Violette Necklace and Carnivale Earrings in Amethyst and Onyx by Leibling Designs, $149
Nurtured by a circle of creative women, Jessica Cripps grew up surrounded by creativity and innovation. With Jessica at the center of the circle and her mother, aunt, and grandmother on the rim, this group of women shared an enormous passion for handcrafting. With her mother loving to make beautiful, original objects d’art with her own hands, her aunt being a do-it-yourself interior decorator, and her grandmother being exceedingly talented at knitting, crocheting, and sewing, it is no surprise that a love for jewelry design developed in Jessica. This, and a desire to perfectly accessorize her outfits made her turn to creating her own pieces.
From the formal to the funky, Jessica’s trouble in finding anything on the market that pleased her, made it her mission to create special pieces for women across the world that have an eye for fashion and a desire to stand head and shoulders above the crowd.
It’s quite a tall order but after viewing her eclectic collection, I think she’s on her way to fulfilling that mission. What she offers is statement jewelry for unique people, jewelry with a unique flair where modern lines and old world sensibilities combine in spectacular pieces.
Her inspiration comes from mid century modern art and architecture, as well as nature and vintage fashion. Her label, Liebling Designs, is based in Minneapolis where she has been designing jewelry at her home studio for several years.
We received the Violette Necklace and the Carnivale Earrings in Amethyst and Onyx. The necklace is a double-stranded violet dyed kiwi agate with varying sizes of black onyx beads and a black onyx pendant. It has a sterling silver toggle clasp, measures 15.5” around, and retails for $120. The earring is a sterling silver wire hand-formed into hoops with violet amethyst and onyx beads. It dangles approximately 2” from the earlobe, measures 1” across, and retails for $29.
With the upcoming season being all about jewel tones, these pieces are absolutely perfect for fall. The craftsmanship on these pieces is outstanding, the quality superb, and the look striking. Black is always beautiful, but black with violet is stunning.
Starting off with the earrings, the pair is effortless chic defined. This piece can go from casual to glam in no time. It’s a sophisticated piece that has become a staple in my wardrobe. I love pairing it up with a neutral-tone dress like this slate matisse dress by Leyendecker. It provides a dramatic pop of color to what would otherwise be a colorless outfit.
The necklace is classically-styled, one that would not go out of fashion for years to come. One’s tendency might be to pair this up with a black tube top or dress. That’s nice but a bit predictable. My favorite way to wear this is with a white button down. Even better, I found this mock two piece shirtdress by Ralph Lauren that absolutely makes this necklace shine. With the white top, the black high waist pencil skirt, and the wide black patent belt, this necklace adds so much drama to an otherwise traditional work outfit. The violet agate is what makes this piece and the vibrancy that emanates from it.
If you want to see more of where these pieces came from, check out the rest of the collection. The fall one will be debuting online in a few days so check it out. I bet you’ll find something you’ll want to add to your fall lineup!
Reviewed by: Brown Eyes
