The Most Gorgeous Jewelry... maybe ever.

The Alligator Cuff with Sapphires - I am in love!

Not too long ago, I had the chance to chat with the very talented jewelry designer, Nina Runsdorf.  You might be wondering who Nina is, as I was before I met her.  She is a very private person and it is very difficult to find any information about her or her jewelry.  In a situation such as this, it was great to go right to the source.

Nina started her career in accessories design.  After working with the likes of Banana Republic and Ralph Lauren, Nina started designing one of a kind pieces upon request.  Eventually she started her precious jewelry line, NSR.  It is now sold at select Neiman Marcus stores.  Her precious jewelry line is amazing!  It is very hard to put into words how beautiful, original and wearable the jewelry is... when I first approached her cases my jaw dropped at the beauty, and I had to a double-take to make sure that I was in the fine jewelry department.  Her jewelry has the coolness associated with costume jewelry, it is just too bad (for me!) that theses pieces cost thousands of dollars.  For example, I was able to look at a $200,000 diamond chain opera length necklace!  It was beautiful and very precious.  So precious, that they removed it from the safe for me to look at, and then promptly put it back in the safe!

However, there is a silver lining... Nina has launched a silver line, Silver, Skin & Stone, that is much more affordable.  It has all of the beauty and originality of the NSR line, but silver and semi-precious stones are used.  This line is sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus.

Aren't you curious?  Check out my post for NMdaily for more info on Nina, her jewelry and some pics!

The Diamond Chain Necklace

            

                                             - Allison

The Swan - a new classic?!

You may or may not be aware that I am a huge Twilight fan.  I admit it, I fell hard for the Bella/Edward/Jacob love story and have read Breaking Dawn twice (yes, I am a dork!).  To say that I am excited to see the book played out on the big screen might just be the understatement of the year!

As far as fashion goes, the Twilight movies have never been much to talk about... Bella is not interested in fashion at all, and Alice "the fashionable one" never really appears to be all that chic (and is always wearing some sort of strange choker necklace).  It was to my delight (and every other fashion loving twihard) that Breaking Dawn is putting a bit more importance on fashion. It was just announced this summer that Carolina Herrera designed what is destined to be a very famous wedding dress (Kate who???).  And, none other than Manolo Blahnik created the wedding shoe.

Amazingly enough, the dress has not been photographed or leaked (as far as I know).  The only images available are those from the trailer, and they are such a tease!  The anticipation is killing me.  The only information that I have gathered is that it took 6 months to design, and Herrera took into consideration the description in the book as well as the personality of the bride... hmmm.

However, every cloud has a silver lining... the shoe, otherwise known as the "Swan", can be yours today!  The Swan is part of Blahnik's Resort 2012 collection.  It is a satin stiletto with a gorgeous crystal-beaded vine appliqué available in a white, cranberry or black.  The NMdaily posed the question- "Could this be the next Something Blue (aka the Carrie Bradshaw shoe)?"  My thought is... if a blue Swan shoe is made, I am sold!

                       

                                            - Allison

*Photos courtesy of twilightsaga.com and neimanmarcus.com.