We can all recollect that moment in a perfume commercial when the model-esque foreign beauty in a revealing satin gown rushes past the handsome stranger, their eyes meet for the briefest of moments, a life-altering secret is wordlessly passed between them, and then a narrator with a French accent whispers, “<insert overpriced designer fragrance here>.” Well, eliminate the handsome stranger and the breathy French accent, and a similar moment happened to us recently. However, it wasn’t an Eau de Parfum that caught our attention, but an elegant silver bangle designed by lifelong barn-bum-turned-jewelry-designer, and creator of Holly Spagnola Designs.
Although its design is rooted firmly in the equestrian tradition, the silver bracelet would appear to be only an elegant bit of arm-candy to the untrained eye. However, when we initially spotted it on a woman across the room, we immediately sensed the camaraderie of a shared passion. Created in the likeness of an English riding spur, the sheer subtlety of the piece is the key to its allure – a whispered intimation of a life spent in the saddle.
The totality of being an equestrian is an exercise in this subtlety, as the slight pressure of the calf, a simple shift of one’s weight, or a gentle squeeze of the reins can change the entire trajectory of a well-schooled mount. Thus, it should come as no surprise that we at OR appreciate an aesthetic that pays homage to this fact. To be an excellent rider is to communicate with a horse via an invisible language — a secret passed between rider and horse — and it’s this same secret that is transmitted silently from equestrian to equestrian via Holly’s savvy designs.