Adorn Thy Self
Summer jewelry for the aunt, cousin, and older sister in all of us
There’s something magical about jewelry that feels like it has a storey (haha ha)… even if that story is entirely fabricated while waiting for a negroni at a hotel bar. Here are three brands I’m coveting for statement accessories that scream summer.
Lizzie Fortunato
Founded in 2008 by twin sisters Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato, their pieces are less an accessories and more a summer moodboard come to life.
Think: Italian flea market meets Art Deco cocktail hour with a touch of Upper East Side aunt who regularly enjoys micro dosing “special” chocolate.
Hammered gold, chunky beads, and pearls with personality, these are the types of pieces your granddaughters are going to steal out of your jewelry box.
Blame it on summer, but my desire to look like a still life with fruit has reached an all time high.
Éliou
If Lizzie Fortunato is your worldly, jet-setting aunt who owns six kimonos, then Éliou is your sneaky hot younger cousin who just got back from a retreat in Tulum and now makes jewelry out of things she found on the beach (aka Etsy). She’s sun-kissed, slightly chaotic, and somehow always ahead of the curve.
Founded by Cristina Mantilla and Duda Teixeira in Miami, because of course (again), Éliou is a line that treats pearls like party girls.
Think: seashells, fun beads, and pearls that have seen things. Jewelry for people who own bucket hats and wear them the right way.
It’s the kind of jewelry that feels like a souvenir from a trip you took but forgot to post about.
Its vibe? Beach bar meets art school. Or, wait, maybe more mermaid-in-residence at a members-only pool club. There are puka shells (sigh), but they’ve been thoroughly cleansed of any 2003 Abercrombie associations (phew).
Chan Luu
If Lizzie is the aunt and Éliou is the cousin, then Chan Luu is the effortlessly cool older sister who taught you how to wrap a scarf like a French woman and once gave you crystals for your birthday “just in case.” She’s elegant, grounded, and very into silk.
Founded by the Vietnamese-born designer in 1996, Chan Luu is what happens when boho grows up but doesn’t get boring.
Think: Wrap bracelets, real gemstones, handmade everything. The pieces almost feel like they’ve been blessed by a shaman.
Chan Luu’s world is one of gauzy linen dresses, long lunches in the garden, and earrings that look like they’ve witnessed a full moon ritual. It’s jewelry for the kind of woman who definitely composts, surfed one time but talks about it endlessly, and always has good olive oil on hand.
So go forth, my ornamented angels. May your lobes do the talking and your necklaces tell stories you haven’t lived yet. All products mentioned are linked in my ShopMy for easy browsing. Ta ta for now!