Alex Woo’s jewelry has been delighting stylists, celebrities, and regular people like us.  She is probably best known for her trademark letter and number charms that can be mixed and matched, (as well as charms featuring small animals and other figures), which make the perfect everyday accessory.  But her offerings also include bolder styles and extend to rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces in different styles.  Her designs are inspired by her travels, as well as her native New York City.  She was named a Rising Star by the JCK Show Design Center and included in Crain’s Business’s “40 under 40” list of successful people in New York.  All of Woo’s designs are made right here in New York City.  We caught up with Woo recently to get to know her better…

ifashion: What is your favorite line to create, Spring or Fall?

Alex: My designs are classic and not really seasonal, however, I do enjoy designing my travel-inspired pieces because it’s a time that I can reflect upon a place I’ve visited, like Morocco, or Macchu Picchu.  Traveling is another passion of mine, and I like to reflect that through my work.

ifashion: Who is your favorite designer?

Alex: Diane Von Furstenberg.

ifashion: What personal quality do you believe is reflected in your work?

Alex: I was born and raised in New York City – and it’s an important part of who I am, so I wanted to make sure that my designs reflect the energy and vibrant aspect of this city as well.  I am very proud of the fact that my designs and jewelry are made in New York and I can continue to create opportunities to support local talent.

ifashion: Do you think a woman is sexier in sneakers or stilletos? Why?

Alex: Stilletos. Any shoe that elongates the leg makes a woman sexier.

ifashion: What is a tough lesson you have learned from being a designer?

Alex: Having your designs knocked off.  I’ve experienced this from both large chains as well as fellow designers that exhibit at the same shows that I do.  It’s really disheartening to see that especially from fellow designers given we’re all supposed to be original.

ifashion: Is there anything you would have done differently in your career so far?

Alex: No. I love what I do and the path I’m on.

ifashion: What was your most exciting moment as a designer?

Alex: Walking the Union Square market on a lazy Sunday morning and seeing for the first time, a stranger wearing one of my designs!

ifashion: Where do you see your line in 5 years?

Alex: Growing and expanding into new international markets.  We’re getting there already though and we continue to ship globally.  Today it was Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Russia!

 ifashion: Where do you feel you were most successful and where did you feel at a low point? 

Alex: Fortunately for me, this has been a very positive journey, and I think it can only get better.

 ifashion: What do you think is the most important fashion piece a woman should have and a man should have? Why?

Alex: Just as every woman may have their favorite LBD, a woman should have a signature necklace.  Everyone can wear a necklace, and I think it’s the perfect way to express yourself.

 ifashion: What item do you think is worth splurging on?

Alex: A diamond pendant.  Diamonds are always classic and looks great on everyone.

 ifashion: How long does it take you to create a collection?

Alex: It can take anywhere from 1 month to a year to develop.

 ifashion: Do you create your own drawings?

Alex: Yes – of course.  I have a background in fine arts, and drawing is something that I always go back to.

 ifashion: If you weren’t a designer what would you be?

Alex: A food and travel writer.  I love to travel and I love to eat!

 ifashion: What is your philosophy about the art of fashion?

Alex: Fashion is what you make of it.  I like to keep an eye on the trends of the moment, but no one should be limited by it or follow it blindly.  It is important to know what looks good on you, and my view has always been that classic pieces are always a good investment.

 ifashion: What is one piece I should have in my closet this fall and what color should it be?

Alex: A tailored black blazer – you can never go wrong with this classic.

 ifashion: In your opinion, what is the worst fashion faux pas a person can commit?

Alex: Leaving the house without at least 1 piece of jewelry!

 ifashion: What is your favorite article of clothing that you own?

Alex: My Karl Lagerfeld denim coat.

 ifashion: What advice would you give to someone getting into the fashion industry?

Alex: Have a distinct vision, and stay true to it.

New exciting episodes of TV’s sexiest drama, Gossip Girl, began airing on Monday, March 8th.  The newest episode did not disappoint, as it was complete with salacious gossip, sex, drama and of course unmistakably chic wardrobe choices.  Blair, always the revolutionary fashionista, was wearing her new signature diamond Alex Woo Fleur de Lis pendant throughout the entire episode.  The delicate and refined pendant adds the exact right amount of sparkle and glitz to glam up any outfit, and it is the perfect go-to  accessory for a classic beauty like Blair.  Be sure to keep watching the new episodes of Gossip Girl to see all of the shocking, jaw-dropping moments that the characters have in store for us!

Will Gossip Girl fuel a must-have necklace craze?

New York–After a mid-season break, the hit CW show Gossip Girl returns with an all-new episode on Monday, March 8, and jewelry will be getting a primetime spotlight.

Character Blair Waldorf will be back and sporting a signature jewelry piece that one designer is hoping will be the new horseshoe necklace (the trend fueled by character Carrie Bradshaw’s go-to bauble on Sex and the City).

In earlier seasons, Blair donned Alex Woo’s “Little Letters” diamond necklace featuring her initials, but her new signature will be the designer’s diamond “Fleur de Lis” necklace from the “Little Faith” collection, a symbol of purity and light befitting of Blair’s ideals and how she would like the world to see her (fans of the show familiar with the character’s cunning ways know otherwise).

In addition to the necklace’s time on air, the network is said to be launching a secret Gossip Girl promotion around it, making for some extra high-profile exposure.

Available in 14-karat white gold and encrusted with pave diamonds, the pendant features Alex Woo’s signature shiny beveled edges and the designer’s signature. The necklace retails for $728, but many of the designer’s pieces are also available in sterling silver at prices that are a little more high school friendly, with metal-only pendant necklaces retailing for $148 a piece.

A Gossip Girl veteran, Alex Woo has worked with the show’s costume department since the series’ first season, helping to incorporate jewelry that adds a personal, sometimes humorous, touch to each character.

The sidekicks of the show’s newest “Queen Bee,” Jenny Humphrey, each wear an Alex Woo “Little Number” necklace, symbolizing the girls’ social ranking with the numbers “1,” “2″ and “3.”

As for Jenny herself, whose persona is bold and rebellious, the costume department has often accessorized her with Woo’s “Little Vegas” spade necklace in yellow gold, from a collection of designs inspired by “Sin City chic.” The piece has often been layered with edgy, modern pieces, helping to add to Jenny’s fashion-forward character.

“I love that Gossip Girl uses my jewelry to help tell the stories of each of the characters,” Woo said in a media release. “It’s exactly the reason why I designed the collections–whether it’s a favorite number, or a lucky elephant, each icon represents something special and meaningful to the wearer.  It’s all about telling your own story and making it personal.”

Rachael Ray appears bubbly and playful on the cover of the April issue of her magazine, Everday with Rachael Ray.  The Pajama Party theme definitely brings out the carefree and child-like side of the media mogul, as it does with most of us!  Who doesn’t love a good pillow fight?

Rachael looks fresh-faced and gorgeous, dressed in comfy and simplistic white pajamas, accessorized with Alex Woo’s Little Big Faith Crescent Moon pendant in Sterling Silver.

ASIAN FUSION – Eye catching accents with Eastern flair

Destination Weddings and Honeymoons featured this seasons hottest global trends.  Whether you are in New York City or in Tokyo, you will be sure to dazzle all when wearing these eye-catching Asian styles infused with European flair.   Pair a deep cranberry Thread Carolyn shift dress with the Alex Woo Little Big Faith Lotus necklace in 14 karat gold, for an evening-chic look.

The ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ sister Kim knows how to support her boyfriend New Orleans Super Bowl champion Reggie Bush.  She scored customized Alex Woo’s diamond Little Double Number “25” and a yellow gold Little Faith Fleur de Lis necklace over the weekend in Miami to show her support for Reggie Bush and the Saints.

After the Saints’ ‘Miracle’ Super Bowl XLIV win, Kim went in for a kiss and congratulated her man with an “I’m so proud of you” and “I love you.” 

Now that Reggie’s got his Super Bowl ring, will Kim get her engagement ring?

Dance takes center stage as the remake of Fame hits theaters September 25.  Get into the swing of things with these toe-tapping stats. 

250: Approximate hours the two leads spent training for Fame

288: Calories burned at hour-long dance party

3: Hours of salsa dancing necessary to burn off a 12-0unce margarita

55: Percentage of readers who had childhood dreams of becoming a ballerina

237: Millions of dollars made by the top-gorssing dance movie of all time, Saturday Night Fever

242: Number of students who learned the dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” last April to break a Guinness World Record

40: Number of danc-inspired fitness DVDs released in2009

The model is seen wearing Alex Woo’s silver “Little Dove” pendant from the designer’s Little Faith collection.  Lots of performers wear good-luck charms when in the act, and pendants from Alex Woo’s Little Faith and Little Luck collections are the perfect pieces to give any dancer the extra confidence boost they need!

Fun Fact: Did you know that Fame was based on Alex Woo’s High School?  Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music and the Arts!

TV’s hottest show is back. Gossip Girl started its second season as the most provocative and wildly popular teen drama show on the air. With a perfect mixture of edginess, drama, and sexiness the show exploded into the pop culture consciousness and the characters and plot just gets better and better…

“Never Been Marcused” - Episode 2

“The Dark Night “ (September 15, 2008) Hottie Nate struggles between his feelings for Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) and his more-complicated-by-the-day relationship with Catherine. Jenny (Taylor Momsen) risks losing her internship when she is caught critiquing one of Eleanor Waldorf ‘s designs. Alex Woo jewelry was worn by several of the cast members. The Little Luck Horseshoe and Sweni Earrings were worn by Vanessa. Jenny was wearing Alex Woo’s Little Faith Peace Dove and her dad’s date was wearing the Vida Pendant!

“Bonfire of the Vanity” (November 11, 2008) Blair (Leighton Meester) does not approve of the new man, Cyrus Rose (hilarious guest star Wallace Shawn), in her mother’s life, so she makes it her mission to break up the lovebirds by any means necessary. Throughout the episode, she is seen wearing her “signature B & W” jewelry from Alex Woo.

If you watch more than 30 minutes of TV a week, most likely you’ve seen Flat Earth’s cute flying pig commercial. In the ad, a healthy attractive woman follows a piglet into her house and discovers a bag of Flat Earth Chips. When she bites into a chip the pig walks outside and flys away.

The point? Flat Earth is where nutritious and delicious have finally come together. Sound impossible? When pigs fly? Well, at Flat Earth, they believe you can do anything if you set your mind to it. Like combine nutrition with real chip taste. Just like it was once hard to believe that the earth was round, Flat Earth makes what some thought was an impossible snack, possible – a convenient, better-for-you snack made with real vegetables and fruits. The name is a constant reminder that previously held beliefs can be changed and their whimsical icon, the Flying Pig, is a fitting symbol for a snack that was once thought impossible.

During the commercial, a catchy song by Orba Squara called “Sunshine” is playing in the background and the actress wears Alex Woo’s Little Faith Lotus all in a comprehensive effort to get women to eat Frito-Lay snacks and the spirit of sisterhood. Similar to the flower, we start our journey with humble beginnings and finds our way to the sun, blooming and basking in the gleaming sunlight.

Check out “Only in a Woman’s World” of what’s top of mind with women today through light-hearted, comical videos, comic strips and interactive online content.

CAN’T TAKE IT OFF!

The Office‘s Jenna Fischer loves her Alex Woo Dove necklace so much that she wore it on the Late Show with David Letterman and Lucky Shops event on November 10, and again on the Rachael Ray Show later that week.

FHM’s Advice Goddess decipher’s what a woman’s underthings reveal about her while wearing Alex Woo’s Little Faith Solid Cross. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Beth began her modeling career in New York. Even though she’s a successful model in her own right and has appeared in movies like “Flirting with Disaster” (with Ben Stiller), she is perhaps most well known for being the girlfriend of the super famous shock jock DJ Howard Stern. Beth Ostrosky is number 34 in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005 special.

Notable Quote: “I’ve been blonde since the day I was born, so I don’t know anything else but being blonde. But I will say that I hope everyone has as much fun as I do. I’m blonde and I’m definitely having fun.”

“A HUGE BLOG of: Gift Ideas – My Favorite Things – And Other News

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! James and I had a wonderful night eating turkey and stuffing and green beans and mashed potatoes and crescent rolls and cookies and pie and homemade ice cream with our family until we were ready to burst.

With Thanksgiving over, it’s time to start shopping for the holidays. How does this time of year always manage to creep up on me?! In celebration of today being the biggest shopping day of the year, I thought I’d make a list of some of my favorite things. I can’t guarantee that these items will be available by Christmas but you might find a good gift in here somewhere. I’m always looking for good gift ideas…especially for my husband who is so hard to buy for…and I find gift idea lists helpful. (I’ve already bought 2 things I read about in Newsweek.) … I just discovered a new jeweler named Alex Woo. When I was in New York, I borrowed her diamond peace dove necklace and wore it on the Letterman show. I fell in love with it. I got a gold one for myself and I wear it nearly every day. All of her jewelry is fantastic. It’s pricey, but if you want to splurge on your lady you might want to check it out. The gold dove costs $398. They have a sterling silver one for $129. I should also mention that the chain it comes with is awesome and the piece itself is heavy… meaning that it feels substantial even though it is tiny. There are other less expensive items on the website as well. She also does an entire line of numbers…Eva Longoria wears a diamond “9″ pendant because it is the number on her boyfriend’s basketball jersey.”

Jenna Fischer, who plays Pam Beesly from the Emmy award-winning series was wearing the Little Faith Peace Dove on the Late Show with David Letterman. In the interview, the charming actress tells some hilarious stories including her thoughts on fish eating versus bait killing, describing one of her earliest film creations, “Barbie Party Massacre,” and how her TV success now brings her closer and faster to tapioca pudding.