Suzanna Dai

Better Late Than Never...

2011-01-19T21:06:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's 2011. What's even more amazing is that we're over halfway through January 2011. I've been quite busy over here, which explains the lack of blogging on my end. December was a mad rush of trunk shows and traveling, filling last minute orders, and scrambling to get my Spring line ready. I managed to do it all, and I even launched the new SuzannaDai.com. Many more exciting things are in the works too!

At the beginning of December, I flew out to LA to do a few trunk shows at the Nordstrom stores in Santa Monica, Topanga, and Fashion Island. It was great to be in the stores and talk to customers face to face, although I'm not going to lie - it was also nice to get out of the mad rush that is NYC before the holidays. LA was so warm and sunny, and I met up with an old high school friend, who took me to some cool spots. I also filled up on Mexican food, which is soooo amazing out there. It's funny - I grew up in Texas and couldn't have cared less about Mexican food until I moved to NYC and suddenly no longer had it at my fingertips. Now I crave Mexican like nobody's business. I pretty much ate my way through all the Mexican restaurants in LA.

I came back to NYC, did a few more trunk shows, and filled last minute orders before heading to my parents' house in North Carolina. It was so nice to have a break - well, a small one, at least. I spent a lot of time at home designing. It's the only chance I get to step back and focus only on being creative.

I'll have my Spring 2011 line up on the site before too long - I'm really excited about it, and I'll give you a sneak peek here:

Malé Drop Earrings

Jaipur Collar Necklace

Palm Spring Cuff

I also launched a collection of beaded clutch bags, which I'm super excited about!! More about those soon.

Here's to a great 2011!!

What I Did This Fall

2010-11-18T22:46:00.000-05:00

Fall is not over yet, but for some reason my brain thinks so. My mind divides the year into only 2 seasons: summer and winter. I often feel like everything after September is winter, or at least if the temperature is below 50, my body interprets it that way. It must be the Texas girl in me that didn't grow up with a distinct fall (in Texas, 50 degrees is winter, you see...).

What I'm trying to get at, is the title for this post isn't that a propos, since we're in the middle of fall (and I'm still doing things in fall). However, what I did at the beginning of fall seems so far away now- as if it took place in a completely different season. Enough with the talking in circles, and I'll just show you.

carefree clouds over the desert

juniper tree overlooking the desert

The Courthouse Towers - Arches National Park

Window Arch at sunset - Arches National Park

Double "O" Arch - Arches National Park

Delicate Arch - Arches National Park

a juniper tree - maybe thousands of years old

Monument Valley

I went to the desert.

When I graduated from high school, my best friend and I convinced our parents to let us drive out west. We wanted to take a real road trip, the kind that Jack Kerouac wrote about. It was on that trip that I experienced the desert for the first time, and it made a huge impression on me. Northern Arizona, and the Grand Canyon in particular, pulled at me with a yearning I have not felt since, and made me promise to return again soon.

On this trip, a friend and I meandered through Southern Utah and Northern Arizona, in an area of unparalleled beauty known as the Colorado Plateau. This whole area at one time millions of years ago was covered by an ocean, which gradually receded, leaving salt deposits. Throughout the next few million years, sand blown from the west alternately layered on top of red soil draining down from the Rocky Mountains, to form the striped rock layers seen there today. Wind erosion has caused a lot of the rocks to form natural arches and other amazing formations. We saw such formations at Arches National Park and Canyonlands Nation Park, which are both outside of Moab, Utah. It's impossible to convey the grandeur of these massive monuments through a photograph; somehow, pictures can't do it justice. It's one of the most amazing places I've been.

Later we drove through the desert on our way to the Grand Canyon. There is something very peaceful and serene in driving through such infinitely open spaces, bordered by a sky of the deepest blue and plateaus of rusty vermillion. In a space so wide, you'd think the whole landscape would be laid out bare before you, unable to hide any aspect of its being, yet around each bend in the road, the scenery will change quite dramatically and very unexpectedly. There is always another perspective offered to you, each one more intriguing than the next. It's amazing how each slightly different angle can change what is observed by such a drastic degree. This was especially true as we drove further south through Utah and into Monument Valley, on towards Kanab, Utah, where we stayed the night.

My friend had never been to The Grand Canyon, and I think it's something everyone should experience, so we had to go. We got up at 5am the next morning to drive to the North Rim in time to see the sunrise over the canyon. I had not seen a sunrise anywhere in such a long time, but to experience it in such an awe-inspiring location was magical. When the sun rises, it's as if its rays start to paint a rainbow over each layer of rock in the canyon. Nothing but stillness and quiet prevail, and an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude take over. I felt like being there restored my sense of well-being and centeredness. Suddenly none of the things that seem so important in "normal" daily life seemed to matter. I was able to find contentment in just being.

sunrise over the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

Later we went on a ten mile hike along the edge of the North Rim and came to a beautiful look out point, where we could see so many layers of the canyon. I wanted so badly to abandon our schedule and just hike further and further inside it. I can't come close to describing the effect this part of the world has on me - it's like no where else I have ever been.

Grand Canyon North Rim

We had to get back on the road, and I think my favorite part of the trip is the drive from the North Rim to the South Rim. Right outside of the North Rim, driving through Navajo land, the sky is vast and blue. Red cliffs frame the landscape, and blond desert brush paints the ground. There are small canyons, and huge rocks near a place called Cliff Dwellers, where people built houses in the sides of the boulders.

Cliff Dwellers, Arizona

After driving about 4 hours, we made it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in time for sunset.

Grand Canyon South Rim right before sunset

After watching a great sunset, our time in the desert was over. I didn't want to leave, but I promised I'd be back again very soon.

Wear What Makes You Happy

2010-10-04T20:13:00.000-04:00

I was at Henri Bendel for a trunk show this past weekend, where I got to meet a lot of new customers and hear feedback about Suzanna Dai. Many of the women I met were visiting New York from places like Seattle or Florida. They seemed to fall in love with the jewelry but expressed a hesitation to wear it. I heard so many reasons why they couldn't wear it, based on insecurities and fear of what others would think. Yet they kept coming back to admire it. After hearing all of this, I decided it's important to address these concerns and give reasons why these fears are unfounded.

Concern #1 -
One of the things I heard went something like this: "It's so beautiful, but I'm from such-and-such a city, and no one wears things like this there. People would think I'm crazy if I wore this, or they'd say, 'who does she think she is?'"

Refutation of Concern #1 -
It doesn't matter what other people think! If you like something, that's all that matters. You should hold your head up high knowing that you look amazing wearing something you love. Do you think people that got anywhere significant in life, or bothered to chase their dreams, spent so much time worrying about what other people thought? NO. Why? Because it doesn't matter. Also, because they were too busy trying to make their dreams a reality. The only thing you should focus on is what will make you happy. Life is hard enough without having to worry about other people. Chances are they're more worried about what you will think of them. If everyone stopped worrying so much about what everyone else thought, there'd be a lot more happy people in the world. So forget about other people and do what makes you happy, even if it means wearing your Suzanna Dai to run laps around the track (just to clarify, this is not a suggestion).

Concern #2 -
I also heard this from a few people: "oh, it's so beautiful, but it's too fancy. I'd have to have an event to wear it to, with a ball gown and everything..."

Refutation of Concern #2 -
Ok, first of all, where have you been the past 10 years?? There's been a revolution in fashion, and the new rules are, there are no rules! You don't have to wear a fancy dress with a fancy piece of jewelry - that's the old way. The new way is to mix high with low, fancy with casual - add a twist of the unexpected. Make your own rules, and then break them, but only if you feel like it. I often wear my Suzanna Dai with jeans and a t-shirt or tank top, and a jacket. It's a way to transform a casual outfit into something less casual, without going totally over the top. I also sometimes wear it with a simple black sheath dress. Think Breakfast At Tiffany's - classic, with a modern twist. Suzanna Dai doesn't have to be held for a special occasion - if it makes you feel special, that is occasion enough!

Concern #3 -
Another thing I heard was: "This jewelry would draw too much attention to me. I don't want people to look at me that much, and I don't want to draw attention to myself."

Refutation of Concern #3 -
I think this fear stems more from a confusion about drawing negative attention versus positive attention to yourself. Usually if you wear something beautiful, you will draw positive attention to yourself and get lots of compliments - and who doesn't like compliments? This is a good thing! Drawing negative attention to yourself, on the other hand, might result from mixing lime green and yellow polka dot pants with a pastel floral blouse. If this makes you happy, by all means, do it, but I think you catch my drift... The only way you could draw negative attention to yourself by wearing Suzanna Dai is if you wore too much of it. That's easy to remedy - remember to keep it simple. If you're going to wear a big necklace, go light on the other accessories by pairing it with small stud earrings, and keeping everything else clean. You can pair a big cuff with some big earrings, but don't mix in a big necklace too - it becomes overwhelming and starts to look cluttered. If you still don't want any attention, even if it's positive, try a pair of button earrings, such as the Windsor, Copenhagen, or Prussia styles, or a more subdued and muted necklace, like the Saint Petersburg. I can't promise you won't get any compliments, though.

Windsor Button Earrings

Copenhagen Button Earrings

Prussia Button Earrings

St Petersburg Necklace

I think the main thing is to wear what makes you happy. Everyone I've talked to who's worn their Suzanna Dai has told me it does just that. Based on the reactions I got from the women who purchased their Suzanna Dai this weekend, I do believe it's true.

Dreamy Hollywood Glam

2010-09-11T11:59:00.000-04:00

The last Monday in August, my friend Mondo, who is an amazing make-up artist, and his friend Irving (who does hair) wanted to put together a photo shoot using some of my jewelry and vintage clothing. It was about 95 degrees that day, and we were all out in the park, dressed for fall weather, futilely trying to stay cool. Despite the weather, I must say the shots came out pretty great!

The first shot we did used a random collection of pieces from my line, all piled on top of each other, for an over-the-top shot. Most people aren't going to wear it this way, but it's a really impactful image to see so many detailed pieces right next to each other. The model is wearing the Paris Cuff in silver, Windsor Cuff, Rouen Cuff, Constantinople Cuff, Barcelona Cuff, Paris Necklace in copper, and Copenhagen Triple Drop Earrings in champagne.

Then they made up one of the models to be a 1930's/1940's vamp. She is wearing the Copenhagen Petal Drop Earrings.

The next shot has a 1920's look and features the Copenhagen Triple Drop Earrings in champagne, and the Copenhagen Necklace.

The last shot conjures up a feeling of Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. In some of the shots, the model also resembles Joan Crawford. I think these are my favorite. She's wearing the Windsor Drop Earrings, Windsor Cuff, and Constantinople Cuff.

We had so much fun dressing them up, and I can't wait to do it again!

Windsor

2010-08-17T22:54:00.000-04:00

What do you think of when you hear the name "Windsor"? I think of opulence and English royalty, with a heavy Victorian influence. It's fitting, then, that the Windsor Collection is named as such. While I was designing it and picking out the gems in subtly different hues of black diamond, smoky topaz, and dusty mauve, it struck me as something so ornate and delicate - something fit for a queen.

Windsor Necklace

I didn't realize it at the time, but upon later reflection, I discovered that the design of this collection had been influenced by the film "The Young Victoria." All of the costumes and jewelry in the film were amazingly rich with detail. I'm also a sucker for the story, since it is, after all, a dramatic and somewhat tragic love story.

As the young heir to the British throne, Victoria was in a fragile position, and many people were trying to sabotage her position and gain power for themselves as the head of the English monarchy. She couldn't even trust her own mother, whose lover was trying to usurp the throne. Naturally, she was wary of her many suitors and resisted being pushed into marriage too quickly.

Prince Albert courted her for quite some time. After several meetings, and much correspondence, the developed a strong friendship. She finally felt she could trust him, and she proposed to him! They were married in 1840. After a happy marriage of 22 years, however, he died suddenly at the age of 42, plunging Victoria into a deep mourning, which lasted for the remainder of her life. She retreated to the privacy of Windsor Castle and became known as "The Widow of Windsor."

Although a tragic story, it is also a beautiful one. She found in Albert her soul mate, which is more than most people ever find in a lifetime. It is a rare thing indeed, to be cherished, much like the Windsor Collection.

Windsor Drop Earrings

Windsor Button Earrings

Windsor Cuff

You can find pieces from the Windsor Collection at Henri Bendel (512 Fifth Avenue, NYC), Scoop NYC (various locations), Nordstrom (Santa Monica), and Sucre (357 Bleecker Street, NYC).

Mahhh...ldives

2010-08-09T22:39:00.001-04:00

I can't remember when I first found out about a place called the Maldives, but I do remember the effect discovering such a paradise had on me: instant, intense feelings of yearning and strong desire, no - NEED to go there. I must have been in the travel section of some book store, and stumbled upon a cover photo of a beautiful desert island, with white sand, turquoise waters, azure skies, and a hammock effortlessly strung up between palm trees, swaying lazily in the breeze. Or maybe I came upon it while doing an internet search. In any case, once I was aware of it, i knew I MUST one day go.

The Maldives are made up of 26 atolls with over 1000 islands, off the coast of India and Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean. They are very shallow; in fact, 99% of the country is under water. Many of the islands disappear during high tide, but all of them are beautiful, with pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear water, swaying palm trees, and breath-taking views.

It always seemed like a far away dream, but fast forward to two months ago, and the brilliant idea popped into my head. I knew I would be going to India, and the Maldives is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, right? It was the perfect opportunity. It only took a little persuasion from my Japanese neighbor, who had been there a few years earlier, and the tip from my sister that the islands are actually sinking, to convince me that it was now or never (I am very open to suggestion, especially when travel is involved). So it was decided, we were going to paradise!

I didn't realize that you have to really want to go to the Maldives to get there. It's not an easy trip. There were no direct flights from India, so we had to fly through Sri Lanka, spend the night in the Sri Lankan airport, fly to Male the next morning, and then get on a speedboat for an hour in order to get to our island. Of course, I thought it was all worth it for the "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow, but I could tell all this travel was wearing on my parents. I kept reminding them how amazingly beautiful it would be when we got there, but I had the feeling that, with each delayed flight, they were believing me less and less. Truthfully, I was having to go overtime to convince myself too.

See, we were supposed to leave Delhi that evening at 7:15pm, arrive in Sri Lanka at 10:40pm, check into our hotel and sleep a few hours, and then leave for Male at 7:30 am the next morning. Sri Lankan Airlines had other ideas... Our flight was delayed until about 11pm and did not arrive in Sri Lanka until 2:30am. We figured it would be pointless to go to a hotel and sleep for at most an hour, so we decided to settle in at the Sri Lankan airport with all the other passengers on lay overs.

They should really think about making that airport a hotel. Either that, or fix the flight schedules! Practically the whole place was filled with people camping out, waiting for flights, and it was hard to find an empty row of chairs to use as a makeshift bed. I think I got at most an hour of sleep that night - probably 30 minutes is more accurate.

Then our flight to Male got cancelled and moved to 11am. But then that got delayed another hour. I think we ended up finally leaving the God forsaken Colombo airport at 1pm, and I truly believe it was a miracle.

On the plane, I pushed past my fatigue and started to get excited again. We were so close! I got a window seat and had my camera ready for what I anticipated to be amazing photos of the islands on our descent into Male. Upon my first glimpse of pale turquoise water, I started taking shots. It was so beautiful! I couldn't wait to be off this plane and into paradise!!!

a glimpse of a far-off island

beautiful turquoise water

After claiming our luggage and taking the boat transfer to our hotel, we finally got to our resort. The room was so nice, and the bathroom was amazing - it was half covered by the thatched roof, and the other half looked up to open skies.

the shower opened right up to the sky

On the back side of our room, there was a small patio, which led to the beach. I could see the bright turquoise water through the lush tropical greenery and was so excited to rush down and start taking pictures. The pathway opened to a shallow lagoon, with a few stingrays swimming along the edges. As far as you could see, everything was turquoise and green, with pops of fuchsia and orange from the tropical flowers.

a view of the lagoon

I love this pop of pink against the bright green leaves

a sting ray, skimming along the edge of the water, looking for food

There were lots of interesting creatures and plants on our island, and we spent the next morning exploring and taking photos.

coconuts on a palm tree

these lizards were everywhere!

I love these palms!

a little hermit crab

a view of the beach

there were so many hibiscus, I had to put one in my hair

Since it was monsoon season, it was a bit overcast, but that did not make it any less beautiful. There was usually sun in the morning, and the clouds rolled in around two or three in the afternoon.

If it did rain, it was still hot, so the rain felt good. My mother and I spent a lot of time combing the beach for shells and tiny pieces of coral. It was so nice to be in such a beautiful, relaxing place. I think all the hassle in getting there was worth it, and I would love to go back. The last night, I took these pretty photos:

I would love to go back someday, when I have more money and more time!

Inspiration India - Mumbai

2010-08-02T21:09:00.000-04:00

It feels as if I always visit Mumbai during monsoon season. At least that has been the case for both times I've been there, including this visit. We got off to a bit of a rocky start in Mumbai. Our flight didn't arrive until almost midnight. That, paired with the rainy weather and deserted streets, gave the city a sense of gloom. Things didn't get much better once we saw our hotel room either - the hallway reeked of mildew, and we were jammed in such a small space that we could barely move without bumping into one another. It didn't help that we were exhausted. Resigned to the fact that we would have to spend the night, we decided to deal with getting a new hotel in the morning.

The next morning, after about an hour of going back and forth with hotels.com, we were able to change to a different hotel and get a refund for the obviously misrepresented "4-star" hotel we had to endure our first night. Whew!

Once we arrived in our new hotel, things were much better. It was located right on Marine Drive, along Back Bay (informally called the Queen's Necklace for it's arced shape), near the Gateway of India, Victoria Terminus, and many other majestic Victorian buildings. I got right to work on designing new pieces for the Spring 2011 collection, and my parents went sight seeing.

Victoria Terminus

The first day or two, the sky was covered in clouds, and there was a very light drizzle, if that. On our second day, we decided to take advantage of the comparatively nice weather (it would pour the next day) and headed for Elephanta Island. This is an island which was discovered in the 17th century by Portuguese explorers, who named it after a sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance. It consists of awe-inspiring temples that were intricately carved by hand out of basalt rock over a period of 200-300 years. The carvings depict many events in the life of the Hindu god Shiva.

We left from the Gateway of India, in Mumbai Harbor, right across the street form the majestic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel (not to be confused with the real Taj Mahal in Agra). From there, we boarded a ferry, for the hour-long trip to the island.

The Gateway of India

The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower

Once we arrived on the island, we had to climb a set of steep stairs to reach the caves. At the top of the stairway, we were greeted by an array of wildlife, which included dogs, monkeys, goats, cows, and roosters, all of whom wanted to be fed. Check out this little guy, who stole a bag of potato chips from an unsuspecting tourist:

The caves were pretty amazing. To think that they had all been carved by hand was just unbelievable.

outside the entrance to the main cave

inside the main cave - all the open space was carved out of rock!

large carving of Shiva at the center of the main cave

dancing Shiva

another entrance to the main cave

one of the other caves, which was used for practicing yoga

While touring the caves and seeing all the carvings of Shiva, our guide explained to us that the reason Shiva sometimes has so many arms is to show movement. Shiva didn't really have multiple arms. I thought this was interesting because I never looked at it that way, but once it was explained to me, it totally made sense.

The monsoon made everything so lush and green. On the way back to the ferry, our guide showed me a delicate fern-like plant and told me to touch it. I was hesitant at first and wanted to know why, but he insisted that I do it. As soon as my fingers brushed against the leaves, they at once closed in on themselves, as if retreating from danger. It was so cool - a plant that could move as a defense to protect itself. Quite amazing.

We headed back to Mumbai, and on our last day, it poured, in true monsoon fashion. It was a good time for me to focus and get a lot of work done, so I didn't mind the rain.

The next day we left for the last part of our trip - the Maldives. I was so excited to go to this paradise that I had been dreaming of visiting for years. It was to turn out to be as beautiful as I dreamed...

Inspiration India - Jaipur

2010-07-26T17:21:00.000-04:00

After our visit to Delhi, we were off to Jaipur, also known as the pink city, in reference to many of the city's walls and buildings, which are painted a sort of terracotta/pink color. Jaipur, one could argue, is the epicenter of Indian handicrafts, and there is an abundance of culture and arts there - with everything from bone inlaid furniture, to block-printed textiles, embroidered silks, and jewelry. It's one of my favorite places in India so far.

The Hawa Mahal, in the city center

more pink architecture

On our taxi ride over to the hotel from the airport, we started noticing a lot of costumed men riding horses embellished with bells and colorful garlands. It seemed like every few blocks we saw another decorated horse and rider, along with men carrying musical instruments. As we approached our hotel, we saw another such group, and we asked the driver if there was some sort of festival going on. I'm not sure if he understood the question, as we got a vague answer.

Once we were up in our hotel room, and darkness began to cover the city, we could hear the faint sounds of festive music from the road. I looked through the curtains of our hotel room window and saw a procession of women dripping in bright colors and sequins, clapping their hands and dancing. They were followed by men dressed in what looked like marching band uniforms, playing trombones and trumpets. At the back of the group were fancily dressed turban-clad men perched atop their equally fancily dressed horses. Surrounding the whole party were men carrying embellished lanterns, powered by a generator that trailed behind everyone. Every so often, someone would light off a firework at the front of the group. Then the party would move forward a few feet and stop, while the men played their music and the women danced, and a crowd gathered to watch it all. We went on the street to take photos of them and then decided to go to the roof of the hotel to get a better view.

one of the many wedding processions we saw

a groom sits atop a beautifully decorated horse

On the roof, we soon realized that you could see processions like this all over the city. As far as the eye could see, in all directions of the city, fireworks were lighting up the sky and similar groups were marching along distant roads. Then it hit us - it was wedding season in Jaipur!

view of a wedding reception from the room of our hotel

That was an exciting start to our visit, which was soon followed by more beautiful things. On my last visit to Jaipur, I remembered all the amazing markets, which we didn't get a chance to go to because our tour guide had us on a pretty tight schedule. This time, we were free of a tour guide, and free to browse the much-coveted markets! I wanted to start out at the Johari Bazaar, which is where you can find amazing beads and jewelry components. We popped into one of the first shops we saw and quickly had our breaths taken away by the array of colors, sizes, and shapes of semi-precious beads.

picking out semi-precious beads in Johari Bazaar

I ended up spending a lot here, and got strands of coral, smoky topaz, moon stone, labradorite, and emerald. I also bought some typical Indian jewelry, with the threaded adjustable closure - a beautiful necklace of teardrop-shaped emeralds, and another of ombre rainbow tourmaline.

smoky topaz, moonstone, labradorite, coral, and emerald beads

teardrop-shaped emerald beads

strands of ombre rainbow tourmaline

From there we went to visit Amrapali, an amazing jewelry showroom, where I bought these great earrings:

After oohing and aahing over everything in the showroom, we went to visit their factory and saw how all the cast jewelry was made - pretty interesting. I hope I get the chance to work with them soon!

On our last day in Jaipur, we stopped by another bazaar to buy bangles. I had a friend who sent me on a mission to get as many cheap and colorful bangle as I could. Of course I ended up picking out some for myself. Even though I rarely wear bangles, these were so pretty, I couldn't resist!

Did I mention how great Rajasthanis are at selling things? I ended up getting one last necklace, which was so amazingly beautiful, I couldn't do without it. Each gold bead is inset with tiny turquoise stones. Luckily, my mom offered it as my birthday present.

After our short stay in Jaipur, we were off to Mumbai, which I'll relay in my next post!

Inspiration India - Delhi

2010-07-19T14:31:00.000-04:00

I am finally back from India and over my jet lag enough to write in a coherent way. Overall it was an amazing trip full of inspiration - how could you not be inspired by India? It is a colorful country with an array of sights, sounds, and smells that stirs the senses.

I arrived in Delhi at about 8:30 pm on June 23 and was immediately smacked in the face by a thick wall of heat. It actually felt really good because the plane ride over was so cold! My parents were on a different flight, and they arrived at about 3am. Needless to say, because of the heat, traveling, and time difference, none of us slept very well the first night.

My first day in India, I woke up to discover that we were in the middle of a heat wave. Indian heat waves are in no way comparable to any kind of heat you can experience in the US - the highs were about 115 degrees fahrenheit, but the humidity is what could really do you in. So we tried to stay in as much air conditioning as possible, and filled up on fresh lime sodas, one of my favorite things to drink in India. What they do is mix fresh lime juice with club soda, and add in a little sugar or salt (or both). It's so refreshing and a perfect antidote to the heat.

That afternoon, we met up with a women I work with, and she took us to an amazing trim store, filled to the ceilings with metallic threads, dip-dyed raffias, rhinestones, chains, grosgrain ribbons, embroidered appliques, etc, etc. I was like a kid in a candy store. Knowing how long I can spend digging in a place like that, I tried to cut the time short, so my parents wouldn't kill me. I think I ended up spending about 2 hours inside, but I was sure to go back a few days later to have one last look. Here are some of the cool things I bought:

Later that week we went to the chain market in Old Delhi. This is the oldest part of the city where a lot of amazing markets are. It seems like there is a market for everything - spices, chains, beads, textiles, books, stationery, bangles, paper, etc. All the streets are very narrow and winding, with electrical wires draped across the tops of the alleyways, and wandering goats and cows mixed in with pedestrian, bicycle, motorbike, and rickshaw traffic. It's like a labyrinth, jam-packed with people and products, in which you could easily get lost. I think it's best to go with someone who is familiar with whichever market you want to go to, as there are lots of pic-pockets in the area, or as our taxi driver described to us, "walking man cheater."

a view of the skinny alleyways

one of the main streets in the bead market

looking at beads in the bead market - this is one of at least 400 such stalls

I love this kind of market, as it evokes a sense of adventure mixed with danger. When we were on the outskirts, my mother said, "it looks like what I imagine hell to look like." It took some persuading to get her to go in, but once we did, I felt like we were in one of those markets in an Indiana Jones movie - so many things to see, so much excitement, and treasures waiting to be discovered!! My dad took great pictures of some of the people on the streets there:

you often see tiny men carrying huge packages on their heads

women sometimes apply paint to the part in their hair

this man is a sort of vagabond, who has renounced all material possessions and wanders from place to place, depending on handouts. It's similar to but not the same as homeless people you encounter in the US

We ate some amazing food while we were there. The woman I work with in Delhi and her husband took us to the Delhi Golf Club one night for dinner and drinks. It was crazy to think that people could be playing golf in that heat, but apparently they do. Luckily, we had some fans to cool us off, and the food and company was great.

Another night we ate at a restaurant called Lodi Gardens, which was to die for, and of course I filled up on curry and naan. The garlic butter naan was addictive - I don't think I've eaten so much bread in my life, outside of France.

On our last day in Delhi, we went to the Tibetan Bazaar, a strip outside of Connaught Place where they sell many Tibetan handicrafts. There is a road around the corner called the Janpath where many Rajasthani women sell beautifully embroidered textiles and sarees. They are hard bargainers, though, so you have to come prepared to do battle and counteroffer half of what they name as their first price.

look at the amazing colors!! I love it!

From Delhi, we went on to Jaipur, which was even more inspiring! I'll write all about it in my next post.

Fast Forward to Spring... 2011

2010-06-10T22:26:00.000-04:00

I just barely finished designing my Fall/Holiday 2010 line, and already it's time to move on to Spring 2011. It's important to have samples ready for September, when all the buyers place their orders. The fashion cycle moves so quickly... it can get overwhelming and sometimes a little out of hand.

While looking on the Bergdorf Goodman website today, I saw that they're already carrying pre-fall. Ok, that's great and all, but it's barely June!! Various other stores have summer merchandise on sale already. It's crazy that summer has not even officially started, and everyone is so eager to get back to fall. In New York, we've had one really summer-like week so far, but it cooled off again this week. After such a long winter, and last year's sorry excuse for summer, believe me, the last thing THIS Texas girl wants to think about is fall and the onset of cold weather. Can't we just enjoy summer?? God knows we deserve it...

I'm all for planning ahead and not procrastinating, but it seems crazy to me, as well as economically brain-dead, for stores to sell summer clothing at full price in March or April (when it's still usually snowing outside), and then have it on sale in prime summer weather (June/July). I admit, I do get REALLY excited about spring and summer (probably more than anyone), but I just can't think about buying a sun dress when it's 30 degrees outside. Same goes for fall clothing - who wants to think about wearing wool in the boiling temperatures of August?

But getting back to Spring 2011... What I'm feeling is more delicate sizes and shapes, but fun with color. I love the idea of mixing neons with neutrals - take for instance neon red with ecru and gunmetal, or chartreuse with antique gold and grey. I'm also really into coral and salmon mixed with grey, pyrite, and black diamond. I saw these beads at one of the stores I frequent, and it really inspired me:

I love the various shades of coral with the hit of grey - it looks so modern.

I'm also really excited about bright metallics - I bought these colored metallic wires recently, and I can't wait to use them:

Stay tuned for more - I hope to get some great inspiration when I get to India in a few weeks!

Antique-aholics Anonymous

2010-05-17T22:03:00.000-04:00

I love antiques. Since I was a teenager, I have been obsessed with vintage clothing, shoes, magazines, houses, furniture... everything! When I was around fourteen year old, I started shopping in vintage clothing stores, and I drove my father crazy begging him to drive me to downtown Houston every weekend so I could peruse my favorite shops, "Wear It Again Sam" and "Mr Peabody's Way Back Machine."

There's something so exhilarating in rummaging through a pile of what my parents would call "junk," and coming out with a treasure... and at a bargain, to match! Sometimes I think I literally have an addiction to shopping in flea markets and thrift stores - I just KNOW when I'm going to find something (it's like a sixth sense), my heart starts beating faster, and when I finally pull out the treasure, I get a surge of adrenaline that rushes through my body - it's a serious high.

Unfortunately, now, the deals are not as good as they were 15 years ago (before vintage and recycled clothing became a huge trend), and a lot of the merchandise has been picked over. It's still fun for me, though, and I never miss the opportunity to go to a flea market. Lucky me - this weekend I got finally got to go to what has been called the best flea market in the US - Brimfield.

There were a lot of amazing items - I found some wonderful Victorian jet beaded trims:

a cut steel clasp:

cheap yet inspirational costume jewelry:

a pair of 1930s lace-up shoes:

a Vogue magazine from 1954:

I also found some vintage clothes (a 1940s sun dress, a 1960s Audrey Hepburn-like black linen shift, a green velour top from the 50s, and a silver lame belt from the 1920s) and two really amazing hats (one Victorian with a dramatic feather, the other a cute 1930s number). I didn't find the vintage mannequin bust I was searching for, but those are pretty hard to come by, so I'm not too upset about it.

Overall, it was a good trip, and I'm glad I went. It wasn't nearly as scary as some of the flea markets I've been to in the South. For example, I went to one in Virginia with my family, and my sister and dad got separated from my mother and me. My sister sent me a text saying, "Where are you? We are near the guns, mullets, and confederate flags - come find us." Surprisingly (or maybe not), that didn't narrow down her location at all...

Cordoba

2010-05-03T22:21:00.000-04:00

In my mind, Spain has alway been a tempestuous land of devastatingly handsome men and beautiful women dancing against the backdrop of a fiery red setting sun. I think of guitars strumming in a staccato fashion, a flamenco dancer dramatically kicking up her skirt, a bullfighter gallantly waving his red cape as a crowd chants "ole!".

There is something so unique about Southern Spain - the Moorish influence has mixed with the Catholic to create such a breath-taking spin on its architecture, food, and customs.

entrance to the Cordoba Fair

The Great Mosque in Cordoba

In the Andalusian (I looove saying this... Andalusia, Andaluuusia!) cities of Sevilla and Cordoba, where flamenco was born, they celebrate the Semana Santa y Feria, right around the time of the Easter Holy Week. Semana Santa became very popular in the 1920s, and I have a few vintage posters in my apartment that were used to promote it. I love the aesthetic, the way the men proudly wear their boleros and cordobes (traditional hats), while the women are perfectly coiffed, in their ondulating flamenco dresses, intricately embroidered shawls, and dramatic fans.

When I was in Spain a few years ago, I was so tempted to buy a flamenco dress, until I saw the price tag. That, and the question of where I could possibly wear it, served as a deterrent. I settled for a beautiful red embroidered shawl instead, but one day I will have my flamenco dress!

I suppose all of this imagery melded together in my mind when I created the Cordoba Collection. Each piece is reminiscent of a flamenco dancer's fan, and the mix of bright vermillion, gold, and black is unmistakably Spanish.

Suzanna Dai Fall/Holiday 2010

2010-04-21T21:13:00.000-04:00

I went home this weekend to shoot photos of my Fall/Holiday 2010 line, which I am very excited about. I don't have names for all of the groups yet, but the overall feeling is very regal, with a mix of Edwardian, Victorian, and Gothic influences. I suppose I was influenced by "The Young Victoria."

Everything came together very last minute, and for the past month or so, I have felt like a chicken running around with it's head cut off. I've been doing some design work for Ann Taylor Loft, in addition to my own line, so things have been crazy! Sometimes I feel like all I do is work... I recently got to thinking about going to India this summer, and I'm slowly convincing myself I have to do it. Just to get away and have a little adventure would be so nice. Apart from a long weekend in Cancun (not my ideal destination by any means), I haven't traveled nearly enough this year!

So here's a sneek peak of some of the pieces in the new line:

I'm calling this the Windsor - it looks so decadently English

This is the Alexandria cuff - it's very Wonder Woman chic; it could probably give you super-hero powers if you really needed them

a deco inspired cuff...

More to come soon! I know I haven't been so great at keeping up with posts, but I'm going to try much harder to post at least once a week!

More Mosaics

2010-03-16T11:32:00.000-04:00

I'm still thinking of Italy and Greece.... I found these photos of Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearst's breathtaking estate in San Simeon, CA. This place is so amazing - it sits on a hilltop right off the Pacific Coast Highway, and you can tell the inspiration was overwhelmingly ancient Greek and Roman, with a 1920's twist. It's like a dream straight out of The Great Gatsby. Can you imagine a cocktail party in the summer with a live 1920's orchestra on the grounds? Swoon. I want to live there!

The Neptune Pool:

The Roman Pool:

These mosaics are done in 24K Gold

Amalfi

2010-03-10T22:02:00.002-05:00

Italy - beautiful country of aesthetic treasures, where modernity is a glance away from the ancient, and both are constantly playing off of each other, in a mesmerizing pas de deux. Southern Italy, with its glittering sun-kissed Mediterranean waters, intensely passionate and warm people, and historical riches, is where I long to be - particularly Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

I went to Capri in May 2004, after convincing my family that we HAD to go there over Venice. I won that battle, but really we all won, because Capri is beautiful. It greets you with its arms wide open, and embraces you in a warm sun-drenched kiss. When you are there, colors are more brilliant, food is more flavorful, and life is filled with possibilities that start somewhere between the azure sky, deep turquoise sea and distant lazuline islands. They all merge together in such a burst of blue that you couldn't tell where one ends and the other begins, were it not for the golden sun.

There are ancient ruins on the island that remind me of Pompeii and the amazing mosaics which are still preserved there. I always remember this kind of intricate mosaic work when I think of the Amalfi area and its turquoise blues and greens. This ancient craft of mosaic work, and the colors of Amalfi inspired the collection after which it is named.

Art Deco Is Alive and Well

2010-02-15T21:53:00.003-05:00

I've recently read that Art Deco is dead, but I could not disagree more. Lately, it's been one of my biggest inspirations.

In fact, I recently did a collection for W Hotels the Store's "Global Glam" program, and Art Deco was the main theme. The pieces I designed were inspired by old Hollywood glamour, and featured deep crimson reds, jet black, sparkling silver, and smoky grays - a color palette perfect for a screen siren. Think Veronica Lake.

Here's a sneak peak of a few of the pieces:

Deco Cuff featuring red silk and chain-embroidered tulle covered gems

Deco Fan Earrings

Deco Chain Necklace embroidered with large gems and cascading chain loops

This collection will be featured exclusively at the W Hotels this spring, so be on the lookout for it, and bring out your inner movie star!

La Dolce Vita

2010-01-31T22:39:00.002-05:00

One of the most inventive fashion designers from the 1930s is Elsa Schiaparelli. In typical Roman form, she had fun with fashion and didn't take anything too seriously, often working with surrealist artists such as Jean Cocteau and Alberto Giacometti to create whimsical designs with a tongue-in-cheek appeal. Perhaps most well known is the lobster dress, the result of a collaboration with Salvador Dali, and worn by Wallis Simpson (the future Duchess of Windsor) for a 1937 Vogue spread photographed by Cecil Beaton:

She made these quirky gloves, upon being inspired by a photograph taken by Man Ray of hands Picasso painted to look like gloves:

Schiaparelli also did some amazing embroidery and beadwork using metallic gold threads, mirrors, and sequins, which really inspire me:

embroidered Versailles cape

design collaboration with Jean Cocteau

I think Schiaparelli embodies the Roman design aesthetic perfectly - it's decadent, fun, and glamourous, with lots of bold color tinged in gold. If anyone knows how to do over the top, it's the Romans!

Her interpretation of the trends in art and culture during the late 1930s, along with all that intricate beadwork, really inspired my Rome collection:

Rome Necklace

Rome Drop Earrings

Rome Cuff

Hot Spots

2010-01-03T19:25:00.000-05:00

It's cold. Really cold. Whenever it's this cold, I always start thinking about where I can go that's warm, sunny, and far away. I grew up in Houston, and although I've been in New York for the past 10 years, I don't think I will ever get used to the cold. Call me crazy (and many people have), but I actually like hot, humid weather.

During summers in Texas, it's so hot outside that every building you enter is air-conditioned as cold as the freezer section in a grocery store, and you have to wear sweaters inside. After being inside such a cold place for hours, I would look forward to going outside and being embraced by a thick heat. I had a ritual where I would sit in my car, all the windows closed, and absorb the heat until I got goosebumps and started to sweat. Only after about 5 minutes of this intense heat would I turn on the engine and the air conditioning.

We've got a ways to go until it gets that hot again - at least 5 months. Sometimes looking at photos of a warm place makes me feel better and forget for a second that it's 19 degrees outside, so here are some photos I took at various hot spots around the world. Until I can get there again, I'll be dreaming about them...

Brazil - these were taken in Rio de Janiero, or on the beaches in Buzios, in 2006

Tulum, Mexico - these were taken at the Mayan ruins in Tulum, in 2004

India - these were taken last summer (2008), in Agra, outside of Delhi, and Bangalore

Go West

2009-12-15T23:31:00.000-05:00

There's something so American about taking a road trip. At the back of our psyches is a constant pull to run away, hop into a car and drive as far as the road will take us, to no where in particular, all our problems left behind in a cloud of dust, the empty road ahead a beacon of endless possibilities.

A real road trip must be driven west, through desolate deserts so flat the sky opens up before you like a giant fan and keeps expanding forever. In the desert colors come to life. Driving through Arizona, the sky bursts into a brilliant technicolor blue when contrasted with the orangey-red canyon rocks.

Dried golden vegetation, the color of angel's hair, along the back roads of New Mexico, plays against the purple clouds, which float effortlessly across the sky.

The sunsets are incomparable.

When night falls, blackness shoots across an endless sky filled to infinity with glittering stars and faraway galaxies. You'd swear the sky would collapse from the weight of all the stars it holds.

I first went west when I was 17. My best friend and I drove from Houston to San Francisco, stopping at various spots along the way: El Paso, where the blatant discrepancies between the wealth of the US and poverty of Mexico are revealed shamelessly across the width of a river; White Sands, New Mexico, where miles of alabaster sand dunes stretch out forever without an ocean in site;

The Petrified Forest,

Meteor Crater,

and the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, which changed me by highlighting the insignificance of my life as a tiny blip in the eternity of time.

Driving through the Painted Desert and Indian reservations so secluded and removed from civilization, I was given a certain sense of peace, which I have not found anywhere else. Although I recognized how small I was in comparison to the overwhelming landscape and canyons which record the history of the earth in their infinitesimal geological layers, I felt a true sense of belonging and oneness with the universe.

Lately I have been feeling an almost magnetic pull to go west again. I was looking at a book this weekend with beautiful photos of Southern Utah and Arizona, and something in the pictures lit a spark inside, urging me to drive away. A longing to escape this crazy, unnatural city life, a longing for centeredness, a longing for connection...

If I tried to convey my feelings about the desert through a piece of jewelry, my best efforts wouldn't do it justice. I came as close as I could with the Sedona necklace. The blush colored oxidized sequins try to capture the myriad of colors in a Sedona sunset. The multiple layers of silver and pewter chains mimic the flow of water when the long-awaited rains finally come to the desert and cleanse the landscape, triggering a renewal and rebirth.

Paris

2009-11-19T23:11:00.003-05:00

I fell in love with France when I was about 12 years old. One day I woke up and decided I was going to be French. Well, maybe it was that I was going to be a fashion designer... Anyway, everyone knows that if you're a fashion designer you have to live in Paris, so naturally had to learn French.

On the first day of French class, I was so excited - I was going to be a French girl! I started doing everything French - wearing red lipstick, eating croissants, putting my hair in a French twist, flipping through copies of French Vogue...

We started with the basics - Bonjour, je m'appelle Suzie, comment ca va? etc, etc. Then came the first verb and its conjugation chart: aller. Je vais, tu vas, elle va, nous allons.... What??? I was so confused. What was a conjugation chart? Why had I never heard of this before? This wasn't what I bargained for.... I slowly started to panic - I would never learn how to speak French or be a French girl, and all my big dreams of becoming a famous French fashion designer started to crumble...

Thankfully when I showed up to class the next day, everyone was just as, if not more, confused than me. After a few days, everything started to magically click, and I was again confident that I would one day be French.

That is, until the end of the school year... I enrolled in French II, but there were not enough students signed up for the class, so they decided they weren't going to offer it. I was crushed. How could they not offer French II? After I had learned all that vocabulary and those verbs, and - didn't they know I was going to be a famous French fashion designer? I mean, this wasn't just a foreign language class; this was my life!

I came home so upset. My father finally calmed me down and talked to the school counselor the next day. They were able to work out a plan so that I could attend another school for my French class the next year. I had to get up at 5 am every morning to do this, but I was determined. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking... I had magical images in my head.

By the time I graduated high school, I had completed 6 years of French. I took two more years in college and spent a semester in Paris. It was pretty amazing. The first 24 hours in the city were like a dream. Part of that was probably the jet lag, but it was my first time in a foreign country (besides the Texas/Mexico border, which doesn't really count), and I was overwhelmed with the sense of adventure. It was a mixture of fear, anxiety, curiosity, and excitement - the same feeling I get today when traveling to a new place.

Paris is a city of quirky free spirits and artists, who sit in cafes in the Marais having intense intellectual discussions about poetry, literature, and art. It's a city of elegant, wasp-waisted women riding their bicycles along the Champs Elysees, with the obligatory baguette and little dog in the front basket. It's so tantalizing and appealing. Who wouldn't want to be French?

There is so much attention to detail and beauty as a part of the French culture, and I think that's what I so strongly identified with. I remember being in a cafe and looking at the intricate mosaic tile pattern on the floor - a fan of scallops, with ombre shading in copper and rose gold edged in a delicate line of pewter danced in front of my eyes. The gradations in color were accented by the dim lighting in the cafe.

This inspired me and ultimately led to the Paris collection:

More Color Inspiration for Spring

2009-11-16T11:27:00.002-05:00

In one of my recent posts, I talked about color as a major inspiration for me. Recently I have become obsessed with Ballerina Colors, but also mixing metallics and the mixture of metallics with a pop color. This is very evident in my new diffusion line, Suzie by Suzanna Dai. You can read more about it on my friend Erin's blog, Sugar Rock Catwalk: http://sugarrockcatwalk.blogspot.com/2009/11/preview-and-interview-suzie-by-suzanna.html

Two sets of necklaces and earrings from my new Suzie line, which mix metallics with a bright pop of color.

When I was younger, I thought mixing metallics (like silver and gold) was a major faux pas, but I've come to realize that they can look quite nice together. For example, I LOVE the mixture of gunmetal, pewter/antique silver, and coppery rose gold. It looks so new and refreshing, and I just can't get enough.

Paris Cuff from the Spring/Summer 2010 Suzanna Dai line

I also do like the mix of gold and silver, in many variations: pewter mixed with antique gold and a pop of bright silver looks very edgy and mysterious.

Necklace and Earrings from my new Suzie line

Mixing bright silver with pale gold and champagne renders an entirely different look - very clean and proper.

Paris Necklace in pale gold and silver from the Suzanna Dai Spring/Summer 2010 line

I've always experimented with color, for as long as I can remember. When I was six, I vividly remember wanting to wear red and pink together, but my mother wouldn't let me because she thought they clashed. To this day, I still love the combination of red and pink and continue to experiment in mixing colors. It's so exciting to me. Luckily, a lot of the old rules no longer apply. I love winter whites, so that rule about not wearing white after Labor Day? Gone. What about not mixing black and brown? As long as it's done with intent, anything goes, although I have to say, I've never been a fan of mixing navy and black...

Bavaria

2009-11-05T21:51:00.001-05:00

Aren't fairy tales nice? Actually, now that I think of it, some of them are quite scary, what with all the witches, evil stepmothers, and old women who like to eat little children...

No, I like the kind of fairy tales that take place in a deep, lush German forest - in a place filled with tall fir trees, ornate castles, pixie dust, dragonflies, and magic. Bavaria is the perfect setting.

There's actually a fairy tale road in Bavaria, which winds through medieval villages, romantic castles, and dense forests that were the inspirations for such tales as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Rapunzel, among others.

The Bavaria collection was designed as an homage to this land of fairy tales and fantasy - a place filled with fairies and gnomes; a place far removed from reality, where a valiant prince searches for the beautiful princess who has been asleep for a hundred years, and will only awaken with his kiss; a place where when the sun sets, it mixes with pixie dust and casts glitter over the needles of pine trees.

That's the Bavaria for me.

St Petersburg

2009-10-28T23:55:00.000-04:00

Taken from the point of view of a Dostoevsky novel, St Petersburg is dark and dramatic, with an undertone of romantic melancholy. As in Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina," the characters live in a society obsessed with hierarchy and status, and seemed doomed to a life of restrictions. Like the Victorians in England, everything has an almost Gothic feel.

Greta Garbo as Anna Karenina (1935)

But the Russian melancholy is fully embraced and exalted so that if one loses it, one also risks losing one's identity. Many a tortured artistic genius has been nurtured in this environment of dark winter days, strict social hierarchy, and the ennui of life. Just take for example Balanchine, Chagall, Dostoevsky, Erte, Tchaikovsky, Pushkin, Anna Pavlova, and Anna Akhmatova, as a few of many. They all created something beautiful from the harsh conditions in which they lived.

Like Anna Karenina, who feels thoroughly repressed and trapped in the society in which she lives, I designed the St Petersburg necklace to be a reflection of that. The jewels are covered in layers of tulle, so that their sparkle and sheen becomes muted; thick cording runs back and forth, encasing tiny gems as if holding them prisoner. The necklace, like a character in a Russian novel, revels in and surrenders to its melancholy, until it takes on a life of its own, and ultimately transforms into something beautiful.

The burden of being alive is part of the human condition, which we all can relate to on some level, and through all of the pain of living, doesn't some beauty inevitably evolve?

Ballet Colors

2009-10-21T21:17:00.000-04:00

Have you ever fallen in love with a color? I think I can fall in love with just about anything - a country, a foreign language, a letter, or a word, and most definitely a color. In the past it has been all shades of green - from lime to kelly, apple and chartreuse to olivey tourmaline.

Sometimes I get so obsessed about finding the right shade that I drive my family and friends crazy. I remember in high school trying to find the ideal red - toothbrush red, as I coined it. It's the perfect shade (the same color as a red transparent toothbrush - hence the name) - deep, rich, with a slightly blue undertone. I'd stare at my red toothbrush, examining the depth of color, wanting to dive inside and swim through the beautiful shades garnet, crimson, and vermillion. I get a little carried away...

Lately I have been mesmerized by soft, dusty hues - blush, taupe, pewter, pale rose gold, antiqued silver, bronze, smoky lavender, and warm gray. Ballerina colors.

It's a bit odd for me to like such neutral colors, as I usually go for anything bright and vibrant, but it's a feeling I've been having for the past few months. These shades make me think of the Bolshoi Theatre, vintage ballet costumes, and Charles James ball gowns from the 1950s - colors that, though faded, grow more enticing with the passage of time.

Antwerp

2009-10-15T20:09:00.000-04:00

In my last post, I mentioned a Belgian artist named Jan Fabre, who did the beautiful beetle wing installation at the Royal Palace in Brussels. He's originally from Antwerp, and it just so happens that I designed a necklace with the same name. This was before I knew about him, but it's somehow very fitting.

I think of Antwerp as a very progressive and edgy city that simultaneously reveres its past; there are so many amazing artists from Antwerp - Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, Teniers - van Gogh even lived there for a while.

More recently, Antwerp has become known for its avante-garde fashion. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, one of the most important fashion schools in Europe, is located there, and has produced visionaries such as Ann Demeulemeester and Dries van Noten.

Antwerp is in the Flemish part of Belgium and has historically been heavily influenced by the Dutch. I suspect this is why Antverpians are so modern and forward-thinking; the Dutch are well-known for their open-mindedness and tolerance of other cultures. Yet Antwerp is not so progressive as to erase its history - beautiful architecture from its Golden Age in the 16th century is painstakingly preserved.

In designing the Antwerp collection, I wanted to capture the modernity of the city, merged with its rich past. I mixed metal components in bronze and pewter with rows and rows of delicate chains, which gives it a Medieval/Deco/Rock'n'Roll feel all at once - like Joan of Arc riding a motorcycle to a soiree at Jay Gatsby's estate... or something like that!

More Beetle Wings

2009-10-10T17:49:00.000-04:00

I was talking to a friend last week about the Amazonia necklace, on which I used beetle wings, and she told me about an amazing exhibit she saw in Brussels. There is a Belgian artist named Jan Fabre who decorated the entire ceiling of the Royal Palace in Brussels using beetle wings, and the results are breath-taking:

He called this work Heaven of Delight and used over one and a half million wings to cover everything. Even the chandelier is covered - amazing! Check out the detail:

This is about one of the coolest things I've seen. I think someone should decorate ceilings in the NYC subway stations like this!

Reykjavik

2009-10-05T20:15:00.000-04:00

I remember looking at globes and maps of the world in my father's study when I was younger. One day I noticed Iceland and Greenland, and my father told me that Iceland was in fact much greener than Greenland, and that Greenland was mostly covered in ice. When I asked why they would falsely name the countries like that, he said the Vikings did it to confuse people. If they named Iceland Greenland, as it truly was, then everyone would want to go there. Apparently it was so beautiful, they wanted to keep it a secret for themselves. I have no idea if this is true - my dad does like to make up stories - but it captured my imagination.

Recently one of my friends went to Reykjavik. He was traveling with an older woman who had wanted to go to Reykjavik her entire life. They spent a few weeks traveling through Iceland, and he told me about the dramatically rugged landscape, which was formed by glaciers long ago, the natural hot springs, and the vast difference between Reykjavik and its surrounding areas.

Reykjavik is only slightly south of the Arctic Circle. During the winter months, it gets about 4 hours of sunlight a day. The remaining hours are shrouded in darkness, but surprisingly, the population does not suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as many in North America do. According to Eric Weiner's "The Geography of Bliss," the disorder has been weeded out of the gene pool.

Still, I think I would prefer to visit Iceland during the summer months, when there are seemingly endless hours of sunlight. You can even see the sun at midnight. That's my kind of place.

I made the Reykjavik collection in response to these beautiful images of the midnight sun over lilac skies, glaciers, and hot springs. The icy gray color of the mother of pearl beads and crystals are reminiscent of its location just south of the Arctic Circle and the glaciers that formed its landscape, while blush-colored accents remind one of the four hours of daylight the city receives in the depths of winter. A fringe of smoky gray feathers cascading down the front brings to mind steam from the hot springs in Reykjavik, which inspired its name, and loosely translates to "Bay of Smokes".

Cairo

2009-09-29T22:55:00.001-04:00

When I was about seven or eight years old, my grandparents started traveling all over the world. They'd send me postcards that would light my imagination afire, from distant places like Amsterdam, Jerusalem, and Egypt. When they came back from Cairo, they brought me an antique gold paperweight in the shape of a pyramid, which I still have. The outside is smooth and has black etched lines that mimic the large stones used to build the great pyramids. They brought my parents a small intricately gilded bowl, and I remember thinking that everything from Egypt must be golden and ornate.

I still think of Cairo in that way - as a photograph taken with a yellow lens, or at that special time right before sunset, when everything is bathed in a golden light.

One of my favorite movies is The English Patient, which takes place in and around Cairo in the years before World War II. The main character keeps clippings and notes in his copy of The Histories by Herodotus, and he often refers back to them when giving descriptions of desert tribes and their customs. How exciting it must have been to be among the first European travelers in Northern Africa and bring back photos from an unknown land:

Imagine wandering through the narrow streets of Cairo, and stumbling into some hidden market, with scents unfamiliar yet intriguing, the sounds of foreign tongues surrounding you.

Cairo seems decadent in a way, with its exceedingly detailed Moorish architecture and history of grand pharoahs along the Nile. I wanted to capture this in the Cairo collection, so I chose to adorn petal appliques with intricately embroidered metallic gold threads and wires in varying textures. Some are done with dabka embroidery, a type of work that uses coiled springed gold wire. Others are done using zardozi embroidery, another type of metallic thread work.

It's almost as beautiful as the city of Cairo is in my dreams...

Monte Carlo

2009-09-25T19:47:00.001-04:00

I love F. Scott Fitzgerald. My favorite of his novels is "Tender Is the Night", which takes place on the French Riviera in the late 1920s, and chronicles the tragic romance between the innocent young American actress Rosemary Hoyt and the glamourous American couple Dick and Nicole Diver.

There's something so enchanting about the French Riviera in the '20s. Imagine sun-bathing all day, coming home for a quick nap, getting dressed up in a floor-length chiffon gown made for a goddess, and having glamourous dinner parties with full orchestras, ice sculptures, a palm-edged dance floor, devastatingly handsome men in three-piece suits, and slightly bored-looking women, in dresses that go on for miles, sipping fizzy cocktails. The lights of Monaco could barely compete with the glittering crowd.

I'm sure it would be just as glamourous in the winter:

Monte Carlo is the height of glitz and decadence, in an utterly refined way. I think it perfectly sums up this collection:

And I could definitely see Nicole Diver wearing it as she's lazily led across the dance floor by Dick, Rosemary looking on in awe...

Amazonia

2009-09-22T22:51:00.002-04:00

Since I was at least 19, but probably way before then, I've had a love affair with Brazil. I remember the first time I heard "The Girl From Ipanema," while driving with my aunt and uncle through North Carolina in the middle of winter, on my way back to college. The melancholy melody had such a carefree calmness about it and made me yearn for exotic shores and sunshine so warm it gives you goosebumps - the exact antithesis of the situation I found myself in (I was so dreading going back to school, and did I mention I HATE winter?).

I get the same feeling now whenever I hear any bossa nova songs - the soothing Portuguese lyrics roll off the tongue effortlessly, like waves on the beaches of Ipanema, and I am transported to a dreamworld. I finally made it to Brazil a few years ago, and it was everything I imagined. Beautiful people, breath-taking scenery, lazy beaches, and sunshine - what more could you ask for?

My love affair with Brazil continues. I hope to one day make it to the Amazon, which I'm sure holds more adventures than I can imagine. In the meantime, I have been inspired by my own ideas of it, which are translated into the Amazonia collection. When I picture the Amazon in my head, I see miles and miles of green as far as the eye can see. But it's not just green - the subtleties in the hues slowly show themselves, and like a peacock fanning its feathers, shades of olive, emerald, teal, copper, gold, and even hints of indigo are revealed.

I used real beetle wings on these pieces. They come from the Asian Jewel Green Beetles, which are indigenous to Northern Thailand. The natural iridescent color of the wings is amazing - the colors change depending on which angle you look at them. These wings have been used to make jewelry and embellish garments for centuries - most notably in the 19th century. The following are some amazing works from that time period:

You can find out more about the use of beetles in textiles throughout history, also including their use by the Shaur peoples in the Amazon region here:

http://www.insects.org/ced2/beetles_tex.html

I've finally caved in...

2009-09-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

...and decided to start a blog. I've been hearing so much about social media lately and how it is radically changing the way we communicate. I was resistant at first - I've heard about studies indicating that twitter and all the information we're constantly bombarded with can negatively affect our ability to empathize and experience compassion, as in the following article:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/twitcompassion/

And don't forget how hard it is for anyone to focus these days... However, I attended a conference on social media last week that made me start to think about it in a different way. I realized it can be a platform for generating inspiration and creating compassion - a place where people can share their stories and perhaps change the world.

My goal in starting this blog is obviously to promote my jewelry line Suzanna Dai, but more importantly, it's to share my inspirations and travel stories, and hopefully encourage everyone to share theirs too!