One of These Days These Boots are Gonna Walk All Over You

What is one law that has been proven by women all over the world since the dawn of man? Yes, you are correct, our closet always has room for one more gorgeous pair of shoes. And what I am recommending to Oligoville’s fashionistas this holiday season? Miz Mooz’s new Carlito cowboy boots. Ring in the New Year with these fabulous treasures. These ankle-high boots are made with intoxicating leather and come in beige, blue, red, mustard, green and orange.

These stunners can be bought at Nordstrom and Anthropologie for under $140. Fashionable and affordable? What more could a gal want? Put your best foot forward this season with Miz Mooz’s cowboy boots.

Celebrity Style – Berets

Men can have their trucker hats and baseball caps, but berets (especially slouchy berets) are for us girls. With brisk weather, berets add an extra chic but warm accessory to get you through the day. Especially with cool temperatures all around, you can stay cozy with a beret or just throw one on during a bad hair day. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is infamous for her sequin berets, which have influenced her clientele such as Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie to sport the crochet style. With different fabrics from wool, yarn, to bedazzled sequins, there is a beret suitable for any occasion. Save the wool beret for business work day, but if you’re headed out just to the grocery store feel free to throw on a slouchy crocheted one. Thinking of heading out for happy hour? Then a sequin beret is just the item to spruce up your look when its cold outside.

Ten Minutes with Jewelry Designer Hannah Blount

Inspired by the natural world, Hannah Blount Jewelry is elegantly minimalist. Whether riffing off native seed pods, fallen leaves, or the pebbled beaches of Cape Cod, the Nantucket Island native works each piece of her delicate line of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings by hand.  Add a little organic edge to your everyday with a pair of Hannah’s faceted button posts. Or layer on a couple of the charming—pun intended—fruit necklaces. You’ll have to practice your patience, as it takes two to three weeks for Hannah to handcraft each piece, but the admiring, and envious looks that’ll come your way will be proof positive that patience is indeed a virtue. Read on to learn more about Hannah Blount’s hands-on approach.

Oligoville:  In five words or less, Hannah Blount Jewelry is . . .

Hannah: Organic sophistication for the artistic soul.

Oligoville: How would you describe the ideal Hannah Blount Jewelry customer?

Hannah: I feel that my work applies to a number of ages, as well as a number of styles, and I believe my work supports an empowered image. I think anyone that is interested in a more organic, hand-made, and classic style would be drawn to my work.

Oligoville: How’d you end up a designer?

Hannah: I was introduced into jewelry-making when I was six years old. For my birthday, I received a little craft book with some simple beading instructions and a few funky glass beads. It was love at first sight! My family never had any television, etc., so my six siblings and I found other ways to entertain ourselves. I spent my days hunched over my beads, wielding my pliers and scissors, and I never stopped. Eventually, I went on to major in Jewelry/Metals at UMass Dartmouth, where I learned most of the techniques I use now.

Oligoville: How/when did you launch your brand?

Hannah: Although I have been selling little beaded objects since I was a little girl, I only launched Hannah Blount Jewelry in 2008. It started slow—with my Branch and Egg line—but has been evolving into a more varied ensemble of work.

Oligoville: Why the emphasis on making each piece by hand?

Hannah: I love a hand-finished surface. I can pay attention to every detail when I have it in my hand. It is important for me to maintain that relationship with my work. While it is a dirty process, it is a beautiful feeling to see the clean, finished product.  Also, I feel it is important for the designer to understand and work with the piece that is being produced. It is an important process for the artist to understand.

Oligoville: Who and/or what inspires you?

Hannah: I am from an island that celebrates natural beauty. There are many jewelers and artists there that have influenced me, from Ted Muehling and Gabriella Kiss to Jessica Hicks. But everything around me is an influence—the barren trees along the highway during a “dull” time in winter, the enticing allure of a local candy shop, or the dirt and grunge of my own father’s fishing vessel. If I see something beautiful or interesting, I think of how I can translate that into my work. Also, I have been fortunate to grow up in a family that embraces an artistic lifestyle. My mother, a seamstress, and my father, a fisherman, are only concerned with the fulfillment and happiness a good life brings. This makes them both supportive and proud of all success the Blount children accomplish. It also helps to have a mother, four sisters, and a couple of sisters-in-law that love to wear your work!!

Oligoville:  What’s 24 hours like in your life?

Hannah: Studio studio studio! I like to spend as much time there as I can. When I am not sleeping or eating (these do happen occasionally), I am either brainstorming new ideas or, like I said, studioing!

Oligoville: What’s in your closet?

Hannah: As for my closet, I have collected a number of nice in-between clothes. I try to be practical! I have a lot of nice denim and basic tees that I can grunge up in my studio, but also pair up with a nice sweater or heels/boots and head out of my apartment without cringing. Dresses are a great key to feeling lovely in any situation. And a lot of boots. I love boots. Right now, it is snowing like any great, white Christmas could dream of, so I am wearing my Frye boots with Citizens of Humanity denim. Great for the weather!

Oligoville: What’s in your bag right now?

Hannah: Ha—glad you asked! My bag (I just love) is Linnea Pelle, in which I have my FAVORITE orange Cleobella Mexicana wallet, a great number of chapsticks, a measuring tape (surprisingly handy), my sketchbook, a scarf, business cards, pliers, sunglasses, Tylenol, gloves, stamps… my life… like I said, I try to be practical!

Oligoville:  Tell us about some unexpected setbacks you have faced since starting your business and what you learned.

Hannah: Finding the right vendor/niche for my work. It is so important to find the right fit for my jewelry, whether that means finding the right store, show, the right beads to go with my work, understanding what my customers want. It takes some time to understand what your work means to both yourself and other people.

Oligoville: What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Hannah: There are certain friends/customers that become very attached to your work. When you find those people who are that supportive, it is so rewarding to see them wearing the jewelry and feeling beautiful in it. I think, as well, it is incredibly rewarding to see an idea go from a drawing on a piece of paper to a finished product. It can take weeks, months, or years, to perfect a piece. When it is finally finished, I feel very accomplished.

Oligoville: Tell us where you expect to see your business in the next five years.

Hannah: Expanding! I need to go both up and out. I hope to spend a large amount of my time creating new designs, as well as finding my work in some new places, and on some new people.

Oligoville: Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Hannah: I’m still there! I guess, what I have learned so far, is not to compromise your own perspective. If your work isn’t going where you want it, keep working. There will be many “no’s” before there will be a “yes.” Don’t let it get you down; use it to push yourself farther, and let it make you greater.

Oligoville: What’s on your playlist right now?

Hannah: On my playlist is every Christmas song you could imagine. I happen to love Christmas! Among other music is Sia, Regina Spektor, Jason Mraz, Fever Ray, MGMT, Jem, Brett Dennen, Coldplay, Fiona Apple, Frou Frou, Imogen Heap, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, the Killers, Santigold, Sara Bareilles, Silversun Pickups, U2— I could go on!

Oligoville: Any last words?

Oligoville: Thank you! And Happy Holidays.

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