In my constant need to feed my mild obsession with bold, stunning, colorful and statement making jewelry I stumbled across Elva Fields.
Elva Fields Jewelry, started in 2003, as the result of the designers degrees from Hollins University in both French and Art History, where she quickly discovered a passion for the history of jewelry in her graduate work at The Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture in New York City. Her Masters thesis explored the relationship between Italian Renaissance and ancient Greek and Roman jewelry, which inspired a semester at the Jewelry Arts Institute in Manhattan. Here, she acquired metalworking skills in the ancient tradition and, simultaneously, a recognition that it might be possible to combine interests in the study of jewelry and the creation of it.
To create her unique designs, Emily scours local and far-flung markets, auctions, and shops for unusual vintage and antique pieces to use in all three of the Elva Fields lines—Elva, June, and Deb—which are named for the artist’s great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother, respectively. (How nice is that)? The treasured finds are then reconfigured and incorporated in unexpected, timeless designs. One might find a strand of old paste pearls with an antique carved ivory brooch as its pendant, or a 1930s Bakelite belt buckle clasping glittering chains from just a decade later. Elva Fields Jewelry, made in the designer’s home studio in Kentucky, can be found in boutiques throughout the United States
In the spirit of the women who inspired Elva Fields Jewelry and its namesake lines, a portion of every online purchase is donated to Backpack Buddies of Spencer County, a program providing school-age children in the company’s local rural community of Taylorsville, Kentucky with healthy meals and snacks each weekend of the academic year. For a little less than $3 per bag, the program offers a backpack full of food for each one of approximately 160 children enrolled in the service, so $3 of each sale on the Elva Fields website will be contributed to the welfare and health of children who depend on the local schools for every meal. For more information on the Backpack Buddies program, please visit their website.
What are your feelings toward these pieces? I’m thinking anyone can wear these necklaces at a wedding or just to glam up for an event. Now, you know the very first piece is always my personal favorite. This piece just spoke to me in its bright, vivid yellow and dynamic vintage rhinestone brooch. What a way to top a simple black or white dress.
Loving what I do,
Violaine Diogene
The world is your oyster in a sunny stunner like this one. Five strands of faceted bright yellow crystal are a fabulously glittering backdrop for a dynamic vintage rhinestone brooch with pronged silvertone settings. A floral-adorned sterling silver clasp from India completes the sparkling springtime look.
You’ll walk with style in your step in this can’t-miss design. Polished turquoise howlite teardrops with gilt brass beads from India overlap beautifully in two strands, while a vintage compact by Stratton from Great Britain becomes a notice-me-now pendant. Its crackled, snakeskin-patterned cover opens to reveal the original puff and label inside, never filled with powder or blush. Vintage goldtone clasp, approximately 18″ long
We fell head over heels for this vintage flower—for its unusual design (we’ve never seen another quite like it) and its size (a statement-making 4 inches)—and we feel sure you’ll agree that it’s too fabulous for words. Paired with two strands of polished white coral beads, the effect is pure stylishness. From the golden leaves and petals to the lush clusters of white bead dangles, the vintage fur clip (once adorning and clasping a mink stole, perhaps?) likely dates to the 1940s or 50s, and becomes a gorgeous corsage at the side of this necklace. A gold vermeil clasp fastens the necklace at 18″. In a word, captivating.
Found on the same day just a few feet from one another, we wonder if these beads and brooch would have ever met without Elva intervention. Once together, it seems they were meant to be—a gorgeous shade of green abounds in the vintage lucite beads, perfectly highlighting the vibrant hues of the vintage matte enamel flower brooch. A sterling silver toggle clasps the necklace at 17″ long. We may just go into matchmaking!
There is very little in this world that doesn’t look better when pictured against a sky of blue—in fact, a blue sky can make even the barest of winter branches or the tiniest bird seem striking and stunning. Not that this set of vintage jewels needed any help—they are gloriously gorgeous and made by Ben Reig, who was a designer to the Hollywood style mavens in the 1950s. Against a cobalt blue backdrop? Blue sky beautiful. Adjustable sterling silver toggle clasp, approximately 18″ long.
We sense something powerful in the combination of gilt brass beads from India—with their serene sparkle in literally any light—and a set of vintage enamel and rhinestone flowers—in the perfect shade of yellow with a few glittering studs of rhinestone at their centers. The design is simultaneously a force with which to be reckoned and a breath of fresh air…all while bringing good things on the way. Antiqued gold vermeil toggle, approximately 17.5″ long
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There’s something to be said about being able to achieve a look which is undeniably over the top yet still simple and elegantly divine. Stylemepretty featured this wedding that truly captured what elegance and grace is all about.
When I stumbled on this post, the first picture was of the bride standing by a window and all I could see was the back of her stunning Vera Wang gown that truly captured her curves as if this gown was specifically designed for her. The back of the gown simply took my breath away with the Ivory velvet roses that adorned the nape of the bride’s neck. Ok, I can go on and on about this gown but this post is so much more than the gown. (I really should just do a whole different post on the gown uhn?). Just one more thing about that gown; can you see yourself walking down the aisle and really giving your guests something to gasp about? Yeah, I know! Visit Stylemepretty to read more about this amazing wedding.
Well, what do you think about this color palette? Would you be able to pull this of at your wedding? You know I would love to hear from you.
Inspired by simplicity,
Violaine Diogene
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