Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/575200
When thinking about the fashion scene's hot young things, sci-fi flicks and space exploration aren't the first pursuits that come to mind. Yet, that's exactly what fuels Eugenie Niarchos—daughter of Greek shipping heir Philip Niarchos, front-row fixture and founder of the fine jewelry label Venyx. "The costumes, the jewelry and the settings of those movies really inspire me," says Niarchos. "I watched Star Wars as a kid and now I'm starting to revisit movies like Blade Runner and Metropolis again." Still, she's unlikely to be spotted at Comic Con. Each year, Niarchos presents Venyx to buyers and editors during the Paris couture season, and this summer she showed her latest collection, Oseanyx, which explores both the deep sea and the cosmos. "It's basically how underwater life would be similar to life in outer space," says the designer, who cheekily wore Charlotte Olympia's Message in a Bottle platform sandals to the presentation. Oseanyx features gold rings that look like scallop shells, swirling hoop earrings take their shape from nautilus shells and stingrays dotted with vibrant emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds. Some designs are hand-engraved as if they were long-sunken treasures. Others, set with RING LEADERS A coterie of young Europeans are changing the face of fine jewelry. Emily Holt meets Eugenie Niarchos to get a glimpse at the future. 68 BAL HARBOUR PORTRAIT COURTESY OF VENYX