Pretty in the Queen City

JewelMint Feature: Cavalier Crest Pendant

As you know, I partnered with JewelMint quite some time ago. I love receiving special pieces created by Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter. They are insanely talented. 

I recently received the Cavalier Crest Pendant designed by Cher. I may or may not have squealed with delight when I opened the gift box. I am in love with this piece.

Leave the damsel in distress behind, and become style’s new heroine! Created for fearless fashionistas who want to set their own trends, this 20" crest necklace transcends common designs. Made for an epic style moment, the 3" shield pendant is engraved with a classic fleur-de-lis. The rolo chain secures with a lobster clasp and includes a 2 ½" extender.

From tshirts and jeans to fabulous dresses, I have paired this lovely pendant with practically everything in my closet. It can easily be worn day or night and has plenty of room to shorten or lengthen the chain. I recently wore the necklace for my cover shoot for Women With Know How magazine.You can view my interview HERE.

Check out JewelMint HERE.

And make sure you send me photos of you wearing your fav JewelMint piece. You may be featured on Pretty in the Queen City! 

Young&ng Draws Inspiration from the Complexity of the Human Body

Make a Style Statement Without Breaking a Sweat The perfect summer accessories from Young&ng Thankfully the unbearable heat wave, with temperatures rising into the triple digits in some areas, has passed. However, with the temperatures still soaring, it’s still hard to function, let alone to function fashionably. But just because it’s the summer doesn’t mean we can let our style standards slip. In this weather, when all we want is to wear as little as possible, it’s that little bit harder to make a style statement (well, a classy style statement). That’s why clever accessorizing is key. The right accessories will instantly dress up even the simplest of summer outfits and won’t weigh you down or warm you up. For those who still want to look  good in this heat we’ve got some tips on how to make a statement without breaking a sweat: Twist it up and cool down It’s impossible to wear your hair down in this heat without it being stuck to your neck (at times like this a pixie crop is so tempting!) Cool down instantly by twisting your locks into a messy twist, a ballerina bun or a chic up-do and top it off with one of Young&ng’s striking headpieces.   This Gunmetal Headband with Studs ($645) is a piece which can be worn either as a traditional hairband or, for a bolder look, as a crown. Its ethereal feel looks great with summer sheers and chiffons while the studs and gunmetal finish give it a hard edge look without being too heavy for summer looks.   I love this head piece. So rock n roll yet very chic!  Cool Off With a Cut-Out Cuff Another piece that belongs in my collection is Young&ng’s Gunmetal Shattered Glass Cuff ($480) it's strong and edgy but, thanks to its striking cut-out design,is perfectly ventilated (probably not Young&ng designer Michelle Ng’s main priority when designing the piece but convenient none the less!) Also available in Antique Gold.       Adorn Your Head (Without the Heat) Young&ng’s Antique Gold Comb ($330) is a classic piece. It can be worn in a variety of ways and looks great tucked into a messy twist or used to elegantly keep long hair away from your face. Also available in Gunmetal.   Fall/Winter 2011 Collection Draws Inspiration from the Beauty & Complexity of Human Body February 2011 – (New York, NY) In an endless quest to find beauty in the most unexpected places, artist, designer and creative director of Young&ng (http://youngandng.com), Michelle Ng, yet again transforms the elementary into the exquisite with the introduction of the line’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection of couture headpieces and cuffs. The raw beauty, intricacy and complexity of the human body serve as the primary inspiration for the present collection. Intertwined cell systems, muscle and skeletal groups provide the basis for the structural design of each of the newly added pieces. Details such as ruby Swarovski crystals and intricate metal work act as subtle reminders of blood cells and bones, distinctively conveying an admiration of the perfection contained within the human form, thereby culminating in a powerful homage to the human body in an edgy, one of a kind jewelry collection.   The distinctive look of the pieces in the collection makes them instantly striking. With many of the pieces, the sharp structure speaks for itself, whilst with others, strong materials such as gunmetal and antique gold are juxtaposed with delicate studs and crystals invoking delicacy and determination in perfect tandem. In addition to the materials used, Ng brings an element of surprise to the shapes used in each piece. Adding to her signature powerful crowns and cuffs, the designer adds a touch of timeless heritage to the collection, adding several “Yarmulke” – shaped headpieces to the mix, thereby changing the way we look at the centuries-old tradition of headwear. Though strong and edgy, the pieces also possess a timeless beauty, in keeping with the designer’s aspiration to move away from a focus on trends to create pieces that can be passed on for generations to come. These are strong statement pieces that will empower their wearer and work as a piece of art to be treasured and enjoyed.                                                                                                                         Young&ng is the haute couture jewelry line born from designer Michelle Ng’s desire to rethink the way we look at accessories and to redefine the fine line between art and fashion. Michelle received her formal art training at New Zealand’s Elam, University of Auckland where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. The Fall/Winter 2011 Collection is Young&ng’s second collection. The jewelry ranges in price from $330-$1,675 USD and can be found at the Young&ng online boutique, http://youngandng.com/store.

EXCLUSIVE Video: Cher Coulter Shares Inspiration Behind the Mystic Secrets Necklace (JewelMint)

 

As my long time readers know, a few months back I partnered with JewelMint, Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter's new jewelry line, to bring you exclusive content and a few rewards along the way. It was to my delight to receive Cher's latest creation, "The Mystic Secrets Necklace" last week. This is probably my favorite piece thus far and there have been some AMAZING ones. There are so many ways you could wear this necklace. It's great for day or night and quite the conversation starter.                                                  JewelMint and Cher shared this EXCLUSIVE video with us about the inspiration behind this beautiful piece.    Step into the far corners of Ancient Egypt with this striking necklace! Our 18' cable chain design includes an antique 10k gold-plated finish. For an air of mystery, a trio of sphix, glass and evil eye charms dangle from a hammered plate. Wondering where fashion's global trail will take you next? With endless styling possibilities, it's all up to you!  ~Kate + Cher~ XO  Here's where the really good part comes in........JewelMint is offering Pretty in the Queen City readers 50% off their FIRST JewelMint purchase (good for one piece) this week only!  Visit this link http://jmnt.co/rg6Ynj and use the code prettyinthequeencity50  Don't forget to let me know what you purchase!! I want to know what you love too!

 

Renaissance and Baroque Elegance in a Timeless Jewelry Collection:Marie-Lise Lachapelle Fall/Winter 2011:

Marie-Lise Lachapelle Fall/Winter 2011
Renaissance and Baroque Elegance in a Timeless Collection Inspired by the Elements

June 2011 – (New York, NY) Marie-Lise Lachapelle, the Quebec-born and New York based jewelry designer, has taken her signature style of creating stunning jewelry inspired by the elements to a new level of luxury with the newly launched Fall/Winter 2011 collection. The Fall/Winter 2011 collection of necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets fuses Renaissance and Baroque inspired elegance with whimsical elements of nature to create yet another timeless jewelry collection.

The "Amalia" Necklace....by far my favorite. Elegant, classy and BEAUTIFUL

Best known for her work with actual flowers preserved in resin and semi-precious metals, Marie-Lise Lachapelle has taken nature-inspired jewelry to a whole new level with the current collection, modeling the new pieces after her signature orchids, roses and leaves except this time creating the entire piece out of precious metals rather than just plating the preserved florals. The collection includes pieces created from yellow, white and rose gold as well as sterling silver,gold vermeil and even goldite – a special nickel/ lead free creation by Marie-Lise for the collection of brass and zink that is highly polished and never tarnishes. Certain pieces also include genuine black and white diamond embellishments. Elements of Baroque and Renaissance are evident in the numerous “frame” pieces within the collection such as the pendants, brooches, necklaces and earrings. Inside each of the frames,elements of nature present themselves in the forms of small birds, branches, and flowers.

“The frames came to me in a dream. As these stunning flew at me – each one containing something special inside – I was instantly inspired to create jewelry based on these stunning gold and silver frames I saw,” Marie-Lise explains about the inspiration for the “Frames” series within the collection. “Frames are always seen as the encasement for art, but I saw the frames themselves as art and wanted to bring that into the art that we adorn our bodies with – jewelry.”

All pieces in the collection, though modern and unique, are timeless and designed to be worn again and again for years to come. As is a feature of many of Marie-Lise’s collections, several of the pieces are designed to be versatile and can in fact be worn in a number of different ways depending on the wearer’s taste, outfit or mood.

Prices for the collection range from $190 to $3,200. For more information on Marie-Lise Lachapelle or to browse the online boutique please visit www.MarieLiseLachapelle.com.