les bijoux

translation: "jewelry" in French... it just sounds better

Botticelli’s Simonetta Vespucci (c. 1475). Let’s bring back this hair bling!

I asked my most trusted girlfriend text group (they span from London, to NYC to San Francisco) what my next post should be about. Their unanimous reply was “do a jewelry tour !!!” So here we go, when they say jump, I sparkle…

My very favorite jewelry pouch I had made during the pandemic when Call it By your Name was just starting out of Paris and taking orders over DM

Much like my closet, my jewelry box is very eclectic. I have added to it over time and most of it is deeply sentimental. But yes, I am all about incorporating some cheap thrills in there as well. It’s the same idea as high/low fashion. For example, I love pairing a trendy Zara dress with a beautiful Prada platform. You can toss the Zara after 6 wears, but the Prada will be in your closet forever. Similarly, I enjoy adding some bling to my usual jewelry suspects with a sparkly but affordable necklace or bracelet that I came across recently while stocking up on my favorite fresh white tees. I say “or” because they must worn separately in order to disguise themselves as being real and not the damn good dupes that they are. My daughter Coco already stole the Madewell tennis bracelet! So the teens also approve and that is saying a lot.

Another example is the the happy and playful Carolina Bucci gumball necklace I have coveted for years, but this dupe version did the trick for me all summer and I didn’t worry if it fell off at the beach! I am already looking at similar fall versions to add to a chunky fair isle sweater and jeans.

Coziest sweater paired with a bubblegum necklace for unexpected fun

Now back to the sentimental jewelry I mentioned. The pieces I will pass down to Coco. Probably my most prized possession is the charm bracelet my mom gave me when I graduated college. Lala started collecting charms when I was born. Anytime we went on a trip she would find a tiny gold bauble that she could add to it. Some of my favorites include: a nantucket basket that actually opens and closes, a gondola from Venice, a basketball that belonged to my grandfather with his initials on it, and a Swiss cow bell. By the time I was 21 when she gave it to me, the jeweler said he could not possibly fit one more piece on it! I wear my charm bracelet all the time… it makes the loveliest jingle sound when I move. It is an immediate conversation starter and if people are interested I tell them the little story behind each charm.

Adding to my sentimental stash is anything my husband, Hunter has chosen for me. First and foremost, my asscher cut wedding diamond from Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich- the splendid “old school” 5 generational jewelry store of my dreams. I had it reset a few years ago to wear as a pinky ring after he gave me a Buccellati band on our 15th anniversary trip to Italy that I now wear everyday on my ring finger. I wear my pinky ring next to a gold ring I got in Florence with my grandmother Minnie when I was in high school. It is a vintage Roman coin and I think of her every time I glance down at it. For my birthday last summer on Nantucket, Hunter surprised me with a gold braided rope cable bracelet from the oldest jewelry store on the island. I love the mix of all these different pieces that have been collected over time. In no way do they “match” but they work together.

Roman coin ring, my wedding diamond, the most unique Marla Aaron bracelet which can be worn as a necklace, Nantucket braided cord, fused M. Flynn bracelet and a Cartier love bracelet from a trip to Paris with Lala

Much like buying art, purchasing jewelry can be highly intimidating. I have walked into so many art galleries and if they don’t greet me, I usually walk right out. The same goes for buying jewelry. The experience should be special, fun and inviting. One such place that nails this in every respect is the sister-owned jewelry store in Boston’s south end, M. Flynn. I was introduced to this dynamic duo by a close girlfriend of mine (who always rocks the coolest jewels). My first time in their beautiful store (that feels very much like a chic Parisian salon) was for a mother-daughter fused bracelet party. By then end of the evening, we all wore our delicate bespoke bracelets and had successfully managed to try on every piece of jewelry in the store! Megan and Moria have the best eye and it’s impossible not to have fun in their presence. Here are a few things I have been eyeing- an embossed cuff, paired with a delicate bangle from Paris, or this one, and of course a pinky ring engraved with something sweet or your initials.

I rarely take off my “heart you” necklace from M. Flynn. I also loved this delicate flying pig necklace

And it is thanks to the M. Flynn sisters that I met my latest jewelry designer girl crush, Marla Aaron. Marla was at their annual Nantucket trunk show this past July. Meeting her made me fall in love with her pieces even more and reminded me that jewelry designers are true artists. Marla oozes originality, good energy and cool vibes. So much so that my husband purchased a piece of jewelry for himself! A benefit for me is that most all of her jewelry is interchangeable. Hunter selected a smaller version of this lock that is made of stones found on Nantucket on a simple but strong red corded bracelet. I plan to “borrow” it and use with my own Marla chunky gold bracelet sometimes. They have another version of this lock that is made from rocks collected in NYC.

Pictured above: my first time in Marla’s NYC studio, wearing my husband’s Nantucket lock with my gold chain, trying on all the bracelets at the M. Flynn trunk show, meeting Marla, and the most beautiful jewelry box.

Much like the art in your home, the jewelry you wear can tell a beautiful story of your life: including generational family heirlooms, new pieces acquired for special occasions, or on unforgettable trips. I tell clients to think of who they will pass their art down to when they make an important acquisition. Similarly, jewelry is to be shared and enjoyed by more than the original wearer. My daughter Coco already benefits from this as she has a great eye for finding pieces in my jewelry box to borrow. Thinking of Coco, I am reminded how cool (or crazy) I am that I already let her get a 3rd ear piercing! She styles them in such a unique way I am actually quite proud of her creativity. And then I realize I didn’t even mention a single earring in this post! Let me know if you would like a follow up jewelry tour and any requests you may have… there is so much more to discuss! Until then, here are the links I shared today.