer Jewelry Wardrobe

Written on July 13, 2020.

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.