Moral Dilemmas...

Today’s Pearl of Wisdom

This morning I was surrounded by pearls, thousands of them all softly gleaming and hung like washing on a line. There’s something so mesmerising about pearls I would love to lie in a bed of them. Any way now that I have had one night in (I saw my son)
I now look tip top and off out again thinking 50 is the new 40 and wearing very high heals to boot.

The moral dilemma this week is what is worse a brand new sheepskin coat (£1200.00) to keep out the cold or a 60’s vintage mink coat (in perfect condition, cut short and never worn at £250.00)?

No dilemma for me actually, I’m sporting the mink occasionally hiding from people who look a little on the veggie side. I should point out that I have not eaten red meat for twenty five years.

Today’s Pearl of Wisdom

Friday morning I was surrounded by pearls, thousands of them all softly gleaming and hung like washing on a line. There’s something so mesmerising about pearls I would love to lie in a bed of them. Anyway, now that I have had one night in (I saw my son) I look tip top and off out again thinking 50 is the new 40 and wearing very high heals to boot.

The moral dilemma this week is what is worse a brand new sheepskin coat (£1200.00) to keep out the cold or a 60’s vintage mink coat (in perfect condition, cut short and never worn at £250.00)?

No dilemma for me actually, I’m sporting the mink occasionally hiding from people who look a little on the veggie side. I should point out that I have not eaten red meat for twenty five years.

Buildings and Baubles

Today’s Pearls of Wisdom from the fast-talking jeweller are all about presentation. All the more so since we are living in an exceptionally visual world these days—something which, since signing up for Facebook and Twitter, I am ever the more coming to realise.

Hence I impart to you today, a pearl of wisdom plucked from my training and life as an artist, for its basic principles extend to all forms of visual presentation, even the way you put yourself together. So here goes.

Life drawing is so important to learn for a creative person because the same laws follow into all forms of design, from jewellery to architecture. Jewellery has to be displayed not only thematically but with a clear understanding of colour, form, pattern, perspective and the space in which it is contained. In the same way that the interior of a house must relate to its form, in life drawing the lines, form and shades should relate to one and other as well as with the paper or medium it is on. If something feels right, looks right, it probably is right. If it follows the above laws, the result is jewellery that will sell. Just as well at this time of year and after all the effort myself and the team have out in. Looking at myself today after too many parties I am not following my laws of presentation. Hole in tights, bags under eyes, slightly malfunctioning vision, I probably wouldn’t buy me to wear to a cocktail party.

On another note yesterday I had lunch with one Badger Asprey aged five who is great great great grandson of the founder of Aspreys the fabulous old British jewellery house. I told him of his great heritage, in relation to my business at any rate, but he was not impressed. So I told him that I was impressed that such a family as his would buy my jewellery.

Dinny Hall Blogs On

Starting a blog when you are in jewellery retail just before Christmas and when your teenage son has just broken up from school is slightly mad. But then, with five stores, Lorcan the 13 year old and Bo the omnipresent little schnauzer, ‘madness’ is my middle name.

After 25 years in the business and as another decade comes to a close, I feel 29 still. It’s time to reflect a bit but also to think of the way ahead. And what better way is there to think ahead than to look to the next generation?

As an online philistine and a natural born raconteur, hopping on the blog train seemed not only like the perfect way to share my world with you, but for Lorcan to share his with me as well.

A behind the scenes look at a designer’s domain where the creative director (me), goldsmiths, retailers, marketing, accounting and production teams all share a rabbit warren of a space behind my glamorous flagship store in Notting Hill.

Over time, I hope to introduce the characters who make up the Dinny Hall team and provide you with a glimpse into our little world.

For now, the only pearl of wisdom I can impart upon you today is: drink less—you can go to more parties.