Designer: Wendy Brandes

Admittedly, I have some genius workmates. They're an endless source of inspiration, who keep leading me to fabulous websites of fabulous jewellers, that (I hope) equal fabulous blog posts! Today is Wendy Brandes, an American designer introduced to me by my American workmate Maia, a London resident by way of New York, Boston and originally Vermont. Earlier this week she introduced me to Wendy's blog, a funny, witty read about the jewellery industry and her interesting clientele. But the jewellery is the thing that's really caught my eye. Inspired by 'fascinating women of past and recent history', Wendy's jewellery includes poison rings and lockets amongst other quirks and charms. Making in both silver and gold, her price range spans from a mere $50 to $9000 or more. Really, though, I should just let the jewellery do the talking...

Venus Ring, 18ct rose gold, with rose quartz and white diamonds, by Wendy Brandes. Image courtesy of Wendybrandes.com

Silver Little Woolf necklace, in praise of Virgina Woolf. Image courtesy of wendybrandes.com

Livia Poison Ring, 18ct yellow gold set with a cabochon aquamarine. Image courtesy of wendybrandes.com

Queen Min Ring, named after the last (assassinated) empress of Korea. 18ct yellow gold and lemon quartz with hand-engraved crane detail. Image courtesy of wendybrandes.com

Eleanor Necklace, names after Eleanor of Aquitaine. 18ct yellow gold, with black onyx. Image courtesy of wendybrandes.com

A little something: BARK's 'Amsterdam' Necklace

The sun is shining! Spring is here! And my lazy self is now seriously considering hauling the bike out of hibernation, and beginning the daily commute across town. Luckily my darling workmate Lindsay is a daily cyclist who has been tempting me away from the rather up-close-and-personal Central Line, and onto the - just slightly - fresher London streets. Who knows, maybe this time next week my heart rate will have just about steadied following the morning cycle... Of course, BARK's Amsterdam necklace makes the thought that little bit easier!

Gold Plated Amsterdam Bike Necklace, by BARK. Image courtesy of barkjewels.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

A little something: Dreaming of the Sea

I was chatting with a friend last night, and found myself suddenly longing to escape London . A train to the coast for a bit of sea air (while seagull dodging!), riding my bike along the promenade and - just maybe - dipping a toe into the freezing sea... If only! So on that note, let's lust after Laura Tabor's magical Mermaid pendants; swimming silhouettes perfect for warm, lazy days on the beach...

Laura Tabor Gold Vermeil Mermaid Necklace 

Laura Tabor Silver Mermaid Loop Necklace, with white pearl

A little something: Jewellery Street Style at LFW - Adorn London

Just a quick one! Make sure you check out Juliet Hutton-Squire's fabulous street style snaps from LFW, over at Adorn London. On her never ending jewellery mission, Juliet's pieced together an eclectic mix of jewellery looks, as worn with a certain nous by those-in-the-know in and around Somerset House. From Rhiannon's Barbie doll earrings and oversized clock pendant (no Flavor Flav jokes, please) to Claire's ethically sourced looped necklace from Made, there's enough here for a month of blog posts. Gotta love that!

Michael wears a mix of vintage chains and pieces from Topman. Image courtesy of Adorn London

  

Rhiannon wearing her oversized clock pendant, and Barbie lapels. Image courtesy of Adorn London

 

Tara wears Laura Lee medallion necklace. Image courtesy of Adorn London

Alecia in chic triangle studs, from Rokit. Image courtesy of Adorn 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!

Designer: Melanie Eddy

Where usually I spend my time cooing over charms and trinkets with tiny details and quirks, I'm rather taken with Melanie Eddy's geometric, bold pieces. It's jewellery which gives the wearer confidence, better still, speaks of their existing confidence.

 

Geometric Silver Bangle and stone-set and plain Gold Rings, both by Melanie Eddy

Melanie herself trained as a goldsmith in Bermuda before moving to London to study jewellery design at CSM, where she graduated in 2007. Her jewellery is described as 'sculptural', 'a tool to explore the relationship of form to the body'. The latter makes sense; there's something a little erotic about her work, a little risque. Maybe it's just me, but there's definitely something about the image, below...

Gold Plated Silver Ring, by Melanie Eddy