Une Soirée avec Shourouk

Nothing déjà vu and everything très belle, Shourouk‘s latest collection is stepping right over diamonds to become a girl’s next best friend. Last Thursday, the well-known jewelry designer, Shourouk, flew in from Paris to present her newest collection along with the inspirations behind her art, chez La Boutique in downtown San Francisco. You have most likely already seen her pieces on celebrities, runways or gracing the pages of Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, and Glamour—or wherever you get your fashion fix.

Chrysanthemum earrings, geisha-warrior crowns, and birds in flight are all part of Shourouk's Spring/Summer collection.

Her collection was bordered by old comic book strips with brightly colored superheroes, a portrait of Frida Kahlo, and a variety of exotic Tunisian art. The sweet, cozy loft-like atmosphere of the European store swirled with French and English voices harmonizing over fancy hors d’oeuvres and wine, while French existentialist literature lay unopened in the corners. Besides just her jewelry, there was also an elaborately detailed tunic, the first one that she ever made with her grandmother. I was lucky enough to share a few words with the designer.

As refreshing as her designs were on a chilly San Francisco evening, it was impressive to meet such a successful designer who opened up and shared her life and work with such a warm and welcoming demeanor. She explained that her biggest inspirations come from Tunisian art. Her grandmother, who came from Tunisia, taught her how to embroider when she was a small child. Her Tunisian background and her life in France collided to give the spring 2011 collection a twist on the classic French Cartier and Maharaja, adding fun pops of color and unexpected details while keeping each piece haute couture. She shared how she uses a little bit of inspiration from every corner of the globe to try and create something for every individual style. Pieces from the collection are wild with animals including jaguars, rabbits, lions and birds brought to life by electric colors inspired by Asian, South American, and Central American art. All the while, each piece stays classy with Swarovski crystals and fabric covered pearls.

Shourouk's Tunisian roots and French upbringing make for an extremely eclectic and ferocious collection. All images courtesy of Shourouk.

The most eccentric headpieces she said were only for expositions, but I was dying to wear them down the street anyways. Now, if only I could convince my dad that paying jewelry bills are a necessity like college bills, mais c’est la vie. Au revoir!

Francesca Rubino
BARE Reporter

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