David Yurman Unveils "Enduring Style" F/W '14 Campaign with Little Fanfare, Classic Photography

Image Credit: DavidYurman.com

Via an official website refresh, David Yurman unveiled today its F/W '14 campaign titled "Enduring Beauty," which yes, stars model Kate Moss, who has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the company since she first sat for its photographers back in 2004.

While many bloggers and Twitter users were quick to express approval of Moss's work--Modelinia asserted the model "looks better than ever"--there has been, it seems, little reaction to the campaign as a whole. Perhaps this is because the unveiling was, well, strangely quiet. Recall, if you will, the unfurling of the F/W '12 campaign, which starred Gisele Bundchen. Days before the great reveal, teaser photos dropped. On Facebook, a date (and time!) of debut was set. Heck, a short film was shot, previewed, and then, at precisely 7:30 PM EST on August 1, released.

This year, there was a website update.

Yes, the photography is classic Yurman. Yes, Moss does, indeed, stun, but where is the publicity? Where were the buzz-producing sneak peeks? And I'm sorry; where is the social media synchronicity? (David Yurman's cover photo on Facebook hasn't changed in months, and the company's clearly-on-a-scheduler tweets are backward looking, promoting S/S looks.)

Well, I think I've made my position on this year's "big reveal" abundantly clear. I must say, however, that I am curious to know your thoughts, dear reader. Tell me: Has DY dropped the proverbial ball with the whole of F/W '14? Is the season just off to a rocky start? Do you have, perhaps, an altogether opposing opinion? (Maybe you feel DY moving in the right direction with its reined-in campaign launches.) No matter your view, sound off; post a comment or shoot me an E-mail.

David Yurman, the Man, Sits Down with Ken Downing of Neiman Marcus

Published this week to the official blog of Neiman Marcus was a conversation (think interview but more casual) between NM fashion director Ken Downing and the one and only Mr. David Yurman. Here are some highlights and images from:

Image Credit: Neiman Marcus 

On bringing Cable to the public at a 1982 trade show:
"The first moment was frightening."



On bracelets and bracelet stacking:
"I don't trust people who don't have good appetites or who wear only one bracelet. I don't care if it's my bracelet. It's bracelets--there's an 's' at the end."



On being preoccupied at school:
"I was ADD and dyslexic, but wasn't diagnosed with ADD until '75. I would daydream and find my language in drawing and lines."

The Preview of New Men's DY that the S/S '14 Catalog Didn't Give You

Those on the David Yurman mailing list were treated this week to a new S/S '14 promotional catalog... and that's about all there is to say about it. While the mailer was tastefully composed (as all DY catalogs are), none of its arrays especially dazzled, which can probably be blamed on the fact most of the product featured was standard 2013-2014 Yurman fare. Fortunately, for those of us craving the new or, better, not yet released, there is Instagrammer @carito410 who this week shared the following to the social media platform:

Southwest Dreaming: The David Yurman Frontier Collection for Men Is Here... and Coming (Updated)

Image Credit: whitewallmag.com

This is a developing story, and so, dear reader, I'll share what I know when I know it. (That means check back for updates.)

Back in January, Whitewall Magazine did a little piece on what is new and coming from David Yurman. (Yeah, I didn't catch it either.) Well, evidently, what was quietly teased then is now enjoying an equally quiet roll out--that is, for now, anyway. Here is what's up:



There is a new David Yurman Frontier Collection for men.
Details are scarce at this time, but inspiration sources appear to include cowboys and indigenous peoples, to say nothing of regional flora and fauna. Here's an anything-but-revelatory blurb on the collection, which surfaced on DavidYurman.com late this afternoon:

Oscars 2014 Jewelry Roundup: The Stars Step out in Designer but Snub Yurman

So the glitterati stepped out on Sunday in baubles captivating and beguiling, but this Yurman fanatic was disappointed by what proved nothing less than a glaring absence of visible Yurman. While some male celebrities (most notably, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith) donned subtle DY finishings like shirt and ear studs, no statement Yurman pieces were on display on any celeb, man or woman. (OK, so two-bit Alexandra Daddario wore pave black-diamond earrings to the Vanity Fair after party, and the relative nobody Paula Patton wore some studs. Neither is worth mentioning.)

So whom did the A-listers step out wearing? Here's a rundown of the looks and designers featured:

Per usual, stunner Cate Blanchett
showed Chopard some love.

Image Credit: indianexpress.com

Briefs: Poll Results, Anticipated Arrivals, Visit to Townhouse

Why hello again, dear reader! Have you missed me? Actually, I haven't really been away. There's just been little on which to report, as is typically the case in this transitional time between winter and spring. That being said, I do have a few notes and notices to post, which are as follows:

The reader-selected winner of our "What's Your Favorite David Yurman Women's Collection?" is... Cable Classics.
What Yurman starting out designing remains, evidently, the fan favorite.

Moving right along, the reader-selected winner of the "What's Your Favorite David Yurman Men's Collection" is... Meteorite.
It's interesting; our female readers enjoy the timeless, while our male readership prefers the ancient. (The Gibeon Meteorite from which the pieces in the collection are made is an estimated four billion years old.) Hey, to each his own, right?

Next, I have to mention that there appears to be a snag in the production or distribution lines of new men's product at DY.

Oh, honeycomb, where art thou?

I mean, shoot, the honeycomb pieces (see left) of the Meteorite Collection and a wrap-around ring from Carbon Fiber were teased back in November. None has yet (as of time of writing) to make it to market. And so, I guess, the waiting (or wanting?) game continues. I'll continue to check up on the status of these. If I hear anything, I'll happily report out.







Finally, hey--you know what?--when there's no news to report, the enterprising blogger makes his own, and so with that, allow me to announce that
I'll be making a visit to the David Yurman Townhouse on Madison Avenue in New York City this month. 
Expect upon my return a full review with photos and recommendations to boot.

With that, dear reader, I'm out for now. I shan't be away long, though. (And that's a promise.)