I think it is always fascinating to learn more about the people working at J.Crew. :) I also agree with Lisa that jewelry owned and worn should make one happy! :)LISA FINKELSTEIN: Director of design/women’s jewelry, J.Crew
By Sarah Eveans
Photo by Sean McCormick
August 20, 2008
Dallas women are known for their larger-than-life taste in jewelry—a design aesthetic J.Crew accessories designer Lisa Finkelstein understands. “In Texas, we are friendly and loud and fun,” the Dallas native says. “Jewelry is a conversation piece and should make one happy.”
As director of design for women’s jewelry at J.Crew in New York City, Finkelstein is in charge of creating the entire accessories collection for the company—everything from oversized cocktail rings to sparkling hair pins.
Growing up, the Greenhill School and UT Austin grad had a passion for making crafts, as well as drawing and photography. After college, these creative passions led her to a career in fashion. She worked her way up the ladder with jobs in New York and Los Angeles, followed by a summer intensive at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London and several years at Rebecca Taylor. Three years ago, she was hired on as a consultant for J.Crew, and it wasn’t long until the company’s creative director asked her to design J.Crew’s jewelry collection.
“It was challenging, but I definitely felt ready for it,” she says. While much of her inspiration comes from J.Crew’s color palate and clothing designs, Finkelstein also scours vintage stores on the streets of Manhattan to get ideas. “I’m a very vintage-inspired person,” she says.
For fall, she’s loving big statement necklaces, and she advises layering bangle bracelets for a chic look. One thing she’s not a fan of: wearing every piece of jewelry you own all at once. “Pick your statement and swallow it,” she advises.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Finkelstein’s Dallas roots are still firmly planted. “Growing up in Texas I was surrounded by women dressed in bright colors wearing big baubles and rings,” she says. “I like to have fun with jewelry and use it as a way to express myself.”
What do you think of J.Crew's jewelry pieces? Do you agree with Lisa's advice about layering bangle bracelets? What kind of fashion statement do you think J.Crew's jewelry tries to make?
Just when I let my D Magazine subscription lapse, there's this little blurb! Darn. (Seriously, though, I think I subscribed to 10 magazines at one point, and things were just getting out of control and I had no time to read any of them).
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, I like the layered bangle look, but I prefer the simplicity of just having to grab ONE big bracelet and not have to worry about keeping track of several small ones! But J. Crew does have lots of pretty bangles that might tempt me, but I think I could find similar ones for less.
In the accessories post I mentioned how some of the necklaces are just way too big for my liking. I can see the Dallas influence, though! Big boobs, big jewelry, and even bigger diamonds! (The big hair left quite a while ago).
I have a love/hate relationship with J Crew jewelry. I LOVED the thick Cuff bracelets this Summer and adore my Bleached Aqua cuff- super high quality and worth the price. Not to mention all of the compliments! BUT a lot of the jewelry looks great until you get up close and it is either WAY to big to be worn by anyone other than my 2 year old OR is poor quality-the Sea Foam Necklace comes to mind-OMG! Way overboard.
ReplyDeleteI don't own any J Crew jewelry yet, but I am intrigued by the pieces. Guess I am ahead of the multiple bangle approval as I almost always wear multiples when I wear them. Unless it's a big piece, then I just wear one. Honestly, as a person with very sensitive skin and smaller wrists I am into the jewelry @ H&M. They size the bracelets S/M, M/L and most or all pieces are Sensitive Solutions type stuff. My other favorite place for costume jewelry is Macy's. I don't even think I own any 'real' jewelry because of the skin issue -- except for my wedding ring. The ring finger knows better than to break out. *lol*
ReplyDeleteSome of their necklaces etc look cute until you see them in person and realize how big and heavy they are. I was literally taken aback by the size of the wood chunks hanging off a bracelet I saw in the store. Please, make the stuff more wearable!
ReplyDeleteSome of the J.Crew jewelry pieces are really cute, but I don't personally own any...I think it's too expensive for costume.
ReplyDeleteThe article about Lisa is interesting and helps *shed a little light* on many of the bolder J.Crew pieces. Several posters such as Slastena and Jenn_Brak have commented that they often get asked about their J.Crew necklaces and other J.Crew jewelry, thus making them conversation pieces, as Lisa Finkelstein described. As for her Fall *forecast* of big necklaces and layered bangles...other designers have been doing that for several seasons already, so she seems to be a little behind on recommending that look, unless she is stating it as a continuation of Spring/Summer looks being done already.
I have been fortunate to snap up some great jewelry pieces in the sale section of the website over the last 2-3 years, and have loved each one. I prefer to have one or two showstoppers on rather than lots of little bits.
ReplyDeleteI am with you, gigiofca, in that I have teeny wrists (thanks, Mom), but sometimes bigger cuffs really emphasize that in a good way.
That being said, what was this woman thinking with those hideous bug pins? Cheap, tacky, and look like they should be in the notions aisle at Michael's craft store. Blech.
I own one j.crew necklace and it is very plain compared to most their stuff. I just don't like the big loud pieces. I cant wear big rings or cuffs (I have child sized hands and big pieces over power me. Trust me this was very upsetting to me because I realized I could never have a skating rink as an engagement ring).
ReplyDeleteThere are a few pieces I like...but not enough to pay even close to FP for costume Jewelry. I do like their classic pearls, but I would rather buy those from a pearl jeweler in the jewelry district than J. Crew. I also probably have enough pearls to last me until I am 90.
Also... is it just me or are those shorts in that picture doing all the wrong things for her body type?
haha FFM I agree...too expensive for FP.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The necklace I bought was actually at the outlet and I really like it a lot... but its also very delicate.
FFM - As much as I love and wear the jewelry, there are some pieces that are even too much for me. That sea foam treasures necklace from the summer and any bracelet that has large pieces (too big to be called ''charms'' there is nothing ''charming'' about them)dangling are perfect examples. Also, as someone mentioned yesterday, that turtle dangle necklace thing is just a fashion don't.
ReplyDeleteBut, I love me some acorns. That necklace is going to be killer kitsch with cashmere for the fall.
jenn brak: when you get your acorns can you tell use how bit they are? I love the the necklace in theory but I am not sure if I love it IRL.
ReplyDeleteI do own the seafoam treasure necklace (although not sure why!) and the first time I tried it on I poked my poor dog in the eye with one of those huge starfish!!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way as some of the other commenters. Some of the pieces are great and can be pulled off without feeling silly. Others are just way too much. I enjoy pieces that I can rotate throughout the seasons, so I tend to buy more from the bracelets than the necklaces. I love big loud jewelry, but I also want to pay what it's worth. A lot of the beaded necklaces I can just make myself and spend less than a third of what the original piece costs. It's pretty, but the price doesn't reflect the materials (which are pretty cheap).
ReplyDeleteBlumre - The acorns are about
ReplyDelete3/4'' long from link to end. If you are tiny and feel the jewelry is overwhelming, you can take it to a jeweler to have it modified to your tastes. I do this with almost all of my J Crew necklaces. The jeweler always laughs when I walk in.
JCrewJunkie - Really liked that necklace in the catalog and just was disappointed in the store. Glad to hear someone can pull it off! The one that really kills me is the Seaside charm bracelet. How could you even lift your arm or shake hands with that bracelet and not knock someone out. It is HUGE.
JCrew jewelry isnt for me. Although some of stuff may look good in catalog, in person I find it overwhelming and a bit kitschy. I like statement pieces but with costume jewelry I want pieces without label/designation. All of their pieces can be id'ed as JCrew. I dont want a necklace with a JCrew name.
ReplyDeleteI dont mind semi-expensive pieces but they have to last. I feel JCrew pieces date themselves too quickly. Just my 2c.
But I have seen others with large necklaces and they can pull it off. So it depends entirely on personal tastes.
Jenn Brak: Yea I am actually not tiny, I am 5'7". But I have very delicate features in my face and hands. But yea... I cant see myself paying extra to have already overprices jewelry altered. The stuff is cute, but not that cute, and certainly not worth the cost. But thanks for the suggestions. The acorns might be a little big on my taste. That theory vs. reality thing is very pesky
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of the comments already: I feel like the statement pieces would overpower me. I also like to keep things pretty simple, so I generally wear a discreet necklace and my engagement ring. Oh, and the jade bracelet my parents gave me that I can't take off anymore because it won't fit around my hand. It's on until it breaks!
ReplyDeletejenn_brak: "I love me some acorns!" LOL!!
ReplyDeletejcrewjunkie: I'm laughing beside myself picturing the whole scenario with your dog! I've actually gotten tangled with my dog once or twice wearing a J.Crew (opera-length) necklace!
I am a fan of the jewelry line of J.Crew, but like almost everybody has mentioned, some of the pieces are just way too overwhelming. I love the bubble necklaces ('own 2!), the giraffe necklace (so sophisticated!), a buncha gold link bracelets, 2 pairs of earrings (the crystal starfish and the most recent flower ones) and some of the costume rings of olden J.Crew days.
I do like the cuffs but haven't gotten around to getting one. =P
As for the pearls and fine jewelry, I think you can get more for your money purchasing those from other retailers or actual jewelers. =)
blumre - Yes, I noticed her shorts. I didn't want to say anything because of all the comments about positivity or lack thereof on the blog. That was not a good look. I cringed at the thought she might've also have heels on. I think a v-neck long sleeve cashmere would have been good, plus flats & a different hairstyle and she could have pulled it off. The barrette was also killing me. It may all sound cruel, but being able to look pulled together effortlessly is a huge part of the J Crew aesthetic, imo. My American Eagle days have long been over.
ReplyDeleteHi guys!
ReplyDeleteI like to add my two cents. :) I think for the most part, J.Crew jewelry prices are a bit high (because at the regular prices, you can get real silver/gold and not plated). However, when they go on sale- they are worth it. :)
I also find that most of my J.Crew pieces are just worn on occasion. Like FFM, they tend to be statement/conversation pieces. I even broke down recently and bought the Seaside charm bracelet. Even though it is ridiculously large on my wrist- I found it adorable. (And for $30- I couldn't pass it up!)
P.S. Blumre, I didn't want to mention it in the post- but I know what you mean about her shorts! I just thought the photographer took the wrong angle of her in them. :)
Thanks Gigiofca and Alexis: I was beginning to feel like a big jerk for commenting... But yea... they really don't work on her... or maybe its the angle. I live in, NYC, what can I say we criticize fashion for sport!
ReplyDeleteGlad I don't live in NY! (I'd still feel like I lived in junior high or high school...)
ReplyDeleteWell I guess the cat comment and Jr HS comment were directed at me. And so nice of you to attach a name to whatever it is that you would like to say to me. At least then I would know who I am responding to. FYI, people criticize fashion just as much in any town any where in the world. You've honestly never heard a woman or man say to his or her friend "EW, what is she/he wearing?" And that could in reference to the dude with the mullet and the tie died shirt or the woman who wore pants that were way too tight or a shirt w/out a bra. In fact I would have bet, if you read this blog you have thought it probably also said it. So don't be so quick to criticize someone might just call you a hypocrite!
ReplyDeleteNo, I just feel compassion for a person...that might be all they can afford...OR I think to myself and smile: that is what they like and that is what makes them happy to wear...to each his own...:)
ReplyDeleteblumre: I agree with you about the picture. You would think that if they were going to photograph someone, they would make sure it was at least flattering :P The first word that came to mind when I saw what she was wearing was "inappropriate."
ReplyDeleteShe looks fine to me:)
ReplyDelete