Tags: jewellery
Budget Jewellery - how to save on jewellery without looking cheap
September 5th, 2009New fashion dictates trends with the use of bold, big and colourful pieces of jewellery which sometimes made of materials like wood, plastic, resin or rubber. Have you ever thought why, different people wearing the same jewellery look completely different?
I did, and, as I travel a lot, I learned just how important it is to get your whole look right. I learned many things while travelling in France. Paris, Nice, Monaco, Lyon. Just observing people can be such fun! You can easily distinguish the French from tourists. Most of French women are very classy. Even with not such a great budget they know how to look elegant and cool.
Talking about budget... yes, it does matter, but you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune to look chic. Inner taste should help you when you choose what size, colour or material of jewellery would be suitable to a particular outfit or an occasion.
First rule – do not overdo it! (Unless you want to look like Christmas tree)
The key word here is "balance". Balance matters in colours as well as quantity and size.
Even though it’s in trend to have loads of big rings on one hand... look in the mirror...
There should always be something to balance it. For example chunky bag with similar elements in your other hand (and of course no jewellery), or perhaps some matching jewellery on your shoes. Look at your body from top to toes. Head - earrings and hair jewellery, neck – necklaces and pendants, brooches, wrists – bracelets and bangles, fingers – rings, (do not forget about your manicure, colour of your nails or absence of it may play very important part) waist – belt and finally your feet.
I have big wooden earrings which I wear with matching wooden ring and bangle on one hand and then I have my handbag or clutch in the other. This look includes my hair up (to open my face and show the earrings), open neck - otherwise the top of my silhouette will look too heavy, and of course shoes or sandals, that will draw people's attention on my feet. Now we've got the balance - top, middle and bottom. Don’t forget about the dress though, we are not going out naked!
But it can be very simple summer dress; I get loads of compliments when I go out like this.
Elegance and simplicity are the key to looking great whatever you wear.
Coco Chanel and Jewellery
August 28th, 2009"Jewellery should be viewed with innocence, with artlessness,
just as we enjoy the sight of an apple tree in blossom
at the side of the road as we speed past in a motor-car."
(Coco Chanel)
My congratulations to all fashionistas with the budget! Big and fake jewellery is in again!!! ![]()
But something like the pieces of work by Coco Chanel never did and never will go out of fashion.
Who was Coco, this magnificent woman? Before launching her fashion empire, Chanel was a lounge and cafe singer from 1905 to 1908. She adopted the name "Coco" during this short-lived career as a performer and entertainer. The rumor has it; she tried to become a famous singer, but could not succeed and decided to not persevere in something she could not be the best. And she was right - special people deserve only the best things in life. Like pearls!
Just check and you will see that on most of the pictures of Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel she wears… pearls. Why not diamonds? She could definitely afford them… but, Coco always used to say that jewellery should be worn to decorate rather than to expose wealth. She was convinced that too much money killed luxury. (To be honest, it took more than just one Vogue magazine to convince me... I still do prefer real stones, but have a few absolutely gorgeous jewellery pieces now. Wooden, or with elements of enamel are my top choice.)
But let us come back to Chanel. Coco Chanel was one of the first designers who started to work with imitative jewellery on the radically new terms. Although there had been a market for the costume jewellery before her, it had been primarily reserved for those who could not afford buying the real luxury. Chanel brought the imitation to the state of art. Her simple dress designs and plain fabrics she used, were ideal for wearing jewellery. She was the first designer to gain the social acceptability of wearing fake jewels.
Chanel’s inspiration for creating her jewellery was widely diverse. Being Russian myself I am very proud that the Romanov jewels given to her by the Grand Duke Dimitri of Russia, gave her ideas to create long gilt chains with Baroque crosses.
Chanel loved creating jewellery with artificial pearls. In her younger years pearls had been one of the most precious stones, and the privilege of aristocracy. In her designs Coco Chanel made her costume jewellery pearls emphatically bigger and in other colours than natural. Her pearl jewellery consisting of rows of pearls arranged in chokers, brooches and pendants, became classics.
Coco Chanel used to mix genuine pearls with rope after rope of fake pearl necklaces. Wearing the real thing Coco was known to add a strand or two of fake pearls making it seem as though she was wearing lots and lots of genuine pearls. As she wore "opera length" pearl necklaces, the effect was stunning.
I love pearls myself and have a set (bracelet, earrings, pendant and necklace) made of artificially grown (cultured) pearls and surprisingly still have 10 years guarantee! I had them for about 5 years now and no sign of ageing has appeared yet. Now, I am going for a birthday party tomorrow and going to wear a long pearl necklace with a black dress… sure, Chanel would like it! ![]()
Summer & Fashion in London Camden
June 11th, 2009A few days ago, maybe it was just a palpitation of the leaves, but I could have sworn I heard the summer quietly whispering that it finally got to UK, and it seemed like absolutely "every man and their dog" were outside playing.
I was not an exception to this overall heat euphoria and went with my friends to Camden and its surroundings. Camden is known for its avant garde fashion designers, cutting edge musicians, talented artists and craftsmen, exciting clubs and music venues but, above all, it is known for its markets.
The place is quite famous, but I was not sure whether it was my cup of tea... Well, visiting Camden now, after I spent over 3 years in UK, completely turned up side down my whole perception of this kind of places.
The making of Creative Dezigns jewellery
April 14th, 2009The Creative Dezigns jewellery is made out of pure copper and brass, which is rolled into sheet form, approximately 1 mm thick.
With punches and molds, the basic shapes of the jewellery are then cut, and given to the welders, who working with oxy-acetylene torches braze on the decorative pieces of wire, cable and cord which are needed for that particular design.
While they are doing this, the piece will be come red hot and through being quenched in a variety of liquids of Creative Dezigns own "brew" will assume a colour much darker than the colour it will eventually have. The lightening process is done by stroking the piece with a flame in the same way as a painter will apply the finishing touches to a canvas. The piece (and some chokers and earrings may consist of several pieces) will now go to be hammered - which is firstly to add to the design and secondly to dome the piece to lend depth and dimension, drilled and sandpapered.
The next process is the polishing which is done first with a coarse cloth and polish and then again with four different grades, working progressively towards the soft, even shine and luster which has become the hallmark of Creative Copper quality. The polish leaves an oily film on the jewellery so it is then hand scrubbed in a solvent bath and cleaned with a lint free cloth.
It is then taken to a different part of the factory area which is totally dust free and assembled with rings, clasps, and other side design pieces - all out of solid brass. Dipping in an imported German polyurethane lacquer is the next step, which happens three times to each piece to build up a good thick layer, as it is this what stops the jewellery from tarnishing.
The lacquer will protect the jewellery provided, it is only cleaned with a soft cloth. Any polishes, all of which have abrasive properties to the greater or lesser extent, will rub off the lacquer. Should this inadvertently happen, clear nail polish can be applied which will protect it against tarnishing.
Please feel free to browse our Creative DeZigns jewellery collection
Bold trend: NECKLACES
February 9th, 2009This spring/summer season necklaces are chunky, oversized and out of proportion, as seen at Lanvin, Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana. It's all about making a statement, of course, so for the necklace to speak for itself, the outfit has to be rather simple and almost feature-free. The muted colours and soft cotton garments allow domination for the chunky necklace.
Try denim skirt with a plain top and adorn yourself with a simple, yet bold and chunky jewellery:

I probably have been totally misguided by my fashion phobia of enormous jewellery - while the statement is certainly bold, it is still your statement, you just say it louder with the larger piece!


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