The Big Picture

In my opinion, life is one big, jumbled accumulation of tiny, invaluable details. It's composed of little memories and moments that join forces to create definitive life experiences. If you're anything like me, you like to hold onto these experiences in some small way: not everyday, not all the time, but somehow, you always make your way back to the keepsakes that unlock the door to your past.

My keepsakes are accessories.

Be it golden heirlooms, housewarming gifts, or some shitty piece of costume jewelry I bought at a street fair, accessorizing is - I believe - one of few forms of keepsakes that accurately indicate something about who you were, who you are, or who you want to be.

So welcome to Unofficial Use Only, the blog-haven of accessories for your body and home. You'll find dozens of sparkly things here: some of which I own, some I wish I owned, but all I love for their beauty and back story. Each featured piece has been curated by yours truly for a particularly fabulous characteristic, for a certain experience I associate it with, or as an allegory for a place I aspire to be. (And if you're wondering about the meaning of the title: who uses accessories officially? No one. Accessories are strictly used in an unofficial capacity. There you have it.)

There's not much of a purpose to this blog besides ogling pretty things, so enjoy! Perhaps as an unintended side effect of reading you'll start looking at your accessories a little differently. But I'm not making any promises.