Swarovski Fall 2010 Preview with Avril Graham

I blog for fun. Not for money, or free stuff, or for any other reason but one: I really do enjoy reading and writing about all things stylish, fashionable, and intriguing (to me). Plus, it provides a much needed mental getaway from my daily not-so-glam 9-5 grind. But if there’s one perk of fashion blogging that I particularly enjoy - it’s meeting cool people. Last week, huge thanks to Edelman, Al and I got to meet the gorgeous and friendly (interesting AND interested) Avril Graham – executive fashion and beauty editor for Harper’s Bazaar magazine. And if chatting with an editor of a hugely successful fashion magazine wasn’t enough,  we also got a sneak peek at Swarovski’s Fall/Winter 2010/2011 collection showcased at the Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville.

With the help of some models, Avril walked us through her favorite pieces from the collection, stressing that women should not buy cheap accessories to accessorize an expensive dress, but should opt for affordable, yet well-made alternatives instead. Perhaps, some Swarovski heirlooms? Indeed, I was quite impressed with more than a few pieces showcased: cocktail rings, dangly earrings, crystal-adorned bracelets, and clutches.  Avril, herself, wore a beautiful rainbow crystal Swarovski necklace with her Valentino LBD. The one item that had us all talking was the Karl Lagerfeld designed Atelier cuff (below). The unanimous opinion was “LOVE”…though I must admit, I did have trouble squeezing my not-so-skinny wrist into it, but it was all worth it!

Overall, as with the Atelier launch, I was impressed by the variety of looks, and with Avril’s endorsement of the brand, as well as with Karl’s pieces available for sale in the fall – there’s no better time to check out Swarovski jewelry collection.

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Atelier Swarovski in Toronto

Last week, Al and I were lucky to be invited to the launch of the Spring 2010 Atelier Swarovski collection in Toronto. The exclusive Atelier collection includes pieces designed by “world-renowned and Canadian-raised fashion designer Jason Wu, the talented and acclaimed UK fashion designer Matthew Williamson, footwear designer Nicholas Kirkwood and talented jewelry design duo Anthony Nak”, and is available for he first time in Canada at the Bloor Street Gallery store only.

As a huge fan of Matthew Williamson’s psychedelic prints, Jason Wu’s classy dresses, and Kirkwood’s ah-mazing shoes, I was super psyched to see their pieces. But to my surprise (and delight), Anthony Nak’s vintage-inspired art-deco pieces were my favorite of the bunch. The yellow crystals looked like perfect amber doppelgangers, and I could totally see these as something I would pass down to my grandkids. I also loved Nicholas Kirkwood’s simple designs, which is surprising, since he’s known for his footwear, not jewelry. Gold earrings from his collection could dress up any outfit without being too showy or over the top. The same could not be said about Williamson’s designs. His jewelry is not for the shy ones, with huge multicolored geometrical shapes to wear around your neck or on your ears. Not for me, but interesting to look at.

Overall, I walked away liking a few pieces from the collection. As someone who’s never considered Swarovski as a place to shop for jewelry, I’ll be keeping my eye on these new collections, as more than a few pieces were worth a second look. If you love jewelry and are interested in checking out Atelier Swarovski, stop by the Yonge/Bloor location, or go on their official site www.atelierswarovski.com.

Anthony Nak

Jason Wu

Nicholas Kirkwood

Matthew Williamson

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