Teresa Tiong from Au Revoir Les Filles: A Conversation
Talk to us about the inception of AU REVOIR LES FILLES - what made you want to work in jewellery?
I have always loved fashion, and I am particularly drawn to jewellery. Fashion changes so often due to the many seasons we have, whereas jewellery is less seasonal, more timeless. I didn’t want to create a brand that was based on trends, but rather design pieces that take time to refine, which can be at odds to today’s fast-paced world. Because jewellery has more longevity, I felt that we can weave a better story through our designs. Ultimately, we want the pieces to become treasured keepsakes that accompanies the wearer on her journey, that she can pass down to others.
What's the process behind your pieces from inspiration to realisation?
All our inspirations revolve around a central theme. We create a visual universe around the inspiration (from art, film, photographs, music, quotes, muses, architecture etc.) and mock them up onto a digital moodboard, which every design flows from. I sketch all my designs by hand, which allow me to visualise the design, and once I have a design that I am happy with, I get a prototype made. We test and wear the protos, often refining and adding more detail, as well as making sure they are wearable. Once the design is finalised, we go into production. It’s truly fulfilling to see a design start from concept, through to prototype, and finally into realisation.
You've just released your latest collection, Madly Wildly, inspired by white magic in the form of Australian white gemstones - what went into creating this collection?
I have always loved Australian white opals and their beautiful subtle iridescence. A lot of traditional fine jewellery can be quite colourful, but I was looking for new combinations of gemstones to work with, and found the subtle hues of opals, pearls and white topaz diamonds complemented one another beautifully. This soft palette tied in nicely with our theme of white magic, of girls evoking spells through the sacred power of gemstones and jewellery that they are wearing. We carried this over to our campaign, keeping the colours soft, having our muses drenched in white lace to evoke a dreamy and romantic setting.
What inspired the Madly Wildly Ring, the key piece of the collection?
Nature and femininity, witchcraft and wonder. The Madly Wildly Ring is a modern heritage piece, using gemstones that are often thought of as being old-fashioned, but modernised through its muted colours and playful tiara setting. Twin crescent moons (a wiccan motif) provide a contemporary look, and alludes to feminine power and grace. A delicate pear-cut opal is crowned with sparkling white topazes, which symbolise love and affection. It is a romantic design that will age beautifully with time.
Our first opal ring (Surrender Ring) featured an oval bezel with a fine chain that drapes across the finger; it has since become our signature design at ARLF. With the Madly Wildly Ring, I really wanted to make people fall in love with opals again, by fusing old-world charm with modern lines and hues. It is definitely an eye-catching piece that mesmerises.
What's your key style when wearing jewellery? Would you say your personal style is the same as what we see with AU REVOIR LES FILLES?
I love layering our fine pieces for the everyday. My personal style is modern and effortless, like a white shirt with black lace bralette and jeans. I tend to layer two or three delicate necklaces and pair them with our signature chain rings. They look great stacked together, and catch the light as you move. For a glam event, some statement pieces like our Dawn Cuff or Barbés Choker always gets a reaction.
I think my style has evolved since I started ARLF. I used to wear more loud colours and prints. These days, I like to strip things back, and focus more on little details and nuances. It's all about Parisian chic; muted colours, fine beautiful jewellery, tousled hair and a classic red lip.
What's in store for AU REVOIR LES FILLES in the future?
We want to focus on our blog this year, to give customers more insight into our designs so they feel immersed in our universe. There are a couple of collaborative projects in the works, working with artists in different fields to present jewellery in a new light. We would love to give back to the community, and are looking for charities that we believe in to support.