Blog Archives
Addictive Addition: Catbird Theadbare Ring
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Catbird’s Threadbare Ring is made from delicately hammered fourteen-karat gold, so thin, you have to look close or you might miss it.
Wear them stacked, separated or purchase a smaller size for the mid-knuckle. The styling options are endless… and addictive.
About Catbird:
Located smack dab in the center of breathtaking Williamsburg, where the asthma rates are high and the tree quotient is low. Regardless, we love our neighborhood and because of that we specialize in local designers (although we carry items from designers all over the globe) and we’re always unearthing new and exciting stuff.
While the emphasis is on jewelry there is always a wide variety of other fun stuff. Why limit yourself? We also love glassware, terrariums, candlesticks, cards, water bottles, tooth fairy boxes, candles, art, boxes and trays, compasses, old fashioned toys, fancy things to put in your hair…it’s always changing. And we’re open to suggestions!
Some of our illustrious local designers include Digby & Iona, Yayoi Forest, Satomi Kawakita, Katrina LaPenne, Nancy Kraskin, John Derian, Elisa Solomon, Max Steiner, Jezebel, Bittersweetsnyc.
Other, non-local, independent designers we love and carry include Joanna Lingnau, Carla Caruso, Stephanie Simek, and Demitasse and many many more.
Gifting: Kate Spade
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It doesn’t get much better than Kate Spade’s Holiday Gift Guide. Quirky and adorable, these items will put a smile on anyone’s face. Gift ideas at every price range, purchase your last minute treasures and trinkets now.
Seasonal Staple: Sweater Dress
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Nothing marries warmth and style better than a sweater dress. This Fall classic is a no-fail, wardrobe staple that works as office-wear, casual-wear and party-wear.
Perfect for layering, the sweater dress can double as an oversized top. Pair with skinny jeans or leather leggings for additional warmth and style. The sweater dress is easy to accessorize and begs for a great piece of jewelry, rugged leather jacket, faux fur or luxe leather boot.
A great option for this holiday season, the sweater dress will work for any occasion.
Here are a few of my favorites:
C&C California ~ 3/4 Sleeve Sweater Dress: $117.60 (sale)
BCBGMAXAZRIA ~ Knit Lambswool Dress with Tubular Detailing: $218.00
JCrew ~ Cashmere Tee Dress: $278.00
Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti ~ Long Sleeve Sweater Dress: $695.00
BCBGMAXAZRIA ~ Pailey Sweater Dress: $194.60 (sale)
In The Know: Kate Spade Saturday
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This Spring, Kate Spade will launch a budget-friendly line, appropriately titled Kate Spade Saturday. The collection is meant to “capture the spirit of Saturday, every day of the week.”
Featuring everything from dresses and jackets to handbags, jewelry, home decor and eyewear – all bright and bold in true Kate Spade fashion. The new lifestyle brand is targeted towards the younger fashionista – and priced 50% lower than the brand’s current offerings ($30 to $130).
While no stand-alone U.S. stores are planned as of now, you will be able to nab all the Kate Spade Saturday line at www.saturday.com – launching early next year.
Brand Bravado: Cleobella
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Every since stepping foot inside the Cleobella boutique, I have been dreaming of certain items. Here are a few of my favorites:
BAGS:
KAYA Bucket: $552.00
ALISSA Small: $366.00
DAYO: $398.00
CLUTCH:
MAHALA Clutch: $407.00
JEWELRY:
SIRA Bracelet: $87.00
TADI Armband: $120.00
ARIZIKI Bracelet: $83.00
MARA Ring: $82.00
READ INTERVIEW W/ ANGELA O’BRIEN OF CLEOBELLA: HERE
Get To Know: Angela O’Brien of Cleobella
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Cleobella is a line of eclectic bags, clutches, and jewelry that reflect the gypsy lifestyle. Bringing modern luxury to bohemian style, Cleobella uses washed leathers, vintage ikat fabrics and recycled antique hardwares, to make these hand-made/hand-crafted styles, works of art. Esteemed retailers worldwide have embraced Cleobella, as they continue to uphold a reputation of being impeccable in quality and unique in design.
Angela O’Brien, alongside her husband Jim, officially launched Cleobella in 2008 after traveling the world for a solid year. The name Cleobella comes from Angela’s Northern Ireland-born mother, Cleobelle. While in Bali, O’Brien was inspired by the unique fabrics and beads at local markets and designed the line’s first piece, the Mexicana clutch. A large wallet with several pockets and zippers, the Mexicana was perfect for day and night. It is now Cleobella’s signature piece.
Angela has since added hundreds of bags and clutches to the line, and has evolved into home decor and jewelry. Cleobella’s first retail boutique is located in Sunset Beach, California. The exotic 1,200 square-foot space is steps from the beach and bursting with beautiful bags, jewelry and clothing.
I had the privilege of interviewing local free spirit, Angela O’Brien at her Sunset Beach boutique.
Me: The first boutique/show room you decided to open locally in Sunset Beach, any plans on opening more?
Angela: We live in Seal Beach, so it just made sense. I thought – why not just do it here and maybe branch-out later. I can see us opening a boutique in Bali. We spend so much time there and have all the resources. That would be a dream. I have also thought about opening another location in the LA area – I love the Abbot Kinny/Venice area. Also in New York – we have a show room in NYC and are there 3-4 times a year and it would be so cool to have a boutique in Soho. Someday…
Me: Tell me about CARE?
Angela: In my travels, I see so many women working incredibly hard all-day-long. For instance, in India, women pack the dung patties (manure) all day in their beautiful saris – and in Bali women haul huge, heavy water jugs on their heads. I wanted to be affiliated with a cause that would help these women. After all they are the ones who help make my dreams come true – building and detailing my hand-beaded bags that take weeks to make. So we wanted to give back and specifically donate to Southeast Asia. It just made sense. We also donate to local charities as well because I think that is so important.
Me: Where does your design inspiration come from?
Angela: My grandmother is an incredible artist so I have grown up around art all my life. I have been painting since I was little – I paint with oils. Whenever I am designing a collection, I start with a theme or story. It helps me wrap my mind around a concept. Often times that can be a travel destination we have been to. For example we are heading to India in late October, so Fall 2013 will be inspired by India.
Me: What was the inspiration behind Fall 2012?
Angela: It was Cleopatra goes to Bali. I was envisioning – if Cleopatra was alive – what would her experience be in Bali. The collection is very rich in metallics and suedes, but still has that bohemian, rustic chic feel to it. We just finishing Spring 2013, which was inspired by the South Pacific/Australia and consists of a lot of pastels and neons.
Me: Do you try to keep up with the trends or create your own?
Angela: I don’t have access to the trend reports like bigger businesses do. I tend to sometimes fall into the right trends. For instance, if it is a certain color that I am feeling and it just happens to be the color for the season. I try not to be too influenced because then everything becomes generic and I would rather be inspired by something that is more original.
Me: Who is the Cleobella girl?
Angela: I think she is playful, worldly,whimsical – inspired by life. Our bags are such statement pieces so she has a relaxed, casual style but always adds a “conversation piece”.
Me: Who are some of your favorite designers?
Angela: A lot of my girlfriends are my favorite designers. Right now I am wearing my girlfriends line, Summer of 78. She is a dear friend of mine. I have a lot of girlfriends in the business and love wearing and trading product.
Me: What is your favorite piece you have designed?
Angela: It is still my Mexicana clutch. It is still such a great seller and has become such a signature of our brand. It is very practical and I can recreate it over and over again. The price point is really good for the time and detail that goes into it and I love that no two are the same.
Me: Favorite beauty tip or trick?
Angela: I am a big believer of Organic Coconut Oil. I put it on my hair, my skin – I used it while pregnant to avoid stretch marks, I put it on my baby and even cook with it. I get it from Whole Foods. I have one in my shower, by my sink and in my kitchen.
Me: Where do you see Cleobella in 10 years?
Angela: Well, I would love to expand in other categories. Home decor is my passion. Two seasons ago, we did a collection of pillows for Barneys. We took the inspiration from our bags and made them into pillows, a Mexicana, a studded Nevaeh, fringe, and a chevron design from the Hudson Envelope. Right now we are gearing up for a sale with One Kings Lane. We are doing a collection of Ecote pillows, hand-selected by me. In the future, clothing would be a dream.
Girl Crush: Vanessa Mooney
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Currently crushing on jewelry designer, Vanessa Mooney. Impeccably detailed, her pieces are fresh and always on-trend. Inspired by her travels, Mooney sources her materials from all-over the world. From bracelets to rings, the designs are unique but wearable, perfect for stacking and layering. Mooney is currently expanding her art with collections of handbags and footwear.
Here are a few of my favorite pieces:
Acacia Spike Necklace: $60.00
The Mesa Bracelet: $45.00
Akha Earrings: $79.00
Silver Pyramid Stud Earrings: $38.00 (sale)
The Juliet Black Statement Necklace: $250.00
Pewter Shark Tooth Ring: $45.00
Small Brass Cage Cuff: $200.00
Gold Ghetto Chain Necklace: $70.00
About Vanessa Mooney:
Born in 1980, Vanessa Mooney is a rare breed of a Hollywood rebel, harnessing a unique look and attitude, which transcends into her distinctive accessories line. The great-granddaughter of Harry Warner (one of the original Warner Bros.) has been infatuated with the freedom that art provides and obsessed with all forms of art, music and fashion, her entire life. It was in 2009 when she founded her eponymous line under a core idea: let uninhibited design intuition lead the way. Self-taught, Vanessa designs everything in her studio in Downtown Los Angeles, combining unexpected materials and techniques that make each design feel brand new. Eclectic in her personal style choices, she portrays “model-off-duty” fashion with a rock ‘n’roll, boho-chic edge. An avid traveler with a keen interest for unexpected beauty, she derives inspiration from different ethnicities and cultures.With an ever growing following embracing her designs including celebrities like Katie Holmes, Vanessa Hudgens, Venus Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Allen, Juliette Lewis, Devendra Banhart and Hayden Panettiere… Vanessa Mooney may just be the one to watch. Her pieces can be found in over 500 of the top specialty stores and boutiques in the U.S. and abroad, including Bergdorf Goodman, Cusp, ShopBop, Madison and American Rag Cie. She can also be found in pages of Harper’s Bazaar, In Style, Nylon, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly, Marie Claire and Glamour to name a few. She has scored high-profile collaborations with premiere U.S. retailers like: Calypso, Urban Outfitters, Club Monaco, Madewell, and is now expanding into handbags and footwear. Handcrafted, often intricate, always unique and ever imaginative; Vanessa Mooney is a brand, a lifestyle, a state of mind.
Pucker Up! H&M Fashion Against Aids 2012
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H&M Fashion Against Aids (FAA) collection launches today in 300 stores and online. This is the company’s fifth collection raising funds and creating youth awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Just like all of H&M’s collaborated collections, the store went for on-trend bold prints in both clothing and accessories. H&M commissioned prints from artists and illustrators all over the world – Inuit designs from Greenland, tribal prints from Africa, and Maori graphics from New Zealand – and worked them into 50 pieces, ranging from leggings and dresses to jewelry and ponchos.
Twenty-five percent of the proceeds from all sales will benefit youth AIDS/HIV programs, including the United Nations Population Fund, YouthAIDS, and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation.
Kiss For A Cause: For every kiss uploaded, H&M will donate $1.00 to HIV/AIDS prevention. Pucker Up!
Upload kisses here: http://campaign.hm.com/faa2012/
Glow-T Gift Guide: Jewelry
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Glow-T’s Gift Guide continues with jewelry. Decorate family and friends with small treasures that last a lifetime. A gifted piece of jewelry should be simple and timeless. From delicate stackable rings to personalized necklaces that supply words of wisdom, here are a few gift ideas for the gem in your life.
J.Crew ~ Crystal Brulée Necklace: $68.00
Shopbop.com ~ Gorjana Jude Bracelet: $62.00
Neiman Marcus ~ Dogeared Gifting Necklaces: $58.00
Barneys New York ~ Jennifer Meyer Thin Stackable Rings: $150.00
Jules Smith ~ Americana Classic Earrings: $60.00
Glow-T 