A tiny strawberry can go in your hair or on your shoe, but the thing holding it there is doing very different work. With a handmade accessory, we like looking at both sides: the painted shape that drew you in, and the clip or backing that needs to fit how you'll use it.
Howdy's Red Strawberry Hair Clip and Green Hair Clip are made and painted in Texas. Their clay decorations have a UV-resin finish. Although the maker is called Howdy Ceramics, these accessories aren't the same material as the fired dishes elsewhere in the shop.
For the bit of hair you want out of your face
The maker talks about creating the clips while growing out bangs, which gives you a sense of the use she had in mind. Your own hair and the section you'd like to hold will still matter. A small decorated clip and a clip for a large amount of hair are different purchases.
Compare the hardware with a clip you already enjoy wearing. Look at its length, how it opens and the space beneath the decoration. The strawberry on the front may be larger than the fastening behind it, so a front-facing photo won't answer every fit question.
If a hardware measurement is important and you can't find it, ask us. It's more helpful than assuming the clip will hold every texture and style in the same way.
A strawberry for your shoes
The Red Strawberry Shoe Charm and Pink Strawberry Shoe Charm are hand-sculpted polymer decorations made for Crocs-style shoe openings. They are painted and finished with UV resin.
Compare the backing with the opening on the shoes you own before choosing a color. A photograph of the fruit tells you what it will look like; the reverse tells you how it attaches. If your shoe has a different arrangement, confirm compatibility rather than forcing the piece to fit.
Help the fastening do its work
Howdy asks you to guide the charm into the shoe, and especially to help it when removing it. Avoid pulling only on the fruit because it's the easiest part to grab. The connection between the decoration and backing deserves some care.
With a hair clip, get familiar with the opening mechanism before using the decorated face as a handle. Follow Howdy's care instructions when cleaning the decorated piece.
When you put the accessory away, give it a spot where heavier things won't crush the face or fastening. If it will travel in your bag, the tote and clutch guide helps you think through what else is coming along.
Choosing for someone else
Look at the accessories they already wear and the scale they like. A playful fruit doesn't establish an age recommendation, so choose for the intended wearer and follow the product guidance. If jewelry is more their thing, our jewelry guide works through metal, length and scale.
There are more ideas in the gift guide. For a clip or charm, though, the satisfying part is very specific: finding a little shape you'd like to wear, and knowing how it will stay there.
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