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."

A New Yurmanagram

This went online at about 2 PM today.

@DavidYurman posted this (right) to Instagram earlier this afternoon. Evidently, Mr. Yurman speaks as he designs--that is, impossibly well.

For those of you who have images disabled on your browser or for whom reading white-on-black print is difficult, the quotation presented in the image is this:

"Fashion has color moments, but for me it's not about trends. There are times you want something soft and muted, and others when you want something deep and rich."

--David Yurman

Well put, sir. Your adoring public undoubtedly agrees. (I know I do.)

Alex in Chains: Evan Yurman on Adornment

Evan Yurman. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Prehn.

Late last year, GQ writer Ren McKnight interviewed Evan Yurman, son of David Yurman, and asked him about his "ten essentials"--that is, the products, places, experiences, and general miscellany he cannot live without. Yurman, who now oversees development of the David Yurman men's line, had this to say about men, jewelry, and the anthropology of adornment:

A lot of men want more from their jewelry. They might not be okay with a standard band ring—they want to relate to it in some way. The history of adornment started with man—man killed animal, took a tooth, strung it on his neck. That was the first piece. And then you fast-forward to the Middle Ages when the men adorned themselves with incredible amounts of jewelry—rings on each finger, 100 inches of gold chain around their necks. King Henry was definitely the first Mr. T. I just encourage adornment, you know? Even just a little thread, whether it's mine or somebody else's, I encourage it.

Oh, and in case you are wondering about EY's ten essentials, they include a digital camera, a souped-up motorcycle, spring water, traveling, and a classic car. (Yeah, I know; the list is unremarkable, but hey, I love the quotation.)