Oldies but Goodies

When Debbie Oakley of Henderson discovers a true vintage accessory treasure, CPR could be necessary.

"My heart just goes," she says, rapidly thumping her fingertips to her heart. "I start panting. I have to have it. I have to have it."

The adrenaline rush of a vintage jewelry collector doesn't compare to that of any old jewelry junkie. The difference is accessibility. Like most collectors, Oakley is drawn to a very specific style: Victorian revival costume jewelry from the '30s to '50s. Not exactly as easy to find as a John Hardy cuff from the fall '09 collection, but the hunt is what makes the capture so fulfilling for the full-time hairstylist.

She realizes everyone doesn't have the time or energy to spend chasing down a serpentine bracelet with dragon's breath stones from 1953, though. For them, Oakley launched embellishgirl.com, a Web site where she sells every necklace, bracelet, brooch, purse and scarf that she's collected over the years -- and is willing to part with.

Oakley finally put her baubles on the Web after hosting a jewelry show for friends and realizing she isn't the only one with an addiction. "It was a shark-feeding frenzy," she recalls. "Girls and their jewelry. If they want it, they want it."

And hopefully for embellishgirl.com, they'll come and get it. She sells designers such as Sarah Coventry, Selro, Selini, Miriam Haskell, Eisenberg, Coro, Hobe, Juliana, Trifari and more. Pieces are crafted using various crystals, art glass, black metal, chunky beads and antique rhinestones. Her price points range from $25 to $325. Styles lean toward the grandiose, with parure sets (three matching pieces) worthy of red carpets and individual pieces that serve as exclamation points.

Oakley, who has a fashion degree from International Academy of Design and Technology in Henderson, has been collecting vintage for more than 20 years. Her collection once spanned everything head-to-toe, which she briefly sold from a Boulder City storefront called Antique Boutique in the late '80s. A lack of vintage-minded locals caused her to shut down the shop prematurely. From there, she sold her goods through shows at casinos and claims to remember every piece ever to leave her hands.

The one sell that stands out the most would have to be a long white beaded gown she gave up to a movie costume designer. Normally, she bids her pieces goodbye, figuring she'll never see them again, but the white gown greeted her again during Sharon Stone's opening scene of "Casino." Oakley "couldn't believe" her eyes.

Her vintage clothing days are behind her as she got rid of everything except her jewelry. Today she just hopes to cause someone else's heart to palpitate the way hers does when she comes across a coveted piece.

According to Oakley, "We don't want to wear Grandma's jewelry just because we loved her." We want to wear it because we love the jewelry, too.