Vogue Editors' New Year's Resolutions: What to Wear to Jewelry-Making Class - Vogue.com
Earlier this week, I got dressed for work knowing I had a three-hour soldering class later that night in Bushwick, Brooklyn—and gave exactly zero thought to my outfit. I put on my favorite balloon-sleeve sweater, a pair of high-rise jeans, my regular stack of bracelets, three rings, and gold Mateo hoops—my uniform, essentially. About an hour into class, I realized my look would not work going forward: My sleeves hovered dangerously close to the blue flame of my torch; my jeans were suffocatingly tight; and my favorite boots quickly had a thin coating of dust, flux, and shards of silver.
Let’s call it a rookie mistake. I spend most of my time behind a computer in our squeaky-clean World Trade Center office, so getting my hands dirty isn’t a daily occurrence. I can wear the fussiest silk blouses, velvet shoes, and statement jewelry without thinking twice about it. But like most Vogue editors, I started 2018 with a handful of resolutions: to cook more; to spend less money; to think more positively; and—one that will actually stick—to try a new creative outlet. My sister and I have always loved jewelry, so on a whim, we bought sheets of silver in Koreatown and signed up for an introductory soldering class. I was partially inspired by the permanent gold wire bracelet jewelry that designer Hannah Keefe had welded to my wrist a year ago; I wanted to know how she did it, and also how to make my own sculptural bangles, mismatched earrings, and delicate chains. I learned a few of the basics in my first class—how to join silver and copper; the temperature at which different solder “flows”; how to use a propane torch—but I’ll need to take many more classes before I install a workbench in my apartment. I consulted a few jewelry designer friends about what they wear in the studio so I can start planning now.
“Jewelry making does not bode well for nice clothing!” says Parris Gordon, who designs Toronto-based label Beaufille with her sister Chloé; Parris focuses on the metalsmithing and hardware. “You’re mostly sanding and polishing all day with dust flying everywhere, so I’d suggest wearing clothes you’d wear if you were painting or doing renovations at home. I have studio jeans that I’ll wear with a T-shirt or turtleneck, and layer a flannel or denim button-up on top. Lately I’ve been wearing Vans or Adidas Gazelles, but I just got my first pair of Frye studio boots. What I would never wear to make jewelry is jewelry—it gets damaged easily since you’re working with your hands and machinery. I also try pieces on as I’m making them, so other jewelry would take away from fully understanding what I’m developing.”
Comfort, too, is key for J.Hannah designer Jess Hannah, who lives on the opposite side of the country, in Los Angeles. “When I’m working, I aim for comfy-presentable,” she says. “In the studio I opt for something that’s not too tight, so I can sit down and design or answer e-mails but still look chic enough to run out to a meeting or do errands downtown. A vintage silk blouse and gold earrings can make anything feel presentable. I’ve also been religiously wearing these 13 Bonaparte elastic-waistband jeans. It’s a friend’s menswear line, and it recently added a few pieces for women. I haven’t yet decided if it’s cute or obnoxious that my fiancé and I are regularly wearing the same outfit.”
I’m taking both women’s advice before I head back to Brooklyn for my next class, but one thing I’ll add is a stretchy black headband or scarf. Keeping your hair out of your eyes—and away from the flame!—is crucial, plus I’m into the Françoise Hardy-in-the-’60s vibe of a head scarf knotted below a ponytail. If you’re taking a jewelry class (or ceramics, painting, or any other semi-messy art form), shop our picks for a stylish yet practical outfit in the slideshow above.
