Monica Vinader popped up on my radar four weeks after my first date with Mr STG, when he bought me a stunning, delicate Fiji Chain bracelet (pictured towards the bottom of the post) for my 36th birthday.
Let’s face it; gift buying that early on in a relationship is dicey territory. It’s a situation that presents umpteen, unseen etiquette hazards.
Choose a gift too ostentatious and you risk overwhelming, give something modest or lacking in sophistication and you’re running the chance of a huge underwhelm. But wow! The future Mr STG got it so right. I was incredibly touched by the thought he’d put into choosing just the right piece (there are a lot of options) and I immediately fell for the – now iconic – classy, yet cool Fiji friendship bracelet.
Luckily for me and Mr STG, it was love at first sight and I would have married him regardless but the fact that he unveiled himself to be a master present buyer so early on in the relationship certainly didn’t hurt.
Since then, I have bought myself, friends and family a host of individually selected and engraved Monica Vinader pieces and I just love seeing their reaction when they open up the box.
A present for my friend who set me up with Mr STG
My first meeting with Mr STG was a blind date, set up by an old school friend. She’ll forever be our matchmaker, our Yenta and so for her birthday this year I sealed the deal with a mink cord, silver Havana bracelet with her nickname YENTA engraved on it (see it below). She was totally thrilled. It’s our in-joke and the gift was received with the warmth in which it was meant. No matter how old you get, there’s nothing like a friendship bracelet to make you feel special.
Bridesmaids gifts
Making your wedding stand out with those personal, attentive – and of course stylish – touches is what STG is about. And a symbolic, heart felt, personally engraved friendship bracelet is in my opinion, a brilliant present to give your bridesmaids and best girls.
Take, for example, Rose for Harmony. Its sleek design features a simple curved bar with a clean, streamlined silhouette and what’s great is that you can engrave your personal slogan on all four sides of the bar. Or of course the proven crowd pleaser, the classic Fiji Friendship bracelet… You can even customise it so that the wedding party has a cord to match or at least complement your colour scheme. Now that really is dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s!
I love that a previous real bride on Smashing The Glass, Cassy, bought an engraved bracelet for both her mum and herself to wear on her wedding day. She says:
I bought my mum and I each a Monica Vinader bracelet to wear — mine in white with the date and our hashtag engraved, and my mum’s in red to match her dress with a personal engraving.”
How fabulous is that?
But it needn’t be a bracelet — Monica Vinader have such a stunning choice of earrings, pendants and rings too. Have a look at this gorgeous rose gold Siren pendant for your bridesmaids. How fabulous would it be to give this to one of your best girls, or indeed mother in law, making them feel totally cherished and part of your life, not just the big day.
And while you’re at it, how about matching your own bracelet to your bridesmaids. That’s a real sign of unity.
Groomsmen gifts
And how about a personalised gift for the groom himself? And yes they are designed for men too — just ask Matt Smith.
I love this Mallard blue cord on a Havana bracelet for men. The simple yet refined finish lends itself perfectly to engraving a message or a doodle on there. So you really can get creative.
Or perhaps something for the boys from the Linear collection?
And if you think your husband-to-be and the best man aren’t quite ready for the world of friendship bracelets just yet, then surely you can’t go wrong with a classic set of engraved cufflinks? Michael Fassbender’s ones are my favourite…
Blow out favours — for everyone
I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited to some spectacular weddings where the favours were so tasteful, so expensive but also – how can I say this without sounding ungrateful? — they were not particularly useful. You certainly couldn’t wear them anyway. I know I’d be totally bowled over if I left a wedding with a Monica Vinader favour and would be reminded of that fabulous day long after the glass had been smashed and the canapà©s scoffed.
Ok I’m sure not many of us could afford to buy super luxury gifts for hundreds of guests but if you had an intimate destination wedding with a handpicked bunch say for example. What a gorgeous way to say thank you for being part of our day?
Here are some gift ideas under £150. And remember engraving is totally free!
Personalisation — Pour moi?
To be sure, Monica Vinader is not the first designer to work the personalisation thing but few are as elegant and confident about it – as quirky, if you will. Not only will they engrave initials or dates, but also handwriting and drawings. How gorgeous to have a hand written note on a bracelet to say “I love you” or a cute pet name, even a drawing from your child or niece and nephew. Don’t get me started. I did mention I’m obsessed with them didn’t I?
And the personalisation doesn’t stop there – you can choose your stone, perhaps a birthstone? (moonstone, labradorite, quartz, topaz), the metal (sterling silver, gold-plated, 9 carat or 14 carat gold, rose gold), the colour of the cord on your latest bracelet — just take a look at the new winter range of colours…
And that’s what’s so intoxicating with Monica Vinader jewellery — the thought you put into it through the personalisation process can create really symbolic pieces.
Take a look at my latest MV bracelet with a bright fuchsia chord (my favourite colour!) below, engraved with KJSZ — the first letter initials of my family — Karen, Jeremy, Sacha and Zara. I will not take it off. Oh and you probably wont be surprised to know that the initials KJSZ now also have pride of place around my neck. I told you I’m obsessed! (with both my family, and MV 🙂 ).
Initial Thoughts
One of my favourite ways of personalising, as you can see, is with initials. On my wedding day, I surprised Mr STG right after our ceremony by wearing a necklace with my new initials for the reception and party. I hunted high and low to find some beautiful typographic pendants but couldn’t find anything particularly special.
In the end I went for these rather simple silver letter pendants on a ball chain. If only Monica Vinader had launched the alphabet collection back in 2013 I would have jumped to buy her K, C and H! (In case you’re wondering, my maiden name is Cinnamon, and my husbands’s surname is Harris. I chose to go double barrelled and become Karen Cinnamon-Harris).
And just look at the choice of initial designs in the Monica Vinader range, they are simply breathtaking and I have to say, are so STG!
Also seen on…
Apart from STG, Monica Vinader counts Solange Knowles, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Emma Watson, Charlize Theron, Kate Winslet, and the future Queen of England – the Duchess of Cambridge as some of their many, many fans. Take a look here at who’s wearing what – You’ll be in good company.
Monica Vinader’s now global appeal and success is no surprise to me at all. They make fine jewellery accessible and create luxury for everyday with a personal twist. Who wouldn’t want that? Layer the delicate pieces up for a super cool, super luxe look that can be easily integrated into anyone’s wardrobe. The perfect present.
For more inspiration visit Monica Vinader or them them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
