When I first saw jewelry and accessory designer Dominique Cohen's designs, the thought that immediately came to mind was that her designs are classic and elegant in their simplicity.

Although Dominique didn't study design in college, she has always been visually artistic and won awards in photography. She first started by making pieces for herself and soon other people began asking about them and she began making pieces for them as well. Her first pieces were made from beads she purchased at a local store and now she works with gem dealers from all over the world.

Dominique started her business in late 1994 and by mid 1995, her wonderful designs had taken off! She says that the sudden growth was unexpected and attributes it to having wonderful representatives in New York and Dallas. Her representatives showcase only Dominique Cohen Designs. "Presentation is everything and I am very picky on displays. Our representatives work with the stores on improving displays." says Dominique.

All of Dominique's designs are pretty and feminine. Dominique credits her Mom with many of her design inspirations. "My Mom loves beautiful things and she taught me to distinguish quality and color and texture." Dominique gets her inspiration from Audrey Hepburn; as she had the elegance and chic taste that she wants to portray. She also looks to artists and art from the late 1800's and early 1900's such as Tiffany and Lalique for inspiration. "I look at lots of books from that era. I am also inspired by nature and oriental motifs." These inspirations are evident in her jewelry, handbags and wraps.

"I try to take a different direction with the jewelry. I worked with delicate things when that was popular and each season I try to come out with different things." says Dominique. "The woven wire designs came from a request from Saks Fifth Avenue, when they wanted something like that for their stores." All of her designs are made with sterling silver wire, semi-precious stones, Tahitian pearls and cultured pearls. Even though the gems are drilled for some of her designs, they are still considered gem quality. Dominique uses Burmese rubies, tourmalines, aquamarines and several other different types of gemstones. Beginning this Holiday season, she will also start using 18-karat gold and jewels in some of her designs.

Dominique does 5 collections of jewelry a year. Not only does she pay attention to what the designers are doing for a season; she also lets the gems inspire her to something different. "For fall I had seem some beautiful larger sized stones and I designed some chunkier pieces because of the stones." explains Dominique of some of her Fall 1999 designs. "I also ask the stores what they are interested in. I want to give customers what they want." All of Dominique's jewelry is hand crafted and one of a kind. This makes each piece very unique and individual.

The same attention is paid to the handbags. Dominique maintains a core group of designs that they keep and they change fabrics seasonally. There are also one of a kind antique fabric bags in her line at all times. All the bags have beautiful gemstone straps and they are all handmade as well.

For the bags, Dominique uses many different types of fabrics. Most of her bags are made from silk depending on the design and depending on if it is more casual or dressy. She uses a lot of antique fabrics as well. Dominique goes by her "gut instinct" and chooses fabrics that appeal to her texturally as well as color wise. "Some of the fabrics may not be in the best shape because they're worn, but it's because of that look that I chose the fabric." Dominique also tries to select fabrics that are somewhat neutral. By using antique fabrics, this keeps her handbags extremely unique and one of a kind. "Once they're gone, they're gone." says Dominique.

For the fabrics that are hand dyed, Dominique has a textile artist on staff. Dyes are hand painted on several layers of silk to give it the depth of texture and color she desires. This also allows for many different colors to be apparent. Silk that is hand dyed a blackberry shade will have colors from black all the way through to raspberry to give it depth. Hand dying allows for Dominique to match fabrics for weddings or any special occasion. "We can dye fabric to match a dress, then we match gems on the strap of the bag to the ones on the neck. This way it all ties together, yet it is very subtle and pretty." explains Dominique. "The look is very pulled together. Because we're so small, we can do that. We don't do a lot of quantity, but it will be the best quality of the best that you kind find and it will be unique."

Another interesting element of Dominique's designs are that even though they may use a fabric on several purses, she tries to use a different style of handbag for each one. This allows for each handbag to be one of a kind and unique. Dominique's handbags range in price from $165.00 to $540.00. Many of the higher priced bags also have antique frames.

Wraps are done in the same fabric as the handbags. The attention to detail is just as important to Dominique with the wraps as it is with all her other designs. Dominique currently only has two to three collections of wraps a year.

Even with her expanding business, Dominique still remains very hands on with everything from designs to production and the color wave for the season. She continues to work on the dies with her textile artist to make sure that everything meets her strict quality standards. Dominique generally has 2-3 seamstresses, sometimes more for the busier seasons and a textile artist that has an assistant or two. There are also employees that work exclusively on the jewelry and others that work exclusively on the jewel straps for the handbags. Dominique uses this technique to assure the quality standards on all the pieces are present at all times. "I want my pieces to be quality that are going to be well cared for and treasured pieces. I will always stay along this line."

Dominique also works together with her employees doing training sessions. She also has an assistant who inspects each piece for quality and another employee who works on repairs. "I am very into standing behind my products. If a customer is not happy I will do what I can to make them happy. I am not a trend designer. I want my pieces to last and be treasured." says Dominique.

This quality is obvious in her pieces. And the celebrity clientele agrees. Courtney Thorne-Smith has been seen carrying a Dominique Cohen handbag going to the SAG Awards. Many other celebrities are also discovering Dominique and her wonderful designs and she does her best to accommodate them on all their needs and requests.

Dominique would like to expand her already rapidly growing business in to home furnishings and one of a kind pillows and furniture covers. She will be expanding her jewelry distribution this year as well. You will be able to find her pieces in many more Saks Fifth Avenue Stores and she will also be opening a showroom that is by appointment only. "I want a place where stylists and celebrities can come and feel comfortable." says Dominique.

You can currently find her pieces in select Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom's stores, the Neiman Marcus catalog and select stores in Beverly Hills and Dallax, Tx.. All of these stores can do special orders as well.

Dominique was a very wonderful individual to speak with. Not only did she have a love of her job and excitement about what she does, she is also a fellow makeup lover! Her personality and sincerity comes out not only when speaking with her, but also in her designs.