SHRIMPTON COUTURE: Q & A With Wendy Brandes

TORONTO (Herald de Paris) - Wendy Brandes loves vintage and I love Wendy Brandes’ jewelry, so I asked her to indulge me with an interview.

Because I like to be unique, I conducted this interview differently than a normal interview (see my last column on being considered odd as reference to this idea). I decided to send Wendy a series of emails – with the idea being that each subsequent question was not sent until she had answered the question from the one before. So neither of us really knew where it would go or where it would. This is our exchange verbatim:

Me: Now before we begin I just want you to know that as a COLUMNIST and not a real JOURNALIST I am happy to accept gratuitous thank you gifts – its even encouraged – especially in the form of certain skull rings – just wanted to throw that out there

So are you game? (That did not count as one of the questions by the way – it was rhetorical) This is your real first question:

We should probably cover the basics for the two people out there that do not know who you are and what you do. Can you tell me your entire “about you” story in a paragraph?

Wendy: LOL re “are you game?” You know me better then that!

About me: In my previous life, I was a journalist at the Wall Street Journal, CNN and People magazine. My incarnation since 2004 is jewelry designer with an attitude. Most of my pieces are inspired by famous historical women, with an emphasis on naughty royal ladies. I blog about jewelry, queens, fashion and whatever else strikes my fancy at wendybrandes.com/blog. In my spare time, I blog about my friend Christian Francis Roth’s Francis clothing line at francisnewyork.com/blog.

me: I am surprised you let my blatant plea for the skull ring slip by – does that mean you are thinking about it?

I am a little fascinated that you wrote for those big publications and left what to many girls would seem to be dream jobs to go off and do such a completely different thing! Why jewelry? What was (and is) the big draw? How does a girl go from journalist to using “naughty royal ladies” as inspiration in metal? (and yes I know that there is technically three question in this email but its my interview and this only counts as my second question)

Wendy: I’m just ignoring that little request

Jeez, way to fit a lot of questions into a question, lady!

My first major designs were my own wedding and engagement rings in 2001. I wanted a clean, modern look, and I wanted to choose my own stones. By that time, I had left People magazine, where I had been the managing editor of the website, to be the managing editor of websites at Lehman Brothers. I was already out of the journalism world. I knew I wasn’t going to be with Lehman Brothers forever, so the question was whether I would go back to journalism or do something entrepreneurial, as I had always dreamed of doing. I’d rather move forward than backward. Since I kept designing jewelry during my five years at Lehman, I was inspired to start a business with the diamond wholesaler who was producing my designs.

Me: Those rings are gorgeous! I know there is a strong historical theme running through your jewels. Are most of your pieces inspired by the past?

Wendy: A lot of my pieces are inspired by history, but I take a concept and give it a modern feel. A good example is my Boleyn necklace which looks nothing like the original.

me: So not to make this all about me, but knowing how much I love vintage and jewels (what better combo is there?) I would like to make you play stylist. I know you love Ossie Clark and I currently have a black plunge one and a red corset tie one on my site – what would you style them with from your collection?

Wendy: For the black plunge, I’d go with the Cleopatra necklace.  That will wiggle down nicely in the cleavage! Because the red corset dress is buttoned up, I’d load up on rings. At least three on each hand! All in 18K yellow gold. I’d do the Siobhan, the Borgia poison ring and the Agrippina poison ring. By the way, if you open up three locket rings at a dinner party, you’ll have everyone’s attention. I’ve done it!

me: You are an evil girl – how did you know that I have a secret lust for the Cleopatra necklace? You chose all poison rings and you design quite a few versions of them too – what’s the fascination? Should I be extra nice to you when we meet just in case?

Wendy: I don’t keep anything in my poison rings, but you should still be extra nice to me. I like seeing people’s reactions when I open up a ring.

Me: You obviously have a strong sense of style – how do you imagine the woman that wears your collection?

Wendy: The woman who wears my pieces is independent and funny. She’s confident enough to wear jewelry that people will notice. She’s the type who has realized that wearing a literal conversation piece will make her feel like the belle of the ball. To me, it’s always about feeling like a star.

me: Speaking of conversation pieces I know you love vintage so tell me, what is the MOST phenomenal piece of vintage you own, your conversation piece and the one piece that you would try to save from a burning building because you could not live without?

Wendy: Definitely my Ossie Clark snakeskin jacket. He gave it himself to an employee and I got it from her. I love knowing he touched it with his own hands!

Me: Oh I am a bit jealous about that one! What a fantastic piece! And finally, every interview should have the mandatory corny and slightly silly question meant to amuse the reader and give a fabulous close to the interview. insert drum roll here……

If you were a gemstone – which would you be and why?

Wendy: A six-carat pink diamond, so I could have lived in Jennifer Lopez’s engagement ring from Ben Affleck. Imagine the glamour and excitement! Of course, that was back in the day. By now I’d be living in a new ring, being borrowed by other celebrities and going to fabulous parties. The life of a six-carat pink diamond is never boring.

Yours in vintage,

Cherie
ShrimptonCouture.com

SHRIMPTON COUTURE ARCHIVE ON HERALD DE PARIS

Love jewelry? Read our interview with Beverly Hills lewelry designer NEIL LANE

Comments

Leave a comment

Name (required)

E-mail (required)

URI

Your Message