Inside the Watch Box of Kaylee Wiginton
Meet Kaylee!
I wanted to highlight Kaylee this month because she is one of the most stylish people I have ever met. I have always known her to have the most unique and beautiful accessories. Oftentimes, when asked where she acquired her pieces she will mention how she either found them in her grandmothers closet, or hidden at the bottom of the bin at a flea market. Kaylee is the epitome of what Eternal Heritage is all about—she has always seen the beauty in the history and stories behind objects, and has a gift for breathing new life into these old treasures.
Kaylee is currently a Communications Coordinator for a non-profit, which is fitting, because to me she has always been a storyteller-something you will see for yourself throughout her interview. She has the amazing ability find connections in people and make them feel like they are part of a larger purpose. We are so lucky that we are able to take a peek into her world. Without further adieu, here is a look inside Kaylee’s watch box<3
Q: Do any of the pieces you have featured have any sort of sentimental value? If so, which ones? And what is the story behind them?
A: Many of my pieces are sentimental to me, as a lot of my jewelry came from my grandma. In particular, the small gold earrings and the pearl bracelet were my grandma’s, along with the brown watch, silver earrings, and most of my other bracelets. The small gold earrings are some of my most worn pieces of jewelry, and I love that they remind me of my grandma and her love of clothes and accessories that she passed on to me. In addition to pieces I have gotten from my mom or grandma, one of my favorite things to do when I travel is get pieces of jewelry. One of my favorite memories is stopping at a flea market I found when wandering around New York City on my first solo trip and digging through a big pile of jewelry to find the gold chain bracelet and funky triangle vintage earrings. I try to be intentional with my jewelry, both wearing and purchasing (and sometimes making), so most of my jewelry has memories associated with each piece.
Q: Would you say your jewelry box is more representative of who you are now or who you are becoming?
A: I would say my jewelry box currently is pretty representative of who I am now. I feel like it has matured and grown with me, but still holds pieces from previous eras of my life, which I love. I love to look at my jewelry box and know that I can and will wear every piece in it currently.
Q: Do you believe in saving your watches and jewelry for special occasions or do you prefer to wear them everyday?
A: In different times in my life I tend to wear different types of pieces everyday and add on for special occasions. Currently, I am more likely to be wearing earrings and rings everyday and adding watches, bracelets and necklaces for special occasions, versus in high school and college I wore necklaces everyday.
Q: Do you believe any of your pieces hold on to stories and moments of the past? If so, which ones?
A: As I mentioned before, I try to be very intentional with the jewelry I buy and keep, so there are very few pieces that don’t have a story or memory, and are just something I randomly pick up. Some of my pieces I got from my grandma I remember her wearing or were things I bought her that she wanted me to have back after she was gone, and those are special. My most worn necklace, the tiny gold heart necklace, is one that my mom gave me when I was a teenager. I have bracelets and necklaces that are matching with friends or gifts from friends. And I have rings and bracelets and necklaces that I have made myself, which is a fun creative outlet and hobby, and something I’ve watched my mom and grandma do. And I also have the pieces I bought on trips that I love to wear and associate with all the adventures I have been so lucky to have.
Q: Which items do you believe will outlive you-and who will they be passed down to?
A: I believe that the pieces I have gotten from my family will outlive me and be passed down to, hopefully, my children, or nieces and nephews. Also, as a lover of second hand shopping, some of my favorite pieces are second hand, so for anything I have loved and enjoyed throughout my life to bring the same joy to anyone finding it second hand in a thrift store or garage sale or vintage store, that would be wonderful as well.
Q: Do you keep the stories of your heirlooms to yourself, or share them so they live on?
A: I love to share the stories of my heirlooms, from telling people about the watch business one of my best friends started, to sharing where I was when I bought a pair of earrings, to sharing the story of how my grandma got the bracelet I am wearing. I think sharing how you connect to the material items you have chosen to have in your home helps me to appreciate the things around me. Before my grandma died, she started leaving little sticky notes on things that she wanted to pass along and the stories of how she got them, because it was important to her, and we have all loved and appreciated learning about the origins of the things we have seen our entire lives.
Q: Has a piece ever made you feel unexpectedly close to someone?
A: The pieces I have gotten from someone I know, or with someone I know, always make me feel closer to them, from wearing a watch I got from Emily and Eternal Heritage, to wearing a bracelet my sister made me, or a necklace I made with my friends.
Q: I obviously think you have amazing style, so as we wrap up do you have any final thoughts on your personal style or how you approach fashion and accessories?
A: Jewelry can go through trends just like clothes, but I try to keep mine as timeless as possible. I love being able to reach for anything in my jewelry box for any occasion, and to be able to keep and continuously wear and enjoy the things I buy. I am a simple gold jewelry kind of girl who enjoys the odd fun pair of earrings :) It may be a little plain and boring to some, but I know my tastes lol
