I’ve always personally believed in the power of jewelry—that it’s the backbone of my wardrobe. The art of wearing your pieces lives in how you layer, from simple to statement-making; it elevates and transforms a look. My favorite outfits always end up being the well-accessorized ones that transport me to another place and time; it’s this sentiment that inspired the designs of my very first, limited-edition jewelry and hair accessories design collaboration with leading luxury accessories designer, Jennifer Behr.
I’ve admired Jennifer’s whimsical creations for close to six years. I was originally drawn to her collection when shopping for hair accessories for my wedding. When we finally met last Fall at the Dior Exhibit in Brooklyn Museum, we bonded over a shared love of all things romantic, whimsical, ornate and elegant. There are some people you’re drawn to from an inspiration standpoint and Jennifer’s thoughtful craftsmanship and ethereal appeal have always captured my creative eye.
The two of us met for lunch at Frenchette this past January and found ourselves sharing stories about our favorite travels through the years. From Provence to Portofino and Capri, we were reminiscing about our passion for travel and the excitement we shared for dressing up for the adventures summer would hold.
It was this conversation and our mutual love of jewelry that brought the collection to life. I was absolutely beside myself when Jennifer proposed we design something together. I’ve always dreamed of one day designing jewelry – in fact, it’s part of the reason we moved to New York four years ago but I’ll save that story for another time. My exact response to Jennifer was “well you don’t have to twist my arm!”
We began the design process a few months ago in Jennifer’s Brooklyn office. I brought a handful of sketches to inspire each design and we used filigree and floral elements as a nod to the French and Italian Springtime gardens and museums I love to explore.
The collection was built on the notion that the right pair of earrings, bow or barrette can completely transform an outfit. We created something small yet beautiful that can be worn endlessly for any number of occasions—from day-to-day to date night and summer celebrations. And of course, summer is the perfect time to launch because jewelry is the perfect accessory for traveling!
Jennifer also opened up her archives as there’s one piece in particular that connected the two of us many years ago – The Shanna – we thought it would be fun to create a new design inspired by this iconic piece!
My favorite part was building each piece, playing with the design elements, especially adding in the pearl details that are inspired by the beaches of summer.
One very sentimental element to the collection is a rosebud. It’s designed after my grandmother’s antique ring she gave me many years ago. It’s so special to incorporate this into the design and to be able to share it with each of you.
Jennifer and I can’t wait to share more with you all! Simply romantic and reminiscent of our favorite travel destinations, this 8-piece collection is the perfect complement to any summer wardrobe—no matter where you’re headed.
The Jennifer Behr x Jenny Cipoletti collection will launch for a limited time on Thursday, June 9 on JenniferBehr.com, with pieces starting at $198. If you want to be the first to gain access to the collection, be sure to sign up here for all of the updates as we roll them out over the next few weeks!
