Think Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Kate Bosworth, Diane Kruger, Cara Delevingne. ARMED jewelry is made for the kind of girl who knows how to add elements of style to her everyday wardrobe to elevate her look from the realm of fashionable into iconic territory. The brainchild of self-taught Toronto-based jewelry designer and conceptual artist Desiree Girlato, ARMED’s flagship store at 1024 Dundas Street West is yet another reason why just slightly north of Queen is the new center of hip for many a Toronto trendsetter. Girlatos’ handmade and one-of-a-kind pieces incorporate non-traditional materials like horse hair, boar tusk, and fossilized shark teeth. And if you’re looking for a headpiece to rock on the outdoor music festival scene, you’ve only got to make one stop at ARMED. We caught up with Girlato to find out more…
Tell us a bit about yourself. What should people know?
At this point in my life, ARMED is what I do. I dedicate most of my waking hours to jewelry design; if I’m not making a pearl robe I’m thinking of the next piece to make! I find it really fun and I’ve met some amazing people along the way.
How did you get into jewelry design? It’s such a dream job but such a hard market to break into. What’s your story?
I started jewelry design in 2011 – the store became available and I decided to do it full-time as a business. It started as a hobby and stemmed into a career. Ultimately I’ve always kept in mind my original vision to bring people interesting pieces. To me, it is very important to use quality materials, which I believe is what makes my jewelry interesting. I’ve been known to use horse hair, boar tusk, shark teeth, and horn – a blend of natural materials with raw brass.
What makes ARMED standout in your opinion?
I strongly believe in creating unique pieces that stand out on their own, in a very effortless manner with a focus on design. To me, being armed is merging a strong sense of style with the attitude to match. Owning who you are and living out each day – rocking whatever you feel for the day.
What are some of your favourite ARMED pieces for summer 2014?
For summer 2014, we had more of a focus on the idea of layering necklaces. We took a new approach and went in the direction of finer jewelry, which is a change for us. But we expanded our Pretty Little Things collection and came up with a selection of pieces that look great together that can be worked into your outfits, all while balancing looking great without feeling weighed down.
What are some of your favourite jewelry trends/styles of the moment and why?
Pearls: I like forcing myself to reinvent something that is typically classic in a way that is bold. Pearls are the essence of the fall 2014 collection.
What’s your most worn piece of ARMED right now and why?
The most worn piece at ARMED is a piece from The Saint collection that is a blend of beautiful rosary chain with a large gold-plated quartz. As simple as it is pretty, it is easy to wear and still manages to remain unique and standout.
What’s always in your beauty bag?
Right now I’ve always got a good moisturizer and an undereye cream.
What’s your favourite restaurant and why?
I love Terroni – love the back patio and there’s never a day where I don’t want pasta or pizza.
Let’s get social for a moment. How do we stay up-to-date with you and ARMED?
You can visit us at upandarmed.com and we’re always trying to keep updated of new products, events, and daily inspirations on our Instagram, and follow us on Twitter.