The spectacular display of ornamental excess presented at the Meadham Kirchoff S/S 13 show left a resounding impression upon us. It was the kind of show that you can revisit time again and discover new facets of detail: the glitter-encrusted manicures, the never-ending layers of bow, pearl, and stone; all crafted in the richest jewel tones.
What we took away from this show was a new found compulsion to embellish -particularly in the fashion of Kirchoff's rhinestone necklaces and head bands.
We created our own vision of Kirchoff using an old head band stripped bare, and a plain gold collar necklace, that we drenched in rhinestones purchased from a local craft store. We used a regular glue gun to apply, which has held the stones very well; but for a more permanent hold: jewel glue, or E6000 glue works best.
We love statement jewelry so naturally when I came across Maria Piana's beautiful creations I was in love. Also being a bit of a nerd and loving all things medieval, Piana's jewelry really made an impression. Piana works as a dentist by day and by night creates her masterfully crafted designs. Piana's use of metal and her ability to mold it are skills that show how her day job has influenced her designs and mediums. Piana's armor like jewelry evokes a sense of strong femininity and power. The jewelry makes any woman who wears it feel confident and strong. I also love that the jewelry isn't conventional, it is on the border of wearable art because of its sculptural features. Since Maria's stunning collection is over our budget, we scooped out some cool inexpensive (well some at least..) pieces and have outlined our favorites below:
These pieces have a certain element of duality, they convey a feminine spirit while being inspired from a protective masculine garment. The joint armored ring is one of my favorite rings that I found, I love that its simple, and plate armor like. Most rings I found were over decorated and ornate, something that I'm not interested in with this specific jewelry trend. The collar necklace is obviously something we love, Stephanie has already shown her budding collection. The collar has a regal quality to it, that can transform an outfit. The cuffs are all reminiscent of a vambrace, that is the part of plate armor that protects the forearm. The cuffs are a cool addition to an outfit with their sleek and metallic finishes. The Nara gold bracelet stood out to me because it reminded me of scale armor. The jewelry is a perfect balance of wearable art and a medium to express my closet nerdiness.
The recent Pre-Fall 2012 collections have been either stunning or completely disappointing. One of the collections we always look forward to is Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld , while sometimes has his hits and misses, always promises a collection with impeccable details and masterly crafted clothes. The video below shows a glimpse into the work that goes into this collection.The Pre-Fall 2012 collection themed "Paris-Bombay", had us really excited because of the Indian influence it promised. The collection has quickly become one of our favorite Chanel collections. The Grand Palais was converted into a jaw dropping set of opulence with chandeliers and beautiful table settings. The gorgeous and extravagant jewelry presented was a French chic spin on traditional Indian jewelry. The majority of the jewels are based on Traditional Indian Bridal jewelry.We chose to focus more on the edgier pieces. These pieces can easily be incorporated into your daily wardrobe.
The silver studs and chains of the two Fiona Paxton necklaces and the gold bead of the cuff, are reminiscent of some of the headpieces worn by the models. While the earrings and matching necklace from All Saints convey the inspiration of France and India with its ivory beads and heavy embellishments.
If the eyes are truly the window to your soul, then Chanel's creative director of makeup, Peter Philips envisions his windows draped in a lush blanket of black kohl. With the rest of the face clean and natural, the eyes are the real show stopper of this collection. In true Indian fashion, Philips creates dramatic almond shaped lids using various Chanel shadows and liners. A warm peach blush and a complimentary shade of Rouge Coco Shine on the lips polishes off the look. Of course it wouldn't be a true overview of Chanel beauty without mention of the newest shade of nail varnish, this time in a shade equivalent to liquid gold that is sure become coveted. Below is a break down of exactly what Philips used (a * indicates it will reach Chanel counters in the months of April-June 2012):
1. The skin is preppedwith HYDRA BEAUTY SERUM hydration protection radiance *
2. Applied to the face:PERFECTION LUMIERE Long Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF 10
ECLAT LUMIERE Highlighting Face Pen
CORRECTEUR PERFECTION Long Lasting Concealer Exclusive Creation POUDRE COMPACTE in Route des Indes de Chanel *
3. Applied to the cheeks:JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Brume d’Or *
4. On the eyes:Exclusive Creation ILLUSION D’OMBRE Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Nirvana *
STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Long Lasting Eyeliner in Ebène LE CRAYON KHOL Intense Eye Pencil in Black CRAYON SOURCILS Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil INIMITABLE WATERPROOF Mascara in Black RECOURBE CILS DE CHANEL Precision Eyelash Curler
5. On the lips:ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Empreinte *
6. Finishing Touch:Exclusive Creation LE VERNIS Nail Colour in Diwali *
