Tracy McClain: MaCavelli and Trajet

By: Katie Pavlish / iamthekatie@gmail.com

Tracy McClain is an insurance territory manager by day, but her creative outlets far surpass her day job. By night, Tracy keeps herself busy as a jewelry designer, business owner, crafter and remodeler. Faction’s “Day Drifters” and “BoHo Chic” photo shoots feature Tracy’s jewelry lines, MaCavelli and Trajet. Tracy creates jewelry through the use of found vintage pieces mixed with chains and sometimes leather. Her jewelry can be purchased on the Country Club Plaza at Standard and Halls’ Trunk Show May 20^th and 21^st .

Digging deeper into Tracy’s inspiration, we sought to find out how she created the jewelry featured in Faction’s newest issue (V8, coming out on April 27^th, 2011). What was the inspiration for each of these pieces? Which materials were used to construct them? How are some of the main features of the jewelry interchangeable?

Tracy acknowledges the ideas for her pieces come from a variety of places, such as her inspiration for body necklaces seen on a website from California. Because the body necklaces on the site were a little too “bondage looking”, Tracy chose to design her own version with a bit more vintage, feminine edge, allowing it be worn both as a body necklace or, more traditionally, by clasping the waist/hip segment around the neck.

Other pieces of jewelry were from a single piece gifted to Tracy by a friend, who wanted Tracy to make something for herself. Transforming this one necklace into four different pieces, allowed Tracy to “re-gift” one of the pieces back to her friend. Tracy also uses music as a source of inspiration during the jewelry making process. Listening to heavy rock music of the 60s and 70s resulted in a “boho influence” in the necklace transformation.

The third set we featured in v8 was a result of Tracy’s fondness of natural stones and gold meshing together. The fringe of this necklace is a weave from three to four separate pieces with Tracy’s artistic eye deciding the outcome. She said,“The agate piece needed a little bling, so I added a vintage diamond cut chain. I love that you can wear it long, layer it or double the chain up for a shorter necklace.”

Her fourth piece was inspired by what she calls her “Rocker within”, so adding leather to the pendant was a necessary addition. Tracy chose light leather to keep with the Bohemian theme, added stones to the eyes to give the owl needed “Pop”, and she finished by fixing vintage pieces on both sides.

We think pairing layered jewelry, like Tracy’s, with the recent popularity of layering clothing with sequins and shiny jewelry on sheer fabrics will be the hot style for Summer 2011. We hope Kansas City will embrace this trend, displaying assorted jewelry over sheer summer dresses and tops. This subtle flash of sexiness can make any outfit appealing, whether going out on the town or staying in during cool summer evenings.

Nationally-recognized fashion expert, Jenn Falik, agrees. She suggests the layering of “long necklaces to accessorize in the most flattering way possible. They create a line that draws the eye vertically, giving the illusion of a longer torso - a very slimming effect.”

With the summer season starting, we encourage readers to be imaginative with their wardrobe, dig through their closets, and search those blogs for new inspiration. Layering your clothing and using different jewelry will make your creativity thrive. In summer fashion it is about having no set rules, being creative, and more importantly layering it up.