We’re digging Nicole Richie’s jewelry line, oddly enough. The pieces are simple and wearable. We are, however, choosing to approach this with a bit of hesitation. The jewelry has, to borrow a phrase from the indispensable Food Court Druids, Cherohonkees and Other Creatures Unique to the Republic, a sort of appeal for “Cherohonkees,” or White folks who appropriate Native American customs and garb. We’ve already seen enough skinny magazine interns from Iowa wearing Pocahontas headbands and we’re really not terribly keen on the idea of wearing culture as an accessory when you’re the result of a particular glitch in history that has rendered you very privileged. Can we assuage our guilt by calling them Art Deco-influenced instead? Are we over-thinking this? Would we cut a fool for wearing a guayabera while reading Nylon? (Answer: Probably, yeah.)

Peruse some of Nicole’s pieces, after the jump:

House of Harlow 1960 - Orange Pyramid Bangle - $68

House of Harlow 1960 - Black Leather Ring - $38

House of Harlow 1960 - Palladium Antique Skinny Bangle - $35

House of Harlow 1960 - Black Leather Cuff - $125

House of Harlow 1960 - Gold Antique Ring - $12

Nice, no? But we’re actually really conflicted about this whole Appropriation Chic thing and we’d like to know what you think. Is wearing a bracelet that resembles Hopi art different from wearing a Scottish tartan? Is dressing up as a geisha for Halloween different from dressing like a cowgirl? Do you feel offended, embarrassed, annoyed at or sorry for people who wear, say, Che t-shirts? Or Mexican blouses? Or Chilean jewelry? If we treat all these things as if they are the same, are we making cultural relationships better, or more strained? Give us your take.

House of Harlow [Shop Style]