One of my favourite jewellery collaborations is back for a new drop, and it's even better than the last.
Cult jewellery brand Monica Vinader (beloved by both Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton) first teamed up with Doina (one of the best fashion influencers in the business) last summer, to create a collection made from 100% recycled silver or vermeil.
The pieces, inspired by old photos and films of the 1950s, were instant classics and sold like hot cakes. This season's iteration is no less glamorous, with bold vintage-inspired styles including chain cocktail earrings, baroque pearl charms and snake chain necklaces.
I sat down with Doina to chat through the inspiration behind the collection, and how you can build a more sustainable jewellery collection.
What tips do you have on how to style the jewellery for the new season?
While this collection can seem quite glamorous, my favourite way to wear it into the new season is with neutrals. Blacks, whites, camels or browns make the jewellery pop even more and bring a bit of oomph to a minimalist and calculated look. I also love the juxtaposition of wearing a statement piece like the Baroque Pearl earrings with a more casual sporty look.
What was the inspiration behind the new collection?
Just like our last collection, nostalgia was the inspiration. But this time it was more specific, we looked at the Italian summer and what a fabulous woman in a Fellini movie would wear. Sometimes it was imagining what I’d wear, maybe, if I were to star in a Slim Aarons photograph of a glamorous pool party in Portofino. The inspiration of this vintage holiday Italian glamour, as you can see, was very specific!
How do you build a sustainable jewellery collection?
Most of us already have collections so it’s important to look at what you have to see if it’s something you want to continue to wear, if it can be reimagined in its styling and to ensure you know what you have before shopping. For anything that’s not serving you and that you can’t see yourself wearing again there are many many ways to dispose responsibly (including through Monica Vinader’s recycling programme!).
Then, when you’re thinking of purchasing new pieces there are a few steps I’d recommend following:
- Know the origins of what you’re buying including its material (is it made using recycled materials) and if it come from an ethical supply chain
- Be selective and invest in pieces that you can see yourself wearing for a long time
- Prioritise pieces that offer versatility in their styling, that are modular and can be worn in many different ways
