Sasha Samuel

I quite often get emails from people asking me what they want.

“It’s my birthday next month,” a reader will say “what do I want?”

Occasionally it’s a man. “It’s my wife’s birthday next month,” he will say, “what does she want?”

Well to save you all the RSI from the typing, I’m going to tell you right now that what you want, going forwards, for any major celebration in your life, is something from the New York jewellery designer Sasha Samuel.

Sasha got in touch with me last year because she had read my blog and thought it was funny. That was all. There was no deal, no please-mention-me (she doesn’t need the PR frankly) nothing. Just, hi. You’re fun.

As it happens her jewellery is beautiful, properly outstanding, special and gorgeous. SJP wore one of her headbands in an episode of SATC, and the lockets are constantly being swung around on Girls. I won’t lie, I wanted in. But I don’t like to drop hints of that sort, I’d rather go for a million years without a freebie than ever suggest one.

But, like I said, I wanted in. So on a Christmas post last year (“Ding Dong”) I mentioned at the end how good her stuff was and then 6 months later…  FUCK … SHE SENT ME SOME and, you know, there’s nothing quite like getting your hands on the merch to understand, to have your suspicions massively reinforced, how good something is.

This is really seriously delicious. I haven’t been so excited since Tilly Sveaas.

This is NOT “fun” jewellery to buy for yourself because you’re pissed and bored, it all averages around the £200 mark – so this is a celebratory thing… (except the cowrie shell necklaces below… those you can just get).

When it comes down to it, these are a thing you buy so that when you flash it about at the school gates and people go “Oh my GUARD where is that from?” you can  say “It’s a birthday present. It’s from New York DON’T TOUCH IT.”

The best thing about it – aside from the quality, the design, the beauty and the general air of excitement at something being from America is that the catches are so fine that you can make the necklace any length you like as the tooth of the catch will fit through the little rings of the chain; you’re not at the mercy of designer-placed jump rings and you can wear any of the necklaces dangling near your belly button or right up near your chin if you like.

She also takes custom orders – send her a little email and I bet you anything she can make you a copycat SATC “Carrie” necklace, you just see if she can’t…

Enough from me; lucky for you, Sasha has a store on Etsy, so you can avoid the hassle and scary shipping fees incurred on ShopBop.

Here are a few of my favourite things:

Vintage-inspired round locket:

Starburst pendant:

Vintage-inspired locket with 8 crystal stars:

Cowrie shell necklaces are about to be HUGE here – get ahead of the curve and get yours now: