Did I hear "whistle"? 

In our quest to continue to expand with a discerning eye for like minded upscale boutiques, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Whistle Club in our beloved home away from home, Santa Barbara, the birthplace of Designs by Alina.

Brand new to Montecito's über-chic Coast Village Road, Whistle Club is a fusion of east coast/west coast acumen which, in line with Designs by Alina, places a premium on quality, authenticity, and design, while delivering an exceptional shopping experience to its clientele. 

Rebecca McKinney's keen eye for style is evident throughout her expertly curated collection of women's apparel and accessories. In addition to some of my longtime favorite designers like Veronica Beard, Zimmermann and Rachel Comey, Rebecca carefully selects pieces from passionate emerging designers who share her approach, delivering the perfect dose of effortless chic we seek from boutiques that carry our line. 

If the Whistle Club's gorgeous collection of apparel and accessories isn't enough to lure you in, let them whip up a delicious espresso for you or your shopping companion. Now, there's a clever way to get your guy to do a little shopping with (or for) you!

...prepare to experience the bliss. 

Santa Barbara in my heart and now beneath my feet.

It was the first thought that came to mind when writing a caption for the post I shared on Instagram about last week's American Riviera getaway. Fifteen months ago it would have been impossible to fathom the idea of being a "tourist" (in quotes because this city continuously gifts our family with overwhelming requited love) in the town that witnessed our romance bloom from crush to a full fledged family of five, two pooches and a leopard gecko, long before Designs by Alina was even a thought. And yet here we were with a carload of suitcases and children in search of a last minute dose of summer fun.

Above left: "Bernalina's" (as coined by friends) wedding at our Mission Canyon home. Center: With our twins at Butterfly Beach. Right: Family of five at our home, Casa Ventalia, last spring.

Our children spent the week each with a close friend, while Bernardo and I caught up with some of our nearest and dearest engaging with the city through the prism of tourists. While we very much enjoyed romantic "staycations" at the San Ysidro Ranch and Bacara Resort and Spa in years past, we decided to check into the hotel that accommodated our wedding guests fifteen years ago.

Perched upon the halcyon hills of Santa Barbara's iconic Riviera, the Belmond El Encanto, originally built in 1918, reopened in 2013 following an extensive seven-year renovation. It exudes at once charm and splendor, aridity and abundance, history and comfort, setting a quintessential Santa Barbara tone from the moment one arrives. Its serene grounds and welcoming ambience draw visitors in to partake, much like a local, in the city's carefree lifestyle. 

We met so many interesting people from around the globe including one charming couple who took to our youngest with the exuberance of older siblings. They left Santa Barbara in route to Hawaii just two days prior and found themselves right back where they started to indulge their yearning for this California oasis by the sea before heading back home to England. That evening, while lounging in our cottage, I heard a photographer directing another couple and managed to discreetly snap a photo from our window (third, bottom row) which I emailed to the hotel in hopes that the newlyweds would uncover some behind the scenes magic.

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Built into the California native landscape, the infinity-edge pool delivered the R&R we were seeking with an enchanting scenery that begged night not to fall. Similarly, but from a higher vantage point, the south facing terrace, where we spent many a sunset sipping Charmers and Rosé, offered sweeping ocean and city views with an attentive staff who remembered our names throughout our stay. 

A couple of days into our vacation, my husband surprised me by extending our stay (I love when he does that!) Much like the British couple we met, we simply could not get enough of our hideaway. He used the extra time to try out an electric bicycle, one of the many amenities on the property, while I indulged in a relaxing massage at the spa.

Left: Santa Barbara's skyline. Center: Our youngest -third from left- with dear friends at brunch. Right: "Bernalina" ;-)

Yes, Santa Barbara is a charmer and El Encanto has bottled some of it up for you to enjoy straight up or on the rocks. We look forward to building many more memories in the American Riviera, with hopefully more time to visit all of the people we so dearly love. Stay tuned for more on Santa Barbara...she will have a companion too...

Isn’t it fantastic to carry an everchanging pocket-size gallery with the ease of carrying a cell phone? That is how I feel about our Instagram repertoire. As one who is passionate about photography, design, and all things beautiful, I love how quickly we can send and receive vignettes of what makes us tick. The ability to scan through a feed as one would through a magazine or coffee table book is nothing short of thrilling. It is also a fantastic visual tool for designers to share the life, story and inspiration behind their designs.

I have long felt that sources of inspiration to a creative mind are directly proportional to their level of passion and I am grateful to have no shortage in that regard. A trip to Lago di Vico, Italy for example, gave birth to our signature swan earrings, while our daughter's obsession with hula hoops and travels to Morocco inspired older designs like the All-Wired-Up series and the mixed metal hoops below.

On a recent trip to Guimarães, Portugal, I spotted the gorgeous bench featured in our previous post On the Fringe, the inspiration behind our latest creation, Diamonds on the Fringe:

This beauty will soon be available online and in stores...in the interim, indulge the beauty seeker in you by following us on Instagram.

Photos by Alina de Albergaria

Flashback to a decade ago when I was completely immersed in baby-land, twitching over my husband's love affair with electronics and social media. I remember sitting at the dinner table glaring at the little gadget he carefully set by his placemat, waiting for it to ring or shake as though it were his mistress. The ritual was repeated in the evening with another larger chatelaine propped upon his lap as we would settle in for the night to watch a movie or Mad Men.

I had a tough time understanding the incessant need to be connected until Designs by Alina prompted me to simultaneously dive into the worlds of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, the latter being by far my favorite. Now my husband and children are the ones clamoring for me to end my own rendezvous with a certain paramour.

It’s not difficult to grasp why Instagram would be a godsend to a photographer, artist or designer for it allows one, not only to share a glimpse of our creations with our instafriends in a modern and aesthetically appealing square format, but it allows us to share the inspiration behind our designs and what speaks to us in terms of aesthetics. @ryankorban is my latest IG crush, and like me he is obsessed with flowers.

I leave you, then, with some of my favorite Instagram posts* If you are an Instagram junkie like me and love design, flowers, travel, and all things beautiful, follow us here @designsbyalina.

*All photos by Alina de Albergaria for use on this website only.

I love a confident woman who has honed her own style, one who knows how to update her wardrobe without falling prey to the banality of trend.

Some "trends" are more about quality and detail than trend per sé, and those are the ones I hope never vanish. Take Self Portrait, Vanessa Bruno, and Isabel Marant, for example, all of which share our passion for quality materials. The incredible lace detail on their in-boutiques-now pieces are swoon-worthy, and even when the garment is less rooted in detail, these designers never begin with anything less than impeccable fabrics.

Another detail I love is the fringe and there are plenty of perfectly executed designs like this bag by Dee Occlepo (certainly one to watch) and sexy heels by Manolo Blahnik and Aquazzura from seasons past. 

While we are seeing much of it today, he coveted fringe did not originate this century or with Easy Rider in the late sixties. Native Americans had a functional reason to use fringe which served as gutter of sorts repelling rainwater from the wearer. From a decorative standpoint, chairs dating back to medieval times were embellished with fringe as was jewelry in ancient Egypt. 

On our recent trip to Guimarães, Portugal, near Porto, we stayed in a gorgeous monastery-turned-hotel where I fell in love with this eighteenth century fringed bench:

So why, you might ask, all the talk about fringe? Because this gorgeous bench is the inspiration behind two exciting new designs...so stay tuned!

Photos courtesy of: lyst.com, vivaluxuryblogspot.com, lanecrawford.com, OliviaPalermo.com, Manolo Blahnik, Aquazzura

If you are like me, you haven't yet come across a newsletter subscription offer that gifts you more than 10 or 15% off your purchase, but Designs by Alina is about to change that! Not only will you be privy to new styles and special promotions, but we take you around the world and let you in our best kept secrets.

It's hard to believe that just over a year ago we introduced our first designs in Santa Barbara and that less than eleven months ago we found ourselves in San Francisco. Following months of very long days hard at work to create a unique fine jewelry line, website, and lifestyle blog, we were ready for a much needed break to recharge. That came in the way of a family trip to Europe (Quinta da Amizade and Musings) yeilding new inspiration for upcoming pieces. Who knew that an exhilarating journey would make us feel like a summer Santa upon our return?!

Thank you for matching our determination with your support and enthusiasm. To show our appreciation, we are gifting our newsletter subscribers with 20% off their entire order until July 31. To redeem your gift, enter "NEWSLETTER20" at checkout. This code is for subscribers only, so if you haven't signed up, this is the time to do so (and you might want to share the savings with your fashion savvy friends too!)

Happy shopping!

                 xoxo,

Photos by Alina de Albergaria

Still in Portugal where my thoughts flow freely, I am reminded about a certain aphorism involving an apple and a tree...

My mother, among other things, is an avid reader with three books going at any given time, one in English, one in French and one in Spanish. She is a prolific writer whose use of language (Spanish in particular) is truly sublime. She introduced me to the works of Pablo Neruda, Rubén Darío and Andrés Eloy Blanco, when our family lived in Venezuela , all of whom wooed me with melancholic words of love.

Years later, I would gratefully find myself earning a living by indulging my own love affair with language over the course of nearly two decades in the world of television. Today I am equally thankful for living in a time during which technology affords designers a direct line with their clients through personal blogs.

In addition to my posts on all things beautiful: travel, decor, fashion, lifestyle and jewelry, I will be incorporating mere thoughts that seep into my heart, much the way new designs do, as simple musings...and so they begin...

Does age restrict or does it give us freedom to simply be?

Anything worth having begins with nothing less than the finest materials.

Pursue your passion, it’s what you do best.

My child...my muse.

Quinta da Amizade, AKA Villa Sassetti, Sintra, Portugal

"I would give my weight in gold to have you here."

Those were his words to me just hours before I boarded my plane to Lisbon.

We were in New York when he received the dreadful news about his mother's passing in their family home, Quinta da Amizade.  I wanted to be there for him but a mere four months of dating each other rendered him Lisbon-bound and me back to Santa Barbara with an ache in my heart.

I had been home but a few hours when prompted by his words, I secured a ticket on the next plane out of Los Angeles and less than twenty four hours later we were reunited in the house that saw my now-husband through adolescence in Sintra, Portugal. 

While I never met Sara, I am grateful to have visited her home, Quinta da Amizade, while her presence was still very much alive. Through the captivating space she created and cherished with her sons, I felt as though I had met the stylishly avant-garde woman who chose to surround herself with things she loved.

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With plans of turning it into a public space, the municipality of Sintra purchased Quinta da Amizade three years following Sara's death. Sadly, however, as a result of the city's failure to allocate the funds required to upkeep the property, Quinta da Amizade sat abandoned ever since.

It was important for Bernardo to see our young children on the same trails he blazed when he and his family relocated to Sintra from Rome in the late eighties. To that end, our family set out to pay the forlorn property a well deserved visit. 

Luckily there was no need to tempt fate by breaking in, nor did we have to work our way through the thick cobwebs we envisioned having taken up residence there. Quite the contrary, we were delighted to discover that the structure and gardens were undergoing a huge renovation and that the foreman was more than happy to grant us passage to meander at will. We followed Bernardo's lead as he recounted the tales of his youth within the walls of Amizade and especially throughout its forest-like gardens.

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The word quinta (country villa) derived its name from the word quinto or "fifth" because when rented out, its fee amounted to one fifth of its income.

Although it appears to have been built many centuries ago, Quinta da Amizade (also known as Villa Sassetti) was conceived in the late nineteenth century by Italian architect, Luigi Manini, for his friend, Italian hotelier, Victor Sassetti.  The architect, who also designed the well known Quinta da Regaleira (pictured below,) was intent on emulating the ancient castles of his native Lombardy. I find it fascinating, fateful even, that like Luigi Manini and Victor Sassetti, Sara de Albergaria, the last owner of this villa, would have also been an Italian drawn to the natural beauty of Sintra.

Quinta da Regaleira

So many memories lie behind those gates and I can’t help but wish that Sara could have partaken in the joy of her grandchildren frolicking in the place she adored. Yet I am comforted by the knowledge that soon this magnificent quinta will open its doors for all to savor, not least our children, who will have a story or two to pass along to their kin.

It took some time for me to figure out that my penchant for beauty, design, and perfection was not neurosis, but sheer passion for an aesthetically pleasing visual world. Naturally it would follow that when Designs by Alina came to fruition, I envisioned being carried in places where I personally love to shop (there goes the passion thing again!) So last week when we made our first delivery to L.A.'s über-chic Satine boutique, I knew it was a match made in California heaven!

Designs by Alina collection at Satine boutique in Los Angeles

it's easy to see why Satine has been featured in Vogue, Elle, W, Harper’s Bazaar and The Los Angeles Times. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeannie Lee, the visionary behind all that chicness. A former real estate attorney who also studied fashion merchandising and marketing in Florence, Jeannie and her fashion-savvy team, have curated a collection of well known and emerging designers that flow seamlessly together in a bright, inviting atmosphere. It's no wonder that Satine has garnered a cult following of editors, stylists, socialites and celebrities alike.

Store Manager, Whitney, is all smiles about our newest "Diamonds on the Fringe" necklace.

Satine is home to Alexander Wang, Preen, Isabel Marant, Phillip Lim, Vanessa Bruno, and Chanel to name just a few designers. While there, I couldn't help but take in all the eye candy, picking up a few pieces for myself which Fern graciously offered to ship home for me. 

Designs by Alina is now carried at both Satine locations:  8134 W. 3rd Street in West Hollywood, and 1508 Abbott Kinney in Venice...and we couldn't be more excited!

Happy shopping!

Ready for summer? I'm not quite there but I'm sure getting in the mood with Elizabeth Charles's "Best of" list which is chock full of dreamy summer pairings. I'm particularly crazy about how our new opal and diamond necklace pairs with those edgy Carbon and Hyde earrings and Faith Connexion dress. It's a summer match made in Ms. Charles' heaven!

So if you're in San Francisco, head on over to Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights' for summer inspirations from Elizabeth Charles boutique and many others along the way. 

It must have been exhilarating to have been in her presence. The graceful, kind, ambassador of goodwill, who also happened to be intoxicatingly beautiful, would have been eighty-six today.

My twelve-year-old daughter adores Audrey Hepburn, and can never get enough of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s," which is on my happy-to-do list with her this weekend. Last night as I tied up loose ends before kissing my trio good night, I had that motherly feeling that something suspicious was in the works upstairs because it was eerily calm. Suddenly, like a train horn in the middle of the night, I was startled by some “heavy-heeling" which revealed this most enchanting scene:

This tribute to Ms. Hepburn on her would-be-eighty-sixth birthday, will be a constant reminder of how fleeting childhood is and how fortunate we are to witness a coming of age encapsulated in such a loverly manner.

Audrey, you are everywhere...still...

Photo of Audrey Hepburn courtesy of dvd.net.au

I was recently contacted by "Your Coffee Break," a London-based magazine with contributors in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles, about featuring my jewelry in their upcoming issue.  After so many years in the entertainment industry, interviewing A-list actors about their upcoming films, it was oddly refreshing to be on the other side talking about the 10-year-passion that led to Designs by Alina. 

Story here.

We have been hinting for several weeks that we would soon be partnering with a luxury basic line founded by women on a mission to make a difference. Cat's out of the bag. Meet Road Twenty-Two. 

The Elsie tee paired with our Demure Crescent and Clasped Tahitian necklaces.

Road Twenty-Two is an edgy line of women's and men's basics made with great fabric and a lot of soul. As CEO and co-founder Fif Ghobadian states "our company is committed to humanizing the image of women who were formerly incarcerated, homeless, or suffering from substance abuse, by offering to break through employment road blocks." To that end, Road Twenty-Two is giving these women a second chance to rebuild their lives by working in the company's local facilities. 

And the tees?  Urban and edgy doesn't mean they are anything less than sumptuous. The ultra-soft cotton, which has been treated for the perfect balance of vintage and modern, gets even better with every wash. In addition, the company's Chief Creative Officer and co-founder, Alice Cahan, has a keen eye for design, fit, and detail, making a Road-Twenty-Two tee an ideal basic for Designs by Alina jewelry. Check out their accessory page to discover why Road Twenty-Two and Designs by Alina are a heavenly match made in...San Francisco!

In my last post I shared some discoveries about the land down under.  This post completes the list so let's cut to the chase, shall we? 

Discovery #3: Australians are serious about dining

Dining they know and they do it well. But don’t bring your skinny wallet or you’ll be dining on bread and a flat white! A dinner for two with one glass of wine each can easily cost $200. And if you are craving a wagyu steak at the famed Rockpool on the harbour, be prepared to pay $120 for the steak alone! The restaurants are uber-chic, pushing the dining experience to a new level à la Barcelona, New York or Tokyo.

Discovery #4: They are creative, quirky and love themes

I love Zimmermann and loved Richard Tyler back in the day. My husband works for an Australian company which is taking the tech world by storm, and one of my favorite boutiques in San Francisco is owned by Elizabeth Charles (she carries Designs by Alina jewelry) a fabulous Aussie with an incredible eye. So why was I surprised to discover just how creative these guys were? Because everywhere I turned, one creation upped the ante on the next. It was like the battle of the beautiful vs the eccentric down under!

While Sydney's QT hotel pranced to the tune of an art deco theatre, complete with a singalong bar, Melbourne's Adelphia hotel engulfs you with sugar from the moment you set foot on the property. A horse drawn carriage doubles as reception, though this one skips the Princess Ball all together in favor of Candyland, replete with a myriad confections that are literally more than just eye candy. The rooms greet you with a never ending supply of sweets and in the unlikely event your sugar fix has not been satisfied by check-out, you will be sent home with more. Be it or not your cup of tea, when it comes to ideas, there is no shortage of risk taking in Australia.

Discovery #5

Australians like to have fun and are crazy about sports

Perhaps it was our relaxed mood after leaving our work and children behind for a few days, but city dwellers in Sydney and Melbourne seemingly had not a care in the world. With a strong economy as a backdrop, we noted a common air of confidence and congeniality among locals which kept everyone outdoors, enjoying all that their cities have to offer (not in the least sports as evidenced by sprawling stadiums) during the day and into the wee hours of night.

Discovery #6:  Everyone visits Australia!

In the few days we were there, Ed Sheeran was performing, the ICC Cricket World Cup took place, a Comedy Festival was in full swing, and an outdoor event for the launch of Netflix was held at the Sydney Harbor. Everyone from Prince William to Maroon Five to Kiss to Taylor Swift has recently been there or are slated to visit. And it's no wonder, for down under there's not a care in the world.

Beautiful Victorian with filligree balcony in Melbourne

No koala sitings. No kangaroo trekking. No snorkeling or endless reading on sandy beaches, nope! Following months on end of jam-packed schedules (work and children) my better half and I were in neither an overly active nor overly restful state of mind. Unable to completely pull away from our creative endeavors, we found ourselves in a "loungey-city" mood for lack of a better word, and indulged it by weaving our way through Sydney and Melbourne along whichever street happened to strike our fancy, some hidden, some not. And it was just puuurrrrrfect.

Australia is the sixth continent I am fortunate enough to have visited and it is easy to fall in love. I knew that the Opera House was beautiful, that the feel, much like Southern Calfornia, would be relaxed, that the weather was temperate, that they drove on the left, and that kangaroos were largely considered pests. Ah, but there is so much more to the land down under.

1. The Aussies know how to make a good cup of coffee.

“Two what?” I ask puzzled on the heels of Bernordo’s “two flat whites please.” He correctly states that I will love what he just ordered: a perfect cross between a cappuccino and a latte. Served up with a smile, the flat white never disappoints. Not with the taste. Not with the presentation. And there are popups everywhere.

2. The Sydney Opera House is not just beautiful, it is exquisite.

Sure, we have all seen photos of the giant building reminiscent of white sails, but believe me when I say they are, well, just photos. The magnificence of the structure is impossible to portray for three reasons:

• Every view is a surprise in a Forest Gump box of chocolates sort of way. One minute you are touching a sun scorched curved surface, and the next you are on the floor trying to capture the perfect shot. After you've clicked a hundred times you take it all in again with selfish eyes that share the glory with none other than your own swooning heart. 
• The beauty is in equal parts structure and setting. With the imposing Harbour Bridge in view, the Opera House stands in all its glory and is arguably as stunning when viewed from the water, where an intimate outdoor concert venue and amusement park remind us that there is no backdrop quite as enchanting as the sea. 
• It’s Day and Night. Literally. You will become so entranced by the natural and man-made beauty on your first stroll, you’ll want to return at night. We choose to enjoy the "set changes" offered by the vanishing sunlight as night fell. The entire scene, beautifully enhanced by lights on the glistening surface and above, deemed us grateful for having been able to witness such veritable beauty.

And that was just the beginning. The highlight of our trip was enjoying Madama Butterfly in its penultimate night with Japanese soprano Hiromi Omura whose powerfully emotional portrayal of Cio Cio San brought me to tears. Our preordered interval drinks were served up with breathtaking views of the Harbour. We exited the theatre to a grand finale of fireworks making our romantic evening rival any other on Earth.

Stay tuned for Six things I discovered about Australia (and a few things I already knew) - Part II for the last four discoveries.

I need to work on "untearing" myself. Or not. Perhaps feeling torn is part of what makes us stop and appreciate the mere fact that we have options. We can be torn about where to go on vacation or what child to take with us on a new adventure; about whether to go on a cleanse or whom to meet for dinner. I've been in countries where choices are limited and am reminded of this often.

They say that with age comes acceptance but what age has given me is a prism through which most of life can be interpreted, embraced. Not to say that the prism is always within reach, but I try to keep it close, put it to good use and be grateful all the while.

Take my trip to Australia for example. It is one of the many journeys I have shared with my better half, the man who every so often peels me away from Designs by Alina, from my children, and from my daily routine, to remind me that there is so much more of life to be shared, discovered. And yet when I hear my children's voices, I feel torn between wanting to share these new experiences with them and wanting to recharge my battery with the man I love. Those very choices galvanize gratitude and that is when I know my prism is within reach. 

So without further hesitation, I place my "mom hat" in repose and embrace the opportunity to be "half-a-traveling-duet" ready for a new discovery which I will share with you in my next post: Six things I discovered about Australia (and a few things I already knew). Stay tuned!

From the moment I discovered emerging designer Scarlett Smith at a joint trunk show for my jewelry and her captivating first collection, I fell in love. I had to have one of her pieces. I wanted all of them but settled for five including this fabulous number:

After a worthwhile four month wait, my much anticipated pieces arrived in time to don them at Parisian Fashion Night, an event co-hosted by Pascaline Paris and Atelier Emmanuel Salon and Day Spa in the spirit of Paris Fashion Week. Introducing several young designers, the event highlighted Scarlett Smith's Spring-Summer 2015 collection accented with Designs by Alina jewelry. With a futuristic spin à la Blade Runner, Pascaline defied convention to the praise of an estimated 200 attendees.

• 1 through 4 -Parisian Fashion Night
• 5 - Alina de Albergaria with models
• 6 - Pascale "Pascaline" Elsair, Amanda Scarlett Smith, Alina de Albergaria

"I predict you will be seeing a lot more of her in the very near future" was Pascaline Elsair's closing comment that evening. As Amanda's first customer (Scarlett is the designer's middle name) I enthusiastically concur, for her collection, while powerfully modern, is a prime example of minimal elegance with impeccable attention to detail. I am honored that my jewelry was showcased with her designs. 

I like it when my husband travels. 

Let me rewind. Last year Bernardo gifted me a beautiful red Vespa, but for some reason it's rarely there for the taking because he gets to it first! So, yes, I do love when my man is home, but if I think of the glass being half-full when he’s not, I consider the fringe benefit being that I get to ride my coveted scooter around town which translates into less traffic, lots of parking, and an extra dose of freedom. 

This morning, our daughter, Tessalina, and I rode to school al fresco and it was glorious! Something about the crisp air and those ephemeral little arms around my waist is irresistibly delicious. 

Several hours later, I promised Tessalina a yummy snack if she accompanied me to deliver some new pieces to Pascaline-Paris, one of two chic boutiques carrying Designs by Alina jewelry in San Francisco. Tessalina loves Pascaline, as we all do, so of course the answer was a swift "yes!"

While my little one scavenged around for chocolates, Pascaline, her social media expert/daughter, Léa, and I discussed business, making mention of the fact that one of our colleagues, the talented Amanda Scarlett Smith will soon hand-deliver the much anticipated pieces I ordered from her very first collection (first and fourth photo below). Among other designers, Pascaline is the sole distributor of the beautifully crafted mens and women's shoe line Atelier Voisin , a French children's line Les Petits Carreaux which Tessalina models below) and comfortably soft cashmere sweaters with a fun twist on graphics like the gray one I just bought for loungy Sundays (third photo below).

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If you like unique designs and have a penchant for Parisian street-style, check out Pascaline Paris on Sacramento Street, then stroll on over to Spruce, Sociale, or The Magic Flute for some delectable edibles!

Photos courtesy of Pascaline Paris and Scarlett-Smith.com

Model wearing Looped Tahitian necklace

Mom?  MOM?!  MOM!!!

Baby?  BABY?!   ALINA!!! 

Ah, the clamor at home when my kids and husband arrive from school/work while I am locked away in my studio enthralled in my designs. Someday my trio will say that their mom's creative efforts have made them stronger, more independent and that it inspired them to pursue their own passions. One can hope. Luckily the whole de Albergaria pack is engaged: Bernardo changes time zones without batting an eye. Dario, when not in school, is on a soccer field or two while his twin sister is either discovering her love for photography, sailing, at a juice bar, or "face masking" with friends (geez, is she only twelve?) And our blooming young artist is now following in her brother’s cleat-clad footsteps when not enraptured in her art. Even the dogs are less sedate, barking on a whim.

But last Wednesday I heard none of it as I was engaged in a fruitful photo shoot highlighting our upcoming venture with an exciting new company whose endeavors are changing women's lives every step of the way. It was a fun, invigorating day with a fabulous group of women playfully hard at work. The result? A myriad fantastic photos currently under wraps. But here are a few behind the scene shots to whet your appetite...

This exciting new enterprise will soon be announced so stay tuned! 

Photos by Alina de Albergaria

When our family was in the process of relocating from Santa Barbara to San Francisco six months ago, my friend, Sandy, said she was curious to see how getting back to my city roots would influence Designs by Alina. Maybe she is clairvoyant or knows me too well. Whatever the case might be, she was right, for Designs by Alina has definitely been developing a more urban feel.

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Our jewelry continues to be handcrafted with choice materials and attention to detail. However, by popular demand we have been using less gold-fill and more solid 14K gold (18K upon request). We have incorporated more pavé diamonds, beautiful Tahitian and ultra-smooth, high luster baroque pearls, as well as uniquely designed hand-forged, oxidized silver clasps. The result is an unpretentious line of heirloom quality street-chic jewelry. We would love to know what you think about Designs by Alina and the City!