Take
a cue from top designer collections such as Prada, Chanel, Versace, and
Valentino and add sparkle to any ensemble with a beautiful brooch.
Jackets, sweaters, scarves, handbags, and dresses are just a titch
prettier when adorned with a pin (or two or three). Rummage through the
family jewels for vintage scores, or grab a gilded gem from Eiseman
Jewels or a thrifty treasure at Lula B’s. You can’t go wrong—or
unnoticed—with the season’s must-have accessory.
Carolyn is
wearing a turquoise velvet jacket by Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent
($320/Elements) over a sage beaded cami by Plenty ($128/Elements).
Brooches: (clockwise from top) Valentin Magro aquamarine and diamond
embedded gold brooch ($31,275/Eiseman Jewels), vintage (stylist’s own),
and Iradj Moini scarab turquoise and jade brooch ($615/Stanley Korshak).
Photo by Matt Cooper
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Designing Women
Meet five Dallas fashion designers under 40 who are fast making a name for themselves.
 |
| Everett Parker silk top ($253). |
Clair Parker, 25,and Erika Everett, 24
COMPANY: Everett Parker
DESIGNS: Silk clothing and one-of-a-kind bags
STYLE: Vintage luxe
TRAINING:
Parker interned with clothing designer Michael Kors in 2000; Everett
interned with jewelry designer David Yurman in 2001. Both studied
jewelry design in San Miguel, then switched their focus to clothes.
LOOK FOR:
The duo presented their designs—seven pieces in five colors, mostly
silk charmeuse tops—at Dallas Market for the first time
earlier this year.
PRICE RANGE: $180-$260
AVAILABLE AT: Forty Five Ten, Sussie’s, Elements
 |
| Loot gold and purple gemstone necklace ($146). |
Joy Coit, 30
COMPANY: Loot
DESIGNS: Jewelry
STYLE: Contemporary and delicate, all handmade by her personally
TRAINING:
Coit learned casting and metalworking from local jeweler Lindy Brown,
but Coit has been making jewelry since she was a little girl.
LOOK FOR: Pearl strands with vintage brooch necklaces and hammered silver and gold accessories, plus her traditional geometric designs
PRICE RANGE: $50-$300
AVAILABLE AT: Elements, Tootsies, Premium 93
 |
| Anyaa hand-painted scarf (price upon request). |
Elizabeth Anyaa, 37
COMPANY: Anyaa
DESIGNS: Women’s ready-to-wear
STYLE: Wearable art incorporated into jackets, tops, dresses, and scarves
TRAINING: Anyaa studied
textiles
and manufacturing in Finland at Rovaniemi Institute of Industrial Arts
& Crafts, and fashion design at El Centro in Dallas.
LOOK FOR: Pieces made of hand-painted fabrics mixed with industrial fabrics such as wool, silk, and silk blends
PRICE RANGE: $200-$700
AVAILABLE: By special order for now, but she hopes to sell through Stanley Korshak and Tootsies in the future.
 |
| Seirc by Jordan McMillan handbag ($225). |
Abby White, 27
COMPANY: Seirc by Jordan McMillan
DESIGNS: Handbags
STYLE: Classic, architectural, functional, and fun
TRAINING:
White studied studio art and interior architecture at the University of
Texas in Austin, then went on to work for a prominent architectural
firm before experimenting with textiles and handbags.
LOOK FOR: Chocolate brown and toffee suedes paired with rich colored ribbons in her signature classic structures
PRICE RANGE: $98-$450
AVAILABLE AT: Tootsies or www.jordanmcmillan.com
Are
you a Dallas designer who is having trouble getting started? In 2002,
Leslie Carpenter founded a nonprofit organization, the Dallas Fashion Incubator, to aid aspiring designers. For more information, call 214-485-7020 or visit www.dallasfashionincubator.org.
Photos: Designers: Scott Womack; Bag: Courtesy of Seirc; Scarf and Necklace: Abel Sanchez; Blouse: Courtesy of William Couture
