It's Gwyneth in Ripley's. It's mopeds along the Med. It's a summer like Slim's... The Rattan Riviera collection encapsulates mid-century magic, while modernizing it with trends of today. And, it was all inspired by a pair of earrings.
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One of my favorite things to do is window shop... that is, the 21st century version. Scrolling through different clothing websites discovered from Pinterest rabbit holes brings me so much joy, it's like a virtual treasure hunt! That's how I discovered ASHA, a jewelry brand with which I became instantly obsessed. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with their Rattan Flower Earring, but it did take a while for me to complete my purchase... I dreamed about these blooming beauties for a year before I bought them, because let's face it-- I was a college student ballin' on a budget and spending a chunk of change on earrings just wasn't in the cards. However, after 365 days dreaming about the baubles, I decided they were worth it.
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So, what was it that piqued my interest for a year? That was the question I spent an afternoon analyzing, because I wanted to create the same feelings on Swells of Splendor. My conclusions were as follows:
- The woven structure of the earrings was an obvious love. They felt retro, coastal, classic. I could dress them up, dress them down, and wear them with ease due to their light weight.
- The earrings felt whimsical, but they weren't in your face (haha, they were on your ears! ok dad joke over)... I enjoyed their neutral nature mixed with statement qualities.
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With this in mind, I began designing. After various sketches, I settled on making a full, rattan repeat. Which was, surprisingly, no easy feat! Virtual weaving using layered shapes on illustrator is not for the faint of heart, haha!
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I began my color palette with a royal blue. This felt both classic and contemporary, a vibrant hue with cool tones for the scorching summer heat. The remaining two colors were chosen after Pinterest stalking... I found myself repeatedly pinning Slim Aarons's Riviera photographs, and pulled hues from them... coral + orange from the vibrant architecture, and golden yellow to resemble the warm sun glowing across the coastline.
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These final designs hold the same qualities as my earrings... they're classic yet reinvented, mature yet jovial. The rattan provides a casual motif, contrasted by the elevated textile on which it's printed. And the color palettes make you feel downright happy.
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Consider this your one-way ticket to the Rattan Riviera... happy summer, and bon voyage!
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xo, wells
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The Rattan Riviera Moodboard
