When I did last week‘s YouTube playlist of my mechanical jewelry designs, I realized I was missing one of my classic pieces — the deceptively simple-looking Hatshepsut locket. I made this locket after an afternoon spent among the Hatshepsut artifacts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hatshepsut was an Egyptian queen who apparently proclaimed herself…
inspiration
Byron Lars and My Met Gala Dream Look
My designing friend Stacy Lomman teaches at the famous Fashion Institute of Technology, her own alma mater. Every year, during the final semester for graduating students, the school brings in designers to mentor the students as they work on their final projects in the categories of intimate apparel, special occasion, knitwear, children’s wear, and sportswear….
Wednesday’s Video: Jewelry Design Playlist
It can be a challenge for still photography to do justice to ultra-luxe jewelry, no matter how talented the photographer is (and, trust me, I work with incredibly talented photographers). That’s because limited-edition, wearable-art designs — the type of jewelry I make for my Wendy Brandes Gold collection — are more than pretty accessories meant…
Jewel of the Month: Toi et Moi Ring for ANZA Gems
For a long time, the primary birthstone for the month of August was the beautiful green peridot. Accordingly, the ring that I’ve chosen for this August’s Jewel of the Month features a beautiful green … tourmaline. Ha! Fooled ya! Check out the new design in this video by A Thousand Facets. Absolutely stunning ring by…
Create Your Own Heirlooms With Fine Jewelry
“… it’s fun to wear, it has lasting value and it connects people across generations.” Hmm. What could that describe? A top from H&M? The latest iPhone? An app, an antique end table or a even an exotic trip? Nope! It can only be jewelry. Michelle Graff, the editor-in-chief of National Jeweler, wrote those words…
Princess Diana Style: Right for 2015
Elle put together a photo gallery called “Princess Diana’s Most Underrated Style Moments” and it’s pretty great. As Elle points out, many of her looks would be on-trend now, including her “boyfriend” sweater with a skirt. The only thing that hasn’t come back in a high-fashion way is that 1980s feathered hair. View image |…
Jewel of the Month: Pink Elephant & Drunk Writer “Maneater” Ring
November’s Jewel of the Month has come a few days early because, this week, the Pink Elephant and Tipsy Writer ring won honorary mention in the Amerian Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards eveningwear category! This ring is the sixth in my Maneater ring series (because of the AGTA award, the elephant has jumped ahead of…
Inspired by Mourning Jewelry: My Acorn and Squirrel Locket
There must be something in the air — maybe it’s the new Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit called “Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire” — but a number of people have asked me when the silver version of my 18K-gold acorn-and-squirrel locket will be back in stock. Here is the gold locket they’re…
Mourning at the Metropolitan Museum
If you missed the great Charles James exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum’s Costume Institute, at least you won’t have to wait till next spring for a new fashion-related show. For the first time in seven years, the Costume Institute will do a fall show: “Death Becomes Her: A Century of Mourning Attire,” will run from…
The Mother of Dragons (and Other Jewelry Designs)
On Game of Thrones, the character of Daenerys Targaryen is known as the Mother of Dragons. Here is the mother of my dragon — and other highly detailed/hidden treasure — jewelry designs. It’s a dragon-shaped bell that I got in the 1980s. I wrote about this little critter in January: ” …. I found a…