The Fabulous Report: Lady Lanell sandals and ME Fine Hand-Made Jewelry
\nBY ROD STAFFORD HAGWOOD | FASHION COLUMNIST
\nSun-Sentinel.com, FL<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When Lanell Fagan put a few crystals and rhinestones on some flip-flops, she had no idea she had found her next career, the Lady Lanell.<\/p>\n
The former makeup artist \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a fave of Whitney Houston, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum and Vanessa Williams \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and Palm Beach Gardens resident (she attended Pope John Paul II and FAU) was working on a fashion shoot at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach eight years ago when she offered to spice up some flip-flops by gluing on some crystals.<\/p>\n
“One of those models was also doing the SportsIllustrated shoot that year,” Fagan said. “So I got this call from their location in New Zealand, asking for some more. Then Sarah Jessica Parker got ahold of a pair and she loved them and so they were on Sex and the City. That got me in In Style magazine and Saks Fifth Avenue called me and bought 350 pairs sight unseen.”<\/p>\n
Since then the sandals have made a highly coveted appearance on Oprah and this year she opened a showroom at 4270 Main St. in Jupiter (561-691-9929).<\/p>\n
So now those shoes, emblazoned with 400 Swarovski crystals in a rainbow of colors and prints, are in specialty stores and department stores across the country as well as Ritz Cartlon and Four Seasons resorts and hotels. To order the collection online \u00e2\u20ac\u201d with a price range from $75 (for the children’s line) to $150 (for the High Night group) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d visit LadyLanells.com. There also are crystal-encrusted belts and jewelry boxes for sale.<\/p>\n
“They are all hand-embroidered here in Florida,” said Fagan. “I have 18 women working for me and that is all they do all day. I also worked with an orthopedic surgeon, so they feel like butter on your feet.”<\/p>\n
Elena Caldera found her passion with jewelry.<\/p>\n
Nothing new there, except Elena \u00e2\u20ac\u201d with no formal instruction \u00e2\u20ac\u201d decided to design a jewelry line called ME Fine Hand-Made Jewelry instead of just buying it.<\/p>\n
“It was always in the background, but four years ago I just decided to do it,” said Elena. “I didn’t have a clue about how to make jewelry. I went to a friend in Miami and he taught me all that he knew.”<\/p>\n
Then a month or two into the new-found project, Elena’s daughter Melissa also found herself designing baubles, bangles and bright shiny things.<\/p>\n
“It just poured out of me,” said Melissa. “I think I bring a certain youth to it. Two heads are better than one. Always.”<\/p>\n
So the Boca Raton-based mother and daughter team have ME Fine Hand-Made Jewelry, sold in Bloomingdale’s stores as well as the Posto de Sol boutique in the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The line,which costs between $90 and $800, will soon be sold online at MEjewelryline.com.<\/p>\n
“I brought this passion I have,” said Elena. “And the commitment. And the colors. I love nature and flowers. Growing up in Venezuela, I loved all the colors and expressing myself with color.”<\/p>\n
And how is working so closely with a family member?<\/p>\n
“We travel separately,” Melissa said dryly.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u201dR.S.H.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Fabulous Report: Lady Lanell sandals and ME Fine Hand-Made Jewelry BY ROD STAFFORD HAGWOOD | FASHION COLUMNIST Sun-Sentinel.com, FL When Lanell Fagan put a few crystals and rhinestones on some flip-flops, she had no idea she had found her next career, the Lady Lanell. The former makeup artist \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a fave of Whitney Houston, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n