We’re all going on a… winter holiday! OK, so not everyone will be jetting off to sunnier climes this Christmas, but with designers rolling out their Cruise Collections, we’re in a sunny state of mind, and yearning to bask on a beach! So we’ve created a guide to some of our favourite sun destinations and the designers inspired by them.
If you’re off on vacation or planning a break, it’ll give you some packing inspiration wherever you go – if you’re sitting shivering at home, we hope it will warm you up!
Istanbul
Dubbed the ‘city of the world’s desire’, Istanbul will inspire with its breathtaking architecture, bustling bazaars and hip hot-spots. A heady mix of European and Eastern influences, glittering mosques and Sultan’s palaces jostle with super cool clubs, cafes and modern art galleries.
In Istanbul you can spend days browsing for bargains in the bazaars and sipping tea in tranquil tea gardens, before drinking raki in a raucous taverna or dancing the night away in a cool club. Istanbul designer Toosis is clearly influenced by her home town, creating modern but exotic pieces as romantic as the city itself. Istanbul girls like to go glam on a night out, so pack this red coral rose and black onyx leaves ring in your suitcase for chic exoticism, and you’ll be ready to mingle with Istanbul’s it-crowd.
Italy
From the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast, to the romantic canals of Venice, Italy inspires ‘La Dolce Vita.’
Italy has been inspiring artists and novelists for centuries, but today the country is famous for its fashion – from Prada to Pucci, Italian style is glamorous but groundbreaking. It’s no wonder there are so many amazing accessories designers to be found here! Hailing from the Tuscan city of Florence, which she has made her own, we love Larissa Landinez’s contemporary artistic jewelry. This stunning oyster ring is as romantic as the city itself – wear on a cultured city break, or to add a bit of glamour to your evening look.
Miami Beach
Miami is a party city swaying to a Latino beat. It’s not all Baywatch and honed beach babes here, although the beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Pleasure seekers come for South Beach with its celeb-filled clubs, and stay for the delights of the Art Deco quarter and Little Havana. As the holiday spot of choice for Hollywood starlets during the 1950s, a vacation in Miami calls for old-world beach glamour. So look to Miami designer Silvia Fassardi from Septimo, who is channelling Miami’s glitzy beach vibe in her designs. This nautical gold cuff with crystals has just enough bling for the South Beach scene.
California
With acres of blissful beaches, the lush vineyards of Napa, cosmopolitan cities and the bright lights of Hollywood, there’s a reason everyone wants to be California Dreamin’. The So-Cal lifestyle is seriously laid back (blame the non-stop sunshine!) but there’s plenty to inspire in this great state.
The great outdoors is on your doorstep, with national parks aplenty, and nearly every town has its own eclectic mix of cultures and a vibrant arts scene. This arts scene has spawned some incredible jewelry designers, especially in artistic enclaves like Santa Barbara.
In the heart of the ‘OC’, the picturesque community of Laguna Beach has been inspiring Nan Fusco to create boho handmade jewelry. Her Melange pearl earrings are effortlessly elegant – and sum up California style to a t!
