5 Style Secrets I Learned from a Jewelry Expert
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Few designers have the good witch/bad bitch aesthetic covered quite like Pamela Love. The New York native makes jewelry magic with precious metals and super-charged stones, and has turned bolder looks like stacked rings and ear cuffs into daytime must-haves for creative women worldwidew—when Zoe Kravitz flips off the paparazzi, she wears Pamela Love rings to do it.
Now Love has her first standalone store experience thanks to the CFDA's Retail Lab, a space at Cadillac House that indoctrinates fashion's next generation into in-person sales, along with tech help from Accenture. "It's my first experience having a retail space," she explained at her store's opening dinner, which happened at Cherche Midi in downtown New York.
"We're learning all the things that go into having a store—all the things!—and figuring out if it's something we want to do further down the line. So far, it's been amazing, because I've always wanted to see the brand brought into a physical space I control. I want to create how you see the jewelry, you know? Environment is so important to me. My home and my office are so specific, in terms of design, but my customers don't get to see how I curate things, and how I set the energy of a space. Until now." (If you're New York bound, go visit!)
Here's what Love told us about the modern way to buy jewelry, keep jewelry, and make sure your hair doesn't get in the way...
1. Buy Your Obsession First
"My first major jewelry purchase was an antique opal ring, because opals have always been very meaningful to me. And my first designer purchase was from Miu Miu. It was all metal but it was backed in leather, and I was obsessed with it. We try to have price ranges for everybody at the store, but in terms of style, I try to tell people making their first big jewelry purchase to go for something that they'll wear every single day. To me, something like the Opal Gravitation Earrings seem like a perfect first piece. Although because of Instagram and the way girls are wearing their earrings now, it does feel like a lot of people buying their first piece from me are going for the Five Spike Earrings. It's surprising to me because it's way edgier, but if it's what you love, you'll wear it every day."
2. Manifest Your Signature Stone
"If you need a certain type of energy or direction in your life, look at the stones that correspond with your intentions. You'll probably find they're also the ones you like the most. For example, I'm obsessed with opal. It's always my favorite stone to wear because I think they're the most magical stones to put into your life. I absolutely believe that certain stones attract different energies. And opals, I've never lost one—I'd probably die if I did... I always say, never take off your favorite [stones] and that way you'll never lose them."
3. Avoid Hair + Earring Collisions
"I usually try to pull my hair back when I'm wearing big earrings. If it's a big earring, the hair goes back. Half-up-half-down is sort of getting away with both. But my earrings don't really tangle—you'd be surprised. Maybe it's because I have a lot of hair myself, and I'm also the one testing new designs, so I've figured out the shapes that look great but don't snag my hair?... You can also do the thing where you pull your hair up, put your earrings in, and then let your hair down around them."
4. Embrace the Past
"The reason I love vintage jewelry so much is because I like to have the energy of everyone who's always worn jewelry before me. Even if they had a sad thing happen—even so...then you become part of the [jewelry's] story, which is bigger than just you."
[instagram ] Had the best night celebrating the launch of our @cfda retail lab with @ruffinowines #ruffinowines #alwayssparkling ?? @sophiermcnally @adam_pritzkerA post shared by Pamela Love (@pamelalove) on Aug 2, 2017 at 7:30pm PDT[/instagram]
5. Pay Attention to Your Obsessions
"Right now I'm obsessed with mid-century wicker chairs and pottery. I want to fill my house with these chairs. And I don't even know why yet, but usually when I love something, eventually it comes out in my designs or my future style."
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