Off to NYC: What I can't wait to see

Next month I will finally be doing something I have long dreamed of - I'm going to the Big Apple! Being December it will be lovely and chilly - maybe even snowy - so it will feel like "proper New York", and I can't wait to wrap up warm in the multicoloured patchwork scarf my Nana knitted me when I was 18, and stroll the streets of Bleecker et al.

The reason I'm going to New York is to meet my boyfriend, who has been travelling in Central America for the last two-and-a-half months. We had planned to go to New York at some point, and no time felt like the present. And luckily for him I'm already making a long list of jewellers I'd like to visit while there.

Among those is Catbird - a jeweller whose site I love to click on to now and again to coo and want over, well, almost everything it sells. I adore its tiny letter rings and am tempted to get N & Y as a little souvenir, or maybe even a little heart.

Of course I can't go to New York without dropping in to see Alexis Bittar. The don of Lucite, and the jeweller that has fuelled my little obsession over the past few years for his colourful bangles. I own about 15 now, and the last two were purchases from the boyf the last time he was in NYC, so I cannot wait to add one (or maybe two!) more.

I've also been told that Barneys jewellery dept is a must-see. Forget Saks, Macy's, it's all about Barneys and of course its charismatic creative ambassador, the English-born Simon Doonan, who continues to work wonders at the store. Its jewellery collections are right up my street - delicate, tiny diamonds, pop colour stones and organic shapes, just like this Sara Beltran necklace.

Greenwich Jewelers also looks worth a look. It has a stunning in-house line, the Greenwich Collection, with some truly gorgeous jewels made from slices of stones, and some fabulous clashing jewellery such as the agate and cognac coloured quartz bracelet. It also stocks my favourite fine ring designer, Anne Sportun.

Of course no trip will be complete without a trip to Tiffany & Co.. At least to stand afore the window and have my photo taken. I am a tourist, after all...

VIDEO: Ab Fab x Alexis Bittar

Patsy. Edina. Alexis. Wait.. Alexis? Yes, that's right. Two of my favourite things have joined as one. It's no secret how much I love Alexis Bittar, and it's also part of his typical ad campaigns to feature the glamorous, great and sartorial. They're women who are OTT but fabulous. Joan Collins? Check. Lauren Hutton? Check. And now Patsy and Edina. OK, OK, so they're fictional but they're also the original fashionistas and certainly know how to rock Alexis's jewels. Check out the behind the scenes video, a little sneak peak into this summer's campaign. Wardrobe by Betty Jackson, of course.

Poolside Palm Springs jewels on Adorn London

This fortnight's Adorn London feature is all about poolside jewels inspired by 1950s Palm Springs. I've got my own little write-up on there, focused on a contemporary Plam Springs look heralded by (you know I love her) Merle O'Grady, Lucy Hutchings and Alexis Bittar this spring/summer. Take a look here... wishing away these wintry months!

Alexis Bittar wins Accessory Designer of the Year

A quick post today, as the wonderful Alexis Bittar has won the CFDA award for Accessory Designer of the Year. I'm a bit of an Alexis fan, and although my budget mostly stretches to the more modest of his collections, I'm always in awe of what he does - and was especially pleased to find him in Maia Adam's wonderful Fashion Jewellery book which came out earlier this year.

Alexis with his award. Image courtesy of alexisbittar.com

Wearing a couple of my AB slim lucite bangles
(sorry for the posey pic, was for Adorn London!)

So, a big congrats to Alexis - take a peek at the Alexis Bittar blog for some of his own photos from what looks like a brilliant night.

Alexis and his Dad! Image courtesy of alexisbittar.com

Alexis' date was Iris Apfel. Image courtesy of alexisbittar.com

A little something: The William & Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery... and Fashion Jewellery by Maia Adams

Today I made the most of it being Sunday (and having an extra hour in the day!) by indulging in The William & Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery at the V&A. With jewellery from as far back as 1200AD, there are some real treats on show, from Etruscan body adornments and Papal jewellery, to Memento Mori rings, stone-encrusted swords and Faberge figurines. 

 The William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery at the V&A. Image courtesy of suite101.com

Sadly photos weren't allowed (to my dismay and the confusion of some snap-happy tourists), so I may try and go back another time to get some more detailed descriptions of pieces; in the mean time they have a superb online 'portal' for exploring some of the key pieces in the collection. 

 The Hidden Treasures exploration page

As with any museum trip, the shop is the part I often most look forward to - and the V&A never disappoints. In their little bookshop I spotted Fashion Jewellery: Catwalk and Couture, a recently released book by Maia Adams, documenting some of today's most inspiring and alluring fashion jewellery. Focusing on 33 designers, including Alexis Bittar, Scott Wilson and Wouters & Hendrix, it profiles their styles and methods in a beautifully compiled book that will be dogeared within hours once I own it (come on, pay day!). Detailed pictures, great biographies and perfectly-timed - considering fashion jewellery is one of the fastest growing areas of retail today. Just what us jewellery geeks have been waiting for!

The cover of Fashion Jewellery: Catwalk and Couture, by Maia Adams

A little something: The New SS10 colours at Alexis Bittar

So here we are! The new SS10 Lucite colours from New York's Alexis Bittar. Running with spring's obvious trend of soft pastel, sugared-almond shades, these narrow bangles (the simplest of his repertoire) are pretty much top of my pay-day wishlist... Pistachio, rose, lilac, pale lime... Yumyumyum. Apologies for the MySpace style snaps, but it's surprisingly difficult to take photos of your own wrist!

SS10 colours from Alexis Bittar; his original narrow bangles

 

 Very pretty colours. Though they risk being a little too pale...

 

 A bit too much...?! Mixed in with my much loved AB bangles - Mint Green, Royal Blue and Teal

A little something: Alexis Bittar... on sale!

Today - and I promise something will be written about them on Like Gold Dust soon! - I got to preview the new SS10 colours from Alexis Bittar's Lucite collection. We're talking super on-trend pastel shades (pistachio, peach, lemon sorbet... yum yum!). Problem is, I don't know which colour I love more!

In the meantime, having a little browse online this evening I spotted these absolute bargains at Liberty. OK, so they're going to be a bit sparkly come April, but anything by Alexis is an investment in my books! Roll on AW10/11!

Mid-Grey Dust Hoops NOW £50

Black Medium Oval Dust Earrings NOW £70