This year started off with an exciting trip to New York with NICHE Magazine, Hawsworth Communications and Tiffany & Co. to meet the current Design Director, Francesca Amfitheatrof and dive into her first Blue Book collection for Tiffany & Co.
Our press trip hosts, Derek Conrad and Kerry Tropeano, Managers 
of N.A. Public Relations for Tiffany and Co. welcomed NICHE with open warm arms in the midst of the cold New York winter.
Arriving into LaGuardia Airport after numerous connecting delays from the west coast due to weather conditions, my personal driver, Vassil from Empire International escorted me in style to the Park Hyatt hotel right in the centre hub of NYC. With this being my first trip to the big apple I was constantly curious 
and in awe with my surroundings. I felt as if a dog heading to the beach, with my head out the window gawking at everything I could keep my eyes on as they were moving too fast to even comprehend where I was and what the next few days had in store for me. I sat in the back of the luxury car at the late hours of the night going over my itinerary – with slush on the ground and blowing icy winds I couldn’t wait to settle into the hotel and get some rest before the early morning to come.
Tuesday morning started off in the lobby of the hotel, meeting other press members and grouping up to walk over to the flagship Tiffany & Co. location at 727 Fifth Avenue at 57th street. The 
much anticipated Blue Book preview with Design Director Francesca Amfitheatrof began promptly at 10am and we were shown half of the 250 piece collection- Francesca’s first Blue Book, which debuted this month titled – The Art of the Sea. The outstanding artisan craftsmanship left me in a dream state as 
Francesca described each piece and how the theme of the Blue Book was embodied. Her lips were sealed as the upcoming 87th Annual Oscars had already locked down numerous celebrities wearing Tiffany & Co. Blue Book pieces which we had to stay tuned to see which ones on who. Seeing the detail and expertise put into each piece was incredible. Trying on the 
stunning Tiffany & Co. necklace that was worn on Cate Blanchett was one of the highlights as you could just tell how much effort and time went into the fantastical ocean inspired piece with all gemstones curated by Chief Gemologist, Melvyn Kirtley (whom we had the opportunity of interviewing the next day).
As we stroll around the preview room, it truly 
encompasses the mood and essence of the collection Amfitheatrof had been creating as her first for the company. With water ripples and waves projected onto the blue wall and soft sounds of the ocean, walking around with Amfitheatrof she simply drifted from one glass box to another giving in-depth information and inspiration behind each single piece created and the time and people behind the work of art.
To read about Design Director, Francesca Amfitheatrof stay tuned 
as she will be our featured #FashionLegend inside the #InspirationIssue of NICHE magazine. Subscribe to NICHE here and get your first copy of NICHE free.
Picture: Francesca Amfitheatrof and myself at the cocktail party in the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC.
