Today’s post celebrates the 30 year anniversary of one of my favourite jewellery designers – Alex Monroe. Purveyor of sometimes whimsical, delicate and always intricately crafted jewellery, Alex has become, quite literally a national treasure. The golden bee necklace is a right of passage for many women – and for collectors there’s a plethora of pieces to choose from featuring asparagus, pea pods, all sorts of flora and fauna, birds (exotic and resolutely British), foxes, rabbits, bicycles, gingerbread men, elephants, feathers, shrimps – collections inspired by entomology and of course stunningly bespoke gold and diamond pieces. The ideas and inspirations are endless and season after season the team delight with new additions to the collections. The London shop, nestled into a quiet Bermondsey street, feels like a little shop of curiosities, full of antique finds that showcase the jewellery, and a winding staircase that leads through workshops with artisans busy working on new pieces, up to a modern roofspace overlooking old London. It’s most definitely worth the pilgrimage for Alex fans. My love affair with the brand began right at the beginning when I discovered the delicate charm of Alex’s jewellery at the London Fashion Week exhibition and I’ve never looked back, delighting, collecting and treasuring every piece. It was quite the honour to be asked to photograph the Plume collection for this summer’s big anniversary launch and a beautiful day was spent in the Hertfordshire countryside with a tray of gold and diamonds sparkling in the sometimes sunshine.
Alex pictured in the Snowsfields boutique in London.
Now you see me…Gigi with gold leaf nails and Plume rings on her fingers. Prices for the rings start from £290.
Make up artist Frances Prescott applied real gold leaf to Gigi’s eyes and nails. Plume & Champagne Diamond Drop Earrings £660.
Throughout his career Alex’s fascination with creating feathers has culminated in this collection of intricate pieces in 18ct yellow gold and featuring champagne diamonds. The forms float and form delicate loops, the feathers seem to rustle in the breeze. Plume Loop Necklace £465; Plume Loop Bracelet £355.
More is more, infinitely layerable and delicate enough to make a statement – a flock of feathers. In-Line Plume Necklace £395; Plume Flare Necklace £485.
From Left clockwise; Wisp & Double Champagne Diamond ring £1500; Champagne Diamond Cup Ring £295; Plume & Champagne Diamond Necklace £625; Champagne Diamond Cup Stud Earrings £325 and Plume Feather Stud Earrings £295.
Buttercup buttercup… Golden leaves and simple diamond studs.
Moody skies and double layered loops and plumes in the Hertfordshire countryside.
She shall have rings on her fingers …Triple Champagne Diamond Cup Ring £450 worn with the Slim Plume Wreath Ring £550 and Wisp & Double Champagne Diamond Ring £1500, bracelet as above.
Beauty Notes: Make up artist Frances Prescott created a golden glow on model Gigi’s skin by using Marc Jacobs Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter £32, smoothed all over the face (it contains coconut water which hydrates the skin plus a generous hit of glowy pigment). It’s great worn under make up, or over it for touches of hi lights on the cheeks, brow, nose and chin. It’s also great used on collar bones and shoulders in the evening. She then used Mac Pigment Pot in gold £14.40, which she dotted onto the eyelids followed by real gold leaf (you can buy this in loose gold leaf packages from around £17.95), carefully placed around the eyes with tweezers and fixed with eyelash glue. Gold leaf looks great used on nails, randomly placing it so as not to create a block of colour and giving a more broken up look, this was fixed into place with a coating of clear polish.
A few of my favourite things. The charm bracelet I was made upon leaving my magazine role, the Damselfly & Grassblade Green Amethyst Drop Earrings from the recent Entomology collection and my little running fox bracelet.
Jewellery to make you smile…
If you love the jewellery and want to read more about the thought and inspiration processes behind the making of it, take a look at Alex’s masterful book, Two Turtle Doves – A Memoir of Making Things. It’s magical.
To shop the collections, click here www.alexmonroe.com
Photography and styling Shelly Vella
Hair and make up Frances Prescott using Tribalm
Model Gigi Leon at Next Model Management
Thanks to Amy Wilson at Alex Monroe Jewellery