Margaret Rowe, couture jewelry and accessory designer, walked into Osteria Bigoli on Montana Avenue looking radiant. With her blonde locks twisted in an up-do, she set the perfect, sophisticated panache to show off a choker and matching earrings from her latest simulated diamond collection, Diamontage. Donning a white chiffon shift, Margaret displayed a superb feminine and sparkling style perfectly appropriate for the suave Bigoli dining room.
Rowe’s extensive collection of couture jewelry include a vintage limited-edition collection, semi-precious stone collection, the Diamontage™ simulated diamond brand and a men’s collection branded as ‘Debonaire’. Having designed for celebrity clients and fashionistas walking red carpets of the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and Grammy Awards for decades, Rowe ensures each limited-edition design is touched by her hand, essentially making every Margaret Rowe art-piece a one-of-a-kind heirloom.
The Hollywood 360 sat down with Margaret Rowe to talk with her about the very special Couture Jewelry Collection she has designed.
The Hollywood 360: Tell me about your profession as a couture designer.
Margaret Rowe: I am a couture jewelry and accessories designer and have been designing since 2002. Through the years I’ve created many different collections from vintage couture collections to limited editions, to semi-precious collections. My newest collection is my simulated diamond collection that features our Diamontage™ brand of AAA+ Swiss simulated diamonds. Generally, I work with women who may be dressing for a special occasion like a red carpet or a wedding and are looking to be different with pieces ‘on trend’. I can give each client a special piece, an heirloom, that makes a statement for them at their event. I accessorize many celebrities for their special appearances including the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, BET Awards… and have bejeweled A-list actresses including Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Hendrix, Christina Applegate and Sharon Stone. You never know who might request pieces — I was recently designing pieces through a major stylist for Miley Cyrus.
The Hollywood 360: How did you first get into designing jewelry?
Margaret Rowe: I love working with my hands and I love everything vintage, whether it be vintage clothing, jewelry or accessories as each piece has a ‘provenance’ that threads us to our past. I began designing several decades ago with a found vintage bracelet that had belonged to my great grandmother — a Czech pearl bracelet – that I transformed into a wearable, au courant piece. The intricacy of the original design just blew me away and was what drew me in to vintage jewelry. Most vintage jewelry is not wearable because it is designed for a certain era, so I started gently repurposing vintage pieces to convert them into more modern pieces that make a statement, are wearable and are great for daywear or evening wear.
The Hollywood 360: That’s where the unique aspects of your collection come in.
Margaret Rowe: Yes. That was what caught the eye of several women’s fashion magazines, including ‘Women’s Wear Daily’ and the celebrity stylists. My collections have been shown at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Santa Monica Art Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. From there my collection has grown and has transformed in different ways. As a designer you’re always continuing to expand your knowledge with what is around you. Being in the Los Angeles market has given me a certain edge over designers in other parts of the country because we are so well known for what is current and in the moment.
The Hollywood 360: How did you get to design your jewelry for the different celebrities?
Margaret Rowe: Heidi Klum and I were together at an event and she just loved the necklace I was wearing – the piece became hers! Jennifer Lopez got involved because one of her key stylists saw my designs at a salon at which I showed and thought the look would be perfect for J Lo. I carefully develop my clientele through relationships in the Los Angeles market and love working with key stylists and photographers that may have wonderful, at times secret, photo shoots. My latest celebrity photo shoot that used my jewelry and accessories featured Paris Hilton. The arrangement came through a retailer I work with and morphed into meeting the great people at Plastic Magazine who were looking for specific jewelry pieces for Paris. Paris wore my pearl studs for the shoot and looked beautiful – it was a very surreal set and the Plastic team did a marvelous job
The Hollywood 360: Talk about your husband a little bit because both of you are in the entertainment industry. You have to dress for the red carpet too.
Margaret Rowe: He is part of the development team of producers for the ‘Teenage Mutant Turtles’ films and was instrumental in bringing the Turtles back to life with 2014 and 2016 films after a long hiatus from the silver screen. We were able to be on the ‘green carpet’ for the Turtles films and were fortunate to meet Megan Fox and Michael Bay, who are two of the hardest working people in Hollywood. Megan’s flair with the media, fans and art in working the green carpet were amazing to watch – she is a grace personified and a true professional.
The Hollywood 360: How do you choose the jewelry for the celeb or bride?
Margaret Rowe: It depends if you are going for a jewelry look or if your client may already have her wardrobe selected. Next comes the decision on how she is going to wear her hair and which features she prefers to emphasize – facial silhouette, neckline or decolletage. I love working with necklaces for clients because they creates the ultimate sparkle around the face. Usually we select a strong necklace or a strong pair of earrings and if the necklace is a choker, we’d work with a smaller set of earrings. There is nothing like a great pair of earrings – sometimes they are all you need – providing sparkle that may inspire you to do your hair a certain way!
The Hollywood 360: What are you doing for Miley Cyrus?
Margaret Rowe: They were specifically looking for a pair of earrings in the shape of a star. I just completed a pair…so we’ll see if she is still looking for that specific pair. For instance, Maria Menounos needed something so her stylist had remembered that my pieces were very much statement pieces. She selected some of some of my oversized vintage rings. Typically, in with A-list clientele, there is a styling liaison who knows exactly what the celebrity wants.
The Hollywood 360: How extensive is your collection?
The Hollywood 360:Margaret Rowe: My collection is very extensive. I have the vintage, the one of the kind pieces…from the 1920’s to 1940’s, a beautiful semi- precious stone collection and a rare men’s cufflink collection, which I call my Debonaire Collection. Beyond, I have my Diamontage™ simulated diamond, limited edition collection. Additionally, I have a new collaboration with a wonderful division of Anthropologie that specializes in the bride and weddings. It’s very exciting because their taste level is phenomenal — very chic, bohemian, cool girl. I’ve also been fortunate recently to collaborate on photo shoots with the red-hot brand Grayse, founded by the dynamic mother-daughter duo behind the fabulous St. John brand. It’s been very exciting and an honor to work with them.
The Hollywood 360: Anything else you would like to tell us?
Margaret Rowe: My website is very informative with a timeline of how my collections have grown and also displays all of my couture jewelry collections.
I believe that every woman is a star, created to shine and sparkle out in the world. We’re each so unique that sometimes just a small pair of earrings will light up your face and set you apart – I can definitely put you in the perfect pair!
