This is the second year I’ve attended the Women’s Jewelry Association’s big event, Designers by the Bay. This event is truly a visual feast, held in the Shreve’s building near Union Square; it’s where Bay Area fine jewelry designers showcase their latest work. There was unfortunately no way to have an intimate look at every case during the time I was there, but there were four designers that really got my attention, and I was able to take a closer look at their lines.
Tura Sugden was a new kid on the block (It was her first show!), but she is going places..quickly. She is based in Noe Valley in San Francisco, where she designs and makes each piece herself. I was taken by the unique settings and stone shapes — look at this spectacular pair of diamond earrings!
The same amazing detail, created with a German blow-torch, is shown in her studs as well. (I’m especially paying attention to these now that I have my new piercings!)
And what’s not to love about this diamond cuff?
In contrast to the complexity of Tura’s designs, I was also very drawn to the sleek lines of Coleoptere (which means beetle in French). I tried on this shiny gold disc ring (called the wabi sabi ring), with diamonds around the edges. So interesting how the light reflects off the surface of it, making it almost look like a stone of some sort.
Here’s a clear photo of it from their website.
This Oakland-based company has all female goldsmiths — very unique! They use 18K royal yellow gold, which I learned is a rare buttery color with a touch of green. I thought the design of these asterisk earrings was awesome.
The woman I was standing next to wanted to go home with these stunning gold hair pins…and they’d look fab on her with her long hair!
Jennifer Dawes is an artist that I’ve wanted to meet for years, and I finally had the pleasure at this event. Based in Santa Rosa, Jennifer’s collection was bursting with color. There were stacks of rings in all hues.
With a strong focus on responsible, sustainable jewelry, all of Jennifer’s jewelry is hand fabricated and finished at her studio. I was in love with this necklace, comprised of a very pale emerald above an emerald crystal. The combination of color and texture is sublime.
Taking a stroll through her website, this Etruscan double diamond ring spoke to me.
My final showcase for the evening (before the Giant’s won the World Series and I had to get the heck out of SF before the mayhem) was that of Thalia Jewelry. Designer Rachel Clinnick just glowed with delight when showing me her amazing work. I could instantly feel her passion for design. This stack of diamond and opal rings was amazing–especially the one with the diamond teardrop pendant. Yum!
Most of the pieces are one-of-a-kind. I couldn’t believe how this large Ethiopian opal ring was on fire on my finger!
And this one she dubbed “The King’s ring.” Wowza–very heavy and worthy of royalty indeed!
Finally, this necklace with it’s diamond pave double snake clasp was beautiful! The clasp is completely interchangeable, allowing you to create different necklace or bracelet looks. Brilliant design!
I wish I had been able to stay longer at the event, as there were many more cases beckoning me. So many jewels, so little time…
One of the things I loved about spending a week staying in the Meatpacking district in New York City was that there were tons of great shops just a stone’s throw from my hotel. Many, of course, are national chains, but others are quaint shops that I was so pleased to discover. One of my favorites was Anna Inspiring Jewellry, which my client and I were’t familiar with. Now, we’re both big fans. Here’s a photo from their website which will give you a feel for the line.
The jewelry has a very light, delicate feel — most of their pieces are perfect for layering. My client fell in love with these rose gold earrings, which have a pave diamond ball with a long chain that hangs from the back of your ear. Since she recently got a second piercing, she paired it with the same pave ball in a stud.
Also at the top of her lust list was this diamond circle ring. With her petite frame, it was the perfect accent — bold, but not overwhelming at all.
There were tons of different bracelets. Click here for the link to see the choices. There’s quite a few with charms with inspiring words. They definitely would make special gifts for people on your list. (Perfect way to get a jump start on your holiday shopping!)
The delightful owner and designer, Anna, was fortunately in the store on both our visits. She was visiting from Vienna, where they are based. (There’s also a third store in Munich, Germany.) While my client was busy trying on things, I couldn’t resist trying on this double-fingered diamond ring myself. It’s incredibly comfortable, and it doesn’t restrict your finger movement whatsoever.
I thought the line was exceptionally well-priced, especially given the cost of gold these days. I’m so glad that we discovered this store, and we’ll be sure to come back next trip.
Perhaps it’s Pinterest’s fault…months ago I started coming across photos of women with lovely, delicate ear piercings. Some had numerous, some just a few, but it got me thinking that this would be a fabulous way to get to wear more jewelry…petite raw diamond studs, perhaps a little diamond bar or hoop? Certainly nothing over-the-top — just tasteful with an urban bohemian flair. And then I noticed many of my friends (especially those in the jewelry business) had such creative combinations in their ears. But then, I also know that I’m the girl who faints during a routine blood test. Could I really do this? Then came last Wednesday night. There I was at the Women’s Jewelry Association Designers by the Bay event, and I got into a conversation about it with Laura Forst, from Aesthetic Movement, and a couple other jewelry designers who are also considering making the piercing leap. (side note: Laura’s ears full of diamonds are a beauty to behold.)
“What about this Saturday?” says Laura.
“What are you talking about?” I reply skeptically.
“I know the perfect place,” she says with a grin, “It’s Rose Gold’s Tattoo and Piercing in the Haight.”
I knew full well that I was available on Saturday.
I have never been to the Haight.
I’ve never been to a tattoo parlor.
Fast forward to Saturday.
I’m in the Haight, and I’m in a tattoo place.
Outside. My. Comfort. Zone. Oh my.
We got there right when it opened, so it was still pretty quiet, and we were able to peruse the earring selections. Now let me tell you, this is not like going to the mall where some 16 year-old girl gets out the piercing gun and shoots an ugly-colored Swarovski crystal into your ear. This is serious business. I couldn’t believe the selection of white, yellow, and rose gold options with various stones. (And I’m choosing to ignore the fact that I needed my cheaters to see everything in detail. Ha!)
Some of the possibilities
And certainly there were some options that I was going to stay clear of.
Marie McCarthy, the lovely and knowledgeable owner, and my professional piercer, Perry Doig, helped with the selection. I knew I was in good hands. I ended up choosing a bezel-set opal and a little gold four-ball design stud.
Knowing that I’m a fainter (this cannot be emphasized enough!), I was thrilled to know that I would be laying down for this process. Still, my hands were clammy and my stomach was in knots.
The first step was to thoroughly clean my ear, and determine where the two piercings would go. He made sure to select locations that were spaced far enough from my original piercing so that I could still wear my regular earrings of different sizes. He also took care to select what would work best with the curves of my ear. I could tell that he’s done this more than once before!
Soon Perry had me doing some breathing exercises, and was calmly talking me through the whole process. He let me go at my own pace and was a consummate professional. I didn’t even have to lay eyes on the needle or other tools he used, which certainly worked for me! I also cannot tell you how conscientious this establishment is with cleanliness. (10 points for that!)
Just a few pinches and NO blood later (at least that I saw), it was all done!
I think the photos he took and put up on Instagram turned out cool. He’s such a cutie!
I was surprised to learn about the after-care as well. I recall twisting my original piercings and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol back in the day. But apparently this isn’t the best treatment now. Instead, I’m not to touch my new earrings at all. I need to use a saltwater ear bath for 5 minutes twice a day, and use a saltwater spray a few times a day. Here’s a link to the directions. Interesting! And then in 6-8 weeks, I’ll go back to get shorter backs put on the earrings. Currently, they have long posts to allow for swelling.
Since Laura was so amazing with me during this whole process, she treated herself to a new tattoo that she’s been wanting.
Do you know what this is the symbol for?
Then, it was definitely time to relax and enjoy, so we went across to Magnolia Pub & Brewery for a delicious brunch. (The croque madame was deelish!)
What a fun adventure! Thanks so much to Laura, Perry and Marie for everything…and I can’t wait to start my new little earring collection!
When I’m looking for new boutique to visit, I have a strategy. I usually start by picking a designer I love; in this case (while I was in New York City) I chose Raquel Allegra, a clothing designer that I have a very hard time finding in the SF Bay Area. My thinking is that if a boutique carries this line, then surely they’ll have other things that will interest me as well. So far, this strategy has worked out pretty darn well, and I end up discovering lots of places I normally wouldn’t have stumbled upon.
One of the stores that popped up on this recent search was Sucre in the West Village, and it wasn’t a far walk from where I was staying in the Meat Packing area. It’s not an overly-large space, but it’s chock full of goodies! And I’m sure you won’t be surprised, but this case of jewelry is what really got my attention.
The mixed metals, the slightly bohemian flair..it just spoke to me. I learned that it’s all from a line called K/ller Collection, from Brooklyn-based designers. You can read their story here. And just today, I learned that they are the Grand Prize winners of the 2014 CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge, sponsored by Lexus. Congrats!
The first necklace I tried on was this one. It’s made from three hand-cast brass porcupine quills.
I also had a hard time taking off this more dramatic design.
You know what a fan I am of horns, so these necklaces definitely made me smile!
Look at the detail in the carving!
I’m so glad that I discovered this shop and this jewelry line. If you’re lucky enough to be wandering around the West Village, definitely stop in!
I’ve been inundated with the color orange as of late, between Halloween, the San Francisco Giant’s being in the World Series, the leaves changing outside my window…pretty much everywhere except in my jewelry box. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I rarely see jewelry with orange stones. Why is that? Is it a color many don’t prefer? Perhaps it’s because there aren’t as many varieties of stones with an orange hue? (In fact, how many can you name?) I’m really not quite sure.
At any rate, I took myself on another of my infamous virtual shopping sprees with no budget (like the one I took with green stones this past March). Before I knew it, hours (yes, hours!) had slipped by, but I had found some stunning pieces in so many different shades of orange. Here are my fave finds, in no particular order. Enjoy!
Earrings
Orange coral was one of the first things that jumped into my mind when I thought about orange jewelry, and this pair of earrings by Annette Ferdinandsen are just beautiful.
Ray Griffiths designed these with a lovely orange harmony in carnelian and amber.
Sethi Couture also has a lovely ombre effect in these diamond linear drop earrings.
Geodes are always a favorite of mine, and Kimberly McDonald used a stunning pair in these earrings.
Mary Esses designed a party for your ears in gold, diamonds, and carnelian.
For a style with more angular lines, then these by Kothari are pretty amazing. It reminds me of photos I’ve seen of the sun’s surface!
Necklaces
The traditional cameo was another image that popped into my head as I thought about jewelry with an orange hue. Amedeo takes the cameo to a whole new, modern level, as shown in this “see no evil” pendant.
Jes MaHarry created an uber-cool necklace, with a wheel of coral, gold, diamonds, and a silver chain. its’ a very chic bohemian look, which I would layer with other necklaces in a heartbeat.
This orange crystal and diamond necklace by Jacquie Aiche would be another great layering piece.
For more of an orange punch, then I’d go for this druzy agate pendant by Peppina.
Bracelets
Vaubel is a master with color in his designs, as demonstrated in this chunky bracelet.
Nak Armstrong is another designer with impeccable use of color, this time with mandarin garnets.
For a skinny layering piece, this orange garnet bead bracelet by Joseph Brooks makes me smile.
And let’s not forget adding the color orange in the form of a watch. I’d never say no to one by Hermes!
Rings
Jane Bohan designed a substantial ring with citrine and diamonds.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about some of the statement necklaces I saw while out and about in Union Square (aka, “my office”) — these were shorter, statement necklaces, which are great at bringing attention up to your face. I don’t want you to think that long necklaces are not chic as well. They are a cool centerpiece for an outfit, and they can elongate your whole silhouette. Here’s a few I spotted downtown today that caught my attention.
This first one was worn by a young visitor from Denmark. She had just picked it up at Free People for a bargain price of $38, and I think it adds personality to her slub-knit white tee and leather jacket. (I also thought it was appropriately sexy that she chose to wear a dark bra under her shirt, don’t you?)
Not 10 minutes later I saw this lovely lady wearing an interesting layered combination, which includes two long necklaces. I think this is a novel idea on how to make a long strand of pearls, which can sometimes be challenging to wear in a current way, very stylish!
Next I just adore this long silver and horn pendant necklace by Pomellato. Since this gal is only 4’11”, she made the brilliant choice to knot the chain, which not only adds interest, but it makes the necklace the perfect length for her petite frame.
I think the fact that I wore a long necklace by Irit Design must have put the “long necklace vibe” out into the universe today.
So what about you? Do you have some long necklaces in your jewelry box? Are they a go-to for you? Or do you stick with shorter styles? I’d love to hear your opinions.
It was my last day in New York City before returning to San Francisco, and I wasn’t about to let the pouring rain deter me from hitting all the “must see” stores on my list. First up for the day was Urban Zen, an amazing concept store by designer Donna Karan. (Thanks to my friend, Michelle, for the hot tip!) When I spied this necklace through the front window, I knew I had found the place! This show-stopper is by Anna Srdic of South Africa.
Tucked into a chic space in the West Village, this store is a gift for the senses. I wanted to see, touch, and try on everything! I was expecting simply a clothing line, and I had no idea that there would be home goods, Balinese furniture, and amazing jewelry nearly everywhere I turned. I think I had to do at least three tours of the store before I started taking it all in. The neutral palate was exactly up my alley, and the whole vibe was exotic (yet accessible and wearable), and wildly feminine. Dare I say subtly sexy?
There were different jewelry lines, some by individual artists, and others crafted by the team at Urban Zen, using assembled pieces from Haiti. And then other pieces are made in Haiti, with 100% of the proceeds going back to them. Haiti holds a very special place in Donna’s heart. She founded The Haiti Artisan project, which “promotes economic development through job creation and vocational education, helps raise awareness and highlights the creativity of Haiti’s artisans.” (Click here to read more about the story.) Here are some of the statement necklaces from The Haiti Artisan project.
The long beads are mixed media, some of clay, and some from recycled cereal boxes.
And these cow horn bracelets are so versatile! I learned that the community there utilizes the entire animal, with nothing going to waste. Amazing.
This necklace is also made of horn, though in the form of large beads.
There was a variety of cut leather pieces, all part of the Urban Zen collection.
Made of cut leather!
Here’s a close-up of the cut-leather necklace.
I think my stand-out favorite from the Urban Zen collection was this leather masterpiece.
There were also many Anna Srdic necklaces on display throughout the shop. Their architectural genius is the perfect complement for the Urban Zen clothing line. And I must say, that they are surprisingly light, given their large size.
Taking a look through her collections on her website, you can really get a feel for the whole Urban Zen look, and I have to say…I’m a BIG fan!
I’m going to use everything I saw for inspiration in future curation of my own wardrobe. The way the clothing is comfortable, yet flatters the feminine figure, making bold accessory choices, and being aware of how my dollars are spent — because there’s nothing like fashion that gives back. Thanks, Donna!
Sometimes a girl has just got to splurge…perhaps a big pasta dinner, maybe a visit to a spa, or in my case, usually in the form of jewelry. I’ve had Spinelli Kilcollin on my radar for a while now, completely intrigued by his linked rings. Now trust me, I was certainly not planning on acquiring one of these beauties, but sometimes the jewelry stars just align, and who am I to fight it?! So here’s how it went down:
-I received an e-mail from Red Bird (fab Berkeley, CA boutique) that they were having a special 40% off promotion on certain items.
-I returned home from vacation and found myself with an unexpected day off during their promotion dates, as a client had to re-schedule. (Hmm…clean the apartment? No fun at all!)
-I figured it was undoubtedly a great idea to just “pop” across the bay to see what I could find, as I do have some fall/winter clothing needs.
-….and there it was.
With its artistic combination of silver, rose gold, a touch of yellow gold, and cognac diamonds, I just couldn’t resist. Can you blame me? And I’m having such a fun time exploring all the permutations I can create. Here’s how it looks laid out.
While I was trying it on, I stacked it with my Polly Wales band. Another shopper liked it so much, that she tried one on as well. (And yes, she walked out with one too!)
I can wear it spread out across four fingers.
Or I can double it up on two fingers.
And there’s no end to the possibilities when stacking it with other rings.
It turns out that the designer, Yves Spinelli, used to ride his trike around the hair salon his dad worked at in Honolulu..and one of his dad’s clients was Karen, the owner of Red Bird. I’m sure she never expected she’d be selling the jewelry designed by this toddler at her own store in California. I just love those small world stories! I also hope that I can one day meet him in person and see more of his work.
Barney’s has a nice selection of his rings on their website. But be warned that they are much more diamond-encrusted (and therefore substantially more of an investment) than the simpler style I got. There are a wide range of styles available on the Spinelli Kilcollin site as well.
If this ring is something that floats your boat, then I encourage you to try one on for yourself! I think you’ll be very pleased.
My obsession with Nak Armstrong jewelry all started when I tried on this ring at Red Bird in Berkeley last year. (It’s the big one in the center of the stack.) I tried it on mixed with some of my own rings, gazed at it when worn on its own, and I must say that I’ve driven over the Bay Bridge more than once in the time since to visit my oh, so longed-for friend. I kid you not, that if I were to suddenly come into a lot of money, that this would be my absolute first jewelry purchase.
Much to my delight, I was able to meet Nak, the extraordinary designer of this beauty, at a recent trunk show at Barney’s in San Francisco.
Nak’s kind, creative, and open personality makes me like his jewelry all the more. He spent a generous amount of time answering all my questions and giving me a tour of his latest and greatest. The first pair of earring that drew me in are these hoops. The clever design has a right and a left, so that they hang just so.
This Austin-based designer launched his signature line in 2011, though he has been designing since the late 90’s. (You may remember Anthony Nak, which was a line he co-founded.) Every piece is hand fabricated in the USA. The colors of stones he uses are so intriguing to me — they are very nuanced..deep and moody, with incredible depth. Here’s an array in his classic style of bangle.
He also showed me some new bracelets, which are flexible and quite fabulous.
Nak’s jewelry combines the feel of Roman mosaics with Art Deco. He finds joy in imperfections, and sources inspiration from clothing, textiles and architecture. The result is a “tapestry of color,” as he told me. Take a look at these incredible earring designs.
Nak’s wider band rings are perfect worn in stacks. Here’s my friend Jen, wearing two of hers paired with a couple skinnier rings.
You can see the detail in this image of an aquamarine and emerald design.
There were also some daintier rings at the trunk show, and I tried on these.
When not designing jewelry, you can find Nak and his (delightful) partner having Netflix marathons in their recently renovated home. I so enjoyed seeing some photos of their new space, with its clean lines and well-edited decor. Clearly, his creativity spans many avenues.
If you’re interested in seeing more of his work, there are nice selections online at Barney’s, Twist and Ylang 23. Thanks to Nak and Walter for spending so much time with me!
Shopping in Soho is always one of the highlights when working in New York City. I love the uneven brick streets, the deeelish restaurants, and of course, visiting the boutiques. This trip my client and I stumbled across Zimmermann, a feminine and forward-thinking line from Australia. (Click here if you’d like a peek at the kick-a** dress my client purchased.) But I digress…the other thing that really got my attention was the hands of Ashley, the gal assisting us.
Somehow, she was able to select a handful of vintage rings and pile them on in just the perfect way. While they are not necessarily delicate rings, they created a creative statement which didn’t feel heavy whatsoever. She told me that she has a bowl full of vintage rings, and chooses different ones each day. Most are from Awoke Vintage in Brooklyn.
Just a short time later, we found ourselves exploring Melissa Joy Manning’s incredible store. (She also has a store in Berkely, CA.) And here, yet another hand stacked away, this time on Michael. He told me this was a “minimal” jewelry day for him.
And notice how his wrist tattoo adds to the whole look? I love it! These are both great examples of how to stack more substantial rings, and still make it work. Have you tried doing this? I think I may have to go play in my jewelry box and see what I can come up with.
