Little Jewellery Boutique London throws up lush Alexis Bittar cocktail ring

Just a day into my hunt for the perfect cocktail ring, and already hit upon option number one. Hooked up the Little Jewellery Boutique London website - word of which had come from hip jeweller Laila Aitken (she of Delaila fame) when at the Anedoti pop-up in early June - and within seconds happened upon this little beauty by Alexis Bittar nestled among LJB London's bevy of covetable, sparkly lovelies.
Couldn't see much in the way of info about what this ring is made from and the rest (would've been useful maybe), but the look says it all to me - a handsome 2.5x3.5cm diameter multi-faceted stone, this is definitely a statement ring. Loving the greenish hue of the stone, which has a heritage vibe, plus the gold studs on the mount, which add a touch of rock and roll class; at £200 I think it's a bit of a steal - not cheap enough for everyday purchasing but still in the 'affordable' price bracket.
Somehow Alexis Bittar had escaped my attention before now, so checked out his website and sounds like he's been around for a wee while - New York-based and a member of the CFDA (the US designers' club) - but his designs feel really fresh and totally unstuck. Apparently his debut collection was made from reworked pieces of depression-era chandelier glass -loving the provenance factor, always exciting. Would like to stay the trail stops here, but just need to keep mooching around and see what else is out there for the birthday wish list...

One SHOW to go to at the RCA

Eschewing the traditional all day barbecue, I hotfooted it down to the Royal College of Art's SHOW ONE yesterday, at the Kensington Gore site. The first installment of the post grad college's degree show series, the ten day exhibition previewed work from the Fine Art departments Painting, Photography and Printmaking, and Applied Art, which encompasses Ceramics and Glass, Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery. In theory, you can buy pieces from the graduates, but that's someone else's theory as - quite rightly - it was out of my price bracket; so I had to be content with simple looking and was totally inspired by the amazing designs that were showcased there.
////Jewellery, silver smithing and the rest:
There was a broad range of jewellery, from avant garde takes on traditional styling to much more in-your-face interpretations of body adornment. Some designers in particular sprung out at me:::
+++ Gisele Ganne: for her macabre meets beauty, nature and death exxagerated body jewellery, including foam skulls studded with black sequins and silver pins, a trio forming a shoulder 'broach' inspired by the black widow, and a single skull the pendant of a necklace inspired by women of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, who wear their husbands skulls. Her collection really hit the nail on the head of the current vogue for glamour with a dark, sometimes violent, edge.
+++ Megumi Sakamoto: whose eclesiastical references led to giant 'rose window' beads, in electroformed silver, which she formed into necklaces (reminded me of those holey ping pong balls); also her 'quiet belief' necklace, a extra-long chain of tiny silver crosses.
+++ Jaanika Pajuste: I think that this was for her fun, oh-so slightly kitsch references to cup cakes and pigs, which reminded me of my sister(!).
+++ Flora Vagi: her treatment of books - cutting butterfly and other shapes from hard back tomes and using both the negative and positive parts with cold enamel to make broaches and other objects - including quivering single sheet butterflies on treadlike wires - reminded me of Tom Philips' (sic?) graphic design bible The Humument.
+++ Maria Militsi: her incorporation of everyday, recognisable toy-like objects such as Barbie's strappy wedge shoes, and trucks, mixed with Marie Antoinette-like references, made an eclectic and intriguing collection. She has won the 'Overall Excellence' marque from Theo Fennell and I believe her collar stud and chain combos are stocked in b store, so no doubt she is a name we will be hearing more from.
+++ Frances Wadsworth-Jones: her butterfly clips - mini flocked bulldog clips with butterly wing shaped clasps and her 10m chain of interlocking ants, each 1 cm long and crawling in unison, were simple but effective; she took home the Conran Foundation Award 2008, as well as The Goldsmiths' Company Precious Metals Bursary Award 2008.
Jahyun Rita Baek: had taken perspex, or something similar, which to me had the feel of a contemporary and man-made motehr of pearl, and used it in 2d, flat form to create 2d shapes, eg. circles to create spheres, and in turn used these as the parts of necklaces, earrings etc.
+++ Nathalie Perneel: created necklaces of hexagonal forms in such delicate silver wire that they were barely discernible and really quite beautiful in their fragility.
... so I have more or less highlighted every jewellery-related exhibitor - oops! - I have tried to be as succinct as possible, but there was lots to get excited about!
//// Printmaking, Photography and the rest:
First thing about this, which I have noted at a few galleries recently, is how much photorealism is coming to the fore. Am sure that the Modern Painting at The Hayward may have had some hand in this, but there seems to be a desire for very tangible image-making? There were, again, so many artists of interest, but I tried to narrow it down by looking primarily at the figurative, and at the photography:::
+++ Dawn Woolley: I loved her self-portraiture; her work involved taking photographs of herself, which she then printed human-sized and posed, with a person, in often provocative, or rather intimate, situations. Clever, witty and also well-executed.
+++ Roel Paredaens: liked the simplicity of these black and white studies.
+++ Ruth Murray: these were darkly atmospheric paintings which (in my mind) evoked Victorian b-list novels, The Woman In White and the rest, but were resolutely of here and now.
... so let's just say that there was lots to see. These things are so subjective, but I felt that it was a good show, worth the trip and felt inspired by these present and future designers. Looking forward to part two later this month, which will include footwear and fashion accessories, and - natch - to the fashion show this Thursday.
\\\\Okay, so really I should have got there a little earlier, as SHOW ONE is now closed (hope my little overview gave a small flavour of it anyhow), but there's more so in case you're interested:
&&&& RCA SHOW FASHION is open to the public June 11 (ticketed event though so don't forget to call in advance!)...
&&&& RCA SHOW TWO takes place June 24 to July 5 (except July 4, when is closed). This is the one which includes fashion accessories and footwear, textiles and all the graphic-y type subjects...
&&&& RCA SHOW SCULPTURE is June 25 to July 5. Self-explanatory what you would see.
//// apart from SHOW FASHION, these are free events; SHOW TWO and FASHION are at KENSINGTON GORE; SCULPTURE is at Howie Street in Battersea. I guess check out the the RCA website for all the info.

Discovering Tom Salama, Delaila and Anedoti.com

So right now I am totally coveting my new 'Orita' dress by Israeli designer Tom Salama, who is based in Tel Aviv. I've not been there myself, but have heard it's gained itself a reputation as a party town, and this dress is so perfect for a party! Again, a pic would explain it in a an instant, but I will attempt to do it justice with the written word. It's a navy, luxe jersey body-con number, with a drop waist, heavily pleated lantern skirt with hidden pockets. Pockets are one of my favourite things in a dress right now - is there any better way to show insoucience? Stopping just above the knee, the leg exposure is balanced with a sailor cut neckline (high and square), and there is heavy pleating across the bust, which adds interest. In short, it's lush. Goes very well with a good and high platform wedge, or equally with gladiator sandals. I found the dress in the UK at a fab pop-up shop on Cork Street, hosted by online boutique Anedoti - check it out for under the radar designers from across the globe, as well as the own label collection - simple, silk shift dresses and separates in jewel bright colours inspired by Rajastan - just gorgeous!
While in the store also got hooked on statement jewellery from up and coming label Delaila, and its vivacious designer Laila Aitken - think perspex baubles combined with laser cut, geometric metals. The US-born, Notting Hill-based designer Laila set up her own company after persuading a family friend and jewellery manufacturer for the likes of CHANEL, no less, that her idea was a go-er. Fair play on that - always excited by entrepreneurial spirit! The name Delaila was inspired by her mother's fashion boutique Samson and Delilah, as well as being a play on her own name. As well as being stocked on Anedoti, Delaila is stocked in Erickson Beamon, Harvey Nichols and Joseph. She also told be about a website called Little Jewellery Boutique London - which am going to be checking out very soon - watch this space...!