ByKat Hours Updated
Comments 46 Comments

Coffee Break: Jung Jewels

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10I got an e-mail a week or so ago from Irene Jung, the woman behind this stunning necklace (and, apparently, a Corporette reader)  — she just recently launched her jewelry business on the side. As she noted, “all of my pieces combine vintage materials with semi-precious stones and beads. You may initially think that my collection is a little too bold for the office, but I wear my pieces to the office almost daily and they look beautiful with suits and conservative office wear. I get compliments all the time!” I can absolutely see that — I think the necklaces are totally fabulous. (I suppose I'm an easy sell here — I love a good toursade necklace, as well as a beautiful vintage brooch…) I think her pieces are really unique and fabulous. The one pictured here (“Blue Mist”) is $188 at her site, JungJewels.com. Blue Mist (L-0)

Sales of note for 12.5

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

46 Comments

  4. As a would-be jewelry maker, I have a hard time not seeing most things as overpriced/cheaply made or just plain something I could make myself (if I ever just went and did it). In this case, I love the stuff! Beautiful, creative, and not the same thing everyone else is wearing….

      1. I think they are all very beautiful–not one I didn’t love. But that was my thought as well. They are all very similar to each other. I’d love to see what else she will be designing in the future.

      2. RT, I thought the same. I’m not sure why the above comment was necessary. Its a start-up, why would it be expansive? Focus on your core product and do it well, don’t expand too far too fast. Keep doing what you’re doing Irene!

  8. Love the necklace (especially with the touch of vintage imparted by the brooch)! However, Kat, the one pictured is not a true torsade necklace.

    Just finished second-chairing a two week med mal trial where Torsades de Pointes was a central issue, and was really excited to learn the torsades term also applied to necklaces (refer to a discussion about a week or so ago). “Torsades de Pointes” means “twisting of the points”, and it is an abnormal heart rhythm that looks somewhat akin to a twisted party streamer. In any case, a torsades necklace is one where the strands are twisted, not merely any multi-strand necklace (which I happen to adore – especially the vintage multi-strand ones!).

    Keep up the great work, Irene!

    1. thanks for that, I was just unable to find a definition for toursade necklace! thanks for saving me from that frustration!

  10. 1) love the necklaces

    2) Threadjack! Does anyone have a suggestion for where to find trouser jeans in a store that aren’t grossly expensive? I’ve seen a couple of pairs on places online (think mall stores–gap, old navy, etc) but no one seems to have them in their actual store and jeans are something I need to try a lot of different sizes/lengths in to find the right one.

    1. Mine are from Banana Republic. If you call them (or ask a salesperson at a store) they will be able to check for you what stores in the area have them and in what sizes. I’m sure gap, etc can do the same. I know j.crew won’t do it, or at least for sale items.

      2. Check the seams when getting from BR. I had a pair from a few years ago that I absolutely adore and wanted to get another pair. Bought something very similar this past year only to find that after one or two wears they stretched out on the seam and looked like the jeans were ripping in half (and, no, it’s not that they were too snug). I don’t know a lot about clothing construction, but I compared them to other jeans and pants I own and noticed they all have a reinforcement sewen along the seam that the trouser jeans did not. Buyer beware!

    2. If all else fails, order from Zappos and return. They have overnight free shipping on all clothes & the returns are free.

    3. Okay, I know I’m ignoring your request, but I just got a pair from Lands End that are amazing. 40$, nice heavy dark denim with no embellishment. AND they will hem for free to the length you specify. I am curvy and they fit like a dream. I was doing non-clinical research work today and wore them to work with boots and a button-up shirt and actually got compliments on my outfit.
      Lands End is so nice to deal with too, that I don’t mind having to order several pairs and then sending them back.

      1. You can return Land’s End in a Sears too – one of my favorite new features! Also, check the stores if you want to try on – the “nicer” Sears in the nicer mall in my area has a huge selection of Lands End.

    5. What are trouser jeans? I see some pics online, and they seem to be jeans that have a flared boot cut, is that what you’re referring to? Thanks.

      1. No, more ones that looser in the thigh. basically a pair of suit pants made of denim.

        Thanks, all! I’ll get some places.

    6. got mine at express. it’s just the denim version of the editor pant (i think that’s the trouser version). no lengths in-store, but most sizes.

  11. Second hand. Do you live in a good city for consignment type shops? I’ve gotten a bunch of amazing high end jeans that way.

    Lovely necklaces! Like that they are vintage, not making new waste in our world.

  15. Love love love. Can’t really afford (not because they’re priced too high but because I’m too cheap) but may have to reconsider … just gorgeous.

  16. Nice! I was inspired by Kat to buy a toursade necklace (mine is coral & lapis , makes for a colourful red-blue combo) and this one is lovely too!

  17. These are loooooooooooooooooooovely, darling! I wish I could own every single piece. Alas, I can’t afford any of them now, but thanks for letting me dream a little anyway.

  18. GORGEOUS! Sadly (or, perhaps fortuitously for the stat of my wallet . . .) the ones I was interested have already sold out. Well done Irene, keep it up!

  19. My apologies ahead of time for this need to vent- Why do people feel the need to bring cake and food in to the office EVERYDAY?!?!

    2. ugh: in my office, it tends to be because THEY don’t want it lying around their own house!

    3. I feel the same way. Hard to have much self control when the food is so accessible.

    4. Yes, can be tempting. Not too much of a problem at our office but makes me glad I bring my own snacks in.

  20. Has anyone seen the new Talbots catalog of jackets yet? I’m going to the store after work to try some on, but there are so many that look cute I’m going to have a hard time deciding. Anyone else have favorites?

    2. Please report back! I thought the same thing & have my fingers crossed that they’ve moved away from their reputation for boxiness.

      1. C2, i was hoping the same, but the ones i tried on in store were all boxy. shame, the fabrics and price points were great.

  21. Threadjack. Can any of the NYC-area corporettes help me decide which Nordstrom I should go to this weekend, and whether my new-wardrobe-plan makes sense?

    I’ve recently both a) switched jobs, and b) lost a lot of weight, so I really need to put together an entire work wardrobe mostly from scratch. My old job was a very non-fashionable, business formal office, where we all just wore full suits every day. My new position is in a mostly dressy side of business casual office, but I expect I’ll wear full suits not infrequently. I much prefer three-piece outfits (top, pants or skirt, and jacket or sweater). I own two black pants suits that fit well, three or four black pencil skirts, a great black shirt dress, a great pair of black pants, a great black open cardigan, and a number of lightweight layering sweaters in various colors. My idea is to buy a pants suit in dark gray with pants that I like on their own, and a gray pencil skirt, and then buy a number of tops and blazers/sweater jackets/structured cardigans/open cardigans in shades of gray, blue and purple, to build a mix and match wardrobe that fits with the black pieces I already own that will take me through fall and winter. I can reevaluate what else I need in spring.

    I’ve always liked Nordstroms, and they seem to have a ton of pieces that fit my requirements online. I’m usually a major online shopper, but I want to go in and try things on in the store and leave with enough pieces that I know go together to make several weeks worth of outfits. I need a store that is open on Sunday, so I’m deciding between the following Nordstrom Locations:

    Short Hills Mall
    Menlo Park
    Roosevelt Field (Garden City, NY)
    The Westchester (White Plains)

    I am inclined towards either Roosevelt Field or The Westchester because the public transportation access is the best, and while I will probably have a car at my disposal on Sunday, I won’t necessarily always in the future.

    Does anyone have any thoughts, or want to weigh in on where I should go? Thanks in advance.

    1. Congrats on both your accomplishments!

      Short hills over menlo park. Short hills is also a v. nice mall (though almost eerily upscale) and has other stores that might work for you: the chain stores that are there tend to stock the nicest merchandise of that particular chain.

      I’ve never been to the other two, sorry can’t weight in.

    2. NJ used to not charge tax on clothing — is that still the case? If so, I would definitely go to a Nordstrom in NJ. Tax in White Plains is extra high b/c I think there is a city (of White Plains) tax in addition to state tax. Plus you have to pay for parking at the Westchester (which is a pet peeve of mine).

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