My photographer Shane LaVancher just shared this incredible picture from my lookbook shoot. I can’t resist publishing it right this second, even though it gives away February’s Jewel of the Month — the WTF ring set — before that post is ready. I’ll write more about the new WTF rings next week. In addition to…
More Photos From the Rising Star Awards
As promised, here are a few more photos from the Fashion Group International Rising Star Awards. My guests for the awards lunch, which was at the midtown Cipriani, were my husband, MrB; my father, GeorgeB; and my gorgeous client Christine. Christine is the client who ordered a special tiger ring and, not long after receiving…
I’m a Fashion Group International Rising Star Award Winner!
It was great to be a finalist for Fashion Group International‘s Rising Star Award for fine jewelry last year, but it was even better to win the 2012 award yesterday! The fact that gorgeous designer/blogger Stacy Lomman was also a finalist in the women’s ready-to-wear category this year was a bonus. I wouldn’t have been…
Behind the Scenes at the Lookbook Shoot
Yesterday, I had an eight-hour photoshoot for my new lookbook with model Tina J of Fusion Models. Every time I am at a shoot, I am shocked anew at how unglamorous a model’s day is. Poor Tina had to wedge rings onto her fingers over and over … then pry them off with some help…
Models and the Fickle Finger(s) of Fate
I had a go-see for models for my new lookbook on Monday. (This is the first time I’m using a model in a lookbook; we’re shooting it later today.) On a go-see, a model comes in with her portfolio, so you can see her in person and look at her photos. If the go-see is…
I’m on the Huffington Post Today
Check out my story about the agony and ecstasy of small business on the Huffington Post today! CLICK HERE TO READ IT. If you’ve read me for a while, you might recognize some of the issues raised in the story from my Get Smart series of posts on this blog. The story also includes a…
Year of the Dragon Jewelry
Gung hay fat choy! Happy Lunar New Year! It’s the lucky year of the dragon and you should get one of my dragon jewelry designs to celebrate. Sure, it will cost you a pretty penny, but it’s much cheaper in the long run than having a dragon-year child. Eighteen years from now, you won’t be…
Wendy Brandes Hashtag Ring on Gangsta Boo
When gorgeous rapper Gangsta Boo tweeted a video tease of her upcoming project, I got a pleasant surprise. There’s a nice clear shot of my hashtag ring at 32 seconds! Many customers send me photos of themselves wearing my jewelry but I’ve only seen a design on video/film once before, when my Cleopatra earrings were…
Jewel of the Month: Siobhan Ring With Mixed Metals
People often ask me if it’s okay to mix yellow and white metals. My answer? “Hell, yes!” I didn’t always have that mindset, though. I too grew up thinking jewelry had to be matchy-matchy. I don’t know where that fashion taboo against combining different-colored metals came from. One of the most famous jewelry designs in…
What Wendy Wore: Terrible Outfit Photo of the Day
Well, the outfit isn’t terrible … just the blurry photo is. It was too windy and cold out for a redo; I ran inside right after this. Whatever! If you want excellent jewelry, you’re on the right blog. If you want excellent outfit photography, go practically anywhere else. I have to pick my battles, and…