Channel Daenerys With MEY London’s “Game of Thrones”-Inspired Jewelry
Few Game of Thrones characters have had as remarkable an impact on pop culture as Daenerys Targaryen a.k.a. Khaleesi a.k.a. Queen of Dragons. From the start, it was clear Dani would nobody’s damsel in distress — even if her politically strategic, alliance-building marriage to Khal Drogo initially conjured up feelings of apprehension and disgust within the platinum-haired beauty (luckily, she soon developed amorous feelings for her warrior leader hubby). She was quick to earn the love and trust of the nomadic Dothraki people and, upon her husband’s death, she continued to lead them, all the while teaching her newborn dragons how to breathe fire and, later, how to fly. Her precognitive abilities and her immunity to fire make her all the more powerful an entity — and a strong candidate to claim the Iron Throne — even if her judgment calls are sometimes impulsive and capricious. Still, whatever her character’s ultimate fate, the image of Khaleesi with a dragon perched atop her shoulder will surely live on for years to come.
Khaleesi has even influenced the beauty and fashion world, arguably fueling the current obsession with near-white blonde hair, the fascination with braids, the popularity of bold brows, and the abundance of medieval-flavored jewelry. This last phenomenon can be attributed to the baubles worn by actress Emilia Clarke on the show — many of which were crafted by MEY London, a collaboration between Emmy-winning costume designer Michele Clapton and Eliza Higginbottom and Yunus Ascott, the masterminds behind jewelry brand Yunus & Eliza. The brand’s first collection is the MEY London Game of Thrones line, which includes pieces created for the HBO epic fantasy drama series. As Clapton was working on Dany’s costumes for Season 5 of GoT, she longed to accessorize the character’s often long and flowing dresses with bold and sculptural pieces so that, together, they would create a contrast between strength and fragility, power and vulnerability. Soon, she met with the Yunus & Eliza duo to create pieces befitting of the Queen of Dragons. Now, the trio is making some of these pieces — including many that actually appeared on the show — available to the public.
Arguably the most visually compelling piece in the collection is the Daenerys Drogon Neck Sculpture ($2730 at Mey.London), shown above at top. Made of sterling silver, this necklace is designed so that it hugs the neck, with the dragon’s head practically lunging forward from one side and its fanned-out winged tail grazing the other side of the neck and expanding down to the collarbone area. To create the piece, Yunus and Eliza hand-sculpted the dragon in wax, then hand-carved all the various details and etchings, later casting it in sterling silver. Die-hard Game of Thrones fans might remember this piece from the “Dance of Dragons” episode in Season 5, when Dany presided over the Great Games at Daznak’s Pit and, following a riot that threatened her life, escaped atop her trusty Drogon. When Clapton envisioned the necklace’s fit, she drew upon the history of the Fighting Pits in Game of Thrones and, moreover, on Dany’s reluctance to reopen them given that they were once a place where slaves were brought to fight each other to the death. “The purity of the white dress and pure silver of the neck piece was designed to visually remove her from the fight pit that she disapproves of, to set her apart,” Clapton said of the necklace.
Similarly, the Daenerys Flight Neck Sculpture ($1290 at MEY-London.com), pictured last above, made its debut on Season 6’s “Battle of the Bastards” episode, when Dany meets Yara Greyjoy and form an alliance. Compared to the Drogon Neck Sculpture piece, this one is more understated and romantic, but there’s an underlying strength to it — and an undercurrent of menace thanks to the dragon references. Again, this necklace encircles the neck, but it does so in a more relaxed fashion, with the wing tips on each end practically hovering over the skin and adding a fantastical element, as well as emphasizing the visual of Dany taking flight atop one of her dragons.
The Flight Earrings ($300 at MEY.London.com), shown second from top, were not actually showcased on the show, but are very much inspired by the Mother of Dragons — hence their fragmented wing shape. In particular, they were informed by the Flight Neck Sculpture so that, in addition to their shape, they were designed so as to move while you walk, almost as if in flight. The carvings on the silver, meanwhile, add to the reptilian dragon motif.
Those who are still marveling over the scene in Game of Thrones when Dany’s dragon eggs hatched will appreciate the Dragonstone Ring ($360 at MEY.London.com), which features a band with dragon-like scales and, dangling from the front, an egg-shaped pendant with a blue labradorite stone peeking out from a “crack” in the scaly sphere.
These are only some of the pieces available at MEY.London.com, so make sure to visit the site to check out the whole collection. Beyond nodding to a culturally significant series and being collectors’ items and superfan candy, these jewelry pieces are true works of art, wearable sculptures that can be appreciated by both GoT viewers and those who don’t even own a TV set. When you wear one, you might just feel a surge of power and utter, “I am no ordinary woman. My dreams come true.”
