It’s no secret that “making it” in any aspect of the fashion and entertainment industry is no small task, so when Bermudian Alex Outerbridge decided to leave her high-flying career in model management to become a jeweller, it wasn’t an easy decision.

After making a successful career of pounding the pavement scouting and booking top talent for the UK’s number one modeling agency, Models 1, Alex set her flourishing career aside to follow her heart last summer.

Six years of recruiting models for the New Faces wing of the agency, which boasts placements on the covers of Vogue Russia, GQ Portugal and many others, was pushed aside due to her burning desire to “create something.”

“(Model representation and management) is really fun. It’s a dynamic industry, but I just wanted to create something so I changed my direction overnight,” said the Southampton native.

“I’ve always had a clear vision of what kind of jewelry I wanted to make. I like metals and stamped, imperfect-looking, impressioned (sic) pieces,” she explained.

With her mind made up on creating jewellery, Alex last year set out to “create beautiful pieces that make people smile” and “tell a story.”

Now, Outerbridge Jewelry is taking off, with a local presence at the chic Reid Street boutique Atelier, and also with a recent deal with W Hotels to feature the jewellery at their Wink stores.

When I met with Alex for drinks at an artsy Silver Lake café, she greeted me sporting black leggings, a denim button up and sparkling red rock star nails. And, of course, she was adorned in her namesake jewellery.

When I asked what made her choose her last name as the title of her line, she said:

“People always comment on it (in the US). I guess it’s catchy, it’s simple and it’s my last name, so I figured it made sense to name my line Outerbridge.”

As we found ourselves a table, her friendly personality radiated as she started discussing her first collection.

The collection, named Emotive Continuity, is comprised of 18 pieces, including rings, bracelets, necklaces and studs. The line is made from rose gold, yellow gold and silver metals.

When asked what were her faves from the collection, the 28-year-old said: “The necklaces, because they’re double sided – you can flip them depending on your mood.”

The necklaces, along with many other pieces from the collection such as the rings, feature Emoticon faces such as a smiley face or a face with x’s as eyes.

Alex also mentioned that she liked the quote bangles featured in the line.

“I feel like in Bermuda girls always have bangles,” she said. And sure enough, both her and I were sporting bangles on our wrists.

A reminder of a piece of personal style in Bermuda, the bangles in the Emotive Continuity collection boast tongue-in-check sayings such as “What goes around comes all the way back around,” and “To infinity and beyond.”

The bangles, she continued, will be a reoccurring series in her future collections, as will the abundant presence of gold.

“I like gold and I like shiny stuff,” says Alex, as can be evidenced from her spectacularly dazzling nail beds. “That’s the island in me.”

The tall brunette elaborated on the company logo rings, saying that she took the emoticon faces from those found on her iPhone.

“When we text we use emoticons all the time to express ourselves, so why not use the emoticons in our jewellery?”

Alex described the merger of precious metals and emoticons as “youth fused into something very classic,” and hinted that there will be many more sets of rings to come in upcoming lines.

Sitting in a red-leather cushion booth and sipping on a salted caramel latte, Alex also shared her hopes for the future of her line.

When asked her intentions moving forward, she said: “To go above and beyond and to be a major player in the accessories marketplace.”

Speaking to her success thus far, she expressed that much of the growth has been “organic,” and she pegged many of her accomplishments down to “believing that [she] has a product that makes sense.”

“I’ve been lucky to have a network of other successful designers. I’ve gotten a lot of support from other jewellery designers from established lines,” she added.

Referring back to the presence of the line in Bermuda’s Atelerie boutique, the tall brunette expressed her desire for the line to succeed back in her hometown.

“It’s very important to me that [the line] does well in Bermuda.

“For me, for this line to always have a presence in the Bermudian marketplace and in Bermudian fashion is a priority.”

The complete line is currently available at the Reid Street store, and is the perfect gift for any occasion. Customers can order online as well at outerbridgejewelry.com. Prices are $200 and under.

In honor of the late Jason Smith, his dedicated friends threw their annual Live Free party at Docksiders on Saturday, August 11th.

Good times for a great cause. And a huge shout out to Jason’s friends for forever keeping his memory alive.

Photos by Kondwani Williams

In honor of the late Jason Smith, his dedicated friends threw their annual Live Free party at Docksiders on Saturday, August 11th.

Good times for a great cause. And a huge shout out to Jason’s friends for forever keeping his memory alive.

Photos by Kondwani Williams

Beachfest – one of the most anticipated events of the summer!

Horseshoe Bay Beach

Thursday, August 2nd

Photos by Kondwani Williams

Cupmatch: Our favorite holiday of the year. From friendly cricket competition to Crown & Anchor – what’s not to love. Not only that, it’s the best people watching (and outfit judging) event of the summer. We have to admit – we were expecting some ratchet outfit disasters this year. But, our Bermudians surprised us. Made us proud even. We spotted everything from cute cut-offs, to colorful prints and  longer lengths at the field – and loved it all.

Photos by Kondwani Williams

Friday, August 3rd

Somerset Cricket Club

Cupmatch: Our favorite holiday of the year. From friendly cricket competition to Crown & Anchor – what’s not to love. Not only that, it’s the best people watching (and outfit judging) event of the summer. We have to admit – we were expecting some ratchet outfit disasters this year. But, our Bermudians surprised us. Made us proud even. We spotted everything from cute cut-offs, to colorful prints and  longer lengths at the field – and loved it all.

Photos by Kondwani Williams

Friday, August 3rd

Somerset Cricket Club

Cupmatch: Our favorite holiday of the year. From friendly cricket competition to Crown & Anchor – what’s not to love. Not only that, it’s the best people watching (and outfit judging) event of the summer. We have to admit – we were expecting some ratchet outfit disasters this year. But, our Bermudians surprised us. Made us proud even. We spotted everything from cute cut-offs, to colorful prints and  longer lengths at the field – and loved it all.

Photos by Kondwani Williams

Friday, August 3rd

Somerset Cricket Club

Not sure which suit to strut your stuff in? Don’t worry, these swimsuits flatter every figure. Grab your sunblock ladies, it’s gonna get hot.

Photographed by Kondwani Williams

Styled by C. Burgess

Directed by Yanni Delvalle

Makeup by: Alana Dowling

All swimsuits from Calypso