Well okay, fame first…

Custom jewelry lives ‘fabulous life’

Mississauga designer Michelle Merizzi’s jewelry keeps famous company.
It has been worn by Entertainment Tonight Canada host Cheryl Hickey, So You Think You Can Dance judge Tré Armstrong and singer Jully Black.

MMCrystal. MMCrystal founder and designer Michelle Merizzi’s line of jewelry is being featured at Canadian designer Andy Thé-Anh’s fashion boutiques in Toronto and Montreal this fall. Photos supplied

“My jewelry has met Brad Pitt,” said MMCrystal founder and designer Merizzi, jokingly referring to the time Hickey wore her earrings to the Cannes Film Festival in France. “It has a very fabulous life.”

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Andy Thé-Anh has discovered MMCrystal jewelry!

MMCrystal’s tag line ‘Steal the Spotlight’ underscores the dramatic effect of the brand’s fashion-forward and classic earring, necklace and bracelet designs. And with Andy Thê-Anh Collection’s focus on sophisticated, modern design with an edge, this new pairing is a perfect fit.

“We are very excited to propose the new range of MMCrystal creations at our stores”, says Christine Boivin, public relations director at Thê-Anh’s head office in Montréal. “The designs will be a perfect complement to our designs and especially the ones of our evening collection.”

The pairing of these two creative fashion designers comes hot on the heels of the successful restructuring of Thé-Anh’s company earlier this year. “We are very pleased with the originality of the design, and also the quality of the jewelry,” enthuses Maria Civitillo, Thé-Anh’s director of sales. “This makes MMCrystal a good fit with our brand.”

This season’s jewelry offerings feature multi jewel tone Swarovski crystals and dark metallic finishes, along with MMCrystal’s dazzling crystal creations. Ranging from “red-carpet bold” to refined pearl and traditional styles, the collection features a variety of proprietary chains and settings. Over 150 styles are available to suit professionals, evening and bridal wear; many are featured on the company’s website at http://mmcrystal.com

“I think this is the perfect entrée into the Montreal market for MMCrystal”, says Michelle Merizzi, founder and designer for MMCrystal from her office in Mississauga, Ontario. “Montreal has always had a high fashion sensibility, and we expect a great response to MMCrystal designs, especially in the context of Andy Thê-Anh’s refined glamour and ultra-feminine styles.”

About MMCrystal
MMCrystal designs and manufactures elegant crystal jewelry using Swarovski crystal exclusively for these creations. The singular beauty, inspired artistry and sense of style that is celebrated in the MMCrystal collection is the product of the company’s founder, Michelle Merizzi.

Ms. Merizzi has spent most of her adult life in the fashion industry, creating custom jewelry for Cher, Canada’s first lady Mila Mulroney, and Candice Bergen as well as working in hair and makeup design alongside some of North America’s most sought-after photographers and artistic directors for over 16 years.

MMCrystal’s designs have been worn by celebrities on Grammy, Emmy, Oscar and Golden Globe Awards telecasts in 2008 and 2009, and are featured in television and magazines including ET Canada, E-talk Daily, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, WedLuxe and Wedding Bells magazines, and music videos by Jully Black and Tamia.

About Andy Thé-Anh
Born in Vietnam, Andy Thê-Anh arrived in Canada in 1981 and quickly became one of Canada’s most important designers, with his trendy and ultra-feminine styles for the modern career oriented woman exuding refinement and glamour. He is especially known for his impeccable suits, his ultra-feminine blouses and his drop-dead gorgeous dresses. Andy Thê-Anh has dressed some of the most admired Canadian stars, including Jeanne Beker, Helene Joy, Natalie Brown, Kreesia Turner, Lauren Harper and Divine Brown.

Contact:
Michelle Merizzi
MMCrystal
(905) 629-3725
Website: http://www.mmcrystal.com

Hosts from Global TV’s popular ETCanada entertainment-news show, including Cheryl Hickey, Rosey Edeh, Arissa Cox and Kim D’Eon, will be wearing selections from MMCrystal’s newest collection, officially released just a few weeks ago. Preparing for the show’s televised red-carpet and gala interviews, Global’s stylist Maggie Bill selected MMCrystal over numerous other designers vying for the spots. “Your jewelry is going over wonderfully,” she said to designer Michelle Merizzi.

And as Tanya Kim’s stylist for E-Talk Daily, Jessa Bissett had only a few comments as she browsed the collection of Swarovski-crystal earrings, necklaces and bracelets during a trip to MMCrystal’s Mississauga office. “Oh, want that… oh yeah, want that too!”, she said as each selection was presented for the media celebrity’s appearances.

MMCrystal is no stranger to the show’s stars. In addition to being the jewelry of choice for red-carpet appearances during ETCanada’s many award-show events (including the Grammies, Emmys and Oscar-night interviews), Cheryl Hickey personally selected MMCrystal’s exclusive fashions for the bridesmaids at her own wedding last year. Merizzi recently remarked “My jewelry has a much more fabulous social life than I do!”

MMCrystal fine crystal jewelry is available at select boutiques and retailers throughout Ontario, and is featured in several national rewards programs and lotteries in Canada. Contact information plus recent and classic items from the jeweller’s collections are found on their website at http://www.mmcrystal.com

As on-camera interviewers Tanya Kim and Lainey Lui meet and greet celebrities arriving for the star-studded red carpet show, they’ll be wearing fine crystal creations from the MMCrystal collection of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. And their selections will come from the same designs showcased on MMCrystal’s website at http://mmcrystal.com

Since 2003, when etalk pioneered the Canadian Red Carpet Show, the popular television and entertainment show has been producing and hosting the red carpet arrivals for The JUNO Awards in Ottawa. Showcased with impressive production, etalk was recruited by Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005 to produce and host their annual Red Carpet Event as well. etalk now produces the entertainment pre-shows for The JUNO Awards and Canada’s Walk of Fame every year.

So selecting jewelry fashions to adorn etalk’s hosts makes an important statement of a different kind. Jessa Bissett, the show’s stylist, says she “loves choosing pieces from the whole MMCrystal collection, because they’re so bold and elegant. And they’re always in style.”

Ms. Merizzi describes her crystal jewelry designs as luxurious, sexy and unapologetically glamorous.

“I don’t create designs to follow trends,” the designer says. “ My clients want classic, contemporary looks that aren’t defined by a certain season. Only a certain type of woman can wear my collection without it wearing her.”

And with Canadian musical stars like Jully Black and Tamia being spotted wearing MMCrystal’s Swarovski crystal-studded earrings in their popular videos and publicity engagements, it’s clear that the designer’s eye for spotlight-arresting style is growing in popularity among the fashion and entertainment elite.

MMCrystal jewelry is sold by authorized dealers in North America. For more information about the company’s products and dealer locations, please visit the Web site http://www.mmcrystal.com. The site has pictures of their classic and latest designs for wedding and bridesmaid jewelry, and showcases video, television and print media appearances.

Contact: Michelle Merizzi at MMCrystal (416.550.7600)

Cheryl Hickey at Grammys 2009

Fashion-forward dazzle and real-world budgets came together in Los Angeles, as a Toronto jewelry designer outfitted celebrities and “red carpet stars” during the most important awards shows of the year. TV and music celebrities wore MMCrystal’s high-fashion statement jewelry throughout the television broadcast, showing that they didn’t need a megabucks wardrobe budget to hang with the stars.

ET Canada host Cheryl Hickey featured the Toronto jewelry designer’s earrings at this year’s Grammy and Oscar pre-shows, broadcast just before presenters started handing out statues. Ms. Hickey has worn selections from the luxury costume jewelry line at the Grammys, Emmys and Academy Awards shows for 2007, 2008 and 2009, attracting the spotlight during the industry’s biggest star-fests.

She has also chosen Michelle Merizzi, MMCrystal’s principal designer, to outfit her entire bridal party with MMCrystal’s Swarovski crystal fashions later this year.

Recording artists Jully Black and Tamia have also featured MMCrystal’s luxurious designs in their chart-topping videos, and choreographer Tre Armstrong featured a dazzling assortment of necklaces and earrings on the top-rated first-season finale for So You Think You Can Dance Canada.

After a 16 year career as a sought-after makeup artist, Michelle Merizzi is back driving her energies towards her first love, jewelry design. The MMCrystal collection is luxurious, sexy and unapologetically glamorous.
 
“I don’t create designs that follow the trends,” the designer says. “ I want classic, contemporary looks that aren’t defined by a certain season, and so do my clients. It’s not for everyone. Only a certain type of woman can wear my collection without it wearing her.”

Michelle’s  previous successful jewelry venture, Merizzi Designs, created free form crystal jewelry that retailed at luxury purveyors including Holt Renfrew Toronto, Yu Fashions,Trump Tower in Chicago and as far away as Kings Road, Hong Kong. Merizzi counted Cher, Candice Bergen and Mila Mulroney in her varied celebrity fan base.

From shoulder-dusting Swarovski chandeliers to 4-inch wide stone-set cuffs and organic shaped pendants, MMCrystal’s statement pieces project confident, sensual femininity. The line features state-of-the-art rhodium and 22 karat gold plating, is nickel and lead-free and uses only titanium earring posts, suitable for wearers with sensitive skin.

MMCrystal jewelry is sold by authorized dealers in North America. For more information about MMCrystal products and dealer locations, please visit the Web site http://www.mmcrystal.com. The site has pictures of their classic and latest designs, and showcases video, television and print media appearances.