Photo courtesy of @haneyofficial
People toss the word “Hollywood” around quite liberally when referencing anything glamorous, star-studded, or of course, when speaking about the actual area of Los Angeles itself. But no one is honing in on the purely glamorous essence of what Hollywood means sartorially like former celebrity stylist turned fashion designer, Mary Alice Haney, whose Los Angeles based fashion brand, Haney, launched in 2013.
Haney’s line of eveningwear driven items exudes a timeless and effortless sexiness that is steeped in the city she has called home for over 20 years. Learning exactly what does and does not work on the red carpet from past clients like Reese Witherspoon and Blake Lively, plus Haney’s innate sense of making sexy also seem comfortable and effortless, is what has driven her 4 year old brand to become one of the most sought after by celebrities, socials and, really, anyone who appreciates a statement making dress or jumpsuit.
With the Hollywood glamour factor high, Haney also has a deep appreciation for vintage jewelry. She has amassed her own collection through combing flea markets from Palm Beach to Paris and has even started to incorporate hardware as jewelry into her line.
The Haney fall 2017 collection features pieces with 1970s style gold rings on the neckline, mid section and even thigh slit of dresses.
Speaking of thigh slits, like the ones A list actresses can’t seem to stop wearing on every recent red carpet, Haney has been slicing skirts thigh high for years. Just see Taylor Swift at the 2016 GLAAD Awards or Chrissy Teigen at the 2016 NAACP Image awards to get a sense of how high Haney can tastefully go with the slit of a gown.
Whether it’s a thigh high slit or bold piece of hardware, a Haney dress never ceases to make a strong statement.
Here, the designer muses a bit about her love of vintage jewelry and curates a collection of the Beladora pieces she is coveting most.
Do you recall what sparked your love of jewelry and fashion?
I always remember playing dress up with my sisters in my mother and grandmother’s clothes. I knew I wanted a career in fashion and went after that goal even in college.
Do jewelry or objects ever inspire your collection?
We have recently been creating hard wear for our collection. For Fall I was inspired by organic shapes and included them in my design process. A HANEY dress is a fashion statement and does not need much jewelry
What do you especially like about estate jewelry? And do you tend to wear a lot of it?
I love estate jewelry because it tends to have a lot of amazing detail. I have collected amazing pieces from Palm Beach and the Paris Flea markets and I love them.
Do you have a favorite era for vintage jewelry?
I love the ’30s and ’40s but most of what I collect is retro.
Who are a few of your all time favorite jewelry designers and why?
I love what Lisa Eisner has been creating. She is such a creative person and her pieces are so unique.
