Calypso Loves Dannijo Collection — A Jewelry Déjà Vu Experience
Combining an audacious, in-your-face. rock-‘n’-roll aesthetic with Bohemian-flavored tribal motifs, elegant Art Deco elements, and playfully bright beads and crystals, New York City-based jewelry line Dannijo has amassed a virtual army of rabid fans in the four years since its launch, not to mention earned the approval of fashion industry insiders — among them Vena Cava designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Bush, who called upon the Dannijo creators to design the jewelry for their Fall 2011 runway show, and Angela Lindvall, who wore statement necklaces in almost every episode of Project Runway All Stars during her stint as host of the reality competition series. Now, the brand has joined forces with luxury lifestyle brand Calypso St. Barth to create a limited-edition collection of jewelry pieces available online only.
The Dannijo Loves Calypso collection, then, was conceptualized as a true fusion of these two brands’ aesthetics, combining the edginess of Dannijo with the effortless chic vibe, the laid-back elegance, and the resortwear roots of Calypso St. Barth. In truth, however, the collection doesn’t feel like a true fusion of aesthetics — instead, it reads as a standard Dannijo collection with the occasional Boho embellishment (i.e. tassel accents or beachy coral and turquoise resin stones). Sure, the pieces are as beautiful as any Dannijo piece we’ve seen over the last few seasons. But therein lies the problem: they’re exactly like any Dannijo piece, making the collaboration feel completely one-sided.
Take, for example, the Dannijo Loves Calypso Big Bib Necklace ($495 at CalypsoStBarth.com), shown second from top, which is a mirror image of the Dannijo Dacia Necklace ($445 at Dannijo.com) — from the interconnected, round links in the bib chain to the rounded stones positioned along the center of each link within the bib portion of the necklace. The only difference, then, is that the Dannijo Loves Calypso Bib Necklace incorporates only resin stones in aquatic tones like turquoise, teal, aquamarine, and jade. Similarly, the Adriana Drop Earrings ($375 at CalypsoStBarth.com), shown at top, feature teardrop-shaped turquoise stones surrounded by red Swarovski crystal stones, with starburst-like clusters of clear crystals in teardrop and round shapes at the posts. The Adriana earrings, then, boast virtually the same construction as the Dannijo Ranya Earrings ($345 at Dannijo.com) except that, instead of green crystals around the turquoise stone’s periphery, these have red crystals, and the clear crystals at the earring post are positioned in more of a three-dimensional cluster as opposed to the flatter design used for the Ranya earrings. For a serious case of déja vu, check out the crystal-adorned Dannijo Loves Calypso Cruz Drop Earrings shown last above ($325 at CalypsoStBarth.com) which are virtual facsimiles of the Dannijo Cruz Earrings ($295 at Dannijo.com), the only difference between the two pieces being their respective colorways. And, of course, there’s the Dannijo Loves Calypso Elena Necklace ($450 at CalypsoStBarth.com) shown fourth above, which is modeled after the Dannijo Rafferty Necklace ($495 at Dannijo.com), with a longer chain featuring two rones of prong-set, round coral red stones culminating in an an oversize, oval-shaped pendant consisting of a center resin stone surrounded by two rows of tiny crystals, its bottom ridge embellished with jeweled fringe.
The Dannijo Loves Calypso collection, then, feels like a blatant act of design recycling — and not the feel-good, eco-friendly kind. Sure, the 11 pieces in the collection could be said to have a slightly more tropical feel since they do incorporate more pops of turquoise, coral red, tangerine, and bright yellow, but they’re otherwise identical to pieces Dannijo has already unveiled, making these designs feel like afterthoughts.
Check out more pieces from the collection below and see for yourself!
