CITIES OF LIGHT
Paris and LA are the inspirations for Swarovski’s latest jewellery
One can actually play a word game starting with G when exploring the Swarovski spring/summer collection, as the designs are named from Gardenia and Gisele to Guilty and Granite, not to mention Good Mood.
The crystal jewellery, however, all comes under the Urban Romance concept inspired by Nathalie Colin’s two favourite cities: Paris and Los Angeles.
“I was inspired by both the modernity and romantic sides of Paris, where I live and work,” explained the creative director. “The romantic side of Paris is expressed through fresh and floral colours and feminine designs, while modern, architectural structures have influenced the more graphic jewellery.”
Inspired by the City of Light’s landmarks, the pieces flaunt an architectural twist, with the angular statement necklaces and bracelets evoking the iconic silhouettes of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre’s pyramid, playing off against the curvaceous insideout and twist-and-turn construction of the Pompidou.
The versatile Goddess Necklace boasts jagged black-and-silvery-toned crystals in a pavé setting and mixed metal plating. It can casually be worn as a collar matched with T-shirt and jeans or with an added pendant to accessorise with a glamorous evening dress.
Granite bracelet’s abstract geometric design with mixed metal plating sparkles with crystals in an array of cuts, colours and settings, whereas abstract floral designs include the Gardenia torque-style statement necklace and long-length open ring dripping with clusters of crystals in a variety of cuts.
Juxtapose the classic Paris-inspired pieces in pink, emerald and violet tones with the more edgy Los Angeles-inspired jewellery featuring amber-crystal shades and sunset-gold tones, with the variety of designs for a balanced Urban Roman collection.
The Paris-based Colin often travels to LA for photo shoots and for creative inspiration, such as from the palm trees lining California boulevards that have become a motif on Gisele palladium-plated pieces featuring multi-hued centre stones and fuchsia Pointiage.
LA is the source of inspiration for the fluid silhouettes, with fringes and elongated shapes reflecting the idea of movement and fluidity. For instance, the Guilty multicoloured torque necklace has addable long crystal fringes that make it one of the boldest pieces matchable with a cuff and asymmetrical ear cuff.
Rainbow-coloured Good-Mood clip earrings with a flower motif can be worn alone or with a glamorous dangling element. A flowing and organic design is seen in the Guidance necklace, ring and cuff, with contrasting black-and-white crystals set by Swarovski’s Pointiage technique.
“Every woman can express her style and mood with this collection, by stacking, layering and mixing jewellery with a personal, chic twist,’’ Colin concluded.