I love Solange Azagury-Patridge. As someone that often suffers from bouts of work-induced insomnia, it's not unusual for me to ponder on what I would do if I won the lottery to help me go to sleep and I must admit, the British born jeweller's designs are always up there on my list of imaginary purchases. Whether it's her luxury designs combining bright coloured precious gems or her much-loved hot lips rings, everything she does just works.
If you're a fan too you'll be pleased to know that Astley Clarke have just announced that the designer's latest offerings are available to buy on their website. The collection is small but is perfectly edited to make sure that you have the really impressive luxury items like her aquamarine and sapphire cocktail 'cup' ring alongside more accessible every day pieces like her gold 'love' ring and 'lonestar spike baby' earrings.
If you're a fan of the designer's work you won't be disappointed. The collection - which drops on September 10 - is the perfect combination of Wilson's statement sculptural designs and Jaeger's paired back but luxe aesthetic. It features everything from bold statement cuffs to bib-like collars and necklaces that will see you from season to season. If that doesn't get you excited already, the collection is particularly good because the pieces come in at an affordable £120 to £220 price range.
We recently caught up with the designer to find out how the partnership came about, what he has planned for his own line and with his partnership with Jaeger is set to be a permanent fixture
Caroline Issa continues to serve as the publisher and executive fashion director of Tank magazine but over the last year or so, we've seen a lot more of her in front of the camera. Recently she teamed up with Jimmy Choo on their StyleMakers campaign, worked with J. Crew on their Hello, World project and now she has another campaign under her belt.
Today jewelery designer Monique Péan released a series of images showing Issa modelling some of her pieces, with Péan's paintings serving as a backdrop and clothes by Sut'ana. So far neither have released statements about the campaign but if you like what you see, you can bag the pieces from the images on Péan's website now.
Are celebrity jewellery lines the new celebrity clothing collections? We think so. There's Brad and Angelina for Asprey, the Kardashians for bebe, and now Michelle Trachtenberg for Coach. The 'Gossip Girl' actress has helped design bee-motif accessories for the company's Poppy range, with the collection's vibe described as "refined-romantic with attitude, bringing a punky look to a lush mix of materials and inspirations".
You can expect to see Michelle Trachtenberg for Poppy in Spring 2010, but a limited preview selection will launch on Dec. 1 at Coach.com. The holiday preview pieces will sell for $78 to $128, with the full collection selling for up to $328. Will you be buying?
Working directly with Karl Lagerfeld while studying at the Sorbonne gave Paige Novick a tip or two about design drive. Novick, a Francophile jewellery designer who formerly crafted handbags and clothing, has a way with inventive but chic pieces that could stand out to the paparazzi. Many of the designer's pieces contain a snail design, which Novick chose for the mollusk's determination and understated beauty. We always knew slow and steady won the race.
Admire Alexa Chung's style? Sure ya do. If you're like her, you'll appreciate Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED, which allows accessory fanatics to create their own pieces of bespoke jewellery in-store or online.
We're pretty excited to try this, so here's how it works: You choose the type of jewellery you want to create, then pick your stones, decide if you'd like to add extra crystal accents, add a flourish here and there, and voila. If you're not sure what to make, a personal stylist is available to help choose a piece for your facial features, hairstyle and eye colour. You also can work straight from your own computer, by visiting the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED website and using the new online tool.
For those who feel less ambitious, you can go the traditional way and choose already-made pieces. We're not saying you'll feel as much like a master craftsman, but you have options, right?
London's Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED shop is located at 24 Great Marlborough Street, W1.
Giles Deacon sure knows how to keep all eyes fixed on him from season to season. Before his upcoming runway show at Paris Fashion Week (he takes to the catwalk on Oct. 8), he hosted a preview of his jewellery range at Somerset House's Portico Rooms. And Giles' fine jewellery has something in common with YSL's successful "new vintage" collection: The range uses leftovers from past collection to make something beautiful and new.
Priced at £250 to £2,500, Giles' jewellery features Swarovski crystals, pearls and semi-precious stones. "My particular favourite is a little character called Eek, he's from a past collection," the designer told Vogue UK. "He's really sweet and comes in silver and gold on a pendant, with diamond eyes. He's the one I would wear."
Giles' fine jewellery will be sold at select retailers, and according to him, "private, bespoke commissions are most welcome".
When I was young, I got creative by crocheting. My neighbour taught me how to make teddy bears and afghan squares, things like that. When Limor Senker was young, she made customised jewellery for herself. But that's what happens when your father is a diamond dealer.
Senker jumped into the jewellery business in depth in 2005, after her son was born. Today, she crafts a line of fine jewellery called Love Rocks NY, which names the likes of Leighton Meester, Hayden Panettiere and Sarah Jessica Parker as fans. Senker's specialty is embedding ethically sourced micro-pave diamonds into 14-karat gold and platinum - which, we think, makes for pretty great accessories. Many of her pieces include peace symbols, like doves, hearts and actual peace signs.
This week, the ever-so-cool jewellery designer talks Middle Eastern tunes and night-owl tendencies with The Fash Pack.
Need a dose of the Mad Hatter in your life? Tom Binns can help. As the first in a series of designer collaborators, Binns has joined with Disney for a collection of 'Alice in Wonderland'-inspired jewels. The range will launch next year, the same time as Tim Burton's Alice film debuts.
Tom Binns for Walt Disney Signature will feature six high-end pieces, retailing from $1,000 to $2,000 at select retailers and boutiques. If that's too much to spend (it is a recession and all), then consider Tom Binns for Disney Couture. That collection's 35 pieces will sell for $100 to $500, starting next spring.
Hey, Real Housewives fans: Kelly Bensimon is making her fashion-week debut. She'll partner with Haute Look to show her jewellery line in New York at the Bryant Park Hotel this Sept. 10. And in case you're wondering, she has deep thoughts to share about her pieces: "Women love diamonds and sparkles, but nothing is sexier than Navajo-inspired bling."
