baby, you're a design star | put me in, coach | design of the times A Charmed Life S. Appel When I first laid eyes on the Kate Spade "Bright Lights Big City" necklace, immediately I was smitten with nostalgia. It reminded me of the plastic charm necklaces my friends and I had growing up where we would collect the toy-like charms and fasten them to the chain with little hooks. Bold colors were a must! Kate's grow'd up version, which pays homage to NYC through iconic imagery, is just as cheeky. However, the $350 price tag sends it sadly outside of my budget. But as I gazed upon the photo, something struck me. There was something familiar. Kate's highly coveted 2009 version Behnaz had a necklace too, in 2006 I ran to my jewelry box and pulled out my beloved Behnaz Sarapour for Target charm bracelet which I had purchased several years ago (over two years ago, to be exact). The similarities between Kate's necklace and my ($15) bracelet were undeniable: Pretzel? Check. "N-Y-C"? check. Apple, subway token, taxi cab? All accounted for in all of their enameled goldtone glory. Sure Kate's necklace has a second chain and few more charms (gotta love the coffee cup), but with such a high mark-up, it's much more affordable to hunt down two Behnaz necklaces via eBay and wear them together. And with Kate's version sold out everywhere, it's also a much easier route to take as well. As for me, I am obsessed with finding an original. Preferably, in hot pink plastic. >>> you've got the look | stop, look, & listen | sharp-dressed men| just drawn that way| isn't it iconic? rock your hobby|| who are you? | my back pages | privacy policy| contact