There was a true nod to creativity at this years shows as designers pulled out the stops and delved deep into their imaginations to offer a small world of gems, motifs and inspirations from around the globe.
Be sure to catch "The Jeweler" every Monday in Shine Blogs on INSTOREMAG.COM
The Business column in our upcoming July edition features a well-known jeweler announcing that he is shutting the doors of his store after 40 years in the business. (I won’t tell you his name – breaking the news here would be pretty poor form, and besides, we want you to look out for the July edition.) This jeweler’s column isn’t an attempt to shift blame for a business failure, or a bitter farewell, but a happy accounting of a lifetime spent in the jewelry industry. It’s an uplifting piece, celebrating the relationships, the ethics, the passed-on knowledge and the satisfaction to be had from making customers happy.
The rules are simple: fill in the blank and then sit back and enjoy as hundreds and hundreds of responses from other jewelers flow in. (Okay, responses from three other jewelers and editor David Squires. That's a hint, jewelers. Participate. It's fun!)
From the runways to the red carpet, ornamental handbags continue to make a statement, but this season, there are a growing number of jewelry designers who are adding both clutches and larger structured bags to their collections. Armenta rings in another year with exotic skin bags that have dual functions—one of my favorite at The Couture Show-- was a clutch that you can slide your fingers into and your hand also become accessorized. Kara Ross also has added to her line of embellished skin bags, which a women can mix and match with her stackable bracelets and stand out necklaces to pop an outfit.
