WHEN JEWELRY NEEDS TO BE OVER-THE-TOP…
I was watching Project Runway the other day, and their challenge was to create on over-the-top look, something like a Bob Mackie piece, and of course, he was one of the judges.
The contestants had difficulty reaching beyond their usual boundaries. And I started thinking about jewelry. Sometimes you want to create pieces that are very theatrical, dramatic, glamourous, statement pieces. You want something that would attract someone’s attention across the room, as well as standing beside the wearer. In short, over-the-top.
One jewelry artist who succeeds well at this challenge is Mina d’Ornano, owner of MinaPoe in Paris, France. A Parisienne with Slavic origins, Mina d’Ornano was an actress, screenwriter and director before she decided to channel her creativity into fashion: “My fashion desires came from a feeling of frustration. Never finding what I wanted to wear finally inspired me”.
Inspiration and motivation are key themes behind her minaPoe creations – she is constantly on the look-out for the finest materials and has a preference for soft, luxurious and colorful fabrics, which she combines with precision and harmony. Her pieces have that sense of drama. They seem timeless. They catch the eye as would a chest of treasure. They surprise. They are playful. People see her pieces and want to talk about them.
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