Wednesday 31 December 2014

Adios 2014!

Hi everyone!

I hope that you all had an amazing Christmas!

Can you believe that 2014 is finished? Finito! Gone forever! Well not just yet, there are a few more hours left until we ring in 2015. Naturally, everyone will reflect on the year gone, and resolve to try and do things differently in the year ahead.

Here at Willow & Clo it has been another fantastic year, although not without the odd challenge here and there of course!

The ultimate high was winning Best Accessories Designer at Kerry Fashion Week. I was absolutely astounded! To be the recipient of such a prestigious award was the ultimate career high and I'll never forget it!

Absolutely thrilled - Hannah and me at KFW 2014 after I won Best Accessories Designer!




Another memorable moment was seeing Princess Eugenie wear the Willow Leaf Earrings from the Willow collection at a fundraising event in New York. Seeing them dangle from her ears as she embraced the Duchess of Cambridge, right there in the world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art..........that was a pinch myself moment!

Princess Eugenie greets the Duchess of Cambridge wearing the Willow Leaf Earrings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art


My love of stories and storytelling came to life in my new collection, 'Ogham.' I wanted to design a collection that embraced and paid homage to the tradition of storytelling in Irish heritage, and where better to look for inspiration than our earliest example of storytelling - the Ogham alphabet!


Some pieces from the new 'Ogham' collection - 'Wise and Pure' bracelet and 'Alive like Fire' necklace




More recently, I loved opening up the studio to my customers over the Christmas period! We decorated the studio to look as though it was a treasure trove, a hidden gem amidst the hustle and bustle of Dublin's city centre, full of wondrous and glorious pieces ideal for Christmas gifts and style inspiration. The Christmas tunes were hoppin' throughout the course of each day and a few people commented that it was the most Christmassy establishment in town!


'Most Wonderful Time of the Year!' Christmas prep at Willow & Clo Atelier



I'm so happy that I decided to open the studio and had the opportunity to meet my customers. That's the best thing about what I do - meeting people and hearing their stories about Willow & Clo, the reasons why they bought Willow & Clo jewellery for that special someone, or indeed for themselves!


As the year draws to a close, it's fun looking back at those special moments throughout the year. But.....time to look ahead and write a new chapter in our lives.

As far as 2015 is concerned, I have a stone buying trip to Peru planned in early January, and I have a feeling that 2015 heralds the advent of so many new, wonderful and exciting things! New inspiration, new designs, new opportunities!

So let's all start the New Year with a positive note! I hope that for all of you 2015 is filled with happy and exciting events, moments and stories - I hope that it will be a real page-turner!




Wishing you all the best for 2015!

Clo xxx

Thursday 18 December 2014

'Ogham' - My Latest Collection

Hard to believe there's a week left until Christmas! So exciting! The Christmas atmosphere here at Willow & Clo is incredible, with sparkly lights, chocolate, and Christmas tunes! It's been amazing having the studio open over the Christmas period. I have absolutely loved meeting so many of you over the last number of weeks and helping you to choose pieces from the range, be it for a loved one or for you. It is exactly why I do what I do - for me, jewellery is so personal, and is such a special gift to give to someone, so being part of the selection process means so much to me!

Sparkly lights at the Willow & Clo studio


On to more exciting news - I am delighted to be releasing the new 'Ogham' collection. I have always been fascinated by Ogham stones and their inscriptions.I think it's amazing that they, along with their stories, have been in existence for thousands of years. Storytelling is integral to the Willow & Clo brand, so it felt right to release a collection based on one of the earliest examples of storytelling in Irish culture.

When designing the collection, two Ogham inscriptions were my main sources of inspiration: 'Alive Like Fire' and 'Wild and Pure.' The collection is based on both of these sayings and feature these inscriptions in the Ogham alphabet itself.

'Ogham' has a contemporary, understated feel, and will be the perfect gift for any jewellery enthusiast.

'Alive like Fire' Long Wrap Necklace from the Ogham collection


The 'Ogham' collection is available online at www.willowandclo.ie

This is likely to be the last post that I do before Christmas, so for that reason, I am taking this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas!

Clo xxx

Saturday 6 December 2014

Willow & Clo - The Latest!

Hi everyone,

I hope that you're all keeping well and that your Christmas prep is running smoothly. As far as I'm concerned, you're one of two people: the kind who is incredibly organised and you have had all of your shopping done since May, or the kind of person who is running around like a headless chicken come Christmas Eve, rushing around trying to do all of your shopping within the space of two hours!

Either way, it really is the most exciting time of year and it's important to remember to enjoy yourself and not get too stressed out!

It has been a busy few weeks here at Willow & Clo. First bit of exciting news - I'm off to Peru come the new year for a stone buying trip! I'm so excited about visiting somewhere new, especially as Peru's history and culture is so deep in Aztec and Inca tradition - perfect for jewellery inspiration.


Willow & Clo has had some great coverage during the last few weeks. The new 'Ogham' collection was featured in the wonderful Her.ie's 'Fashion High Five.' Huge thanks to Michelle McMahon who wrote the piece. If you didn't see it, you can get it here .





Some pieces from the 'Ogham' collection, as featured on Her.ie



There was also a fantastic piece on Spanish blog The Petticoat, who recently collaborated with the amazing Irish online jewellery boutique, Coldlilies. The gorgeous Cristina Fernandez wore the Multi Layer Necklace from the Twig collection. She teamed it with a black velvet blazer with satin lapels from ZARA, and the finished look is sharp, sleek and androgynous, yet feminine and sexy. You can check out this amazing blog post for yourself here.


The Multi Layer Necklace from the Twig collection as seen on Cristina Fernandez, The Petticoat

Finally, Willow & Clo was thrilled to achieve over 1000 likes on Facebook this week. It is so wonderful to know that Willow & Clo has so many fans, and I am so grateful for all of the support and love. The Facebook page is updated regularly with style inspiration and stories, as well as the latest Willow & Clo news, so make sure to have a look!

Chat soon!

Clo xxx








Thursday 27 November 2014

The Christmas Party Outfit - Accessorise with Willow & Clo

It's that time of year again. Christmas. It comes by so quickly! While it can be the most stressful time of year for some, it's also without doubt the most fun. As it's a time when most people catch up with friends and family, there is a constant stream of parties and get-togethers and a never-ending buzz of social activity.

Herein lies the dilemma - what to wear? The key is to keep it simple, and choose a look that can be easily adapted and modified with some glam accessories. Black is perhaps the most elegant and sophisticated colour that can be worn all year, and is no more appropriate than during the Winter season.

I love this black shirt from ZARA, which looks fab when paired with some skintight, showstopping skinny black jeans such as these ones from TOPSHOP. Nothing beats a pair of pointed toe stiletto court shoes, and these ones from RIVER ISLAND are affordable and simple, but also very classic. A pointed toe court shoe has the added bonus of elongating the leg, thus ensuring that your pins look ultra svelte!

To top it all off, make a real statement with the Long Chain Earrings in yellow gold from Willow & Clo's Twig collection. The gold will look so striking against the black, and have maximum impact when accessorised with a plain black outfit.


It's That Time Of Year Again



Hi everyone! Apologies for the lack of posts recently. It's been a busy few weeks! And things are about to get busier ahead of Christmas!

I hope you're all excited - I know I am! I adore Christmas, and one of my favourite things about this time of year is, without any doubt, Christmas shopping! I love everything about it - the buzz around the shops, the lights and decorations, the Christmas songs blaring from every store within your proximity.....the list goes on!

With this in mind, I decided this year to share the Willow & Clo Christmas atmosphere with customers and give them a unique and personal shopping experience. So, I am delighted to announce that as of 25th November, I will be opening the doors of the Willow & Clo studio to customers!

 If you're looking for gift inspiration, for a loved one or for you, or something to accessorise those carefully planned outfits for the busiest party season of the year, then be sure to pay Willow & Clo a visit.

The studio is located on the third floor of 29 Wicklow St. Anyone is more than welcome to come in, browse the collections and experience the very Christmassy atmosphere here at Willow & Clo! For further information, see www.willowandclo.ie .






Clo xxx



Wednesday 25 June 2014

Launching The Silver Linings Collection at The Jewellery Show London!

Hey everyone!

I'm just back from a busy week in London where i was exhibiting at the Jewellery Show London in The Saatchi Gallery! The Gallery itself was so nice and like last year I met so many amazing people, it was brilliant to have such fantastic weather for the week!



The new Silver Linings collection was launched at the show which was really exciting and it was fantastic to get such a great response!

The Silver Linings Collection: 








The Silver Linings Collection features  the ‘Hidden Message’ trend which proved hugely successful in Willow & Clo’s Soundwave collection.  The collection illustrates the power of jewellery to tell a story, which is central to the Willow & Clo brand.  The Silver Linings Earrings and Necklace are engraved with the proverb ‘Every Cloud has a Silver Lining’ as the collection embodies this optimistic outlook on life and seeks to remind the wearer to stay positive and look on the bright side of life!



 I've another few busy weeks ahead with lots of exciting projects in the pipline so I'll be sure to keep you all up to date! Hope you've all had a great week in the sunshine! 

Clo xx

Friday 13 June 2014

Getting Ready for the Jewellery Show London!


Hey Everyone,

I'm very excited to be heading over to the Jewellery Show London in The Saatchi Gallery next week! Willow & Clo was exhibited at the Jewellery and Watch Show London in Somerset House last year and was a great success! 




I'm buried under a pile of Lookbooks and  jewellery at the moment trying to get everything organised but really looking forward to the show! I'll update you all next week and let you know how it goes! :) 
 
                                        


Hope you all have a great weekend!

 Clo xx