Spring is in the air – and at the jewellery counter

I have a very strong inner princess. The kind that loves sparkle and flowers and vintage china and good manners. And it was this inner princess of mine that was stopped in her tracks last week as I was scooting out of Holt Renfrew (I had just been at a beauty launch for a new skincare line). On the way to the door, I spied a deliriously pretty necklace – a large colourful orchid mixed with gumball-sized globes encrusted with crystals and it was all strung together with pearls and a silk rope. It was jewellery designer Alexis Bittar’s Garden Necklace. And it was breathtaking. So was the price: about $1,800, if I recall correctly. But I would argue that it’s worth a trip to the Bloor Street store in Toronto just to see it, floating in a Lucite case with a coral-painted conch shell.

And even if you’re not about to buy the delightful trinket, make some mental style notes, as this beauty is a perfect illustration of what is au courrant this spring when it comes to jewellery. It is quirky, it is big, it is somewhat retro in feel, it is exceedingly feminine, it is fun, and it would look just as stunning against a white T-shirt as a gown.

And it will make you smile. So please, go do some window shopping and be inspired. www.alexisbittar.com

– Deborah Fulsang