It’s fun when I get to make the engagement ring and wedding bands for a couple and then attend the wedding. That’s happened a few times. (Whenever you hear someone stage-whisper, “THANK GOD!” when a wedding band smoothly goes on a finger, you know there’s a jewelry designer among the guests.) Last weekend, I had…
Resist the Gag Rule
The failed businessman currently occupying the White House is back to attacking women this week. In a move worthy of a George Orwell novel, he announced an abortion-related gag rule for health clinics that he says isn’t really a gag rule because he says it’s not a gag rule. The rule applies to clinics that…
Wednesday’s Video: Hatshepsut Locket in Action
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…
I’m a JCK Jewelers’ Choice Awards Finalist!
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the judges of JCK’s Jewelers’ Choice Awards for selecting my toi et moi ring for ANZA Gems as a finalist in the category of colored stone jewelry over $10,000. The JCK editorial team also got to choose five personal favorites, so a special thank you goes out to…
Still High From the Royal Wedding
I wasn’t planning to watch live as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married yesterday but Purrkoy the cat decided I would regret missing it. Accordingly, he loudly sang the song of his people at 5:55 a.m., and after I woke up, I figured I might as well turn on the TV. Eeee! #royalwedding A…
Wednesday’s Videos: Jewelry That Moves
When I went into the jewelry business, poison rings (aka locket rings) were among my first designs. Then came locket pendants. For a while, so many of my pieces had moving parts that my friends would grab any new jewelry and try to pry it open. However, not all of my mechanical designs have a…
Fashion Repeats Itself: Money Stays in Style
Dollar prints on clothes and accessories are trendy again. Balenciaga is doing them. So is Margiela. Whenever currency is au courant in fashion, I can shop my closet for my vintage Christian Francis Roth dollar dress. The dress was created in 1991 … … but I bought it on eBay in 2009. I’ve worn this…
Wendy Brandes Jewelry in the Press
Thank you to both JCK Magazine and National Jeweler for their recent coverage of my new Concierge program! I introduced Concierge just before the holidays last year, but it’s really blossomed with our third retail partner — Alexanders Jewelers in Columbus, Ohio. Excited to have @wendybrandesjewelry now on hand to show our VIP Couture clients….
Met Gala Finale, Week in Review
I guess I better wrap up my comments about the 2018 Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before the 2019 Met Gala gets here! On Monday, I bestowed my prestigious Best Dressed/Wear What You Want combo award upon Lena Waithe. Click here for my award winner and other top honorees. On Tuesday,…
Throwback Thursday: Madonna’s Slow Fashion
I’ve always wondered if Madonna held onto at least some of her iconic clothes and accessories. My question was answered on Monday, when she wore a Versace slip dress from 1995 to Donatella Versace’s afterparty for the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. versace versace versace versace… #madonna #versace #metgala A post shared by…