Wednesday 24 February 2010

Jewellery at London Fashion Week AW10

Sunday just gone, with a pass flung around my neck, I braved LFW's Exhibition at Somerset House to check out what will be going on with who in jewellery this autumn/winter. I had an idea of who I wanted to see before getting there (Joanna Cave, especially, who I've been meaning to write about for ages!), and of course saw a few surprises along the way. Sadly I wasn't  able to take snaps of everything - fair enough, some collections won't be launched until September - so hopefully my words will justify the excitement and awe felt in the hour and ten minutes I had to do my rounds in! There's a lot of images... It's going to be a long one!

Click on the photos for much bigger versions!

 
London's Somerset House - photo from a tale of a few cities


Bjorg

I first saw Bjorg's jewellery in Bloomsbury, Bath, when I was home for the weekend about a year ago. An unusual silver hare ring caught my eye, with its brown diamond eyes and the way the ears ran the length of my finger. At LFW there were some pretty and - as Bjorg's style is - quirky treats on show; rough-cut stone necklaces that looked like lipsticks, long necklaces with wolves' and ravens' heads, and that hare ring. With designs which look to 'find beauty even in imperfections' Bjorg's jewellery is set to wow the UK in the coming year, and why not? 

 
Silver, Oxidised and Gold Plate rings by Bjorg

  
 Stone (possibly Tsavorite and Rose Quartz) 'Lipstick' Necklaces in Yellow and Rose Gold Plate, by Bjorg

 Wolf and Rabbit Head Necklaces in Gold Plate and Silver, by Bjorg


Joanna Cave

Serene and talented, Joanna Cave is a kindly soul whose jewellery I've coveted since first seeing it in EC One back in early 2008. Trained in the UK, and presently based in Athens, Joanna's Grecian roots are palpable in her quirky, somewhat ancient-feeling jewellery. Moving from the simple structural designs of last year, this year's collection has taken a step towards something else.  Now using only recycled metals, the new collection is romantic and Arabesque; detailed cut-out earrings, star shapes and the use of rose gold-plate. Each element has added another facet to Joanna's style. 'Pretty' doesn't quite do justice to her collection; offbeat and versatile it definitely is. The smooth matt finishes give Joanna's pieces a feel of their own - they sit close to the skin and do  just what jewellery should - make you feel beautiful and adorned without the ostentation.

 
Joanna Cave, with her jewellery

 Silver Star Necklace in Rose and Yellow Gold Plate

Oxidised Silver Star Hoops and Prudencia Gold Plated cut-out Earrings

Pilar Hook Earrings in Yellow and Gold Plate (top) and open Heart Hoops

 
Brioni Hoops in Silver, with white pearls

Fish Necklaces (with pearl 'bubbles') in Yellow Gold Plate, Silver and Rose Gold Plate

 
Pilar Silver Ring (love this!!)

Novia Bangles with Carol Necklace in Yellow Gold Plate and Silver (centre)


Zoe & Morgan

So, of course no trip to LFW would have been complete without a little 'hello' to Zoe & Morgan. It was also a good excuse to catch up with Hannah, my darling friend who works for Z&M as a personal shopper (get her!). Looking as fabulous as expected (Hannah included), the Z&M display was mirrors, antique glass and more mirrors - so it was pretty hard to snap the jewellery without ending up with me grinning in the background (as below..!). Nevertheless, it was great to see collections I've been viewing online up 'til now, in the flesh. And also good to try some bits and pieces on! The Rabbit in the Hat necklaces and Geometric collections (the latter inspired by Jem & the Holograms) were a highlight, as was trying on some of Z&M's more precious, stone-set rings. I'm sure you're starting to notice this little skull obsession too?

 
Geometric Earrings and Necklaces, in Gold Plate and Silver

 Hope & Anchor and Love Necklaces from the Who Loves Wins collection 

 
 Rabbit in a Hat Necklaces - just in time for the Alice in Wonderland film!

9ct Gold Skull Ring set with Sapphires (along with my Nana's ring and Labradorite Nugget ring by Monica Vinader)

 
Rings from the Fine Collection by Zoe & Morgan


 
Top and above: Chrysophrase-set rings in yellow gold

Hannah modelling the Princess Skull Ring, set with Amethyst and Diamonds

If you're still reading, good on you!! Other Exhibition highlights were the AW10 collection from Tatty Devine, which sadly I couldn't take photos of, but - be ready - will include pieces perfect for your inner line-dancer, firework-inspired beauties and rings, brooches and necklaces with a nod to a certain Magritte painting
Fiona Paxton also has some absolutely dazzling necklaces and collars lined up, with bronzes, steel blues, silvers and greys. Futuristic and historically-inspired all in one look!
Swedish designers Renaissance Life also had some fun, oversized silver pieces including a fabulous Russian Doll necklace which did as it should - revealed another - but also contained a gorgeous silver heart necklace in the middle. Definite ones to watch, too!

Designer: Melanie Eddy

Where usually I spend my time cooing over charms and trinkets with tiny details and quirks, I'm rather taken with Melanie Eddy's geometric, bold pieces. It's jewellery which gives the wearer confidence, better still, speaks of their existing confidence.
 

Geometric Silver Bangle and stone-set and plain Gold Rings, both by Melanie Eddy

Melanie herself trained as a goldsmith in Bermuda before moving to London to study jewellery design at CSM, where she graduated in 2007. Her jewellery is described as 'sculptural', 'a tool to explore the relationship of form to the body'. The latter makes sense; there's something a little erotic about her work, a little risque. Maybe it's just me, but there's definitely something about the image, below...

Gold Plated Silver Ring, by Melanie Eddy

Thursday 18 February 2010

A little something: Most Coveted Right Now

Eugh. I hate it when I find something I really love. A very negative statement I know, but the thing is I just spend ages - hours even - thinking about it. On the tube, during my lunchbreak, while my boyfriend is talking to me so then I have no idea what he's said and he huffs a bit when I look 'round all innocent and go 'Hmmmm?'. Oh Zoe & Morgan you've done it again. Gotta love them for it, though...!








Images courtesy of my-wardrobe.com

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Designer: Becca Jewellery

When it comes to Becca's jewellery, it was love at first sight for me. Vintage-inspired, with gorgeous details - think enameled flowers, engraving, tiny charms - I knew I had found something special in her designs. Taking inspiration from traditional jewellery such as lockets, charm bracelets, cameos and sovereign rings, Becca's designs are an updated, but somewhat nostalgic play on the trinkets of times passed. 
 
L-R: 9ct Enameled Flower necklace, Silver 'Button It' Enameled necklace, Green Cameo necklace and Oxidised Silver and Coral 'Sweetness' necklace


 
Top-Bottom: Unworked Silver pendant with Gold Whippet center, Clear Glass Round Cameo necklace
 

A Central Saint Martins graduate, Becca works in silver, 9ct and 18ct gold, making necklaces bracelets and rings that are unique, quirky and oh-so-pretty. The perfect jewellery for your favourite tea dress! She can also design fabulous bespoke pieces, and - if you're lucky - you might get to meet her gorgeous whippet, Pearl. What a girl!

 
L-R: 18ct Gold matt-finished 'Button It' necklace, Silver and Pearl necklace

 
Becca and her beloved whippet Pearl!

Monday 8 February 2010

New Tatty Devine Spring Collection

So as you've probably guessed I'm a bit of a Tatty Devine fan; there's something about the feel of their jewellery, alongside the quirky ideas Harriet, Rosie et al manage to come up with season after season. After a nose around their new Covent Garden shop a few weeks back, I was idling past the Brick Lane store a few Sundays ago (having just bought some gorgeous Anemones for £2 from Columbia Road!), when I spotted from across the street something new... the striking Pandora necklace. With a brooding monochrome face, she's certainly not one to mess with - and pretty chic with it. On a cuter tip, and definitely making me crave some sunshine, is the Cocktail Umbrella necklace. All I need now is the beach and an 80s Tom Cruise shaking up a Daiquiri, and I'll be a happy girl!

Thanks to Amy at Tatty Devine for the fabulous snaps.












Wednesday 3 February 2010

Read more from me on Adorn London!

Exciting news this week! After a meeting with the lovely Juliet Hutton-Squire, editor of jewellery trends and news site Adorn London, I am now a guest contributor who'll be helping Juliet with blog writing and updates on the Adorn site. 
It's great to be part of Juliet's little team; I'm very very impressed with just how much she does, practically writing the whole site's content herself, busy bee! And of course it's exciting to be writing that little bit more myself! The site's updated on a daily basis, with a couple of blog posts a week - so be sure to keep reading and commenting!
Take a look at the Adorn site here, and don't forget to add the site to your links!

Two of Adorn's trend moodboards - Glace (top) and Fairytale Bloom