Sunny with a Chance of Rain

Fall arrived suddenly - one day we enjoyed endless sunny skies, and the next rain came in.  I welcomed the change since fall is my favorite season.  And the season has a special flavor in the Pacific Northwest.  You think you're in for a day of rain and clouds, when all of a sudden - surprisingly - the sun comes out, or the opposite happens...  It's sunny with a chance of rain...



"Sunny with a Chance of Rain" necklace



Simplicity

Sometimes less is more, as in the case of this simple crystal pendant necklace.  My bestselling designs often come to life out of necessity - like this one.  One day I needed something easy to wear, easy to layer with other pieces for versatility, and neutral in style.  The pendant is a beautifully faceted quartz, clear with a golden web of rutile that comes to life when held up against the light, with a chain fringe.  It is suspended on three sterling silver chains, some oxidized to give the piece some edge and depth.  Simply elegant!*

*available at SPUN in Seattle or by contacting me directly at joanna@joannamorgandesigns.com , each necklace differs slightly because no stone is identical

My Inspiration

I am a nomad - every few years my life takes me somewhere else.  Growing up I never even thought of leaving my Polish family but fate had other plans.  I have to say Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful place on Earth I have ever lived , and I feel so fortunate to be here.  The beauty of nature freed a lot of creativity in me and my love of organic elements came through in a lot of my designs.  The pace of life, the light, and the spirit of the region have taken me where I have never dreamt of.  I am often asked - "what's your inspiration?" - and I often feel that answering simply that nature surrounding us is what is the constant source of new ideas, may not be enough.  But just look around - how can you not be moved by these wonders?

Celebrate Fashion's Night Out with me!

In just over a week thousands, millions of fashion enthusiasts in many countries will celebrate Fashion's Night Out.  I am so proud to be a part of this special evening on September 8th! If you are in the Seattle area you are invited to drop by SPUN in Capitol Hill to preview my Fall Collection*.  Hope to see you there!



*My Collections can also be viewed on line at http://www.joannamorgandesigns.com/

"M" Like Mandy

OK, so I'm in love with my dog, but why not?  She is the cutest, sweetest, and makes every day better just because she is.  No matter how hard my day is, her happy face, wet tongue on my nose, and the sheer joy with how she greets me, make me feel like I'm number one.  She reminds me that one cannot be too serious in life, napping is important, as well as getting a good meal, and trusting our instincts pays off.
So it's not exactly a fashion blog post, but possibly a reflection that everything is relative and we all need a good friend to believe in us, unconditionally.

Happy Birthday, Madame Chanel!

On August 18th Coco Chanel would have been 128 years old - or 118 depending which biography of Coco we read.  It's hard to believe that so many things that we take for granted in our wardrobes, like trousers, a little black dress, or jackets, we should thank her for.  She did us all a big favour of "stealing" from the boys and passing the goodies to us. One of many invaluable lessons we learned from her is not to be afraid to experiment in fashion - it leads to great discoveries and grooms our sense of style. We may not actually own anything with a "Chanel" label, but our wardrobe favorites echo hers. 
Her choices were brave for the times she lived in, and her courage to be a fashion trailblazer led her to be a fashion icon. It was her who said that luxury is a state of mind, and not a state of our bank account.  A century later after she opened her first boutique her brand stays strong and we continue to crave all things Chanel. What else can I say about Coco Chanel, that hasn't already been said? Merci!

Fall Cravings

August is here and summer is still here, but I'm impatiently awaiting September issues of Bazaar, Vogue, and Elle with their loadful of autumn and winter fashions - it's almost like getting new school books before a new school year starts.  When I was a kid the major thrill was shopping for new school stuff, books smelling of fresh print, pages crisp.  I loved choosing new pens, pencils, new colorful markers, everything was so new, fresh, and holding promise.
Many years later I still get that anticipatory flutter - looking forward to pouring over thick tomes of magazines.  Even in the age of internet, when fall collections are announced well in advance, the allure of glossy pages draws me in.  For me September issues are like Christmas gifts in summer, and a postman a Santa in a blue uniform.  Can't wait!