Getting Jazzy with Ben-Amun

Anyone planning to be a flapper for Halloween will simultaneously be portraying the past and the future, which is not to say that Prohibition will be making a comeback, but that drop waists and fringe will. Trend forecasters are predicting a Roaring 20’s revival for Spring 2012, and Ben-Amun is totally on board. Lucky for us several designers sent speakeasy inspired ensembles down the runway during fashion week, so we have all the tools we need to start accessorizing!

If you’d like to go retro with Etro we suggest picking up this runway gem and adding Ben-Amun’s Leather Tassel Earrings. For good measure, add a modern touch to the look with a Rubberized Resin Cuff!

Gucci goes Gatsby with this dress from the Spring/Summer 2012 runway, and we’ve got just the necklace to pair it with. Can you say match made in heaven?



Portofino Gold Tassel Pendant Necklace

Alberta Ferretti’s take on a fair-haired flapper is begging for Ben-Amun bling! If you’re like me, and this look is the one you covet, just picture it with our Triple Row Gold Resin Cube Necklace and Gold Metal Hinge Cuff and you’ll swoon.

Mark Jacobs does jazz with this little champagne number, and we think bobbing our heads to the music would be best when wearing his dress and our Pearl Tassel Earrings. I mean, what’s a trend for if it can’t make head bobbing look good?

It's always fun to plan for the future by recalling fashion from the past, so now's your chance to hop on this fledgling trend. Visit www.ben-amun.com for more ideas!

-Kristin



Try a Trend with Ben-Amun!



Real Simple November, 2011
Featuring Ben-Amun's Mod Silver Collar

What do Taylor Tomasi Hill, Cleopatra, Rachel Zoe, and Judy Jetson have in common? They know how to rock a collar. Whether that collar is futuristic fab, sleek and chic, or a throwback to Ancient Egyptian times, it’s always a showstopper, and the good news is, it’s a trend that anyone can try. Real Simple agrees, and in their current issue featured collars (one of which was Ben-Amun’s Mod Silver Collar) on their “Trends Worth Trying” page.

At Ben-Amun, collars tend to hold a special place in our hearts and in our collections. This is due, in part, to the fact that collars, when crafted by Isaac, achieve the delicate balance of being both statement pieces and incredibly versatile. Perhaps a deeper reason for Ben-Amun’s fondness for collars, however, is that the iconic woman who so long ago brought this trend into being was Cleopatra, Isaac’s grandmother.

Just kidding. Cleopatra isn’t in the Ben-Amun family tree but Egypt is, and Isaac is constantly inspired by its culture. So, if you're ready to test the trend yourself, but want to stick close to its roots, the collars from our Byzantine collection could be for you! Pick from a wide variety of collars on http://www.ben-amun.com/, or trust us, and check out our reccomendations below...

From Byzantine, the Multi Color Collar Necklace is a favorite for adding a pop of color to any outfit.

If you love black and want to work it into your wardrobe from the accessory side of things, try our Rubberized Resin Collar, the matte black finish is extra-eye catching!

If you prefer looking to the future than to the past, chanel your inner Judy Jetson and try a collar in crisp silver like our Silver Half Moon Collar Necklace.

Have fun giving this trend a spin, and stay tuned for new collars from Ben-Amun!

-Kristin 

Swarovski and Ben-Amun: The World Tour

Some people see the world through rose tinted glasses. Here at Ben-Amun, we prefer our frames studded with Swarovski crystals. This turned out to be a convenient preference, when Ben-Amun designer Isaac Manevitz was selected for the prestigious role of designing the jewelry for Swarovski’s Elements Inspirations Fall/Winter 2012/13. It proved to be an even more convenient preference when it was announced that the inspiration for the pieces to be designed by Manevitz was global conurbation. If you don’t know what the word conurbation means (and don’t worry neither did we) it translates to several cities coming together to create an extensive urban area, but retaining their individual identities.

Swarovski saw this choice of inspiration as a natural progression from that of the previous season: nature and the Earth, and developed its five “Swarovski Elements” to correspond. As industry insiders know, Swarovski’s international presence has established the company as an influential trend predictor. To be chosen to work with the company on creating its Inspirations looks is quite an honor. In fact, it is a privilege that had never been offered to an American designer, previous to Ben-Amun’s selection. Swarovski writes on their website: “Ben-Amun perfectly expresses this season’s trend, and no wonder: Isaac Manevitz, the creative brain behind the label, is well qualified to capture metropolitan fizz and energy. Born in Cairo and based in New York, his signature style could be described as ‘wearable art’.” Thanks, Swarovski! We couldn’t agree more!

The combination of Swarovski’s materials, Manevitz’s traveler’s eye, and the host of breathtaking cities chosen to inspire the jewelry made for a glamorous world tour. So, if you’d like to see the world with a little extra sparkle, read on!

The five Swarovski Elements selected for the Fall/Winter 2012/13 seasons were Classic, Harmony, Romantic, Progressive, and Glamour, and the cities selected to represent Elements were Chicago, Copenhagen, Shanghai, Berlin, and Istanbul. For a sneak peek at the final product of the collaboration, check out the images below!

Chicago's crisp and tailored elegance keeps things "Classic":

Copenhagen's unisex cool charecterizes "Harmony":

Shanghai's decadent heritage calls for "Romantic" jewels:

Hip and high-energy Berlin is the epitome of "Progressive":



Instanbul's sumptuous color palette and grandeur translate simply to "Glamour":

Whether your chosen specs are rose tinted or Swarovski studded, we hope that at least for a few minutes you got to enjoy the world the way we do here at Ben-Amun.

-Kristin

Fashion Flashback: The 80’s with Ben-Amun

Taking a cue from Good Morning America, we’ve decided that there’s no better way to make a regular fall week a fabulous fashion flashback than to deem it “Totally 80’s” and harken back to yesteryear. So, harken back with us here at Ben-Amun, and let some of our favorite editorial memories inspire you to add some 80’s to tomorrow’s outfit.

While most people will happily concede that they “heart” the 80’s, there are those of us whose love for that vibrant era is larger than average. We are 80’s enthusiasts, and we are this way for a reason.

Ben-Amun jewelry first appeared on the cover of Vogue in January, 1980, and went on to appear on ten more of Vogue’s twelve 1980 covers. It was an exciting way to start a decade, and marked the moment when Ben-Amun burst onto the fashion scene. So, in honor of 80’s week, we’ve decided to take a look back at Ben-Amun’s younger years.







Update it!

Mod Silver and Black Clip Earrings





Vogue March, 1983



Update it!
Byzantine Gold Medallion Statement Necklace



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Wrap Around Gold Bangle

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Industria Brass and Copper Geometric Earrings



The Washington Post Magazine
March 13, 1983





Whether you were of the spandex set, were rocking the shoulder padded football player look, or were too young to know the real 80’s from that great theme party in college, I hope you enjoyed our fashion flashback! Get your own 80’s inspired look with the help of http://www.ben-amun.com/!

-Kristin

Sew 70’s, So Accessories!

While some girls spend Thursday evenings getting dolled up for a hot date, choosing their Ben-Amun jewels with special care, I prefer to spend mine with Tim Gunn. Since I don’t actually know Tim Gunn, that translates to the following: eagerly anticipating the new episode of Project Runway, watching with bated breath the new episode of Project Runway, and then mentally bedecking the designer’s runway looks with the perfect Ben-Amun pieces.

While I personally think that Ben-Amun jewelry can be paired with anything, last night’s 70’s inspired episode was a particularly fun one to imagine accessorizing, as the prints were louder than life, and the 70’s was precisely the era of Ben-Amun’s conception. That said, although the designers were charged with making “sophisticated” 70’s looks, some seriously missed the mark. I can’t help but think that if they’d only started with some killer jewelry rather than sky-high platform shoes, fewer of the contestants might have gone astray. Oh well, we all make mistakes, (ahem, Anya, in the future, not losing all of your money on the way to Mood might be a better way to start a challenge!)

So, without further ado, here’s what I came up with for last night’s winning look, which just so happens to have been designed by miss dropsy-pants herself.

Anya’s winning look was a classy but cozy jumper, perfect for day-to-night transitions. What better way to luxe up your look for the evening than to change up your jewels?

For daytime:
Twisted Rope Necklace

For a night out:
Portofino Gold Pendant Tassel Necklace

 If you want to get the look for yourself, or if you want to play my Thursday night Project Runway/Ben-Amun mash-up game on your own, check out http://www.ben-amun.com/ and get inspired!

-Kristin