Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

I’m a Fashion Group International Rising Star Award Winner!

WendyB — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:48:33 +0000

It was great to be a finalist for Fashion Group International‘s Rising Star Award for fine jewelry last year, but it was even better to win the 2012 award yesterday! The fact that gorgeous designer/blogger Stacy Lomman was also a finalist in the women’s ready-to-wear category this year was a bonus. I wouldn’t have been [...]

Behind the Scenes at the Lookbook Shoot

WendyB — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:01:56 +0000

Yesterday, I had an eight-hour photoshoot for my new lookbook with model Tina J of Fusion Models. Every time I am at a shoot, I am shocked anew at how unglamorous a model’s day is. Poor Tina had to wedge rings onto her fingers over and over … then pry them off with some help [...]

Models and the Fickle Finger(s) of Fate

WendyB — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:01:25 +0000

I had a go-see for models for my new lookbook on Monday. (This is the first time I’m using a model in a lookbook; we’re shooting it later today.) On a go-see, a model comes in with her portfolio, so you can see her in person and look at her photos. If the go-see is [...]

I’m on the Huffington Post Today

WendyB — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:53:19 +0000

Check out my story about the agony and ecstasy of small business on the Huffington Post today! CLICK HERE TO READ IT. If you’ve read me for a while, you might recognize some of the issues raised in the story from my Get Smart series of posts on this blog. The story also includes a [...]

Year of the Dragon Jewelry

WendyB — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:27:29 +0000

Gung hay fat choy! Happy Chinese New Year! It’s the lucky year of the dragon and you should get one of my dragon jewelry designs to celebrate. Sure, it will cost you a pretty penny, but it’s much cheaper in the long run than having a dragon-year child. Eighteen years from now, you won’t be [...]

Wendy Brandes Hashtag Ring on Gangsta Boo

WendyB — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:46:05 +0000

When gorgeous rapper Gangsta Boo tweeted a video tease of her upcoming project, I got a pleasant surprise. There’s a nice clear shot of my hashtag ring at 32 seconds! Many customers send me photos of themselves wearing my jewelry but I’ve only seen a design on video/film once before, when my Cleopatra earrings were [...]

Jewel of the Month: Siobhan Ring With Mixed Metals

WendyB — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:15:05 +0000

People often ask me if it’s okay to mix yellow and white metals. My answer? “Hell, yes!” I didn’t always have that mindset, though. I too grew up thinking jewelry had to be matchy-matchy. I don’t know where that fashion taboo against combining different-colored metals came from. One of the most famous jewelry designs in [...]

What Wendy Wore: Terrible Outfit Photo of the Day

WendyB — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:33:14 +0000

Well, the outfit isn’t terrible … just the blurry photo is. It was too windy and cold out for a redo; I ran inside right after this. Whatever! If you want excellent jewelry, you’re on the right blog. If you want excellent outfit photography, go practically anywhere else. I have to pick my battles, and [...]

Why I Love Gold

WendyB — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:30:43 +0000

I don’t love the high price of gold, but I just can’t quit that metal. It’s a beautiful color, of course, but it also malleable and resistant to tarnish and corrosion. That makes it good for complicated mechanical jewelry (as well dentistry). As I’ve said before, my signature Wendy Brandes jewelry line is inspired by [...]

My Best Dressed at the Golden Globes: Piper Perabo

WendyB — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:07:02 +0000

I’m giving my newly invented Best Dressed/Wear What You Want combo award for the Golden Globes red carpet to Piper Perabo. The oversize skirt made her sheer ballgown from Theyskens’ Theory Spring 2012 collection fit for a queen. This is the kind of red-carpet dressing I like. Beautiful, risky and totally memorable. Designer Olivier Theyskens’ [...]