March 28, 2012

Jet Setting with Ben-Amun

Although winter has decided to return for a (hopefully brief) encore, we are in the midst of Spring Break season, which means we’re in the midst of over-packing. Whether you’re destined for Mexico, Florida, or China with Ben-Amun, the need to accessorize is non-negotiable, but for us single ladies carrying our own bags, those accessories can get heavy. So, in an effort not to herniate any discs we’ve decided to help you edit your vacation jewelry box. That said, you should know that here at Ben-Amun leaving jewelry behind when we travel is not exactly what we do best, though travel is something we’ve been doing a lot of lately.

While Ben-Amun has always been an internationally minded brand, between Isaac’s Egyptian roots and his world art inspirations, in the past year our global presence has expanded to include famed department stores that you’re likely to pop into should you find yourself abroad. For instance, should your destination be Paris you can find us at Le Bon Marche. If you’re sticking closer to home and plan to take a crack at Canada, Simons is where you can get your Ben-Amun fix, or if your itinerary is particularly ambitious, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, and Bloomingdale’s Dubai have also gotten on board with Ben-Amun recently. For anyone who’s gotten that far, and is dying for a chance to meet the man, the myth, the legend, Isaac Manevitz, scoot over to Beijing, where for the first time ever Ben-Amun is participating in China’s International Clothing and Accessories Fair!

But enough about us, let’s talk about you. So you’re preparing for a weeklong getaway, and to accompany you on the trip you’ve chosen 10 necklaces, earrings aplenty, and enough bracelets for a month’s worth of arm parties. What do you do? Well, you carefully put it all back in your jewelry box, and you take the staples shown below instead.







 
Packing light doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style! Check out www.ben-amun.com for more travel friendly staples!

-Kristin




March 20, 2012

Choose Your Own Jewelventure with Ben-Amun

Today's Spring Equinox marks the end of this lackluster winter, and while we’re eagerly awaiting the opportunity to change over our wardrobes and bloom like roses, we’re feeling a bit nostalgic for the season that forgot to pass. It’s true, as I put away my puffer jacket, I begin to think of all the things that this winter didn’t allow me to do, like go dog sledding. I’ve never gone dog sledding, however, should winters on the East Coast decide to make mildness a permanent change, I may never get to.

SO, in an effort to do something we haven’t done before, we’re about to embark on a Ben-Amun style “choose your own adventure”. Not only has a choose your own adventure never appeared on the Ben-Amun blog, but we’re guessing that most of our (multitudinous) readers were not at any point in their lives adolescent boys, meaning that most of you probably have as little experience with this as we do. Fear not, I have no intention of dreaming up jewelry wearing pirates, rather, we’ll be doing this the girly way, starting with pictures of flowers.

Here’s how it works: you choose your favorite of the two flower pictures below, and depending on your choice you will be taken on one of two “jewelventures” leading you to your perfect Ben-Amun piece! Off we go!
Jewelventure #1

Jewelventure #2


Jewelventure #1


So you picked the peonies! Good choice. If you ask me, this means you're a ladylike romantic who appreciates natural beauty, and has it in spades. Choose the necklace that best fits your personality and continue on your merry way!





                       
                               Braided Rope Necklace
                                Continue to Jewelventure 1A

Multi Strand Pearl Necklace with Crystal Brooches
Continue to Jewelventure 1B


Jewelventure 1A    
The Braided Rope Necklace is both elegant and effortless, perfect for transitioning from day to night and from season to season. Versatility is the name of the game with this feminine statement piece, so pick a pair of earrings from the two below that most closely captures the statement you like to make. 

                                    
                                     
                                       Portofino Gold Ivory Bead Earrings
                                Continue to Result #1!

Jewelventure 1B
The Multi Strand Pearl Necklace with Crystal Brooches is not for fashion's faint of heart, but whoever said ladylike had to mean quiet? This vintage inspired necklace is the easiest way to elevate a look, so pick the earrings below that best express your special occasion personality!
           
                                        
                            
                                          
                                             Molten Gold Large Linear Earrings
                                              Continue to Result #3! 

Jonquil Crystal Deco Geometric Earrings
Continue to Result #4!



Jewelventure #1 Results!

Result #1
You're perfect piece from Ben-Amun is the Gold Leaf Cuff!  

Result # 2
Ta da! You and the Byzantine Pearl and Glass Cuff were made for eachother!


Result # 3
Thank heavens you took a jewelventure, now you know you need Ben-Amun's Gold Metal Pyramid Bracelet!
Result # 4
Lucky you! Your Ben-Amun soul mate is the Maharaji Cuff with Cross Pendant!
Jewelventure # 2

Nice choice! The more daring of your two jewelventure options, the floral skull certainly says something about your sense of style! I'd say you're a strong accessorizer who's not afraid of a fashion challenge. Pick the necklace below that you're most likely to don, and I'll introduce you to the spunkier side of Ben-Amun.  

 


 




Maharaji Multi Chain Pendant Necklace
Continue to Jewelventure 2B! 


Green Rubber Pendant Necklace
Continue to Jewelventure 2A!

Jewelventure 2A
The Green Rubber Pendant Necklace screams confidence, so add it to your sleekest evening outfit and watch the heads turn. Want to really work it? Throw this necklace on over your favorite plain white T and you'll be a street style sensation. Pick the earrings below that best exemplify your trendy leanings. 



                               
                                      Kasbah Turquoise Chandelier Earrings
                                      Continue to Result #1



Mod Silver Teardrop Earrings
Continue to Result #2

Jewelventure 2B 
The Maharaji Multi Chain Pendant Necklace strikes the perfect balance between glamorous and edgy. Formal enough for evening but daring enough for daytime, this necklace is the perfect accessory for your rock and roll side. Pick the pair of earrings that speaks to the fashionista in you!

                               
                             Industria Brass and Copper Geometric Earrings
                               Continue to Result #3 

Byzantine Pearl and Glass Button Earrings
Continue to Result #4
 

Jewelventure #2 Results!

Result # 1  
Congrats! You get to keep it colorful with your perfect Ben-Amun piece: the Silver cuff with Blue Agate Slab!


Result # 2
Hey there mod maven! The Black and Silver Hinge Cuff awaits your perfect union!
 
 

Result # 3
Oo la la, it turns out the Byzantine Wide Bracelet is just what you need in your life!  

Result # 4
It's about time you and the Tribal Link Bracelet found one another!

Happy spring everyone! I hope you're happy with the results of your jewelventures! Make your matches realities with the help of www.ben-amun.com!

-Kristin


February 28, 2012

Ben-Amun at NYFW!

Fashion Week is like Thanksgiving, but with less food. Despite the lack of pumpkin pie and festive fowl, however, Fashion Week is every bit as encouraging of overindulgence as Thanksgiving, as requiring of careful outfit planning (be it elastic pants or a neon peplum), and as certain to induce satisfied slumber at its close. So, with these things in mind, please forgive me for the dormancy of the blog, and come along for a look back at the exciting things Ben-Amun has been up to lately!


To start at the very beginning, our Fashion Week kicked off with Corey Lynn Calter, the LA based designer whose Fall/Winter 2012 Presentation was awash with color. Inspired by every budding fashionista’s favorite pastime (raiding her mother’s closet) the collection was divided into three super saturated color stories: coral, evergreen, and orchid. The perfect accompaniment to the collection’s high energy presentation was Ben-Amun jewelry. Ben-Amun’s gold links were a particular favorite, but Molten Gold and Portofino earrings polished several looks, and Ben-Amun bangles, as always, were a hit. Check out the pictures below!

On the Sunday evening of NYFW, Ben-Amun was on two runways at once, but those runways were worlds apart. In Chelsea, painter turned fashion designer, Anna Francesca, whisked us away on an exotic safari, complete with tribal face paint and feathered headdresses. It was the perfect platform for Ben-Amun’s hammered gold necklaces and stacked bangles, and we were especially thrilled to see male models. Not only because they were male models, but because they were male models wearing Ben-Amun! That’s right, gentlemen, you’ve got the green light to start shopping on www.ben-amun.com!



While Anna Francesca was getting in touch with her wild side, husband and wife team Falguni and Shane Peacock were taking Lincoln Center by storm with their rock star ready collection for F/W 2012. It’s no wonder the brand has dressed the likes of Rihanna, Fergie, and Nicki Minaj, because every mesh, sequin, feather, zipper and leather concoction screamed “give me some spotlight and some Ben-Amun”. Luckily, there was plenty of Ben-Amun to go around! The silver dagger earrings and black rubberized resin collars were standouts, while sleek box chains and links gilded their fair share of looks.


It’s always exciting to collaborate with a designer who’s in the middle of a major moment, as was the case with Theia designer Dan O’Neill. This NYFW marked Theia’s first ever runway show, and oh what a show it was! Although the brand’s major inspiration (and namesake) is the Greek goddess, the F/W 2012 collection had an edgier, even armor clad goddess in mind. Complete with Real Housewives and a step and repeat boasting “Ben-Amun” the show was a total success, and we like to think that the Ben-Amun bracelets brought everything together. See the horn cuff and the spike bracelet below!


Dana-Maxx is no stranger to Ben-Amun, having used the jewelry on many occasions to accompany her flirty, colorful line, and so it was no surprise when she chose Ben-Amun to pair with her portion of the Polyvore Live runway show presented by Covergirl. The show was a celebration of the future of fashion and beauty, and the models were all of your favorite fashion bloggers! Check out Julie Lagrotteria of “Born and Bread” in our gold pyramid cuff!


Last but not least! Designer Stephen Burrows, known for his friendship with Warhol, his presence at Studio 54 and his huge comeback, also used Ben-Amun to complete his looks this NYFW. The show, held at the Audi showroom in Midtown, incorporated the windowsills, created a clamor on the sidewalks, and served as a spunky showcase for a wide variety of Ben-Amun bangles!


Whew, now we're all caught up. Stay tuned for more exciting happenings at Ben-Amun!

-Kristin

January 30, 2012

Ben-Amun and Free People!

If Ben-Amun and Free People were celebrities rather than fabulous fashion brands, we’d be joining the ranks of Brangelina and TomKat as a romance worth watching. That’s right folks, Ben-Amun and Free-People are together again, and evidence of our union, our Babyonce if you will, can be found in Free People’s January catalogue featuring Karlie Kloss!

Karlie, repping NYC in Free People’s LA vs. NY set of January catalogues, sports one of our favorite sets of stackable bangles. Check out the catalogue’s highlights below, and if these pictures don’t make you want your own set of Lost Valley Bangles, and a hot dog, then I don’t know what will.




 




To see the catalogue in its entirety you can visit freepeople.com, and perhaps as you're flipping through you'll recognize another Ben-Amun favorite! The Ben-Amun Laredo Turquoise Bib Necklace also makes an appearance on Miss Kloss (behind the scenes shot below!)

  
Whether or not your look is LA leaning or NY chic, add Free People's favorite Ben-Amun pieces to your own collection now!

-Kristin

January 16, 2012

The Golden Baubles

We know what you’re expecting. Last night was the Golden Globes, which makes today the day we bring you tips on how to “get the look”. It’s true, we watched. In fact, we tuned in from the moment cameras started rolling and we judged every manicure, bobby-pinned curl, gown, heel, and especially jewel as it made its way down the red carpet. We picked our faves, we picked our flops, and we prepared to tell you how to make it into the first category with the help of www.ben-amun.com.

But it’s been done, and since here at Ben-Amun we prefer to be ahead of the game, rather than watching the game on replay, we’ve decided to spice up the post-Golden Globes blog buzz with a little something we’ve decided to call The Golden Baubles. Join us as we award suspiciously similar titles to members of the Ben-Amun family for their work in 2011.

Best Drama
The award for Best Drama in 2011 goes to The Molten Gold Large Statement Necklace!

(The acceptance speech)
Molten Gold LSN: “Oh my. Ok. First of all, I’d like to thank Ben-Amun for this award! I wouldn’t be here without you! I’m so honored to be recognized for my ability to make an elegant outfit a show stopping outfit! I also want to thank my family: my husband, The Molten Gold Short Pendant Necklace, and our beautiful twins The Molten Gold Linear Earrings. This one’s for you!”

Best Comedy
The award for Best Comedy in 2011 goes to The Mod Silver Teardrop Earrings!


Mod Silver Teardrop Earrings: “Wow! We thought for sure this award was going to Brazilian Brights! We never expected to win, being up against jewelry as bright and spirited as you guys! Anyway, thank you to Ben-Amun for recognizing that even though the word “teardrop” is in our name, we’re really very flirty and fun-loving. We had such a good time adding movement to a lot of different types of outfits in 2011, from casual to formal, and we look forward to continuing in 2012!”


Best Actress
The award for Best Actress in 2011 goes to The Horn Cuff!

Horn Cuff: “I always dreamed of winning a Golden Bauble! This is really so overwhelming! Finally, I feel like all of the hard work that it took for me to get here: the affixing of my hammered silver plate to my bronze cuff, and the polishing of my horn… it was all so worth it. And to the rest of the cast, Portofino Gold Horn Pendant Necklace and Tribal Fan Earrings, you’re the best!”


Best Supporting Actress
The Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2011 goes to The Gold Metal Hinge Cuff!

Gold Metal Hinge Cuff: “Thank you. It’s an honor. I can be worn with anything.”


Best Foreign Language Film
(awarded to a piece of jewelry inspired by a culture that speaks another language)
The Best Foreign Language Star Award for 2011 goes to The Maharaji Multi Chain Pendant Necklace!

Maharaji MC Pendant Necklace: “I am touched. Thank you Ben-Amun and all of my fans. I am so proud to be a statement piece that is both elegant and edgy. It has always been important to me that the quality of my performance never waivers, and although I am always complimented when I appear at parties, this Golden Bauble is the greatest compliment of all.”


Best Mini-Series
The Award for Best Mini-Series in 2011 goes to The Resin and Metal Bangles!
 
Medium Lime RMB: “Woo! Woo! Woo! Ever since our appearance on the cover of Vogue in July we’ve been living the dream! We’re proud to be such a diverse cast, from Thick, to Skinny, to Red to Gray, we make such a good team and it feels great to be appreciated for our collaboration. Thanks for this, Ben-Amun!”


 
Well there you have it. The first annual Golden Bauble Awards, brought to you by Ben-Amun. Take a closer look at this year's winners at www.ben-amun.com!

-Kristin