After working nearly exclusively with metal for the last five years, Charlotte Chesnais has included pearls in her nine-piece capsule collection for Matches Fashion. It marks a turning point in the Parisian designer’s typically sculptural aesthetic. ‘Now feels like the right time to add something new to my work,’ says Chesnais. ‘I have been curious about pearls for a while but needed to find the right balance to integrate it into my existing collections. The shape and colours of the pearls add texture which I find really interesting.’
The uneven shapes of the natural pearls are an organic complement to the graceful twists of gold vermeil and silver which are Chesnais’ trademark. Nestled in the curve of an earring or punctuating the smooth loop of a ring, they add a warmth to simple silhouettes. ‘My starting point was the pearl: how to make it coexist with my work without denaturing it. The simplest things are often the most beautiful, but the challenge here was making sure that the signatures of my main line were still identifiable in this capsule collection. This is the same process as when I work around a specific diamond or stone for a special project,’ she adds.
A limited series of abstract sculptures, pictured above, will be released alongside the jewellery, an extension of Chesnais’ first exhibition at last year’s Hyères International Festival Fashion and Photography. Hand forged in bronze, the pieces celebrate volume on a large scale, echoing the preoccupation with clean lines and empty space we see encapsulated in her jewels.
The pieces will be launching exclusively at Matches Fashion in a timely collaboration for the online retailer who saw a significant uptick in jewellery sales over lockdown. ‘I think customers feel more confident in making considered purchases which feel like a timeless investment,’ says Matches Fashion jewellery buyer Tanika Wisdom. Charlotte Chesnais’ sculptural pieces are a natural addition: ‘She creates wearable pieces of art. They are unique, easy to wear and make a real statement.’ §
INFORMATION
-
The artistry of Japanese wineFine wine from Japan may not yet register highly on the radars of most oenophiles, but for those who know, it's a hugely rewarding and rich tapestry of flavour. Drinks expert, Neil Ridley visits London's Luna Omakase for the launch of a new dedicated Japanese wine pairing menu
-
In Los Angeles, Darling doesn’t want to be your average dinner spotVinyl, live-fire cooking, and California’s finest ingredients come together in this immersive new concept from a celebrated Southern chef
-
'There is no way light and darkness are not in exchange with each other': step inside Christelle Oyiri’s sonic world in BerlinIn an explosion of light and sound, Christelle Oyiri explores celebrity, mythology and religion inside CANK, a former brutalist shopping centre in Berlin’s Neukölln
-
All eyes on Greek jewellery brand Lito as it launches bold new amulets to mark its 25 yearsStriking amulets, seductive stones and secret messages characterise Lito's striking new anniversary collection, an extension of its ‘Tu es Partout’ series
-
The best layering necklaces for an elevated yet casual lookHow to mix, match and stack jewellery for the ultimate high-energy, low-effort style
-
Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden HourLate summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal piecesA host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collectToday’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
-
Andreas Kronthaler’s costume jewellery for Vivienne Westwood is fun, flirty and fabulousAndreas Kronthaler’s new jewellery draws on romantic and theatrical motifs
-
Fope’s flexible gold chains rethink a classic designElasticity meets elegance in Fope’s new jewellery collection, ‘Luna’
-
Get personal with Bea Bongiasca’s colourful initial necklaces in enamelBea Bongiasca’s ‘B Colour’ collection of initial necklaces brings a chic modernity to personalised jewellery
