I love the spontaneity of Austin. You just never know what you’re gonna get- like a side of fashion with your breakfast! A friend and I went to brunch at 24 Diner located at the corner of 6th and Lamar Street. I ordered the French Toast Platter with homemade veggie sausage …Oh. My. Gaw! It was so good…I couldn’t stop myself…and I ate the whole damn thing.
Anyhoo, moving on from my lack of self control, our waitress Allison was sporting some fancy artsy smartsy earrings. Turns out she got these beauties from Diablo Rojo Tattoo Studio . See, fashion is everywhere!
After brunch, we headed across the street to By George and I was reminded of exactly why I love accessories in general, and jewelry specifically. (Why does it have to be so expensive though? Sigh.) We started on the men’s side, which had some really nice button up shirts (I think I saw John Varvatos), ties and premium denim.
Items that weren’t even on my radar were the candles and cologne. Tres nice. Ladies, listen to me. If you like candles/perfume/etc., but have tired of all the overly sweet, predictably fruity scents, saunter on over to the men’s section and check out their candles and cologne. Subtle, surprising and just as intoxicating, you’ll be pleased when you find something that suits you.
Having said that, I found the Odin EDT 04 Petrana (Retail: $110) to be an interesting mix of exotic scents- just take a look at the description:
“Transported to a Jordanian desert landscape covered in blooming black Iris comes a floral scent that reveals its dark complexion from earth to air. The heart of Petrana emerges from a foundation of wild orris root and green violet leaf absolute. Herbaceous coriander, spicy pink pepper and deep purple cassis float above the blooms infusing luminous freshness.”
It may read like it’s ripped from the pages of a torrid romance novel, but we could all use a little romance, right?!
On the women’s side, there was plenty of Givenchy, jewelry, etc. to feast my eyes on.
I was immediately drawn to the jewelry cases which displayed some very unusual and very beautiful pieces. One designer in particular caught my eye. Fashionista, prepare thyself.
Ok, no, let me prepare you for this one. Renee Lewis Fine Jewelry is in the 4 to 5 figure range. Yes. Imma spell it out. F-i-v-e. Five figures. You’ll see why. Keep reading.
Reminiscent of one of my favorite Dallas brands, Three Bishops, Renee also incorporates loose jewels into her unique “shakes” pendant designs (pictured above). The result, an alluring, erratic mingling of precious gems, is both unexpected and irresistible. Further, one must be comfortable with change to wear Renee’s pieces, as the unchoreographed dance of diamonds is incapable of repetition. Each shake of the pendent produces a delicious sound that only liberated diamonds could make and a new variation of what was before. “New” pieces are assembled from old Edwardian, Victorian or Georgian designs, culminating in one-of-a-kind statement jewelry that is always one to four centuries old. While playful in spirit, these pieces carry grown up price tags, ranging from $6,000-$30,000. You can find Renee Lewis Fine Jewelry at Barneys New York.
Fashionably Yours,
Nik
