When did your love for vintage begin, and who has influenced you in this passion?
I’m a bargain hunter, so buying vintage in my twenties was just a way of saving money so I could dress well and still pay my rent! Of course, that developed and matured with my taste, and my fascination with vintage—particularly jewelry—really flourished. Some stylish women mentors in my life (like interior designer Kathleen Rivers) helped me to appreciate what a long way jewelry and accessories can go in defining personal style and imbuing confidence.

Tell us how you started your own line. What were some of the biggest challenges you tackled?
Finding the right manufacturers to work with—as well as raising some of the funds to do so—was very challenging. It required being very organized, focused and incredibly persistent, which you can be when you are passionate about something.

What is your favorite decade for jewelry?
At the moment I am pretty obsessed with jewelry from the 1970s. I love how big and bold it all is—it was a time when jewelry designers were taking risks stylistically. I especially gravitate towards Egyptian revival jewelry, which sprung up between 1972 and 1979 when the King Tut Exhibit was touring the US for the first time. Part of my current collection is an homage to that.

We love your office! What inspired the design?
Thank you! Pink is a very soothing color for a work environment. I was basically just trying to create a very elegant, feminine space that also reflected my brand—which is whimsical yet clean. There is a fabulous jewelry showroom in Palm Beach called House of Lavande, and they just have drawers and drawers of jewelry. Working on a bit of a budget, of course, I had to go with IKEA—but I dressed them up a bit and found that the shallow series of drawers are perfect for storing jewelry, stones and other components. They still look chic and organized!

Where are your favorite places to shop for vintage in Charleston + online? Do you have any vintage shopping tips?
In Charleston, Lauren Lail’s Collection Library: Archives of Fashion, Lori Wyatt Vintage—and I found a fabulous vintage CHANEL top at JLINSNIDER the other day. I do a lot of trades back and forth with Jess James who has some of her collection online. And, of course, candyshopvintage.com! You can find special pieces anywhere if you look hard enough, so don’t write off anything at first glance—even if it doesn’t look promising.

Do you have any advice for young women who are trying to start a business?
Starting and running a new business is very stressful, so finding mentors who can guide you and support you during challenging moments is important. Also, having a business plan that lays out your first few years—even if it changes and evolves—is essential. It nay not be the same as what you started with, but at least it’s a road map.

How do you stay inspired, and what are your favorite websites + magazines?
I really try to visit as many museums and exhibits as much as possible when I travel (on jewelry or just design in general). I recently saw a great exhibit in Miami called “The Artist as Jeweler” that I found very inspiring. I also read a lot of vintage jewelry books and look at pre-1980 advertising and fashion editorials. Some go-to websites are the Glitter Guide (of course!), Mrs. Lilien, The Glam Pad, Bijou and Boheme, Advanced Style, Look Linger Love, Sea of Shoes—plus logging some hours on Pinterest each day.

How do you sparkle?
A good night’s sleep, hot pink lipstick and some big jewelry.