INSIDE THE CREATIVE MIND OF DESIGNER AND STYLE ICON ILONA STOLIE
Latvian socialite Ilona Stolie has become something of a style phenomenon both in her home country and across the world. Her unique style has been the subject of many illustrious magazine pages with Vogue, Coveteur and The Economist being a few of her many admirers.
Her vivid taste sets her apart from your average stylist and her self-created mix of luxury outfits are a symbol of her stylish intent. Her personality is simply inimitable and her brand of jewellery is already making tidal-sized waves in the highly competitive jewellery design industry.
Her passion and flair for creativity, combined with a lust for trying new ideas defines her as one of a kind.
When asked what first inspired her to take on the challenge of becoming a jewellery designer, it turns out the idea came to her from a challenge we have all faced at some point: finding the perfect, simple design jewellery for everyday wear.
“I was searching for earrings of flawless quality, ideal size and weight. I also struggled to find elegant chokers and other items that I could really fall in love with. So, I decided I should do it myself. I have always loved being creative and I thought this was the ideal solution to my problem. And that is how the By Stolie brand was born.”
The popularity of her brand is growing at great speed. Stolie identifies her clients as ‘young and daring, honest and bold’. Just like Stolie, they are not afraid to do or wear something outside of the norm. She is also excited to tell us that her brand is now enjoyed by young men, as well as women, giving reference to her range of stunning crosses.
In terms of materials, gems are an integral part of many of her collections and she loves to use her favourite stone, Ruby.
She also acknowledges that diamonds will always be a girl’s best friend, so she couldn’t deprive us of their inclusion. Yellow gold is her metal preference due to the soft and warm texture she associates it with.
She has already seen great success in many countries and next up she has her sights on taking her unique jewellery to all corners of the world.
If you are thinking of indulging in any of the distinctive By Stolie collections, it might be worth noting her very own favourite piece –the choker necklace.
Its signature geometric pattern draws on symbols of ancient cultures. More comfortable than you would expect from such an alluring piece, it looks from afar like a strip of gold but is interlaced with colourless diamonds that have been cut to match the complex geometry.
The versatility and flexibility of her pieces make By Stolie a great choice to wear both during the day but also for an evening function.