The Fashion Time Magazine

Lenore Solmo (left) is a world traveler, a self- taught artist, and a very creative women. A lifelong fascination with design led this  Brooklyn, New York-based artist to create her own business designing jewelery and accessories.

What attracted the Fashion Time Magazine to Lenore’s work was her ironically ingenious creation of Fashion Magazine jewelery, a genesis of art-imitating-art-imitating-life via the use of renewable and sustainable materials including old fashion magazines and brass.

We thank Lenore for taking time out from her busy schedule to participate in the interview.

Fashion Time: Can you tell us something of your background? Did you always want to become a jewelry and accessories designer? And how did you learn to do what you do?

Lenore Solmo: I have made things with my hands since I was a young girl; I started working in Fashion Accessories when I was 18. It’s all self taught and on the job training.

Fashion Time: Why jewelry and accessories, instead of, say painting, clothing, or interior design?

Lenore Solmo: I am a hands on designer so anything I can make without machines worked.

Art for arts sake never clicked with me (although I am grateful for fine artists) for me it always had to be wearable.

Fashion Time: Is the environment you live in, conducive to the act of creating?

Lenore Solmo: There is no better place in the world for creativity than Brooklyn and NYC. Walking down the street is a feast for the eyes.

Fashion Time: Have you given any consideration to creating a blog and reaching a larger audience for your designs?

Lenore Solmo: I just started a blog www.i-used-to-be-a-fashion-magazine.blogspot.com

Though it is not necessarily about fashion.

My my space is www.myspace.com/used2bafahionmag

Fashion Time: You mention in your profile at Esty’s that one of your favorite
materials is recycled brass. What is it about brass as opposed to
gold, silver, or bronze that creates such a favorable impression with
you?

Disco Slice by Lenore Solmo

Lenore Solmo: It is thin and sturdy and not too precious to be covered with my fashion magazine collages.

Fashion Time: Have you thought about working with various minerals and gems such as marble, quartz, or lapis lazuli?

Lenore Solmo: I have worked with semi precious stones and crystals in the past. Right now I love using magazines headed for the re-cycle bin to make new fashion.

Fashion Time: You have your own business in Brooklyn creating costume jewelry and novelties. Tell us a little bit about that?

Cuff Love by Lenore Somo

Lenore Solmo: I have an amazing lime green studio with lots of mirrors and bulletin boards in my basement .I try to keep things contained there but sometimes big orders take over the whole house my husband, son and daughter are understanding and quite used to stepping on beads.

Fashion Time:Making fashionable accessories utilizing fashion magazines. Some would say that’s ironically ingenious. Where did the genesis of this idea
originate from?

Lenore Solmo: Reading magazines whether they are fashion, lifestyle or home décor takes me to that “happy place”. Magazines are like little windows to the world.  I am constantly inspired by a color, a room etc. Throwing out all those images each month seemed so wasteful.

My “I used to be a fashion magazine” line preserves some of those beautiful images.

Soon to come-

I used to be a Home Décor Magazine

I used to be a Lifestyle Magazine

I used to be an Art Magazine

I used to be a Tabloid

Fashion Time: You are a world traveler, a globe trotter. Can you share with us some of the more interested places you visited?

Lenore Solmo: India for the people and colors, Paris for Paris, Hong Kong for it’s similarity to NYC. My family and I are getting ready to go to Sicily in August we are staying in the center of Palermo so that should be fun- a little gritty, a beach and great food. Oh yeah we went to the Ice Hotel in Quebec this past Jan. It was visually stunning but my family was not too thrilled that we had to sleep on beds made of ice.

Fashion Time: Do you have an artistic muse that you draw inspiration from?

Lenore Solmo: All Magazines, Flea Markets, Sometimes I walk around ABC Carpet main floor or Anthropologie for inspiration.

Fashion Time: If you were down to your last $10, what would you buy?

Lenore Solmo: 2 boxes of Pasta, 1 can of kidney beans, 1 head of broccoli, the latest issue of Vogue and Domino magazine,

1 fine point sharpie marker, 1 blank notebook. Did I go over $10?

Fashion Time: How has the response been to your designs?

Hunt and Gather by Lenore Solmo

Lenore Solmo: Awesome, The jewelry stands alone and it is not till after I explain how they are made that people realize it is a fashion magazine collage.

Fashion Time: Could you describe your own personal style to us?

Lenore Solmo: Urban/ Fashion/ Hippy

Fashion Time: Have you worn your own jewelry?

Lenore Solmo: I usually wear my own jewelry but break it up with vintage pcs and friends designs

Fashion Time: Brush with greatness: Can you tell us about the most famous celebrity to wear your creations?

Lenore Solmo: Hmmm.. not yet

Fashion Time: What are the jewelry trends for the fall?

Lenore Solmo: Fleur-de-lis, the Tudors, Medieval Griffins, Crests

Fashion Time: Costume jewelry is very coveted nowadays. What makes it so popular?

Lenore Solmo: I think people want to make a statement with a great handbag or an important piece of jewelry.

Fashion Time: If people are interested in purchasing your designer jewelry, how can they reach you?

Lenore Solmo: At Wholesale Retailers can buy my fashion line LENORE SOLMO at DP Accessories 212.244.0878.

I used to be a fashion magazine is available on Etsy.

And my website iusedtobeafashionmagazine will be up and running within days!