Trends Tracking
From Diamonds To Dens
How to make your next design project runway ready.
by Kathleen Stoehr
From a single decorative
element found in the latest large-scale fashion necklace to the
splash of a red stiletto lighting up the hem of a jet black velvet
skirt, the hottest trends in jewelry and fashion can provide a wealth
of ideas for your next design project.
From formal situations to daily occasions, interpreting different
fashion trends and styles should be part of your daily awareness
to make your designs original and fresh. Every person you look at,
every rack you browse through, every glittering case of jewelry
offers roles to be played; a thousand facets of ideas ready to be
implemented.
PRETTY PRINCESS
Take note of the new Honora advertisements in all the splashy fashion
mags—the latest colors in casual leather jewelry are the baby
pink leather band/freshwater pearl bracelets and neckpieces. Audrey/Jackie-style,
these pastel pieces are a saucy look, yet remain moderate and feminine.
For a young girl, take these colors to the bedroom, where creamy
white, pink—and maybe a stripe of black—offer a highly
elegant, yet ethereal place to lay a head. For added interest and
riot girl abandon, washed out denim pillows will liven her space.
ITALIAN GLAMOUR
Last week, I was delighted to be able to view the full collection
of Damiani Jewelry straight from Italy. One of the top jewelers
in Europe, Damiani’s spirited use of colored diamonds and other
precious stones and unusual metal shapes make for an unusual and
entrancing collection. I was instantly taken by its wonderful combinations
of color and form.
Take Damiani’s sapphire and diamond right hand ring, set in
18-karat white gold. How could you turn this into an outfit? Into
a room design? Take the perfection of a crisp white suit and marry
it with the evening colors of dark blue punctuated by runway flashbulbs.
Use tulle, rich satins and metallic brocade accents. Your draperies
can float across the window with bold statements in tone on tone
blue.
Another lovely two-tone ring from Damiani, dazzlingly diamond studded,
could have inspired this elegant window treatment by K. Dyer of
Interiors by Decorating Den. An ivory damask fabric adorned with
gold tassel fringe (both from Kasmir) in Kingston valances and bishop
sleeved panels are mounted underneath seven-inch wood cornices painted
with Ralph Lauren’s Ballroom Gold. It’s as if the ring
were reborn as a lovely English window treatment.
THE RUBBER ROOM
Two companies, Cédé of Germany and Baraka of Italy,
are taking rubber to the bank, with casual straps punctuated with
platinum and diamonds. Unless the platinum is in the shape of a
heart, these pieces are unisex, as black and white usually is.
A passion for the clean look of black and white offers no uncertainties
in interior design and the underlying dualism makes this choice
a popular one for both men and women. And then, after you have your
opposites in place, add some zip with percussive jolts of saffron
and citrine.
Use thin rubber cords to wrap around lamp stands, add interest to
door frames, or hang a favorite piece of art. This well-received
and trend-forward rubber cording is here to stay. Make use of it
in your next design.
So stroll through your local fine jeweler; look for new details
and ideas that you may not see anywhere else. Open your mind to
the possibilities of fine jewelry translated into fine interiors,
and watch your sales soar.
Kathleen Stoehr is president of Chemistry Creative, based in Minneapolis,
MN. She has more than eight years’ experience covering trends,
window treatments and interior fashions, and is a former editor-in-chief
of Window Fashions magazine. Stoehr can be contacted for comments,
queries and trend information at kstoehr@chemistrycreative. com.
|
