Bring in the Bling

Optional Art showcases jewelry designer Roberto Coin.

By Carol Tisch

I never went to trunk shows when I lived in New York. Why bother? Nearly every name brand had a flagship store in my hometown. Those brands were also carried by multiple department stores, each with its own exclusive selections so (heaven forbid) they wouldn’t compete with the same stuff. As a result, the choices were boundless—I was spoiled. In truth, when I moved to Sarasota I had a “shopping” attitude. Without even giving this town a chance, I assumed its stores wouldn’t measure up.

What I’ve since learned is good things come in small packages. While Sarasota stores don’t offer vast selections, they edit very well. And trunk shows here allow me to see and learn everything about my favorite designers’ new lines—without New York’s crowds, traffic and pushy salespeople. I have been able to meet many of the fashion and home decorating worlds’ top celebrities in person right here in Sarasota, or at the very least speak at length with well-trained merchandisers who are anxious to share their knowledge.

That’s how I learned enough this weekend about jewelry designer Roberto Coin (www.robertocoin.com) to put my big-city fashionista pals shame. My friends and I all jumped on Roberto Coin’s jewelry bandwagon when the Venetian designer launched his brand in the US in the late 1990s. We liked the look; but no NY salesperson ever described Coin’s philosophy about jewelry the way his rep, Loren Hull, did during Optional Art’s three-day trunk show that began on Friday (www.optionalart.com 16 S. Blvd of the Presidents, 385-2317).

Showtime! Gerri Laurino, Robert Day and Susan Merrill of Optional Art and Loren Hull, merchandise coordinator, Roberto Coin Inc.

Hull brought in enough jewelry to fill the store’s four front cases. What’s more, she had everything from the designer’s newest line of bling for spring. Explaining that Roberto is influenced by fashion (and fabric in particular) she pointed out the designer’s penchant for flexible jewelry (he attempts to create with metal the movement of a textile). One example is the Silk Weave collection with circles and heart pendants that look as if they’re woven of golden threads. Who would have thought — the hearts actually bend!

The unbreakable heart: Silk Weave collection’s flexible, bendable rose gold heart, $1320

Also flexible are great looking enamel “rose” rings and pendants. Outlined with pave diamonds, the fragile-looking ring is actually designed to take a beating. “Can you imagine what would happen if you banged your hand into a door,” Hull asked. With that, and to the astonishment of onlookers, she hit the ring onto the countertop and it sprang back into shape. The secret, she said is a spring at the base of the flower to which each petal is individually adhered.

Flower power: The rose enamel ring, $5000

The store donated 10 percent of Roberto Coin sales during the event to the Susan G. Koman Foundation, as did several other St. Armands stores this weekend, including Dream Weavers (Maria Pinto trunk show) and Foxy Lady (Garfield and Marks and Womyn trunk show). All that fashion, fun, and for a good cause, too.

Posted: 3/5/2007 3:02:05 PM | 0 comments

Retail Therapy

Bring in the Bling

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