Couture Blog

24K Club of Southern California to Honor Erica Courtney & Lula Halfacre

 

The 24k Club of Southern California, a preiminent trade organization, has chosen two fantastic ladies this year to receive their Excellence in Service award.

Both entrepreneurs are members of our Couture Community and both bring exceptional presence, grace and excitment to our show.

Designer Erica Courtney of Beverly Hills, CA and Lula Halfacre of Traditional Jewelers in Newport Beach, CA will be celebrated on Saturday, October 22nd for their "exceptional leadership and contributions to the fine jewelry industry," says Steve Weiss, 24 Karat President. “Erica and Lula have the qualities of being exceptional leaders. Having worked with them on the 24 Karat Board, they are also extraordinary people.”

It's great to see these ladies be acknowledged for their industry contributions -- we tip our hats to you, too!

 

 

Erica Courtney

Since 1984, Erica Courtney has been building one of the most recognized and successful fine jewelry brands in the industry. Inspired by the history and glamour of Hollywood, Erica designs from her heart and strives to “create jewelry that is treasured and remembered.” 

Based in Los Angeles, Erica Courtney is always a favorite on the red carpet and in media. Her covetable designs have been worn by Madonna, Julia Roberts, and Johnny Depp – just to name a few. Her jewelry has also has also graced the pages of Vogue, InStyle, People and The New York Times.

Erica’s intense love affair with master craftsmanship is embodied in each and every exquisite piece in her award-winning collection.  Not only has she received accolades from celebrities and press, Erica has also gained notoriety from her peers, winning numerous awards from Women’s Jewelry Association, AGTA Spectrum, United Brand and Town & Country.

Erica Courtney jewelry can make anyone feel like royalty, and undeniably DROP DEAD GORGEOUS®.

 

 

 

 

Lula Halfacre

Lula Halfacre is the CEO/CFO of Traditional Jewelers located in Fashion Island in Newport Beach and Cross Creek Road in Malibu, California.  Lula and her late husband, Marion Halfacre, opened their first store in 1975 in Mississippi and moved to Newport Beach four years later.  This move allowed Traditional Jewelers to grow into one of the top independent fine jewelers of the Unites States – and in 1991, they relocated to prestigious Fashion Island, where their store remains today.

When founder Marion Halfacre sadly passed away in 2007, Lula appointed five family members to continue the expansion of the company. Since that time, the family has successfully maintained the traditions, service, quality and integrity that have become synonymous with Traditional Jewelers.

In 2008, Traditional Jewelers opened a second location in Malibu’s premier retail center, Country Mart Plaza.  The same year, Lula Halfacre was named “Citizen of the Year for Newport Beach”.  Today, Traditional Jewelers continues to give back to the community with donations to over 100 charities per year and continues its involvement with the Newport Beach and Orange County communities.

 

Deep Impact: Couture Designers Fill the Pages of September Fashion Magazines

The September fashion magazines have arrived! Hitting the desks in the middle of the August slow-down (when it seems as if everyone is checking out), stylists, editors, buyers, and consumers are perking up, taking notice, and getting down to study all of the fashions and trends packed into these massive issues. These bone-breakers are upwards of 4 pounds, and contain all of the brands that will be in fashion for the coming season and beyond.

Couture brands received serious overage, adding their own heft to these already weighty issues. Couture jewelers have many many mentions, placements, as well as a few features in some of the most influential magazines, including Vogue, W Magazine, and InStyle.

 

In W, Couture designer Milus was included in a piece about new watch trends, with Milus's rose gold and diamond watch with mother-of-pearl face tagged as a "chic design." Also in W's "Accessories Flash," necklace trends were illustrated with three Couture designers Melissa Joy Manning, Andrea Fohrman, and Jude Frances. Additionally, Monic Rich Kosann's keep-sake necklaces and home items were highlighted.

Couture designers Daniel K and Kwiat were also placed in an editorial spread by much acclaimed, bad-boy photographer Juergen Teller.

As if all that weren't enough, InStyle was absolutely brimming with Couture designers. It seems as if writers and editors have Couture at the top of their lists for jewelry placements.

Some of the designers included in InStyle were David Yurman, Stephen Dweck, Stephen Webster, and Philip Stein Teslar. Designer Robert Less Morris's designs were featured in a profile on Mary-Kate Olsen's new fashion line, Elizabeth and James, to which he contributed.

InStyle also devoted a whole page to Stephen Webster in their "Shop it! Jewelry" section.

Also featured was Kimora Lee Simmons for Hello Kitty in a four page feature, in which she describes her life-long love of diamonds.

These fashion bibles have a huge impact, and we're so pleased that Couture designers are making a such a splash this season!