Layna Silvagni Friedman, Barbie Rocks

Sharing Barbie Love with Barbie Jewelry for Big Girls & Little
Her Italian heritage and sophisticated sensibility have made Layna Friedman shine in the international jewelry industry, but it’s her classic American glamour that makes her the perfect ambassador to introduce the jewelry industry to 1 of the nation’s favorite style icons: Barbie. Inspired by a shared love of all things Barbie with her daughter Nicole-Juliet, Layna dreamt of giving girls of all ages a peek inside the ultimate jewelry collection, which reflects a modern-day interpretation of the Barbie doll’s fun spirit and glamorous fashion sense.

From Lady Gaga to Jessica Simpson, Celeb Fans of Her Luxe Jewelry Company—Alan Friedman
After managing several successful entertainment business ventures, including Silvagni Entertainment, a promotions, public relations, and event production company, Layna lent her expertise and eye for innovation to the design, creation, and early 1990s launch of the Beverly Hills-based fine jewelry company, Alan Friedman. Now an award-winning industry leader, Alan Friedman creates 1-of-a-kind pieces for Hollywood’s elite, including Lady Gaga, Regina King, Jessica Simpson, and Sly Stallone, among many others.

Layna Launches Barbie Rocks, Jewelry That Gives Back
While maintaining her position at Alan Friedman, Layna formed Rock and Roll Ltd. in 2007, where she currently serves as CEO and President. In 2008, the company launched Barbie Rocks by Layna and Alan Friedman in partnership with Mattel, and as part of her ongoing commitment to philanthropy, a portion of the proceeds from each sale in the collection will be donated to CAAF (Children Affected by AIDS Foundation).

Layna’s Journey from Kid to Career with Her Own Ken

Growing Up My Look Was
Fresh, athletic, and romantic.

After School I Loved To
Design and create.

I Became Interested in Jewelry When
I was very young. I loved the beautiful stones and rare gems with vivid colors. I loved the feel and colors of the gold and metals.

At School I Studied
Marketing and minored in art. I modeled for several years and produced sporting events internationally before jumping in and designing 1-of-a-kind custom pieces with natural-colored diamonds. People were immediately attracted to the style and designs I was creating.

The First Piece of Jewelry I Got from My Husband Was
A pair of gorgeous drop earrings with rare tanzanites surrounded by fancy-colored diamonds. They still are my favorite earrings.

We Work Well Together
In both business and at home with our children. We complement each other. He is extremely creative in designing and has an amazing eye for grading stones and buying goods. While I love to design, I also bring to the table marketing skills and organization ability for the business. We both love to interact with people on a daily basis. While we love to create new hot trends, we also design classic jewelry with the highest quality and rare stones.

I Always Listen to Him When
He is grading stones or picking pieces for customers, as he has a keen sense of what people like.

I’m Always Encouraging
More feminine and romantic jewelry designs.

Related Links
• In Charge of NY Fashion Week: My Fashionable Life
• How to Dress with Italian Style
• Our First Dannijo Jewelry Presentation for NY Fashion Week Is Tonight:
A BIG Day in the Life

Designer Jay Godfrey: Fashion for Beautiful Women

New York-based fashion designer Jay Godfrey is the founder and creative director behind his eponymous collection of sleek, sexy, and sophisticated designs. Perpetually inspired by the chic New York woman, Godfrey’s goal as a designer is to meld the classic tailoring techniques of Savile Row with modern silhouettes and luxurious fabrics. The result is his distinctive contemporary collection of women’s dresses and separates that accentuate the female figure.

Hugo Boss to Parsons New School for Design to Oscar de la Renta
Godfrey realized his dream of becoming a designer while working his first summer job at Hugo Boss. He studied finance at Montreal’s McGill University in order to gain a grounding in business and accounting. Upon graduating, Godfrey headed to Wall Street and worked for Citigroup. While learning the fine points of finance, Jay’s goal of designing a collection led him to Parsons New School for Design. An internship with Oscar de la Renta honed the young designer’s style and technique, and helped him determine the ultimate Jay Godfrey woman.

Jay Godfrey Dresses Are Hot with Celebrities, the Media & More
Having only been in business for a little over 3 years, Godfrey has quickly cultivated his signature aesthetic which perfectly lends itself to the fashion-forward and glamorous woman. The collection has caught the media’s attention and has been featured in WWD, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and the New York Post. Godfrey’s designs have also captured a loyal celebrity following and he is proud to have dressed Megan Fox, Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Walsh, Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Eva Longoria, Angie Harmon, Zoe Saldana, Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, Eve, Carrie Underwood, Zoe Kravitz, and Kim Kardashian, to name a few.

Spring 2008 ushered in new accolades for Jay Godfrey. Parsons New School for Design presented the designer with the 2008 Parsons Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of his talent and recent accomplishments. In addition, Godfrey appeared on America’s Next Top Model as a special guest designer, where he had the honor of dressing the contestants for a red-carpet event.

Jay Godfrey is sold in Barneys, Intermix, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, and Holt Renfrew, as well as numerous luxury boutiques worldwide.

Nicky Hilton: Her Latest Design Venture and More!

By Katrina Caspelich Crazy busy hitting the fashion-designer high notes—bag designer, clothing designer, and now jewelry designer—Nicky Hilton recently sat down with us to discuss her latest venture, the Nicky Hilton Collection. This L.A.-based socialite-about-town and sister of Paris just launched her own designer jewelry line. Her fashion-forward necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings work with styles from edgy to classic. Nicky also reveals some of her must-have winter items, go-to fashion pieces, and favorite places to shop in NYC. Katrina Caspelich: When did you discover your love for fashion? Nicky Hilton: I was drawn to fashion at a very young age. I was always going through my mother’s closet, trying on her jewelry and shoes. KC: When did you realize you wanted to be a designer? NH: I did a lot of modeling as a teenager, and my favorite part of it was dressing up in all the beautiful clothes. It was always a dream to design my own collection. KC: As a designer, what inspires you? NH: I’m constantly inspired by other fashionable women. The glamorous style of Elizabeth Taylor was a huge influence for my jewelry collection. KC: You were a handbag and clothing designer. Why jewelry? NH: Jewelry is so much fun to design because it’s such an investment for a woman’s wardrobe. Clothing trends come and go so quickly, but jewelry is something you keep forever. It’s timeless. KC: What is your favorite piece? NH: I love the Bryant Park ring with the turquoise stone. It’s the perfect statement piece. I mix it with my fine jewelry and diamonds, and people always think it’s one of those super-expensive pieces! Buy Nicky Hilton Bryant Park Ring, $198, at endless.com KC: What is the price point of your jewelry line? NH: Pieces range from $70 to $960. KC: Who would you love to see in your jewelry? NH: Women whose style I admire, like Gwen Stefani and Sarah Jessica Parker. They’re such risk takers on the red carpet, and they always have the coolest accessories. KC: What type of person do you design for? NH: When designing the collection, I kept in mind that I wanted to design for women of all different styles, so there’s something for everyone—edgy, classic, and contemporary. KC: Who are your favorite designers? NH: I love Balmain, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, and Prada. KC: Who in the fashion industry inspires you? NH: Diane von Furstenberg is very inspiring to me. She has been in the industry forever and

has gracefully maintained an incredible balance of family and work. Her brand has expanded so much over the last few years—fragrance, luggage, footwear, eyewear, swimwear, etc. She has really built a lifestyle brand. KC: What is your favorite thing to wear? NH: My daily uniform pretty much consists of skinny jeans, a leather jacket, ballet flats, and a couple of my jewelry pieces. Buy Paige Verdugo Jegging, $179, at paigeusa.com Buy Repetto BB Patent Ballet Flats, $310, at kirnazabete.com Buy Nicky Hilton Soho Sterling Silver Bypass Spike Bangle with CZ, $250, at amazon.com KC: Where do you like to shop? NH: When I go to New York, I always make it a point to go to Bergdorf Goodman for lunch and some shopping. I’m also loving the new Isabel Marant boutique in Soho. KC: What is your must-have fashion item this winter? NH: Great booties! My favorites this season are from Tory Burch and Louis Vuitton. Buy Tory Burch Cidnay Suede Platform Booties, $350, at shopbop.com KC: What fashion item should we all own—and splurge on? NH: A quality leather jacket. Rick Owens makes the best ones. Buy Rick Owens Laced Leather Biker Jacket, $2,480, at net-a-porter.com KC: What look makes you feel most confident? NH: A short, sexy black dress. What girl doesn’t feel good in an LBD? Buy Theory Mickie Fitted Knit Dress, $249, at saksfifthavenue.com KC: Name your favorite vacation purchase. NH: My Hermes Kelly bag that I bought in St. Barts. The bags are hard to find, so I was lucky when I came across a black leather one with silver hardware. I couldn’t pass it up! KC: What 5 things can’t you live without? NC: Water, my Blackberry, Rosebud lip salve, my boyfriend, and my kitties. Buy Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith’s Rosebud Salve, $6, at sephora.com

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Up & Coming Fashion Designer Lines with a Sexy Edge: Carmelita Couture and Coco & Breez

By Katrina Caspelich New Women’s Fashion Designer with a Flirty Flair: Carmelita Martell of Carmelita Couture From ballroom dance teacher to financial advisor, Carmelita Martell seems intent on having 9 career lives. Her most recent—launching her designer clothing brand Carmelita Couture—fulfills her childhood clothing-designer dream. So, maybe she’ll stop short of all 9?! Carmelita Couture is full of funky, flattering pieces that highlight a woman’s silhouette. “I design for women who want something a bit more runway and want to be the talk of the party,” Carmelita explains. “I think it’s great for women to be sensual and sexy.” She’s already got an extensive celebrity clientele who agree, including Olivia Munn, Paula Abdul, and Katerina Graham. When not dressing celebrities, this 35-year-old Detroit native spends much of her time promoting her recently opened flagship store in Philadelphia. Downtime means her 2-year-old son, 2 cats, a dog, the gym, traveling, and friends and family. Carmelita’s must-have fashion items? Rompers and 1-piece outfits for simplicity and comfort, plus a really fun party dress. And her designer fashion line is full of that and more, ranging from $125 to $600 and sold on her site and in various designer clothing boutiques around the U.S., as well as Tokyo, Bermuda, Australia, and India. Fun fact about Carmelita: She was national champion in judo at age 12. Buy Carmelita Couture Isabella Dress, $365, at shopcarmelita.com Statement Sunglasses from Coco & Breezy by Corianna and Brianna Dotson Identical twins Corianna and Brianna always loved standing out from the crowd, rocking unique outfits in hometown Minneapolis. Now, using their nicknames Coco and Breezy, this sister duo has launched the Coco & Breezy brand with designer sunglasses and fashion accessories, which is causing quite a stir in the fashion industry. Inspired by different metals, shapes, and innovative styles, Coco and Breezy aim to create wearable art. This is a collection perfect for men and women unafraid of pushing the fashion envelope or stepping out of the box. Fans include Ashanti, Kelly Osbourne, and Ciara, and the twins are hoping to bag the mother of all celebrity sunglass-wearers—Lady Gaga—as their next client. Now based in New York, Coco and Breezy have launched their second collection of designer sunglasses, and a good thing, too, since the twins personally love wearing their line—they don’t like showing their eyes. What they do love? Eating and trying new foods, traveling, exploring New York City, and working on their sunglass collection, which retails for $60 to $220 and is available at Selima Optique in Soho and online. Fun fact about Coco and Breezy: They are shy about approaching people. Buy Coco & Breezy Egyptian Sunglasses, $220, at cocoandbreezy.com Win a Fabulous Accessory of Your Own! Be 1 of 4 lucky winners to get an adorable Wink Embroidered Zipper Lingerie Bag—perfect for undergarments, bathing suits, and more. Simply type why you love PageDaily in the Leave a Comment section at the bottom of the contest page, and one of these travel bags could be yours. Enter now.