Alexandra Samit’s jewelry combines classic with edge

Oct 11, 2011
Katherine Sweet • Fashion

It started as a way to relax. Alexandra Samit never dreamed her hobby would lead to the launch of a nationally praised collection of contemporary jewelry, Alexandra Beth Designs. (Be sure to see the giveaway below.)

“I like to keep busy,” she explained. “I don’t like to sit still, so I began looking for creative outlets and began beading, which led to a love of creating jewelry. I saw all the beauty that resulted from uninhibited creation and the outcomes were endless. That’s when I realized I wanted to build a career in design.”

From tribal prints to leather inlay and peacock, the collection offers something for everyone. Featuring options such as long pendant necklaces, chunky, organically hooped earrings and gold-studded bangles, this versatility has attracted customers of all ages and styles. And the price points exhibit the same diversity, with plenty of offerings under $100 and some even under $50. As Samit notes, “the options are limitless.”

“I love that there are so many different ways to wear things,” designer said. “The leather wrap bracelets can be connected to chains and made into necklaces. You can take a simple earring and dress it down for a boho casual feel during the day, and then you can really dress it up at night. The way different people interpret different styles makes it the most interesting for me as a designer.”

via Alexandra Beth Designs

The Sue earrings are a great fall option, boasting a bold print with dangling leaves and gold satin finish, while the tribal inspiration adds character. The Andraya necklace showcases thick gold chains paired with chunky, colorful beads, and the Anne Leather bracelet displays Samit’s fascination with leather, exuding an edgy feel with black strips that wrap the wrist. Samit’s mix-and-match aesthetic makes her pieces pop.

“I like mixing materials in one piece,” she said. “I think it makes the earring a lot more interesting and attractive. I’m using lot of druzies, which is a type of gemstone with an agate crystal formation at the top. The Emily earrings incorporate a druzy to add a beautiful sparkle and then I mix it with the gold python leather for some edge. Something about the leather combined with a gemstone is just so unique and interesting to me. Each piece of jewelry is a work of art.”

Samit tries to meld a classic appeal with an edgier trendiness in her jewelry. Her materials range from luxe stingray to dazzling agate, but whether elegant or bold, each piece is stamped with her unique flair.

“They’re slightly edgy, but they are pieces that can easily be worn into the next season,” the designer said. “All the pieces have a nice gold satin finish, which allows for a classic foundation, but I’ll add a rocker touch with studs or some glamour with cut gems. They’ll have a funky piece of leather, or they might have a nice black snakeskin insert. They’re not too rough, but they’re definitely sophisticated with just the right amount of edge.”

Through her travels, she has picked up bits and pieces of inspiration: various metals, Roman ruins, London architecture. These diverse muses have melded into a collection that has timeless appeal, achieving a look that is both simple and glamorous.

via Alexandra Beth Designs

“I would just roam the streets (of London), and admire the different architectural shapes and color and everything was so inspiring. Now I live in Manhattan and I try set aside some spare time when I can go downtown and walk around and just take in my surroundings because sometimes I am so busy running around that I don’t really notice everything going on around me. But if I can soak in the city a little bit, that always serves as the best inspiration,” Samit described.

Her messy desk reflects this crazy mixture of ideas, which she constantly reshuffles into new patterns and new inventions.

With a constant outpouring of design concepts, Samit struggles to keep her collection cohesive – and to keep it to a reasonable number of pieces.

“I can’t offer 100 earring styles although I’d love to, but that’s not practical,” the jewelry designer said. “I have new ideas every day and new ways to put things together.”

The future for Samit includes a new cuff line and kicking up the variety of her collections as she attempts to negotiate her way into new doors and broaden her consumer base.

Check out all her elegant pieces at www.alexandrabeth.com.

via Alexandra Beth Designs