Looking for a metal that’s not quite gold, not quite silver? Tiffany’s has kindly made a new alloy which combines the two. Now that’s service…
Most jewellers celebrate anniversaries with sales, perhaps a few balloons or a party.
Tiffany’s, however, is not most jewellers. For its 175th anniversary, the jeweller with the covetable blue box unveiled an entirely new jeweller’s metal: Rubedo.
Rubedo, meaning ‘redness’ in Latin, is the product of long experiments to create a metal which combined warmth with prestige. Tiffany’s said that the desired colour is “radiant with the glow of ‘first light’ that awakens a sense of wonder and ennobles the spirit”.
It’s certainly beautiful – an alloy of gold, silver and copper which is almost pinkish gold, set in a collection of simple styles – the kind Tiffany’s is known for.
Rubedo is a concept taken from medieval alchemy – the quest to make matter into gold – and refers to “matter and spirit fusing to create something of great beauty.” The concept of making new alloys for jewellers is a very recent one; American Elements released a line of iridium rings in 2009, after finding a way to mass-produce it, but new metal is usually far beyond the expenses of normal jewellers. Not Tiffany’s.
At this rate their 200th anniversary will coincide with reinventing the diamond.
Will you be putting the Rubedo pieces on an anniversary list of your own?
Image: Tiffany’s Rubedo cuff.
Women with style were one of the big winners when Youtube started to take over the internet.
Tutorials on complex hairstyles, how-tos on every aspect of clothes construction, make-up lessons, nail art – it was all there for the taking.
Now the print magazine world has woken up to the fashion power of the video, and one in particular is opening up a new channel on Youtube just for fashion.
Hearst, who own Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Harper’s Bazaar, are launching Hello Style – and apparently it’s been a steep learning curve to know what to put on screen.
YouTube gave Hearst $10 million to invest in their channels, shows and production, and the results are apparently mixed. Cosmo staff are on board to put their print feature Sexy vs Skanky on video, while Marie Claire will do the same for Big Girl In A Skinny World.
Currently Vogue is the queen of fashion videos, as they have access to the most exclusive runway images and can put on shows in real time. Fashion.TV, a 24-hour-a-day cable channel devoted purely to runways, designer interviews and model profiles, has been marginally successful, though the lack of continuous new content has done it some damage.
We’re hoping Hearst reaches out to some real style-makers – Olivia Palermo, Michelle Harper, Daphne Guinness – from the blog worlds and otherwise.
What do you want to see on Hello Style?
Image: Hello Style.
For a long time it was the sole territory of boa-draped drag queens, but fashion has re-embraced feathers in a big way.
The secret? Making them accents rather than overblown.
The feather shape of the moment is blowsy and thin, like ostrich feathers. Peacocks and single-feather earrings are out, unless you’re so enamoured with the hippie look you don’t mind trends too much.
Topshop is featuring a line of delicious pastel feather skirts in their Summer 2012 offering, with both full-feathered A-lines and small feather fringing on the cuffs and hems. Pick your poison, ladies.
Feathers are not a daytime prospect – this is purely for night or very fashion-forward day occasions, largely because it is impractical and can be difficult to care for.
Given that, the range of colours on the market is your friend. Make it work for your look. Going clubbing or somewhere romantic? Opt for the soft pastels or bright neons on offer. For more sophisticated occasions, opt for black or burgundy, and make sure the shape is classic, like a plain shirt or a leather-base skirt.
Make sure you examine how the feathers are fastened to the material – if they’re cheap and loose, they will be shedding all night. Not a great look.
Pick small pieces and work them back with harder, more masculine edges. A tuxedo jacket with a feather skirt is the look of the season. Likewise, a feather shrug or bolero with a long LBD and sleek jewellery will look fashionable rather than fussy.
The key is to look sleek and sexy, while still enjoying textures and volume. Avoid all-over feathers, and don’t wear patterns – it will look confusing and overwhelming.
Play with the colour palette but try to keep it subtle – pale, cool shades are very in for winter. And don’t expect these pieces to keep you warm in the incoming cool – they’re gorgeous but flimsy.
Not up for a full feather piece? A feather neck-piece is your friend. Indulge in some avian fantasies.
Image: Topshop’s 2012 feather skirt.
