Colette Steckel's jewelry designs draw inspiration from the beautiful surroundings of her native Mexico. We think they're perfect to wear on your wedding day and for years to come. We chatted with the designer about her inspirations.
The Bride's Guide: Tell me a little about your background. How did you get into the jewelry design?
Colette Steckel: Born into a French-Mexican family, I first came into contact with stones at the age of 13 when the owner of a local workshop liked accessories that I had designed and helped me produce them in Mexico. The fledgling jewelry line was well received and the workshop began exporting the accessories to other countries and selling the pieces wholesale in Mexico. I was thrilled at that young age because my accessories were decorating models at the world famous Prêt-à-Porter fashion show in Paris. It was a great experience!
1 Designer Colette Steckel wearing a few of her designs.
2 This black and white diamond bow cuff would be a sweet accent to a feminine dress.
3 Diamond heart and arrow earrings add a playful wink to your big day.
4 Steckel has a way with curiosities. These earrings are the perfect example.
5 Getting married in a more natural setting? These earrings could help carry out the theme.
6 If your neckline calls for a pendant, this moonstone and diamond style would be stunning.
7 I love these little flower rings. They'd make a great gift for your maid-of-honor.
TBG: How would you define your design style?
CS: In every design I try to create jewelry that is artful, fashionable, and edgy. My signature style would best be represented by the Galaxia collection where my inspiration came from the diversity of light shining in the cosmos. The pieces combine gold, Tahitian pearls, black and white diamonds as well as black diamond fragments as they are found in nature.
TBG: Where do you find inspiration?
CS: My jewelry tries to capture my sense of wonder at the magic that I see in nature. For instance, my Alas collection was inspired by the dragonflies of Corsica fluttering out over the rocks and hovering out over the turquoise of the shallows near the shore. The dragonfly shows beauty and freedom as well as femininity. In my Bestioles collection, my inspiration is all the little creatures that are all around us and how magical they look.
TBG: How can a bride use jewelry to define her style on her wedding day?
CS: A girl’s wedding day is the one she will never forget and the day that will set the tone for her whole marriage. In my opinion, the jewelry is just as important as the dress—if not more. It allows the bride a bit of creative freedom; it gives her a chance to play with accessories and have fun with her look. While she can show her more traditional side in the way her hair is styled or how her dress falls, it is the jewelry that can show a more fashion-forward, playful, edgier side. Or perhaps the opposite: the dress might be a bit more avant-garde in which case she could pair it with jewelry that is a lot more classic. It is her opportunity to showcase and define her style. It offers a glimpse into who she is and what she loves.
From: julia | 3/22/12 at 9:42 am
Wholesale Costume Jewelry and Fashion jewelry at 50% less then market prices at http//:www.beaded-jewellery.com We have Fantastic Indian bead Tribal Pearl jewelry and a huge selection of belly dance costumes.
From: Lily | 8/21/12 at 2:05 pm
Terrific interview - nice impression of the slightly spacey nature of the designer! (In particular this: "the diversity of light shining in the cosmo"!)
But gold, pearls and black and white diamonds sound like a heady mix.