Self titled designer Benedikt von Lepel spent five years working in the Communications Sector for contemporary art between Paris and Rome before turning her interests to the world of jewellery design. Two years were spent collaborating with renowned jewellery designer Harumi Klossowska in a Parisian workshop before she took the leap and launched her first line. Working out of a studio in the Marais, Paris, von Lepel and her highly skilled team of artisans create jewellery pieces that epitomise Parisian luxury while still remaining accessible to the everyday consumer with the collection of vermeil pieces.

Best known for her signature gold engraved leather cuffs, von Lepel’s creativity knows no boundaries and her impressive ability to work with a number of different materials including ebony, yellow gold and vermeil astounds. The duo of delicate vermeil rings from the In The Air collection have caught the eye of many fashion lovers with their play on the theme of angel versus devil and their design inspired by this duality.Von Lepel’s style is best described as timeless with a rock edge and the current collection celebrates romantic love, attachment and friendship. Her love of linear objects has been manifested in the collection of yellow gold rings that carry sentimental messages such as; Must Have, Inseparables and Rock Me.

Leather cuffs and rings range in price from R1694-R3162.For further information or to shop Benedikt von Lepel online please visit http://www.caratstones.com

Make a statement!

Carey x

Wonder woman!

Speak without saying a word…

On the wings of an angel

Missibaba, Kirsten Goss and Stefania Morland joined forces on Thursday 9 May to host a luscious evening in celebration of Mother’s Day. Guests were treated to sushi, bubbles, delicious Honest chocolate and the freshest oysters shucked by the Oyster King. Kirsten Goss’s new Bete Noire collection was on show alongside bold Missibaba designs and Stefania Morland’s delicate creations. A feast for the senses!

Carey x

Kirsten Goss Bete Noir Collection

Missibaba Cha Ching heaven

Delicious Honest Chocolate treats

Beautiful Stefania Morland creations

Moms and daughters soaking up the beauty!

Stefania, Kirsten and Chloe

Robyn, Kirsten and Mali

On Thursday 2 May 2013 media, celebrities, sportsmen and musicians celebrated the launch of the new G-Star RAW store in Canal Walk. Guests dined on sushi, sipped Jameson and listened to an electrifying live performance by Goldfish. The flagship store presents the complete menswear, womenswear and accessories collection in an environment that conveys the philosophy, design aesthetic and raw authenticity of the G-Star brand. The launch was a huge success and a lot of fun was had by all… oh and the clothes are simply to die for!

Carey x

Canal Walk flagship store

Glorious!

Cape Times Society Pages

Tanya Van Graan and Kasper Kristoffersen

Misha Coetzee and Sergio Ines

Jackie and Jacob Wiese and Maria Paymans

Engelbert Gieske and Aidaly Sosa
G-Star International Team

LOVE the look!

Situ is celebrating diamonds in May! They are running a fabulous month long promotion whereby you give them your diamonds, select one of the available styles and they do the rest! For R2500 old diamonds can be transformed by Situ’s trademark modern design and pioneering setting technique.

Go! Go! Go!

Carey x

This month only!

French jewellery addict and marketing whizz kid Eugenie Vellieux has created an online shop boasting an array of local and international design talent.

At the tender age of seven Vellieux was asked what she wanted to do when she grew up. “To own a jewellery store!” she exclaimed without hesitation and hasn’t looked back since. After time spent working for celebrated jewellery brand Cartier and numerous other leading brands in France, Italy and finally South Africa, Vellieux spotted a gap in the market for a jewellery retailer selling multiple different brands in the online space. Jewellery shops are often perceived as intimidating with staff programmed to give consumers the ‘hard sell’ and with this insight in mind Vellieux felt confident that online retail was the way the go.

CaratStones.com allows jewellery enthusiasts to ‘window shop’ at their own pace, in the comfort of their own home and provides full product information and online assistance. Vellieux’s extensive product knowledge and skills as a gemmologist allow her to make informed choices when selecting brands to sell on the site. Whilst inspired by international trends Vellieux trusts her intuition and style identity when making her final selection. Product ranging from on trend fashion pieces to custom-made diamond jewellery ensures diversity and attracts a wide range of consumers with varying budgets. Prices range from R300 all the way up to R100 000 and brands stocked originate from South Africa and abroad.

Vellieux is thrilled to have setup her business in South Africa and feels passionately about the local design talent she encounters on a daily basis. CaratStones.com currently stocks Smith Jewellery, Queen Magpie, African Urchin and Pichulik and there are plans in the pipeline to add further brands.

Vellieux has negotiated exclusive selling rights with the international brands in an attempt to position CaratStones.com as the number one online jewellery retailer in South Africa. International brands currently available on CaratStones.com include: Alexandra Margnat, Benedikt von Lepel, Chanael K, De la Forge, Dear Charlotte, Hipanema, Hornica, Lili Palouli, Maison Violette, Mari Couci, Origami Jewellery, Rita&Zia, Shamaz Jewels, Sur les toits de Paris, Sweet Lime and Very Sisters.

CaratStones.com also offers a unique service for those wanting to create their jewellery from scratch. Starting with selecting the perfect diamond one is then able to work with Vellieux on the design of your dreams. The custom-made piece will then be delivered directly to your doorstep, tempting isn’t it?

For further information or to shop online please visit http://www.caratstones.com

Carey

Eugenie Vellieux

Dear Charlotte Earrings

Sur les Toits de Paris Necklace

Alexandra Margnat Cuff

Maison Violette Ring

Situ has created an incredible new collection inspired by Russian Suprematist paintings and diamonds in their raw, unpolished state.

South African jewellery designers Ida Elsje and Philippa Green and architect Gregory Katz joined forces in 2003 to create Situ, a brand inspired by a jeweller’s precision and the experimental, form-giving spirit of an architect. Taken from the Latin in-situ meaning ‘set-in-place’, the brand has pioneered a time consuming and complicated technique for setting jewellery in a polymer resin. Conventional metal settings detract from the gems brilliance however when designing with the Situ setting innovation the stone floats as if magically suspended.

The virtually indestructible diamond is set below the surface of the polymer resin and only through dissolving in acid can the stone be removed from the setting. Resin does not scratch as quickly as metal but when tarnished can be polished back to its original brilliance.

Before the invention of modern diamond polishing techniques and the formalisation of official shapes for polished stones, diamonds were often left with sections of raw surface area exposed. Inspired by this organic aesthetic, Greg, Ida and Philippa developed the Sticks and Stones collection. The jewellery is designed using ribbons of precious metal and cut and semi cut diamonds with exposed edges and encased in clear or tinted polymer resin. The organic shapes of the stones are offset by geometric pieces of gold and silver and create an unlikely yet beautiful marriage of sticks and stones.

Some of the pieces within the Sticks and Stones collection were designed with the unique shape of the diamond in mind. The facets of the ring then directly echo those of the stone encased within. The compositions also draw upon early Russian Suprematist works by Kazimir Malevich, who focused on basic geometric forms painted in a limited range of colours. The term suprematism refers to an art based upon ‘the supremacy of pure artistic feeling’ rather than on visual depiction of objects. Greg, Ida and Philippa found themselves identifying with the movement and what was then the groundbreaking emergence of abstract art.

The earrings and rings range from R2000 to R11 000, depending on the intricacy of the design and the size of the diamond. For further information and stockist list please visit http://www.situ.co.za/

We’re in love!

Carey x

On Tuesday 5 March Skinny laMinx launched the new Rough Cuts fabric collection at Rivets and Rockets in Bree Street. Guests feasted on delicious canapes by Cafe Frank and a crisp rose from Babylonstoren wine farm in Franschhoek.

Moore’s taste in design has always leaned towards the clean-edged, simple and graphic style associated with Scandinavian and Mid-Century Modern style. She grew up in Johannesburg in the 70’s, where the simple, clear design in the home of a Swedish family friend sparked her taste for Scandinavian style, which has remained a major influence on her design aesthetic. The latest collection from Skinny laMinx is no exception, exploring simple geometric prints released from their strict geometry by Moore’s hand-cut shapes.

A geometric collection is capable of enormous versatility in application, and the Rough Cuts range is quite extensive – with 5 designs in 3 colourways each – which allows the collection to be used in almost any context. To this end, when putting together the colours, Moore endeavored to find a balance between the vibrant energy of the coral red Lollipop and Sunny Sky blue, and the earthier tones, also including a graphic monochrome. The result is a collection that can work as well in a cool, restrained interior, as in one that’s all about mad pattern on pattern.

The Rough Cuts colours include Sunny Sky (blue), Lollipop (coral red), Inkspot (black), Spruce (pale bluey green), Smudge (earthy brown), Pollen, Persimmon (burnt orange), Graphite, Taupe and Lemon Slice.

Shop Rough Cuts online at http://skinnylaminx.com or at 201 Bree Street, Cape Town.

Carey x

Bowls print installation in Persimmon

Rough Diamond design installation in Inkspot

Rivets and Rockets in Bree Street

Delicious!

Canapes by Bree Street restaurant Cafe Frank

The star of the show – Heather Moore!

A Bree Street affair!

To celebrate the launch of I See The Sea And The Sea Sees me we threw a party at the Bree Street shop for press and VIP guests. Take a look at the festivities!

Carey x

Gourmet boerie rolls by Die Wors Rol

Delicious cocktails from The Orphanage Cocktail Emporium

Missibaba Kindred Spirits – Collection 1
I See The Sea And The Sea Sees Me

Junior Account Manager at Girl About Town, Megan, with Robyn from Missibaba

The A Fashion Friend girls and I

The A Team – Lindiwe, Lizel, Kirsten, Chloe and Ida

Flamboyant accessory label Missibaba has launched an initiative dedicated to creative collaborations. The first collection entitled ‘I See the Sea and the Sea Sees Me’ encompasses three limited edition prints designed by Chloe Townsend of Missibaba, graphic designer Naomi Bossert and illustrator Mia Nolting.

Townsend takes great pleasure in creative collaboration and finds seeing her craft through another’s eyes both challenging and invigorating. She decided to create a brand initiative dedicated to collaborations that would see collections with designers from all walks of life released throughout the year.

Bossert and Nolting have been experimenting with fabric prints and painting for some time and when Townsend invited them to take part in the first Missibaba Kindred Spirits project they leapt at the chance. The endless blue ocean and the way it connects us all together inspired the ‘I See the Sea and the Sea Sees Me’ collection. Bossert and Nolting are both foreign, originating from Holland and America respectively, and feel a deep connection to vast oceans that tie them to their homeland.

Each designer was responsible for creating one pattern that would be produced in three existing Missibaba styles – the Giant Scarab Purse, the Cha Ching bag and the Wild West Clutch. The limited edition collection retails for between R1850 – R2850 depending on the bag style.

The designers painted black dye in varying shades onto untreated, natural, locally produced leather. Townsend has found the black leather dye to be the most colourfast and all three designers agreed to stick to a monochromatic palate in order to accentuate the patterns. All of the bags were finished with a coat of varnish to prevent rapid wear although there will be slight colour fading if frequently exposed to light.

Townsend’s design was inspired by Japanese woodcuts, the scallop patterns inspired by the sandy homes of fan worms, eylashy eyes and fish scales. She first painted the pattern in a masking fluid to give it the look of a bleach print, and then filled in the scallops with

varying shades of black dye before applying copper leaf to highlight the fish scales.

Bossert drew upon elements of reflection and illusion by using a pattern that could be interpreted in different ways through the use of repetition. The small fish that swim in the waves at the edge of the beach and the multitude of different reflections seen on water and in people’s eyes inspired her unique design. Using a calligraphy pen she was able to create sharper lines than those created by a paintbrush.

Combining abstract shapes and drawings of shells collected on Cape Town beaches, Nolting made use of a Japanese ink brush that enabled her to create lines in a variety of thicknesses.

The ‘I See the Sea and the Sea Sees Me’ collection is available for purchase from the Bree Street shop or online at www.missibaba.com.

Chloe Townsend – Cha Ching bag

Naomi Bossert – Cha Ching bag

Mia Nolting – Cha Ching bag

Bossert and Townsend at the Missibaba studio

Magic!

Diligo Flashsale is hosting a Vivi Boutique London flash sale this week from Monday 25 February-Friday 1 March. Kim Gray has teamed up with Diligo to bring you a fabulous giveaway – take a look at the two bags up for grabs below.

Diligo Flashsale offers local and international fashion brands for up to 70% off and includes free shipping. Sales are for members only, so users are invited to either login or sign up.

For entry details visit Kim Gray’s award winning fashion blog here!

Good luck!

Carey x