The story of my ‘Joie de Vivre’ collection begins like any fairy tale with ‘once upon a time’… Years ago, when I was a kid, I loved visiting my Mom at her work place. She was a dress maker, so the studio was filled with treasures like glittering sequins & rhinestones, delicate lace trims and beautiful buttons. During one of my visits, I gazed with fascination at the rich colors and textures of some left-over fabrics. Patiently, I started rolling delicate flowers from each and every color. Mom joined in and lovingly hand-stitched them with me. She then continued sewing the various delightful and amazingly life-like flowers into colorful necklaces that immediately became my very favorites.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I felt that it was the right time to pay homage to my Mom’s floral necklaces. While updating the designs with sparkling Swarovski crystals and silky textiles for splashes of color, I was careful to preserve the ever optimistic spirit , the Joy of Life and the love that my Mom ‘infused’ into my childhood necklaces.
Here’s to celebrating the wonderful women who have always had our best interests at heart… ♥♥♥ Happy Mother’s Day !!!
Bonjour Paris
Meet our Studio Manager…that is Irina. Irina is our wonder-woman of organization who manages a team of 25 embroidery artisans and gets all our orders shipped out in time. Additionally, she maintains the extensive Dori designs library and…is our “go to person” for all fashion emergencies. Vogue needs a Dori haute couture piece for a photo-shoot in 2 days? An anxious hubbie desperately needs a pair of Dori’s earrings for a 10 years anniversary that is just around the corner? Irina remains calm and her motto is: “Yes, we can!”. So no wonder we think that she’s awesome and as a fun thank you gift Dori & Giora invited Irina to join them to the Premiere Classe Tuileries show in Paris. And yay! She did.
The first few days of Irina’s visit were dedicated to the famous “must-see” spots in Paris (and the burbs) such as Château de Versailles, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe. She was even “invited” to a wedding just outside The Louvre….
Wedding bells at The Louvre ♥♥♥
Dori enjoyed strolling with Irina in the streets of Paris and showed her some of her
favorite specialty stores.
They had fun sampling gourmet olive oils at the…olive oil specialty store….
They were drawn to the beautiful matryoshkas (nesting dolls) at Peterhof Paris
And they tried to guess who would be the perfect cutomer for the hippo head at the
Le Douze antique store.
And then…it was time to get serious and get ready for the Premiere Classe Tuileries show, so Irina rolled up her sleeves and helped Dori & Giora to set-up the booth and give it the final touches of the Dori signature look… ![]()
Dori, Irina & Giora happily pose for a “before” picture on set-up day……
Irina had a good time “touring” the show, finding great designers and peeking at the upcoming fall-winter 2013-2014 trends…
Pasotti umbrellas had on display a medley of umbrellas & walking sticks studded
with Swarovski crystals
Dominique Denaive exhibited his statement resin jewelry pieces
And Finsk shoes dazzled Irina with their style icon wooden wedges.
But…at the end…Irina’s most favorite item was….surprise surprise…
Dori’s red hot Scandal earrings….
After the show ended, it was almost time to go back home, so like a true fashionista Irina rushed to Galeries Lafayette for some fun shopping or rather eye shopping…
But Irina’s trip couldn’t come to an end until her “finding the best macarones in town” mission was accomplished…and the announced winner was….Pierre Herme
Bon Appetit!
Vogue Gioiello – Dori’s couture soutache
When the journalist of Vogue Gioiello discovered Dori’s jewelry collection, she was taken by it and wanted to find out more about the designer behind the precious hand-embroidered creations.
Here is the interview as published in Vogue Gioiello….
Dori’s sense of color as well as the long tradition of hand embroidery and textile design are at the core of her creations. She is an Israeli designer known throughout the world who takes inspiration from costume history and from contemporary art & fashion. Dori works alongside artisans who specialize in the ancient soutache technique. Her personal spin on the soutache technique involves hand-embroidering textile cords while incorporating materials such as gem stones, shells, vintage buttons and Swarovski crystals into the design.
Which are the new developments and new items in the summer 2013 collection?
“In terms of the selection, there are more chokers and bracelets. Also, I offer a large selection of earrings in a variety of sizes in new shapes and styles. In terms of design, I would say that Bogart is the most artistic looking color group in my summer collection. On one of my visits to the flea market, I happened to find some blinking blue and brown dolls eyes. I joined those eyes with free-form embroidery, agate slices and metal elements, as well as a measure of surrealism inspiration for an intriguing “looking at you” effect…”
Dori’s Martinique choker – spring/summer 2013
Dori’s Alegra earrings – spring/summer 2013
Dori’s Bogart bracelet – “Here’s to looking at you kid”….
What are your medium and long term projects?
“I am currently experimenting with a new capsule collection of digitally printed kaftans, tunics and shawls, for which I have selected interesting unique designs. The idea is to inspire women to treat themselves to luxurious accessories in the comfort of their homes or while vacationing at resorts. We offer a wider variety of superbly soft high-fashion accessories for the world of leisure & pleasure.”
Dori’s Kaftan from her new capsule collection
Are you of the opinion that fairs (i.e. trade shows) are still a valid means of communication?
“Shows are still good for creating a dialogue between designers and buyers; allowing professional buyers to have the first-hand experience of the product. However, the shows are not a good platform for communicating with our retail customers, the women who wear our creations. We find that advertising in the right magazines and extensive online activity are far more efficient in reaching potential customers and catching their attention.”
What fields do you excel in?
“Design and color, making every collection a thrilling, intriguing and surprising experience for my loyal followers….”
Dori’s colorful Folies necklace & earrings – spring/summer 2013
Register on our site to browse Dori’s spring-summer 2013 collection and share with us your favorite Dori style.
It’s a MOD world!
In the mid 1960s, thanks to a convergence of music, film, fashion and social change, the mod style blasted out of London, with the boutiques of Kings Road and Carnaby Street at the center of the scene. The monochrome geometric prints of Op Art perfectly complemented the bold shapes of the mod look, which was about looking forward to the future: sharp, bold, minimalist – mod-ernist.
models backstage in William Klein movie “Who Are You, Polly Magoo?
iconic scene from Michelangelo Antonioni’s film “Blowup“
By the late 60s the mod scene was in sharp decline. However, starting in the 70s each decade experienced a wave of mod revival. In the 90s bands such as Oasis and Blur were influenced by the mod culture; both in music and fashion. In 2010 The Like adopted the mod joyful style and unconventional stance.
The Like album “Release Me”
This spring, Dori, Marc Jacobs, Moschino and other designers channeled the ’60s mod vibe and flavor in their new collections.
The mod look is back in Moschino’s spring-summer 2013 runway
Marc Jacobs gives the mod’s style and ideologies a voice, spring-summer 2013
Dori delved into Op Art’s geometric shapes and examined playful compositions with a modern twist. Her new Black & White collection reflects the mod culture’s inventive style and bold look with a personal touch and a joyful feel….
Dori’s Black & White bracelet & earrings
Are you a fan of the new mod FabFlash? Share your “mod likes” with us and register on our site to see more of Dori’s Black & White jewelry pieces.
Dori in Paris
Dori & Giora LOVE Paris and exhibited at the Premiere Classe shows sooooo many times, that they are just a tad shy of becoming true Parisians…But even they were surprised by the city’s somewhat frosty welcome… ![]()
Before the show started, they were glad that the weather allowed a visit to their favorite Square Gabriel Pierné for some much needed recharging. After all, Dori had just barely managed to beat the clock and get to the finish line with her new spring-summer 2013 collection minutes before the flight. It’s not official… but we have a feeling…. that the final finishing touches were given to the last jewelry piece while on the plane… ![]()
The first day of the show started with the booth set-up. When the furniture pieces were all assembled, Dori carefully arranged the jewelry display. Things came along smoothly with the help of Claudine, our French agent, and Dori & Giora even had some spare time for posing for the camera…
Before long, our booth was bustling with all the boutique & gallery owners, department stores buyers and fashion journalists who dropped by to view Dori’s new collection. Many loyal customers have become close friends of team Dori over the years, so between talking about the new jewelry styles and placing orders, there was a whole lot of “catching-up” and joking around…
Thomas Schwender of Tomshot Berlin stopped by to say hi…
Dori’s happy “reunion” with Lia of A-Cuckoo-Moment and Cyril of Almire, Paris
Even with all the hard work (…and play…) Dori & Giora managed to have some breathers and had fun walking the show and visiting their designer friends.
Jean-Jacques Rogers who worked for the likes of Givenchy, Lanvin, Chanel
and Balmain, exhibited his luxe scarves line at the Premiere Classe.
Wendy Pickard of The Branch, UK designs bold jewelry pieces…
as described in Vogue…
“No arm should be without a wooden bangle or two”….
Part of the show was dedicated to upcoming fashion trends that could be viewed at the Forum De Tendances and… on the Who’s Next runway. The Who’s Next organizers asked Dori to “pretty please” loan them some of her exciting haute couture pieces and she gladly obliged…
Dori’s haute couture Icarus earrings and bracelet at the Trends Forum
Dori’s show-stopping Bogart necklace on the Who’s Next catwalk

Dori’s haute couture Bogart necklace as featured in Who’s Next upcoming trends
After the show had closed, Dori spent a day doing one of her favorite activities…shopping for materials! She scouted bead stores, flea markets, gemstones suppliers and vintage boutiques in search for materials that would spark her imagination…
Mirror, mirror on the wall…which is the prettiest tassel of them all?
Like all good things, the Paris trip was about to come to an end. On their last morning stroll at the Jardin des Tuileries Dori & Giora had a surprising encounter with….a goat. As it happened, the charming creature was employed by the municipality of Paris…job description: weed eating & shrubs trimming …
This cute green gardener looks fab on the job site, sporting a goatee, a fur coat and effortless Parisian chic…
And that was it….time to pack up and fly back home….Au Revoir Paris!!!! See you again in March!….♥
team Dori holiday wish list
‘Tis the season when….he’s making a list; he’s checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty or nice…. And while we at team Dori are not made of sugar and spice, we’re most certainly nice…so here’s what’s on our Holiday wish list this year…
Dori’s ♥ list:
I’m facintaed with the Frank Gehry “Guggenheim Museum” Bilbao, Spain. I’m amazed how Gehry incorporated “light” as one of the structure materials. The reflections from the titanium scales create a sense of movement and I would love to just sit and watch how the the whole structure seems to alter throughout the day.
I’m a big fan of “The Lord of The Rings ” trilogy. The scenary in the movies is out of this world…but… I would need to overcome my fear of heights before attempting a lord of the rings new zealand tour…oh well, at least I have tickets for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”…thank you Peter Jackson….
Esti’s (store manager) ♥ list:
I LOVE Radiohead and would be thrilled to get concert tickets (VIP box tickets anyone???) to anywhere in the world….London, Paris, Berlin….here I come…
I started running this year and if all goes well I plan to run the Tel Aviv marathon 2013, so being in top shape and…a pair of great running sneakers are pretty much at the top of my wish list.
One of the greatest team Dori perks is getting sneak peeks on Dori’s “latest and bestest”. Here’s to the Desert Rose earrings from the spring-summer 2013 collection. I can hardly wait to see them at the store and get “to play” with them…
Irina’s (atelier manager) ♥ list:
Seeing the world from a bird’s-eye view, being able to fly and…the unbelievable adrenaline rush…what’s not to love about skydiving????
Winter is my favorite season and my idea of an ideal vacation is all about cuddling in front of the fire place, walks in the woods and watching the snow falling outside my window…
After seeing so many movies about Vegas, I’m very curious to have a firsthand “Las Vegas experience” …preferably with 1 or 2 million Dollars in my pocket to cover my “necessary expenses”…
Ever since watching Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet I’ve been obsessed with these lil’ fellas. I’m practically all packed and ready to go to South Africa’s Kalahari desert…and being on the tall side, I’m sure that the meerkats would be happy to stand sentry on my shoulder…or head…
My name is Sharon and I’m a NY Jets fan….need I say more?
And even though the Jets are not going to make it to the playoffs this year…my inner quarterback would love to see super bowl XLVI live from New Orleans …
It’s not a nice thing to do…but I do play favorites with Dori’s jewelry pieces. And this time, I fell head over heels in love with Bogart the blue-eyed quirky pin….
share with us your holiday wish list…
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU AND YOURS!!!!
Smashing Pumpkin Desserts
Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. ~William Shakespeare
…and team Dori is all about making the feast even merrier by sharing with you two recipes of wonderfully decadent pumpkin desserts. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Caramel Swirl
Contributed by chef Justin Chapple
- ACTIVE:45 MIN
- TOTAL TIME:1 HR 45 MIN Plus overnight cooling
- SERVINGS:Makes 36 bars
These decadent chocolate-crusted bars are topped with a homemade caramel that sinks into the pumpkin cheesecake batter during baking.
Caramel
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Salt
Crust
- 13 ounces chocolate wafer cookies, crushed (about 3 cups)
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- Salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
Cheesecake
- 1 1/2 pounds cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- One 28-ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- Hot water
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 2 tablespoons of water and bring to a boil. Using a wet pastry brush, wash down any crystals on the side of the pan. Boil over high heat until a deep amber caramel forms, about 6 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully whisk in the cream, butter, vanilla and a pinch of salt. Let the caramel cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350° and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. In a food processor, pulse the chocolate wafers with the sugar and a pinch of salt until fine crumbs form. Add the butter and process until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Using your fingers, press the crumbs into the prepared baking pan in an even layer. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes, until set. Let cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with the sugar at medium speed until blended. Beat in the pumpkin puree, sour cream and vanilla, then beat in the eggs until just incorporated. Transfer 1/3 cup of the cheesecake batter to a small bowl and stir in the caramel sauce.
- Set the pan with the crust in a large, deep roasting pan. Pour the pumpkin cheesecake filling over the cookie crust and carefully drizzle the caramel mixture over the top. Using a toothpick, decoratively swirl the caramel sauce. Transfer the roasting pan to the oven and carefully pour in enough hot water to reach halfway up the side of the baking pan. Bake the cheesecake for about 55 minutes, until the filling is barely jiggly in the center. Transfer the roasting pan to a rack and let the cheesecake cool completely. Remove the baking pan from the water bath and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight. Cut into bars and serve.
Pumpkin Pudding with Mile-High Meringue
Contributed by chef Dean Fearing
- ACTIVE: 40 MIN
- TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 40 MIN plus cooling
- SERVINGS:12
- •MAKE-AHEAD
This spiced pumpkin pudding is covered with meringue swirls…need we say more?…
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- One 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree
- 8 large eggs, 6 separated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- Pinch of freshly ground pepper
- Salt
- 1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
- Preheat the oven to 350°. In a medium saucepan, mix 1 cup of the sugar with the water. Using a wet pastry brush, wash down the pan’s side to remove any sugar. Cook over moderately high heat until an amber caramel forms, about 8 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the cream and milk. Cover over moderate heat, stirring, until the caramel is smooth, about 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree with the 6 egg yolks and 2 whole eggs. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and a pinch of salt. Gradually whisk in the hot caramel cream.
- Pour the pudding into twelve 1/8-cup ramekins set in a roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the pan with foil and cut 4 small slits in the top. Bake the puddings for about 40 minutes, or until the centers are just set. Remove the puddings from the water bath. Let cool on a wire rack then refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 11/2 hours.
- Preheat the broiler. In a large bowl set over a pot of simmering water, whip the 6 egg whites with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of sugar, the vanilla seeds and a pinch of salt. Whip until the sugar has dissolved, 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the water bath. Beat the whites until stiff, glossy peaks form, 6 minutes. Spread the meringue in swirls over the pudding. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 2 minutes, until golden, and serve.
Make Ahead. The pudding can be refrigerated for 1 day. It can be topped with the meringue and broiled 2 hours before serving. Let stand at room temperature.
Joy…
Happiness…
Health…
All these and many more are our wishes for you! Happy Thanksgiving!
And don’t forget to stay warm & cozy….
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