Marla Buck vintage costume jewelry

Marla Buck vintage costume jewelry (1980s)

Manhattan was once the heart of the New York fashion jewelry business, where young fashion jewelry designers were active in the 1980s. Among them was the talented artist and designer Marla Buck, who came from Toronto to New York in the 1970. In the early 1980s she decided to revive the jewelry fashion that had been so popular in the 1960s. Like many designers of that time, Marla was self-taught, but she had her own view and some experience in creating costume jewelry.
Before starting her jewelry business, Marla attended art college and was fond of dance and pantomime. While in Paris, fashionable and flamboyant Marla met Bern Conrad, who asked her to make accessories for his clothes. After that, she worked for a short time on bag design at Morris Moskowitz. Finally, she found work in a workshop making bijoux imitating precious jewelry. Noteworthy, couturier Calvin Klein used them in his fashion show.

Bright, large and even extreme jewelry by Miss Buck, which appeared at contemporary art exhibitions, did not go unnoticed. In particular, the Masai spiral bracelet made of a single piece of metal, twisted in a spiral from the wrist to the elbow, or thick coconut shell chokers. The New York Times published an article about innovative designer Marla Buck in its July 1983 issue.
Bergdorf Goodman, Barney, Henri Bendel and Neumann-Marcus sold her works, which ranged from $40 to $375. In the 1980s, she had her own showroom with black floors, black vases and columns.
Today, Marla Buck’s rare and unique pieces are coveted by collectors and lovers of vintage jewelry.

Marla Buck vintage costume jewelry