48 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 7.15
Best Costume Jewelry
2023 Antiques
2023 Frankfort Ave.
In 1996, Judy Champion opened 2023 in Clifton as a Mid-Centu-
ry Modern furnishings shop. "One time, a woman pulled up with
the back of her station wagon flled with handmade clothes that
were beautiful," Champion says. "From clothing, you branch out.
And because I do like the jewelry, it's taken over." The 70-year-old
wears round, thick-framed glasses and has a giant taffeta fower
pinned to her burnt-orange sweater. She foats around the store,
plucking her current favorites from the cases of carefully dis-
played bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, pendants, brooches,
cuffinks, tie clips and more. "Is that not fab?" she says, holding up
an ornate bracelet. "This link bracelet has green Peking glass — a
material from the '20s and '30s that was made to look like jade.
My favorite fnd. I almost thought about not putting it in the case.
But a girl's gotta pay rent." She laughs as she often does.
Costume jewelry is not made from gold or silver or precious
gems but often glass. The word "costume," Champion says,
comes from couturier shows in Paris. "Chanel would commission
pieces to go with her costumes," she says. Champion has a lot of
so-called "pickers," who go around to different cities searching
for vintage items. She also goes to fea markets and antique malls
and occasionally sees people come into the store with their late
grandmother's collection. She used to look for more over-the-
top rhinestone pieces but says that the lifestyle has gotten more
casual. "In the '50s, you didn't put a rhinestone on until after 5,
but that rule is out the window. People would wear this with
jeans," she says, holding up a sparkly choker necklace. "I look for
unusual materials and designs. If it's a good design, I'm gonna buy
it — glitzy or not.
"Here, look at this: a bowling-ball-and-pin slide bracelet. How
kitschy is that?"
— MCA
CRITIC'S
CHOICE
Photo
by
Aaron
Kingsbury
Best Scenic Route
Maybe you're trying to get
to Captain's Quarters from
the Highlands. Or you want
a no-fuss route from down-
town to pick your kids up
from Ballard High School
or Kammerer Middle. Or
maybe you simply want to
take a tree-towering drive
or bike ride that doesn't
involve getting lost in the
depths of Cherokee Park
or Anchorage (both can get
a little scary). Three words:
Lime Kiln Lane. Oh, and I
should probably mention
intersecting River Road,
seeing that it's an offcial
Kentucky Scenic Byway.
Take that, too.
— MCA
CRITIC'S
CHOICE