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Calling All Columbus Readers!
Calling All Columbus Readers!
By Paige McKirahan
If you have found yourself in Ohio for the holidays, you may be left wondering how to spend your last week of the year in the Buckeye State. As one of the nation’s top three fashion capitals, Columbus has seemingly crept to the top of this elite list while no one was watching. According to Columbus Monthly, Columbus employs more fashion designers than ANY other city in the United States outside of New York City and Los Angeles. Our state’s capital is chock full of small boutiques working alongside huge fashion giants like Victoria’s Secret, Lane Bryant, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, and previously Henri Bendel. Other popular, locally-grown shops like Homage are also gaining great visibility and contributing to the area’s reputation as a vibrant, evolving capital. We hope all of our Columbus fans bought some local goods for all of those on your list this season, because we sure do love being a part of this amazing network of fashion innovators!
Now that Holiday shopping days are over, though, what else does this amazing city have to offer? Does the cold weather and the holidays have you or your family feeling a little stir crazy this Christmas season? Well, grab you jackets and get ready for a full day of fun at Columbus’ greatest attractions on December 29th for FREE!
Thanks to The Columbus Foundation, local residents can spend their Saturday exploring central Ohio via free COTA rides all day long. The Wexner Center for the Arts, Ohio History Connection, Franklin Park Conservatory, and COSI are all participating in the free general admission event. The Columbus Museum of Art is also partaking in the winter fun; our CEO and one of our favorite designers, Charles Kleibacker, have both held positions at that venue. Be sure to check out all of the beautiful art they have to offer!
Whatever you spend the rest of your 2018 doing, we here at TalkingFashion want to wish all of our readers a Happy New Year and a FABULOUS New Years Eve! When picking out that perfect outfit for your night on the town, don’t forget to end 2018 wearing what YOU love and continue doing so for all of 2019!
Sources:
We're Number Three: Columbus' flourishing fashion industry. (2016, March 30). Retrieved from http://www.columbusmonthly.com/lifestyle/20160323/were-number-three-columbus-flourishing-fashion-industry
Staff, N. (2018, December 13). Columbus Foundation celebrates 75th anniversary with free COTA rides, other freebies. Retrieved from https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus-foundation-celebrates-75th-anniversary-with-free-cota-rides-other-freebies/1657569111
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History of Hobe: Vintage Figural Fun
History of Hobe: Vintage Figural Fun
By Paige McKirahan
When discussing vintage figural designers, it is only appropriate that we discuss Jacques Hobe, master goldsmith and the creator of Hobe et Cie. The Parisian company, which was founded in 1887, is known as a brand who had a hand in the creation of the phrase “costume jewelry”. His son William, who was also a master jeweler, began the American branch of the company out of New York and it shot the brand to the fame it holds today. His goal was to create extravagant, expertly designed costume jewelry for the upper and middle classes. The younger Hobe’s first commission in American was for Florence Ziegfeld in the 1920s for their Broadway productions. With that success, many doors to other film studios and commission opportunities flew open with ease.
In its prime, Hobe designs were sought out by everyone from movie stars, costume designers, and red carpet walkers. They could be seen in showrooms across the nation with two being in LA in addition to the flagship New York location. The jewelry produced by Hobe was like nothing anyone had ever seen before; William’s craftsmanship and brilliant use of figures and crystals captivated the public. It’s expensive aesthetic made it a staple in leading department stores and boutiques until the brands conclusion, and all pieces were designed by members of the Hobe family and guest designer Lou Vici who worked for the company from the ‘30s to the ‘70s. Looking for some vintage figural fun? Check out our Hobe selection in our collections!
Sources:
Everything About Vintage Costume Jewelry. (2014, May 1). Retrieved from http://vintagejewelry.wikidot.com/hobe
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Figural Accessories (And Why We LOVE Them)
Figural Accessories (And Why We LOVE Them) by Morgan Watkins
For fashion lovers across the world, accessories add a bit of joy and pizazz to everyday life. It’s not a coincidence that women adore receiving handbags and jewelry as gifts: accessories make people happy. But out of all the jewelry out there that could make a girl smile, figural jewelry is at the top of the food chain. With their cooky shapes and fun motifs, figural accessories are the perfect way to spice up any dull outfit. Keep on reading to get the lowdown on these fun fashion pieces.Although figural jewelry has been created since man first began constructing jewelry during B.C. times, it was around the 1940s that figural jewelry reached vast popularity among the masses. Accessories became a way of accessing happiness in otherwise dark times, as The Great Depression had just run its course and World War II was at its heyday. Thus as a means to inject a bit of sparkle and sunshine into the mundane, downcast nature of everyday living, figural jewelry was a great fashion escape.
(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/starfish-figural-sparkling-sea-hair-pin-accessory)
For those who are still a bit unsure about what figural jewelry and accessories are, they’re basically pieces that depict figures such as animals, human shapes, fruit, flowers, and more. The most common form of figural jewelry is the brooch or pin, but necklaces, bracelets, and rings are also apart of the figural family. These whimsical pieces can be fashioned with all kinds of materials, ranging from sterling silver floral pins dazzled with multicolored gems to simple copper rings topped off with beaded strawberry shapes.
(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/whimsical-watermelon-fruit-novel-approach-pink-gree n-figural-wooden-handcrafted)
Bringing the witty, fantastical fun of figural accessories into the modern world is notable and revered designer Betsey Johnson. Most famous for her out of this world handbags, Betsey is a vintage goddess designing for the most fearless women in fashion, including the likes of Katy Perry, Rachel McAdams, and Taylor Swift. Her bags have come in a gaggle of varying shapes, colors and sizes, ranging from bright pink flamingo crossbodies to typewriter inspired shoulder bags. Johnson keeps an air of magical whimsy both in stores and on the runway, finishing off her shows with spontaneous cartwheels that are as gleeful as her designs.
(Image from https://wanelo.co/p/32633388/betsey-johnson-typewriter-satchel-dillards)
DORIAN Designs, also known for producing wild figural jewelry in the 1980s, creates animal inspired pieces that are sure to pique the interest of any animal lover. The brand’s vintage accessories are greatly detailed, hand-carved and hand-painted to perfection. Animals like horses, bears, and leopards (oh my!) swing from cord to create necklaces of novelty and amusement. As perfect conversation starters with great personality, DORIAN Designs’ necklaces have you covered for figural jewelry with a bark that’s as fierce as its bite.
(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/dorian-designs-whimsical-figural-horse-necklace-han dpainted-wood-large-figural-authentic-vintage-jewelry-signed-collectible-talkingfashion-1 )
With endless possibilities stemming from figural jewelry, there truly is something for everyone. You can show off your love for animals, rep your admiration for gardening, and even sport your fascination with cars: all you have to do is find your perfect piece and rock it like its 1940. For the best of the best in figural accessories, or to sell your own novelty vintage jewelry, check out talkingfashion.net!
(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/sailboat-sailing-sea-boat-figural-pin-brooch-whimsical -orange-large-pewter-gold)
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Pedal to the Metal
Pedal to the Metal by Morgan Watkins
Fashion is all about standing out from the crowd, and the metallics trend sits at the height of this sentiment. Shiny style statements made across the world’s catwalks serve as sci-fi thrillers of fashion – they get your adrenaline pumping, catching your eye and dragging it quickly down the runway, as if you’re in an alien driven spacecraft flying through a solar system of beaming moons and glowing meteors. If you want to take a rocketship ride into our favorite metallic looks, keep on reading.Driving into some of the most dazzling shows from Fashion Week SS19, our first stop is Rodarte. While metallics are commonly associated with edgy vibes and sleek, futuristic designs, Rodarte took a softer approach. Using voluminous metallic ruffles that glistened alongside romantic floral hair arrangements and picturesque earrings, Kate and Laura Mulleawy were able to take the metallic trend and turn it into a shiny, breathtaking dream.
(Image fromhttps://www.vogue.co.uk/shows/spring-summer-2019-ready-to-wear/rodarte)
Waking up from the dreamy show of Rodarte, we now find ourselves zooming through a galaxy full of sparkling stars at Roland Mouret. The feminine SS19 collection featured glistening fabrics in a variety of flattering forms, ranging from casual drawstring trousers to chic button ups. An exuberant foiled gown dressed smartly with lace up flats and a mesh insert. Fellow London Fashion Week stunner Simone Rocha also took to the metallics trend, showcasing textured taffeta midi dresses in hues of copper, black and ivory.
(Image from https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0004/9184/7739/files/RM-SS19-LOOK35_1500x2400px -500Kb_720x.jpg?v=1537112700)
This intergalactic journey would not be complete without taking a stop at the edgy Balmain SS19 show. Models fitted with metallic over-the-knee boots, sculpted silver belts and sexy casted bodices married with asymmetric, reconstructed denim brought a fiery fierceness to the Parisian catwalk. Olivier Rousteing’s contemporary couture silhouettes were styled to perfection with sleek handbags and chunky metal bangles so divine that Cara Delevingne returned to runway, opening the show in a chrome crop top paired with heavenly white trousers and a matching long line jacket, with shoulder pads fit for an 80s queen.
(Image from https://www.crfashionbook.com/fashion/g23511537/every-look-from-balmain-springsum mer-2019/?slide=28)
In the accessories sector of our space travel, Milan Fashion Week produced stunning shoes that were out of this world. Attico’s Spring 2019 collection was nothing short of spectacular. Golden cowboy boots, accented stilettos, and metallic platforms round out just a few of our favorite glossy styles from the Italian line. And we couldn’t possibly forget about Chanel’s chic metal chain belts at Paris Fashion Week, contrasted by girly drop earrings spelling out the brand’s notorious name.
(Image from https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2019-ready-to-wear/attico/slideshow/collection#9)
Looking to style this trend, but don’t know where to begin? Don’t fret or fear – talkingfashion is here with some street style inspo to kickstart your voyage into the metallics universe. If you’d like to start small, the easiest way to dive into a new trend is with jewelry and accessories. Try out some layered silver necklaces, or belts with metal hardware to test the waters. If you’re looking to make a bit more of a splash, highlight a basic outfit with a pair of metallic booties or an eye catching clutch.
(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/copy-of-link-chain-golden-metal-belt-vintage-accessories)
And this concludes our expedition from Earth to the cosmos of one of fashion’s most gleaming trends. Looking to add a bit of shine to your everyday look? Check out talkingfashion.net to browse our sleekest vintage favs!
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Designer Spotlight: Sugar Gay Isber
Designer Spotlight: Sugar Gay Isber
By Paige McKirahan
This week, we have decided to spotlight a designer that is not only prominent in our collections, but prominent in jewelry lover's collections over the globe. Gay Isber, affectionately nicknamed Sugar, is a Canadian jewelry designer based out of Austin, Texas. As a seventh generation Texan, she planted her roots in the south with Gay Isber Designs, her namesake jewelry and product design company. As the creative force propelling the business forward, she has been crafting jewelry for over 15 years; she has been featured in national and international media, and has created pieces for everyone from royals to rock stars. She has even been dubbed “a guru of the fashion and jewelry industry” in her home state, which eventually pushed her to receive the Designer of the Year award in 2016. Now that we know of her great successes, let’s learn more about her inspiration, background, and her beautiful creations!
(photo credits to shoplc.com)
Sugar is a self-proclaimed jewelry lover who advocates for conversational pieces that are enjoyed more with every wear. As a creator, she is uninterested in what other designers are producing and focuses more about how her materials inspire her or how she can continue advancing her skills; she feels that she is truly only as good as her last piece.
Gay began her amazing journey by starting off as a painter after graduating with a Master’s Degree in Humanities and Visual Arts. She wanted her paintings to be show stopping, and concluded she would stop art show traffic by creating a bracelet that emulated her artwork’s colorful aesthetic. By the show’s conclusion, she realized that most of the patrons were more interested in her bracelet than her paintings, prompting her to make the transition from art to jewelry. Despite this, she has continued painting as a hobby and many of her jewels look similar to her art.
As a full-time creator, Sugar says that she dreams about jewels and has worked with so many amazing people that make the effort worthwhile. Aside from designing pieces for Michelle Obama, Camilla and Prince Charles, Lady Gaga and Martha Stewart (to name a few), she has also created a line for Harley Davidson and have participated in fundraising events for the company benefiting breast cancer. She participates in a vast amount of charity fundraisers and sells her jewelry at those events, through The Shopping Channel, through her mailing list, and independent retailers. In addition to her career as a designer, she also has been teaching at Austin Community College since 2012 where she offers private or group classes.
Whether it be a custom piece or a simple design, Sugar’s jewelry is eye-catching and commonly features bright colors, beautiful gems, bead work or metallic accents. Looking for some Sugar of your own? We have enough to fill a candy store! Head over to our collection to find some great Gay Isber pieces that are sure to sweeten up this holiday season!
(All biographical information taken from gayisber.com)
