ABOUT
The Inspiration For Bijoux Buckles
"As a young designer dividing my time between art school in New York City and Philadelphia, I devoted countless hours (and whatever remained of my humble artist's budget) to the delightful pursuit of vintage treasures. I was especially drawn to beautifully gilded, bejeweled belts, coveted finds that could instantly transform an outfit.
A statement buckle with a touch of sparkle quickly became my signature, elevating a simple vintage tee and jeans into a look that felt both effortless and chic. This love affair with vintage accessories led me to create Bijoux Buckles (jewelry buckles), a curated collection where my admiration for vintage style is elevated by the craftsmanship of my fine jewelry training.
With a nod to Parisian chic, Bijoux Buckles draws inspiration from the ornate architectural flourishes of old-world France, the effortless style of icons like Françoise Hardy and Jane Birkin, and the romance of the French language, an homage to my Québécois roots, reflected in my maiden name, Rachel Renée Gagnon.
I created Bijoux Buckles to elevate the everyday belt buckle. Bijoux Buckles are meant to be jewelry for your waist. Each buckle is designed to be collected, worn, and treasured like fine jewelry."
~Rae Vittorelli, Founder of Bijoux Buckles (Right)
Photo Credit: Kari Devereaux
The Designer: Rae Vittorelli
Bijoux Buckles is proudly female-owned and operated by Rae Vittorelli, a trained jeweler and artist with a BFA in Jewelry Design. Rae began her career as a bench jeweler in a fine jewelry house in Philadelphia. After several years working in the jewelry industry, symptoms from undiagnosed Lyme Disease forced her to step away from the bench. She went on to work in various design fields and, after relocating to Northern California, she has spent over eight years with a high-end residential architecture firm, where she works as a designer today.
It was in Northern California that Rae was finally diagnosed with late-stage Lyme co-infections and was successfully treated with a combination of herbal modalities and Bee Venom Therapy. With her health restored, she returned to her jeweler’s bench.
Drawing from her lifelong love of vintage fashion, ornate architectural details, and her background in metalsmithing, Rae created Bijoux Buckles, her answer to the accessory fatigue of fast fashion. She holds fast to an old-world belief: even the most practical objects should be crafted with care and adorned with beauty. Each buckle is reimagined as a statement jewelry piece meant to adorn, not just to fasten.
From her Marin County atelier, STUDIO VITTORELLI, Rae continues to create jewelry and accessories that merge symbolism, sentiment, and artistry.