For some designers, making jewelry is about creating something beautiful from scratch. But for others, it is all about the hunt for buried treasure. From markets to car boot sales to small villages around the world, our designers have honed their hunting skills, and can spot something extraordinary in a pile of junk. Find out how our designers discover the treasures that make their jewelry special.
Carolyn McDonough is the Co-CEO of a fashionable faux floral company, Diane James Designs, and writes The Buzz, a botanically-inspired design blog. The company, founded in 1995 by her mother, Diane, designs and manufacturers luxury silk floral bouquets and plants in Norwalk, CT. The two seasonal collections are sold at high-end retail stores including Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, through well-known designers like Nina Campbell, Michael Smith and Barbara Barry, and via the company’s own e-commerce site, Diane James Home. Carolyn shares the CEO title with her identical twin sister, Cynthia, and together they have grown the business into a global venture, selling to stores in the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Canada.
It’s no surprise that Carolyn has international aspirations for Diane James Home and The Buzz, having been raised in a chateau in Belgium and worked in Paris after university. While haute couture is something Carolyn dreams of wearing some day, much of her style is all-American – classic pieces by Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan are paired with J. Crew and Banana Republic. ”I’m a busy mother of two boys – running a business and raising a family doesn’t allow much time to change clothes between business meetings and baseball games so I gravitate towards easy wrap dresses, pants paired with tee-shirts and jackets, skirts with cardigans or cashmere sweaters. But when it comes to the accessories (purses, shoes and jewelry) … I choose pieces that are fun and out there!” Working in the luxury home accessories industry has created a passion for beautiful design and craftsmanship and when Carolyn discovered Boticca, it was love at first sight!
Can you save the planet and be stylish? Once limited to scratchy shirts made from hemp, ‘green’ fashion has now evolved into a hot topic in the fashion world – with labels like People Tree and Edun creating entire collections of environmentally-friendly clothing.
But how do you define ‘green’ fashion? Eco style can mean using materials from ethical or sustainable sources, ensuring that workers are treated in an ethical way, and using and reusing recycled materials. Now green girls are focusing more than ever on where their clothes come from, where and how they’re made, and what they’re made of.
With style icons like Emma Watson the poster girl for People Tree, and Colin Firth’s wife persuading him to wear a recycled suit to the Oscars this year, green fashion has never been cooler! And it’s not just the celebrities who are catching the green bug – London Fashion Week hosts an event called Esthetica showcasing the movement of cutting edge designers committed to working eco sustainably (now in its tenth season), and students at top NY design school Parsons have been working on ‘no waste’ garments.
Just take the current trend for ‘upcycling’ – creating garments out of scraps of material, or reworking ‘rubbish’ or waste material into something new. Livia Firth’s Oscar outfit was exclusively designed by Orsola de Castro of From Somewhere, who used pre-consumer waste of high-end Italian design manufacturers: end-of-roll fabric, discarded silk and organza offcuts, as well as silk chiffon plucked from unfinished petticoats and other cutting process leftovers.
So how to upcycle your own wardrobe? The key is to focus on minimising waste – wearing vintage or second hand clothing, customising old clothes into something new, and buying from stores that have great fair trade or sustainable credentials is a good start. And there’s no reason why you can’t stop shopping – just show your support for designers making new clothes out of found objects.
Here are four of our favourite ‘upcycled’ pieces:
Deer antlers are now regarded as an environmental and sustainable crop – so we were drawn to this unusual ring. Made by a community of jewelers in Portland, Oregon, this ring has been crafted from shed antlers, collected off the ground.
A clever use for cork, designer Nyovee has crafted a tough belt out of leather and recycled cork. The pale colour is perfect for Spring.
A romantic necklace of reclaimed and found objects, you’ll find vintage earrings, a vintage watch face, driftwood and bone woven together in one statement piece.
Is it a necklace? Is it a scarf? This fluid piece can be worn as either. Hand made by a community of Portuguese women using traditional methods of embroidery, and using recycled material, this accessory has seriously green credentials.
Awards season is upon us, and one of the biggest events in the Hollywood calendar – the Oscars - is just around the corner. But our favourite thing about the Academy Awards, aside from all the gossip and red carpet coverage? It’s who’ll be wearing what.
The Oscars are the ultimate Hollywood Fashion Show – where the red carpet becomes the runway, and with celebrity sites like gofugyourself.com ready to pick up on every fashion faux pas out there, the job of a Hollywood stylist is a notoriously stressful one.
Usually Oscar fashion is all about the frocks – what’s hot and what’s not (with Hollywood stylists making or breaking their career over a certain actresses look) – but the accessories have always played an important part too.
Starlets are famed for piling on the gems to add some glamour to their outfit, with big jewelry houses lending out their best sparklers to Hollywood’s finest – a tradition that goes back to 1944, when Oscar nominee Jennifer Jones was reported to wear a diamond necklace and earrings borrowed from famed Fifth Avenue jeweller, Harry Winston.
Since then, an actress’ accessories have been as important to Oscar fashion as their outfits. In 1970, Elizabeth Taylor made headlines when she wore a 69-carat pear-shaped Taylor-Burton Diamond (a gift from Richard Burton) – and her dress by Edith Head was designed specifically to complement the rare gem (worth three million dollars!).
But her high-end jewels were nothing compared to Oprah Winfrey, who set the record for wearing the most diamonds EVER on stage in 1999 – a whopping $71 million!
Whilst we’re not suggesting you whip out hundreds of dollars of diamonds, this is the month to look to the red carpet for accessories inspiration.
With actresses (and their stylists) more fashion conscious than ever, the red carpet has its very own fashion tribes – from red carpets regulars resplendent in couture, to the up and coming starlets working it in cutting edge designers. So which one will be inspiring your look this month?
The Actresses: Established and probably up for an award, these young starlets are fashion conscious but don’t want to look to ‘out-there’. With a legion of Hollywood stylists behind them, they need to look acceptance speech ready and avoid, horror of horrors, ending up on the ‘What were they thinking?!’ pages the next day. Wearing a sequined, chiffon or pale toned gown, typical ‘pretty’ girls include Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway.
The Dress: A predictably pretty couture dress from failsafe designers like Marchesa, Armani Prive, Elie Saab, or Monique L’Hullier. Expect romantic ruffles and perfectly coiffed hair.
Accessorize with…Something simple to offset a fairytale gown. Natalie would love this Swan Ring from Leila Kasahnipour. A Gemma Redux Liz Bracelet adds just the right amount of sparkle, and you can’t go wrong with a Poupee Couture Crystal Clutch.
The Actresses: These red carpet regulars and well-established actresses have been going to Awards Ceremonies for years, and know what works. Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, and Kate Winslet always manage to pull of an elegant but understated look – nothing to short or revealing, with just the right amount of sparkle. Expect darker tones and long lengths.
The Dress: These ladies stick to designers who know how to flatter a feminine figure – like celebrity favourite Victoria Beckham, Roland Mouret, Oscar de la Renta, and Givenchy.
Accessorize with…Something grown up and elegant – minimal and modern jewelry that looks high end. These Arosha Whirling Earrings and Joanna Dahdah ring will complement a chic updo and column gown.
The Actresses: Often on the ‘worst dressed’ list, we think these ladies should be commended for trying something different, and not sticking to the cookie cutter Hollywood look. Lovers of avant-garde, conceptual fashion like Tilda Swinton are always one to watch on the red carpet (wearing this season’s Jil Sander straight off the catwalk at the Golden Globes) or truly eclectic dressers like Helena Bonham Carter – who wore mismatched shoes on the red carpet!
The Dress: High fashion, conceptual styles, – designers like Jil Sander, Viktor and Rolf, Vivienne Westwood – or a no-name dress.
Accessorize with…Be a maverick yourself by wearing a bold printed scarf to a glamorous event – tie in your hair or round you neck or waist for an offbeat look. We love Squarelust’s Deer and Green Serpent designs. Wear a wacky cocktail ring on your finger – like this interesting Freehand piece in sterling silver.
The Actresses: Probably the ‘face’ or muse of a design house, these fashion forward starlets are always papped in the latest look, seen at the hottest parties, and regulars on the front row during fashion week. Designers are begging to dress them, so they often hit the red carpet in an on trend ensemble. Stylish ladies like Zoe Saldana, Diane Kruger, Emma Watson, January Jones, Carey Mulligan, and Marianne Cotillard can be counted on to make an edgier outfit choice than a frothy ball gown.
The Dress: Something fun and edgy but a hot young designer – or whoever they are playing muse to. So for January Jones – Versace, Marianne Cotillard – Dior, Emma Watson – Burberry.
Accessorize with…We can see Blake Lively (Chanel’s new muse) wearing the Black Pearl Necklace by Little Glass Clementine. For something a little more cutting edge, A Leda Otto necklace fits the bill – or a Ram Ring by Leila Kashanipour.
Handpicked by Chiara
In love with the very essence of Clementine’s work, where the delicate and beautiful exquisitely meets the most unexpected find.
Front row fights, stylish soirees, street style snappers, moody models, designer dramas, and bold backstage beauty…all the fun of fashion week is here for another year!
With New York and London about to roll out the catwalk for AW11 (even though we’ve only just got our heads around the SS11 collections!) we’ve been whipped up into a fashion frenzy!
But it’s not the new trends and celeb-spotting we’re excited about – our favourite fashion week pastime is ogling over the avant-garde looks on the street, by fashionistas hopping from show to show. The key here is out-style each other, stand out and look unique – something we love at Boticca! Just take Anna Dello Russo, the Italian editor of Japanese Vogue, who sported various pieces of fruit on her head to several September shows. Far from following trends, she makes dressing up an art in itself.
In honour of these fashion mavericks, we’ve created our own guide to dressing for New York and London Fashion weeks. If you live in these fashion capitals, it’s the one week you can get away with a totally out there look – and we say embrace it! Whether you’re a VIP with access to every show and after party, or just want to dress like one, get ready to make the streets your catwalk…
When: February 10th-17th
Where: The Lincoln Center
The Vibe: Sleek, glossy and groomed – New York is known as the most commercial of the Fashion Weeks. Expect smart shows, a fabulous front row, and hundreds of wearable looks.
One’s to Watch: Stylish menswear designer Thom Browne launches his first collection for the ladies. Expect exceptional tailoring.
After-Party: Art gallerist Alex Dellal’s launch of POST magazine, an ipad only publication, at Soho House.
Style Icon: Stylish socialite Olivia Palermo. She may look preppy, but this fashion icon always supports unknown jewelry and accessory designers.
What to Wear:
To the shows: New York is still cold, so pack a fierce funnel neck coat to keep out the chill. A sleek shift dress is all you need underneath, but be bold with your accessories – we love Circe’s anchor charm pendant and these two standout rings –Arata Fuchi’s black number with gold studs, and this sterling silver snake ring.
After Dark: New York girls are groomed and glossy, but they throw out all the stops for a night out. Look slick in a long black dress in clingy jersey, and pull in your silhouette with this long slice belt. Cocktail rings will add an edge to your look – go for this statement big ball ring from Joanna Dahdah, or try a more earthy Green Jade ring from Toosis.
When: February 18th- 23rd
Where: Somerset House, and various locations around the city.
The Vibe: London is New York’s younger, edgier sister – all cutting edge looks, up-and-coming designers, and achingly hip after parties at disused warehouses.
One’s to Watch: Mary Katrantzou was a hot ticket last season for her unique use of prints, and dresses that looked like lampshades!
After-Party: Alexander Wang’s party with Love Magazine, at iconic store Liberty is set to be the wildest event of the week.
Style Icon: Power blogger Susie Bubble, who always wows with her support of fledging designers, and love of avant-garde silhouettes,
What to Wear:
To the shows: Brit are known for their eclectic style, so pile on the accessories for a unique outfit. Use simple black pieces for your outfit – a tank, a chic blazer, some tailored shorts – and then go wild by layering on different looks. Mix tough girl pieces – like a Clovis skull ring and this Clo necklace – with a glam Chic Jewel Couture Art Deco Ring. Stash your notepad, blackberry and between-show snacks in this roomy Kylie Patent clutch.
After Dark: Time to make a statement in a strapless gown- go for a maxi length to channel this season’s seventies trend. Some hippy chic rings will complement your frock – like this green gem ring from Little Glass Clementine and Pyramid Ring from Ladiosa jewelry. Not into the boho look? Try a simple white shirt – and toughen it up with these Skull Cufflinks.
Clementine James is the brilliant, young designer behind Little Glass Clementine. We discovered her wearing one of her necklaces in the London Tube and had to get her on Boticca.
We also sat down with Clementine to find out more about her background, how she got into making jewelry, her inspirations and what lies next for this up-and-coming talent.
Clementines James, the designer behind Little Glass Clementine is a self-taught jeweller and environmental activist, who was discovered by the Boticca team on the London Underground, wearing one of her knockout pieces. Each necklace is made up of the designer’s treasured and found objects, intricately woven together into work of art that bursts with meaning.
Our fashion writer, Lauren, is the lucky girl who gets to review a couple of her necklaces.
