Today, instead of an OOTD post, I wanted to share some behind the scenes scoop and photos from a photo shoot that I styled for Tania Rodamilans, a Chicago jewelry designer and artist, shot by Denise Riesen Photography! Tania wanted me to style a look book for her Fall/Winter 2015 Jewelry Collection, which is adorned with gorgeous semi-precious stones in blues, greys and whites, and contrasting brass chains of varying thickness and weight. Tania’s design aesthetic is organic, versatile and “earthy”, I’d say. The talented designer is a chic Spaniard, originally from Barcelona, so she’s always clad in the cutest Italian-looking shoes (that probably are in fact from Italy), a fun top and jacket and jeans. Her jewelry always goes with everything she’s wearing. I love the versatility of it – and because of her designs’ versatility, they appeal to a lot of different people.

 

So, for this particular photo shoot, we wanted to embrace the earthy, organic aesthetic of the Collection and shoot somewhere like a coffee shop, a place where a girl who’d wear her jewelry would typically hang out. CityGrounds Coffee Bar in Lincoln Park – Chicago’s outdoor patio space is charming and rustic, with textured backgrounds that contrast the soft fabrics of the clothing perfectly.

My vision for the models’ looks was comfortable and casual, with simple cuts, fabrics and colors that would let the necklaces shine. Milk Handmade, an adorable boutique in Andersonville in Chicago, and Margaret O’Leary‘s boutique in Lincoln Park, were perfect for sourcing the clothing I was looking for. Abby and Tara from Trianon Salon in Lincoln Park did a great job with the models’ hair, too. We didn’t want anything fancy, just gorgeous blow outs.

Tania also had the idea to shoot some vignettes, arranging the necklaces to look like they’re in someone’s home, on her nightstand, so that people could see the jewelry in context, not just with a blank white background. Rara Avis Boutique in Lincoln Park was perfect for this. The owner Molly stocks her boutique with amazing vintage and new home decor.

The models Paige and Angelique were great sports. It was pretty chilly outside, hence the last-minute addition of my wool coat, shown in the photo above, to one of Paige’s looks!

My favorite part of photo shoot styling is collaborating with so many talented people and seeing the finished product. I think everyone did a great job!

Do you have any behind-the-scenes questions? Ask away!