inspiration: i dream of byzantine

One of the more difficult aspects of creating a new collection of jewelry is deciding on color.

I begin building the framework for an upcoming season far in advance.  You'll find me working on sketches for a summer necklace while there is snow on the ground.  As of late I've been putting the finishing touches on our Winter/Holiday collection in 70-degree weather.  

Rich jewel tones and metallics reign for Winter/Holiday.  We're pairing forest green with gunmetal, gilded bronze with gold, and plum with antiqued brass.  These colors nestle right in with the lush velvets and embroidered dresses we've seen for the cooler weather.

Always a fan of Chanel, I found the pre-fall collection to be quite inspiring, and surprisingly in line with our chosen color palette.

Karl Lagerfeld's designs for Chanel were rich in Byzantine references, inspired heavily by Empress Theodora and imperial Roman dress.  Decorative collars, bejeweled stoles, and silk headpieces played dominant roles in Chanel's Paris-Byzance Collection:

CHANEL Paris-Byzance Sandal 

CHANEL Paris-Byzance Ring

CHANEL Paris-Byzance handbag

A look from CHANEL's pre-fall 2011 ad campaign

A look from CHANEL's pre-fall 2011 ad campaign

Limperatrice Theodora Au Colisee by Benjamin Constant

I personally adore the satin dress with the embroidered gold details.  What's your favorite? 

View the rest of Paris-Byzance here.  

Sweet dreams.

-Katy

images 1-5, www.chanel.com

image 6 www.wikipedia.com

october shoe potpourri

(Above): The scene at the door of the Adam Arnold Fall 2010 fashion show (all white floors = no shoes allowed). It felt as if I was stalking several people at once as I studied what shoes everyone came in (presumably, their "best", which is a somewhat frightening indication of a lack of _________)....

(Above): Inside the new All Saints store in Boston on Newbury Street - (amazing shoes but all sold out of my size, sad face) This U.K. chain is new to the U.S., I hadn't heard of it. It's sort of like a Rick-Owens-meets-Anthropologie place for rich kids (not that I didn't want everything!)


(Above:) Look a little closer at the walls - - that's right, they are lined in replicas of vintage shoe horns (nice touch) - - oh, if these horns could "toot"... (sorry, couldn't help it) I've noticed a lot of wood cutout heels this Fall, have you?


(Above): Inside the Tannery on Boylston Street in Boston (again, sold out of everything in my size except for shoes in the $500+ range, and even then it was slim pickins') My husband did find a nice Fjallraven jacket, however.

photo credit - our iphone

nice pair: ld tuttle - vapor the push

August...you sneaky little devil. I can't believe you're already here.

It seems like just weeks ago I was catching up on what was going to be big for Summer.

Now, the magazines are highlighting what to wear for Fall. While I still haven't seen The September Issue I definitely understand what it signifies: it's time to start shopping for boots!

For eight-hundred-something-dollars some people would grab a flight to Hawaii. Others might spend three days in Mexico. And a few people might put the money in savings.

Me? I'd order a pair of these LD Tuttle boots in size 41:

ld tuttle
vapor the push wedge boot

The "Tutts", as I call them, are looking fantastic right now at http://www.oaknyc.com/. And if Oak doesn't have your size in stock, a member of their kind-hearted staff may be able to order a pair for you... hey, just something to keep in the back of your mind...

nice pairs: bata shoe museum

I think I might have found heaven on earth.

Hundreds of shoes (from a collection numbering over 10,000) are on exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronta, Ontario.

From the website:

"The Museum celebrates the style and function of footwear in four impressive galleries. Footwear on display ranges from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glamourous platforms. Over 4,500 years of history and a collection of 20th-century celebrity shoes are reflected in the semi-permanent exhibition, All About Shoes. Three other galleries feature changing exhibitions, so there's always something new to see."

One of the 14,000+ pairs on site - by Designer Andre Perugia

Perugia was one of the most original shoe designers of the 20th century. From the 1920's on, his shoes were synonymous with luxury and avant-garde design, and he counted some of the world's most glittering celebrities among his clientele. His love of art was evident in his footwear design and many of his creations were influenced by the work of great artists. Perugia was also very influenced by contemporary design and many of his shoes are considered exceptional modern. (From "Icons of Elegance" by Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack)
More at http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/

photo - copyright Bata