Bracelets – Page 23 – Jewelry Fashion Tips

Mary Esses: Designer

Brazil was well-represented at the Couture jewelry show, and I think that Mary Esses was one of its stars! As a child, Mary dreamed of being a decorator, special agent, chef, forensic lawyer and jewelry designer. Happily, she already has achieved one of her childhood dreams. Mary is just as sparkling as her line, and she just exudes joy and femininity. These qualities are definitely apparent in her pieces.

mary esses and amy roseveare — Mary and Amy

Moving from Brazil to New York City, Mary was amazed at the juxtaposition of the fabrics and textures that surrounded her. Taking this theme, and striving to bring “fabric” to jewelry, she came up with the concept for her lace collection. Given that lace is one of the hottest trends in fashion, Mary is right on the money with this group. The 18K gold is manipulated in such a way that I honestly had to ask if the jewelry was made of metal or actual lace! Her assistant gave me a sly grin and said, “Well we don’t give away our secrets!”

mary esses lace collection — Is it metal or fabric??

The lace group is only one part of her line, though. She also embraces lots of color in her other collections. I’m in lust with the graduated oranges and tangerines of carnelian in the multi-strand beaded bracelet! The ring is made of Madera citrine, smoky quartz and diamonds. And don’t get me started on the rutilated quartz earrings.

mary esses cornelian jewelry — Just as pretty as a tropical sunset!

I must say I adore the geometry and bold color choice in these chrisophrase and smoky topaz earrings. I think I would wear them with a white maxi-dress and gold sandals on the Riviera! (with a cocktail in hand, of course!)

All her jewelry is hand-crafted. When I asked Mary what the best part of being a jewelry designer was, here was her reply, “The best part…is when I sit on the bench and start working on a piece, and I get to a stage of clear and peaceful mind. When, like a child, I disconnect from everything and I just play. And even if the outcome is not perfect, it doesn’t matter. Because I rest my mind and I free my soul while doing it. There will always be “a next day” to make that piece better.” I can’t tell you how this resonates with my soul. Getting totally immersed in something that brings you joy, and letting go of the perfectionism that our society prides itself on is a gift. Mary, you are a gift to jewelry!

Katherine Jetter: Designer

It must have been back when I was about 8 years old or so…my grandmother went on a cruise to Austraila, and she brought me back (what I thought was) THE most amazing necklace. It’s pendant was a kangaroo with some opal chips in it. I had never seen an opal before, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven! Well let me tell you, Australian-born jewelry designer Katherine Jetter takes opals and other Australian themes to a whole new level!

I was drawn to Katherine’s booth at the Couture show because I had seen one of her rings in a glossy publication in my hotel room. It’s called the Madame Butterfly ring, and it’s made of hand-carved white opals, accented with diamonds and a Mandarin garnet in the center. Mesmerizing, right?!

katherine jetter madam butterfly ring — Now THIS is a floral ring!

Katherine is just as lovely as her jewelry, and she generously spent her time showing me her line and educating me about it.

katherine jetter and amy roseveare — Wearing one of her amazing bracelets

Here’s a close-up of the stunning cuff I was wearing. It’s made of 18K yellow gold with diamonds. The detail is amazing! Look at the turtle and the coral — it’s just like you were under the sea! Speaking of turtles, this is Katherine’s signature on all her pieces. Whether it’s prominent, as in this cuff, or hidden in the back of a smaller earring, there is a turtle on each and every piece of her jewelry. According to Egyptian mythology, the turtle symbolizes good luck and protection. I love this sentiment and detail in her collection.

katherine jetter cuff — Great Barrier Reef cuff

The main inspirations for her line come from her home country — the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Though she spent time in the corporate world, she was drawn to jewelry design over 6 years ago. I’m so glad she followed her heart, as her designs are truly unique! (And trust me, I’ve seen a lot of jewelry lines!)

Much of her collection features opals, sourced from Austaila, Peru, and Mexico. I’m not quite sure how she comes up with her exquisite designs, but here’s a prime example. This is the Whitsunday Island pendant, which showcases a lightening ridge black opal that’s over 34 carats! Combined with 18K white gold, diamonds and a moonstone chain, the result is fantastic!

katherine jetter necklace — Whitsunday Island Pendant

Here is how she used white opal splinters entwined in sterling silver with pink mist tourmaline, to create a pair of earrings unlike any I’ve ever seen.

katherine jetter earrings — Hanging vine earrings

I’m clearly not the only one intrigued by her designs. She’s definitely getting a celebrity following. Both Renee Bargh and Naomi Watts will be adorned in her jewels while walking the red carpet at the Australian Film Insitute Awards this Wednesday, June 27th. I think I’ll have to tune in and check it out!

Vanessa Leu: Designer

Vanessa Leu is another uber-talented designer I had the privilege of meeting at the Couture show in Las Vegas. Born in Taiwan, Vanessa spent years as a journalist in Vietnam…not your typical background for going into jewelry! She came to the states in the 80’s and enrolled in the Gemological Institute of America. Well let me tell you, I’m thrilled she made this career change, as her designs are quite fabulous!

Here’s one of the first pieces that caught my eye. It’s a sculptural cuff made from re-claimed metal and conflict-free stones, as is her entire collection. In fact, she is so adamant about fair-trade working conditions, that she actually visits where the jewelry is being made to make sure everything is up to par.

Vanessa has a strong spiritual side to her, with a life-long Zen practice and following the teachings of the philosopher Lao Tzu. She truly strives to show a meeting of east and west in her designs, which “marries the beauties of two cultures and transcends the soul.” With minimalist lines, she really gets this feeling across in her line. Here is an outstanding pair of earrings, which I’ve spied on more than one celebrity recently!

vanessa leu earrings — I love the elongated marquis shape!

In fact, here’s Nicole Scherzinger at a London movie premier wearing these dramatic dangles in another color.

Nicole Scherzinger in Vanessa Leu earrings — This really shows you the scale of the earrings

Not only is Vanessa a very eco-conscious designer, she’s also got a big heart. She donates a portion of her profits to charity, really paying it forward. What a cool lady!

Efva Attling: Designer

I arrived at the Couture jewelry show a couple days before it started, as I wanted some time to relax in Vegas. (OK…actually time to shop, who am I trying to kid?!) While lounging by the pool one morning, I saw a very stylish woman in an aqua bikini gracefully walking into the pool. The next night, at Couture’s poolside opening party (Taio Cruz!), I found myself sitting next to that same glamorous woman. Coincidence? I think not. I’m confident that we were supposed to meet.

Come to find out that she is Efva Attling, an amazing jeweler from Stockholm, Sweden.

We sat for quite some time in her salon, as she told me a bit about her life and how she came to be the woman and designer she is today. Her history includes being an uber-famous model (she was even on the cover of Elle at age 50!), headlining a gold-record band back in the 80’s, and hosting a talk show, just to touch the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of her fame, she is extremely open and down to earth. She exudes a positive energy that just draws you to her. I think this energy translates to the jewelry she designs.

Known for her silver work, her tag line is “beauty with a thought,” as she desires to connect with people with “short songs,” as she calls them. While she can’t put an entire song’s lyrics on her pieces, she instead carefully selects words to get to the heart of the matter and connect with wearer. I love the words embedded in this necklace, don’t you?! It’s a rod of rock crystal with silver.

efva attling necklace — This necklace says it all!

Here’s a very clever necklace, that has a heart tucked inside. When she gave one as a gift to Angelina Jolie, she had the names of her children inscribed on the heart. Precious.

And this unique cuff bracelet has a fingerprint on it — do you see it? Believe it or not, it’s the fingerprint of her mother, which she captured before she passed away. Truly, all her jewelry has a heart.

efva attling bracelet — A cuff with meaning

Her fine jewelry is also quite amazing. Here she is wearing one of her signature necklaces. All I can say is, “Wow!”

While we were talking, she told me the story of a very good friend of hers. She had tried for years to have a child, and was finally blessed with a son. This precious gift was then taken from her in the tsunami in 2004. In her grief for her friend’s loss, she designed a special angel necklace. This “Angels” necklace, in cooperation with the Red Cross, has now raised over a million dollars for the tsunami victims. I think this story clearly demonstrates the type of woman Efva is.

For those of you stateside who can’t quite swing jewelry shopping in Sweden, don’t despair! In addition to her online shop, she also recently opened a boutique in the fabulous meatpacking district in New York City. Personally, I can’t wait to check it out on my next trip to the Big Apple!

Temple St. Clair: Designer

I fell in love with Temple St. Clair‘s rock crystal amulets from the first time I saw one…it was literally beckoning to me from a well-lit glass case. It was at the same time ethereal, bohemian and elegant. It’s a rare piece of jewelry that can capture all that at once. Then and there, it went on my “lust/must” list.

Temple has been celebrating her 25th year in business, and I was thrilled to attend her special trunk show at Wilke’s Bashford a while back.

Since procuring said amulet wasn’t part of my budget at that time, I settled for reading her beautiful coffee table book cover-to-cover. Alchemy, a Passion for Jewels is a gorgeous tome, full of both information and stunning photos. While reading I discovered the designer and I both shared a passion for Italy (where she learned her craft), pieces of the past, and the ocean. Perhaps this is why I am so consistently drawn to her collection, as we appear to be kindred spirits. (In fact that’s what she inscribed in my copy of her book!)

temple st. Clair book — A must-have book for any jewelry lover!

Here’s a sample of her rock crystal amulets that I got to have fun with at the show.

temple st. clair amulets — How to decide which one I love best?!

And it was hard to tear this incredible moonstone cuff from my wrist….

temple st. clair bracelet — Fit for a goddess!

Temple designs with 18K yellow and white gold and gemstones of all colors. She creates a new collection twice a year, for spring and fall. Her line can be found in fine jewelry boutiques and department stores around the globe. If you’re interested in seeing her work in person, I’m sure you can find a nearby retailer!

Age-Appropriate Jewelry

Trust me, as a 43 year-old woman I’m constantly aware of dressing both myself and my clients in a hip, yet age-appropriate way. Is the skirt too short? Too much cleavage showing? Do any of my friends’ daughters wear this? These are all questions which constantly run through my head when styling. Believe it or not, this also extends to one’s jewelry choices each day.

There are a multitude of fun jewelry trends out there right now, some of which I’ve written about, such as brightly colored jewelry and the art deco craze. I basically feel that the younger you are, the more license you have to experiment with trends — it’s the time where you’re really trying to nail down your sense of personal style.

Here’s the wrist of a 19 year-old I spotted in San Francisco. The neon pink bracelet from Charlotte Russe paired with the silver charm bracelet from Juicy Couture just seemed “right”…remember…she’s 19…

juicy couture jewelry — Perfect for a 19 year-old

And while out and about in Palo Alto I spied this stylish 23 year-old who was rocking both stacking bracelets and the neon trend. Again, I loved it…for her.

age appropriate jewelry — Some summer fun!

But then…there are those times when a poor choice is made. While I know Hello Kitty is more than just a crush for some (I have a dear friend with a tasteful Hello Kitty tattoo), I find it highly inappropriate when an adult adorns herself with said cat in not just glittery earrings, but also with Hello Kitty bedazzled hair clips. Really?! I’m not sure this woman has clearly thought about the image she wants to portray. And really, she was a darling woman.

hello kitty jewelry — My 7 year-old niece would love this

So tomorrow morning when you head for your jewelry box, I urge you to take some time to think about your personal style and what your jewelry will be saying about you before you even open your mouth. Because trust me, jewelry talks!

Seattle’s Treasures!

I recently made my way to Seattle for a fun girl’s weekend. (In fact I think I’m still recovering…) I didn’t have time to do any shopping research before leaving (oh, the horrors!), so I just relied on tips from locals and hitting the pavement to see what I could find. I knew there were some gorgeous items just waiting to be discovered, and I was right!

I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear, but I think I was shopping within about and hour and a half of landing! The first boutique I visited turned out to be one of my favorites of the trip. Alhambra is conveniently located right near Pike’s Place Market, and I was delighted to meet one of the owners, a lovely Turkish woman named Serpil. When you walk into the shop, you feel transported to some exotic location. The merchandise is cleverly displayed in every nook and cranny. She carries some of my favorite jewelry designers, from Erica Molinari to Nava Zahavi. There’s a wide array of price points and styles, so I’m sure that most shoppers can find something they just “must” have.

(Side bar: If you’re into vintage jewelry, check out Isadora’s Antique jewelry just across First Street. I spotted some cool Native American pieces and some lovely 1890’s Persian turquoise.)

If you wander a few blocks further down First, you can’t miss Watson Kennedy, which is a virtual cabinet of curiosities come to life! It’s a huge store, and there is jewelry tucked in quite a few places, so you really have to spend some time looking. (like that’s a chore, right?!) I thought these earrings (made by a friend of the owner) were quite intriguing, as I do have sort of a “thing” for religious artifacts. They’re made from vintage French medallions.

watston kenney seattle jewelry — Charming earrings

Watson Kennedy doesn’t sell any fine jewelry, so you can be sure that they have lots of baubles at accessible price points. It’s a truly eclectic mix of goodies!

watson kennedy jewelry — Colorful delights at every turn!

In talking with locals (and the ever-so-helpful concierge), I next found myself heading about 20 minutes from downtown to the Ballard neighborhood. This is purported to be an “artsy” area of town, which in my mind translates to unique jewelry! I was about done exploring and hadn’t come across anything that turned my head…and then I discovered Curtis Steiner. This triangular, well-lit shop is just amazing! Everything in this delightful boutique is either antique or hand-made by (predominantly) Washington artists. The owner designs exquisitely feminine necklaces, many of which can transform into short or long lengths.

curtis steiner necklaces — A tri-level display of Curtis' designs

The displays of antique jewelry abound!

curtis steiner jewelry — A parade of bangles

The walls of the store are covered in floor-to-ceiling displays of hand-made greeting cards, also a creation of Curtis.

curtis steiner seattle — Hangin' with Curtis

Of course, all this shopping makes a girl hungry. In Ballard, stop by La Carta de Oaxaca for some amazing Mexican food. Yum! Or if downtown, make your way to the Purple Cafe & Wine Bar for drinks and dinner. Gotta keep a shopping girl well-fueled!

Too Many Layers: Jewelry Judge

So you know that I’m all about layering necklaces and stacking bracelets. But when you decide to wear all your gold at once, you resemble an extra from “Pirates of the Caribbean” more than a chic woman about town. Case in point with this gal. While I really loved her diamond encrusted sea star pendant, it was completely overwhelmed by the heavy chain/gold coin and the thick omega with diamond enhancer. And let’s not even mention the seahorse pin with the heavily patterned vest. I think this is the perfect opportunity to edit, edit, edit….

too many necklaces — Three times is not a charm....

Miriam Salat: Designer

Gypset…it’s a term some of you may not have heard about before. This is a term used to describe the gypsy, jet-setter lifestyle. (There’s a actually a beautiful book that delves into this theme.) This embodies a life full of adventure, color, luxe travel and joy. Miriam Salat’s line is designed with this woman in mind. When the gypset woman is out embracing life, she clearly needs to be adorned in beautiful jewelry.

Officially founded in 2010, this line is primarily composed of resin, sterling silver, and 18 K gold vermeil. Though her pieces are extremely on trend with the whole color story, that’s not what intrigues me. More it’s the feeling that I need to be shopping at the bazaar in Istanbul when I wear her pieces.

Here’s a beautiful set of her bangles. Worn together or intermixed with bracelets you already own, I’m just loving these!

miriam salat bangles — Sweet stack of bangles

This gorgeous pair of earrings would pair perfectly with a breezy white linen sundress.

And this ring gives you the look of stacked rings all in one. I actually own this ring in camel, and it’s really become a go-to ring for me.

miriam salat ring — There's another silver layer on the other side

With Mother’s Day approaching, Miriam Salat (in cooperation with Fever Tree, DRY Soda and Vosges Haute-Chocolat) is donating 15% of sales to Water For People, which is an international non-profit organization that aims to bring access to safe water and sanitation to those in need. This event runs May 8-13th, so be sure to take advantage of this! It applies both online and in her store, located in Columbus Circle in New York City.

You gotta love jewelry that gives back….

Country Overboard!: Jewelry Judge

This is another pic I snapped at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. Granted, the whole Vegas thing elicits a particular dress code, but I think this gal took it a bit too far. Love the Erin Featherstone black beaded mini-dress she’s wearing, but I do think she went a big overboard on the jewelry. Did she really need those oversized, bohemian earrings? (which might be perfect with a bikini on St. Tropez) AND the big bangles? AND the layered necklaces? And the photo doesn’t even show the huge cocktail ring she was wearing on her right hand. Darling…scale it back a bit and you’ll be stunning!