The Story of Color for 2015

 Don't ever underestimate the power of color. I am currently completing my first 2015 jewelry collection and it is totally driven by 4 distinct color stories. Confirmation came after viewing the Spring runway shows. Above is a bohemian chic dress by Etro which echoes my first color group  named Desert. Think sand with pops of yellow, soft oranges and greens. I consulted the top ten Pantone color picks for this group. I used lucite green, toasted almond, custard and tangerine....yummy.

 Brunello Cucinelli really knows how to do neutrals and Spring 2015 is no exception. I call this color  group Dusk because I have added touches of pink to the many shades of grays and other neutrals. Close your eyes and picture your favorite sunset, and you will get the picture... glacier gray, strawberry ice and marsala.

 Here Emporio Armani plays with many shades of gorgeous blues with touches of white as a great way to make it all pop. Of course this is the color story I refer to as Ocean, classic blue, scuba blue, and aquamarine with white as a backdrop.

Who would have thought that Ralph Lauren would be so into neon for spring, but see his runway show above and you can believe it. Neon orange, yellow and fuchsia played against a deep rich khaki. In my case I am using neons with a stone called pyrite, also known as fools gold. Can't say that any neon colors made the Pantone top ten list, but, trust me, neon is back brighter than ever!

Stay tuned. In my next blog you will see how this all plays out in the world of jewels.

For more info visit www.myrnahalpern.com

Meet Quincy

It all started about a year ago. Thinking that a gorgeous rhinestone bracelet would be the perfect piece of jewelry for the upcoming holiday season, I designed the Quincy, a five row bracelet made of sparkling Swarovski rhinestones in three colors. I chose crystal, fuchsia, and, of course emerald, the then color of the year. Quincy's popularity was immediate, and the color did not matter. It sold and sold and sold.

Not knowing exactly why Quincy was so very popular, I thought I would try to design a spring version and I made it a little more casual by using opaque Swarovski stones like, jet, chalk and turquoise. Did it sell? You betcha!

It is now fall 2014 and the color of the year is radiant orchid. So, of course, I studied the Swarovski color chart to find a close match and came up with cyclamen opal which I call rosewood. It is a pinky, purply iridescent that is fab with all the burgundy tones this season, and I added one more option, light topaz, which looks great with rust, chocolate and gray. Are these new colors selling? Yes and yes!

Thanks to everyone for their love of Quincy!

To see Quincy in person you can visit one of the following boutiques:

Potpourri, Atlanta

Kittie Kyle, Memphis

Hersh's, West Bloomfield, MI

Atlantis Resorts, Bahamas

Rich Hippie, Dallas

Dress Circle, Pittsburgh

and coming soon to:

Girlie Girl, Gross Pointe Woods, MI

Lori Karbal, Birmingham, MI

For more info. visit www.myrnahalpern.com

Op Art Revisited

Last year Michael Kors introduced his seriously retro, op art 60's fashions and it seems like some of the European designers are continuing the trend this fall.

 

For fall Dries Van Noten's graphic tee with contrasting silk skirt is a perfect example of 60's graphics.

 

 

I also love Dries Van Noten's interpretation of 60's mod in this stunning coat with graphic shirt to boot!

 

 

Looks like Kenzo also picked up on this look by pairing a gorgeous graphic tee with a bold floral pant.

 

 

And then Kenzo took it a step further by showing graphic on graphic and accessorizing it with even more.

 

 

 

Wondering if inspiration may have come from something as simple as this garden gate.

 

Whatever the source, it looks like its a style worth noting!

 

 

 

 

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Talk About Eco Friendly!

At the heart of my jewelry brand is the ethic to be both charitable and eco friendly. As you may know, I have been repurposing jewelry components in my work for years, but only in the past year have I added shed antlers to the mix.

 

It all started when I met Jerry, my source for shed antlers in all shapes and sizes. Jerry has been foraging the woods for the last 40 years looking for antlers shed by elk, caribou, deer, and moose. He is my resident expert on all things made from animal horn.

 

He is literally filled up to the rafters in all types of buckhorn.

I'm not exaggerating! You can see why I was so thrilled to add Jerry to my worldly production team.

With tools in motion, we have planned some interesting new concepts to add to the line in 2015. Stay tuned to see what we have up our sleeves. Our new designs will feature our signature style of using unexpected combinations of materials. Expect the unexpected!

Current collections may be seen at www.myrnahalpern.com.

 

 

 

 

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Inspiration, Incubation, Intuition

Often my jewelry designs are drawn from intuitive ideas conjured up in relaxed settings. Counting the sailboats is a favorite pastime during this incubation period.

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Concepts often emerge through art. This drawing makes me think Neon Navajo, and color combinations evolve.

Sometimes quirky photographs twist my thinking and images unfold. Calling this concept "Cowgirl Chic."

 

Even eye shadow can ignite a new concept.... Like icy iridescents.

 

2015 collections have begun to take form. Stay tuned throughout this arduous process of twists and turns!

 

 

 

 

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Power Play

 

Her name is Lindsay and she packs a punch. She has the power to impact a variety of wardrobe possibilities with her stunning variety of shapes and sizes. Colorful gemstones like turquoise, jade, pyrite and lapis are the name of her game. Follow along as we imagine her powerful impact on these wardrobe ideas.

 

Picture Lindsay on the beach with this fabulous open work tunic by Tory Burch. I'm picturing a cobalt blue bikini under the tunic to add additional interest.

Imagine Lindsay's colorful chunkiness in the neckline of this fabulous emerald green tank by Burberry Brit. Sure kicks it up a knotch......don't you think!

 

Setting the Wheels in Motion

Each year I return to my summer studio to watch the Alaskan cruise ships turn the corner as they maneuver the turn from Puget Sound to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Here I am spiritually rejuvenated, setting the wheels in motion to create my next collection.

Sailboats drift by creating a sense of calm.

Secret gardens set the tone for a tranquil space from which to incubate new ideas.

Colors in nature dictate endless possibilities.

Water meets sky as thoughts provoke actions.

Whimsical garden objects set the tone for out of the box thinking.

Fire breathing dragons add just enough humor to release lighthearted inspiration. Stay tuned as the summer unfolds.

 

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