Walk through NorthPark’s 7 For All Mankind, and it is abundantly clear why Nikki Reed’s jewelry was chosen for the store.  Best known for her part as Rosalie in the Twilight saga, Reed has now added jewelry-designer to her chain of talents.  Launching this week in Dallas, Mattlin Era — Reed’s label — is a great addition for all jewelry lovers.  With a unique look and a price point of less than $100, the collection is sure to be a hit.

Reed agreed to lend her name to the five-piece line just a few months ago, and the day her manager called about the opportunity, she put twelve sketches together in a matter of hours. The Starry Knight necklace and matching earrings are inspired by 7 For All Mankind’s Photo Real jeans, which are embellished with Swarovski crystals. The pieces really compliment the jeans, making the collection even more appropriate for the store.

Reed credits her grandmother, Laurie, as her biggest inspiration, and even used her maiden name to title the collection. The Hollywood-muralist’s aquatic works influenced many of Reed’s pieces. “She’s a very strong, very beautiful, glamorous … very spirited woman,” Reed says.

Reed also looks to her husband, former American Idol contestant Paul McDonald, for inspiration.  Jewelry-making has always been a part of their relationship, stemming from the wedding rings the couple designed themselves through Tacori.  While spending time with her new husband, Reed took a cue from his wardrobe, making denim shirts her signature look.

“I designed…[the Starry Knight] necklace in particular because I have been wearing denim,” she says, fingering the series of spikes around her neck. “It makes you feel a little bit masculine, and I couldn’t find a necklace to go under a denim shirt, so I kind of selfishly designed this piece.” McDonald occasionally wears Reed’s jewelry too, proving the collection to truly be unisex.

Whether it’s the long Humility necklace with a gold honeycomb pendant and matching earrings, the dark silver daggers of the Starry Knight combination, or the tri-metal Story Telling bangle set, Nikki Reed’s Mattlin Era jewelry will stand out in a crowd and complete any look. –Claire Criss

photography (before crop and filter) courtesy of style.com

We’ve been having a serious love affair with Piermarini boutique and its mix of talented and harder-to-find designers since it first opened in Uptown. Nowadays days, in its Snider Plaza location, the shop is cooler than ever. For example, pop in this Saturday and you’ll be able to meet designer Timo Weiland and peruse his spring 2013 RTW collection. Minimalistic black and white pieces and feminine, mixed pattern dresses mingle with textured separates like skirts and cropped pants in oversized yellow houndstooth, blouses with sheer panels, and a smattering of fun pencil skirts.

Where: Piermarini
When: Saturday, May 11, 3 pm to 6 pm

photography courtesy of Charlotte Olympia

When Joslyn and I left the interview room after spending a some time with Charlotte Olympia designer Charlotte Dellal, who was in town for a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus NorthPark, we couldn’t wait to talk about her. She was lovely and fun and glowing with her beautiful little baby bump. Dellal’s skin is flawless, with scattered freckles peeking through. She wore her signature 40s glam retro waves and red lip, which is surprisingly low key up close. (“It looks super high maintenance but it’s very quick,” she told us.) In town to promote her latest collections and meet Charlotte Olympia shoe collectors, Dellal talked about her Cosmic Collection of Birthday Shoes, made up of flats for each horoscope sign, and her long overdue Hollywoodland collection for pre-fall 2013.

photography by Flickr user Farid Bernat-Ortells

On designing Hollywoodland:
“It was, in a way, a hard collection to do. It was close to my heart, because the essence is always going to have this Hollywood glam thing. However, I was also quite apt to do it. It’s a glamorous, classic, timeless era, and it’s also an era that was rich in accessories and that had that kind of whimsy to it, as well. People didn’t think twice about carrying a poodle bag around or wearing a fantastic hat with matching gloves.”

On wearing jeans:
“I’ve got one pair –a dark, dark denim, high-waisted, flared, wide-leg jeans. But, they’re not really my thing.”

Her favorite Charlotte Olympia shoes:
“Oh, that’s so hard. They’re like babies. There’s one that stands out that I definitely love that’s from a past collection, which was my Bananas Is My Business shoe, which was a fruit shoe. It’s one of my favorite shoes. I think I own five pairs boxed up. Just in case they die along the way, I can have a new pair. I guess it also symbolizes a lot what the brand is about. It’s a super high shoe. It’s got a sense of humor, yet at the same time I think it’s quite a classic shoe. I don’t know. My head works in funny ways. It’s a fruit shoe—everything goes with fruit. For me, it was a neutral.”

Her favorite, non-Charlotte Olympia shoe:
“Converse–my favorite shoe, apart from my own. I love my Converse. I’ve got a growing collection of them, so those are good to run around in.”

On her “old Hollywood glamour” beauty routine:
“When I first dyed my hair red, it was because I love Rita Hayworth, who’s a favorite pin-up of mine. I think redheads should wear red lipstick, and that’s when it started.”

Go-to lip colors:
“MAC in Russian Red. In the summer, however, I prefer lip stain—Revlon in Just Bitten.”

Favorite adult beverage:
“Beer. Cold. Very cold. It’s the boy in me.”

Her favorite tunes at the moment:
“I’ve got quite an eclectic taste, but I like Brazilian music a lot. I guess that’s again being half-Brazilian, and it’s quite timeless as well, and easy to listen to. My kids like it as well. There’s a singer in particular, Maria Gadu.”

On making her whimsical shoes wearable:
“As a woman designer, I definitely try to test all my shoes, and I try to make them as comfortable as they can possibly be, and wearable. Walkable.”

photography courtesy of style.com

I love Mary Katrantzou and everything about her fall 2013 collection. The heartbreakingly beautiful photographic prints, the abstract kimono silhouettes, the muted palette, everything. I wasn’t able to pop in and meeting her during her personal appearance at Neiman Marcus downtown last week, but fortunately, stylist Stephanie Quadri, a sometimes contributor for D Magazine, offered up her talents and covered it. Her Q&A with the designer below:

One of my favorite designer’s of the moment, Mary Katrantzou, is in town today for a trunk show and luncheon at Neiman Marcus downtown. I got the chance to visit with the friendly Brit (she’s actually Greek, but has lived in London for 10 years and calls it home), who has been recognized for her bold prints and shapes that make for standout style. –Stephanie Quadri

Stephanie Quadri: What brought you to Dallas?
Mary Katrantzou: We are hosting trunk shows all over –in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Seattle, New York, and Dallas is our last stop. I flew in yesterday, just in time for a dinner event my friend Nasiba [Adilova] was hosting. I was surprised that people flew in from all over the place to attend–Chicago, Laguna Beach, and New York. We went to The Mansion for a little after party, which was lovely.

Will you be attending the Art Ball and what will you wear?
Yes, I understand it is a very big thing here. I didn’t really know, so all I have to wear is my black Alaia dress but maybe I’ll buy something at Neiman’s today while I am here.

What else is on your agenda while in Dallas?
Everyone says I must go to Mi Cocina for mambo taxis, so I will definitely find time to do that amongst all the events we are attending. It would be great to see the Cindy Sherman exhibit as I haven’t had a chance to view it yet, and I hear it’s a really great space at the DMA. Better than the MOMA, a friend of mine mentioned.

Tell us about your technique and approach to designing.
It all starts with an image that I really like. It’s all about the composition and building on the shapes. That leads to a collage, which guides the collection as a theme. From there I start painting it on the computer with pixels. Everything I do is on the computer. Composing something surreal and using that to create a print to paint and then on the body.

The "Faumi Babelona" dress, far left.

How long does that process take?
We don’t stop working until show time. So about six months. Then three more months post-show to get the prints right.

Inspiration for the fall/winter 2013 collection?
It was based on landscapes. I wanted to stripe away the color this time to showcase other elements like our leather and brocade fabrics. To give it a deeper, moodier feel. The abstract textures give it a more diversified print that is easier for customers who don’t typically wear prints. It’s a good way to introduce them to it. There is some color in the collection, as well. I know how women in Texas love their color.

What piece do you think the women of Dallas will love?
I think they are going to like the ‘Faumi Babelona’ dress. It’s a cap-sleeve dress with a waist and full skirt that hits just below the knee, featuring the print on our brocade fabric with a little metallic woven in.
Note: we hear someone was interested in wearing this very dress to the Art Ball so be on the lookout for it to make an appearance on one lucky lady.

Do you ever take time off?
I visit my family in Athens every summer, it’s the only break I really take.

A look from Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent spring 2013 (photography courtesy of Cynthia Vincent)

Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent turns ten years old this year, and lucky for us, the super chic designer stopped by Tootsies on Wednesday for a cocktail event, where guests enjoyed a runway show featuring some of her spring designs. After watching the show and sneaking a peek at the upcoming fall collection (spoiler alert: it’s gorgeous), I sat down with Cynthia to chat about ten years of Twelfth Street, spring trends, and of course, Dallas.  –Jessica Mitzner

Me: Looking back on the past ten years, do you have a proudest moment or a favorite thing that has happened?

Vincent: Well, the birth of my daughter, but collection-wise, this year, I was going back and looking through the archives and seeing that the product is still relevant and meaningful, which then prompted me to re-issue some of my best-sellers and most requested pieces. We’re offering them for the 10th anniversary, so that’s been really great, because that means that people love the product, and the product lasts.

Me: Did you have a specific inspiration for your spring collection?

Vincent: Spring was all about the Ivory Coast meets Pueblo tribes–which is a reoccurring theme, mashing up different cultures, different tribes, different ethnicities, and putting them together. So I took a lot of the colors from the Ivory Coast, and I took it very nationalistic. I didn’t want to do flags, but I took the idea of stripes, and then mixed it in with Pueblo etchings and patterning that is associated with that. The interesting thing was that a lot of the colors are similar.

Me: What do you like about being here in Dallas? Do you have any favorite spots?

Vincent: I love it here. This has been the third time that I’ve been here in the last six months, and it’s been great. And do I have a favorite place? Wow. Well, Driftwood has the most amazing meals I’ve ever had.

Me: Do you have any favorite styles or trends that you’re loving for spring?

Vincent: I love that people are still embracing prints. It’s a nice way to update your wardrobe. It can go from day to evening really easily. Obviously, I’m very print-oriented. I like the eased-up shapes, too. I think women are getting used to that for spring and summer months, and I love that.

Me: Do you have anything special on your wish list for this season?

Vincent: Oh my gosh, I have so many things on my wish list. You know what I did do? I bought a 3D printer when I was in New York. I bought that instead of a new bag. It’s really amazing. So I’m actually going to do something with that–I’m definitely going to design something. I love new technology. I love mixing old and new. It’s all fine and well to look back, but I don’t want to look vintage or dated. I love new.

Me: Are there any trends that you are ready to see end?

Vincent: Yes, very large platform shoes. It’s time to bring back the single sole shoes. I’m bringing those back for spring and summer.

Jessica Mitzner is a ShopTalk intern.

Leandra Medine in Man Repeller x PJK and two looks (photography courtesy of Man Repeller x PJK)

I heart Leandra Medine, fashion guru behind The Man Repeller, but who doesn’t? Let’s all jump up and down now because she’s coming to Dallas to visit Neiman Marcus NorthPark Wednesday, March 6, and maybe we can fawn over and profess our love for her, I mean, meet her. In celebration of her capsule collection with PJK, she and the NM gang invite you to come have a drink, peruse the clothing, and you know, stare in awe at her hopefully extra man-repelling ensemble. And because I can’t say it any more Man Repeller-y than it is on the invite:

So mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 6, from 6 pm to 8 pm at Neiman Marcus NorthPark in Cusp on Level One and RSVP to rsvpnorthpark@neimanmarcus.com.

Anine Bing designs, left, and Jane of Sea of Shoes in Anine Bing, right

Thursday is going to be a good night. As per usual in Dallas, there are several great things happening, but first, there’s this killer party happening at Elements. Jane and Judy Aldridge (of Sea of Shoes and Atlantis Home, respectively) will be hosting Anine Bing, Danish singer/model-turned designer and her collection of effortlessly cool tees, motorcycle jackets, leather leggings, studded ankle boots, and wrap bracelet accessories. (You may have seen a couple of her designs on Jane back in October, top right.) If this doesn’t already sound too cool for school, let’s throw in Jane DJing as Paris Vidal, free snacks and cocktails, and, of course, access to shop the entire store with wild abandon (and buzz-fueled guiltlessness.)

Where: Elements
When: Thursday, December 13, 5 pm to 7 pm

photography courtesy of Forty Five Ten

If you already know The Woods, you’re probably a fan. If you don’t, you will be. The Aspen-based line of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, and earrings, is a fusion of earthy, organic materials and precious diamonds and gems. Celebs, stylists, and fashion bloggers are big fans, including our own Hanh Merriman, the stylish doll of Life in Travel blog, who’s hosting the upcoming trunk show reception for the line at Forty Five Ten. Head over on Friday or Saturday for a trunk show highlighting the newest pieces in the collection, but definitely aim for Friday from noon to 2 pm, when the champagne reception is taking place and you can say hello to designers (and sisters) Shawn Hecox and Samantha Hitchcock.

Where: Forty Five Ten
When: Friday and Saturday, Friday from noon to 2 pm for reception
RSVP: email here