Okay, so I got this idea stuck in my head about finding or making the perfect Los Angeles choker. You know, something that just feels like LA. Not too flashy, but definitely got that cool, maybe slightly edgy vibe.
Starting the Hunt
First thing, I just started looking around. Went down to Melrose, thinking that’s gotta be the spot, right? Walked in and out of a bunch of those little shops. Saw tons of stuff, some cool vintage pieces, some crazy expensive designer things. Lots of necklaces, sure, but nothing screamed “LA choker” to me. It was either too generic, like you could find it anywhere, or way too over the top. Plus, parking was a nightmare, like always. Spent more time circling for a spot than actually shopping, probably.
Then I figured, maybe downtown? Checked out the fashion district. Man, that place is overwhelming. Loads of materials if you wanna make stuff yourself, which got me thinking. But finding a ready-made piece? Still no luck. Everything felt kinda mass-produced, not the unique vibe I was picturing.
DIY Attempt – Getting Hands-On
So, I thought, okay, maybe I gotta make this thing myself. How hard could it be? Back I went, kinda near the fashion district, to grab some supplies. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted exactly, which made it tricky.
Here’s what I grabbed initially:
- Some thin black leather cord. Seemed basic LA cool.
- A few different silver charms – thought about a palm tree, maybe something geometric.
- Clasps and jump rings. The fiddly bits.
Got back home, laid it all out. Cutting the leather cord was easy enough. Getting those tiny jump rings open and closed without scratching the charm or losing the ring? That took some serious patience. Dropped them on the floor like five times. My fingers felt huge trying to work with those little things. Tried a simple design first, just the cord and a single silver charm. It looked… okay. Kinda plain, maybe?
Tried adding a couple more beads I had lying around. It started looking a bit messy, not that effortless cool I wanted. It’s funny how simple things look until you try and actually put them together yourself. Took a break because honestly, I was getting frustrated.
Finding the Vibe (Eventually)
After stepping away, I went back to basics. Just the leather cord. But this time, I focused on getting the length just right. Not too tight, not hanging like a necklace. Measured it properly against my neck. Then, instead of a shiny charm, I found this small, sort of worn-looking metal bead, almost like gunmetal. Attached just that one bead right in the center. Simple clasp.
And you know what? That felt more like it. Understated. A little bit rugged with the leather and the slightly imperfect bead. It didn’t scream “LOOK AT ME,” but it felt right. It felt kinda like the city itself – not always polished, a bit gritty, but definitely got its own style.
So yeah, that was my whole adventure trying to capture the LA choker thing. Ended up making something super simple after all that running around and fumbling with tools. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and it reminds me of that whole process. Sometimes the simplest thing works best, I guess.
