Today I am delighted to introduce you to D.C. based jewelry designer, Michelle Guest, whose company, MIJA Jewelry, has become a popular option for the perfect wedding jewels. I adore her earrings which are perfect for fashionable brides, as well as the children’s bracelets which are the CUTEST flower girls gifts. MIJA Jewelry has been worn by stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Holmes, and Denise Richards.
Michelle’s inspiration comes from all kinds of places, even our backyard…
I find my inspiration from everywhere! One of the pieces I am most excited about, which will be unveiled in our new spring/summer collection, was inspired by a tattoo on the back of a girl sitting at the bar in Sushi Ko in Glover Park! Somehow, that tattoo stuck in my head and ended up turning into a necklace design!
To top it off, Michelle is a bride-to-be herself, recently engaged to Peter Carter, owner of Smathers and Branson, another well established D.C. based company known for the cute belts that groomsmen suit up in for weddings.
Her thoughts on being a bride-to-be definitely influence the brand…
Well, first of all, I’m very excited! Not only am I excited to be engaged to the man I love, but I am also excited to be able to be creative throughout the whole wedding process…from designing my wedding (picking colors, flowers, lighting, etc) to designing a line of bridal jewelry.
One of the first things I noticed when I began searching for wedding gowns was the lack of affordable, beautiful bridal jewelry in bridal stores. There is costume jewelry made from crystals and base metal, and then there is designer jewelry which is often made from solid gold and set with diamonds (and extremely pricey!) There is not much beautiful jewelry that is well-priced and crafted from high-quality materials. So, my idea for a bridal line was born (and will be completed in a couple months!) The collection will be crafted from sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil, pearls, white sapphires, and other precious & semi-precious gemstones. It will feature earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and hair pins.
I know the process can be a little bit overwhelming for a bride. Luckily, since we are tying the knot in 2011, I feel like I have some time and can start the process slowly. To all those brides-to-be out there who are feeling the pressure, I say: Don’t stress! Stay true to your style throughout the process, and even if the flowers aren’t perfect, the day still will be.
Stay tuned in a few weeks for the official launch of the MIJA Jewelry bridal collection!
