Archive for the ‘Jewelry’ Category

Fly Me Away

1210770882My job can be very dangerous sometimes. Not, like, physically or anything (well, usually). But when you’re already predisposed to shop and to covet and to, well, give in to all that, being responsible for conveying to people out there what they should also want to shop for and covet and give into buying, it can get a bit hazardous.

For instance, I’m at a photo shoot right now for nature-inspired jewelry. And it’s not just enamel or plastic stuff I can just go grab after the shoot if I really feel I must have it. It’s diamonds and pearls and platinum and it’s so frosty and the designs are so pretty (sprawling leaves and flowers, various insects — yes, insects; you’ll see) that I’m afraid these are going to stay on my mind for a while.

My fave: this little dragonfly necklace from Tiffany. He would work year round, with any outfit, just hanging out on my collarbone. I swear I’d take good care of him. If only someone would just give me the chance.

Nature Dragonfly pendant, $5,500

 

Thanks Giving at Town Home

1210188462Lately, I’ve been in a funk. I’ve been grumbling about the million little things still left to do for my upcoming wedding, complaining about the five extra pounds that insist on clinging to me, and ranting about the fact that the appliances in our new house don’t exactly match. Which is why today’s trunk show at Town Home couldn’t have come at a better time.

From 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (wine and cheese are set out at 6 p.m.!), Town Home will be debuting Gratitude Etc.’s brand-new, totally lust-worthy line of 14K-, 18K- and 22K-gold handcrafted bangles (shown), along with a few pendants and cufflinks. But, oh, the bangles! Each is engraved with “Gratitude is the most precious jewel,” a sweet reminder to be thankful for what you’ve got (instead of walking around cranky and cantankerous like, um, me). And they’re customizable, so you can choose your metal, stones, diamonds and inscription.

So drop in, meet Gratitude Etc. founder Liz Flavin, and snag one of her pieces (10 percent of all purchases go one of three charities — Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Laurel House or Women’s Way — you choose which). And, well, it’s quite easy to be grateful when you’ve got one of Liz’s oh-so-stackable, semi-precious-stone-and-diamond-studded gold bangles encircling your wrist. As far as being grateful for mismatched appliances? I’ll have to work on it.

 

Brass Beauties

1209576731Lucky for us, free-spirited artist Susan Banchek has settled down (for now, at least) in Philly, after stints in Ohio, New Orleans and NYC. Even luckier for us, she’s filling the most fashionable city shops (Vintage Connection and Arcadia) with her slightly offbeat, totally statement-making necklaces, which she crafts in a teeny studio in her Center City apartment.

If her brass baubles have a vintage flair, it’s because Banchek gets most of her inspiration from the glamourpusses of yesteryear (think Cleopatra and the queens of the silver screen). And, though her jewelry line, Esther K. — named for her great-grandmother — is now limited to necklaces, she’s considering branching out to bracelets (fingers crossed!).

Next up? Look for semi-precious stones on Banchek’s next batch of earthy-pretty necklaces.

“They have a presence to them, I think,” Banchek modestly says of her covetable, limited-edition pieces. We couldn’t agree more.

 

My Date With David Yurman: Part Two

1195053706Well, I can now say that I’ve tucked into a U-shaped booth and had a long one-on-one chat with David Yurman. And yes, he was great. Personable, chatty, smart, down-to-earth, funny. Read on to get his take on inspiration, marriage, good citizenship, communication and, of course, mahvelous jewelry, dahling.

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My Date With David Yurman: Part One

1194462128As I write this, I’m in the middle of prepping for a lunch meeting with David Yurman, the man behind the eponymous luxe jewelry brand, that signature cable detailing, and those sultry ads that beg the question, “Would that necklace look as good on me as it does on a writhing, pouty Kate Moss?” (The answer: Yes. That necklace couldn’t look less than astounding on anyone.)

The famed jewelry designer is in Philly for a brunch at Drexel University (more on that next week), and then he’s off to King of Prussia for an event benefiting breastcancer.org, a nonprofit organization that offers the most up-to-date, comprehensive medical information about the disease, so that those affected by it can make informed decisions about treatment.

I’ll be asking David Yurman about his involvement with the cause (he also designed a limited-edition diamond-and-pink-alligator watch for breast cancer awareness), his art background (did you know that he started out as a sculptor?), his inspiration for the jaw-dropping jewelry he creates … and maybe I’ll even wrangle some marriage advice from him (after all, it was his wife who urged him to start creating jewelry!). Check in next Thursday for the full interview.

Image, davidyurman.com

 

Let It Snow — Already!

1190748173I do so love seasons. That they change, that is. I don’t know how Californians do it. 75 and sunny all the time? Hello, nightmare.

This often means that while I am in the midst of enjoying one lovely Philadelphia season, I am eagerly looking forward to the next. Granted, fall is my favorite, so it usually takes me till good into November to start getting excited about winter — the holidays (and required shopping); the smell of snow; big, cozy sweaters; justifiable hot chocolate twice a day, every day — but Tiffany & Co. got me thinking early this year.

The legendary jeweler’s got a few new designs to mark the lovely charm of winter, and I’ve definitely got my eye on this one: the Snowflake pendant, with its sixteen inches of platinum and twinkling round diamonds just begging me to wear it to all my holiday parties.

Which means I’d need to get it before the actual holidays. Hmm.

Snowflake pendent, $2,200, available at Tiffany & Co, various locations including Center City and King of Prussia; tiffany.com

Photo, Tiffany & Co.

 

Tse You, Tse Me

PM_tgl_tse_main.jpgThis just in: Elaine Tse, jewelry designer-slash-girl about town, just took over the lease of that teeny-weeny corner dress shop at the corner of 20th and Walnut (across from random travel agency/tanning salon-looking place, diagonal from natural foods café/lottery-ticket vendor — you know, the shop you never went into because you knew the tiny-ness would obligate you to buy).

This weekend, Elaine is selling off former owner Maria Baros’s merch — cute eyelet tops, bright short-shorts, tiny bikinis, etc. — for $20 and under. Next, she’ll spruce up the boutique (Off with the carpeted shelf! In with space-saving racks! Up with an airy feel that will eradicate all feelings of retail obligation!) and move in her wares — besides her pretty necklaces, earrings, etc., home goods and classic-er clothes. Hurrah! Another reason to shop over my lunch hour(s)!

 

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