Kathleen Whitaker is a jeweller, porcelain ceramicist, and PR/branding specialist, according to her web site. If you like minimal (and I mean really minimal), this is the girl for you.
Her ear cuff is probably the largest and possibly most adorned piece on offer. It is 14k yellow gold and attaches with the stick stud shown (though the stick may be worn on its own. It is sold for USD $450 for one cuff.
Etsy’s LalaCrystal promotes themselves as selling bridal jewellery. While this could certainly make a great bridesmaid’s gift (and at only USD $18, it would happily accomodate a raft of bridesmaids) it would be equally pretty with a summer dress or a work outfit.
California-based, LalaCrystal is worth perusing if you are doing bridal on a budget – lots of very pretty bling at affordable prices.
Vawk is the creative genius of Canadian designer Sunny Fong. He has had his own line since 2004 and is based in Toronto. In 2009, he became the winner of the second (and final) season of Project Runway Canada.
Fong is known more for his clothing than for accessories but for this collaboration with Ebay, his capsule collection includes several. The main piece is a really great black dress, which can be accessorized with a matching capelet, two scarves with a similar black and white print, and the fox trimmed lizard embossed collar and cuff seen below. (The collection also includes a skinny leather tie.)
The vaguely BDSM look of the collar and cuff take away from what could be a Mary Poppins vibe coming from the capelet. All the pieces are limited-edition. The collar will sell for Cdn $79, with the cuff going for $59. The collection will be available on http://www.ebay.ca with fixed Buy it Now prices from August 12-September 15, or while quantities last.
I have to say I’m impressed with J. Crew’s accessory selection lately. The offer everything from classic understated lady-like pieces, to this happy, bubble-gummy necklace that makes me smile just to look at it.
Set with glass and resin crystals in gold plated brass, it is aptly named Color Mix Statement Necklace. That about sums it up. I have found J. Crew jewellery to be solid and well-made, with thought going into the design, use of colour and materials and price points. This sells for USD $165 online and in J. Crew stores.
jewel of the
If I was inclined to only wear one statement piece of jewelry (and I’m not sure I’m so inclined), this gorgeous cuff by Maiyet would be a leading contender as “the one”.
Made in India with oxidized sterling silver, 18k yellow gold and 20 carats of what they are describing as champagne diamonds (though they look fairly white in the photo), it’s a stunner.
No price is given but you can email if you are interested in finding out. I am interested, but I have too many other jewellery loves (and bills!) to contemplate a beauty like this. (Having said that, I have had pieces made in India using these materials and they can be had quite reasonably – I’m just not ready to commit!)
Tiaras are a jewelled relic of times gone by, when status was made very evident by clothing and jewellery, and tiaras were worn on significant occasions as a clear symbol of aristocracy and royalty.
Today, tiaras are pretty much the domain of drag queens and brides. Though I have seen some magnificent drag queen jewellery and some really egregious bridal wear (and vice versa), let’s face it: it’s hard to fault someone for going overboard with jewelled head gear. Sadly, most bridal jewellery seems to scream rather than whisper, “Look at me!” So I was very pleasantly surprised to come across these really elegant offerings by British firm Ivory & Co.
This example, dubbed the Octavia, is made with Swarovski crystals set in rhodium plated metal and is part of the site’s vintage selection. And it sells for a very reasonable £245.
And finally, how can you not love a company that offer cake jewellery? And it really is – bejewelled letters and adornments for cakes. I’d never known you could apply rhinestones to edibles, but now that I do (no pun intended) … well, swoon.
My affection for Miriam Haskell pieces has grown substantially in the past few years, but unlike most people I know, I much prefer the newer pieces to the vintage ones. It could be that they are not easily found where I am and when they are, the prices are rather substantial. New Haskell is by no means inexpensive, but I have been very lucky in acquiring many really great pieces at good sale prices. I can be very patient waiting for markdowns! I also have bought some of the more unique pieces at full price and they were completely worth it.
This bracelet intrigues me. I like the pearl studded clasp and links, and it retains enough of the classic Haskell look to appeal to vintage lovers as well. It is also embellished with glass seed beads, agate and Swarovski crystals. It retails on the Miriam Haskell site for US $480.
Brooklyn born and bred jewellery designer Erica Weiner offers these sweet heart pendants engraved with song lyrics. There are eight songs to choose from (all from different genres of music) and two finishes, gold or oxidized silver plated.
Each comes with a 16 inch chain making them, Weiner says, perfect for layering. Also perfectly priced at US $50 for the silver and $60 for the gold. Karaoke will never be the same.
These gold-plated brass earrings by Dominic Jones are striking from the side and head on – both views below. They are a wearable 1 x 1.5 inches. Jones’s work features the same playful design elements (like a thorn behind an earring as the closing post) and fluid forms.
This piece is available online for US $305.
Something tells me, given the colours in this piece, that this is a type and someone meant to call it Desert Sky but Dessert Sky it is.
Made with leather, the bracelet by Anna Pellissari snaps closed, and is set with an agate surrounded by rhinestones. It gives the impression of being a lot more high end than these materials would suggest. It sells for USD $120 on the designer’s site.
