Tuesday 27 March 2012

Dancing The Night Away, Shireen's Wedding Images

Very belatedly, but better late than never, I have now added to our blog, as promised to a few people, pictures of my wedding party at the Bluebird in Chelsea last year!

Lots of the Gilda's Tryst team and plenty of friends and family were sparkling away in Gilda's Tryst designs on the night (see Amanda looking amazing in our Queen of Mercia Lapis Lazuli Necklace in these pictures!)

We danced the night away at the Bluebird on the King’s Road in London. I love the feel-good glamour of the 1930s, and picked the Bluebird as it’s an amazing big art-deco space - originally built as a garage for Bluebird Cars in the 1920s. We started the party with cocktails as well as Champagne and Canapes, and then after a delicious dinner the Shirt-tail stompers, a phenomenal Swing Band that Rafa (my husband) and I love, played - and got every wedding guest young and old on the dance floor for their entire set until the DJ took over. It was an amazing party.

It was also a very cross cultural celebration. I’m from the Middle East (Palestinian) although I grew up mostly in London. Rafa is from Puerto Rico. Ours was a long distance relationship (we spent two years meeting in London, Puerto Rico or New York every few weeks) and our wedding party at the Bluebird was a big celebration not just of us getting married, but of us finally living in the same city! We had done the legal ceremony in Puerto Rico, with just a few family friends. We paid tribute to our very big cultural mix in the music – we had the Arabic Bridal Dance ‘Zafeh’ as we cut the cake, and lots of classic Arabic music and Salsa late into the night.

All my jewellery and my clutch were Gilda’s Tryst and my dress was Amanda Wakeley (I had wanted something that felt very much like a glamorous 1930s evening gown more than traditional bridal dress – it had a halter-neck, very low back. My shoes were Gina. We used Jamie Aston for the flowers – I love how in speakeasies and hotels of the 1930s and 1940s they used to use palm trees indoors, so our flower decorations were a combination of Kentya palm tree and white phalenopsis orchids.

Shireen,
Gilda's Tryst co-founder & designer

: The Bluebird

: The Wedding Cake

: Amanda wearing Gilda's Tryst Queen of Mercia Necklace

: Friends & Family eating

: Toasting Speeches

: Cake Cutting

: Shirt Tail Stompers Amazing Swing Band

: Rafa and Ladies from Lebanon

: Dancing to Arabic Music

: Clapping to traditional Arabic Bridal Music

: Dancing

: Everyone dancing

Wearing Gilda's Tryst Jewellery

: Rafa & I taking a moment

: Kiss

Saturday 24 March 2012

Behind The Scenes Of A Gilda's Tryst Filming Session

Here’s a sneak peek of a little filming session we’ve just done – it’s one we’ve kept very much in the family! Camera Lady and Director was Sara, part-time Gilda’s Tryst sales assistant and full-time film student. Sara came along with her regular film crew – lights, sound.

First in front of the camera were Heloise & Emilie - Amanda & Shireen's assistants. Sara asks them what they like about Gilda's Tryst, what their favourite gemstones and designs are. Then, CUT! Next Sara interviews Briana, our Covent Garden store manager, who tells her a little about the store and our customers and why she loves the jewellery!

Finally Shireen & Amanda - the ladies behind Gilda's Tryst arrive from their office/studio in Chelsea. They go under the make-up brush before the shooting begins. They explain how launching Gilda's Tryst was a dream come true, about their sources of inspiration and their designs.

It's make up time!

& also time for the last practice!

Amanda & Shireen's video was filmed in our Covent Garden's private and luscious consultation spacious

Final sound and light adjustments!

Our videos are currently being edited, but as soon as we have them, we'll make sure to put them on the blog.

Amanda is wearing Onyx & Silver Small Stud Earrings, Onyx Gatsby Lariat, Onyx and Silver Black Russian Cocktail Ring. Shireen is wearing Pyrite & Gold Long Chastity Earrings, Pyrite Gatsby Necklace, Gold Wildcat Pendant, Pyrite & Gold Absolution Bracelet, Onyx and Gold Black Russian Cocktail Ring.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

Bloggers' Night at Our Covent Garden Store

We've recently hosted a fabulous little party at our Covent Garden store to officially unveil our new bridal collection. Our guest list included some lovely wedding planners, bloggers and wedding journalists. It was a chance for them to see still shiny & new Covent Garden store, learn more about our bridal range and meet Shireen, one of our co-founders & designers.

Briana & Shireen talking animatedly about our bridal range - materials, designs, inspirations...

The bubbly was flowing and the Florentines were going down a treat...

We had a ball - it was a great chance to meet some lovely women and we love any chance to talk about our jewellery!

By the way, Shireen promised she will soon write about and unveil pictures of her wedding in her diary, so stay posted!!

A special thanks to Laura for some of the images !!

Monday 12 March 2012

A Little Touch Of Grace

Here at Gilda’s Tryst we watched the Oscars (as we always do) and then we looked to Oscars in decades past for inspiration. This post is about one of our perennial favourites – the aesthetically divine Grace Kelly, an the Academy Award Winner for her performance in The Country Girl (1954). Here she is in the role…

And here she is on that night...

We’re far from being the only one citing Grace as an inspiration. What is it about this actress/princess that still inspires so potently? For us, it’s the fact she really had her own singular style – flawless silhouettes, clean lines – and always teemed with a few signature accessories – pearl necklaces (she’s definitely our lady there), large sunglasses, hats and long white gloves.

Check Grace out here and it’s pretty clear Grace and Gilda’s Tryst share an aesthetic…

Grace 1

Necklace:

Lady Chatterley Freshwater Peal & Silver Two Line Necklace

or Pearl & Silver Garland Necklace

Bracelet: Lady Chatterley Freshwater Pearl & Silver Bracelet

Ring: Pearl and Silver Charleston Ring

Grace 2

Necklace: Pearl & Silver Gatsby 2 line Necklace

Bracelet: Pearl & Silver Repentance Bracelet

Earrings: Pearl & Silver Large Stud Earrings

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Our London Fashion Weekend - Second Part

LONDON FASHION WEEKEND - PART 2

Here is Camilla, I'm a student studying in London and working part time for Gilda's Tryst. I love style and capturing beautiful and inspiring things which I now document in my blog. Fashion month is drawing to a close and if, like me, you have been trying to keep up with the show coverage you're probably feeling some serious fashion fatigue by now. This weekend I was working on Gilda's Tryst's stall at London Fashion Weekend at Somerset House. The show-goers had certainly made an effort and turned out in style, major trends showing up were pastels, longer skirt lengths, sheer, clashing prints, towering platform heels and multi-textural black (always a favourite!). Featured here are a few snaps from the weekend and looks that I loved.

Probably one of the most enthusiastic people I've met for a while, this lady came to our stall to tell us how she shops at the Duke of York store and loves the label, she was even wearing the Onyx Gatsby Necklace! Doesn't she look effortlessly cool?

The weather all weekend was amazing - certainly not what you expect of February

I'm not going to deny that this habit is bad for you but damn! This woman looked so classically elegant - literally and metaphorically smoking.

This lady was utterly charming and fabulous - I loved the bright purple she was wearing which I spotted from across the terrace and had to snap.

Black doesn't have to be boring, I particularly like the guy's purple socks and doctor's bag.

Classic men's style

Love the pairing of sheer nude and black here

Beautiful pair, I like the long pleated skirt and cream tweed jacket.

Monday 5 March 2012

Our London Fashion Weekend - First Part

Gilda’s Tryst was at London Fashion Wend in Somerset House the last weekend of February, so we thought it would be nice to share a little bit of the behind the scenes as we build open for the opening…

The night before (Wednesday 22nd February late): We pull together all our pieces: one-off development samples, gorgeous gemstone jewellery and lots of silky sparkly clutch bags. We arrive to set up at Somerset House the night before it opens – it feels quite lonely!