Skye's the Limit

Jewelry and accessories designer CC Skye has a knack for jumping on drool-inducing trends at the exact moment you're dying to possess them.

The 33-year-old Malibu resident has been creating covetable pieces for her namesake collection since 2004, hitting that price tag sweet-spot (usually from $100 to $300 for jewelry and under $600 for bags) where you feel like you're indulging, but you're not in danger of hyperventilating.

And what you get is high-wattage glam — and usually bright, 70s-style gold, often mixed with tough-girl leather. The look is brazenly sexy (think coiling leather bracelets and rings so studded, they might not pass airport security). And most of her pieces pack the fashion oomph to transform simple ensembles into something decidedly daring.

After wearing her pieces (endlessly) for years, we tracked down the uber-blonde designer to talk about her fab baubles...

MALIBU CHIC: Designer CC Skye festooned in a few of her own designs.

Style Section L.A.: How did you get going as a designer?

CC Skye: I was a fate meets destiny thing. I was working for MTV and I literally stumbled into the [L.A.] jewelry district one day and met this wonderful man who taught me everything about jewelry. I spent one summer making things for him.

I felt like I had this innate marketing thing. So I sent images out to 20 magazines. I got a call from the accessories editor at Elle, saying 'I love the collection.' That was a big affirmation.

There's a deeper story, too, right?

It kind of goes back at little. When I was 21, I decided to go abroad in college for six months. I wanted a total challenge. I went to Nepal — they told us to only to carry what was on our backs. I brought nothing. So basically, I was living in a mud hut with a family and I was dreaming of high heels and silk dresses.

So then I was in the markets — they have these silk stalls where they make traditional Tibeten clothing and saris. I bought these gorgeous silks...and I found chain mail. I hand-embroidered metallic silver saris into these fashion-forward things, working with a [local] seamstress. I came back with this passion for design. It was the turning point.

LOVELY LINKS: Deco-hinged bracelet, $175.

TO THE POINT: Malibu stud ring, $150.

Your designs seem so quintessentially L.A. to me — is that a conscious aesthetic?

I grew up in Chicago and came out when I was 18 because I had always wanted to be out here [she attended the Claremont Colleges in SoCal]. It's very obvious when [my team] goes to New York that we’re so L.A. They can pick us out in a crowd. We’re very sunny and happy and bright. I'm definitely inspired by L.A. I love that it’s casual and kicked-back — especially in Malibu. And we have the advantage of celebrities in our backyard that wear our stuff.

What would you say your key inspirations are when designing?

The diffrent eras, for sure — the 60s, 70s and 80s. And elements of punk rock and rebelliousness — mixing bohemian with rock 'n roll. And playing off the idea of: There’s not one side of a woman, there are five sides. When we design, it’s very edgy but elegant — we're always trying to do both. A little bit of attitude but a little refined. We're in-your-face sometimes, too.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS: 8-stud cuff, $325.

LADYLIKE: Lulu day bag, $595.

Your prices aren't cheap or expensive — what's the thinking behind that strategy?

I'm all for the affordability. But I definitely felt like if we’re gonna keep it classy, I don’t think you can underprice yourself. I want everyone to be able to have it, but it's still aspirational.

What materials do you usually work with?

Everything is gold plated [so it never tarnishes]. We use a lot of enamel, chain mail, feathers. We incorporate genuine leather from Italy. Leather is a really signature look we’ve been doing.

You are awesome at spotting trends right before they break. How do you do it?

Thank you! I've always felt that I was a trend-spotting person. It’s kind of an intuitive things. I was a trend-spotting consultant for Louis Harris in Paris. My tendency was to keep ahead of the trends. But it’s really more important to be on the trends. I think we’ve definitely built trends. It’s fun when everything clicks.

TOUGH CUFF: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang cuff, $195.

LOOPY: Lulu belt, $175.

CC Skye goodies are available online at CCSkye.com.