For Spring/Summer 2010, Swarovski takes an “Out Of The Blue” approach to jewelry and accessories, the majority of which are whimsical and opulent at the very same time. As Nathalie Colin, the company’s Creative Director explains, “water is the new expression of luxury in a world where increasing efforts are being made to protect the environment. I wanted to explore this theme with this important seasonal collection, the second part of the ‘Beyond Nature’ trilogy.” Keeping to this candid observation, the current collection focuses on bio diversity and marine life, via aquatic-themed pieces, featuring a myriad of multi-colorful crystals, in tandem with new materials, emphasizing changing reflections of the water’s surface.
The “Beauty Drops” grouping consists of sensual and fluid pieces, such as the “Liquid” necklace, featuring a long chain, highlighted by droplets of crystal, accentuated with a large, cut crystal in a flowing, rhodium-plated casing. “Another piece in this grouping, aptly dubbed “Levity”, brings to mind a very sexy, jellyfish, all done up in coral crystals, set against a long chain, playing in the ocean’s waves. Pieces within “Marina Blue” take inspiration from the beauty of life enveloping the coral reef, by way of the kinds of blues and reds generally associated with shells and corals. Long, languid necklaces, with aqautic names, such as “Lagoon”, and larger-than-life, “Ginseng”, “Opaline”, “Lazy”, “Louise” and “Look” cocktail rings, many showing the company’s exclusive Pointiage (TM) technique, all mix and match together, in eclectic and different combinations of beautiful crystal color palettes and silhouettes, totally reminiscent of exclusive cruise holidays, right along with ocean life on top of and under the deep blue sea.
The “Sea, Light and Fun” assortment gives way to a fabulous sea filled up with more than just a few playful and eclectic creatures. Proving that more is more and layering, layering, layering is good, better and just plain best, there are playful “Elvis” and “Erika” pendants, rendered in the Pointiage (TM) setting, and playing up the idea of a sweet crab and a gracious water droplet, covered all over in coral or blue crystals. The “Charmed” bracelet, which seems to bring about a “good luck” aura in its own right, features abundant charms, with names such as “Crab”, Octopus” and “Red Fish”.
Moving along with the water story so prevalent this season is the “Lychee” fish pendant, rendered in both large and small sizes, with clear, crystal huge eyes, a small, mobile tail, rounded form and asymmetric fins. The quirky fish also appears in a matching ring and bracelet. Honing in on the idea of the riches of underwater treasure, there are abundant groupings, such as “Nirvana Flash” (ring) and “Laser” (necklaces, bracelets and hoop earrings), each of which incorporates light and sparkly crystal hues, such as red, blue, yellow, white and black, alongside bountiful, summertime fruit shades, such as lemon, yellow, raspberry pink, and clear crystals.
Moving into another kind of fantasy realm is the “Alice In Wonderland” Disney Collection 2010, showcasing an array of rings, earrings, bracelets, fanciful necklaces and charm pendants. In this grouping, the “Flower Garden” wrapped necklace is utterly cool for every “Alice”; ditto, the “Red Queen”, “Mad Hatter” and super-cool, “Cheshire Cat” pieces.
Swarovski obviously loves its jewelry, but there is another kind of good accessory story going on here, as well. Addressing this genre, there are sparkly, little bags and wristlet pouches with names such as “Glam”, “Las Vegas”, “Glitz”, Gala”, “Power”, “Lolita” and “Libertine”, along with lots of nifty accessories, such as “Happy” and “Lucky” key rings, mobile phone items, bag charms, coin Purses, billfolds and wallets.
Summing up the viewpoint of the new collection across the board, it is a safe bet to say that the company, which nearly always manages to step outside of the box with each new collection, certainly manages to stay true to its current design message of nautical, water and lots of sophistication and whimsicality.
Just about everywhere across the current grouping, the pieces manage to stand on their own, and cohabit obviously well for their individual stories; i.e., living the luxury life, youth, spirit, wellbeing, exoticism and light-heartedness. Or, to put it another way, en francais, “voici á beaucoup de joie de vivre et les belles filles dans l’ègalement belle bijouterie et les beaux accessoires cette saison”.
– Adrienne Weinfeld-Berg
