You know that one necklace that every single one of your friends owns in a different color? You bought it months back thinking you were ahead of the trend, and you turn around to find that every girl behind you in line at Starbucks happens to be wearing it. 

Even if I love a piece of jewelry, I won’t purchase it if I’ve seen it on everyone and their mother (and grandmother and sister and second cousin twice removed). I'm totally referring to those bubble necklaces, as you can find them everywhere from Rice Village to Highland Village to The Galleria to River Oaks to City Centre. And back.

I like unique pieces. I want to wear something that I don’t see in every single store, and I’ll splurge if I know it’s something that I won’t find many other places. 

Enter: Willow Boutique in Upper Kirby, which opened in September. A charming cottage on the outside, an oversized jewelry closet on the inside, the place is stocked with non-bubble necklace goodness. I walked in and kind of felt like I died and went to jewelry heaven.  The vintage-meets-rocker chic feel of the badass cuffs below instantly caught my eye:

Seriously. Check out this tribal-inspired treasure of a necklace:

They carry Viktoria Hayman, Kenneth Jay Lane, Clara Kasavina, Millianna, and Gerard Yosca and even sell some ultra-chic evening bags.

The next time you’re waiting in line at Starbucks you’ll thank me.