By: Ley Calisang
It might have been the end of the world for someone who had experienced a life-threatening head-on collision but not for Madame Nadine. She looked at it as another chance to live her life to the fullest. As a teacher by profession, she emphasizes being an educator first and that her career as a jewelry designer is more of an unexpected twist. Despite having a full-time job, Madame Nadine makes waves with her Victorian-inspired jewelry pieces. Her jewelry pieces have been featured on the red carpet at the 2020 Oscars, in fashion magazines, and on fashion week runways, along with gifting suites at Cannes, The Golden Globes, and The Emmys.
Madame Nadine did not develop an early interest in design, despite her entire family being artistic. It was sheer coincidence that sparked her interest in design. Unexpectedly, a simple gift paved the way for her to pursue a career in jewelry design. All of this began when her husband gave her a beautiful piece of jewelry. Although the amber stone strung up on a string brought her a great deal of happiness, she was determined to find a way to make it more special and beautiful. She decided to visit a craft store to acquire the necessary supplies to create the perfect jewelry, where she spent $500, and the rest was history. Everything is created by hand, from the hand-painted jewelry to the nickel and lead-safe metals she uses in her creations.
Her passion comes from her near-death vehicular accident, even before starting her jewelry brand. That made her realize that life is such a beautiful thing. “I don’t want to lose a minute of it. So when I do something, I do it with passion. Getting to do something you are passionate about – knowing you are having fun and that there’s still so much to create and discover even though you’re getting older, is an amazing feeling. Age is just a number.”
Most contemporary jewelry designers work with metals like gold, silver, and white gold in their designs; however, Madame Nadine’s collections feature intricately woven elegant and delicate laces. Madame Nadine uses laces crafted locally, ensuring that every material she uses is safe and of the highest possible standard. “Laces are so ‘dare to be different.’ They are so elegant and so feminine.” She is particularly proud of the versatility of her jewelry, which she claims can be worn with anything from a pair of jeans and a t-shirt to formal attire. Her design is based on whatever she happens to be influenced by at the time, which could be anything in the world around her. Her innovative use of lace as structure in her designs has garnered attention from all over the world, especially in Hollywood.
Because of Madame Nadine’s one-of-a-kind designs and pieces, she got a call from the queen of gifting suites herself, Nathalie Dubois’-Sissoko ofDubois’ Pelin and Associates Group, inviting her to join the DPA Pre-Oscars Gift Suite 2020. This event opened the door for her to step into the world of Hollywood, where her designs have been worn by celebrities such as Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars, Dollface), Megan Tandy (Batwoman, Teen Wolf, E! News), and Chloe Bridges (Pretty Little Liars, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam). Three of the 30 jewelry pieces she brought to the DPA Pre-Oscars Gift Suite in 2020 were worn on the red carpet.
Madame Nadine’s designs are meant to give women confidence. She describes her collection as “feminine, timeless, and unique. She wants women to be able to stand up and say, “I am worth it,” as she puts it. Madame Nadine draws inspiration from empowering other women in her desire to create designs that women of all ages can wear confidently. “Making women feel beautiful and confident through the jewelry I create is something I take great pride in doing because I know it makes a difference in their lives. Even if it was just for the night, they felt amazing.”
Even after all these years, Madame Nadine’s love for her work is as strong as ever. Anyone lucky enough to have a conversation with her will feel inspired by being in her presence. Her works are truly one-of-a-kind expressions of her love and passion for her craft, and they are improved by her personal experiences and the difficulties she has overcome. An overwhelming feeling of gratitude and a burning need to share her motivational message: “don’t be afraid of the no’s that you’ll get along the way. It will only take one yes that will change your life.” And as Madame Nadine would say, “dare to be different.”
For more on Madame Nadine, visit her website at https://www.madamenadinedesigns.com/.
