Tarina Tarantino - Director of Design
One of my favorite jobs, ever. Designing and dreaming. I would make first samples of the jewelry myself,
Then I would ...write the copy, work on editorial costumes, travel and party, make Christmas happen, throw more parties, inflate animals, sit in on Sephora calls, pavé everything, make more little movies...yes.
Then I would ...write the copy, work on editorial costumes, travel and party, make Christmas happen, throw more parties, inflate animals, sit in on Sephora calls, pavé everything, make more little movies...yes.
Introducing Tilt-a-Whirl
Garish carousel horses spin and swoon in their tattered pastel regalia. Tilt-a-Whirl is a love affair with the carnival in all its chipped and rusted glory. Swoops and dives that leave you gasping for breath, mile-high candy floss, and melting sno-cones converging in a dusty summer sunset. Folk art beads, micro embroideries, and candy striped components pair with the gorgeous coral-pink of rare Padparadscha crystal. Come take a walk through the noisy midway and steal a kiss in the wild fantastico lighting.
Garish carousel horses spin and swoon in their tattered pastel regalia. Tilt-a-Whirl is a love affair with the carnival in all its chipped and rusted glory. Swoops and dives that leave you gasping for breath, mile-high candy floss, and melting sno-cones converging in a dusty summer sunset. Folk art beads, micro embroideries, and candy striped components pair with the gorgeous coral-pink of rare Padparadscha crystal. Come take a walk through the noisy midway and steal a kiss in the wild fantastico lighting.
Tilt-a-Whirl mini commercial
Introducing...Cocobanana
Jump seat jalopy joy ride rushing into Harlem on the crowded evening streets- you better get uptown to get down! Speakeasy supper club patrons in their finest evening wear crowd the darkness, the curtain comes up, and it's all juke-joint big band brassy burlesque bounce.
Hand-carved monkey mayhem, witchdoctor skull dollies, and white tie catcalls rush the dance floor. Showgirls swish and stomp as the cheetah roars and tickled ivorette components jangle the mini pavé bananas. Voodoo Skidoo!
Jump seat jalopy joy ride rushing into Harlem on the crowded evening streets- you better get uptown to get down! Speakeasy supper club patrons in their finest evening wear crowd the darkness, the curtain comes up, and it's all juke-joint big band brassy burlesque bounce.
Hand-carved monkey mayhem, witchdoctor skull dollies, and white tie catcalls rush the dance floor. Showgirls swish and stomp as the cheetah roars and tickled ivorette components jangle the mini pavé bananas. Voodoo Skidoo!
Larva DELIVERS Josephine. Syd Curry Hair. Pedro and Albert photo, Jared Gold pony fur gown, and the jewelry.
Cocobanana mini-commercial
Ruthlessly plagiarised by Prada.
Introducing - Beastly Bijoux Collection
Exploding with snarling attitude and mind blowing sparkle, Tarina’s Beastly Bijoux introduces all new animal pavé patterns that replicate the skin texture of dinosaurs, toads, and stingrays. Bolted-on solid steel claws and spikes ask the question… “Do you like playing with fire?” Each piece has the namesake of one of Tarina’s favorite female rock idols. Wear at your own risk and take a dip in the danger zone!
Exploding with snarling attitude and mind blowing sparkle, Tarina’s Beastly Bijoux introduces all new animal pavé patterns that replicate the skin texture of dinosaurs, toads, and stingrays. Bolted-on solid steel claws and spikes ask the question… “Do you like playing with fire?” Each piece has the namesake of one of Tarina’s favorite female rock idols. Wear at your own risk and take a dip in the danger zone!
Yas. Larva. Nailing one of her more demanding performances. The entire Beastly Bijoux set-up was shot in about 6 minutes. She just kept delivering and delivering from a very uncomfortable contorted position. Pedro's Eames coffee table was incredible in the shot.
Acid Cameo - Tokyo Rave
Like a marble frieze being rendered in neon colors, this high energy collection electrifies classic cameo pieces with Tarina’s special brand of candy-colored pop. The searing colors play beautifully off the chalk white elements, and create an almost mesmerizing tension in the jewelry. Launch a simple look into the stratosphere with one of these pieces, or add them to your wildest looks and get ready for a neon showdown at the laser beam corral.
Introducing Topkapi
Influenced by soaring Moorish architecture and dusty Turkish horizons, Tarina conjures up images of sun drenched vistas and regal exoticism with her stunning Topkapi collection. The most infamous and opulent harem in the world, Istanbul’s mythical Topkapi Palace lends its influence with dazzling geometric tiling and throbbing jewel tones encrusted with a king’s ransom of exquisite gold and silver crystals. Follow along in the scorching heat as Tarina takes you on a private crusade through palace doors, fragrant pools, and the lives of the most adorned women in history.
Lydia Hurst. Werk.
Influenced by soaring Moorish architecture and dusty Turkish horizons, Tarina conjures up images of sun drenched vistas and regal exoticism with her stunning Topkapi collection. The most infamous and opulent harem in the world, Istanbul’s mythical Topkapi Palace lends its influence with dazzling geometric tiling and throbbing jewel tones encrusted with a king’s ransom of exquisite gold and silver crystals. Follow along in the scorching heat as Tarina takes you on a private crusade through palace doors, fragrant pools, and the lives of the most adorned women in history.
Lydia Hurst. Werk.
A bit cheesy, but hey.
Introducing Strange Delight
Throughout Tarina’s life she has been obsessed with the demure elegance and whimsy of Bakelite jewelry. Her Strange Delight collection recalls the comforting touch and luscious weight of this much loved man-made material. In designing the collection, Tarina has drawn inspiration from world renowned mobile artists Alexander Calder and Joan Miro, as well as the irreverent humor of surrealists Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali. Tarina has delved deep into her archives and introduced never before seen beads, crystal collets, and blindingly brilliant Comet crystals. This collection is a tour de force of color and form, injected with bubbling humor, enthusiasm, and the absolute gravity of pleasure.
Throughout Tarina’s life she has been obsessed with the demure elegance and whimsy of Bakelite jewelry. Her Strange Delight collection recalls the comforting touch and luscious weight of this much loved man-made material. In designing the collection, Tarina has drawn inspiration from world renowned mobile artists Alexander Calder and Joan Miro, as well as the irreverent humor of surrealists Elsa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali. Tarina has delved deep into her archives and introduced never before seen beads, crystal collets, and blindingly brilliant Comet crystals. This collection is a tour de force of color and form, injected with bubbling humor, enthusiasm, and the absolute gravity of pleasure.
Strange Delight inspiration and research images
Introducing Magic Mirror
Arriving in Paris during the 20’s, Art Deco and its geometric exuberance presented a luscious and optimistic view of art and culture. Art Deco is heavily inspired by Cubism and Futurism, as well as Egyptian and Aztec composition. Tarina takes this complex confluence and refines it into one of her most classic collections to date. The Magic Mirror Collection uses stampings and vintage elements actually struck on equipment operating in the 20’s and 30’s. This moving and complex tribute to the pure decoration of the time is modernized with rare volcanic glass beads, high-tech fiber flocking, mirror-plated crystals, and cutting edge hematite electroplating.
Arriving in Paris during the 20’s, Art Deco and its geometric exuberance presented a luscious and optimistic view of art and culture. Art Deco is heavily inspired by Cubism and Futurism, as well as Egyptian and Aztec composition. Tarina takes this complex confluence and refines it into one of her most classic collections to date. The Magic Mirror Collection uses stampings and vintage elements actually struck on equipment operating in the 20’s and 30’s. This moving and complex tribute to the pure decoration of the time is modernized with rare volcanic glass beads, high-tech fiber flocking, mirror-plated crystals, and cutting edge hematite electroplating.
Introducing Aurora
Atmospheric and magical, Tarina tells the blindingly opulent story of Arctic tundras, frozen seas and crystalline air. Awash in a nebula of soft aurora borealis colors, Aurora features an experimental pave method that seamlessly transitions through seven rare crystal colors. Large pieces can contain upwards of 5000 hand placed crystals, and may take Tarina’s artisans an entire week to complete just one. Set yourself adrift with Aurora’s pale green glaciers, soft-pulsing boreal waves, and snowblind white sparkle.
Introducing "Hey, Sailor!"
2010 Holiday Wishbook
I have always been obsessed with the Sears wishbook. Perusing the toys...I had every page memorized. A few collections here are before my tenure as Design Director. The book is the prize here, quite early project.
Robot Dollhouse Window Displays
I built 4 Robot Dollhouses for Tarina's Christmas Windows. Klaus was not officially photographed. I had two other designs in the works, the completely glass snowglobe robot, and one made of snow. All materials were in inventory.
