Claire is an artist/jewelry designer based out of California whose designs I can’t get enough of! Her pieces are edgy, colorful and architecturally stimulating.
Love, love, love her!
Purchase Claire’s jewelry at lulus.com.
Claire Fong
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Tag Archives: Jewelry
Pono
Founded a few years back by designer Joan Goodman, Pono is a unique collection of jewelry that gets it’s name from a dear friend of Joan’s whom she met while living in Hawaii. Pono is equal parts vintage, modernism and nature. The entire line is very earth conscious incorporating natural elements such as wood, shells and natural horn.
Pono has been featured on Gossip Girl, in countless magazines and seen adorning the wrists of many celebs such as Paris Hilton, Beyonce and Julianne Moore.
Kate Cusack
So I was putting together my piece on Exposed Zippers and came across Kate’s site. Since getting into this whole blogging thing, I’ve stumbled upon so many amazing designers on accident. Makes me think I should have gotten into it a lot sooner….
Anyway, onto Kate!
No, she’s not related to John or Joan. I wonder if she gets that a lot?
Kate wears many creative hats including costume designer, sculptor and jeweler. Check out this Marie Antoinette inspired wig she constructed using only plastic wrap!
True artists obviously see things we don’t. I look at Saran wrap and think, mmm…leftovers. Kate on the other hand, having the artist’s eye, sees all of it’s potential.
Kate earned a BFA from MICA (in my hometown of Baltimore) and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama where she studied costume design.
When she’s not designing costumes or sculpting gorgeous works of art, she focuses on her jewelry line that is made up entirely of zippers!
She thinks of her jewelry as a mini-sculpture for the body. Sure to get noticed, the wearer becomes sort of a mobile gallery if you will. Her jewelry line includes pins, bracelets and necklaces. Earrings and rings may not be far off either.
I recently got the chance to conduct a mini-interview with Kate and here it is!
You use materials in very unexpected ways, how much is that unconventional viewpoint a result of your costume work?
I think my love for transforming unusual materials into exciting creations is not as a result of my costume work, but is a result of my growing up in an artistic household. My mother is an illustrator who creates stitched artwork and she depends on various patterns and textures of fabric to create realistic images. (www.margaretcusack.com) She looks at a certain kind of fabric and sees a brick road or a roof of a building instead of just a red-ish looking piece of fabric. Her ability to see more than what is simply in front of her is what I grew up around. Our family also used to throw a huge Halloween party every year where kids and adults would arrive wearing home-made costumes. Part of the challenge was to make something outrageous and unusual and, typically, it involved whatever materials were around the house.
These days fashion is driven by celebrities and magazines, how much do you think that success as a designer depends on getting access to that arena?
I think a lot of people who are not confident in their own personal style will always look to the magazines and the celebrities to see what is “in” or “cool”. So in that sense, the success of a designer can depend on being show in magazines, etc. Magazines are always looking for “the next thing” so I think the bigger challenge is to be featured in magazines/on celebrities but then to continue to develop and stay relevant.
Obviously there is a creative difference between designing of costumes and jewelry for a larger consumer market. Do you think your career will lead more towards one field or the other in the future?
Right now, I have decided to really put most of my efforts into developing my Zipper Jewelry. Recently I designed costumes for a multi-media opera/dance piece. I used a lot of unconventional materials –like plastic forks and clear recycling bags. It was definitely a wonderful creative experience, but once it was complete, I was happy to return to my studio to continue my work with the Zipper Jewelry. The two experiences are wildly different–one is extremely collaborative and the other is very solitary. I think I may continue to create costumes or sculptural-wearable-art, but it will not be for traditional theater.
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I love that Kate doesn’t set artistic limitations on herself. Says Kate, “Because I see everything as an artist, it means I am freed up from certain constraints that typically come with certain professional approaches. I can see the material for what it is, what it “should” be used for, and then I can decide how I want to re-imagine it.”
Whether she’s designing elaborate costumes for stage productions, making wigs out of kitchen essentials, or reinventing the zipper, one constant with Kate is her love of unusual materials and her ability to transform them.
You can, and should, purchase one of her designs here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5175959
Be sure to check out Kate’s blog too!
Bibs: Not Just For Babies Anymore
You no longer need to be shoveling in spoonfuls of pureed plums to rock a bib – thanks to the bib necklace. Loving this trend right now. Throwing on one of these is the quickest way to breathe new life into your jeans and t-shirt.
They’re cropping up everywhere with many at very reasonable price points, so what are you waiting for!?
Urban Outfitters Colorful Bib Necklace $34
Banana Republic Glam Bib Necklace $69
Bold Jewelry
As was very evident at NYC Fashion Week, bold jewelry is huge right now and will continue to be well into Fall/Winter 09.
The only rule? The bigger, the better! Some of my favorites include this piece by designer Candace Ang for Urban Outfitters. It’s sort of tough and feminine at the same time with it’s mix of metal and pink frills.
This cuff from Accessories & Beyond is definitely eye catching yet still toned down enough to wear with just about anything.
These earrings from Free People are a nice change from your everyday gold hoops.
One of my favorite places to find bold statement jewelry online is Ebay. I’ve scored some really unique finds over the years. In the real world? Try looking for Estate sales!
Pennyroyal Silver
The story behind this company’s humble beginnings is both inspiring and incredibly endearing.
Tim Foster comes from a musical background and worked for a major recording company for seven years before realizing he was itching to do something more. He happened upon that something while trying to make a unique gift for his girlfriend with nothing more than a hammer, a rock, and a 1979 (his birth year) penny. This newly discovered interest in metalworking grew into a serious talent as his experiments with pure silver blossomed into the full-fledged line of limited edition and custom jewelry known as Pennyroyal Silver.
Combining his great love of music with his appetite for all things artistic, Tim creates unique pieces often named after song titles of songs that speak to him on a personal level. Pieces in his current collection bear names like “Come Together”, “Shine on…”, and “Learning to Fly” evoking images of the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Tim Foster’s style of design really resonates with me because when is music not personal? Furthermore, when is expressing yourself through what you wear, i.e. jewelry, not personal as well? Whether it’s about music if fashion, it’s all about artistic expression and Tim really gets this.
With music being so important to him, Tim wanted to give something back to the community with his latest design called the Troubadour which pays homage to the iconic LA nightclub. A portion of the proceeds from each pendant sold will go to the MusiCares Foundation. You’ve heard the term starving artist? MusiCares was established by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1989 to offer assistance to musicians who are struggling, be it financially, personally or mentally.
Rock on and support a worthy cause by grabbing a little piece of the Troubadour for yourself!
Celeb fans include Jack Black, The Foo Fighters, Lucinda Williams, Black Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow and Cyndi Lauper (check out the pic above of Cyndi and Tim collaborating on a project).
Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be a celebrity to work with him. Find anything that speaks to you – be it a symbol, drawing, or significant date, send it to Tim and he’ll help you execute it as a custom piece.
In only a few years, he’s managed to go from the man with the penny to Pennyroyal Silver. He already has plans of expansion too, with apparel and other accessories on the horizon.
We’ll be keeping an eye on Pennyroyal Silver and we suggest you do so as well!
The Naughty Secretary Club
This chick is amazing! Definitely an inspiration to me and I’m sure a lot of other women. Founded by Jennifer Perkins (the lovely lady pictured above), Naughty Secretary Club includes a collection of kitchy jewelry and accessories all with a serious wow factor! Everything is hand made by Jen herself and trust me, no one on the streets will be sporting anything else quite like it. Each piece is unique and based on objects Jen finds and recycles into gorgeous works of art!
Jen has always had a passion to create, even as a young child where she got her start selling earrings made from fishing lures out of her parents garage. After obtaining a degree in Pychology, she set out to join the work force and was only able to find a job as a secretary. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (Seinfeld) but it left her with a lot of free time on her hands and thus, more time to craft!
This non stop craft fest eventually manifested as naughtysecretary club.com. The site has been a huge success with Jen’s work being featured in countless magazines such as Teen Vogue, Lucky and Seventeen. In addition to her site, she’s also the co-host of DIY’s Stylicious and Craft Lab.
Check out some of her masterpieces below and go snag yourself some one of a kind, wearable art!
This piece is very reminiscent of Marni to me, minus the hefty price tag of course!
Under da sea! Love this cute little seahorse cameo cuff.
Embrace your inner child! These appropriately titled bubbles earrings remind me of one of my favorite childhood past times, blowing bubbles!
If you’re feeling inspired to take a stab at your own creations, then pick up a copy of Jennifer’s book the Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl’s Guide to Handmade Jewelry at Amazon and follow along with more then 50 crafting projects!
House of Harlow 1960
A lot of celebs think that just because they’re famous and have their names to back them, they can do anything. Like Jennifer Love Hewitt putting out an album for example….
Nicole Richie has managed to successfully make the crossover into the world of fashion though with her line of 60′s inspired jewelry named after her adorable daughter, Harlow. Launched exclusively for the Kitson store in LA, the line has been so popular from day one that they’ve had trouble keeping the styles in stock! The line starts at a mere $12 with the most expensive piece being $125. There really is something for everyone too. Whether you’re into silver or gold, skinny bangles or bold cuffs, if you like your rings to make a statement or prefer a more modest band, you’re bound to find something you’ll love. Word on the street is sunglasses are next up on the list for Nicole!
Loving this ring right now! Got it last week and can’t stop wearing it!
If you live in LA, you’re in luck! On Saturday, March 7th, Kitson will be hosting a special meet and greet with Nicole herself! Arrive early though as only 100 tickets will be sold. To get front of the line access, you must purchase at least $75 worth of HoH merchandise — not that it’d be hard to do since the whole line kicks ass! Good luck and happy shopping!
Alex and Chloe
Alex and Chloe create unique, one of a kind pieces that mix couture with an edgy sort of anti-establishment like feel. Case in point, check out this necklace that inspired a cease and desist letter from Chanel.
Their signature is simple yet effective – bold geometric shapes and always unconventional. Think of an Alex and Chloe piece as wearable art – I’d call it modern minimalism.
I do! In January, they launched their line of wedding rings exclusively at Revolve Clothings new flagship store on Melrose, in LA. Definitely not geared towards your traditional bride.
http://www.forwardforward.com/fwd/Brands.jsp?d=F&c=Alex+and+Chloe
They’ve recently branched out into clothing as well and just like their jewelry, it doesn’t disappoint.
My Aphex pendant in bronze arrived in the mail today and I am absolutely smitten! It arrived in a beautiful little package, complete with a special note from Alex and Chloe.
If you’re a fan of the show, you know that Gossip Girl is always on the cutting edge of fashion. Just check out Little J rockin’ Alex and Chloe’s Pyramide Pointure necklace.
Alex and Chloe have shaken up the jewelry world with their very own urban inspired aethetic. They started with jewelry, marched into sunglasses and moved right into some very innovative t-shirts. I can’t wait to see what they do next!