After the Frost

Those of you who follow this blog will know I have documented my views of London in Lockdown since March 2020.  London has been my source of inspiration since setting up my label way back when, but of course I never expected to see London during a pandemic: eerily quiet, empty, shut down, dystopian.

For us Londoners, local walks have been an opportunity to see London bare, an architectural backdrop without the crowds.

And just when I presumed this London landscape which was now becoming my familiar ‘new normal’ February 2021 arrived with heavy snow swiftly followed by a frost so deep I can’t recall ever seeing London like this.

Regents Park was frozen, with seagulls perched on the icy lake and ducks wondering along the frozen canal.

The reflection of the sun on the ice made for some beautiful metallic hues, so much so that it inspired my ‘After the Frost’ collection.

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After The Frost

But…there was also warmth and happiness it came with music and Salsa right in the middle of the park, who would have thought? A nod to colour and life after the frost

Shard Edition Earrings

Finally home again from college

Blog by Ophir

Photography by: Fiona Yaron Field

I’m a creative and preforming arts student and home for the Easter break I went out and about in London Town with my things from the cool Nadia Minkoff.

As an artist I’m in to bright and like contrasting colours and I love the beautiful blue of this bag. I also love the movement of  the tassels I feel free,funky and cool.

(  I went to the Tate modern to see collections called materials and object’s.)

In my own patterns as artists I am into bright and like contrasting colours and the balance of them.

 

I thought the earrings were blue crystals and then I discovered the skulls  – super cool

 

Ophir models:

Nadia Minkoff London,The Angel bag in Blue

Nadia Minkoff London ,Crystal Skull & Spike earrings in Metallic Blue

Red Leather coat: My mums red coat is from a Vintage shop in Cheshire St, off Brick Lane

My red nails has been done at my lovely local nail bar

My leopard coat is from Pull and Bear.

 

I went to Tate Britain , Covent Garden, Paddington station saying goodbye to my friend that been visiting  and took her around London.

Also been to the Southbank.

 

 

 

 

 

Earrings for Charlene

Morning Nadia!

How are you?

I am getting married next week and have been looking for a pair of clip-on earrings. On your website I love the shower earrings in rose gold and champagne or jet black and diamond.  Can you give me some advice? My wedding colours are white and dusty pink.

Thanks X

Wow Charlene, congratulations!! What happy news!

We’d be delighted to make your earrings for you, special bespoke ‘Charlene’ earrings!

I’ve copied my designer Karla as I will get her to make them for you today, she’ll email you directly with some questions shortly and we will get these made so you have them with plenty of time.

Xx Nadia

 

 

Nadia it was perfect!!! I couldn’t have had a better day. Thank you so much for the earrings.

The location was great, food was great, everyone had such a good time. I am so so happy. It’s nice being a MRS.

Xxx

 

Hey Nadia

Hope you’re well and enjoying the sunshine 🙂

Just wanted to say another big thank you for my beautiful earrings for my wedding.

My husband and I don’t want any photos on social media so we haven’t posted anything online or distributed any, we’ve kept them for our personal use. I’ve popped a photo in the post for you, which you should receive over the next couple of days 🙂

They truly were the most fabulous earrings !

Xxx

 

 

Charlene Bent is the ‘go to’ stylist for a list of high profile celebs.  Fashion Journalist, Presenter, Director of Ms Campbell shapewear, around the clock hard worker, a particularly lovely & beautiful person that I am fortunate to work with.

Wishing you much happiness Mrs & Mrs Bent  from Nadia & the team xx

Get the Look

Delighted to see yet more beautiful collaborations thank to Swarovski and Wolf & Badger. This time Blogger Tamara Kalinic takes us on a metallic journey with a hint of pink and a lot of silver . Full details can be found in her blog, but for those  keen to get the low down on her jewellery here we go:

Stack you rings! Tamara is wearing our Kate Cocktail ring in silver teamed up with our Crystal patina H ring in Sterling silver 

Don’t forget those all important earrings, Tamara wears our Rectangular drop stone earrings in crystal 

All our jewellery is artisan made in the UK,hypoallergenic, fine plated in Sterling Silver or 18ct gold and uses the finest Swarovski crystal but best of all?? It sparkles!!!

Tamara is photographed by The Street Muse/Melanie Galea

From inspiration to presentation

After months of preparation the first showing of our Spring/Summer 2017 collection kicked off during Scoop & the City, held at The Old Billingsgate Market mid-July.

Having drawn our inspiration from London, from nature and from living a life of handbags & jewellery, with a clear vision and complete conviction we finalised our range, instructed and waited for the samples to arrive.

It was a painful wait, because the bulk of the samples just didn’t turn up and as the deadline drew closer… a week closer, 5 days closer, 3 days closer we were beginning to doubt our chances.

With 2 days to go, the samples arrived, last minute is far from ideal but it’s a whole lot better than a ‘no show’.

I often wonder, once the stand is all set and the show opens its doors to buyers and press if anyone really knows the true trials from inspiration to presentation.

 

It was a great show, the new collection was much admired, new orders, new contacts, old contacts renewed. Circle closed, now we go from presentation to new inspiration.

Move on Summer 2016, you’re so over…

Hate to harp about the British weather but this summer (can I call it summer? ), well ok, this summer 2016 has so far been cold, wet , grey and in general miserable.

I don’t mix my personal political views with my fashion and as such be it Remain or Leave, whatever you voted for it seems like the heavens have opened up in the UK and London in particular finds itself right in the eye of the storm.

Thankfully at NM HQ we’ve managed to ‘ease’ ourselves out of Summer 2016, secured Winter 2017 some months back and here we are, getting ready to ‘sign-off’ summer 2017. With less than a month to go before we show our new Summer 2017 collections to buyers and press at Scoop International, we are entering ‘final countdown’ stage.

The four key trends we identified for Summer 2017 were based around the 4 key elements:

AIR– all calm and mindful inspired by a new global love of Yoga, Pilates and looking after our core

EARTH– A patchwork of what we are currently as a society, a vibrant mix of cultures- a mash-up of tribal with modern and upcycling with abstract

WATER– is all about clean and luxurious, it’s about reflections and  crisp vibrant colours

Last but not least, FIRE– which for summer 2017 evokes all that is glamorous, think Flamenco: the sound, the movement, the colour. All engaging and all consuming.

My colleagues at work will be the first to tell you that for all my love of colour and my passion for brilliant, vibrant hues I am in fact the one who reigns it all and my ‘process of elimination’ during our final selection means we end up losing that Flamenco Va Va Voom and we end up with a pretty safe canvas of cream, tan ,grey, black, the occasional navy but not much more than that.  When times are tough- safe sells and as the captain of this ship I try and avoid uncharted waters.

Well, all I can say is that for Summer 2017, given just how gloomy 2016 feels we will be creating our very own sunshine in the brightest of yellow, the most opalescent of whites and the earthiest of greens.

Not long to wait now before we can actually show you our new creations but for now, enjoy your summer wherever you are, sun or rain.

Who, what and wear

I can’t quite believe the last time I actually put pen to paper ( fingers to keyboard) and blogged was in July!

Wasn’t being lazy, just incredibly busy and it’s amazing how once you let time slip it snowballs before you know it.        So I am making my New year resolution now at the end of November, no point waiting, and it is to make sure that I no longer have such long lapses.

I guess first thing first, to get back into the swing of things, a quick recap of what we’ve been up to since July, and also what and wear??

In August we won the runners up award for Most innovative Business at the London FSB awards, what a night! what a surprise! we’ve not looked back since , it’s been a whirlwind.

In Sept we updated our on-line shop with the new Winter 2015 lines. And our best-sellers?  Crystal skulls and midi totes

 

October was show season again, we were back in full swing at Scoop London previewing our Summer 2016 collection

November seems to have come and gone at the blink of an eye. So, SO much went on, so where do I start?

Soprano Aylin Perez, twitted photos of her with her Nadia Minkoff London delivery

And a week later of her wearing her ‘delivery’, our Crystal Shard statement necklace  during her grand Finale at the Dallas Opera House

 

Nancy Dell’olio stepped out onto the West End stage wearing her bespoke Nadia Minkoff London necklace for her One-Woman show

 

And to top it all? we  found out we are up for another award! The Dot London award for Best London Lifestyle Indie retailer, woohoo!    And if you think we deserve it pls give us your vote, it takes 2 ticks, just follow this link put in your name and hit yes when you get the confirmation email.

 

Will be back soon, x Nadia

 

The shape of things to come, roll on summer 2016

Quite hard to believe that last week we attended the Swarovski launch event for summer 2016, feels like only yesterday I shared with you what is forecast for Winter 2015.

As always it was a beautiful event held in central London, with lots to see and much inspiration to be had.

4 key trends- Classic, Progressive, Romantic, and Glamour took centre stage, each one positive and with something else to offer. So what did I like???

The classic theme called ‘The blossoming of Happiness’ a floral inspired theme drawing on the wonders of nature to create something new and boy am I loving the new sherbet colours.

 

 

The Progressive theme  aptly named ‘The nature of strength’  all about your body and what it can help you achieve

The Romantic theme called ‘The mythology of hope’ defining the mood between night and day, from the stars to the morning haze

 

 

 

And last but not least the Glamour theme called ‘The power of belief’ seeing how different religions interplay creating a cultural mix. I am happy to say that when it comes to Swarovski the different religions create a harmonious and beautiful spectrum, not contradictory in any way and very beautiful, as they should

 

Of course there were many other things I loved…

 

….not to forgot the tasty treats

And the view of the London mews rooftops

 

All together now…all together now

Today, The Beatles song ‘All together now’ is permanently stuck in my head because today is the last day before we set up our show at Scoop International, in London’s Saatchi Gallery. Today is the day when months of planning and development come together and when we have one last look to see if our bag and jewellery range are really working together.

Today is also the day when we pack it all, ready to be collected and delivered tomorrow

From inspiration to realisation

Way back in October 2014 I posted a blog called ‘The stillness within’ all about my day at the Swarovski trend and presentation launch.  I did decide there and then what my Autumn/Winter 2015 range was going to focus on and having reviewed my notes, the images I took as a reminder, my new bag collection (which I’d already made a head start on )I felt my first inspiration was still the one I was drawn to.

Like a child who gets offered a large box of sweets and is then told they’re only allowed to pick 3, the final decision making process is a tough one and also, it’s vital to feel you’ve chosen your favourites.

Might sound odd but even the simplest pair of earrings requires much thought and preparation- settings need to be made, plating colours need to be chosen, chains need to  selected, co-ordinated styles need to be thought of and there is always the issue of affordability, will this sell or is it too costly?

 

In October’s blog I outlined my vision for this collection to be as follows:

The keywords being:  retreat, escape, unplug, simplify, tranquillity.

The colour pallete- right up my street- neutrals, opalescent whites, hints of blue and shards of grey. Frosty but sparkly.

 

When I looked at it all laid out today, I felt satisfied- inspiration realised.