A little something: Shourouk x Swarosvki Crystallized

I first saw these necklaces in Grazia a couple of months back, pre-Christmas, and completely fell for them. Swarosvski's collaborations with jewellery and fashion designers keeps getting better and these are right on the money. I loved the combination of neon - something common in Shourouk's crystal and mixed-material embellished pieces - and the floral designs. The fact that the strings look like the kind of laces I used to put into my trainers as a kid makes me smile. The collection is that perfect mix of sparkly and edgy, something to match with an old band t-shirt and beaten up Converse or as a bit of glitter with a simple jersey dress. Dreamy... as are the rest of Shourouk's designs. Check out her Phoenix Alabaster necklace and more gorgeous treats here.

Necklaces by Shourouk for Swarovski
Image courtesy of Swarovski

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!

A little something: Servane Gaxotte necklaces

I frist saw these little lovelies in Fortnum & Mason of all places. Now also stocked at Browns in London and Prey in Bath, it seems the time has come to give mention to Servane Gaxotte's necklaces. To quote my workmate Rainy, "If Tim Burton made jewellery, it'd look like that". Enough said. Now enjoy these freaky little things!

 

All designs available at Browns Focus.

Images coursesy of brownsfashion.com

Designer: Lucy Hutchings

It's been pretty hard not to fall in love with Lucy Hutching's jewellery, popping up on pages of the weeklies and the glossies. This is no bad thing of course; her jewellery is a clever mix of geometry, colour, future and heritage. The key thing is, you quickly recognise it as hers.

Having graduated from the University of Brighton with a first in 3D Materials Practice, her jewellery is based around the juxtaposition of metals, stones and materials. Her pieces are an alluring mix of the bold and the refined. Large and small, metals and ribbon, smooth and sharp.

 Lucy Hutchings at LFW. Image courtesy of Adorn London

Describing her AW10 collection as 'mixing the iconic style of 50s B-movie heroines, with the era's polished sci-fi visions of the future', the result is a collection which shimmers and shines. Combining metal cages with the soft spheres of freshwater pearls, tiger's eye beads and the metallic colour of hematite, Lucy's jewellery makes an inimitable statement. One to watch this year, for sure!

Cuff from the AW10 collection, featuring jade and hematite stones. Image courtesy of Lucy Hutchings

Peacock Feather necklace from the AW10 collection, as worn by Lucy, above. Image courtesy of Lucy Hutchings

Oversized black, cream and pink Pearl Ring, in Lucy's signature 'cage'. Image courtesy of Lucy Hutchings

Peacock Feather and multi-link necklace, from the AW10 collection. Image courtesy of Lucy Hutchings

Pyramid Breastplate Necklace, exclusively at Start London, by Lucy Hutchings. Image courtesy of Start London

Jewellery at London Fashion Week AW10

Sunday just gone, with a pass flung around my neck, I braved LFW's Exhibition at Somerset House to check out what will be going on with who in jewellery this autumn/winter. I had an idea of who I wanted to see before getting there (Joanna Cave, especially, who I've been meaning to write about for ages!), and of course saw a few surprises along the way. Sadly I wasn't  able to take snaps of everything - fair enough, some collections won't be launched until September - so hopefully my words will justify the excitement and awe felt in the hour and ten minutes I had to do my rounds in! There's a lot of images... It's going to be a long one!

Click on the photos for much bigger versions!

 

London's Somerset House - photo from a tale of a few cities

Bjorg

I first saw Bjorg's jewellery in Bloomsbury, Bath, when I was home for the weekend about a year ago. An unusual silver hare ring caught my eye, with its brown diamond eyes and the way the ears ran the length of my finger. At LFW there were some pretty and - as Bjorg's style is - quirky treats on show; rough-cut stone necklaces that looked like lipsticks, long necklaces with wolves' and ravens' heads, and that hare ring. With designs which look to 'find beauty even in imperfections' Bjorg's jewellery is set to wow the UK in the coming year, and why not? 

 

Silver, Oxidised and Gold Plate rings by Bjorg

  

 Stone (possibly Tsavorite and Rose Quartz) 'Lipstick' Necklaces in Yellow and Rose Gold Plate, by Bjorg

 Wolf and Rabbit Head Necklaces in Gold Plate and Silver, by Bjorg

Joanna Cave

Serene and talented, Joanna Cave is a kindly soul whose jewellery I've coveted since first seeing it in EC One back in early 2008. Trained in the UK, and presently based in Athens, Joanna's Grecian roots are palpable in her quirky, somewhat ancient-feeling jewellery. Moving from the simple structural designs of last year, this year's collection has taken a step towards something else.  Now using only recycled metals, the new collection is romantic and Arabesque; detailed cut-out earrings, star shapes and the use of rose gold-plate. Each element has added another facet to Joanna's style. 'Pretty' doesn't quite do justice to her collection; offbeat and versatile it definitely is. The smooth matt finishes give Joanna's pieces a feel of their own - they sit close to the skin and do  just what jewellery should - make you feel beautiful and adorned without the ostentation.

 

Joanna Cave, with her jewellery

 Silver Star Necklace in Rose and Yellow Gold Plate

Oxidised Silver Star Hoops and Prudencia Gold Plated cut-out Earrings

Pilar Hook Earrings in Yellow and Gold Plate (top) and open Heart Hoops

 

Brioni Hoops in Silver, with white pearls

Fish Necklaces (with pearl 'bubbles') in Yellow Gold Plate, Silver and Rose Gold Plate

 

Pilar Silver Ring (love this!!)

Novia Bangles with Carol Necklace in Yellow Gold Plate and Silver (centre)

Zoe & Morgan

So, of course no trip to LFW would have been complete without a little 'hello' to Zoe & Morgan. It was also a good excuse to catch up with Hannah, my darling friend who works for Z&M as a personal shopper (get her!). Looking as fabulous as expected (Hannah included), the Z&M display was mirrors, antique glass and more mirrors - so it was pretty hard to snap the jewellery without ending up with me grinning in the background (as below..!). Nevertheless, it was great to see collections I've been viewing online up 'til now, in the flesh. And also good to try some bits and pieces on! The Rabbit in the Hat necklaces and Geometric collections (the latter inspired by Jem & the Holograms) were a highlight, as was trying on some of Z&M's more precious, stone-set rings. I'm sure you're starting to notice this little skull obsession too?

 

Geometric Earrings and Necklaces, in Gold Plate and Silver

 Hope & Anchor and Love Necklaces from the Who Loves Wins collection 

 

 Rabbit in a Hat Necklaces - just in time for the Alice in Wonderland film!

9ct Gold Skull Ring set with Sapphires (along with my Nana's ring and Labradorite Nugget ring by Monica Vinader)

 

Rings from the Fine Collection by Zoe & Morgan

 

Top and above: Chrysophrase-set rings in yellow gold

Hannah modelling the Princess Skull Ring, set with Amethyst and Diamonds

If you're still reading, good on you!! Other Exhibition highlights were the AW10 collection from Tatty Devine, which sadly I couldn't take photos of, but - be ready - will include pieces perfect for your inner line-dancer, firework-inspired beauties and rings, brooches and necklaces with a nod to a certain Magritte painting. 

Fiona Paxton also has some absolutely dazzling necklaces and collars lined up, with bronzes, steel blues, silvers and greys. Futuristic and historically-inspired all in one look!

Swedish designers Renaissance Life also had some fun, oversized silver pieces including a fabulous Russian Doll necklace which did as it should - revealed another - but also contained a gorgeous silver heart necklace in the middle. Definite ones to watch, too!

Read more from me on Adorn London!

Exciting news this week! After a meeting with the lovely Juliet Hutton-Squire, editor of jewellery trends and news site Adorn London, I am now a guest contributor who'll be helping Juliet with blog writing and updates on the Adorn site. 

It's great to be part of Juliet's little team; I'm very very impressed with just how much she does, practically writing the whole site's content herself, busy bee! And of course it's exciting to be writing that little bit more myself! The site's updated on a daily basis, with a couple of blog posts a week - so be sure to keep reading and commenting!

Take a look at the Adorn site here, and don't forget to add the site to your links!

Two of Adorn's trend moodboards - Glace (top) and Fairytale Bloom