Courtesy of stylefoliojewelry.com
Recently, I have had the incredible opportunity of being able to make contact and interview one of Chicago’s premier up and coming jewelry designers: Yvette Craddock, Founder and Style Director of StyleFolioJewelry.com. Her exquisite taste and innate ability to create striking and innovative pieces are bound to set her name in stone in Chicago Fashion.
Her website stylefoliojewelry.com caters to the need of the ever evolving Chicago woman with pieces that are chic, creative and most importantly fun to wear! I also love the fact that she gives style tips on her site through a trend page with great ways to mix and mingle the pieces as well as great outfit ideas to boot!
Her line focuses on beautiful beaded and polished stone jewelry pieces that are categorized with great names such as: tribal style (HOT this season!) to floral bloom and vintage viewpoints (my fave). The website is completely user friendly and easy to navigate which makes it a quick way to shop and find the pieces you want right away!
To learn more about stylefoliojewelry.com and Yvette Craddock check out the interview below!
Q. What brought you into accessory design?
A. I’ve always loved fashion and accessories. Even as a child, I recall organizing my mother’s, cousins’ and aunt’s jewelry boxes. What a prelude to the present.
About 13 years ago, I began designing most of my wardrobe with my tailor. During this process, I really escalated my hunt for jewelry that reflected the uniqueness and boldness of my wardrobe. When I found “the piece”- a gorgeous necklace, a beautiful bracelet or other another unique accessory, I began to pay attention to both women’s and men’s reactions - “Where did you get that?” I could never pinpoint one place, from LA to NY, from which I routinely found these statement pieces. So, a few years back, I began the process of creating that place which crystallized into StyleFolioJewelry.com.
Along the way, my best friend encouraged me to design. Literally one day (November 2008), I sat down at the studio table with a tray of gems and the ideas just poured from my soul. I discovered that this was a gift. At any given time, I have at least six pieces in process. I really credit my friend for persistently prodding me to design my own pieces in addition to carrying those of other artists.
Q. What are some of your design influences?
A. I am enamored with the works of vintage and ethnic designers all around the world. There are many current designers whose work I love. However, it is important to me that I focus on my voice in my designs so that each one is truly authentic.
Q. Where do you get inspiration?
Everywhere. Colors, nature, films, magazines, photos, art and the list continues. I prefer designing with semiprecious and precious stones. Each gem is a source of design inspiration and really dictates the story behind each piece of jewelry.
I recently wrote a blog about my sources of inspiration and how I design here http://www.stylefoliojewelry.com/2009/07/design-inspiration/
Q. What are some styling tips you suggest with your jewelry?
A. One area of exclusive features StyleFolioJewelry.com will have is a series of video tips currently under production. Some tips include:
• How to identify the best necklace lengths for you.
• How to layer your jewelry.
• How to wear patterns and jewelry.
Additionally, I am working on more exclusive features including icons that will help women to understand how a piece will fit into her wardrobe under categories from casual to formal attire. These icons will be assigned to each item.
Trends come and go, but style is timeless. Therefore, I help women create the bridge between keeping up-to-date and also finding their voice through jewelry. On the ‘Trends’ page of the site, I provide numerous suggestions on how to wear pieces in the collections. Women have shared with me how much help this gives them in creating new outfits within their wardrobe and news ways in which to wear the jewelry. This page also features how to create multiple outfits from one just by changing the jewelry.
Q. What kind of a fashionista do you cater to?
A. The type of fashionista who wears StyleFolioJewelry.com jewelry is confident and style-oriented. She believes in the value of quality items in her wardrobe. She tends to hold an upper-executive level position and has numerous social and community commitments. She knows that her personal presentation is an important and essential part of her overall identity. She is interested in a making a lasting, memorable and positive statement and loves that she is wearing an original signature piece of jewelry.
With that said, I also have clients who are retired and those who are newly interested in fashion and style. My jewelry is really about helping women, regardless of who they are and what they do, to truly define themselves and create that harmonious internal and external bond.
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