By Rachel Garrahan, guest editor, LA awards season
It is no secret that launching a high-end jewellery line is an expensive business. Which is why it took American designer Pamela Love seven years of earning a strong reputation for her jewels with attitude - made from more affordable silver and bronze - to present her first gold collection, Pamela Love Fine.
LoveGold, which entered into a strategic partnership with the designer a year ago as part of its work to support young jewellers, celebrated the launch with a pre-Oscars event, co-hosted by the designer, in the stylish surroundings of its so-called LoveGold House at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Pamela, who last year won the prestigious CFDA Swarovski Accessory Design award, presented her 35-piece collection to magazine editors including Lisa Love, the West Coast editor of Vogue, fashion stylists and influential style bloggers.
The collection, featuring some of the designer's signature motifs, including tribal spikes and bold geometric shapes, and a wide variety of influences including Indian jewellery, Moroccan architecture and the moon, is crafted from ethically mined or recycled gold and includes some of her favourite stones including opals, sapphires and diamonds.
My collection highlights include Pamela's edgy but pretty five-spike earrings - available in white, rose and yellow gold with diamonds - which are destined to be a fashion editor's favourite; the Moroccan-inspired gold cut-out pieces with diamond pavé; and the evocative moon-phase collection, available in yellow or rose gold and black diamonds, or white gold and blue sapphires.
The Pamela Love event came hot on the heels of LoveGold's cocktail party in honour of Oscar nominee and current red carpet golden girl, Lupita Nyong'o. The actress, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Twelve Years a Slave', wore gold and diamond earrings and a gold ring by Elena Votsi, a striking addition to her electric blue bodycon Stella McCartney dress, matching eye makeup and Christian Louboutin heels. She was joined at the event by a host of fellow actresses, including Naomie Harris ('Mandela') and Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl).
