Jewelry designs from Venessa Arizaga, Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer, and Avant Garde Paris.

Each season, a bevy of new brands join the Shopbop roster. Today, meet three new jewelry lines, each with a unique point of view.

Venessa Arizaga
Venessa Arizaga’s love of fashion is second only to her passion for travel. The designer grew up exploring the world, and it was on a trip to Puerto Rico in 2007 that she was inspired to create jewelry. Using colorful thread, she began weaving intricate pieces, incorporating seashells and natural stones from her vacation location. Venessa Arizaga jewelry was born, and this spirit of exploration continues to run through the collection today, with unique charms accenting the intricately crocheted designs.

Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer
It’s artist meets designer in Orly Genger by Jaclyn Mayer jewelry. Genger is the artist, having shown at New York’s prestigious MoMA, and Jaclyn Mayer the designer, launching her eponymous jewelry collection after post-graduate work at Parsons School of Design. Together, the pair makes jewelry that merges the visual art world with the fashion world to create pieces that are graphic, bold, and unexpected.

Avant Garde Paris
Designer Marie-Eve Carre started her career in ready-to-wear styling the Parisian runways, but in her quest to find unique jewelry pieces, she began designing her own, leading her to launch Avant Garde Paris jewelry. Carre approaches her designs as works of art—eye-catching and unique in their own right. The pieces are cutting edge yet refined, and can be incorporated seamlessly into any look.

--Amie

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Australian filmmaker and art collector Virginia Rouse launched Push by Pushmataaha with the notion that jewelry is an art form: one that can be worn, hung on a wall, or passed down through generations. She plays with contradictions in her designs, fusing the roughness of raw metals with the femininity of semiprecious stones sourced from all corners of the globe. This dedication to the merging of competing ideas is underlined in the current collection, where skull accents sit next to elegantly earthy turquoise and faceted crystals to build an unexpected, perfectly modern jewelry collection filled with timeless statement pieces.

Shop Push by Pushmataaha jewelry.

--Amie

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A fashion industry vet—she’s a stylist and has editing stints at Harper’s Bazaar, Lucky, and InStyle on her résumé—Ariela Suster merged her professional expertise and her family roots to develop Sequence jewelry, a bold collection with an inspiring story. We got the scoop behind Suster’s design vision and working with artisans in her home country of El Salvador.

SHOPBOP: Tell us a bit about why you decided to launch Sequence.
ARIELA SUSTER: I had been working in magazines and would edit and style collections from other designers. I always had a vision that one day I would use my experience to create a brand that would make a difference in people’s lives, especially for people in El Salvador, where I grew up and where my whole family currently lives.

SB: What is the meaning behind the name of your brand?
AS: The word “sequence,” for me, has a very spiritual meaning. I found that it kept coming up: whether it was referring to the sequence of events that led me to take this next step in my life and launch my own brand; to the precise sequence the threads need to be placed in each of the pieces to create the different combination of colors; or to the impact that I aspire this brand to have in positively influencing the sequence of young people’s lives in at-risk communities in El Salvador, changing their path into one filled with positive opportunities.

SB: How did you transition the traditional El Salvador style into something that would play in the American market?
AS: I work very closely with a group of young artisans that is now dedicated to creating Sequence designs. With their artisanal expertise, I wanted to retain a lot of the techniques and traditional shapes of El Salvador, like braids and knots that are used in furniture and in traditional hammocks. I was inspired by those shapes and translated them into pieces that could be worn and would make a statement.

SB: The pieces really do make a statement. What is the inspiration behind the color palette?
AS: The aesthetic and design of the collection showcases the juxtaposition of light and darkness. In the summer collection, we used some dark tones to represent the hardship and violence young people face in El Salvador, and contrasted them with bright neon colors that represent the hope, positive outlook, and happiness of being able to express their creativity and make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.

From left: Erickson Beamon White Wedding Necklace, DANNIJO Galapagos Necklace, Kenneth Jay Lane Pearl Necklace.

We’re in a wedding state of mind this week in the Shopbop offices, celebrating the one-year anniversary of our Wedding Boutique. To help fête the milestone, Shopbop merchandiser and bride-to-be Monica takes her pick from three nuptial-ready necklaces.

WEAR: DANNIJO
“The unexpected crystal fringe adds a pop of glamour to this piece. I’ll pair it with a hot pink Mason by Michelle Mason dress for my bachelorette party!”

WORSHIP: Erickson Beamon
“The lariat shape and intricate beading is reminiscent of the romantic ’20s era—definitely a piece to be admired.”

WILL: Kenneth Jay Lane
“I’m letting my bridesmaids choose their own dresses, shoes, and jewelry, and I know they will be fighting over this updated classic.”

It’s your turn. Which necklace would you wear on your big day, which would you worship, and which would you will to a lucky friend? Tell us in the comments.

Shop wedding jewelry.

P.S. Are you a bride-to-be? Enter our Wedding Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three Shopbop gift certificates.

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Designers Rochelle Lee and Natalie Holst.

Designed by Southern-born, Brooklyn-based designers Natalie Holst and Rochelle Lee, Holst + Lee jewelry is an unlikely blend of techno and tribal that is nothing short of eye-catching. The duo brilliantly mixes neon shades and unique textures, crafting pieces that play to the season’s love affair with all things bright and beautiful. We talked with the designers about building a brand together, collaborating with Mara Hoffman and Cut 25, and what’s on the horizon for their self-named label.

Shopbop: Tell us about how and why you decided to launch Holst + Lee together.
Natalie Holst & Rochelle Lee: We met in NYC as transplants from the South. Instantly friends, we found that our love of fashion and art was mutual. We had both always wanted to start our own lines and the collaboration between the two of us grew very organically. We started making jewelry just for ourselves because we always felt like we were unable to find what we were looking for to complete our outfits. At the time, we were both running very high-end, very trendy restaurants and clubs, and part of our job was to look put-together and a bit edgy and hip. Our accessories allowed us to express ourselves with the bold use of color and texture, and we quickly noticed that women literally wanted to rip the necklaces off our necks, which is when we knew we were on to something.

SB: You work with found objects in your designs. What made you decide to take this direction?
NH & RL: We both had boxes and boxes full of things we had collected over the years. One day we decided to take everything we had—beads, ropes, brooches, fabric, you name it—and dumped it on a big table and literally dove in and started creating. Over time, our designs became much more refined, but this organic way of designing was how the whole thing started. I’m sure you all have a junk drawer in your house and you always wonder what you’re going to do with all that stuff. Well, invite a friend over and combine them, and you never know!

As Valentine’s Day approaches, thousands of men around the world fall into a collective panic, and women end up with stale chocolates and large, red stuffed animals. Fellas, earn some serious points this year and get her something sweetly unexpected.

Jewelry is a go-to gift for a reason, women love it. The hidden message in a Vanessa Gade necklace is an understated show of affection and perfect for a first Valentine’s together. For couples with a few more years under their belt, a luxurious gold Nixon watch is classic, shiny, and a guaranteed pleaser. But to really set the bar high (and perhaps make up for last year’s last-minute gas station gift), give her a romantic beach towel wrapped up with two tickets to a tropical destination.

--Libby S.

Shop more Valentine's Day Gifts.

P.S. Ladies, I know you’re the ones reading this. I might suggest conveniently leaving this page open on your guy’s computer, or forget subtlety and just email him the link or share this post on his Facebook wall.

Known for their statement-making jewelry, DANNIJO has quickly become a go-to fashion favorite, and their collaboration with nonprofit Falling Whistles is only natural considering the sisters’ roots in philanthropic design. Prior to the launch of DANNIJO, designers Danielle and Jodie Snyder created a collection for Live With A Lifelong Ambition to support grassroots initiatives for change in Africa. 

Using Falling Whistle’s signature symbol, DANNIJO added chains, crystals, and beads culminating in pieces inspired by the idea of “peaceful warriors.” Worn close to the heart, the whistles are meant to provoke conversations about the terrifying truth of child soldiers in the DRC. Tasteful and sophisticated, each piece is wrapped with hope for a peaceful Congo.  

--Libby S.

For more information on Falling Whistles, check out this video.

My Grandma has regaled me with tales from her adventures in agate hunting since I was a little girl. From washed-up treasure to angry black bears, she’s seen it all. So it’s no surprise that I am thrilled with the influx of natural stone jewelry this season. While impossible to pick a favorite, three brands stand out as true masters of these earthly delights.

Vita New York
Designers Wayne Anderson and Shauna Hull take an already striking natural agate, and elevate it to a new level of luxury with exotic skins and glowing 22k gold plating. Making “jewelry for your way of life,” the duo creates bold pieces destined to be well-worn favorites. Wear one of their trademarked wrist belts and a flowing bohemian dress for an air of easy elegance.

Adina Mills Design
The beauty of a raw stone radiates in these part-jewelry, part-sculpture designs.  Cubist pyrite and peaks of amethyst showcase the unique organic aesthetic of the namesake designer. A major statement piece, pair one of her handmade designs with a cocktail dress and prepare for a wealth of compliments.

Charles Albert
Charles Albert and Beth Marciel-Albert create one-of-a-kind pieces with brilliant dyed and natural agates for this Florida-based line. Their jewelry is inspired by nature and the uniqueness of the stones. A one-shoulder silhouette provides the oversized rings and glossy cuffs with the spotlight they deserve. 

--Libby S.

The dark days of winter have met their match with an exploding selection of neon accessories. With booties and bracelets in blues, pinks, and greens, this bright trend is going strong.  

Rocking an ensemble of head-to-toe brights runs the risk of looking a bit, well, radioactive. Keep the balance by adding a brilliant accessory to a neutral outfit in a classic silhouette. A neon pink Michael Kors satchel, a fluoro lime Marc by Marc Jacobs belt, or a bold coral Kenneth Jay Lane necklace are just begging to raise a demure look to new levels of illumination.

--Libby S.

 

Clockwise from upper left: Bing Bang initial necklace, T. Cyia horn cuff, Gorjana XOX ring set, ginette_ny baguette necklace, Fallon happy cuff, Alexis Bittar woven cuff.

The holidays are mere days away, adding a sense of urgency to remaining to-buy-for lists. Gift the gals a fail-safe favorite: jewelry.

Something Personal
A personal piece will be something she wears every day. Give her an initial necklace by Bing Bang jewelry or a luxe ginette_ny baguette necklace. (Tip for the latter: take it to a local jewelry store to have her name engraved before you wrap it up.)

A Sweet Message
A sweet sentiment will put a smile on her face each time she looks at it. Give her happy thoughts with a Fallon bracelet or compose a message with Gorjana stacking rings.

New Year’s Eve Sparkle
If bling’s her thing, get her ready for the fête that sparkles. A pavé T. Cyia bracelet makes a shimmering statement, while Alexis Bittar offers an artful interpretation of all that glitters.

--Amie

A recent trip to Texas got me thinking about the beauty of the unexpected. The Lone Star landscape is one of startling contrasts: vast plains of sienna soil punctuated by bold flowers and shining towns. On the way out of town, I stopped to buy a parting gift: a silver cocktail ring, set with a de rigueur Texas turquoise stone.

Other than this new gem, my jewelry wardrobe is something of a desert without its bright blossoms—I’m sorely in need of some color. To ease my transition from the world of pale rhinestones and diamonds, I’m looking to Vanessa Mooney and Marc Jacobs earrings for simple, classic designs. Once I’m acclimated, I’ll graduate to Juicy Couture rings and Gemma Redux necklaces for a luscious, large-scale statement.

--Rebecca

Lately I’ve been drawn to unique and conversation-starting jewelry, and this season has no shortage of options. After lusting after snake-print products year after year, it’s no surprise my favored motif has slithering style. Women have been harnessing the power of the serpent for thousands of years. Ancient Romans, Egyptians, and Victorians all ornamented themselves with reptile representations.

The coiled snake, like in these Belle Noel necklaces and Jennifer Zeuner bracelets, symbolized immortality to the Ancient Romans, and Egyptian royalty like Cleopatra favored golden asps (she might have donned these Haute Hippie bracelets). Influenced by the baubles of the ancient world, Prince Albert presented Queen Victoria with an engagement ring featuring a serpent with a head of emerald, a sweet symbol in a scale-y style.

More than just a spiraling sparkler, snake jewelry evokes years of symbolism and culture. Try on a piece and know that history has never been so stylish.

--Libby S.

For their fall collection, Vena Cava designers Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock took inspiration from the elegant side of the early ’90s (think Azzedine Alaïa and Donna Karan’s streamlined designs), so it’s no surprise that Danielle and Jodie Snyder, the sisters behind DANNIJO, looked to ’90s-era supermodels when designing the jewelry for Vena Cava’s runway show.

The all-metal pieces are as sleek as their muses, and Vena Cava’s wide-neck dresses and off-shoulder tops put the emphasis squarely on the architectural necklaces and earrings. Play up the glamour by wearing them now with a halter jumpsuit or a slinky Halston Heritage dress–until, at least, the Vena Cava fall collection lands at Shopbop.

--Tonya

We all turn to jewelry to make a look our own. Whether it be a beaded bracelet we picked up in Bali or simple earrings gifted by a grandmother, the baubles we choose to put on every day are what set us apart from the crowd.

No one knows this better than jewelry designers who use one-of-a-kind materials in their creations. Jody Candrian jewelry is crafted to display the unique imperfections of each hand-picked stone, ensuring no two pieces are alike. Cynthia Dugan incorporates found treasures like vintage medallions and pendants into her designs, while Vanessa Mooney specializes in mixing colors, textures, and unique materials, like vintage African glass beads. And Kora jewelry, handcrafted with bone and brass by artisans in East Africa, supports sustainable business development and fair prices, making their pieces special in more ways than one.

--Tonya

Sparkling jewels, tennis bracelets, add-a-pearl necklaces. Who needs them? This season, jewelry brands are taking the prim out of accessorizing, toughening up their baubles with rough-edged stones, pointed spikes, and gnarled metal, without sacrificing the pretty.

Meet three Shopbop newcomers leading the pack:

FELIKS+ADRIK
Named after the Russian words for “lucky” and “dark,” FELIKS+ADRIK jewelry has a masculine tone with a playful spirit. The brand began in New York in 2010 as a collection of jewelry pieces both bold and elegant, and the fall 2011 collection presents a rough-hewn take on delicate metals and chains.

Assad Mounser
Inspired by the stars of the glam rock movement, Assad Mounser jewelry designer Amanda Assad Mounser weaves bullet-like spikes with luxe fringe in her latest collection. Statement-making without stepping over the top, each piece is a unique, treasured find.

Mima
The bohemian of our bunch, Mima by Marimerce Santiago is inspired by the designer’s religious beliefs and globetrotting lifestyle. Marimerce uses local artisans from her native Puerto Rico and other corners of the world to design pieces both elegant and significant in meaning. This season sees gothic barbwire and skulls mingling with natural stones and her signature macramé.

--Amie

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Rings by Marc by Marc Jacobs, Soixante Neuf, Adia Kibur, Elizabeth and James, Soixante Neuf, and Bop Bijoux.

When it comes to jewelry, I’ll always pass over the subtle in favor of the statement-making. Tiny stud earrings and delicate chain bracelets have no place in my jewelry box–I’d rather stack a half-dozen different bangles on a single wrist or don an oversized necklace that extends to my navel.

This is why I’ve been captivated by double-knuckle rings this season. Even in their simplest iterations (like this one by Elizabeth and James), they’ve got personality to spare. Edgier versions (like Pamela Love’s obsidian arrowhead or Adia Kibur’s distressed studs, pictured) will make a slouchy white tee and black skinny jeans feel fresh, while the above version by Soixante Neuf, with its turquoise stones, will be perfectly suited to the jet-set bohemian (so long as she remembers to take it off before boarding said jet).

--Tonya

 

All that glitters is not gold. Briefly eclipsed by a gold rush, silver jewelry is shaping up to be the summer’s metal de preference. While I loved gold with winter’s plush textures and deep hues, something about the sticky summer heat calls for a cooler, more laid-back look.

Immediately taken with the heritage styles championed by Opening Ceremony and Rag & Bone in the apparel world, I’m finding myself wide open to accessories with a similar storied air. House of Harlow 1960 and Elizabeth and James jewelry perfectly captures the desert flea-market vibe I was hoping to find in my ideal summer silver: a little worn around the edges, heavy on the turquoise, with a hint of the American West.

--Rebecca

Looking for a signature piece for spring? These three wholly unique jewelry lines, all new to Shopbop, are the perfect place to start.

Mania Mania
Described by the W magazine blog as “one of the most talked-about accessories labels right now–for good reason,” Mania Mania jewelry is designed by Australian duo Melanie Kamsler and Tamila Purvis, who find influence in mysticism and magic. The current collection is inspired by Vali Myers, a flamboyant, globetrotting artist whose life took her from Australia to postwar Paris to New York City and back again. The result is a collection of pieces that range from the organic (like the Immortals Ring, pictured) to the delicate and geometric (like the Initiation Necklace).

Unearthen
Unearthen jewelry, founded by NYC-based stylist and designer Gia Bahm, is known for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pendants created from stones and empty bullet casings. The designer selects each stone for its sacred qualities–black tourmaline is said to protect against negativity, while citrine strengthens self-confidence. But there’s more to this line than just necklaces: the Prism Ring was called out as a must-have by Refinery29.

Cornelia Webb
Though she began designing jewelry in her spare time while in medical school, Cornelia Webb’s creations have since earned her the title of Accessory Designer of the Year by Elle Sweden. With the philosophy that jewelry is meant to be integral to an ensemble rather than simply accessorize it, the Stockholm-based designer creates vests, boleros, and even dresses made from chains, creations that truly define the term “statement piece.”

--Tonya

Never underestimate the power of a signature jewelry piece. Whether it be the understated studs you wear every day or a vintage bracelet you picked up after hours of searching, it’s part of what makes your look unique. And this spring, one of the freshest ways to convey a little personality is with a long statement necklace, on its own or layered.

Have a streamlined style? Stick to a single long chain with an eye-catching pendant–like a ’70s-inspired piece from House of Harlow–and let it speak for itself. Want to go bold? Layer a long necklace–like this beaded version by Kenneth Jay Lane or a rosary by Pamela Love–with necklaces that are significant to you, such as a gift or something you found on your travels. Top it off with a piece with a little extra meaning: Falling Whistles necklaces, which help war-affected children in the Congo, and bluma project necklaces, which provide sustainable incomes to artisans in Rwanda and Ghana, lend a personal, one-of-a-kind touch to your look.

--Tonya

Spring is the more casual season—a little less refined, a little more free-spirited—and this year, the baubles reflect that. From earthy interpretations of far-off cultures to deco-bohemian influences, these three jewelry lines are finding inspiration in some unexpected places.

Pamela Love
Pamela Love jewelry promises to look a little different this season. Straying from her signature macabre style (though the collection is not without a few skulls, for good measure), Love explored “themes of ethnic ornamentation combined with astrological lunar phases and alchemy.” This all translates to a collection of sleek statement jewelry that plays on proportion, form, and contour.

House of Harlow 1960
Where Pamela Love’s designs have earthy overtones, Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow jewelry draws on ’60s deco with a geometric ethnic influence. Expanding on her signature bohemian style, Richie created jewelry with a hippie-all-grown-up feel. Zigzag stripes and angled lines lend structure to the vintage-esque pieces that are meant to be mixed, matched, and layered.

Low Luv x Erin Wasson
For her spring 2011 campaign, Erin Wasson shed her clothes, put on her Low Luv jewelry, and channeled the Queen of the Nile. The goddess-like representation feels appropriate for a collection of covetable pieces that pull from any number of cultural traditions: earthy crystals mingle with Native American influences, crosses dangle irreverently from antiqued hoops. Says Wasson of her inspiration, “I want pieces that look intense and have meaning.”

--Amie
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