St. Erasmus Bejeweled Delight
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 9:08 AM 
Image used with kind permission from St. Erasmus
We were delighted - this is an understatement - to finally learn more about the stunning statement necklace that First Lady Mrs. O wore with her magenta Michael Kors gown for the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The necklace is the work of St. Erasmus, a three-season-old UK based jewelry line, the brainchild of its designer, Pieter Erasmus.
The statement necklace is made of fresh-water-pearls, Swarovski crystal and Zari thread. Zari thread, we learned, is a fine gold or silver wire thread usually woven into Indian and Pakistani garments. The designer used the Zari thread to crochet intricate mesh that support the pearls and stones. The pink flower shape is indeed part of the necklace.
Mr. Erasmus is originally from South Africa, and cites Africa as a constant source of inspiration. This particular necklace, he explained, is from the Nizam story in his Spring Summer 2009 collection, which was inspired by the opulence of the Nizam's court in Hyderabad, India during the late 1700s.
In an email message, the designer said he was, "so delighted to see that Mrs. Obama is supporting fashion for creativity." Well, make that two of us!
St. Erasmus is carried at Harrods and other high-end boutiques overseas; in the US, it is carried exclusively at the Chicago boutique Ikram.
St. Erasmus in Outfits
Reader Comments (74)
Bev, this is the second time I can remember that you've posted the incorrect information that Mrs. O doesn't pay for her clothes, using Jason Wu as an example. And the second time now that someone has said that the inaugural outfits have been donated to the Smithsonian, with Jason Wu's full knowledge and understanding.
Unless there's some other information out there you have about Mrs. O not paying for her clothes, you may have to stop beating that drum. Otherwise, it could give the impression that you are what some people call a "concern troll" -- someone who levies criticism under the guise of being a fan of the person or thing under discussion.
I'm sure you're not a concern troll, but jut a genuine fan. So I'm sure that the Jason Wu "nonpayment" misinformation won't come up again.
The necklace is beautiful. I can't believe that all those fresh-water pearls and Swarovski crystals costs only $400 bucks. I love the fact that Mrs. O is so bold and accessible. She is like a breath of fresh spring air.
Christina,
I just want to say what a pleasure it is to read your "scintillating" posts! Your insights and accurate information combined with your new tact and diplomacy are truly a delight! Thanks for clearing up the subject of who pays for Mrs. O's clothing!
@Alsace - You're so right. The majority population in DC has been almost invisible forever. And yes, I trust that President and Mrs. Obama are moving to make that population more visible, and images of black people and culture much more customary. The next 8 years are going to be revolutionary in so many ways. It's a very exciting time to be an American! (big smile)
Just have to add one more: yes, this is an absolutely fantastic necklace! It is so good to see Mrs.O. wearing fun, bright, colorful and contemporary jewelry, and clothes. What a total change! Each day I check this site and am amazed and delighted at what I see....good work!
I just can't believe this necklace is $400. Not that I find $400 affordable for me, but still.
But I wonder if the poor designer is a victim of his own success. It's one thing for me to get a sweater from J.Crew that is the same as Mrs' O -- a million people have sweaters from J.Crew. But if you wanted to get this necklace, a lot of people will recognize it from the correspondents' dinner.
Then again, I'm sure there are pieces with the same personality as this one that are getting snapped up right now, so it's probably all to the good.
This is a timeless piece fit for a Queen, or First Lady! I am so impressed to understand the history and story of this necklace. Thank you Mrs.T for another job well done.
It solidifies how much taste and thought Mrs.Obama puts into her ensembles. And the woman has class! She is very thoughtful and makes a statement without even saying a word.
Ikram strikes again! This necklace is big, bold and beautiful...just like Mrs. Obama. I didn't care much for the long fuschia dress she wore with this necklace, but I loved this piece. I wouldn't be shocked to discover that Mrs. Obama is receiving styling advice. What woman wouldn't in her position?
what a great piece and i love that it has'heritage'. I think the choices of accessories set the example of experimenting with color and texture.
I'm so embarrassed. Here I am carrying on about what that shiny stuff is that makes up the body of the flower, and there Mrs. T tells us right up front that it's Swarovski crystal. Duh! Sorry I didn't read carefully enough. Thanks so much for all the info on this striking and unusual piece.
totally love the fact that someone started calling her 'Lady Michelle', and so many posts seem to have unconsciously taken that up, and have also started referring to her as 'Lady Michelle' - finally, someone to step into the vaccum left by Lady Diana
zari, pronounced zuh-ree, is fine, silky metallic thread that comes in gold, silver and bronze, and is often used for embroidery and accenting/highlighting on silk cloth
the texture of the metallic zari thread used here would be different (thicker, more stiff) than the silk zari thread used in weaving, say, a gold border on a monochrome silk sari, which would be much finer, and not so stiff
this piece seems to use a bronze metallic zari thread which goes well with white and off-white, and with pearls - especially tiny seed pearls - and is sometimes also used to edge or lace dupattas (long flowing scarves worn in india and south-east asia) as well as sari and salwar edges
raised or embossed zari is called zardosi
Nice piece and quite the work art (coming from one who's not a huge necklace wearer- lol). Thanks to Mrs T. for the smart scoop and Anupama for the great background on the special threads - rich & fascinating - thank you!
Like Zile and Moja, I don't think it's really all about the Marie Antoinette complex in the end Christina (you're so sweet...)-
As any valued regular at high-end boutiques know, you get newly-sourced, one of a kind and limited edition pieces set aside for you. You generally get first dibs at stuff.
Ikram like many boutiques that abound, does not carry stuff that necessarily appeals to everyone (no matter how wealthy) - You have to like and gravitate towards a certain style to patronize certain boutiques in the first place.
I don't know that I would appreciate my boutique owner turned friend getting credit for my fabulously quirky and unique taste in clothes.
The boutique owner might feed my very peculiar tastes with well-sourced clothes and accessories; but I get the distinct honor and pleasure of picking them, shelling out the big bucks for them, wearing them well and carrying it all off...
@Anupama - Well, I do believe that I'm the one who started calling Mrs. O "Lady Michelle" after the conversation here about how it might not be appropriate to refer to her simply by her first name. But because I was raised using first names for everyone, and the Mrs. seems too formal somehow, I thought I'd just shorten "First Lady Michelle Obama" to "Lady Michelle". It seemed respectful to me, even though it still uses her first name. I'm glad you like it.
Thanks for the added detail about the necklace.
Ahaaa, C. you've expressed what I think very well, better than I had, thank you!
As I was reading the other posts I was wondering whether I am defensive, per se, of Ikram being referred to as a stylist. I think I am, a bit. But I had to have a think about why. It comes down to this: there are THOUSANDS of independent boutiques. What am I saying - more than that globally, hundreds of thousands. But there are only about seven truly legendary ones - of which Ikram is one. And so I do feel that to say Ms Goldman is a stylist is to (not with any intention to be horrible at all) diminish her achievement just a tad.
I get that she has a gift for sourcing extraordinary stuff and putting in front of the right people who, if they wear it, will carry it off beautifully. But that's not all she is.
Anyway, that's my third post on this subject so I'll shut up now.
Christina, keep making me laugh, OK? Did you know that in Latin, a scintilla is a sparkling glittering particle? I think that reflects you very well!
C., Willow - you're welcome.
I learn so much from this site - about Sojourner Truth, for example, whom I'd never heard about before - and to appreciate wisterias : ) - (among other things, and people) - that I'm just happy to contribute something back which is knowledge/information, and not just my 2-cent opinion : )
@ Bev Although I disagree with you that the necklace is a "miss" I respect your opinion on that. However you are incorrect with respect to the 'freebies' argument.
Different designers sent ensembles for the inauguration to michelle, and they sent these pieces with the knowledge that if Michelle chose to wear those outfits to the ball/swearing in they would not be compensated for the pieces BECAUSE they would be donated to the smithsonian, and thus not be in Michelle's position. So in short, they were donating a historic outfit to a museum of their ourfit was chosen. The outfits that Michelle kept that she didn't wear that day, she paid for. An example of this is the Thakoon Dress and Coat she wore in France. Thakoon designed them for the inauguration but she didn't wear them that day, so she paid for those tiems - as designers have continously said- and wore them on a seperate occasion. She doesn't even borrow clothes for magazine shoots, she wears all of her own pieces. As far as I know I don't think Mrs.O regularly shopped at Talbots, the way she does J.Crew. The creative direcotr of the label sent a catalogue to Ikram, who then in turn sent suggestions or the catalogue to Michelle.
OK Bev, I think that's six people who have detailed how the remuneration system works for you. Do you understand now?
I'm not sure if anyone posted this already but here's a link to purchase the necklace online: http://www.theshopfloorproject.com/sterasmuspowerflowernecklace.htm
Thanks Posh Tater; And please don't "shut up" - I absolutely love reading your posts...very fun and lots of great wit!
yayyy for Mrs. O. I LOVELOVELOVE that necklace on her. Its so DRAMA but classy at the same time.
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I love his work and it is fantastic that Pieter Erasmus is having such a boost, trouble is his pieces of jewellery are pretty hard to find, expect this is set to change thanks to Mrs O. Found it for sale online, stock is coming soon, no idea of price: http://www.jewellery4.com/jewellery-shop/details/-/212/. I'll have to go without and save up until they get stock, or maybe I'll go for something else in the St Erasmus range.
Following up on my last post, I finally bought the Flower Necklace! The website has a lot of beautiful St Erasmus Jewellery (http://www.jewellery4.co.uk/jewellery-designer/st-erasmus/). I'm so happy with my purchase and the necklace is even more stunning in real-life and so comfortable to wear.