Friday, October 21, 2011

Designer Profile: Karen Erickson of Erickson Beamon


Recently we were lucky enough to have a chance to ask Karen Erickson, of jewelry powerhouse Erickson Beamon, a few questions for the blog. Erickson Beamon is known for exquisite handmade costume jewelry which has become a fixture on fashion runways and in magazines around the world. As you may know, we carry a small selection of Erickson Beamon jewelry here in the store and on our website (check it out here!), so we were very excited to learn a little more about the brand and the jewelry itself.

What inspires Erickson Beamon designs?
"I draw inspiration from all aspects of life. The world is my inspiration. Nothing is off limits to spark my creative flame. Something as simple as a word or an image, or a general theme for an upcoming photo shoot, can lead to the production of an entire collection. I strive to create memorable, fashion-forward pieces that push boundaries within the design world."


What do you think is important in a piece of jewelry?
"Each piece is created by hand, which allows Erickson Beamon to customize and create entire collections at the request of the most influential names in fashion. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor our clients’ desires, without ever sacrificing our design aesthetic. The Erickson Beamon collection appeals to all ages and styles, from flashy and intricate, to the simple and understated; either way, each piece speaks for itself."

How are Erickson Beamon pieces made? How much time goes into each piece?
"I enjoy mixing unexpected materials to make each inspiration come to life. Each piece of jewelry has its own persona, creating an individual presence within the collection. I incorporate materials from a variety of resources, which elicits my free range of style. These materials include Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, lucite, wood, pearls, chains, feathers, fabric flowers. My choices are infinite."

What is the proudest accomplishment for Erickson Beamon so far?
"Erickson Beamon jewelry dazzles worldwide, pioneering the coveted, handcrafted necklaces that have become our trademark and a staple in the industry. I have designed custom pieces for many runways, including Jil Sander, Givenchy, Dior, Chanel, Anna Sui and Ungaro."

What can we expect from Erickson Beamon in the future?
"Bigger. Better. More!"

Photo Credit: New York Magazine

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Double Watch Dilemma

One thing we've been trying to pull off lately is wearing two watches. It's not the most conventional idea, and you may be asking yourself, "Why do you need to wear more than one watch?" Megan has certainely posed this question, and she's not wrong for doing so. But here's another question - why not? It's fine to stack bracelets, layer necklaces etc., so why is it strange to wear two watches? As a person who loves watches, and owns several, I think it's sad to only have the chance to wear one at a time. We spent some time stalking the idea on the internet and found that we're not the only ones into watch stacking.

Here's a picture of Princess Diana wearing two watches.



Here is a photo from the blog Ascot Friday, stacking watches and bracelets together


We've also come up with a variety of excuses for the inevitable moment when we're asked why we're wearing more than one timepiece:


- One is a backup in case the other one stops

- They're set to different time zones so we can relate to what's happening in the rest of the world

- We couldn't decide which one matched our outfit best


But still, we're not sure if we're on to something or not. So the real question is, what do you think? Is wearing two watches the next big thing, or should we forget it and move on?


- Moria