The new collection has been inspired by the ocean and Mediterranean style
Make jewellery your fashion statement this season and beyond, with the new Azura collection from Silk & Steel, offering exciting options around dramatic multi-chain pieces, pearls, and turquoise beaded designs.
The new collection continues designer Sarah Cotterall’s signature style around luxe jewellery, which can be layered for heightened impact or worn solo for simplistic elegance.
The handmade pieces feature freshwater pearls, turquoise, hematite, and rhodochrosite gemstones, with all pearl and gemstone designs hand-strung right here in Aotearoa.
Fun, relaxed, and luxurious, Azura (meaning blue sky) includes a nod to Sarah’s love of travel, particularly Italy, infused throughout the collection.
“I’ve missed being able to travel over the last few years and wanted to go back to my Mediterranean roots and create a collection inspired by endless summers, being carefree and living life to the fullest,” she says.
“The Med is in my blood, and I’m excited to have a collection that evokes these feelings and memories for me … and hopefully inspires these feelings in others when wearing pieces from the range.”
How did the Azura collection evolve?
The collection has been inspired by the ocean and Mediterranean style. I love the organic nature of pearls and their varying shapes and sizes and wanted to create a buildable collection with a point of interest. By incorporating texture and different details, pieces layer in harmony to create a really unique, luxe summer look. Turquoise is also such a vibrant Mediterranean colour, which is fresh, fun, and adds a beautiful contrast against pearls and chain. To me, Italian and Mediterranean style is based on relaxed luxury…more is more and less is more. Experimenting and having fun with jewellery is key to this collection, which is about ‘joie de vivre’.
Do you have any advice on layering jewellery?
I’m sure many people wonder how to layer necklaces! How many is too many, or not enough? And which necklaces to layer together? The art of necklace-stacking is one that requires a little strategic thinking…depending on the look you are after!
Here are my main rules for layering:
Find your base
This piece will act as a base and anchor your look. Your base necklace tends to be heavier, allowing lighter weights to mix in harmony.
It’s all about texture
Think about adding detail, whether it’s with a mix of chunky or skinny chains, as well as different textures (think beads, pearls, links or charms), to encourage separation.
Mix metals
Rules are meant to be broken, so try wearing different metals simultaneously. Mix up your look on different days, depending on the balance you are wanting – either silver or gold. There is beauty in eclecticism, and you can get more varied combinations! Jewellery is all about self-expression, so don’t be shy.
Heavyweight vs. lightweight
More is more and less is more. Think about your look and what you would like to achieve. A subtle statement or a bolder look? Build your pieces until you have the desired style and length. Remember, your neck-stack is your story.
What’s your focal point?
Complete the look by drawing the eye to a pendant or charm.
Want to make a statement?
More is more when it comes to piling on multiple necklaces with different textures, colours, and lengths. Layer different pearls with multi-chain necklaces for a ‘go luxe or go home’ vibe, like our Resort and La Mer pearl necklaces with our St Tropez multi-chain necklace.
Layer necklaces like a minimalist
Keeping it simple is the key to creating an effortless minimal stack. The key is to wear two or three fine chains together – like our Superfine necklaces. For a touch of minimalist texture, add our delicate Santorini pearl necklace.
Here’s one we made earlier
A layered look we love is the St Tropez multi-chain necklace from Azura. It’s a pre-made multi-chain neck-mess that takes the guesswork out of layering. Just throw on and go. It’s a winner! The key is to experiment and have fun!
Azura by Silk & Steel is available online and at selected stockists across the country, including Ballantynes Department Store in Christchurch and Smith and Caughey’s in Auckland.
Images supplied