Making Waves: Ilene Steele’s Jewelry Debut

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry

             London is a metropolis overflowing with budding designers and their creations, so allow me to introduce one such designer who is making a name for herself this summer. Ilene Steele’s first collection, the Wave Collection, was launched this past May. Like a magpie drawn to all things shiny, I felt an immediate magnetic pull to Steele’s jewelry, which she handcrafts all herself. With their subdued colored stones and modern geometric shapes, the pieces have real potential to become the new “girl about town” accessories.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry

             Steele calls New York home, but has set up shop in Hatton Garden, which is known for being London’s jewelry quarter. Her collection is comprised of precious and semi-precious stones set in 18kt gold bands, silver cocktail rings, and dainty stud earrings. Whether you stack the rings or wear them on their own, a multitude of options are available to best show off your jewelry personality.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry 

             The choice to call the line the Wave Collection was deliberate and well thought-out, acting as a very unique identifier for Steele’s work and her overall ethos. The jewelry’s stones all face the wearer, opposed to facing forward, in homage to seafaring positions and the capricious nature of natural bodies of water. Not only that, but the stone placements are angled so as to accommodate both the wearer and the admirer. This simple attention to detail constructs the rings as mini masterpieces, regardless of what direction you view them from. 

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry

             Steele’s collection is consistently nautical. Her choice of stone color excellently highlights the various tones of rippling water - from crystal aquamarines, to murky browns, to seaweed greens. The range of jewels also helps to remind us that we need to create a harmonious relationship between the “ebbs” and “flows” of our nonstop, hectic lifestyles.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry 

             Taking her work one step further, Steele stays true to her message in her method. Through the ancient practice of cuttlefish casting, a wave-like texture is embedded into the ring bands. For Steele, designing and constructing exist concurrently, as she exercises her knack for balance, symmetry, and synergy. Personal orders for rings and earrings can be requested, where Steele will individually craft the jewelry to your distinct taste.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry 

             The Wave Collection mimics the highs and lows of life, while striking a happy medium between the fluctuating ocean tides, currents, and waves and the fluctuating needs, hopes, and extremes that plague everyday human existence. Now that’s something I think everyone can relate to, so make a statement without even saying a word with a piece from Steele’s classic jewelry range. If Steele’s first collection is anything to go by, we should be expecting great things from her in the future.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry

             Check back for an interview I will be conducting with Steele in September for a discussion on the Wave Collection!

             Prices start at 150 pounds. Get your hand and ear adornments from Wolf & Badger online here and in store, at the Clerkenwell Collection (for directions, see here), or from Steele’s official website here.

Photo courtesy of Ilene Steele Jewelry

Dive Into Love Brand & Co.’s First Women’s Collection

Gina Kushka, the new face of Love Brand & Co.'s women's collection, photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             Last September, I took a very apropos journey to an area of Chelsea called “The Beach,” where Love Brand & Co. is backing up style with substance. I met with Oliver Tomalin, the founder and creative director of the company, who was kind enough to share his vision with me. (Read the full interview here.) Since 2011, Tomalin has devoted himself to the cause of elephant conservation, ensuring that five percent of all sales are donated to charities (Elephant Family, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and Tusk Trust) that work towards bettering the situation of endangered elephants through conservation efforts.

             At the time of my visit, Love Brand & Co. only stocked beachwear for men, but less than a year on, I am proud to introduce their first bikini range for women. South African singer-songwriter Gina Kushka is the debuting face of the line and has attributed the partnership to fate. Due to her upbringing in Africa, Kushka has been familiar with the conservation and care for animals since she was born.

Photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             She began writing her own songs at the young age of 12 and taught herself how to play the guitar and the keyboard. Categorized by an ambient-come-ethereal electro/pop sound, Kushka will be releasing her first EP this year. Much like Love Brand & Co.’s laidback vibe and fuss-free aesthetic, Kushska has been described by Tomalin as someone who is cool and beautiful without really trying. Thus, it was a “no-brainer” to cast her in the new campaign.

Photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             Borrowing the same basic designs from the men’s collection, expect six statement-making block colors from the women’s collection. Oh, and that “Ice White” shade? To die for with a bronze glow. The bikinis are sophistication at its finest, available in four main styles and five sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 (by British standards).

Photos courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             Tomalin, ever attuned with the needs of his customers, has designed the bikinis with a “mix and match” concept in mind. Honing in on the wishes of women everywhere, Tomalin’s new collection delivers them with what they want, but are usually unable to find. I can openly attest to this, having tried but failed to diversify my assortment of bikinis through experimenting with different tops and bottoms. Indeed, the cool tones of Love Brand & Co.’s line really take the cake for creating options, as evidenced below in a few examples I have put together:

Photos courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             Who would have thought that “fashion for the love of elephants” could look so, well…fashionable? Tomalin pulls it off by mastering up timeless pieces that also serve as a reminder of their underlying mission. In the men’s collection, the shorts’ drawstrings are emblemized with silver tusks and a red screw to represent the bloodshed of elephants. The women’s collection does much the same with their bottoms, but in a majestic gold. Giving back to the world in a positive way is surely the most tasteful accessory of any season and of any timeframe. Better yet? It never goes out of style.

Photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             The bikinis might be hanging prettily at the Love Brand & Co. boutique, but in order to do a whole lot of good, they need for you to go and buy them! I have a feeling you won’t need much convincing when you get there. Guys, make sure you tag along too! Once you hit the water, your equally lush Love Brand & Co. ensembles will marry up to stir some poolside jealousy and possibly cause a few ice creams to drop!

Photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

             Suit up in bikini tops for 59 pounds and bikini bottoms for 49 pounds. Whether it's for an exotic island beach, the pool down the road, or just your own backyard, you're bound to be spoiled for choice with Love Brand & Co., and left feeling good regardless of your location. To get your hands on these effortlessly chic beauties, shop the women’s collection here, surf the rest of the Love Brand & Co. collection here, or take a trip to “The Beach” and visit them at their flagship boutique. To keep up to date with Kushka and her music, check out her website here.

Photo courtesy of Love Brand & Co.

Have You Heard About the Mexican in a Sex Shop?

             I am currently on my summer vacation from university and visiting my parents where they live in Germany (hence my lack of posts). The beauty of this is that I am only about an hour and a half plane ride away from London. Spontaneously one weekday, I decided to plan a quick three-day stopover back to the big city with my friend. I really was missing it and I guess I just couldn’t stay away for too long, so a whirlwind trip was just what I needed. I threw some clothes in a suitcase, and jetted off to London, where my friend and I would prove to have a couple of very jam-packed days.

             Now, I don’t want the title of this particular post to put you off from reading. I am by no means going to start waxing lyrical about my adventures in an actual, literal sex shop. To be frank, that would just be tasteless and lewd. I am, however, going to be introducing you to another one of London’s hideaway locations, which exists right in the heart of Soho.

             The problem with secret places is that when you don’t know where you’re going, it’s actually very difficult to ask for directions, as you can imagine. My friend and I also had another hurdle to overcome: a lack of technology. As soon as we landed in London, my phone conveniently decided to stop working, taking its GPS capabilities with it. Luckily, we had maps that had been printed off in Germany prior to our departure. We also split the cost of the hotel WiFi here and there if we were in desperate need of Internet access.

             I joked with my friend that our social skills were really going to be put to the test during this trip, because without a phone coddling us, we really were on our own. I actually really recommend taking a day or two to see what life would be like without your phone, because it’s an enriching experience to say the least. You’re forced to hone in on your surroundings and pay attention at heightened levels. What was infuriating about our quest to the sex shop was that it was supposed to be located three minutes from the Leicester Square tube station, and we simply could not find it. Perhaps problematic was also the thought that we would have to ask people how to find our way to, well, a sex shop.

             I started pouncing on unassuming pedestrians, who inevitably turned out to be tourists themselves, and just as clueless as us. I then started prowling the area for anyone with a smart phone, batting my eyelashes so I could reach my long lost friend, Google Maps. Eventually, we stumbled across a pub, where two very obliging men attempted to help us, but to no avail. The one with a very pronounced Liverpool accent asked a pub staff member, and we finally struck lucky. A London local emerged from his workspace and directed us in the right direction, with just 10 minutes left to spare before our reservation time!

             Have you twigged it yet? Yes, my friend and I were going to be dining at a Mexican restaurant called La Bodega Negra, under the guise of a sex shop! As I stood outside snapping photographs, onlookers must have deemed me odd or creepy, or both. After all, staring us right in the face were neon lights glowing with the promise of “Adult Video” and “Peep Show.” There my friend and I were, happy-go-lucky, and entering in the side door advertising “private dance downstairs.” As soon as the door closed behind us, I had a moment of horror, because I thought I had actually entered a genuine sex shop. To my left stood a mannequin draped in slick leather bondage gear, while two men seemed to appear out of darkness and ask us if we were okay. With a decent amount of trepidation, I phrased what should be a statement as a question, “We have a reservation at 6?” Luckily, they took my bait and seemed to know what I was talking about, so my friend and I had finally arrived, our bellies fully rumbling by this point.

             We followed a giant red lit-up arrow and approached the cellar-style restaurant to be greeted by extremely accommodating staff. A certain warmth emanated from the restaurant and candles flickered as the only source of light in the dim, intimate setting. In direct contrast to the catacomb-reminiscent underground, modern music like rap blared overhead. This was one trendy space indeed, as we would soon come to discover as more patrons filed in throughout the evening.

             The only indication that we had entered through a “sex shop” existed in a raunchy wall decoration behind me with fishnet tights flying everywhere. All other evidence seemed to float away to make room for the spacious and romantic interior. The staff was very attentive and friendly, asking whether we needed anything explained on the menu. If you are not a well-versed Mexican food aficionado, then I suggest you take them up on their offer! My friend and I had perused the menu online back at the hotel, resorting to Google to look up some of the main dishes offered. La Bodega Negra does not mess around with their Mexican food! After much hemming and hawing, we decided on the beef tacos (playing it safe, I know).

             Our dainty tacos were presented on a stand made specifically for that purpose. We dug in while we watched the table next to us feast on the many other variations of tacos in rounds. With our order, my friend and I received two tacos each, but you can be much more adventurous than us and take your pick from a variety of other options (an octopus and chorizo skewer, spicy yellow fin tuna, or the Quesadilla Rustica, just to name a few). The tacos were bite-sized, filled with succulent beef and just enough vegetables to eat without embarrassing yourself.

             Afterwards, I had to indulge in their decadently creamy tiramisu. It came presented in a covered glass jar with the restaurant’s logo (a demonic scorpion-like creature) on top, laced with coffee traces and adorned with crumbled amaretto biscuits. Bliss.

             For a less menacing outer appearance, La Bodega Negra also has a café and bar located just around the other side of the “sex shop” that serves lunch and dinner Mexican-style. Unlike its counterpart, the café/bar proudly displays its name amid a teal décor.  

             For La Bodega Negra’s full menu, visit their website here. I’m a big fan of secret London, and it never fails to boggle my mind that in a city teeming with people, London still manages to surprise me with its less well-known haunts. I’m not going to give you any hints on how to reach the restaurant, but rather, my task to you is this: try and find this aptly hid and undeniably unique culinary marvel without technology, just like we did! Ask people, use a map, look at the signposts and road names. London is a lot more beautiful when viewed outside the screen of a smart phone, so look up and look alive! When you reach your destination, believe me, victory will taste all that much sweeter.