Thursday 12 September 2013

If I won the lottery...

Please indulge me sharing with you one of my dream purchases if I won the Euromillions.  Most of us have an imaginary spending list with the possible windfall; gifts to family and friends, charity, upgrade of certain items, etc.

 But there is one item after I complete the list which I would purchase probably a week after my win. 

No it isn't a yacht.  
Those who have one say the best day of your life is when you buy your yacht and the second best day is when you sell it.


My extravagant item would be 
 the Zip Necklace by Van Cleef and Arpels.


Via Van Cleef Arpels
It is a work of art and true original design.
Via VCA

Its dual function of both bracelet and necklace tickles my penchant for items that are flexible and multipurpose.













Via VCA

The original idea of the zipper necklace was from a conversation that the Duchess of Windsor had with one of the members of the Arpels family.  The zipper was a rather new revolutionary invention and was not as ubiquitous as it is now. 
Via inventors.about.com
 It was only patented in 1917 and used mostly for military purposes.  It was considered very gruff so creating a fine jewellry creation based on a zipper was truly ironic and now iconic.

Via VCA
In 1951, the necklace finally became a reality after being a simple idea mentioned in 1938.  There are no public pictures of her wearing the piece but she is known to have worn it to several famous dinner parties.  As she was so fashion forward, she apparently wore it backwards.  Say what you like about her but she was chic.

Via Fashionera.com
The original piece was slightly different to the present modern reinterpretation.  

Via VCA
It was only a necklace back then but was flexible how it hung and how you wanted the fall of the zip on the collarbone.

Via VCA

Now, it can be worn both as a bracelet and a necklace.
There is a separate necklace extender as seen in the picture above.

Via VCA

Via VCA
I haven't seen this piece on the runway or on as many celebrities as I would have thought that could easily borrow the item for the Oscars or a movie premier.  

How could she be so miserable with that hanging around her neck?
At least she chose a drink to match her necklace.
Via VCA
Marisa Berenson wearing it just like any other accessory.
Via VCA
I love how decadent the piece is and yet it doesn't seem to overwhelm the woman or an outfit.
Via
If anything, 
the Dalmatian seems more of a trendy accessory than the Zip.
Via Vanityfair.com
The current starting price for the item is about $1.6 million but remember that it can be both a bracelet and a necklace so 
I wouldn't feel too guilty about getting it...
But I would be most interested in knowing what extravagant item you have on your wishlist!
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44 comments:

  1. Heidi12 September 2013 at 09:02

    I love it - haven't seen it before either.... which is interesting, given the provenance, as well as the fact that it's actually been around for a long time. We all know Wallis' cartier leopard bracelet, but the zip, not so much. It still looks very modern as well.

    I have a lottery list that changes all the time, but it mostly has stuff that is within reach (sort of) on it.... you know, in about 30 years time for a significant birthday or something! I did have one thing on it that was ticked off the list last year though....

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  2. Housewife in Heels12 September 2013 at 10:35

    If I win lottery I will buy one, and let you wear it every now and again!

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 10:41

      Oh yes please!! I will say a little prayer for you to win the tatts very soon. Oh and can you get the pink and purple sapphire one while you're at it? But I will make do with whichever one you choose! :)

      Delete
  3. Anonymous12 September 2013 at 11:30

    My God, but there was a look of Mrs Danvers in one of your pictures.

    Sue

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 11:49

      Ha!! OMG I just realized that there was something very Mrs Danvers about the duchess...Well spotted Sue!

      Delete
  4. ruth12 September 2013 at 11:34

    Beautiful! And certainly worth it!
    I'd buy some art - perhaps lucien Freud .... Or one one of my friend's paintings (or more)
    My main purchases would be houses, though, and bespoke shoes.

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 11:50

      Yes art... that is number 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, well you get the picture.
      I am surprised you didnt' say couture? I can see you having a discussion with Karl about the length of your dress or something Ruth!

      Delete
    2. ruth12 September 2013 at 12:35

      Oh god how could I forget couture! Of course! Although I'd have no idea where to start or who to pick!
      Now I'm on a roll... I'd also like a cellar of very fine wines, amazing lamps (influenced by Heidi's post) and a subscription to Intelligent Life. The wants are endless and I don't even buy lottery tickets!!!

      Delete
    3. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 12:38

      Hehe! I can see you being a proper fashion patron and muse also for the up and comers but a token dress with Karl just because. A tailored YSL suit would get a lot of good use too no? A cellar, you could hire Heidi to do your house but Intelligent Life is free on ipad! :)

      Delete
  5. Sultan12 September 2013 at 11:41

    I think I would get myself a dark beer and some decent pretzels.

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 11:51

      Come on Laoch - you can do better than that!! I can get you that now if you like :)

      Delete
  6. cilosophy12 September 2013 at 12:59

    I love how you tell us all about the thing in your post.
    You have an eye for the detail!
    I'd buy houses, holidays and maybe some very tasteful cosmetic surgery.
    I'd fly biz class

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 13:23

      You give me too much credit.
      I just saw bling bling like a magpie.
      I love "tasteful cosmetic surgery"!! Yes me too, the finest liposculpturalist around would do me just fine in fact...

      Delete
  7. DaniBP12 September 2013 at 14:44

    I'd fly to Paris, book in at the Ritz and head on over to Chanel for a wardrobe. I'd stop next at Louis Vuitton for some luggage including one of those trunks. Then I'd fly to London and buy the entire Brora collection, I have lots of Brora it's true but I am talking about the ENTIRE collection. Imagine those yummy cashmere sweaters lined up... then I'd head into the English countryside where I'd buy a rambling old house to hang out in with my family, Naomi you're invited for country weekends!

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 15:20

      Love a plan Dani! I presume Brora would automatically order every item in every color every season...As would Chanel? You could buy Brora out even and start a diffusion DaniBP line! I can't wait for the invite to your new/old house in the country :)

      Delete
  8. Louise @ INGREDIENTS12 September 2013 at 15:24

    What an incredible necklace! I had never heard of it before, thanks very much for the interesting history!! Well, if I won the lottery, I would buy property - a house in Vancouver, a house in Hawaii, and a cottage in the Stockholm archipelago. Then I would set up a business.

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 16:14

      Isn't it just gorgeous? I would use it more as a bracelet. Love your pragmatism and your work ethic Louise!! A red cottage in Sweden is just so idyllic...I might put that on my ever growing list :)

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  9. TRENDSURVIVOR12 September 2013 at 15:54

    Amazing craftsmanship!!! My favorite is the all diamonds one!!
    x
    Nina

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  10. www.mysoulfulhome.com12 September 2013 at 17:28

    You are so practical...a bracelet AND a necklace. I would buy time....

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 19:15

      Oh that is cheating!! No inanimate objects allowed :)Otherwise it gets all Greek myth-y...

      Delete
  11. Unknown12 September 2013 at 18:01

    Well now I'm glad you showed some piccies of people modelling it, because until I reached those photos, I was struggling to be impressed by its appearance - it looks a bit too bling for me. However, modelled, it doesn't look that way at all, it looks quite subtle and 'blends' in nicely with the outfit.

    I do like jewellery, but not sure this would be in my top 10 if I won the Euromillions. For me, as I said on Facebook, I'd have to get the big house first to accommodate my walk-in closet. I would come to you to find out which interior designer to invest in, and then I'm very much a car girl, so the next extravagance would have to be a super-car of some sort - maybe a DB9!

    Good luck with the Euro, would love to see you model this xx

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda12 September 2013 at 19:16

      Oh, interesting - a car girl eh? I can see you in a souped up antique car actually. I bet your walk in closet will top Mariah's for sure :) I hope I can model it for you sometime! xx

      Delete
  12. teamgloria13 September 2013 at 02:06

    if we suddenly came into oodles of cash we'd go to the deepest amazon rainforest and find a shaman that does shape-shifting and ask to come back as marisa berenson.

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda13 September 2013 at 07:26

      Wonder what the hourly rate for that is? Better start saving up now...

      Delete
  13. WendyMcLeodMacKnight13 September 2013 at 10:53

    Love your necklace Naomi - so you!

    Oh gosh, I guess I will fly to Paris with Dani, but then head south, where I will buy a rambling old house replete with olive grove, vineyards and lavender. Oh and there must be a brook or lake. Of course I will need a place in Canada, too, so maybe over on Prince Edward Island or even a little mansion in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

    As for what I am wearing...Well I think I am probably dressed by Ralph Lauren, but all runway stuff, with a bit of Agnes B. and Chanel and some Nougat London thrown in for good measure!

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda13 September 2013 at 11:49

      Yes, I can see you in Provence pitter pottering in your garden wearing your bespoke linen attire! But what about a pied a terre in London?? I can see you and Dani on the front row of the all the shows too!

      Delete
  14. Unknown13 September 2013 at 18:09

    I think I would order myself a Hermes bag. Predictable but I would! And a few something something's from Cartier!
    Oh it'd be bliss.
    Love the necklace and the background info...

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  15. mette13 September 2013 at 19:09

    This " possibility " came so suddenly, that I´d think I´d need to sleep a night ( nights ) over it ; ).
    But you - you have it all planned out !

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda14 September 2013 at 11:55

      Mette! Have you never gone shopping with imaginary money?? you are so innocent :)

      Delete
    2. mette14 September 2013 at 19:35

      I am not " so " innocent.
      The thing is, that I am unable to just " imaginary shop ". And after that, I´m in b i g trouble ; ).

      Delete
  16. Merry Wife14 September 2013 at 00:28

    Yes, please. To all of it.

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda14 September 2013 at 11:55

      I will just take two of these - you can have the rest ok?

      Delete
  17. miss b14 September 2013 at 18:15

    At first I thought the necklace was maybe a little OTT but it does look good with a plain dress and it doubles up as a bracelet too - what a good idea! As for the lottery win, well I need to think about that but I'd probably start with jewellery!

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    1. Coulda shoulda woulda15 September 2013 at 09:10

      Well you are right - it is a little OTT!! If it was just a necklace Idon't know if I would like it so much - I just love its functionality ;)

      Delete
  18. London Loafers15 September 2013 at 18:33

    Oh excellent choice, this little thing is absolutely precious! :)

    Hayfa
    http://londonloafers.blogspot.com

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  19. kim at northerncalstyle.16 September 2013 at 06:30

    Love it! I want one. That all diamond version is to die for. Of course Wallis had one. Wasn't she just so ahead of everyone else? Loved her style. Great post!

    xKim

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  20. Peet17 September 2013 at 15:20

    1.6 million?? Seriously??? I don't think I'd ever buy it, even if I won (or earned) hundreds of millions, I'd feel too guilty...:) Although the backwards version is tre tre chic and most of all HOT. But I would definitely buy a yacht.:) In all honesty, I love the sea and sailing and so I'd buy a yacht. Not a speedboat, a proper sailing yacht and I'd cruise the Mediterranean. Yeah, that's what I'd do... Now all I have to do is win.:D

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  21. Coulda shoulda woulda17 September 2013 at 15:30

    @LL - yes it is soo precious!

    @Kim - Wallis is underrated and villainized though she wasn't an angel either!

    @Peet - ok ok - so maybe I will get a yacht! you can ride on it as well :)

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