All posts filed under: Jewellery

Dandi Maestre New Retail Location, 386 Huron Street, Toronto

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Canadian jewellery designer, Dandi Maestre has decided to keep the 386 Huron Street location as a permanent retail space. Based on the response received, my holiday pop-up store at 386 Huron St. (at Sussex Ave.) will be extended indefinitely. My unique pieces, made of organic materials such as antlers, bull horn, rough amber and emeralds, reclaimed wood, natural seeds and nuts will be available Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm; Saturday from 12 to 6pm. Other times by special appointment – please call 416-948-2040 or write to dandi@dandimaestre.com. Now you will also find beautiful recycled glass bubble terrariums (with or without plants) and unique home organic homewares. My designs have been seen in Vogue, Lucky, Hello!, Flare, Glamour, People Style Watch, Holts Style, The Toronto Star and The Globe & Mail and on Donna Karan, who features my line in her Urban Zen shop in New York. I visited the shop before the holidays, bought some earrings and took some pictures. It’s such a beautiful space and the gallery setup works perfectly for Dandi’s …

Jenny Bird Spring Summer 2011 Jewellery

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Toronto based designer Jenny Bird has a successful accessories line that focuses on handbags and jewellery. I received the Spring Summer 2011 lookbook and thought I should share some of my favourites of the collection. Jenny Bird jewellery can be found in Toronto at: Canopy Blue – 2582 Yonge Street Eko – 288 Queen Street West Gee Beauty – 2 Roxborough Street West Holt Renfrew -50 Bloor Street West rac boutique – Cumberland St, Yorkville

Dandi Maestre Spring Summer 2011

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I’m a big fan of Dandi Maestre’s jewellery. She also has the best lookbooks in the business. They are always so colourful and do a great job of photographing the jewellery. The styling is always perfect and the tribal influence matches perfectly with her organic looking line. Dandi Maetre Jewellery can be purchased in Toronto at her Holiday pop up shop and a number of retailers. images: courtesy of Dandi Maestre

Luc Kieffer in Toronto

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Luc Kieffer, a jewellery designer from Paris, visited Toronto for the first time during TIFF. A press preview party was held in his honour and I got a closer look at some of his fall winter 2010 – 2011 and spring summer 2011 collections. Luc has worked with many fashion houses like YSL, Balenciaga, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel. It was interesting to her Luc talk about the time he met Yves Saint Laurent in person in 1996. Luc collaborated with Yves on his final collection. The Luc Kieffer line was launched in 2006. Luc Kieffer jewellery specializes in high-polished resin with Swarovski crystals. Luc is a chemist by trade and that totally attracted the geek in me. That’s right people chemist = swoon in my books. Chemist turned jewellery maker is off the charts. I was told that Luc was a charmer. I wished I could speak french, it would have been nice to chat in his mother tongue. He worked with Yves Saint Laurent on his final collection in 1996, and has …

TIFF 2010 – Lia Sophia

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The lounge that most surprised me was Lia Sophia. I knew it was a jewellery line but I didn’t expect to fall in love with it. On display was the newest red carpet collection called La Belle Rose. The collection used materials like silver, gold, copper, black diamond crystal, clear crystal,  jet crystal,  Hematite, Tortoise resin, jet enamel and lapis resin. The most interesting thing about Lia Sophia is that the collection isn’t sold in stores, it’s a direct selling company. It’s much like Avon where you buy items from a Lia Sophia Hostess at a jewellery party or from an Advisor in your area. Lia Sophia jewellery also comes with a Lifetime Replacement Guarantee which could come in handy if you ever lose a stone. The gift bag for this lounge was a choice of jewellery from the collection. It was a hard decision but I was attracted to the steampunk looking Runway style of the collection which featured Black Diamond Crystals in Matte Silver and Matte Gold or Clear Crystals in Matte Silver …

Chan Luu x Banana Republic

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There is a new collaboration coming, Chan Luu x Banana Republic. They have teamed up for the first Banana Republic jewellery collaboration featuring Luu’s famous wrap bracelets. “We are thrilled to announce our first partnership with a world-class jewellery designer,” said Simon Kneen, Creative Director and EVP of Design. “I’m excited to offer Banana Republic customers Chan Luu’s signature interpretation of Banana Republic’s effortless style aesthetic. Our brand is a great destination for jewellery so this adds a little something special into our already-exciting fall jewellery collection.” Chan Luu comments, “It is such a pleasure for me to collaborate with Banana Republic, a classic brand whose timeless collections provide the perfect canvas for my own. What makes our partnership even more extraordinary is our shared belief in celebrating the power of personal expression.” The bracelets are made from custom-dyed thread or leather and combines semi-precious stones, gold or silver. The collection consists of four styles in different colours for a total of 17 pieces. The price range is $118 – $275. It’s a limited edition …

Lanvin Accessories – Fall Winter 2010

Lanvin Accessories – Fall Winter 2010

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I love the jewellery in the Lanvin Ready to Wear – Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 collection. My first thought was Klingons. For some reason the Lanvin fall winter 2010 jewellery gives me a Klingon’s vibe.  It seems to fit the warrior theme. I couldn’t get it out of my head so I asked The Grumpy Owl. He agreed and and sent me a picture of Gowron. Now I don’t feel that crazy. images: style.com and timelinestudio.com

Aesa Jewellery

i want: Aesa Jewellery

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I’m loving the segmented nature of some pieces from the Aesa collection. It reminds me of fossilized ocean creatures. Randi Mates is Aesa’s designer and lives in New York She studied ancient greek and roman fabrication techniques at the Jewelry Arts Institute on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Aesa is only available in Toronto at Ewanika, 1083 bathurst street

Atelier Swarovski Spring 2010

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I was invited to the preview of the ATELIER SWAROVSKI Spring 2010 collection at the Swarovski Bloor street store. The concept of the collection is to pair fashion designer with Swarovski and to come up with seasonal collections. Jason Wu Inspiration • Fluid shapes • Mix of textures • Femininity • Movement • Plating:Ruthenium • Jason Wu’s collection is offered in two key colourways, Lava with shades of red and pink, and Obsidian with black crystal • Feminine pieces feature necklaces trimmed with ribbon and clusters of crystal beads and briolette stones decorate bracelets, rings and earrings • Layers of faceted crystals create a textured, defined silhouette. Matthew Williamson Inspiration • Matthew Williamson signature style – statement pieces in a vibrant palette • Print used from his Ready-to-Wear collection • Strong graphic and floral elements • Architectural crystals • Colours: Rose – resin pieces in orange rose and purple tones finished in pale gold edging, Sky – resin pieces in blue and green tones finished in Palladium edging • Plating: Pale gold, Palladium • An …