Perch Jewelry Studio Lookbook: One

(Jewelry Design: Barbara Birdsong of Perch Jewelry Studio / Photography: Ashley Kickliter / Models: Hannah Birdsong, Capi Jenkins, Emily Jordan, & Hannah Henderson / Styling: Hannah Henderson)

Rarely do you run up on an individual who inspires you as deeply and as refreshingly as does Barbara Birdsong, the creator and designer of Perch, a jewelry studio in Auburn, Alabama. Very soon after having moved to Auburn two years ago, I was lucky enough to strike up a friendship with Barbara, which then turned into a number of collaborations, one of them being this lookbook. Each piece, which she makes by hand, is truly one of a kind and customizable, which I find to be very special in this mass produced world in which we live. But even beyond that, the metals, stones, and overall designs of her pieces so perfectly blend into the selection of jewelry I already wear on a daily basis. Just as a well worn in pair of jeans so effortlessly lives and moves with you, so does her jewelry. 

Checkers

(Coat: Topshop - Similar: here, here, here, here, or here / Dress: Vintage - Similar: here, here, here, here, or here  / Boots: Vintage - Similar: here or here / Scarf: Vintage - Similar: here / Cuff: Vintage - Similar: here / Hair Color: Manic Panic / Lipstick: Maybelline) 

Earlier this year, Ashley and I, needing a relief from school and feeling like we both were sliding into a bit of a creative rut decided to get together and create something that was unlike anything either of us had done before. Our main hope was to go beyond the comfortable boundaries of the standard outfit shoot, that I, for one, have grown so used to. And these images are the result (along with an earlier photo series > here < and one coming soon, so stay tuned). 

We ended up at a very happening Checkers, dodging cars, and snapping away. We drew a bit of an audience and turned the heads of many curious faces, something that instantly makes me freeze up and want to crawl into a hole no matter the amount of photos I have taken throughout the years. But once that initial wall of uncomfortableness was broken, we were both having so much fun and flowing with ideas.

I guess all I want to say is push your boundaries, try new things, and please, please, please get out of your comfort zone more often than not (primarily speaking to myself here). I know they always say it, but man how it rings true, that you just might be surprised by the cool things you've been capable of creating or experiencing all this time, when you do. 

(Photos by the incredibly talented and cool Ashley Kickliter)