Fall and Holiday Preview
It was all glamour and glitz at the SJTA Atlanta Show August 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre. A new feature – “Jewelry on the Catwalk,” a fashion show with live models featuring some of the top designers at the show – was presented, receiving rave reviews. Models strutting the runway wearing ensembles of top selling pieces created an exciting atmosphere of fashion and fun, helping buyers visualize combinations and making the jewelry come alive.
Some of the hottest trends gleaned from the show, key trends to watch for during the fall into the holiday season:
• Big and Bold
Big and bold are in. “We’re noticing a lot more interest, from designers and retailers alike, in big, bold statement pieces,” Belle Étoile shares. “We’re anticipating large bangles, chokers, and rings in every retailer window display, especially as we get closer to the holiday season.”
Barbara Garwood echoes, “Big and bountiful are in. My large stone rings sold very well – stones up to 18 x 25 mm. My most popular pendants on multi-strands of pearls with gems give a large presence to the entire piece.”
Alwand Vahan’s bold beautiful bangles in silver and gold accented with diamonds, stacked or single, favored by celebrities, sparkled at the fashion show.
• Color, color, color!
“Color was big at this show,” reveals Belle Étoile. “We had great response to our vivid enamel pieces. Many of our retailers use color and vibrancy to attract a new fashion-conscious clientele. Our chocolate-brown Italian rubber with champagne and coffee gems resonates with warm, rich earthy tones that are surging for the fall season.”
Cool blue is hot! Turquoise, Pantone’s color of the year 2010, continues to spark excitement. Mia Katrin for JEWEL COUTURE’s Golden Waves necklace of large blue topaz briolettes and 14 karat gold, featured throughout the Atlanta Show guide, remains a top best seller.
Barbara Garwood concurs. “My designs in London blue topaz stones were one of my best sellers.”
Look for warm earth tones into the fall – gold, chocolate, rust and champagne – to rule the season. Honora’s cherry colored pearls are among their top best sellers. As we move into the holidays, customers will reach for rich, vibrant jewel tones across the spectrum from violet to chartreuse. Holiday means sparkle!
• Mixed metals
With gold over $1200 an ounce, customers are seeking options. Blackened textured sterling silver highlighted with flashes of high-karat gold is a strong option, projecting a high-end look without sticker shock. White gold is surging. Smart designers focus on large gems with minimal gold to create an opulent look at sellable price points.
• Back to Nature
Anything organic is in. Nuggets or slices of gems, metals that look hand-worked, engraved messages that look hand-written all have strong appeal. Customers crave artisan-look pieces with a hand-made, one-of-a- kind look.
• Happy Jewelry
Fashion-forward women seek fine jewelry that is fashion-conscious. Designer jewelry “gives retailers the confidence to explore new ways to pair fashion with fine jewelry and satisfy a consumer market trending towards self-purchases,” Belle Étoile notes. Look for more and more self-purchasing women, especially under the $1000 price point. They seek versatile pieces to complement their wardrobes and give themselves a boost. Barbara Garwood says, “When difficult times abound, women want to treat themselves to something and color is a key factor in cheering oneself up. Brilliant colors make for ‘happy jewelry’ and pieces sell themselves right out of the display.”
Mia Katrin is an award-winning, internationally celebrated couture jewelry designer specializing in high-end necklaces with precious gems in 18-22 karat gold as well as the new affordably priced Jewel Casual Collection. Her Collections, which have been worn by A-List Hollywood celebrities, are featured in many top galleries and stores throughout the country, where she regularly hosts Trunk Shows. Contact Mia via her website, http://jeweljewel.com, e-mail info@jeweljewel.com or call 1- 877 JEWEL-MY (539-3569).
