When I was a child, every time I went to visit my grandmother, she would put on old movie’s for us to watch. Generally they were musicals like ‘South Pacific’ but every now and then something like ‘Some Like it Hot’ or ‘Casablanca’ would be slipped in.
Later in life I started watching darker movies, one’s which showed mystery, betrayal and strong female characters. Actresses like Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis became synonymous with the genre of Film Noir. This is where my love for 1940’s/50’s movies and everything it encapsulated began.
This collection is inspired by those movies: by the cinema photographic style - the dark shadows contrasted with bright light. By the actresses - the strong women who are also feminine and sexual. By the fashion - simple, understated and elegant lines. And by the architecture - modernism in post-war suburbs.
I therefore chose to use the colour scheme of black and white - oxidised silver and white pearls or black pearls and white silver. I chose clean and simple shapes that at once reference 1940/50’s fashion but at the same time are modern and relevant in today’s world. I added uncommon pieces like hairpins and brooches and tried to encapsulate the elegance of the time.
This collection is inspired by Film Noir - the classic cinematic and photographic style of the 1940’s and 50’s . Think of the dark shadows contrasted with bright light; the actresses who are strong, witty women but at the same time feminine and sexual; and the simple and understated fashion with elegant lines.
A monotone theme with severe black and white contrast runs throughout this collection. SMITH Jewellery has made use of oxidised silver and white pearls or black pearls and white silver. The use of clean and simple lines reference 1940/50’s silhouettes but at the same time are modern and relevant today. You will also find uncommon pieces for today, like hairpins and brooches with the hope of encapsulating the elegance of the time.