I happen to like leather. And neoprene. And rubber. Okay, this isn’t coming across too good. I mean for my necklaces and bracelets. Why do some of us females have to be confined to these laws of gold and silver chains? Why not get a little kinky with our jewelry?

I was in the typical NYC club full of trucker’s caps and girls in their slinky skirts and sexy shells. It was a sea of similarity, but the music was bumping and I couldn’t leave. I hate hate hate to admit this, but there’s something about these nightlife dweller's style that I’m drawn to. It’s a little rebellious, a little funky and a lot of the same. I wanted to fit in and I needed a way to stand out.

I started surfing the web for something that would hold true to my personal style, but elevate me at the same time. The first thing I found were these bright green and red and baby blue rubber necklaces. It was almost like I was revisiting the jelly bracelets of my younger days. Not only did these add flair with their color, but the material was so weird, I knew I’d be the only one wearing them. I’ve attached rhinestone stars to these and have worn eight at a time—some on my neck and the rest looped twice around my wrists.

I loved those bright necklaces as much as I love candy and I decided I needed more. I did another web search. This one led to more rubber necklaces accented with huge silver clasps and coils and coins dangling from them. They were nice, but I knew I could do better. That’s when I typed the magic word “leather.”

One of my first hits featured crocheted leather necklaces asking if I had “experienced the pleasures of crochet” (www.fertilehandsdesigns.com). That almost scared me off my search entirely. But I began looking at what they were offering and it was full of innovative, fresh designs with braided leather. They were unique and fun. I looked some more.

That’s when I discovered a gold mine at www.halocollection.com. There they had a variety of leather and suede chokers and bracelets all accented with vintage pendants. It was exactly what I was looking for. Maybe a little devious with the long strands of leather that tie at the nape of my neck, but the thirty-year-old Coppenhagen and Playboy lapel pins adorned on the front were exactly what I needed.

I’d like to say I was able to stop there, but I wasn’t. Ever see those enormous acrylic rings? I’ve got three. They almost look like a joke and they are in colors that look nothing but obnoxious with my rubber chains; I can’t help wearing them all at once. I also bought a necklace described as a “tangle of cotton thread” (Jewels Make Styles). It’s bright orange and there’s so much material that I sometimes think I’ve misplaced a pylon cone where my jewelry normally goes.

Here's an easy way to begin (and avoid some of the scary sites I hit): just click here to find tons of talented jewelers who can deliver your style.