Dreamy Hollywood Glam

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

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).