Lieke and Jetteke conquer Paris
Yesterday was finally the day after having met about a hundred times and Thalyssing to Paris back and forth for months. Lieke and Jetteke van Lexmond presented their long awaited jewellery collection in Paris. Venue? Holland’s ambassador’s residence in the fashion capital. Okay…
It takes some guts. Starting a jewellery line (not particularly a small feat) and presenting it during Paris Fashion Week to such an esteemed and critical crowd. But Jetteke and Lieke van Lexmond have so much faith in their Lexmond versus Lexmond jewellery that they collaborated together with Royal Asscher Diamonds, and braved the challenge head on.
“Of course there was some stress. I’m incredibly perfectionistic because I know how brutal the fashion world is,” Jetteke said. “You only get one chance, and you’ve got to grab it with both hands, otherwise you’re done.”
Stress and success
The evening feels like there’s a wedding about to take place. Lieke and Jetteke’s loved ones came to Paris to see what they’d been working on for so long. The most important guests, besides husbands, parents, brothers, and children, are their dear friend Montezar Alaïa (yes, related to), and their muses top model Linda Spierings and Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele. Two icons in fashion whose work Jetteke admired from an early age on. “Carlyne’s the reason why I wanted to get into the business. Everything she creates is so distinct and full of life. It’s almost magical.”
Supported by the top
Cerf de Dudzeele (that’s right, nobility) was born in St. Tropez (it already started so great at such an early age) and became Vogue US’ stylist after having worked for Marie Claire and ELLE France. She started such a long time ago back when Grace Mirabella was still leading things. Carlyne even styled Anna Wintour’s very first cover. Which was groundbreaking because she combined a Haute Couture top with jeans. “I call it my own mix, mon salade,” Carlyne said with a, of course, deliciously French accent. Carlyne is friends with Azzedine Alaïa, whose hospitable house Lieke and Jetteke (also friends of the family) met at. ‘Genius’, ‘j’adore’, and ‘mes enfants’ are things Carlyne repeated as a celebratory mantra that night. She took care of ‘the girls’ and their project, which they perfectly realise. Her name shines on the invitation, and when ‘the legend’ — as she calls herself laughingly — commits herself to you, you just know important people will follow. And so it happened.
The best of the best
“We wanted to do something together at which we’d work together on even the smallest details.” Lieke said. Which happened. From thinking about what the collection should look like, photographing the campaign on the Seychelles (okay, not quite a punishment) to determining which drinks had to be served (coconut water because the Coco de Mer coconut is the most important fruit of the collection) and making sure the invites were calligraphed by the in-house calligrapher from Louis Vuitton. Royal Asscher Diamonds made sure only the best ingredients were used. Ruby, emerald, diamond, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Rather expensive than not for sale
It might not come as a big surprise that there’s a price tag hanging off these works. They’ve used exceptional jewellery which you’ll associate with a special moment in your life. The birth of your child, your wedding, your first job. A piece of jewellery like this stays with you your entire life, and perhaps even more lives as you might pass it on to daughters or grand daughters. I’m positive they’d be over the moon when they’d receive a passion fruit necklace or Coco de Mer pendant.
The evening, the evening
When Lexmond’s father walks in, the girls have to suppress a tear. “I’m so PROUD of you guys.” And rightfully so. The Dutch Vogue sent Martien Mellema, Elsevier’s John de Greef, and Bastiaan van Schaik with his blog The World According To Bastiaan is also found where everything happens. We also spotted Vogue Paris’ Franceline Pratt, US Vogue’s fashion editor (incredibly enthusiastic), and pretty much all the other Vogue countries shook the girls’ hands.
In Paris, Lieke and Jetteke may not be as famous as in the Netherlands, but they’ve definitely left behind a foot print. Their works will be available at Harrods. Holland’s ambassador in Paris is a fan. We can safely assume that besides Gouda Cheese and Doutzen Kroes, our next export product is going to be: Lexmond versus Lexmond.
