So by now, we've probably made it real clear that we have kind of have this thing for dainty, but still substantial jewelry. And so when we made the acquaintance of designer Jennifer Zeuner, we jumped at the chance to collaborate when we heard when she was working on her latest lookbook. After all, what pairs better with hand chains and geometric than pastel-colored candy and expertly-arranged bouquets, right?
After all, we're suckers for any line with an awww-worthy backstory. "My father manufactured clothing and I always loved the excitement surrounding a new collection. I loved staring at the inspiration boards with torn pages from WWD and Vogue." After tackling mommyhood, Zeuner put her inspiration into motion. "After a PR career hiatus to raise my children, I started designing and making jewelry from my home. Within three weeks of creating my first design, Cameron Diaz purchased a few of my pieces at a trendy South Beach store." Fast-forward about nine years and an evolution "from hand-made, beaded and bohemian to more classic and sophisticated," and Zeuner's jewelry is sold everywhere from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, and has been worn by everyone from Rihanna to Alessandra Ambrosio and SJP. As Zeuner said, herself, of the JZ girl, "If she wears a mini wishbone bracelet to a rally, like Beyoncé just did, it probably isn’t a coincidence" (um, hello! Does she need any further endorsement?)
Zeuner emphasized that her jewelry (much like, uh, this website) is all about telling a story. "The collection is not about a single statement piece. It’s about the conscious, personalized combination of different pieces." And as for Zeuner's advice for the crops of Etsy-today, Bergdorf's-tommorrow aspiring jewelry designers? "Stay focused on what you love: designing. I always managed to figure it out and I trusted that the universe would connect me with anyone that was essential to our success. One 'repair' guy became our manufacturer and a customer ended up being the best sales person ever. Trust your gut when you meet people." And given her line's recent appearance on Candice Swanepoel's Harper's Bazaar cover (oh hey, Terry Richardson!), it kind of looks like Zeuner's only next stop is world domination, right? Cause after Beyoncé... anything's really possible.
