Doloris Petunia
By Catherine Beaumont
Monday 2nd November 2009
Monday 2nd November 2009
If you, like so many others, were confused during the cold winter months of last year, when, whilst flicking through your favourite fashion magazines, you were faced with celebrities wearing what seemed to be giant embellished baby bibs, then you were not alone. Surely a bib, even if it is covered in diamonds, is not something worth flaunting? Little did you know that the following year you would be faced with the allure of buying and even wearing one of your very own…
After their debut during winter 2008, Louis Vuitton and Dolce and Gabbana introduced them to us for a second time at their shows for Spring/Summer 2009. Barely recognisable in new, brighter, summer variants, they looked undeniably pretty and a beacon of colour bursting through the darkness of winter greys and blacks.
Elle magazine informed me that I would be able to wear my bib necklace not just out with my favourite LBD, but also during the day, with a plain T-shirt as if it wasn’t even a necklace, but almost a fancy embellished collar. How clever I thought! My purse started to like the sound of the benefits of having one large, versatile and gorgeous necklace. After much serious research - mostly done on a Saturday afternoon in Topshop- I discovered how many there were to choose from, ranging from those encrusted with jumbo jewels to those embellished with a million beads or gold baubles.
If you’re not quite confident enough to pull off the full-on catwalk bib effect, then smaller pieces are also available. These still offer an opulent feel, and also carry the versatility for a fabulously unique layered look. The only issue now… which one to choose?
Herein lies a problem that any girl will encounter at least once in her life... Have you ever gone shopping for one thing and bought everything in the shop but that one thing you wanted? If I actually want something, I can never make a decision about which is the right one to choose!
The answer: If like me, you simply can’t see past the jewels and gems to make an informed choice, look to New York based designer Courtney Prince. Prince fronts the label Doloris Petunia for which she designs jewellery pieces inspired by her 96-year-old grandmother and fuses them with modern elements.
The works of Doloris Petunia incorporate a rainbow of coloured beads, crystals, gems, pearls, cameos and anything with a touch of sparkle. Prince collages these onto satin held delicately by a piece of ribbon, allowing the necklace to be worn at any length. She innovatively creates one- off commission pieces too, either to your specific requirements or using a piece of your old jewellery and remaking it into something new.
Bib necklaces of Doloris Petunia are truly gorgeous works of art with the power to provoke the metamorphosis of any sane girl into a frenzied magpie.
They are the perfect way to wear the embellished trend this winter: to brighten up party dresses, make a statement at a ball and ultimately to just make you feel lovely! The bright gem stone colours cross the seasons and will take you right through to Spring/ Summer 2010, to be a cherished component of your jewellery box forever more.
Lucky for us, her designs have just become available in the UK. After Grazia magazine devoted a full page to her necklaces, you can be sure that they are going to be huge. The necklaces range from £50 to £100, but for a piece of handmade art it is a price worth paying. Furthermore, with Christmas (dare I say it) just round the corner, why deprive yourself of something so gorgeous?
The necklaces are currently being stocked at www.hannahzakari.co.uk, where you will find a whole treasure trove of unique finery to spend hours lusting over.
Take a peek at her Facebook page for a full range of her designs and newest additions: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doloris-Petunia-LLC/93954501852
Boys, I’m making Christmas easy this year…don’t let the lady in your life go without one of these for a minute longer. One click away: go ahead and check out ‘Everything Lovely…’ at Doloris Petunia.
After their debut during winter 2008, Louis Vuitton and Dolce and Gabbana introduced them to us for a second time at their shows for Spring/Summer 2009. Barely recognisable in new, brighter, summer variants, they looked undeniably pretty and a beacon of colour bursting through the darkness of winter greys and blacks.
Elle magazine informed me that I would be able to wear my bib necklace not just out with my favourite LBD, but also during the day, with a plain T-shirt as if it wasn’t even a necklace, but almost a fancy embellished collar. How clever I thought! My purse started to like the sound of the benefits of having one large, versatile and gorgeous necklace. After much serious research - mostly done on a Saturday afternoon in Topshop- I discovered how many there were to choose from, ranging from those encrusted with jumbo jewels to those embellished with a million beads or gold baubles.
If you’re not quite confident enough to pull off the full-on catwalk bib effect, then smaller pieces are also available. These still offer an opulent feel, and also carry the versatility for a fabulously unique layered look. The only issue now… which one to choose?
Herein lies a problem that any girl will encounter at least once in her life... Have you ever gone shopping for one thing and bought everything in the shop but that one thing you wanted? If I actually want something, I can never make a decision about which is the right one to choose!
The answer: If like me, you simply can’t see past the jewels and gems to make an informed choice, look to New York based designer Courtney Prince. Prince fronts the label Doloris Petunia for which she designs jewellery pieces inspired by her 96-year-old grandmother and fuses them with modern elements.
The works of Doloris Petunia incorporate a rainbow of coloured beads, crystals, gems, pearls, cameos and anything with a touch of sparkle. Prince collages these onto satin held delicately by a piece of ribbon, allowing the necklace to be worn at any length. She innovatively creates one- off commission pieces too, either to your specific requirements or using a piece of your old jewellery and remaking it into something new.
Bib necklaces of Doloris Petunia are truly gorgeous works of art with the power to provoke the metamorphosis of any sane girl into a frenzied magpie.
They are the perfect way to wear the embellished trend this winter: to brighten up party dresses, make a statement at a ball and ultimately to just make you feel lovely! The bright gem stone colours cross the seasons and will take you right through to Spring/ Summer 2010, to be a cherished component of your jewellery box forever more.
Lucky for us, her designs have just become available in the UK. After Grazia magazine devoted a full page to her necklaces, you can be sure that they are going to be huge. The necklaces range from £50 to £100, but for a piece of handmade art it is a price worth paying. Furthermore, with Christmas (dare I say it) just round the corner, why deprive yourself of something so gorgeous?
The necklaces are currently being stocked at www.hannahzakari.co.uk, where you will find a whole treasure trove of unique finery to spend hours lusting over.
Take a peek at her Facebook page for a full range of her designs and newest additions: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doloris-Petunia-LLC/93954501852
Boys, I’m making Christmas easy this year…don’t let the lady in your life go without one of these for a minute longer. One click away: go ahead and check out ‘Everything Lovely…’ at Doloris Petunia.