Rhymes with Ice (but she’s getting hot)…

Her jewelry has been worn by many of our beloved pop culture icons, wonderful divas and style icons such as: Rashida Jones, Beyonce (seen below in her jewelry), Cameron Diaz, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Ripa, Drew Barrymore, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Academy Award Winning actress Kate Winslet.

Katharine Sise (her last name rhymes with ice) and/or her fabulous jewelry have been prominently featured in such magazines as Glamour, Marie Claire, W. Bazaar, Lucky (who launched her career by anointing her a “designer to watch) and Elle.

Many of us aspire to own a career using our God given talents and Katharine, too, strived for nothing less in her own life.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she came to New York City equipped with big dreams and a degree in film, television and theater. She originally hoped to thrive as an actress.

And what do most of us hopeless thespians end up doing to make a living starting off, even with a college degree? You guessed it. But when Katie nearly spilled an expensive bottle of champagne on Robert Deniro while waitressing one evening, she knew it wasn’t the job for her. There had to be a better way. Turned out there was.

She put her instinctive talent to work and started designing and selling jewelry and her innovative creations were soon in demand.

Katharine Sise and/or her jewelry have appeared on “Good Morning America,” The Oxygen Network”, “The View”, “Live With Regis and Kelly”, “Good Day New York” and one of my personal favorites… “Gossip Girl”. We are so honored and delighted to have her here with us in “The Love Spot” today.

Read on for a Q&A with Katharine Sise where you’ll learn more about why “The Love Spot” has so much love for her and her jewelry. You’ll also discover some exciting news about what’s coming up in her life…

PMB: Katie, You have designed jewelry for so many celebrities, is there someone that you have yet to design for that you would like to? And what do you envision designing for that person?

KS: Michelle Obama! And I’d design one of my multi-layers with a strand of pearls. A twist on a conservative necklace.

PMB: I have no doubt that that day is to come. Mrs. Obama came to my mind as well. She is certainly someone that I’d love to see rocking your jewelry. Give us a day in the life of a fabulous jewelry designer. Take us through your creative process…

KS: Every day is different depending on what I’m working on. Some days, I may have a specific trend story to make pieces for. If a magazine requests a specific trend, I’ll make about 12 to 20 pieces that week for that particular story. Other weeks are spent making orders for boutiques and individual clients.

PMB: You mentioned trends, but tell us how a woman/young lady should go about deciding what style of jewelry works specifically for them?

KS: I say, whatever jewelry pieces make you feel good the moment you put it on is what you should go with. Vintage jewelry is a great way to achieve a timeless look and works with almost any style. If you have a conservative style, find pieces that you can go to againand again, like a classic stud earring. If you’re more experimental by nature, try a bold cuff and a cocktail ring to spice up your look.

PMB: I love it! And I think it is that mentality that makes certain celebrities more iconic and stand the test of time for popularity. Who comes to mind when you think of style icons? And why?

KS: To me, a style icon is a woman that knows what works for her. She isn’t guided by the trends, though she may incorporate elements of them into her signature style.

PMB: Agreed! Now, as you know the three women dearest to me—my mother, my sister and my niece “Jada” all received jewelry that you specially designed for us this past Christmas (unforgettable by the way) but I am curious about your Mr. Sise line, particularly because Father’s Day is coming up and Dad was a little left out

“Mr. Sise” is your developing men’s line and I love it. Some men aren’t so keen on jewelry, though, and might need to be convinced. What do you say to men who don’t think jewelry is for them? And what type of man should consider jewelry as a part of his personal style?

KS: This is tricky. Many of my male friends (my husband included) only wear their wedding rings. But, if a man is comfortable wearing jewelry, it can be such a great look. I love tough jewelry pieces for men for a laid back or rocker look!

PMB: Me too. And just to add to what you’ve said, I love it when a man has a statement piece—a bold ring or a stern necklace—because it can really accentuate their masculinity. Besides the men’s line, are there any other things in development that you’d like to share?

KS: This month my jewelry is featured on a few pages of Lucky magazine and in July Target will launch one of my jewelry pieces on their website. Very exciting!

PMB: Oh congratulations, Katie! You already know how excited I am about your developing career. Finally, as is tradition in our newly re-launched “The Love Spot”, please tell us… how you define love?

KS: Love is really all there is. If you’re filled with love, there isn’t room for anything else.

PMB: And what are three things that you, Katharine Sise, love? Tell us why if you would….

KS: Family. (That is my mom, dad, sister, brother and my husband.) Dogs. No one does unconditional love like a dog! And books! I feel an instant comfort as soon as I open one.

PMB: Awww! And ditto! Thank you Katie!

And here is why The Love Spot loves Katharine “rhymes with ice” Sise …

She has eyes as exited as a child seeing the sun rise for the first time and an enthusiasm about her work that is just as thrilled. Her jewelry is fabulous and, though it has been validated as so by a who’s who of Hollywood’s most impressive, Katie was just as excited to know that Philana’s niece, Jada, an eleven year old girl in Ohio was thrilled by the necklace she designed for her–even refusing to take it off before she went to bed on Christmas night. We love Katharine Sise and her fantastic jewelry because, in a time when hope is so coveted in this world, hers are dreams that have not only come true but are growing in abundance. God bless you Katharine Sise. We wish you all the best and nothing less…

Visit www.katharinesise.com to order her fabulous jewelry and also follow her career.

*Also be sure to check her out on HSN (The Home Shopping Network) where Katharine Sise co-hosts her own show!

LOVE!

pmb

Congrats Melissa! Way to keep it “reel” :) …

Along with being a fabulous photographer and budding journalist (not to mention a refreshingly nice person in a world laced with mean girls), Melissa (Stern) Spector has the scoop on digital retouching.

Check out this Joel Fendelman produced reel “Beauty is Pixel Deep” to learn exactly what someone like Melissa, a “digital re-toucher” does. She tells us very matter-of-factly, which I love, sans moral objectives. Still, I thought this offered a very unique and realistic perspective of the images we see.

http://current.com/items/89640503/beauty_is_pixel_deep.htm

It’s intriguing stuff…

Love!

pmb

All love for hats (and a man who makes them). An interview with Albertus Q. Swanepoel…

Recently, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue announced the recipients of their fifth annual awards from the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund. Congratulations are in order for the winner—Alexander Wang— and also for the runners up Lisa Mayock, Sophie Buhai, and Albertus Q. Swanepoel.

The CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund (CVFF) was established in 2003 to help emerging talent find continued success in the business of fashion. The winner and runners-up are given the opportunity to meet regularly with a team of business mentors and also receive $200,000 ( the runners-up each get $50,000).

In the CFDA’s official press release, VOGUE Editor in Chief Anna Wintour was quoted as saying, “In only the fifth year of the Fashion Fund competition, we know that to win a first or runner-up prize is to receive a very substantial professional boost. The proof lies in the remarkable success of the Fund’s previous winners.” It was Anna Wintour who also gave the foreword to Vera Wang’s gorgeous pictorial Vera Wang On Weddings (Collins Living), in which Swanepoel crafted all of the hats.

Albertus Q. Swanepoel (elegantly pronounced Swan+pool) is a milliner, the only hat-maker ever to be nominated for this most prestigious award, and is primed to evolve from crafter of hats to celebrated fashion icon, not unlike CoCo Chanel—whose first American job was also as a milliner.

Originally from Pretoria, South Africa, where he was an award-winning fashion designer, Swanepoel is currently one of NYC’s most noted. Featured in a two-page spread in November’s issue of Vogue, he was—earlier this year—asked to design a hat for President Elect Barack Obama’s “Runway to Change” fundraising drive (along with A-listers like Juicy Couture, Isaac Mizrahi and Beyonce).

Recently, Albertus welcomed me into his studio for an interview. Here is an excerpt of some of some of our most memorable discussion:

pmb: In the ongoing discussion—fashion as art—do you consider yourself an artist? Do you consider fashion art?

AQS: I don’t consider fashion art in the traditional sense of the word, no. If anything, fashion is sartorial art—art related to clothing. It’s more of a craft for me. A dress is not going to be in fashion 20 years from now whereas art is timeless. We won’t look at a hat five years from now and still be inspired by it, as we would a Picasso. What we do in fashion is influential, but it’s not art. People are not going to take a Picasso and repaint it. We are constantly re-creating fashion.

After discussing his work, much of it adorned with South African motifs and flowers, including this design below that Jennifer Anistan wore on an episode of 30 Rock…

pmb: Yet so much of your work appears so innovative, so artistic…

AQS: Well, that may be because I love the idea of taking something incredibly expensive and putting it with something that is not; like a hat I crafted with a pom-pom made of a plastic garbage bag. I just think it’s such a whimsical idea. I just personally love to use something when it’s not so fancy and expensive looking; and for something to look almost damaged in a way.

pmb: A lot of women that I know, including myself, love to wear hats, however I realize that there are equal, if not more women who simply won’t. Many women think they just don’t look good in hats…

AQS: There is a weird misconception, so many women who think that hats don’t fit them, that they don’t have a hat face or that it will mess up their hair. The trick with hats is to make them a matter of contrast. Hats should contrast with your outfit yet compliment it. The same with your face. If you have an upturned nose, for example, try a downward brim. Round face? Try a square hat. I feel anybody in the world can get the right hat to wear. I don’t buy the excuses.

pmb: What about women and/or the fashion enthused who think hats are not in style?

AQS: Hats get a bad rap. It’s the first thing that is picked on with celebrities. It’s just not that highly regarded anymore. That’s why I personally try to make hats that are very wearable. A hat should be put on and become very personal. Hats are for people who love and appreciate the craft of fashion. There are always more hats in European shows than New York shows because of their tendency to be more adventurous. We’re definitely seeing a resurgence.

A milliner known to take a traditionally male fedora and feminize it, Albertus adds this advice for the hat reluctant:

AQS: Just have one fantastic hat at least. Try an old vintage fedora with a fairly modern outfit or try a winter fedora in the summer.

On his nod from the CFDA, Albertus, ever assuming, simply says,

“It’s just truly… really amazing.”

The same could be said for Albertus Swanepoel and his incredible talent.

In the tradition of “The It’s All Love” blog, re-born now as “The Love Spot”, I asked Albertus our magic question…

pmb: What is love?

AQS: Love is a very powerful, intense feeling closest to one’s heart: strong yet very fragile.

pmb: Having said that, who or what do you love?

AQS: Eddie Marquez. My “Cuculoo Pooker”. Opera music, which—much to the chagrin of my assistant—I play 90% of the time in the studio.

pmb: Really?

AQS: Oh, sure. My parents took me to the opera when I was a kid. It’s the ultimate art form. When all of those aspects come together—the stage, the costumes, the singing, the orchestra—it’s such an extraordinary experience. It’s an amazing art. And now there are more and more really young singers. It’s not so much just the fat lady singing anymore.

Albertus Swanepoel also digs 80s disco and Frank Sinastra and he loves books, evidence abounds on all the shelves in his studio. He also collects magazines from the 1950s.

And so, here’s why The Love Spot loves Albertus:

Albertus Q. Swanpoel, milliner extraordinaire is an unassuming man, not at all pretentious despite his success; yet he is quietly self-assured. He’s got an unusual name and, well we love unique names, no? In a world, a city in particular, where people are coming and going and on to the next thing to do, Albertus is present in the moment. He takes time to ponder before he answers. He listens when you speak to him. And his eyes are sincere. His is a handshake firm and confident yet warm and so genuine. To know Albertus is to adore him and to know his work is to respect it… and to want to wear a hat, right? Here’s hoping.

xoxo and love!

pmb

P.S. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund event was made possible In partrnership with the GAP, and underwritten by American Express, Appleman Foundation, Barneys New York, Coach, Evgeny Lebedev, Hudson Bay Trading Company, Juicy Couture, Kellwood Company, Liz Claiborne Inc., L’Oréal Paris, Nordstrom, Theory, and–of course–VOGUE