Jewelry Trends: Show Your Colors

Oversized pendant earrings are still one of the hottest trends. For fall and winter designers are incorporating color, and lots of it, into their earrings. Like these examples from Christian Tse.

Large “slices” or thin faceted drops of precious and semi-precious stones are popping up in all of their colorful splendor adding emotion and interest to ear lobes everywhere!

Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Pamela Froman

Individuality is the underlying theme of beauty for Pamela Froman’s designs. In her words, “the more a piece is worn, the more beautiful it is because it becomes part of the person’s essence”.

Pamela Froman was born and raised in Manhattan. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology she began her career in Paris, designing jewelry for top European couturier salons, including Courreges, Cacharel, Carita, Guy Larouche, and Valentino. In 2006 Pamela was given the “Rising Star” Award by the JCK Show in Las Vegas, which was the catalyst for the official launch of her collection. Since then, the accolades have not stopped; including recognition by InDesign Magazine, the Woman’s Jewelry Association, Town & Country and the MJSA.

Pamela Froman’s unique style incorporates color, form and texture. Texture is possibly the singular feature that sets her jewelry apart from other designers. The “Crush”, as she calls it, is a hand-hammering technique used by Pamela to create individual, irregular surfaces. In fact, all of her jewelry is hand made, so no two pieces ever look exactly alike. They have either a free-form scrolling or organic shape or an “old world” feel with Maltese crosses, wonderful oversized links and amulet-style shapes. Color often comes from the metal itself, and combinations of platinum and gold or different alloys of gold are a recurring theme. The play of light on the hammered metal creates stunning hues. An array of different colored stones is the basis of the Scroll Cap Earring limited edition collection. As a self proclaimed “Rock Hound”, I could not help but love these earrings, as well as all of Pamela Froman’s designs.

How would you describe your personal [jewelry] style?

Sexy and Versatile: I like to design pieces that can be worn casual or dressed-up, because I think jewelry should be worn, not locked away in a safe. I also believe jewelry should make a woman feel sexy, and I definitely design with that in mind.

What inspires your creative designs?

Old-world European architecture has inspired a lot of my designs, especially scrolly wrought iron gates, and the beautiful domes of St. Petersburg. I also look at fabrics, and textured rocks, and often the gemstones I choose influence the design.

Bonus Answer (My favorite design elements)

I love irregular surfaces, so most of my Collection is textured with a special hand-hammering technique I call “Crushed.”  Combined with a Satin finish, this Crushed texture gives a much softer, more natural feel to the metal.  Aside from the texture, one of my favorite design elements is the Scroll; it’s a very organic, feminine shape, and I love the way it flows.

Past or present who has most influenced your direction in life?

That would have to be my Mother. She is a well-known sculptor, but was a shoe designer when I was a kid. She always encouraged my creativity, and taught me to look at the world artistically. My Mother is also the reason I went to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC); I originally majored in Fashion Design but, while I was there, I discovered my true calling was to be a Jewelry Designer and switched majors.

What are some of your favorite cities?

Visually, artistically, I love Budapest, Prague, Lucerne and Paris; even though I lived in Paris for 3 years, whenever I visit, I am still inspired by its beauty and amazed by it’s nuances. Of course, I can’t leave NYC off the list! I grew up in Manhattan and, though I live in California now, I’m a New York City Girl through and through.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love having the freedom to design whatever I am inspired to design, and then bringing my vision to life. At the beginning of my career, I worked in Paris, designing jewelry for top European couturier salons, including Courreges, Cacharel, Carita, Guy Larouche, and Valentino. While I enjoyed the challenge of designing for established labels, I was constrained by the vision of each company. I felt the need to express my personal style, which is why I decided to launch my signature line. And, by having my own line, I’ve discovered the icing on the cake: when I travel to stores for events, I get to meet the people who buy my creations! I love how the perfect piece becomes part of the wearer, and seeing their excitement brings me joy.

What are you working on right now?

So many things! I’m really feeling drawn to the cool tones right now, and have been designing a lot with blue-toned stones like Aquamarine and Rainbow Moonstone; I just did a crazy-long Rainbow Moonstone necklace that I’m in love with! I recently launched a new collection called Arabesque Crush: scrolly pieces made with 18k pink and yellow gold and warm-toned gemstones like Peach Moonstone and Fire Opal, but my new pieces for winter will mostly be 18k yellow and white with blue and purple stones, so keep an eye out for that! Also, I have amassed a collection of unique gemstones that I’m using to design a collection of cool one-of-a-kind rings. Oh, and my one-of-a-kind and limited-edition colored stone cap earrings have gained a following, so I’ve been having fun expanding that collection as well. And, in the middle of all this, I make time to be with my Favorite Creation, my 5-year-old son, Hudson!

Style Setters: The Jewelry Brief Interviews Faso

The jewelry of Faso is a joint collaboration between two long time friends, Banafsheh Fatooriechie and Maryam Sardari. Banafsheh, who has a background in textile design, creates pieces that must feel as great as they are beautiful. Marayam, an art therapist, incorporates the therapeutic use of color and certain gemstones into their designs. The outcome is a fantastic collection of unique, hand-made pieces that are fun and easy to wear.

What is the source of your design inspiration?

BF (Banafsheh Fatoorechie)- It may sound a bit odd, but I get a lot of inspiration from my dreams. Another source is nature and I’m also very interested in different cultural traditions and find my creative energy flowing easily whenever I’m exposed in any way to cultural events.

MS (Maryam Sardari)- It is hard to pin down one source that inspires me. I find inspiration in just about everything, but the most inspiring sources for me are music, organic shapes (nature), and textiles. Sometimes I see design in words.

How does color fit into your creative process?

BF- My background is in textile so I’ve had a lot of exposure to rich colors and designs. I use color in my wardrobe due to a particular mood or wanting to evoke a particular mood, so it is natural for me to use the same in my creative process. I gravitate toward colors. Their energy attracts me and their energy inspires me.

MS- I’m an Art Therapist by training. Not only have I been a witness to the therapeutic value of color in action, I’ve used it in my own artistic endeavors. Colors evoke different emotional responses as well as feelings. You can manipulate someone’s mood by changing the surrounding colors. The same holds true in designing jewelry. I must admit I don’t always consciously set out to use a specific color, I let my feelings lead me to certain colors. How do I want to feel when I wear this piece? The answer just pops out and the choice is made clear. No matter what the process, the pieces must be something I would like to own myself. You could say that I design for myself. I realize it sounds rather self-centered, but I cannot be pleased with something I won’t wear myself.

Who has the greatest influence on your life?

BF- All the women in my life especially my mother and grandmother. Gustov Klimt, Camille Claudel have been of great influence artistically. I’m also endlessly fascinated by the pattern and design in Persian carpets.

MS- It’s hard to choose one thing as the greatest source of inspiration. The women in my life have certainly played and play their part but I’m also influenced by my husband, music, poetry and art. Art, literature and love are timeless and that is the most important quality design should have. Treasured for all seasons.

What do you love most about what you do?

BF- The creative process unfolding. Starting at a particular creative point and ending up at a different finish line. This to me demonstrates the creative force at work. The creativity carrying me away. I do, however, create some pieces in a methodical, planned way, but I like to be carried away by inspiration.

MS- What I love the most is where creativity takes me. There have been many times when I’ve realized my hands have been busy but my mind (may be soul would better describe it) has flown away only to come back and witness the almost finished product. It’s difficult to explain this phenomenon. I do, of course, start out with a plan and a design in mind in most cases but it’s like as though the moment my fingers come to contact with the materials I exit my body. This I refer to as my own art therapy. The sublimation is always the product created. My mood and are always in a higher state.